Cleantech Buffet (10,419 Solar Jobs Announced In Q2 2013, Ford Fusion Energi Review …)

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Here’s some more hot cleantech news from around the interwebs:

Electric Vehicles

Electra Bicycles Releases The Townie Go! — “Most Technologically Advanced, Yet Simplest To Operate Pedal-Assist Bicycle In The World”

The Townie Go! — a stylish, new, simple-to-use, pedal-assist bike has just been released by the noted electric bike producer Electra Bicycles. The model — according to Electra — is “the most technologically advanced, yet simplest to operate pedal-assist bicycle in the world.” Sounds pretty good.

Toyota Announces Winners of Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge, Wave Two

Toyota announced the winners for wave two of the Toyota Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge, with Pamela Lippe of Earth Day New York and Karen Lee of EcoKaren sharing the top spot averaging 999 MPG*. Rounding out third place with an average of 251 MPG was Leigh Garofalow, founder of Green 4 U. The winning participants achieved high mileage averages by limiting their consumption of fuel during the Challenge, maximizing the use of the Electric Vehicle driving modes and leveraging eco-conscious driving techniques.

Test Driving the Ford Fusion Energi, It’s a Winner

CarNewsCafe tests Ford’s first plug-in hybrid, the Fusion Energi. After 7 days behind the wheel, find out what this car can do for you.

Ford lent us a Fusion Energi to test drive it for seven days. We drove about 500 miles, mostly drove in economy mode, one third on highway, the rest with mixed city and light suburban drive. Before we continue, let’s get something out of the way. Hybrids sacrifice some trunk space, but you will more than make up for it by saving on gasoline.

Test Driving the Ford Fusion Energi, Final Thoughts

The Ford Fusion Energi is Ford’s first plug-in hybrid. In many ways, it is the best of both worlds, hybrid and electric.

We already looked at the first part of our seven days driving the Ford Fusion Energi. Today, we take a closer look at the technical aspects of the Ford Fusion Energi, its competition and our final thoughts.


Solar

solar jobs map

10,419 Solar Jobs Announced In Q2 2013

As I’ve written before, solar projects produce more jobs per $1 invested than nearly any other type of energy or infrastructure project. If you haven’t seen this infographic, I think it’s worth viewing, saving, and sharing:

solar jobs subsidies

With Labor Day 2013 just ending, this seems like a point worth highlighting in a bit more detail. Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) last week released a report that did just this (while also including some interesting and useful information about jobs from other clean power and clean transportation sectors). Below are a few key details from the report.

No Need to Rob the Banks, Upstream PV Revenues are Set to Rebound

There is a frequently repeated story that when asked why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton replied, “Because that’s where the money is.” While the veracity of this quote may not hold up to scrutiny, the expressed sentiment does merit some consideration, even in the PV industry.

Much of the recent PV industry news has centered on trade disputes and allegations of unfair competition. These disputes are primarily concerned with the supply side of the industry, and most target the growing dominance of Chinese players. Given the hostility between many competing factions today (industry participants, national governments, industry groups, supra-national bodies, etc.), it is worthwhile to question whether all the time, money, energy, and uncertainty resulting from these investigations has been meaningful.

Suntech Announces Developments In Restructuring Process

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) (“Suntech” or the “Company”), one of the world’s largest solar companies, [last week] announced that following productive discussions with its key stakeholders earlier this week in China, an understanding has been reached with its Creditor Working Group led by Clearwater Capital Partners and Spinnaker Capital Limited for restructuring the Company.

AB 327 — An Evolving Work in Progress

It has been said that as with sausage making, one should never watch how legislation is actually made as the process, if not the end result, can be sickening. That adage seems to be playing out over the anti-solar/pro-solar legislation known as AB 327.

AB 327: From California Solar Killer to Net Metering Savior?

For years, California’s solar industry and its investor-owned utilities have been fighting over the future of net metering, the state policy that requires utilities to pay residential solar system owners for the green power they send back to the grid.

Now a potential long-term solution to this conflict is finally within reach, in the form of proposed state legislation that was, until as recently as last week, being attacked as the bête noire of the solar industry.

Yingli Green Energy Halves Losses and Posts 26.1% Growth in Second Quarter

Second quarter revenue surges past $550 million as the company halves its losses for the second quarter of 2013.

Yingli Q2: Solar Revenue and Margin Up, Losses Continue, Pricing Stabilizes

When Yingli Green (YGE) announces its financials, it’s a solar bellwether.

As the world’s largest crystalline silicon solar panel manufacturer, Yingli sent out signs of market stabilization in its just-announced second-quarter results. As we reported earlier this week, Trina Solar’s CEO also sees the market as starting to stabilize. Canadian Solar ranks among the top Chinese c-Si firms, as well.

Juwi: €252 Million Loan is an ‘Act of Faith’ in Solar

Renewable energy developer the Juwi Group has secured a €252 million (US$336 million) loan, calling it an “act of faith” in the sector.

Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank and Unicredit have spearheaded a 13-strong consortium of financial institutions to provide the funding that will underpin Juwi for the next three years.

Eurus Energy to Begin Construction of 115MW PV Plant in Northern Japan

Japanese renewable energy project developer Eurus Energy is scheduled to begin construction on an 115MW AC solar park in Japan. The park will be spread across two sites, and is expected to be the largest PV plant in the country.

According to Eurus, the Eurus Rokkasho Solar Park will be in Aomori prefecture, in the northern tip of the main Japanese island of Honshu.

International Indoor Soccer Arena Goes Solar

As I’ve written before, Google has invested a lot into solar, Apple has done so, IKEA has done so, Walmart has done so, and a bunch of other major corporations have done so. Do you think they’re doing it out of good will? Do you think Walmart is paying a premium for clean electricity on a bunch of its stores for the reputation? Of course not. These major corporations are going solar because buying solar panels beats buying electricity from the grid (financially).

In the latest such story, the International Indoor Soccer Arena (IISA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico has decided to switch to solar power.

Clean Energy (As A Whole)

5 Lessons From Germany’s Renewable Energy Transition

Germany’s Energiewende is unprecedented. Sam Friggens argues that Germany’s successes and challenges can be valuable lessons for other countries that want to switch to a renewable-based electricity system.


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Zachary Shahan

Zach is tryin' to help society help itself one word at a time. He spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as its director, chief editor, and CEO. Zach is recognized globally as an electric vehicle, solar energy, and energy storage expert. He has presented about cleantech at conferences in India, the UAE, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Canada, and Curaçao. Zach has long-term investments in Tesla [TSLA], NIO [NIO], Xpeng [XPEV], Ford [F], ChargePoint [CHPT], Amazon [AMZN], Piedmont Lithium [PLL], Lithium Americas [LAC], Albemarle Corporation [ALB], Nouveau Monde Graphite [NMGRF], Talon Metals [TLOFF], Arclight Clean Transition Corp [ACTC], and Starbucks [SBUX]. But he does not offer (explicitly or implicitly) investment advice of any sort.

Zachary Shahan has 7317 posts and counting. See all posts by Zachary Shahan