Month: July 2012

Energy Grid Corruption: A Looming Crisis Ahead

Illustration of a damaged power grid with lightning bolts, smoking house, and text warning about U.S. power grid risks from corruption and mismanagement.

Amidst record-high temperatures and a very anti-climactic 4th of July, power outages have left millions without air-conditioning and even water in rural areas where households rely on electric pumps. At least 52 people have died from heat and three million people are still without power. No it’s not Yemen, where power outages in the capital Sana’a have sparked a new round of protests. It’s the United States of America, where corruption converges with a moribund electricity distribution system to produce increasingly frequent blackouts across the Midwest and East Coast. A thunderstorm that struck the East Coast early last week left millions without electricity and power companies took days to restore power to about half of their customers. Four days after the storm, power was restored to 67% in the Northern Virginia suburbs and 61% in Baltimore, but Montgomery County, Maryland and parts of Washington, D.C. only managed to restore 43%, leaving over a million without electricity as temperatures soared above 100 degrees.

NYSERDA Expands Multifamily Building Incentive Program. Easier Energy Efficiency Projects

Redesigned portfolio offers multiple financial incentives and paths for energy efficiency
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is giving owners and developers of multifamily buildings-including condominiums and co-ops-more ways to reduce energy waste and save money. NYSERDA is offering higher incentives for all existing multifamily housing, including significantly increased incentives for affordable housing buildings that burn only natural gas for their primary space heating, and buildings that exceed energy savings expectations. NYSERDA has also added a fast track for multifamily buildings with five to 49 units, which offers a faster, easier process for identifying improvements to the building and payment of the entire incentive upon completion of improvements.
The expanded options are part of the new Multifamily Energy Performance Portfolio (MEPP), which brings together all NYSERDA multifamily programs under one brand to give owners, managers and developers greater ability to enter into energy efficiency at the point where they are most comfortable. Properties that make energy efficiency upgrades can generally realize significant cost savings and offer residents units that are more comfortable, healthy and sustainable.

Sevcon Motor Controllers for New AUCMA EV Electric Truck

AUCMA A-2 electric light-duty truck with EV branding, parked in an urban municipal setting with city workers in safety gear nearby.

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass., July 23, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chinese firm AUCMA Electric Vehicle Co. Ltd has selected Sevcon as the motor controller supplier for its new light truck, the A-2.
Aimed at municipal fleets in both domestic and overseas markets, the new A-2 light duty truck is powered by a 72V 16kW AC motor and Sevcon will supply its Gen4 digital motor controller with regenerative braking technology to the company based in Qingdao, Shandong Province.
AUCMA EV CEO Raymond Zhu said: “The Sevcon controller is perfectly suited for the A-2 truck application with adjustable parameters thatallow us to tailor the performance to any specific truck type, fromflatbed to cargo box vehicles. The customer support we have receivedfrom Sevcon has been exceptional and the company has worked hard toensure the controller will work effectively across our applications.”

Battery Recycling Day: A Step Towards a Greener Future

The image brilliantly brings Seattle's first Battery Recycling Day to life! It's like the city's eco-conscious heart is on full display. Front and center, we see enthusiastic Seattleites dropping off batteries of all shapes and sizes into colorful recycling bins. You can almost feel the buzz of excitement in the air. In the background, Seattle's iconic skyline stretches towards the sky, with the Space Needle standing tall – a reminder that this city's always reaching for new heights, even in environmental responsibility. The contrast between the modern cityscape and the grassroots recycling effort is striking, showing how urban living and sustainability can go hand in hand. The vibrant colors used throughout the image really pop, giving the whole scene a sense of energy and optimism. It's not just about recycling; it's about celebrating a step towards a greener future. Educational posters scattered around the scene catch the eye, explaining why battery recycling matters. It's like a mini eco-lesson right there on the street! This visual element perfectly captures the educational aspect of the event, showing that it's not just about collection, but also about raising awareness. The banner proclaiming "Seattle's 1st Battery Recycling Day - Powering a Greener Future!" ties everything together. It's a powerful statement that encapsulates the spirit of the event – taking charge of our environmental impact, one battery at a time. This image doesn't just show an event; it tells a story of a city coming together to make a difference. It's a visual testament to Seattle's commitment to sustainability and community action. Looking at this, you can't help but feel inspired to dig through your own junk drawer and find those old batteries. Now that's the power of good design and a great cause!

Seattle Charges Ahead: First Battery Recycling Day Makes History Power to the People: A Recycling Revolution July 2012 marks a watershed moment for environmental responsibility in the Emerald City. Seattle launches its first-ever Battery Recycling Day. It's not just about collecting old AAs; it's a bold step towards a cleaner, greener future. From Junk Drawers... Continue Reading →

SPI Solar Acquires Italian EPC Contractor Solar Green Technologies

Acquisition Immediately Adds 20MW in EPC Revenue through Existing Contracts in Italian Rooftop Solar Market
Roseville, CA, June 28, 2012— SPI Solar (“SPI”) (SOPW:OTCBB), a leading solar developer, today announced that it has acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Italy-based Solar Green Technologies (“SGT”) from LDK Solar Europe Holdings S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (“LDK”), and the two founders of SGT for approximately €5 million, primarily comprised of approximately 13,400,533 shares of SPI common stock valued at approximately $0.45 per share, plus approximately $250,000 of cash to the two founders of SGT. SPI believes this acquisition will be financially accretive as SGT’s current book of business and pipeline of projects are currently expected to generate immediate revenue and earnings for SPI both near term and on an ongoing basis. SGT’s current booked pipeline consists of 20MW of rooftop solar installations for the Century program serving as EPC provider for approximately 33 distributed generation systems as well as Epicuro Fund’s 25MW project pipeline for another 30-40 systems.

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