Posts by West Coast Solar

Although they’re historically the biggest opponents to the expansion of renewable energy sources with net-zero carbon emissions, oil companies are beginning to prepare for a future in which carbon is taxed, which would consequently raise energy prices. According to an article in the New York Times, some of the world’s biggest corporations are factoring a future tax…

The integration of solar cells into consumer goods is an often-overlooked way for solar energy to become a bigger part of Americans’ electricity usage. But if customers are able to purchase more items that run off solar modules rather than the electric grid, it could have a substantial impact on carbon emissions and air quality.…

There has been a flurry of recent news indicating that solar energy has been gaining popularity at an unprecedented pace throughout the state. However, a recent study conducted by Herman Trabish of Greentech Media found that nearly all new electricity generators set to be built in California during the second half of 2013 are solar…

A recent piece published on OaklandLocal.com draws attention to a recently rebuilt affordable housing development that has earned praise from environmental and public housing advocates. Tassafronga Village in Oakland was originally built in 1964, but over the years had become a dilapidated housing project that fell into disrepair and posed a public health risk. Some of the…

The cost of solar power in 1977 – almost 40 years ago – was slightly higher than approximately $76 per Watt of capacity. While many eco-conscious people of the time hoped to find the next wave of clean energy in solar power, the truth was that the cost was just too prohibitive. Enter modern technology, however,…

Many schools across the country are still dealing with the effects of the economic downturn, in the form of massive budget cuts that have resulted in teacher layoffs, shortened academic calendars and delayed improvement of aging facilities. Because of this, it is imperative for school systems to consider switching their electrical production to solar power, as…

Residents of Southern California interested in learning more about sustainable technology such as solar energy solutions may want to consider attending the “Green Idea House” public dedication ceremony in Hermosa Beach on Saturday, April 6. According to a press release from SolarWorld, the purpose of the event – which will include a speech from environmental…

Researchers at Stanford University have developed an ultra-thin, light-absorbing material that could be used to for a future generation of inexpensive photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. Many times thinner than a piece of paper, the new substance is made from many trillions of small gold dots only nanometers thick, which can absorb up to 99 percent…

Robots are becoming more sophisticated and useful every day, rendering what was once a science fiction concept a reality. The evolution of robotics has significant implications for the Bay Area solar power industry, which has already begun to see several projects that involve robotic technology as a way to reduce costs and make solar panels…

An enormous new renewable energy project near Blythe, California, has been approved by California regulators after the developers switched from concentrated solar power (CSP) to photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. It’s unclear what the next steps are for NextEra Energy, the company that will build the 485-megawatt (MW) project. Reuters reports that the project was originally slated…

It’s been just over six months since Hurricane Sandy swept the eastern seaboard, leaving both destruction and devastation in its wake. In the aftermath of this natural disaster, parts of the East Coast – and New York and New Jersey in particular – were left without power for weeks. An extended loss of power, whether…