Solar Energy

A Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee will consider nine energy and climate policy bills this week, covering topics from engineering education and wind energy research to carbon capture technology development incentives and biofuels for small engines. Many of the bills would authorize research spending at the Energy Department, and DOE Undersecretary Kristina Johnson will testify before the Energy Subcommittee. Five of the bills have already passed the House this year.

Solar energy installations in the United States are poised to grow about 50 percent annually in the next three years. The U.S. is likely to install 400 megawatts of new solar projects in 2009, and see the growth reach 1.5 gigawatts to 2 gigawatts of new installations in 2012, according to GTM Research's new report released Tuesday. The report, The United States PV Market Through 2013: Project Economics, Policy, Demand and Strategy, analyzed the scope and financing of power projects by major developers.

Utilities are poised to drive the U.S. solar market in coming years, based on a new report from Emerging Energy Research that predicts utilities will add 21.5 GW of photovoltaic capacity by 2020, up from only 77 MW of utility-driven PV projects in operation today. U.S. utilities already have announced more than 4.8 GW of large PV projects in the works, according to the Emerging Energy Research report. The firm forecasts that utilities will play a key role in shaping the changing landscape of solar power and estimates the U.S.

Sweetwater TX may appear to be a down-and-out dying town, but they're going through another wildcat phase. West Texas has a long history of energy company development, being the original location of gusher oil fields. The oil industry is rather dying itself but Texas is now focusing on wind power. If Texas were a country—and Texans love to remind you that it once was a sovereign republic—it would rank seventh in carbon-dioxide emissions: Its economy accounts for more than a quarter of total U.S.

The cost of installing and owning solar panels will fall even faster than expected according to new research. Tests show that 90% of existing solar panels last for 30 years, instead of the predicted 20 years. According to the independent EU Energy Institute, this brings down the lifetime cost. Incentive programmes for solar panels in Germany, Italy and Spain have created manufacturing volume that's bringing down costs. Solar panel prices dropped 30% last year alone due to an increase in output and a drop in orders because of the recession.

High oil prices generally cause economic recessions. The trouble in Dubai is due to decrease in oil consumption due to the current economic recession likely triggered by the high oil prices in 2007-8. What's keeping oil prices in check currently is the recession causing lowered demand. If/as the recession lifts and economic activity returns to "normal" oil demand should rise again. Since it seems oil production cannot return to meeting rising demand, then high oil prices should result, again. Which would cause another recession.

T. Boone Pickens Responds to Al Gore's Climate Speech: In a "My plan is better than your plan" kind of statement T. Boone Pickins announced: "Today, former Vice President Al Gore put forward a framework of a plan that is focused on global warming and climate issues. My plan is aimed squarely at breaking the stranglehold that foreign oil has on our country and the $700 billion annual impact it has on our economy.