October 20, 2008: Opinions Vary On The Solar Industry’s Immediate Future
SunPower C.E.O. Tom Werner believes that the economic downturn will initiate a “flight to quality” investments, which would be good news for solar energy.
Despite generally optimistic reports from this year’s annual Solar Power International Conference in San Diego, some have concerns over the industry’s immediate future.
Gunther Portfolio wonders how the extension of renewable energy tax credits to large utilities will effect independent producers.
The Street asks whether solar companies and large utilities will be “friends or foes.”
Though the federal extension of renewable energy tax credits help the renewable energy industries, the credit crunch is putting projects on hold.
Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Dean James Gustave Speth argues for a populist environmentalism that curbs wasteful economic growth.
Greenbiz.com attended the Green Manufacturing Summit held in San Francisco last week.
Local Green: The New York Times looks at California state ballot proposition 7, a controversial measure that supporters say “would set among the toughest standards in the country for increasing wind, solar and geothermal sources of electrical power.” However, it is opposed by “virtually every constituency pushing to wean the state off fossil fuels.”
Minnesota wants to expand and improve its power grid to transport its growing clean energy supply.
Think Progress (via Alternet) argues that recent conservative attacks on ACORN, the “nation’s largest grassroots community organization,” stem from a fear “of millions of new low-income voters” that the group registered.
–Christopher Greenspan
Tags: ACORN, California State Ballot Proposition 7, Green Manufacturing Summit, renewable energy tax credits, Solar Enerty