Solar Blog
“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” –Thomas Edison, 1931
November 23, 2009: NASA Reaps Benefits from Solar Farm and Plans New Energy Project
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The electricity that's being used at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., now is partly supplied by the space agency's first large-scale solar power generation facility. ... read more
November 23, 2009: SRP plans new solar plant to be largest in state
SRP has selected Iberdrola Renewables Inc. to build and operate a 20-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) power facility that would, for the first time, allow an Arizona utility's customers to save money by buying the green energy directly from SRP's land-mounted solar power plant. ... read more
November 16, 2009: Suntech to Open Plant in Arizona
Suntech, a Chinese solar panel firm, is announcing its first American plant in Arizona. The news is another sign that Arizona's Renewable Energy Standard (RES) is working. ... read more
November 10, 2009: Bus tour gives officials a look at ongoing solar power projects
Attorney General Terry Goddard goes to work every day in a building he describes as one of the most backward on the energy grid. Built in the 1950s, it has strips under the windows to provide heating, for example. ... read more
November 5, 2009: U.S. Struggles to Build Solar Opportunities
The competitiveness of the U.S. solar industry was a recurring theme at last week's Solar Power International show in Anaheim, Calif., where speakers talked about the considerable opportunities that lie ahead, but also the need to speak out and take a role in energy policy development. ... read more
October 29, 2009: Solar roadmap lights the way
Thanks to the Arizona Republic for their strong endorsement of H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. Click here for a summary of the provisions... ... read more
October 27, 2009: DOE Launches Online Resource to Help Local Governments Expand Use of Solar Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the availability of a new online resource for local governments that assists community leaders and local stakeholders in building sustainable local solar markets. ... read more
October 27, 2009: Boomtown in Solar Valley
Last month, the Berliner Zeitung, a German newspaper, wrote an article about our efforts here in Arizona to become the world leader in solar energy. ... ... read more
October 22, 2009: Solar Technology Roadmap Act Passes the House
Today, my bill H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 310-106. Watch my speech below, delivered on the House floor. ... read more
October 6, 2009: Visit to Solar Technology Research Corp
On Friday, Ocotober 2, I visited Solar Technology Research Corp, a Tucson company that received $100,000 to conduct potentially groundbreaking work into the development of... ... read more
October 1, 2009: Hearing on my Solar Roadmap Legislation
Yesterday, the Energy and Environment Subcomittee of the House Science and Technology Committee had a hearing on my bill H.R. 3585 ... read more
September 29, 2009: The New Sputnik
Friedman nails it! We can't continue to ignore what is happening with clean energy development. As I've said before, I believe this is the Apollo mission of our generation. ... read more
September 22, 2009: Solar is the Bridge to Our Future
I recently published a guest editorial at http://terrain.org, stressing the importance of solar energy as a gateway to prosperity in the 21st Century. ... read more
September 17, 2009: U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS INTRODUCES BILL TO BOOST DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR TECHNOLOGY
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today introduced legislation that would require the federal Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses. ... read more
September 17, 2009: Have a Nice Day
China and Germany understand that prosperity and growth depend on nurturing a renewable energy industry. When will the United States?Full articleHave a Nice Day By... ... read more
September 14, 2009: "Bright Tucson"
Tucson Electric Power has requested $25 million in stimulus funds from the U.S. Department of Energy to help fund the "Bright Tucson" project, which would employ energy storage systems and a "demand response" program to optimize the output of a new 1.6-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) array. ... read more
September 14, 2009: First Solar to start largest solar power plant in Ordos, China
Good news: US business positioning itself as the global exporters of solar technology. Bad news: US policy not keeping up with the competition. ... read more