Plugging Into the Sun January 5, 2007.
“...
Solar power is also emerging as a kind of status symbol, a glamorous mark of personal responsibility.
...
The companies are responding not only to an increase in demand, but also to a change in the type of consumers interested in going solar. Unlike the do-it-yourself tinkerers who once made up much of the home photovoltaic market, the people fueling the current growth spurt are interested in hands-off user friendliness.
...”

Dems Seek to Use Oil Cash for Renewables December 26, 2006.
“House Democrats in the first weeks of the new Congress plan to establish a dedicated fund to promote renewable energy and conservation, using money from oil companies. That’s only one legislative hit the oil industry is expected to take next year as a Congress run by Democrats is likely to show little sympathy to the cash-rich, high-profile business.”

Customers left in dark wonder why neighbors have power December 19, 2006.
“...
Damage to a lateral line can explain why smaller areas, individual streets, cul-de-sacs or even businesses are still powerless, said Peter Clarke, spokesman for Seattle City Light.
With 16,000 customers in the service area still without power Monday, the utility gave priority to the high-impact feeder lines, Clarke said. The utility said it hoped to restore power to most homes, but an estimated 5,000 may have to wait until late Tuesday.
...”

Businesses with power thrived, those without it tanked December 19, 2006.

Iraq Insurgents Starve Capital of Electricity December 18, 2006.
“Over the past six months, Baghdad has been all but isolated electrically, Iraqi officials say, as insurgents have effectively won their battle to bring down critical high-voltage lines and cut off the capital from the major power plants to the north, south and west.
The battle has been waged in the remotest parts of the open desert, where the great towers that support thousands of miles of exposed lines are frequently felled with explosive charges in increasingly determined and sophisticated attacks, generally at night. Crews that arrive to repair the damage are often attacked and sometimes killed, ensuring that the government falls further and further behind as it attempts to repair the lines.
...”

Bush urged to break US oil dependence December 14, 2006.
“The Bush administration should act decisively to break America’s dependence on oil, said a group of leading US business executives and senior military officers in a report presented on Wednesday to the White House and Congress.
The bipartisan group, which includes the chief executives of Fedex, UPS, Dow Chemicals and some of America’s best known retired generals, urged Washington to recognise that “pure market economics will never solve the problem” of US oil dependency.
The report poured cold water on the Bush administration’s goal of reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil, rather than on oil in general. It urged Mr Bush and the new Democrat-controlled Congress to set up a plan to halve the American economy’s oil-intensity by 2030.
...
“Events affecting supply or demand anywhere will affect consumers everywhere,” said the report, brought out by the Energy Security Leadership Council, a think tank. “Exposure to price shocks is a function of how much oil a nation consumes and is not significantly affected by the ratio of “domestic oil” to so-called “foreign oil”.
...”

Forecast: U.S. Renewable Energy to Hit 700 GW December 1, 2006.
“Leading experts predict that policy goal of 25% renewable production capacity by 2025 could potentially double.”

Watchdog warns of one energy crisis after another November 8, 2006.
“The world will lurch from one energy crisis to another unless governments switch from increased burning of fossil fuels to more nuclear, renewable and energy-saving sources, the Western world’s energy watchdog said.
In a landmark report published yesterday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast skyrocketing fuel prices, blackouts and supply disruptions as it pointed to a 50 per cent surge in energy demand by 2030.
...
In its report, World Energy Outlook 2006, the IEA offered a choice of two scenarios. In its reference case, the agency paints a picture of soaring demand and increasing risk of supply disruptions as dependence rises on a diminishing number of gas and oil suppliers.
“This energy scenario is not only unsustainable but doomed to failure,” said Claude Mandil, head of the IEA.”

Bid to overhaul Europe power grid November 5, 2006.
“Power failed first in Cologne, Germany, before shutting down across parts of France, Italy, Spain and Austria.
Belgium, the Netherlands and Croatia were also affected.”

Black lung on rise in Va. miners October 2, 2006.
“Federal researchers are seeing an increase in the amount and severity of black lung disease among coal miners in far Southwest Virginia.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released those findings last month in its national publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.”

Solar Generation - 3rd Edition September 6, 2006.
“Solar power can deliver electricity to more than 2 billion people, provide over 2 million jobs with an annual investment of 113 billion Euros by 2025, reveals the joint report, ‘SolarGeneration’, released by Greenpeace International and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association. The market report also explains that 350 million tonnes of CO2 emissions would be cut - the equivalent amount from 140 coal power stations and by 2040, solar electricity could provide over 16 percent of the global demand.”
[Visit the link to download the report.]

