EVSO: Solar Demonstration Project Moves Forward With TSU

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evolution Solar Corp. (PinkSheets:EVSO) announced that desired project events for a solar demonstration site were identified and defined with Texas Southern University today as part of The Phase One Project Meeting that took place at the university’s Houston campus. Robert Hines, President of EVSO, Dr. Bobby Wilson, Professor of the TSU’s L. Lloyd Woods Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Shell Oil Endowed Chair of Environmental Toxicology and Dr. David Olowokere, Chair/Professor of the TSU Department of Engineering Technologies were in attendance.

As a result of the Phase One meeting, the parties set a goal of breaking ground at approximately 60-90 days with solar panel mounting to take place immediately thereafter. The parties also were able to define other ancillary goals that could result from the new demonstration site.

The solar demonstration site is an opportunity for Evolution Solar to exhibit a functional product. The University will utilize students and faculty to assist in the design and engineering of the project. The project location is slated to be an integral part of a new proposed TSU Green Technology Center. The University also plans to use the site for additional research and development to benefit TSU, its students and ultimately the consumer.

“We are elated to be at the table with Evolution Solar in pursuit of a project that will be a benefit to the University and its faculty and students,” said Dr. Wilson. “This has the potential to open many doors for cooperative ventures on the horizon.”

The TSU demonstration installation should help Evolution Solar in competing with larger sector players such as First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), Suntech Power (NYSE: STP) and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA).

Evergreen Solar Appoints Scott Gish Vice President of Sales & Marketing

MARLBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evergreen Solar, Inc. (NasdaqGM: ESLR), a manufacturer of String Ribbon™ solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer technology, today announced that it has appointed Scott Gish to the position of Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Prior to joining Evergreen Solar, Mr. Gish was Vice President of Global Sales & Business Development for Photronics, Inc. in Brookfield, Connecticut. He joined the company in December, 2005. In addition to his executive staff position at Photronics, he has held senior sales and marketing roles at Veeco Instruments, Axcelis Technologies and Schlumberger Technologies. Mr. Gish will report to Richard M. Feldt, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President.

“In Scott, Evergreen Solar is adding a seasoned senior executive to our management team with extensive international sales and marketing experience,” stated Mr. Feldt. “As the demand for silicon-based photovoltaic panels grows, Scott’s successful track record of differentiating technology products in competitive markets will help us gain market share as we increase our production capacity in the United States and China.”

Ascent Solar Achieves Mil-Spec 810G Certification for Defense Applications

THORNTON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules, today announced that its Premier and 2 Meter flexible CIGS solar modules have been certified by an independent laboratory on a variety of United States Department of Defense (DOD) military ruggedization standards known as MIL-STD-810G. MIL-STD-810G focuses on environmental engineering issues and requires products to pass various laboratory tests to ensure that military equipment operates in worldwide environments.

Ascent Solar President and CEO Farhad Moghadam stated, “MIL-STD-810G certification is a significant step forward in penetrating the defense application market for military and disaster relief integrated products. These certified modules are equipped with a non-reflective coating to prevent glare and have demonstrated the ability to withstand humidity, shock and sand blasting. Specialty markets which include defense applications are vital to our ability to demonstrate the diverse market opportunities with partners and customers using our unique flexible CIGS modules.”

Johns Manville Announces Supply Agreement with SolarFrameWorks to Provide Crystalline Solar Panel Solutions

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Johns Manville (JM), a leading global manufacturer of an extensive line of energy-efficient building products, today announced it has reached an agreement with SolarFrameWorks, a premier photovoltaic solutions company, for SolarFrameWorks to supply its proprietary Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) CoolPly™ solar roofing components to JM. Johns Manville will market these products through its business entity, the JM E³ Company, more informally known as JM E³co.

“SolarFrameWorks CoolPly™ product provides a solution that requires no penetration of a roofing membrane to attach crystalline solar panels to a roofing system. Avoiding roof penetrations maintains the integrity of the roof system, which reduces the risk of leaks,” said Fred Stephan, vice president and general manager of the Roofing Systems business for Johns Manville. “This partnership further strengthens JM’s leadership in sustainable roofing. We are excited to partner with SolarFrameWorks to incorporate their lightweight, flexible and durable components into our single ply, built-up and modified bitumen roofing membrane systems.”

SolarFrameWorks BIPV CoolPly™ versatility allows maximum kilowatt power density with crystalline photovoltaic modules when installed as large arrays and around HVAC units and vents while maintaining high wind ratings. Additionally, the tilt and proprietary air cooling chamber maximize the per kilowatt-hour energy output of the solar panels by keeping photovoltaic (PV) panels cooler to obtain the best possible efficiency. CoolPly™ is available in both thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for compatibility with these roofing membranes.

“Supported by JM’s 150 years of commercial roofing experience and SolarFrameWorks’s expertise in photovoltaics, this agreement is our next step in offering a range of new solar-energy producing roofing products to our customer base,” said Tim Swales, vice president of research and development for JM.

According to Patrina Eiffert, CEO of SolarFrameWorks, “Johns Manville not only brings leadership, integrity and quality to the solar industry, it brings deep relationships with its customers that have withstood the test of time. When JM is on the roof they will be there and take great care of their customers for decades to come. BIPV CoolPly™ unifies the solar and roofing industries with an optimal solution that best serves the building owner. JM has the vision to bring that value to its customers.”

