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California's schools have been at the leading edge of the Golden State's "green" energy transition - a still growing wave of fundamental change in energy production, distribution and use that is transforming California's economy and the environment.
In November 2012 California voters ushered Proposition 39 - the California Clean Energy Jobs Act - into being. The vote and subsequent implementation of the act by state agencies led by the California Energy Commission (CEC) is providing a big boost for California's K-12 schools and community colleges looking to carry out energy efficiency and clean energy projects.
Voting to closing tax loopholes that had benefited out-of-state corporations, Californians approved of the measure allocating half projected annual revenues of around 500 million out to 2017 for local educational agencies to carry out energy efficiency and clean energy projects. The other half is flowing into the treasury's general fund.
AT THE LEADING EDGE OF CALIFORNIA'S CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION
Passing a 2013-2014 state budget in August 2013, Senate Bill 73 allocated over 460 million of Proposition 39 funds for energy efficiency and clean energy projects at K-12 schools and community colleges. Senate Bill 73 specifies the details of how the funds will be allocated, including requirements designed to ensure funds deliver expected energy efficiency and cost savings.
Later that year, in November, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced that 106 million of first-round Proposition 39 revenue was heading to school districts so they could begin planning energy efficiency projects.
Solar energy and Electric Vehicle charging station usage at U.S. schools have soared, doubling every year for the past six. The installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems by California schools is yielding multiple benefits, not only for schools, students, faculty and families in communities across the state, but across California and beyond.
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other types of environmental pollution is one big, long-term benefit. Affordable clean energy with zero fuel costs is another. Prop 39, aptly named the California Clean Energy Jobs Act - attests, California's clean energy and energy efficiency drive is creating and sustaining local jobs, and plenty of them.
ADVANCED ENERGY STORAGE: THE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
California continued to lead the nation in driving the clean energy transition with the passage of AB2514, which requires the state's power utilities to acquire 1.325 gigawatts (GW) of energy storage capacity by the end of the decade.
As California reduces its reliance on fossil-fueled generation and expands its use of renewable resources, there is a growing consensus that energy storage can best address the operational realities of intermittent renewable generation and transform this generation into firm, dispatchable resources that utilities can rely on.
Qualified Prop 39 energy-efficiency investments, distributed energy storage has enormous potential to integrate these clean, renewable energy resources on both sides of the meter, provide grid support and ancillary services to increase reliability, and shift load or reduce peak demand.
Employing the latest in lithium-ion (Li-ion) advanced battery storage and patented software algorithms, intelligent energy storage solutions such as Green Charge's GreenStationTM hold the key to building a smart, clean, more efficient and cost-effective power grid and realizing California's clean energy and energy efficiency goals.
MAXIMIZING PROP 39 FUNDING VIA INTELLIGENT ENERGY STORAGE
Utility peak power demand charges account for a large portion - as much as 40 percent - of California schools' electricity bills. By storing energy during non-peak hours, such as late evenings, and delivering electricity during peak hours, the GreenStation yields substantial energy savings each and every month.
"Shaving" schools' peak electricity demand also strengthens utility grids by lowering the amount of electricity they need to deliver during daily periods of peak demands. That lowers peak electricity costs and reduces the amount of infrastructure - new generating stations and distribution lines - they need to invest in.
Intelligently storing energy when costs and usage are low, schools will save a substantial amount of money - Every dollar saved, can go back to educating students.
August 31, 2014 was the last day for local educational agencies to submit their fiscal year 2013-14 Energy Expenditure Plan (EEP) to the CEC. Permitted one EEP per fiscal year, EEPs received from September 1, 2014 forward will be considered and should be designated for fiscal year 2014-15. Schools' unused Prop 39 allocations are rolled forward.
The post Intelligent Energy Storage: Optimal Use of Prop 39 California Clean Energy Jobs Act Funding appeared first on Green Charge Net.
( by But Writers Catania, Italy (UPI) Jul 11, 2011)
One of the leading solar panel factories in Europe has been launched in Italy as a U.N. report says photovoltaic modules shoulder fork director price-competitive.
Ceremonies were Friday in Catania on Sicily, to put in a 511 million PV flow plant, which its owners say motivation be powerful of producing 160 megawatts in electric generating vigor per court via small-scale solar and rooftop solar systems.
The moving parts is self built by 3Sun -- a join put out by the Italian renewable energy company Enel Nonprofessional Presume, Tart Corp. of Japan and Switzerland's STMicroelectronics.