German nuclear plants cut generation capacities on heat July 27, 2006.
“DUESSELDORF (MarketWatch) — Several nuclear power plants in Germany have been forced to scale down production Thursday as warm weather raises temperatures in waterways that the power plant operators normally use in their cooling process.
...
The exceptionally high prices on the EEX exchange meant that, for the first time, solar energy was cheaper than power generated from nuclear, gas or coal, the German association for solar energy, or Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft BSW, said Thursday.
The BSW said that as cooling problems forced large nuclear power stations to curtail production, Germany’s about 200,000 solar energy installations were reaching their peak production capacity producing almost 2,000 MW of power. Solar energy “is increasingly helping to close gaps in supply,” the association said.”

Asia shows solar power not confined to rich July 2, 2006.
“The majority of rural households can afford solar lighting. They have no idea how much they spend on candles and kerosene,” said Andy Schroeter, managing director of Sunlabob.
Researchers from the German Fraunhofer’s Institute for Solar Energy’s (ISE) rural electrification South East Asia programme agree that even in the world’s poorest regions citizens can afford to pay for basic energy needs.

U.S. Officials Announce National Renewable Energy Conference June 23, 2006.
Energy Department to fund two new bioenergy research centers
“Washington — U.S. agriculture and energy officials announced June 23 that they will co–host a national renewable energy conference October 10–12 in Missouri to accelerate commercialization of renewable energy industries and distribution systems.”

TRANSCRIPT OF TELE-NEWS CONFERENCE WITH AGRICULTURE SECRETARY MIKE JOHANNS AND ENERGY SECRETARY SAMUEL BODMAN REGARDING RENEWABLE ENERGY EFFORTS WASHINGTON D.C. June 23, 2006.
“MODERATOR: Good morning from Washington. I’m Larry Quinn speaking to you from the Broadcast Center at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Welcome to today”s news conference with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. They will be highlighting renewable energy efforts.”

Environmental Exposures Linked to One–Third of Childhood Disease June 16, 2006.
Globally, more than 33 percent of disease in children under the age of five is caused by environmental exposures, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a sweeping report issued today. The lives of as many as four million children a year could be saved by preventing environmental risk, the world health body concludes.
Taking children and adults together, as much as 24 percent of disease is caused by environmental exposures that could be averted by targeted interventions, the WHO report shows.

New Interference on the Horizon for U.S. Wind Power Development June 15, 2006.
“This drastic mismatch, said Seifert, shows why military concerns over radar interactions with wind projects are putting the brakes on hundreds of megawatts of wind power development in parts of the country.”

Take Action to Extend Federal Solar Tax Credits Through 2015 June 1, 2006.
“(WASHINGTON, DC) — 58 Representatives and 11 Senators have signed on to legislation to extend solar energy and fuel cell investment tax credits for homeowners and businesses through 2015. The credits are currently set to expire next year. This bipartisan support comes as 7,000 letters were sent to Congress in the month of May. Solar supporters are encouraged to contact their Congressperson by going to the following website:
http://capwiz.com/re-action/issues/alert/?alertid=8722721&type=CO
...”

Nobelist Creates Films on Solar Power May 2006.

Maryland joins states breaking with Bush on CO2 April 7, 2006.
“Maryland has become the eighth state to join a pact seeking mandatory limits on carbon dioxide emissions, the governor’s office said on Friday.
President George W. Bush opposes forcing emitters to limit production of the gases that most scientists believe cause global warming. He favors voluntary methods of reducing them.
Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a Republican, signed an act on Thursday that requires the state to join the pact, called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Seven states agreed to the pact late last year: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and Delaware. It aims to cap carbon dioxide emissions from power plants at 1990 levels beginning in 2009, and cut emissions 10 percent below that level by 2018.”

UPDATE 2–U.S. utilities’ CO2 emissions up since 1990–report April 5, 2006.
“U.S. electric utilities’ emissions of pollutants that cause acid rain and smog have fallen sharply since the federal government adopted stricter standards in 1990, but greenhouse gas emissions have risen in that time, according to a report released on Wednesday.”

Bush to Meet with US Governors February 25, 2006.
In his weekly radio address Saturday, President Bush said he will talk with the governors about the nation’s energy strategy and his Advanced Energy Initiative, which would invest in alternative fuels, such as ethanol, as well as nuclear energy and solar and wind power.
“By applying the talent and innovative spirit of our citizens, we will move beyond a petroleum–based economy, protect our environment, and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy,” said Mr. Bush.

State Of The Union: The Advanced Energy Initiative January 31, 2006.
"The President has set a national goal of replacing more than 75% of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025."

Ex–EPA Chiefs Agree on Greenhouse Gas Lid January 18, 2006.
Six former administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency, including five Republicans, said yesterday that the Bush administration should impose mandatory controls on greenhouse gas emissions to curb global warming.
The group, which came together in Washington for a roundtable discussion to celebrate the agency's 35th anniversary, said the White House is not moving fast enough to address the global threat that human-generated climate change poses.
“This is not a sort of short-term cycle problem. This is a major disaster for the world,” said Russell E. Train, who served as EPA administrator under Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford from 1973 to 1977. “To say we’ll deal with it later and try to push it away is dishonest to the people, and self–destructive.”