Evolution Solar Trumpets '10 Million Solar Roofs' Bill Filed In Congress

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Evolution Solar Corp. (Pink Sheets:EVSO) voiced support for a bill filed Wednesday by Bernie Sanders (I-VT) dubbed the “10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water Act”. The Act would provide rebates that cover up to half the cost of new systems, along the lines of incentive programs in California and New Jersey. The bill aims to get 10 million solar roofs and 200,000 solar heaters up and running, producing a total of 30,000 megawatts over the next 10 years.

Such a generous tax break would make distributed solar extremely attractive, especially considering that the price of photovoltaic cells keeps on dropping. Additional benefits include the fact that distributed solar, like solar roof projects, can be easily linked to the grid and can create jobs swiftly - thanks to the fact that there are relatively few assessment hurdles to be jumped.

EVSO is currently developing a solar demonstration site with Texas Southern University, to be located at the university’s Houston campus. The demonstration installation should help Evolution Solar in competing with larger sector players such as First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL), Suntech Power (NYSE:STP) and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWRA).

Entech Solar Enters Into Preferred Stock Agreement of Up to $5 million

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Entech Solar, Inc. (OTC BB: ENSL.OB) (the “Company”, “Entech Solar”), with plans to become a leading developer of renewable energy technologies, today announced the Company has entered into a preferred stock purchase agreement with Socius Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, doing business as Socius Energy Capital Group, LLC (“Socius”). Pursuant to the purchase agreement, Entech Solar will receive up to $5 million in capital over the next two years.

The Company agreed to sell up to 500 shares of its Series G Preferred Stock, in one or more tranches from time to time. The tranches will be sold at the Company’s sole discretion, at a purchase price of $10,000 per share, for an aggregate issue price of up to $5 million. With each tranche, Socius will also receive five-year warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The exercise price of the warrants will equal the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the date the Company provides notice of a tranche to Socius.

Funding under the agreement with Socius is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions, including the effectiveness of a registration statement that the Company will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the common stock that Socius may purchase under the warrants. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Entech Solar will pay Socius a commitment fee of $250,000 payable in cash or in the Company’s common stock.

“We are pleased to secure a financing source that will support the Company’s continued development of its renewable energy technologies for commercial, industrial and utility markets,” commented David Gelbaum, CEO and Chairman of Entech Solar. “The flexibility of this committed financing will improve the Company’s ability to achieve critical milestones as we progress through product development.”

“At Entech Solar, we are designing and developing a new generation of concentrating solar modules that have the potential to be truly disruptive in the concentrating solar space – with improved efficiencies, reduced costs, smaller size, and additional applications. These modules will provide both electricity and thermal energy as part of our ThermaVolt product line and electricity-only as part of the SolarVolt product line. The Company also recently launched and is selling a patented tubular skylight technology that provides superior light output and optical efficiency for commercial and industrial green building initiatives.”

First Solar, Inc. Announces 2009 Fourth Quarter and Year-end Financial Results – Maintains Previously Issued 2010 Guidance

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 26, 2009. Quarterly revenues were $641.3 million, up from $480.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and up from $433.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. Revenues for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2009 were $2,066.2 million, up from $1,246.3 million in fiscal year 2008.

Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $141.6 million or $1.65 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to net income of $153.3 million or $1.79 per share on a fully diluted basis for the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $132.8 million or $1.61 per share on a fully diluted basis.

Net income for fiscal 2009 was $640.1 million or $7.53 per share on a fully diluted basis compared to net income of $348.3 million for fiscal 2008 or $4.24 per share on a fully diluted basis.

For 2010, First Solar forecasts net sales of $2.7 to $2.9 billion. EPS is projected in the range of $6.05 to $6.85. Total capital spending is projected to range from $500 to $550 million, including the Malaysian expansion. As a result, the Company expects to generate $730 to $790 million of operating cash flow and $180 to $290 million of free cash flow. The Company has posted its Earnings Call Presentation, which includes guidance for fiscal 2010 and additional details regarding the key assumptions relating to this guidance, on the Investor section of its website at www.firstsolar.com.

First Solar will discuss these results and outlook for fiscal 2010 in a conference call scheduled for today at 2:30 p.m. MST (4:30 p.m. EDT). Investors may access a live audio webcast of this conference call or the Earnings Call Presentation in the Investors section of the Company’s web site at www.firstsolar.com. An audio replay of the conference call will also be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The audio replay will remain available until Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST and can be accessed by dialing if you are calling from within the United States or 719-457-0820 if you are calling from outside the United States and entering replay access code 2240374. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor section on the Company’s Web site approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for 90 calendar days. If you are a subscriber of FactSet and Thomson One, you can obtain a written transcript within 2 hours.

California Legislature Passes Bill to Raise Solar Net Metering Cap

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today the California State Assembly passed AB 510, a bill to raise the cap on a key solar policy called “net metering.” Net metering is a simple billing arrangement that allows solar customers to get fair retail credit for the excess electricity their systems generate during daytime hours. Having passed the Senate last week, the bill now only needs the Governor’s signature to become law.

Existing law requires California’s major electric utilities to make net metering available to customers on a first-come-first-served basis until the total program capacity exceeds 2.5 percent of the utility’s peak demand. AB 510 doubles the net metering program capacity to 5 percent, ensuring that Californians continue to have fair access to this critical solar program for the near term.

Bill author Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) said, “California leads the nation in solar energy, accounting for more than 65 percent of the all the solar installed in the U.S. Net metering has been absolutely fundamental to that success. The passage of this bill means continued green job growth, further energy bill savings, progress in the fight against climate change, and a brighter future for California.”

