Solar Energy Investing

Building Design & Construction reports Carlisle SynTec has been awarded a $650,000 grant to install a 200 kW solar photovoltaic system on one of their rooftops.  Carlisl is one of five energy projects in Pennsylvania to receive a federal stimulus grant.

WisBusiness.com reports Solar Carport Canopy is an economical hybrid-vehicle plug in option for businesses looking to lower their carbon footprint.  The product was discovered at the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan contest out of fifty entrants.  The carport recharges electric cars using existing electricity grids.

iStockAnalyst.com reports Willard & Kelsey Solar Company will produce two million solar panels a year in a former Ohio television components production plant.  Ohio officials have granted a $5 million economic development loan and a $500,000 grant to the company.  Willard & Kelsey hope to receive $100 million in stimulus funding for an additional plant that would create 3,700 jobs.  Their current project will run around the clock creating solar panels using 70% less energy than their neighbor, First Solar’s, process.

Area Development Online reports that Oregon has promoted several solar projects throughout the state, including Solar World, the largest solar cell manufacturing plant in North America, Solacix, and Sanyo Solar.  Sixty new solar companies developed as a result of the Business Energy Tax credit.  These companies will help  meet the state’s renewable energy goals of 25% by 2025.  Further, the state government has mandated that all government buildings will run solely on renewable energy by 2025.

MarketWatch reports Bank of America was awarded the 2008 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award.  This award recognizes companies and individuals that demonstrate exceptional leadership to conserve California’s resources.  Bank of America signed a 10 year initiative to support sustainable practices through investments, lending, and operations.  Several of these projects supported solar power, including financing the installation of solar panels at K-12 schools and the Clean Energy Renewable Bonds to install solar panels in cities.

The Steamboat Pilot & Today reports rural America is supporting the Democratic party in this year’s election becuase of its dedication to farm bills.  An issue heavily weighed for rural America is the use of alternative energy, including solar power.

Power Online reports FP&L has been approved to construct three solar power centers to make Florida the 2nd largest supplier of solar power generation in the country.  The projects include the world’s largest photovoltaic solar facility in DeSoto County to create 25MW of solar power.  The other projects are a 10 MW on the Space coast and a hybrid plant at the Martin site to generate 75 MW.

Government Technology reports Florida Power & Light has received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission to construct three solar power centers throughout the state.  These projects will make Florida the second largest solar power supplier in the nation.  A 25MW project is planned for DeSoto County to be the largest photovoltaic solar power plant in the world.  75MW of solar thermal capacity is planned for FPL’s Martin Site, and a 10MW solar installation is planned for the Kennedy Space Center to be operational by the first quarter of 2010.

iStockAnalyst reports SunPower has been chosen by Florida Power and Light to build two solar power plants in Florida.  A 25MW facility will be built in DeSoto County and a 10MW facility will be built for the Kennedy Space Center.  These plants are being built because the legislature has allowed FPL to recover full costs if they generate 110 MW of solar power electricity.  They are expected to be operational by 2009 and 2010.

EarthToys reports $35 million has been issued to Sopogy Inc. from the Governor of Hawaii.  These funds will allow Sopogy to develop renewable energy on the island of Oahu through clean solar power sources.