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California Winemaker Supports Clean Energy Future
In this Letter to the Editor in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Vintner Paul Dolan responds to an article about how climate change is affecting California’s grape crop, a $60 billion industry critical to the state’s economy and jobs. Dolan says winemakers and growers are adapting by embracing clean energy. Read more here.
San Luis Obispo Solar Project Draws Job Seekers
The 250 megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch planned for the Carrizo Plain in San Luis Obispo County drew more than 200 job applicants yesterday. Construction contractor Bechtel accepted applications for construction, management, supervisory and skilled and unskilled positions for the utility-scale solar project. Read more here.
California Energy Commission (CEC) Launches New Website
The CEC website called “Drive” focuses on California’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. Its goal is to inform industry professionals, fleet managers and consumers about the latest research and developments regarding alternative fuel and transportation issues. Read more here.
Orange County City Unveils 1.8 Megawatt Solar System
The City of Brea installed solar panels at the Brea Community Center, Brea Civic and Cultural Center and Reservoir City Pump Yard, and the city is already experiencing the benefits. The Community Center’s electricity costs have decreased by 65 percent and the Civic & Cultural Center’s electricity costs are down 35 percent. Read more here.
Firms Look to Morongo Basin for Renewable Projects
Southern California’s Morongo Basin is enjoying a solar renaissance, according to local officials. Five utility-scale solar projects have been proposed in the Morongo Basin, and companies are submitting requests for projects faster than each area can keep up with, the county reports. A two megawatt alternating current solar site on 20 acres already is under construction outside Twentynine Palms, and San Bernardino County has granted permits for 21 megawatts of solar projects in the same area. Read more here.
San Diego Company Installs Solar Water Heater at Low Income Housing Complex
San Diego’s California Solar Thermal has commissioned a solar hot water heating system for the Parker-Kier Apartments, a low-income complex in downtown San Diego. The 33-unit complex will also have a SunReports remote performance monitoring system to track energy use and will qualify for a solar rebate from the California Solar Initiative. Read more here.
Stanford Researchers Envision Method to Charge Electric Vehicles While They Drive
Stanford University researchers say they have devised a way to allow electric cars to recharge without ever plugging into an outlet. The research, funded by Stanford Global Climate and Energy Project, envisions a charging system that employs magnetic fields to transmit currents of electricity between copper coils. The coils, researchers say, could be embedded in the pavement and connect via magnetic fields to coils on the bottoms of cars. Read more here.
California Schools Win Grant for Hybrid Buses
The California Air Resources Board has granted $1 million to Kings Canyon Unified School District in Northern California and the San Diego Air Pollution Control District for clean-fuel school buses. King Canyon officials say they will purchase two new all-electric, zero-emissions eTrans school buses by Trans Tech Bus. Read more here.
San Luis Obispo Solar Ranch Gets the Green Light
The Topaz Solar Ranch in the Carrizo Springs area of San Luis Obispo recently received a $1.93 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. The project is expected to generate 1,400 new jobs for the region. Read more here.
Sonoma County Business Installs 800 Kilowatt Solar System
Petaluma-based Labcon North America added to its “green” credentials when it installed the rooftop solar system. The low-carbon laboratory disposables manufacturer has also renovated its factory with energy efficient lighting and equipment, cutting its carbon footprint by 300 tons -- the equivalent of planting 61 acres of trees. Read more here.
California Researchers Working on Efficiency in Wind Farms Designs
Most conventional wind turbines have to be placed far apart from each other due to their size, but researchers at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena say there is another reason why horizontally-placed wind turbines are not efficient. It seems one horizontal wind turbine creates a wake for those behind it, decreasing the amount of wind energy captured. Vertical wind turbines can capture up to 10 times more clean energy. Read why here.
California Olive Grower Called “Game Changer of the Year”
Tracy-based Musco Family Olive Co. was recognized as the “California 2011 Leader in Innovation in Energy and Agriculture” by Chico-based venture capital group Grow-California. Musco received the honor for its cutting-edge initiative that turns its organic waste into clean energy. Read more here.
California’s Renewable Energy Standard Attracts Interest
California’s renewable energy requirement of generating 33 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020 has attracted what one trade magazine calls a “glut” of potential suitors. California has almost met its 2010 renewable energy goal by generating 7.6 gigawatts of clean energy. If all the current applicants are approved, the California Independent System Operator would be looking at a total of 71 gigawatts of renewable energy. Read more here.
San Diego Landfill to Expand Facility
The landfill gas to clean energy facility provides electricity to the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar. The City of San Diego operates the West Miramar Landfill in conjunction with renewable energy specialist Fortistar. The West Miramar Landfill has a 3.2 megawatt capacity. Read more here.
Riverside County Solar Project Receives $77.4 Million in Financing
Riverside County-based SunPeak Solar received the $77.4 million loan from Texas-based North American Development Bank. The Imperial Valley Solar Company 1 project in Niland will generate 23 megawatts of clean energy for the Imperial Irrigation District. Read more here.
More Articles...
- San Mateo Firm Supplies Unique Solar Glass to Organic Dairy
- Santa Barbara Clean Energy Companies Score Big on Federal Wind Turbine Program
- Santa Rosa Agricultural Company Augments its Existing Solar System
- San Joaquin Valley Bioenergy Company Helps Bridge the Gap Between Past and Present
- California Solar Business Takes Innovative Technology to Spain
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