French nuclear power plant acquires U.S-based solar thermal power plant company French-based Areva has announced the full acquisition of California-based solar energy company Ausra as a step towards the nuclear power company's expansion ... Contra Costa County Office of Education considers solar energy projects Trustees voted last month to spend $60,000 to have Quattrocchi Kwok Architects design solar energy generators for the agency's headquarters in Pleasant Hill and four of its schools. Photovoltaic panels could be installed on carport rooftops, buildings or on the ground, Hild said.He estimated the agency could save about $8.3 million over 20 years on energy costs, cutting bills about 80 percent from $235,000 to $47,000 annually. Staffers and architects plan to present designs and detailed budgets to the board Feb. 17, with trustees voting at a later date. Architect Aaron Jobson said he expects to propose rooftop and carport panels in Pleasant Hill, and ground projects at the Marc... Colorado U Adds Solar to Three Buildings The solar energy will go back into the buildings that hold the panels. The university has teamed up with Rockwell Financial Group of Centennial, CO, ... School groups support using money from wind, solar energy to boost pay of Nebraska teachers Money from solar-energy leases and carbon sequestration could also be put in the fund. Under the bill from Sen. Ken Haar of Lincoln, money would begin to be ... Gillibrand Introduces Solar Energy Legislation Solar energy requires significant upfront expenditures for systems that are otherwise cost-effective over time. This rebate program would complement existing federal and state incentives. In order to apply consumers would need to meet certain energy efficiency requirements. The rebates could cover up to half of the installed cost to the consumer, after all other applicable incentives are applied. If fully funded over a ten year period, this legislation could deploy up to 30 gigawatts of solar PV, and create 750,000 jobs. President Obama's budget for next year requested $2.4 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The requested 5 percent boost over... Solar Industry The project, recently put into operation, will assess the effectiveness of storing solar energy using new, more efficient battery technology, according to ... California Solar Farm Gets LEED Gold The sheep can roam in, around, and presumably under the solar panel arrays to nibble on the vegetation–and keep the solar energy flowing. Petra Solar receives $15 million investment from Craton Equity Partners Once installed, the panels can provide solar energy directly into a power grid. The panels are a result of a $200 million contract signed in 2009 with PSE&G ... More energy from renewables A bill that would boost the proportion of energy that Colorado gets from renewable sources heavily emphasizes the development of rooftop solar energy for homes and businesses. We think that's good for Colorado's economy, as it would stimulate the solar industry, and also good for the environment. The idea, however, leans heavily on market conditions and tax incentives that are currently favorable, but could change. We're talking about variables such as federal tax credits, which are now, in our opinion, generous. Another variable is the cost of a rooftop solar system, which due to market conditions is significantly less than it had been in recent years. It's possible... Leading News Resource of Pakistan Then there is the possibility to use solar energy, which requires expensive technology to harness but does not require much continued investment and is also very user- and environment-friendly. In India, government institutions have begun providing solar products on lease, so that people can afford them. It is not uncommon to see use of solar panels to heat water even in the remote mountainous regions of Nepal. Pakistan needs to similarly consider incentivising the use of solar energy.Tidal energy, which provides a form of hydropower generated through the movement of tidal currents of the sea is being harnessed in several countries around the world, and it can be more profitable than...