Sara Birmingham, western policy director for the Solar Alliance, a state-level trade association continued, “AB 510 will ensure that participants in the state’s highly successful California Solar Initiative will continue to have access to net metering benefits through the program’s completion. Its passage sends a clear signal to the growing solar industry that California intends to be open for business tomorrow and for years to come. I applaud Assemblywoman Skinner for her leadership in ensuring California’s continued success in the new energy economy.”

Adam Browning, executive director of the Vote Solar Initiative, a national grassroots advocacy organization added, “Net metering makes solar more affordable for those who want to make the investment in clean energy. And because solar produces reliable power during peak hours when we all need it most, that same investment in solar helps lower costs for all ratepayers. Today, Assemblymember Skinner and the legislature took a bold step to make solar a significant part of our energy future.”

Through net metering, solar customers’ electricity meters to spin forward when they are using power from the utility grid, and reverse, spinning backward when customers are producing more energy than they are using. The customer is billed only for the net energy used. Today more than 50,000 California homes, schools and businesses take advantage of the state’s net metering program to lower their utility bills.

Net metering has no direct impact on the state’s general fund. In fact, it allows California schools and public agencies to reduce operating costs by investing in solar energy. California public agencies have already installed at least 51 MW of solar, saving taxpayers more than $270 million in avoided utility payments. With federal stimulus funds committed to support the state’s switch to solar, this legislation is a critical component of a fiscally and environmentally responsible energy future in California.

Office Depot’s LEED Gold Certified Store in Austin, TX Lowers Carbon Emissions Per Square Foot by 23%

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, announced the efficiency results of the Company’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certified Store. The store, located in Austin, Texas, which was LEED Gold certified by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) in May 2008, has lowered its carbon intensity by 23 percent thanks to a number of programs implemented at the store.

From November 2008 to November 2009, Office Depot tracked a variety of environmental impact factors including energy usage, carbon dioxide emissions and water efficiency at the location and compared it to other Office Depot retail stores in the same area.

“The energy savings realized at our first Austin store location has been even greater than what we had originally expected,” said Edward Costa, Vice President of Construction for Office Depot. “The Austin location allowed us to test a variety of new and innovative initiatives and solutions that resulted in both environmental and economic benefits.”

In addition to lowering its carbon emissions, the Office Depot Gold Certified LEED retail store has achieved numerous benefits, including:

• Approximately 14 percent less electricity (kWh per square foot) usage;
• Reduced carbon footprint (per square foot) by 23 percent;
• Over 10 percent of the store’s energy needs are met with solar power;
• Through its use of solar power, Office Depot avoided approximately 45,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2);
• By reducing its carbon emissions, the store has lowered its annual electricity costs* by approximately 16 percent; and
• Overall, the store is 15 percent more energy efficient (per square foot) than the other Office Depot retail locations in Austin.

Office Depot’s Austin, TX Gold LEED-Certified store’s environmental attributes that have attributed to its success, include:

• Solar tracking skylights
• Solar energy
• Lighting retrofit to energy efficient T5 lighting
• High efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning units
• Light sensors in all offices
• Enhanced energy management system
• Recycling program for collection of corrugated cardboard, paper, plastics, ink/toner cartridges and technology
• Reflective white roof
• Non-asphalt, concrete parking lot
• Polished concrete floor and recycled content carpet

“Our Austin experience shows that a LEED-certified store is dramatically more energy efficient than a non-certified store,” said Yalmaz Siddiqui, Director of Environmental Strategy for Office Depot. “The results prove how beneficial a green building can be from both an environmental and economic perspective.”

To learn more about Office Depot’s Gold-Certified LEED store in Austin, TX, click here. To find out more about Office Depot’s industry-leading environmental program, go to www.officedepot.com/environment.

*Costs do not include initial solar panel investment.

Satcon Selected for Twenty Five Solar Installations in Greece

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon Technology Corporation (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility scale power solutions for the renewable energy market, today announced that it has been selected by EasyPower S.A. to supply 2.5 megawatts of its PowerGate® Plus 100 kilowatt solar PV inverter solutions across 25 installations on the island of Rhodes, Greece.

The solar power plants will be developed and constructed by EasyPower S.A. and are expected to generate enough solar energy to supply 1.2% of the islands electricity demand. The installations will be owned by EasySolar S.A., RNA Power S.A., and Diachrisi Iliakis Energeias S.A. as part of a 2.5MW project.

At present, the island’s power is made by diesel generators which can produce up to 194.4MW during peak demand periods. Rhodes’ energy consumption surges during the summer months as the population of the island swells by three hundred percent. The solar installations will provide critical peak demand support, enhancing grid stability while delivering cost effective renewable energy for the population in addition to supporting the island’s year round base load demands.

“The project in Rhodes presents unique design challenges that require we develop a complete solution that can be scaled across 25 distributed locations,” said Nikos Savouris of EasyPower. “Each power plant can directly contribute to the stability of the entire island’s power grid. With this in mind, and with the responsibility of providing reliable and cost effective energy for community of the island, we designed a system that will enhance each plant’s performance, along with its stability and durability, while reducing the carbon footprint from electricity production on the island throughout the years.”

Each plant is composed of Satcon’s PowerGate Plus solutions, combined with two-axis trackers and high efficiency monocrystalline modules and could generate in excess of 225,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually.

“Satcon’s proven technology, their innovative features, and their ability to address the particular requirements of the local grid made their PowerGate Plus solutions the obvious choice for us,” continued Savouris. “We expect that, based on our previous experience with other Satcon projects, we will maximize the performance and durability of these power stations and exceed investor expectations.”

