• Created on 12/8/11 by cleanenergyexp

New York solar advocates are pushing for the adoption of a new bill that would create a solar renewable energy credit (SREC) market. If enacted, the New York Solar Industry Development and Jobs Act would launch an SREC market starting in 2013.   An SREC represents the environmental attributes from a solar facility and is generated each time a certified and registered solar power system produces one thousand killowatt-hours (KWh) of energy. For every 1000 killowatt-hours of electricity produced by an eligible solar facility, one SREC is awarded which can then be... read more

• Created on 11/22/11 by cleanenergyexp

Last June, Governor Chris Christie ruffled the feathers of many in the clean energy community by released a draft of his administration’s Energy Master Plan (EMP) which called for more focus be devoted to larger projects that would be located in brownfields and larger commercial warehouses. This would less support for smaller scale projects, such as residential or small commercial solar, and is a result of Governor Christie’s desire that any renewable energy projects demonstrate larger “bang for the buck” and do not result in additional rate increases for... read more

• Created on 11/16/11 by cleanenergyexp

A recent round table with Colorado-based solar executives and senior executives from national and regional banks explored the major roadblocks to solar companies in Colorado. The meeting, hosted by the Colorado Bankers Association and the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (“COSEIA”), identified financing as the biggest impediment to substantial growth for solar in colorado.   According to COSEIA, approximately 80-90% of the solar companies in Colorado are facing growth restraints due to lack of available financing. This is particularly critical as more... read more

• Created on 11/16/11 by cleanenergyexp

Recently, Evergreen Solar, one of the first casualties in the U.S. solar manufacturing business, declared bankruptcy and has received approval from the courts to sell off all of its assets. Thinking about the company, how did they get here?   Evergreen made its claim to fame with its String Ribbon technology: basically, instead of traditional silicon wafers, Evergreen produced ribbons of silicon crystals which were then cut into lengths which are treated with traditional processes to form solar cells. String Ribbon technology offers a less expensive manufacturing... read more

• Created on 11/5/11 by cleanenergyexp

In a potentially damaging move for San Diego solar customers, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has recently asked permission to bill its customers for the use of its electric grid. The goal is to effectively unbundle grid use from the cost of electricity through a “network use charge” that would be based on the ebb and flow of electricity for those SDG&E customers that generate excess power during the day (thus pushing electricity on to the grid) and then draw from the grid at night or on a cloudy day.   While this would have virtually no impact on SDG&E’s regular... read more

• Created on 11/3/11 by Cordelia

  In a kickoff segment, we discussed three types of eco-friendly beauty products:organic, natural, and vegan. In this article, we go into more detail about vegan cosmetics and suggest vegan brands and products for the curious or full-on vegan lifestyle.     Photo by Shandi-lee, courtesy of Flickr.com     To get started, here’s the skinny on “vegan”: Vegan beauty products are derived purely from plants and inorganic substances (like minerals). This means they contain zero ingredients made from animals (e.g., rabbit hair, boar hair) or animal byproducts... read more

• Created on 11/3/11 by Cordelia

  In a kickoff segment, we introduced three types of eco-friendly beauty products: organic, vegan, and natural.   In this article, we go into more detail about natural cosmetics and suggest natural brands and products for the curious or full-on green lifestyle.     Photo by Daniel M. Viero, courtesy of Flickr.com     Here’s the skinny on “natural”: Natural beauty products contain elements and byproducts of elements that occur naturally on our planet or are otherwise “found in nature.” Products that contain artificial, manmade additives are... read more

• Created on 11/3/11 by stins

  In a kickoff segment, we introduced three types of eco-friendly beauty products: natural, vegan, and organic.  In this article, we go into more detail about organic cosmetics and suggest organic brands and products for the curious or full-on organic lifestyle.   Photo by Lauren Hammond, courtesy of Flickr.com   Here’s the skinny on “organic”: Organic beauty products come in all shapes and sizes. Some are 100% organic, while others are partially formulated with organic ingredients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate organic... read more

• Created on 11/3/11 by Cordelia

  Do you know the difference between Organic, Natural, and Vegan cosmetics?   Scrutinizing ingredient lists and staying current on the latest health and eco-headlines can be overwhelming. But “going green” while staying pretty is easy and fun when you have a handle on the basics.     Photo by Amy Clarke, courtesy of Flickr.com     A series of three articles on GreenOptions.com delves deeper to identify specific characteristics of organic, natural, and vegan beauty products and recommend body- and earth-friendly alternatives to conventional... read more

• Created on 10/31/11 by carboninvest123

  An Irish forestry fund was recently dubbed by its management company as one of the best investments in the country. The fund, which last year reached a 10-year maturity, declared 83 per cent gross return rates. The average initial investment in the fund back in 2000 was estimated at 9,400 euro. It is expected to bring in a tax-free payout of over GBP17,000, according to fund managers. The founder of a UK-based bamboo bond promises even better results for investors. An initial investment of as little as GBP10,300 in the fast-growing grass used for its... read more