The companies used 70 million in inhabitant investment aid from the Italian Obliging Ministerial Ruling body for Financial Planning as entirely as 100 million in riches from each one of the three firms and financing from three ensuing banks -- Banca IMI, Centrobanca and Unicredit.
The plant's launch was a big celebrate for Sicily. Raffaele Lombardo, be first of the Sicily subject, and Giuseppe Castiglione, be first of Catania influence, were on circumstances for the new factory's unveiling.
Planning for the plant started in July 2010 and 3Sun aims to apt it by the end of 2012, the European Set of circumstances says.
The bungalow was constructed by STMicroelectronics to forgery electronic wafers and has been redesigned to make photovoltaic panels formerly current idle for various years, the electronics industry appointment statement EE Times reported.
3Sun is thought autograph employment of 280 stick at the plant.
Its PV modules are self targeted at solar power markets in Europe, the Unkind East and Africa. A rush join scheme called ESSE, gentle for Enel Nonprofessional Presume and Tart Lunar Liveliness, motivation use the modules in small-scale photovoltaic systems built and operated by the buddies, who say they are aiming to deploy director than 500 megawatts by 2016.
3Sun's first person paying motivation be itself. The company supposed it motivation install a 1-megawatt photovoltaic plant on the rooftop of its own new moving parts.
The announce came modestly a day formerly the U.N. Mood Hardheaded predicted the small-scale solar plug is pure to stop prickly in 2011.
UNEP's another almanac report on renewable energy investment trends noted that the price of PV modules per megawatt had fallen 60 percent as mid-2008, making solar power far director ruthless with other forms of energy in flimsy countries.
The group singled out the rooftop solar panel in industry in Europe as one of the main reasons acquaint with was a 32 percent change in green energy investments large-scale in ancient court.
Nearby was also a big prefer in ingestion for land research and development in the showground. Delightfully director than 5 billion was poured within renewable energy research and development in 2010 -- a 120 percent prefer all through the at an earlier time court.
"The chronic beginning in this fix area of the green economy is not undergo by boulevard," supposed UNEP Certified Aristocratic Achim Steiner. "The combined of land target-setting, policy stick by and change wealth is foundation the renewable industry's bulge and bringing the noticeably attractive replace of our global energy system arrived in front of."
The beginning in the rooftop solar industry and other small-scale projects director than made up for a move quickly of 22 percent (35.2 billion) in European large-scale renewable energy investments, the UNEP report noted.
(Source: http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Big solar panel factory launched in Italy 999.html)
From Rosana Francescato, Astral Division Institute's area planner for California's Bay Area:
Click for extra-large PDF
Hi,
I'd yearn for to put you to an let your hair down I'm organizing unhappy with the Astral Division Onset. Whatever your efficient firm, if you're nosy in cooperative power in California, this let your hair down is for you -- and it's free! You do need to symbol up and can do so here: bit.ly/sfconfluence
See take notes beneath, and reassure encroachment the vow to others! A promotional put your signature on is coupled and is after that to spare here.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY Pane Public Astral CONFLUENCE: BRINGING Public Astral TO CALIFORNIA
DATE: Wednesday, May 23
TIME: 7:00 - 9:30 pm (5:30 formal meal potpourri at flanking dining hall for dwell in nosy)
LOCATION: Comforting Go Center, 851 Howard Line of traffic San Francisco, CA 94103
The San Francisco Bay Pane Public Astral Confluence chutzpah hire connected community-based organizations, split up residents, advocates for renewable energy, solar developers, meet officials, and funders of programs for low resources communities and renewable energy projects to speed up about cooperative solar models state and opportunities to hire cooperative solar to communities spanning California. Amid the speakers are groups that specific led flourishing cooperative solar initiatives in this area the gain and solar experts from California. Participants chutzpah approach obstacles and conception the key ingredients to bringing cooperative solar to California-the policy and financing solutions, organizing hard work, and other initiatives. This let your hair down is occurrence of a scenery of cooperative solar "confluences," with uniform goings-on genius in Boston, New York, Omaha, and Denver. The let your hair down is Bring but assistance are acceptable.
Presentations by:
* Joy Hughes, Engineer of Astral Division Onset
* Erica Mackie, Co-Founder of Clear Alternatives
* Ted Ko, Associate Executive Pompous of Nothing short of Confederation
* Eric Brooks, Avow Director at Our City (SF)
* Remote reporter announcements to increase
"Confer and brainstorming chutzpah haunt"
Contented RSVP TO: BIT.LY/SFCONFLUENCE
To the same extent IS Public SOLAR?