“These installations demonstrate the increased penetration of large scale solar power generation into today’s island and urban energy grids,” said Peter Deege, Satcon’s General Manager for Europe. “Our experience in utility scale and island grid solar solutions combined with EasyPower’s design, engineering and construction expertise will ensure that these solar plants are a secure and cost effective renewable energy source for the island. We are honored to be selected by EasyPower.”

Fluor Secures Solar Power Contract in Spain

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) announced today that Elecnor S.A. has awarded the company an engineering services contract for a new 50 megawatt (MW) concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Badajoz, Spain. Fluor will book the undisclosed contract value in the first quarter of 2010.

“With the increasing demand to supplement the world’s energy supply with solar and other renewable forms of energy, we believe we are well positioned to meet the needs of clients like Elecnor,” said Dave Dunning, president of Fluor’s Power Group. “Concentrating solar power technology has gained momentum in Spain and throughout the world, and we believe our global engineering expertise and resource base for clean energy projects adds exceptional value.”

“We’ve been active in Europe for more than 50 years including ongoing operations in Spain since 1989. We specialize in executing complex, large-scale projects with excellence using our talented local employee base,” said Brad Friesen, vice president of Fluor’s renewables business line. “In addition, we have nearly 30 years of related renewable and thermal power plant experience and will bring that expertise to Elecnor’s solar power portfolio.”

Fluor will provide detailed engineering and other associated services for the project. When complete, the 50 MW CSP generating facility will capture solar energy using parabolic trough mirrors and will ultimately convert the energy into electricity through a steam turbine generator.

The project is underway with engineering expected to be complete by the second quarter of 2011. Fluor’s Asturias and Madrid, Spain, operations will lead the engineering effort with support from its southern California operations center. Fluor has been providing front-end support work to Elecnor for this project since early in 2009.

Fluor’s experience in the renewables sector has been ongoing over the last three decades and dates back to the mid-1980s when the company provided engineering, procurement and construction services for what was then the world’s largest photovoltaic power facility in Carrisa Plain, California.

Today, Fluor’s expertise ranges across the entire spectrum of renewables. The company is currently building the world’s largest polysilicon production plant in China, a state-of-the-art solar panel manufacturing plant in Singapore as well as leading the design and build efforts for the world’s largest offshore wind farm in the United Kingdom.

Perpetual Energy Systems and the Diocese of San Jose Activate Six Solar Energy Installations

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Perpetual Energy Systems (PES), a national power purchase agreement (PPA) provider/financier of solar powered renewable energy systems, and the Diocese of San Jose (Diocese), in conjunction with MBL-Energy (MBL) and Photon Energy Services (Photon), today announce the activation of six distributed solar energy installations, consisting of an aggregate nameplate capacity of 886 kW DC. The systems are projected to generate an estimated 1.4 million kilowatt hours of clean energy in its first full year of operation, representing 70 percent of each site’s individual energy needs.

The systems are hosted by the Diocese on five parish/school combinations, including Holy Spirit, Holy Family, Saint Christopher, Queen of Apostles, Saint Lucy as well as Gate of Heaven Cemetery. As part of the Catholic Green Initiative of Santa Clara County, the Diocese entered into a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with PES to host the solar installations requiring no capital outlay from the Diocese or its parishes. Under the PPA, the Diocese will purchase clean solar energy produced by each installation at a predetermined, fixed rate. All operations of the system will be assumed by PES.

“Renewable energy, decreased carbon footprint and sustainability are gaining greater acceptance in today’s society and the solar installation in the Diocese showcases these benefits,” said Mike Maley, president of Perpetual Energy Systems. “Our commitment to provide comprehensive PPA financing provides various institutions, corporations and municipalities access to renewable energy solutions without any capital outlay.”

PES combined conventional financing with federal energy tax incentives to fund each installation. As owner, PES retains the renewable energy certificates and environmental attributes generated by the system’s actual kilowatt hour output.

“The activation of the system is an outstanding achievement for our Diocese, our partners and our community as we continue the Catholic Green Initiative,” said Bishop Patrick J. McGrath. “Thanks to the financing capabilities of PES and the efforts of Photon and MBL, the installation of these systems strengthens our goal of encouraging the Catholic community and all people of faith to examine how we use and share the earth’s resources.”

The combined systems, consisting of more than 5,000 solar panels that occupy 70,000 square feet of rooftop space, will eliminate approximately 21,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) throughout its operating lifespan. This reduction of CO2 in the environment is equivalent to planting 377 acres of trees or removing 5,179 cars from the nation’s roads for one year.

Mitsubishi Electric Develops New Photovoltaic Inverter Technology to Maximize Solar Power Output

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today it has developed the world's first technology to maximize output power in photovoltaic (PV) systems by incorporating a new maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) system in PV inverters. The technology, which works with a single PV inverter, achieves the maximum power point even when part of a PV array is hidden by shadow or dust.

PV system characteristics such as output power are greatly influenced by the amount of sunlight and temperature. Conventional PV arrays, which are groups of PV modules connected either in series or parallel, use MPPT systems to help achieve their maximum output-power points. But if part of a PV array is hidden by shadow and the rest is still in sunlight, resulting in multiple peak points, a conventional MPPT system has difficulty tracking the maximum point. Especially in urban areas where PV systems are likely to be installed near buildings or other obstructions of sunlight, shadow can greatly decrease output power.