A major international conference focusing on the growing impact of Renewable Resources will take place at the University of York, in the UK, next September.
The three-day symposium, which starts on 6 September 2006, will bring together academics, industrialists and policy-makers to discuss the challenges the world faces in embracing renewable resources - and present novel developments in their use.

The Renewable Energy Law for The People’s Republic of China becomes effective on January 1, 2006. See the China roadmap section for the text of the law.

Solar Panels Are Big Money-Saver for City Tenants December 30, 2005.
“Our policy is to consider small scale renewable opportunities for all new build properties. As well as helping to reduce carbon emissions, green energy products enable us to tackle fuel poverty, an important issue for many.”

Japan to End Release of Strategic Reserves. December 27, 2005.
TOKYO — Japan will end its release of oil reserves to the United States next week, a news report quoted the economy minister as saying Tuesday.
Japan has been shipping oil from its reserves under a plan brokered by the International Energy Agency to temper rising prices after Hurricane Katrina struck U.S. oil refineries.

Senate Kills Alaska Drilling December 22, 2005.

LADWP Moves to Accelerate Renewable Energy Goal. December 22, 2005.
Los Angeles, California [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] The Board of Water and Power Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) took the first step this week toward increasing renewable energy sources to 20 percent of the City’s power mix by 2010 -- seven years ahead of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) goal that was adopted by the Board and the City Council earlier this year.

Cities slash solar permit fees December 21, 2005.
“Since we have a lack of leadership at the national level on energy, a number of us on the council feel it is important to do what we can locally and set an example that other municipalities can follow.”

Cities slash solar permit fees December 21, 2005. “Since we have a lack of leadership at the national level on energy, a number of us on the council feel it is important to do what we can locally and set an example that other municipalities can follow.”

Seven Northern States OK Pollution Plan December 20, 2005
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative said the plan would curb carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 10 percent by 2019. It was signed by governors from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.

The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in its ongoing efforts to promote renewable power, today increased funding by $300 million for solar photovoltaic technologies. December 15, 2005.

California Readies Largest U.S. Solar Energy Plan. December 14, 2005.

Evergreen Solar to Present at at First Albany Capital Annual Growth Conference; Company to Webcast Presentation Live at 9:20 a.m. ET on December 7, 2005.

“We find that CO2 is about 30% higher than at any time, and methane 130% higher than at any time; and the rates of increase are absolutely exceptional: for CO2, 200 times faster than at any time in the last 650,000 years.”
“We found a very tight relationship between CO2 and temperature even before 420,000 years,” said Professor Stocker.
November 24, 2005.

Evergreen Solar to Present at Pacific Growth Equities Top Picks in Tech Conference; Company to Webcast Presentation Live at 9:30 a.m. ET on November 15, 2005.

Form 8-K Report Date: November 9, 2005
Item 4.02(a) Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review.
It’s a good idea to take the time to read the report yourself (it is fairly short). It appears to be basically saying that some accounting entries need to be entered differently. Note the report goes on to say:
“The restatement adjustments will not change the Company’s previously reported total assets, or statements of operations including its revenue, loss, loss per share and stockholders equity.”
It’s also a good idea to (re)listen to the 2005 third quarter conference call. In particular, listen for the expected progress of thin-cell and the possible labor savings that the simplified design of quad furnaces can bring. Obviously, between reducing labor and producing twice as much ribbon in the same plant space the possibility of quad furnaces offer the hope of significately improved margins which could mean profitablity and market place advantage.
Amended versions of those two quartly reports have now been filed.
Form 10-Q/A For the quarterly period ended July 2, 2005.
Form 10-Q/A For the quarterly period ended April 2, 2005.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Environment officials from around the world agreed in Beijing on Tuesday to work to increase reliance on renewable sources of energy, underscoring a commitment to renewables after oil prices hit record highs. November 8, 2005.

This MetroWest Daily News article from Sunday, October 2, 2005 mentions, “In recent months, the program has exploded, nearly doubling the rebates handed out last month, from $115,000 in August to $206,000 in September. All told, the program has handed out nearly $700,000 to homeowners.”

September 22, 2005 DOE Releases Draft Strategic Plan for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Deployment of Advanced Technology

BOULDER, Colorado, US, August 31, 2005 (Refocus Weekly) The United States should launch a national public education campaign to promote renewable energies, states a recommendation from the American Solar Energy Society.

European Union’s 3GWp by 2010 ===> by 2008. Jul 19, 2005.