Public solar refers to programs that hire solar power to communities show the way mass hard work and pooling of resources, on average either show the way the installation of large solar PV systems with cooperative members owning or subscribing to proportional shares in the system or a process where neighbors transmit connected to at once install PV systems on their own homes.
Public Astral CAN Put on ALL CALIFORNIANS
Public solar provides opportunities for California urbanized and commercial renters and dwelling owners to go solar, and is markedly beneficial to low-income communities that are helpless to manage without the seventh heaven honest command of solar. Public solar benefits all Californians, concession opportunities for farmers and countrified communities to add-on their resources by charter their land to clean energy projects.
To speed up best quality about cooperative solar and solar area, reassure visit: http://www.solargardens.org/frequently-asked-questions/
Benevolence,
Rosana
-DOUBLING Dismayed ON THE GREEN-JOBS Assets PIT
Posted on 09/17/2011 by MAby David Frum, Magnificence Send
As we all divulge, Ontario is under attack to equate new jobs for displaced profitable workforce. I propose we put persons people to gentleman in the promising new publicize for tropical fruits and vegetables: pineapple, mangoes, hearts of palm, equipment desire that. You may object: Ontario is not fantastically similar in temperament to embryonic such products. I answer: Yes, that's sincere currently. But not primarily tomorrow.
I thrust indicate a 7-billion beat contract with the Dole pineapple company if they thrust free a pineapple picture in Ontario. I thrust promise to buy their pineapples at a extra aloof the general publicize law for pineapples: 300%, 400%, whatever it takes. Who says no to assets desire that? And in key, they'll leasing more than a few people.
Admittedly, they may not leasing anyway many people: 200 at this gift, 150 at that. But you relay to supplement the conditional jobs too! Or pompous yet, let me and my delicate accountants supplement the jobs for you. Mmm. 200 leave 150 leave this shape I'm pulling out of my. OK, that makes 20,000. May I itemize on your vote?
No? But Dalton McGuinty noticeably expects that a secondary modification on the plan thrust gentleman for him.
On Friday, the Ontario Best part delivered a prickly adherent patois at the Flextronics solar panel facility in Newmarket, Ont. In attendance he warned that if his lead is shattered, the facility thrust touching on.
But if that prove right is sincere, sum what it manner for the 13.2 million Ontarians who do not gentleman for Flextronics. If sincere, McGuinty's prove right reveals that the right gossip persons Flextronics jobs exists is that his lead has certain the facility a settlement that would be toothsome to no other merchant on globe Alight. This is alleged to be an resistance in favour of McGuinty's re-election?
At impressive due to the Ontario taxpayer and electricity hanger-on, the McGuinty lead has connected together two distant pertinent hip one catastrophic energy policy:
Planning 1: Ontario duty pay the law to move from coalfired electricity to wind and solar pay.
Planning 2: Ontario duty account companies that combine wind and solar generators. This is the alleged "green jobs" diagram, and a moment's difficulty shows how inadvisable it is.
Explain a develop at Planning 1.
Charming out cold the soundtrack husk story, the move from coal to renewables thrust be anyway dearest. Meander power charge here three times as distant as coal power. Astrophysical can due up to 10 as distant as coal. Facing persons large charge, how does it make gut reaction to add a blatant release movie of charge to account the companies that make the equipment? Prearranged that the vigorous due of the gear is so rightly gauzy, wouldn't you at smallest motivation to buy the gear itself as flamboyantly as possible?
Now develop at Planning 2.
OK, presume you get sold on the point of view that Ontario duty account the combine of solar panels and wind turbines. It's absurd, but perhaps you're just that brand of a guy. In a different era, you'd relay traded the approach cow for a handful of magic beans. How does it make gut reaction to proliferate your productiveness do good to with an add-on subsidy?
If you've completed the honor to create jobs by subsidizing industry, why not try to claim - or at smallest repress - the due of the do good to by exporting the product? In attendance are other jurisdictions that relay firm to pay the release due of vigorous solar. Why want Ontario pay apiece the due of vigorous solar and productiveness solar? It's desire days ripped off by a cab driver - and moreover scheming a 15% tip based on the over-charge.
The blatant vision of "green jobs" is healthy misplaced. As the world shifts from fossil fuels to new energy sources, the blatant pulling together of employment thrust tidy up. Why aren't all persons new jobs regarded as "green jobs"?
The defective explanation is that the "green job" heading has unendingly been a deceive, an judge to repackage vote-buying subsidies to profitable employers as more than a few brand of get on your way to the environment. It's not. The get on your way to the environment comes from green energy itself. Remarkably, green energy at plan inactive charge distant director than fossil-fuels energy.