The technological breakthrough by Mitsubishi Electric allows the MPPT system to automatically measure the PV array's output power characteristics and then control the array to operate at its maximum output-power point, thereby ensuring that the PV system receives maximum output power from the array. In some cases, this technology will be able to more than double the output power compared to a PV inverter equipped with a conventional MPPT system.

Mitsubishi Electric will continue its research and development with aims to incorporate this technology in its products in the near future.

China Solar Power Signs Investment Agreement with Suzhou Industrial Park for its Third Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell Plant in China

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--China Solar Power, a manufacturer of thin film amorphous silicon photovoltaic solar modules, announced that it has signed an investment agreement with Suzhou Industrial Park for its third solar cell manufacturing facility in China. CSP plans to invest up to $180 million to build an aSi photovoltaic solar module facility and several advanced technology centers. CSP’s CEO, Frank Liu, expects the production base to realize a capacity of 200MW.

CSP’s first thin film PV manufacturing plant, located in the city of Yantai, Shandong Province in Northern China, utilizes production equipment supplied by ULVAC, Inc. of Japan. It commenced commercial operations in October 2009.

CSP will became the first thin film solar company at Suzhou Industrial Park. The SIP was established in the mid-1990s as a joint venture between Suzhou and Singapore.

CSP was founded in 2007 by Tano China Capital Management, a subsidiary of Tano Capital. Tano Capital is an alternative asset management firm established in 2004 by Charles E. “Chuck” Johnson (formerly co-President of Franklin Resources, Inc. and CEO of Templeton Worldwide), that makes private equity investments into rapidly growing private companies in India and China. Tano Capital currently has offices in San Mateo, California, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei, as well as an Indian team in Mumbai, India.

Mitsubishi Electric Achieves 14.8% Conversion Efficiency in Thin-film Silicon Solar Cell

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today that it has achieved a very high photoelectric conversion efficiency of 14.8% in a 5mm x 5mm thin-film silicon photovoltaic (PV) cell. Photoelectric conversion efficiency is the rate at which sunlight energy is converted into electric current, with higher rates meaning more output. The thin-film silicon PV cell developed by Mitsubishi Electric has a triple junction structure that utilizes a majority of the solar spectrum for higher efficiency.

At present, crystalline silicon is used commonly for PV cells. Due to their relatively high photoelectric conversion efficiency, crystalline silicon PV modules are widely used in applications with limited surfaces, such as on the roofs of residential houses. The price of silicon wafers can fluctuate greatly, however, due to changes in market demand.

Thin-film silicon PV cells are garnering attention because they use just 1% the amount of silicon material required for crystalline silicon PV cells, which helps to save resources as well as reduce costs. Although thin-film silicon PV cells are lower in photoelectric conversion efficiency than crystalline silicon PV cells, their lower product costs offer benefits for midsized and large industrial PV systems, such as those used in factories, electric power utilities and municipalities. In addition to expected growth in these fields, there is great upside potential in other fields if their efficiency can be improved in the coming years.

Multi-junction layers offer an efficient way of raising conversion efficiency in thin-film silicon PV cells because each layer absorbs different wavelengths of sunlight. It is extremely difficult, however, to adjust the characteristics of each layer in the multi-junction structure, so most thin-film silicon PV cells today are only single or double layered.

Mitsubishi Electric, however, has met a technological breakthrough to achieve 14.8% photoelectric conversion efficiency, according to its own evaluation, by using a triple-junction configuration in which the first layer absorbs short wavelengths and the third layer absorbs long wavelengths, thereby enabling the use of a wide solar spectrum from visible light to infrared rays. Key technologies that help to make this possible include:

• Semiconductor materials that tune to a particular frequency of the spectrum
• High-quality film-deposition processing for each layer
• Texture fabrication applied to transparent electrodes for optimal confinement of sunlight

Mitsubishi Electric intends to further continue its research and development with aims to raise the photoelectric conversion efficiency of its thin-film PV cells by improving cell structure, materials, processing and other factors, aiming to develop advanced PV systems that contribute to sustainable, low-carbon societies.

Acro Energy Grows Organic Sales 118% in January 2010

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acro Energy Technologies Corp. (TSX Venture:ART), a leading US solar integrator, organically grew its January 2010 sales by 118% compared to January 2009 and maintained its status as one of the largest residential solar companies in California.

In 2009, Acro Energy acquired Acro Electric, Inc, Energy Efficiency Solar, Inc, and the assets of Light Energy Systems. The combined sales of Acro Electric Inc, Energy Efficiency Solar, Inc, and Light Energy Systems grew by 118% in January 2010 compared to their sales in January 2009, based on the number of kilowatts sold.

“We have successfully integrated our California businesses and leveraged them, via organic growth, to catapult Acro to the top tier of market,” said Nat Kreamer, president of Acro Energy.

“We plan to capitalize on this success and expertise by expanding into other US solar markets in the first half of 2010,” added Harry Fleming, chief executive officer of Acro Energy.

About Acro Energy

Acro Energy Technologies Corp. is focused on the consolidation and growth of renewable energy companies, primarily in the United States residential solar energy installation market. Acro Energy provides practical solutions to individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, and governmental entities that can benefit from the value of solar power. As a high end system integrator, Acro Energy offers quality products from leading solar module manufacturers including SunPower, Suntech, and Sharp and residential solar financing plans from SunRun, the nation’s leading provider of home solar financing. Acro Energy continues to evaluate acquisition candidates across North America.

