Solar San Diego

Hey Ho, Where'd You Go Ohio?

Out of Ohio, comes word that politicians have aspirations to make the Buckeye State  into "the Silicon Valley of Alternative Energy."  The article recounts the history of similar high tech initiatives and how Ohioans differing backgrounds are joining together to make the dream a reality.  What's pointed out i the article however is that Ohio doesn't yet have a renewable energy standard mandating goals for alternative energy.  It appears that for now, Silicon Valley and other areas of innovation have little to fear from Ohio's entry into the arena. Read the entire article here.

Energy Alternatives Competing For Funding

The Palm Beach Post, has a piece about different forms of alternative energy competing for governmental funding. 

WASHINGTON — In what one industry representative calls a struggle for supremacy, advocates of various sources of alternative energy are beginning to point out the competition's warts.

"Everyone wants to use the energy crisis as leverage to support his solution," said Bob Rose, executive director of the Fuel Cell Council.

But with limited government research and development money for ways to replace oil, any technology's gain is a loss for the others. So the criticism is flying in all directions: • Solar energy? A retired University of Connecticut physicist who advocates increased development of nuclear power calls solar energy "a fraud."

• Ethanol? Some critics say that at best it will swap food for fuel, and at worst it will use more energy than it yields.

• Rechargeable batteries for autos? Some call the current technology too expensive and environmentally suspect.

• Hydrogen? One advocate of ethanol fuel recently declared that the dream of a hydrogen-based economy is a "hoax."[/blockquote]

Read the entire article here, or listen to it here.

Congress Mulls Removing Roadblocks to Solar Adoption

Out of the Fresno Bee, comes a story about legislation introduced by Rep. Dennis Cardoza, a Democrat from Merced.   Cardoza recently had solar panels installed at his home and found the process a bit frustrating.  From hoa's who don't allow solar panels for aesthetic reasons to local permits which wipe out tax benefits, legislation proposed by Cardoza and others would address these and other impedements to solar adoption.  Read the entire article here.