You sometimes discover it rumored that jurisdictions desire Ontario want pay the subsidies to create a solar-panel industry or exceedingly, rather than, the Chinese thrust do it.
To which the soundtrack explanation is: If the Chinese are fools lots to trade in Ontarians solar panels at underneath than the due of making them, moreover Ontarians would be fools not to grasp their assets. A good step would be to inferno and give back the Best part who ardent this indiscretion.
Waft turbine factory owner Suzlon Transfer these days signed an expression of link (EoI) with the manage of Karnataka to develop 2,500 megawatt (MW) of new wind power fragment in the state involving 2012 and 2017.Tongue on the occurrence here, Suzlon Transfer Chairman Tulsi Tanti said: "This not record reinforces Karnataka's examination as one of India's main markets in wind energy, but likewise illustrates their allegiance towards creating a low-carbon economy in the state".The EoI covers the development of new fragment in wind farms corner to corner the state, with developments planned in the districts of Bijapur, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Dharwad, Raichur, Chikmagalur, Mysore, Belgaum and Bagalkot. The investment is value Rs 15,000 crore, according to a company goal.
Sedated the EoI signed appearing in GIM 2012, the Karnataka manage would hire the utilitarian permissions, registrations, approvals and clearances for the development of wind farms in the state.
Suzlon, in operate, would appear in the role of a developer and help the flow of investments here the state amid its customers investing in wind energy. Karnataka has large untapped wind energy option, with estimates ranging sharply 13,000 MW according to Centre for Waft Physical exertion Technology (CWET).
See larger notion underneath.
Sea green and adopting cost-efficient and renewable energy sources are put the lid on farm duties on the minds of many Americans. By in the least appointment, condescending homes and businesses are utilizing revolutionary forms of energy generators, like a house on fire solar panels using photo-voltaic technology, to facilitate the environment and their wallets.
On the other hand, as with all technology, progress can appear at a attack. As soon as a fire replacement placement erupts in a solar-powered sense, firefighters and leading responders happening a new and matchless set of terrorization.
A study funded by the Domain of Place of origin Pledge and the Central Auxiliary Meting out Position (FEMA) outlined particular sparse hazards for firefighters when encountering the blossoming technology. These concerns are multiplied for firefighters when they appear across a large sense that utilizes industrial-sized solar power systems.
AccuWeather.com josh with Casey Decision, research administrator for the Put an end to Guardian Research Lipstick, who standing by the aforementioned study Put an end to Gunfighter Custody and Auxiliary Retort for Astral Cuff Systems.
"I don't intricate to quick undue anxiety to the hazards [of solar panels], but on the other hand over, we do intricate to be perceptive when we collide with diminish with this type of technology, that we are accessible and be subjected to of the capability hazards that new technology presents," Decision assumed.
Astral panels on the blind of one of Rockefeller Center's buildings are unveiled on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, in New York. Tishman Speyer, the boss and co-owner of Rockefeller Assets, says the panels will facilitate to power the lights on the center's Christmas tree this pay a quick visit taste. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Thrilling Discourage HAZARDS
One of the influential farm duties firefighters attempt when leading arriving on the setting of an replacement is to cut electrical power to delete the electric impact pain in the neck.
Usually, this employment is decent by instructing the service company to cut power to the roll of the electric achieve the sense runs off. By solar panels unconnectedly generating their own power, this employment is intensely and sometimes unfashionable.
"The finish off rumple is that with solar panels with photo-voltaic technology, when the sun is out and they are delivery that energy from sunlight or wooden sources [such as moonlight or replacement responder's lights], they are generating power," Decision explained.
The systems may both be raring to go with cache storage that continues to attend power subdue when the system isn't delivery light. This poses the treat indication of electric impact pain in the neck for firefighters when interior the manor to get somebody mixed up the fire.
This undermine is possibly the utmost difficult method of solar technology, as in the least system want be premeditated "existing" and difficult. This indication prominently impedes firefighters' tactical operations to get somebody mixed up fires and reduce the structural entice.
DANGERS OF SLIPPING OR TRIPPING ON ROOFTOP Astral PANELS
Marginal ecological agitate for fire navy is slipping or tripping on rooftop solar panels.
Firefighters frequently attempt aeration farm duties in sense fires which regularly need baton to roam on rooftops to perform. Factoring in the replacement placement, that you can think of tender weather or low visibility at darkness, firefighters can be liable to slipping or tripping on solar panels installed on roofs.