Mitsubishi Electric Sets Two World Records in Solar Cell Conversion Efficiency

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today it has set two world records for photoelectric conversion efficiency in polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells, achieved by reducing resistive loss in the cells. Photoelectric conversion efficiency is the rate at which sunlight energy is converted into electricity, with higher rates meaning more output.

In response to the growing demand for PV systems that help tackle global warming, the global production of PV cells has reached 5,500 megawatts (MW) in the fiscal year ending March 2009 (FY2009), and is expected to reach 8,000 MW in FY2012. With the use of crystalline silicon PV cells continuing to increase, PV cell manufacturers are looking for ways to improve the conversion efficiency of these cells to gain more output power from limited surfaces. At the same time, PV cell manufacturers are trying to achieve more output power while reducing the thickness of PV cells, thereby reducing their dependence on silicon and the related risk of sharply fluctuating prices for this material.

One of the world records, which Mitsubishi Electric has now renewed for the third consecutive year, is a 19.3-percent efficiency rating for photoelectric conversion of a practically-sized polycrystalline silicon PV cell of 100 squared centimeters or larger, with the PV cell measuring approximately 15 cm x 15 cm x 200 micrometers. The rating is 0.2 points higher than the company's previous record of 19.1 percent.

The second world record, achieved with the same technologies in an ultra-thin polycrystalline silicon PV cell measuring approximately 15 cm x 15 cm x 100 micrometers, is an efficiency rating of 18.1 percent, a 0.7-point improvement over the company's previous record of 17.4 percent.

The conversion efficiency rates have been confirmed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), in Japan.

Mitsubishi Electric will be developing mass-production technology to deliver these high conversion rates in commercial PV modules. The company also aims to increase the output of its PV systems by combining this technology with PV inverters capable of high-efficiency conversion of DC current to AC. By improving the efficiency of its PV systems, Mitsubishi Electric expects to contribute to environmental preservation as well as sustainable societies.

Solar Bright Spot In New Mexico Jobs Report

EVANSTON, Ill., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial employment in New Mexico fell 5.2% over the past twelve months according to the 2010 New Mexico Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News, Inc. (MNI) Evanston, IL. MNI reports New Mexico lost 3,040 industrial jobs between January 2009 and January 2010, the sharpest decline MNI has ever reported in the thirteen years it has been tracking the state's industry.

Manufacturers' News reports New Mexico is now home to 2,139 manufacturers employing 55,069 workers.

"As with the entire nation, the recession has affected New Mexico's core sectors," says Tom Dubin, President of the Evanston, IL-based publishing company, which has been surveying industry since 1912. "However, the state's investments in green technologies should help lay the groundwork for recovery."

According to MNI, the paper products sector saw the worst decline in employment, down 35.7%, due mostly to the closure of Solo Cup's Belen facility. Employment in primary metals fell 18.5% following layoffs at Chino Mines due to the falling price of copper.

Electronics manufacturing remains the state's largest industrial sector by employment with 7,864 jobs, down 1.3% over the year. Food products ranks second with 5,662 jobs, down 4.8%. Third-ranked industrial machinery & equipment accounts for 5,512 jobs, down 1.9% over the year.

Most of New Mexico's manufacturing sectors lost jobs over the year and included furniture/fixtures down 15.9%; printing/publishing down 12.5%; fabricated metals down 11.4%; textiles down 8%; chemicals down 7.7%; transportation equipment down 7.1%; lumber/wood down 6% and rubber/plastics down 3.4%.

Bright spots over the year included the planned opening of Solar Distinction, which will employ 300-500 workers to manufacture solar panels, and the opening of German company Schott Solar's photovoltaic plant in Albuquerque. In addition, building materials maker ParexLahabra announced the opening of a new dry materials plant, also in Albuquerque.

Southwest New Mexico saw the largest decline in manufacturing employment, down 14.9%, and now accounts for 5,113 of the state's jobs. Industrial employment declined 9.4% in Northeast New Mexico, with the region home to 3,840 manufacturing jobs. Southeast New Mexico accounts for 10,005 of the state's jobs, down 5.2%, while Northwest New Mexico accounts for 35,831, down 3.9% over the past twelve months.

Albuquerque remains the state's top city by industrial employment with 19,564 manufacturing jobs, down 4.1% over the year. Rio Rancho accounts for 6,416 jobs, with no significant change reported . Farmington saw employment increase 1.1% and is currently home to 4,567 industrial workers, while Hobbs accounts for 2,886 of the state's jobs, up 6.7% over the year. Fifth-ranked Santa Fe accounts for 2,349 jobs, down 12.6% over the past twelve months.

Detailed profiles of New Mexico's 2,139 manufacturers and 430 industrial distributors can be found in the 2010 New Mexico Manufacturers Register, available in print for $84 and on CD-ROM from $112. Each profile provides up to 30 facts, including vital contact information (phone, web, e-mail), 6,823 executives by name and title, product(s) manufactured, annual sales, number of employees, and more. Visitors to mnileads.com may generate custom profiles of manufacturers using thirteen different criteria, including area or zip code, county, SIC, sales volume, number of employees, and more.

Manufacturers' News, Inc., publisher of manufacturers' directories since 1912, compiles and produces manufacturing guides, statistics and databases for all 50 states. MNI also maintains IndustryNet.com, an industrial search engine designed specifically for locating manufacturers and suppliers nationwide. For more information, contact Manufacturers' News, Inc., 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60201, , FAX 847-332-1100.

