MORE NEWS, 3-2 (CLEAN ENERGY CORPS; $25 BIL FOR FUTURE’S CARS; $1 SOLAR; WAVE ENERGY AT THE GOLDEN GATE)

CLEAN ENERGY CORPS
Time for a Clean Energy Corps?
Jonathan Marshall, February 26, 2009 (Next 100)

"…[G]rass roots activists are vowing to ensure that [Congress hears]…directly from the generation of Americans who will inherit the results of their action--or inaction.

"An organization called Power Shift '09 vows that it "will bring 10,000 young people to Washington to hold our elected officials accountable for rebuilding our economy and reclaiming our future through bold climate and clean energy policy." The event [began] Friday, Feb. 27."

Meet Van Jones. From GreenForAllOfficial via youTube.

"One of the featured speakers is the celebrated green jobs advocate Van Jones, founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland and founding president of the national organization Green for All.

"…[Testifying] before the House Education and Labor Committee…Jones called for creation of a Clean Energy Corps (reminiscent of the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps), focused on disadvantaged and disconnected youth and emphasizing energy and conservation-related service.

"Jones said he looks to state and local partnerships to 'create well-defined career pathways for CEC participants, moving them from the entry point of service, to specific skills training, to placement, job retention and careers in energy efficiency, energy service, and other industries of the green economy.'"


$25 BIL FOR FUTURE’S CARS
$25 Billion to Promote Electric Cars Is Untouched
Leslie Wayne, February 26, 2009 (NY Times)

"…The Energy Department has $25 billion to make loans to hasten the arrival of the next generation of automotive technology — electric-powered cars. But no money has been allocated so far, even though the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program, established in 2007, has received applications from 75 companies, including start-ups as well as the three Detroit automakers.

"With General Motors and Chrysler making repeat visits to Washington to ask for bailout money to stave off insolvency, some members of Congress are starting to ask why the Energy Department money is not flowing yet. The loans also are intended to help fulfill President Obama’s campaign promise of putting one million electric cars on American roads by 2015…"

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"Energy Department staff members said they were still sifting through loan applications, dozens of which arrived on the filing deadline of Dec. 31. On top of that, another $2 billion is coming to the department from the $787 billion stimulus package. That money will be used to develop the advanced battery technology needed to power electric cars, batteries more durable, safer and cheaper than anything available today.

"Until now, the program has gotten caught in the shifting priorities of two administrations. The program was not funded until September 2008. Then, the Bush administration considered using the Energy Department fund to help bail out G.M. and Chrysler, an idea that was later rejected. After that, President Obama had to name a new cabinet. As soon as Steven Chu took office as energy secretary, some members of Congress started applying pressure…"

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"There are complicating factors. Money can be given only to companies and projects that are deemed “financially viable.” G.M. and Chrysler, which have applied for a combined $13 billion from the Energy Department, must wait until the end of March for the Obama administration to decide whether the companies’ restructuring plans would make them viable…

"The program’s small staff — around a dozen part- and full-time employees — must also sort through complicated proposals, up to 1,000 pages long. Many of the applicants have lined up members of Congress to pressure the department…smaller companies say they fear the bulk of the money will be directed to the Detroit automakers…Still, with credit markets tight, the program represents a rare source of financing to develop electric-vehicle technology…

"The Energy Department has whittled the initial 75 loan applications, which seek a total $38 billion, down to 25 for a second round of reviews…"


$1 SOLAR
First Solar breaks solar energy’s $1 per watt barrier
Gail Flower, February 26, 2009 (Electronic Design Strategy News)

"First Solar Inc…claimed a milestone in the solar industry toward providing a sustainable and affordable solar energy solution: solar modules manufactured below the $1 per watt point, at a cost of $0.98 per watt…

"…SunPower last May touted full-scale solar cell protototypes at 23.4% efficiency. The company has reported improvements in mass production since its first all-back contact solar cell prototype in 2003. CEO Tom Werner has stated that SunPower’s Gen 2technology in mass production since 2007 is 22% efficient."

From envirodefensefund via YouTube.

"…First Solar began production of modules in 2004 and reached the $0.98 mark in Q4 2008. From 2004 to the present, the company's manufacturing capacity has grown 2,500% to more than 500 megawatts in 2008. Annual production capacity is predicted to double in 2009 to more than 1 gigawatt, the equivalent of an average-size nuclear plant…Through controlling costs while building volume, First Solar’s manufacturing costs have declined by more than two-thirds from the initial $3 per watt to less than $1 per watt.

…First Solar has made approximately 10 million modules for converting sunlight to energy and has a gain on others just entering the field by sheer experience…Mike Ahearn, CEO at First Solar, credited the German government and those of other countries for making the milestone possible…Germany has been a solar energy leader in large part as a response to the federal subsidies the country offers. Many of First Solar’s module installations have been done with government supported projects.

…US government support efforts…are late to offer market assistance, though the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act…designates $49.7 billion for energy, including $6.3 billion for renewable energy investments."


WAVE ENERGY AT THE GOLDEN GATE
Wave Energy to Bring Power and Jobs to San Francisco
Mayor Gavin Newsome, February 27, 2009 (Clean Technica)

"…San Francisco took a meaningful step toward turning the promise of renewable ocean energy into reality. We submitted a preliminary permit application to the federal government to develop a wave power project off our coast that we believe can generate between 10 to 30 megawatts of energy, with potential of up to 100 megawatts. When this project is fully operational, upwards of 100 jobs could be created in San Francisco.

"Ocean power is a true “game changer” in the area of renewable energy. When wave and tidal power technologies reach commercial scale, they are expected to be able to provide thousands of megawatts of power to our coastal communities, dramatically green our energy portfolios and create thousands of new American jobs. In San Francisco, we’ve been doing our part to spur these technologies by aggressively advancing tidal and wave power pilot projects…"

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"…In 1887, San Francisco Mayor Adolph Sutro recognized the power of San Francisco’s waves and built a wave catch-basin to harness the ocean’s power. Over the next century wave power development took a backseat to our dependence on oil, with oil platforms built along our coasts to feed our oil addiction.

"…[M]ore recently, an explosion of research and development of wave power technologies has occurred. The first commercial units are scheduled to go online in Portugal this year (2 MW from three 750 KW Pelamis units). In the U.S. there are a number of studies, but no commercial operations; San Francisco is hoping to change that.
The proposal submitted by the City to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), grows out of a recent wave power study the City completed…"

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"The study confirms that wave power is a promising resource…Our project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of generating electric power from waves about eight miles off the west coast of San Francisco. The next step in our project will be to select technologies and undertake environmental studies to ensure minimal impact on marine animals, fishing, shipping and recreational uses.

"There are over 50 different types of wave devices currently under development, ranging from “pitching” devices (Pelamis), “overtopping” devices (Wave Dragon), oscillating water columns (OceanLinx) and “heaving” devices (Aquabuoy). Some of these devices are based on “biomimicry” principles, which imitate natural designs and processes (bioWave, WaveRoller). Others can even provide both wave power and desalination (CETO). Wave technology is still new, but the possibilities of clean, green energy produced by the ocean is very real, if we invest in the technology…"