News
"PGE and ODOT break ground on solar highway project"
Portland General Electric and the Oregon Department Transportation broke ground on a $10 million solar array at the Baldock Rest Area on Interstate 5 south of Wilsonville. The project comprises almost 7,000 panels spread over seven acres of land owned by ODOT behind the rest area. It will generate up to 1.97 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year -- about 9 percent of the electricity consumed by the agency in the utility's service territory. PGE hopes to flip the switch in January.
"Hot new crop on a 24-hour rotation"
After looking into alternative energy about three years ago, Farmer Don Christensen decided to diversify his crop and get into solar. By mid-October, his nine acres, and almost 12 nearby, will be hosting the largest ground-mounted solar arrays developed in Oregon to date. The two sites, located west of Amity, will create a combined 2.85 megawatts. That's enough to supply a city of 2,300, which is half again Amity's size.
"SoloPower gets federal loan guarantee to expand"
SoloPower Inc., which makes thin-film solar cells, won final approval on Friday for a $197 million federal loan guarantee to expand its San Jose headquarters and open two manufacturing facilities in Portland, Ore. Together, the two new facilities in Portland and the expanded one in San Jose will provide 450 permanent jobs, as well as 270 construction jobs, and produce enough solar modules each year to generate 400 megawatts of electricity. A megawatt is a snapshot figure, roughly equal to the amount of electricity used by 750 homes at any given instant.
"Corvallis Co-op Installs Solar Electric Car Charging Stations"
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Electric car-charging stations have been popping up all over Oregon. And now, a co-op that's striving to be a model of sustainable living is making waves in Corvallis. And to make the co-op even more environmentally friendly, solar panels provide some of their energy needs.
"Commercial solar is Oregon's BETC casualty"
Oregon’s commercial solar business took off after state Legislators in 2007 increased the value of the state’s Business Energy Tax Credit from up to 35 percent of the cost of a renewable energy project to 50 percent. But faced with a crippling deficit, Legislators this year were forced to cut from non revenue-generating programs. The BETC program, which made available $300 million in tax incentives during the two year period that ended June 30, was turned into a grant program with just $3 million to split among all renewable energy technologies.
Solar Airconditioning: Overview of the Technology
Heat and solar energy go hand in hand. We've all seen installations that provide solar hot water and solar heating. But if we could come up with a sort of “combined-reversible solar-thermal” system that could provide airconditioning in the summer, heating in the winter, and hot water year-round, the circle would be complete. It's possible, and new solar-concentrating collectors and airconditioning technology are making this type of system technically and economically feasible.
Grape Solar is finalist for an Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Award
The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) recently announced finalists for this year’s Tom Holce Entrepreneurship Awards, and one of the four finalists in the “growth stage company” category is Grape Solar of Eugene, Oregon. Ocean Yuan, a UO graduate and Eugene resident, is President of Grape Solar and is being recognized for helping revolutionize how solar is sold in the United States. His company is one of the largest solar consortiums in the world, consisting of dozens of Chinese manufacturers involved in the solar energy supply chain, which yields 500MW of manufacturing capacity per year.
"Energy solutions brighten the future for Gates Furniture"
Gates Furniture in Grants Pass, Ore., found a combination of lighting efficiency improvements to save energy, and a solar electric system to produce power, was the right one-two punch to keep energy costs in check. And cash incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon helped make the investments possible.
"Oregon's Public Universities Plan To Go Solar"
An ambitious solar project rolling out across Oregon college campuses next week would set one university on a path toward energy independence. The five megawatts planned for Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, and Eastern Oregon would create a bigger solar project than any currently operating in Oregon.
"Crook County emerges as solar energy hot spot"
Projects ranging from a government initiative involving 20 to 30 buildings to the Facebook data center draw on a growing network of solar designers, installers and manufacturers based in Central Oregon.
"BPA raises rates for some Northwest public utilities by 7.8 percent"
Bonneville Power Administration will raise wholesale power rates for its consumer-owned utility customers, such as in Vancouver, Canby and Eugene, by 7.8 percent in October.
"He walks the talk on sustainability"
His nine-year journey toward living green began small: planting an organic garden and using low VOC paint. It grew larger: installing 47 solar panels and other systems to help his home achieve net zero carbon emissions. And eventually gigantic: making a $2 million documentary film, "Deep Green," about how people the world over are reducing fossil fuel dependence.
Couple Pioneers Green Lifestyle
Richard and Pauline Mather were the first residential customers with Salem Electric to install a solar system at their West Salem home, and just recently they were among the first in the Willamette Valley to purchase a Nissan LEAF.
Solar Oregon Ambassadors Celebrate PV + EV at Home
Solar Ambassadors Richard and Pauline Mather have a new companion for their residential solar system: A luminescent, pearl-colored 2011 Nissan Leaf all-electric powered car.
Solar Bonus Incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon
Contractors working within Energy Trust Service territories (Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, Northwest Natural Gas and Cascade Natural Gas) now have the opportunity to gain additional financial incentives for solar and energy conservation projects. The purpose of the bonus incentives is to encourage homeowners to pursue solar measures in concert with conservation measures and vice-versa.
"Azuray Technologies enters a growth phase"
The 30-person company, based in Durham near the Bridgeport Village shopping center, is working to commercialize a technology first developed at Oregon State University.
"Largest ground-mounted solar array in Clackamas Co. turns on"
A 500-killowatt solar farm was switched on Friday at the Lever Family Farm in Aurora, the largest of its kind in Clackamas County.
"Scientists use inkjet printing to produce solar cells"
Solar energy may soon become easier to capture, say researchers who have developed a novel method to produce solar cells using inkjet printing.
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