KYOCERA Achieves World Record Conversion Efficiency for Multicrystalline Solar Modules

KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) today announced that it has achieved a new world record of 16.6% module efficiency (aperture-area efficiency of 17.3%)* for multicrystalline silicon solar modules using 54 cells in the development stage. To achieve this record, Kyocera further improved its proprietary "Back Contact" technology and module design to optimize the performance of each cell, thus increasing overall energy conversion efficiency. Kyocera, which possesses a fully-integrated production system — from processing raw silicon material to manufacturing cells and modules — continually advances its technology to yield higher energy efficiency from its solar cells and modules.

Kyocera's Back Contact technology moves electrode wiring that is typically arranged on the surface of the cell to the back side, thus increasing the light capturing surface area to maximize energy conversion efficiency. Kyocera has achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 18.5% for individual solar cells in the development stage.

Since starting its solar energy business in 1975, Kyocera has made continuous advancements in solar technology in order to help deliver the blessings of the sun to the world. Constantly seeking ways to enhance its solar cell manufacturing, Kyocera has enlarged the cell size to increase the energy yield per cell, and minimized the thickness of cells to decrease the amount of raw material required.

Specifications of Back Contact Module
Module efficiency		16.6% (total area 13,379 cm2)
Conversion efficiency (aperture area)		17.3% (aperture area 12,753 cm2)
Number of cells		54 solar cells (cell size: 150mm x 155mm)
Type of cell		Multicrystalline photovoltaic cells

*Aperture-area efficiency is limited to the inner surface area of a module where the cells are arranged, whereas, module efficiency includes the framing area of the module. Based on research by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) (Japan), current as of December 2009.

For more information about Kyocera solar energy: http://global.kyocera.com/prdct/solar/

Solar EnerTech Announces Fiscal Year 2010 First Quarter Financial Results

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar EnerTech Corp. (OTCBB:SOEN) (the "Company") today announced financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2010.

First Quarter Highlights:

• Shipments increased 448% compared to the first quarter in the prior year period.
• Revenue increased 248% to $17.7 million compared to $5.1 million in the first quarter of the prior year.
• The first quarter 2010 gross profit increased to positive $1.9 million, compared to negative $2.3 million in the first quarter in the prior year period.

Total module shipments increased 448% in the first fiscal quarter 2010, compared to the first fiscal quarter of the prior year. Revenue increased 248% to $17.7 million compared to $5.1 million in the first fiscal quarter of the prior year. Revenue for fiscal 2010 first quarter was comprised of approximately $15.3 million in solar modules sales, of which more than 95% were sold to Europe and Australia, and $2.4 million in solar cell sales. The increase in revenue was due to increased sales orders from new and existing customers as a result of heightened efforts by the Company’s sales and marketing team. Specifically, during the last quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company acquired a 10MW contract from a new customer in Europe, contributing to the increased sales volume.

The first fiscal quarter 2010 gross profit increased to positive $1.9 million, compared to negative $2.3 million in the first quarter in the prior year period. First quarter 2010 gross margin was positive at 11% of total sales compared to negative 46% of total sales in the prior year period. The improvement in gross profit margin was primarily due to cost restructuring and the Company’s ability to increase the manufacture efficiency of its solar cells. Additionally, the Company secured high quality raw materials with favorable credit terms as well as promoted a lean production process and filtered out unqualified products.

Total operating expenses for the fiscal 2010 first quarter were $2.3 million, or 13% of total net sales, which included a $0.6 million non-cash stock compensation credit related to the restructuring of the management team. Excluding these non-cash items, the operating expense for the fiscal 2010 first quarter was $1.7 million, or 10% of total net sales. This is to be compared with the 2009 first quarter total operating expense of $3.2 million, or 63% of total sales, which included $1.4 million of non-cash stock compensation charges related to the hiring and retention of key executives and $0.3 million of non-cash charges for loss on debt extinguishment. The increase in operating expenses in the fiscal 2010 first quarter compared to fiscal 2009 first quarter was primarily due to increase shipping rates and volume.

Net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 was $3.9 million, or negative $0.04 per basic and diluted share compared to a net loss of $3.8 million, or negative $0.04 per basic and diluted shares in the same period in fiscal 2009. In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company recorded a non-cash gain totaling $1.0 million associated with a change in the fair market value of warrant liability and a change in the fair market value of compound embedded derivative liability compared to a total non-cash gain of $2.1 million for these two same items in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Excluding non-cash items, on a non-GAAP basis, the first quarter 2010 net loss was $4.9 million compared to a net loss of $5.9 million in the prior year period. Both the compound embedded derivative and warrant liabilities were recorded in conjunction with the convertible notes transaction entered into by the Company in March 2007.

Mr. Leo S. Young, Chief Executive Officer of Solar EnerTech commented, “Fiscal first quarter result indicates a significant accomplishment for Solar EnerTech during the past six months since we made a strategic adjustment to focus on supplying superior products to our customers. We are pleased to see continued strong top-line growth in the quarter – our main product shipment increased four times and revenue increased nearly 250% compared to the same period last year. As our capacity has increased and the quality of our solar cells becomes further recognized in the industry, we now have the opportunity to focus on advancing our brand name recognition.”

“While we have been experiencing volatile market conditions for the last several months, the entire management team is up to the challenge. Our focus on product quality, coupled with our efforts in support services, has provided satisfaction among our major customers in Europe and Australia, and that in turn enabled us to acquire new customers. We are encouraged with the demand trends we’re seeing in our business and believe the quality of our products differentiate Solar EnerTech from many of other players in the global PV business,” concluded Mr. Young.