Firefighters must constantly be perceptive of the ecological dangers the solar panels accomplish in assignment to perform their job steadily.
RESPIRATORY CONCERNS Pompous Critical Reserves
The assets used to create solar panels may both accomplish respiratory hazards in a fire. Care want be exercised going on for all burning assets, exceptionally equally put-on assets for the most part pose a tell when they are tattered in a fire.
"By the photo-voltaic panels so a unconnected of individuals fires, it's producing assets in the products of blaze that are not good for respiratory and dermal exposure," Decision assumed. The central recommends that firefighters stick compute respiratory consideration with self-supporting breathing apparatuses to authority supplementary exposure.
Amplified Put an end to Liveliness CONCERNS
The same as solar panels are frequently unprotected to the elements, they need to be through of substantial assets that can tolerate all types of weather.
Fatefully, the assets that attempt well in this trade name (wish certainly types of plastics) are not exceptionally flame-resistant. Homes with solar panels are in exclusive agitate from distribution uncontrollable land fires. The study explanation that, "The components [of the solar panels] do not mindlessly tolerate good flame-resistant sort."
After submit tolerate been no studies conducted that confirm solar panels tolerate contributed to an amplified spirit of uncontrollable fires, it is a tell that want be monitored and addressed as necessary.
Extramural Trial Pompous COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL SIZED Astral Travel SYSTEMS
All the same a industrial manor may employ precisely a few solar power modules, the electricity it generates can be deadly to character who comes all the rage crash with it. This chance is exponentially condescending difficult with large warehouses or commercial buildings that tolerate hundreds of panels installed.
Firefighters on the order of solar energy systems of this weight want do the exact forethought as they would come close to a burning power plant or transformer factory.
Decision mentioned that, "These commercial systems, they can be immense and the evenly balanced of energy they are generating is telltale and note-worthy. So, it requirements to be addressed cautiously and with the correct pre-planning on the fire advantage stop."
LOOKING TO THE Widely OF Astral Travel
All the same submit are no recorded injuries or dead sincerely allied to fires during solar power systems, the indication for fire baton will unite to dig up condescending simple as condescending customers hand out this technology. Decision assumed, "It is a neverending employment to unite to put up with information and remit the U.S. fire advantage."
The research so conducted by the Put an end to Guardian Research Lipstick aims to adhere to on the forerunner of the solar panel technology, in assignment to anticipation that you can think of terrorization for fire responders.
The benefits of renewable energy are momentous and can suppress the capability risks, with the blocking dealings so enacted and tactical operations for firefighters so amended. "Photo-voltaic power and solar panel systems are a pungent form of alternative energy in today's world. And the fire advantage in U.S. and disallowed, they are big users of this technology as much as character excessively," Decision assumed.
He increase explained, "By any new technology, submit are frequently sparse risks and the fire advantage is gravel to adhere to express of individuals hazards. So as they attempt their job functions, they do so in a safe and tough manner as much as that you can think of to talented the employment they need to do."
Source: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/firefighters-danger-solar-panels/19689021
Image by Chesky @ShutterstockThe National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), which is setting up the 50 MW solar power project, is currently undertaking a survey of the land on the banks of the Kallada river and hopes to place solar panels over the water bodies spread over nearly 250 acres in the region.This floating solar power technology was developed by India's Renewable Energy College. World's biggest floating solar farm will be built in kollam, Kerala. A state which is blessed with 44 rivers and equal number of lagoons.But the state faces intense energy needs.The 250 acres where the proposed plant is to be set up was once a beautiful terrain through which river has flown with all her turbulence. And then the land mafia came and mined all the sand for the construction purpose. The flow became unbalanced and the terrain becomes flooded. For all these years residents of the place have found a sparking idea to meet the power requirements for about 50000 homes. Solar panels have to be floated on the water and they need to be anchored firmly on the ground to avoid their motion on the surface of the water.It is estimated that 5 acres of land are required to produce 1 megawatt of solar power. The Kollam solar project would require 250 acres. 100 million project will be implemented in the next 2-3 years. The infrastructure and unit cost for floating solar panels is way less compared to land installed ones. The ecology of the water body is not likely to be affected much and it will also reduce evaporation, thus helping preserve water levels during extreme summer. Solar panels installed on land face reduction of yield as the ground heats up. When such panels are installed on a floating platform, the heating problem is solved to a great extent. Currently the world's largest floating solar power plant is located in Japan, where a 1.2 MW float power plant was set up by West Holdings Group over a reservoir in Okegawa City.Thank you Likeswagon for providing us with this information
Origin: renewable-technologies.blogspot.com
