The HB-SIA, a plane powered entirely by sunlight and photovoltaic panels, completed a journey across the United States from San Francisco to New York after making stops in Phoenix, Dallas, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. It is the first time a plane has been flown cross-country entirely on solar power. The plane was designed and built by Solar Impulse, a Swiss organization founded by two pilots, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, who wanted to promote clean…

Most people associate Northern California solar energy with progressive politics, given that environmentalism and improving air quality are major items on the progressive agenda. However, there are quite a few conservatives who are also discovering the benefits of this technology. Consequently, there has been a push from the right, as well as the left, to promote solar power for residents and businesses. The best example of this phenomenon is taking place in Georgia, where a group of…

We reported recently on the U.S. Solar Market Insight Report, published by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Greentech Media (GTM), which showed the massive, accelerating growth of the solar industry has continued into the first quarter of 2013. What was even better news was that California is leading this expansion, having added 71.3 megawatts (MW) of new solar generating capacity in Q1. But one of the more interesting aspects of this number is that 13.2 MW of…

The U.S. Armed Forces are moving towards solar energy to meet their power needs in the future. A report recently released by the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), an organization that promotes the solar power sector, highlights some of the recent attempts to integrate photovoltaic panels into the military’s energy infrastructure, which currently relies heavily on fossil fuels to power its bases and vehicles. This has severe consequences for both the Pentagon’s finances as well…

Shrinking budgets and cutbacks are a major challenge for public schools still reeling from reduced state and federal aid. As a result, many institutions are looking for ways to curtail expenditures without eating into the already small appropriations devoted to things like textbooks, class resources and teacher pay. The Jefferson Elementary School District (JESD), located just south of San Francisco, may have found a solution by switching to Bay Area solar energy to provide its…

In years past, critics of solar power solutions noted that the amount of electricity required to construct photovoltaic (PV) panels exceeded the power saved by relying on these renewable energy systems. However, according to a new report from Stanford University’s Global Climate & Energy Project (GCEP) published in Environmental Science & Technology, the power generated by solar energy across the world has officially surpassed the electricity needed to make more modules going forward. In fact, at this…

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 on greenhouse gas emissions into their finances, in the event that lawmakers implement legislation aimed at curbing climate change. “It’s…

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. One company, Ascent Solar, recognizes this nascent trend and has launched a lineup of consumer goods and industrial tools that…

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 panels. This information was compiled by the California Independent Systems Operator (ISO) 2012 Annual Report on Market Issues and Performance, which…

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 structures were cracking and presented a seismic hazard, while the soil had become contaminated with petroleum and pesticides. However, Tassafronga…

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, and all that has changed. In 2013, the cost per Watt of capacity is 74 cents, according to The Economist.…