Financial Position

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had $1.6 million in cash, $8.4 million of accounts receivables, $0.6 million of prepayment primarily for purchase of raw materials, $5.8 million of inventories on hand, $0.7 million of deferred financing cost associated to the convertible notes and $1.1 million of VAT and other receivables. Additionally, as of December 31, 2009, the Company had $9.9 million of accounts payable, customer advance payment and accrued liabilities, $5.7 million of accrued liability due to related party, $0.1 million of derivative liabilities and $11.6 million in principal of convertible notes outstanding, which are recorded at carrying value at $6.8 million.

On January 7, 2010, the Company entered into a Series A Notes and Series B Notes Conversion Agreement (the “Conversion Agreement”) with the holders holding over 75% of the outstanding principal amounts owed under the Series A and Series B Notes to modify the terms of the notes. Pursuant to the terms of the Conversion Agreement, the notes were automatically converted into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.15 per share and amended to eliminate the maximum ownership percentage restriction prior to such conversion.

In addition, the Company and the holders of over 50% of each of the outstanding Series A, Series B and Series C Warrants (collectively the “PIPE Warrants”) entered into an Amendment to the Series A, B and C Warrants (the “Warrant Amendment”) in conjunction with the Conversion Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Amendment, the PIPE Warrants were amended to reduce their exercise prices from $1.21, $0.90 and $1.00, respectively, to $0.15. The PIPE Warrants were also amended to (a) waive the anti-dilution provisions of the PIPE Warrants that would increase the number of shares issuable pursuant to the PIPE Warrants in inverse proportion to the reduction in the exercise price, (b) waive all anti-dilution protections as to future transactions and (c) eliminate maximum ownership percentage restrictions.

Richard Erskine Resigns from Ascent Solar Board

THORNTON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI), a developer of flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules, today announced that Richard Erskine, Partner and CEO of Energy Capital Management, is resigning his position as a Director on the Ascent Solar Board, a position he has held since March of 2008.

Ascent Solar President and CEO Farhad Moghadam stated, “Richard has been an excellent board member for Ascent Solar, he has contributed valuable time, wisdom and passion that has helped Ascent Solar achieve its current progress and milestones. Richard originally joined the Ascent Solar Board while employed at Norsk Hydro. Unfortunately since leaving Hydro and joining Energy Capital Management Richard’s significant responsibilities as CEO of Energy Capital Management necessitate this change. We wish Richard continued success as an active participant in the renewable energy field, and thank him for his dedication to serving Ascent Solar.”

Solar Capital Ltd. Completes Initial Public Offering of Common Stock

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar Capital Ltd. (NASDAQ: SLRC) today announced the closing of its initial public offering of common stock. A total of 5,000,000 shares of common stock were sold in this offering at a price of $18.50 per share. Concurrent with this offering, management purchased an additional 600,000 shares, also at $18.50 per share. The net proceeds of the initial public offering and concurrent private placement totaled approximately $95 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions related to the initial public offering and estimated offering expenses.

Solar Capital Ltd. expects to use substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering to make new investments in portfolio companies, for general working capital purposes and for temporary repayment of debt. The joint book-running managers for the initial public offering were Citi, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. The co-managers for the initial public offering were BMO Capital Markets, BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Scott & Stringfellow, and RBC Capital Markets.

The Company also announced the closing of its newly amended and restated $270 million senior secured revolving credit facility. Three new lenders joined Solar Capital’s existing lender group on this three year facility that matures in February 2013.

Two Constellation Energy Projects Named Best in New England by Association of Energy Engineers

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) announced today that the Association of Energy Engineers New England Chapter (AEE-NE) named two of the company’s energy projects as the best in New England in 2010. Constellation Energy’s solar installation at Patriot Place was named the best renewable energy project in New England, and the energy conservation program implemented by Constellation Energy for Bristol Community College topped the list of energy projects at colleges in New England.

“Constellation Energy is honored that our energy projects have been recognized by the Association of Energy Engineers, New England Chapter,” said Marc Aronson, New England business development manager for Constellation Energy’s Projects & Services Group. “We’re particularly pleased that the AEE-NE chose to highlight a solar installation and an energy efficiency project because they are indicative of our approach to sustainability that includes both conservation and deployment of renewable power sources.”

Constellation Energy is constructing a 525 kilowatt photovoltaic power system for Patriot Place, the retail, dining and entertainment destination adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The system will span seven rooftops of the Patriot Place complex and utilize more than 2,600 photovoltaic solar panels manufactured by Evergreen Solar of Marlboro, Mass., to supply power equivalent to 30 percent of the electricity used by Patriot Place.

For Bristol Community College located in Fall River, Mass., Constellation Energy implemented a wide range of energy conservation measures, including upgrades to energy efficient lighting, development of a solar power system, and installation of a new energy management system and water conservation measures. Constellation Energy expects the combined projects to save Bristol Community College approximately 28 percent on electricity, 31 percent on natural gas, 40 percent on water and more than $400,000 annually.

Constellation Energy has approximately 25 megawatts of solar power systems installed or under way in the U.S., ranging from 500-kilowatt, customer-sited rooftop installations like the Patriot Place system, to a 17.1-megawatt large-scale project in Emmitsburg, Md., that will be among the largest in the U.S. Constellation Energy’s Projects & Services Group has developed more than 4,000 energy projects throughout the U.S. designed to help customers generate and use energy more efficiently and in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way. Organizations interested in developing solar and energy efficiency projects can contact Constellation Energy at or cepsinfo@constellation.com.

The AEE-NE, www.aeenewengland.org/, is the New England Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers, which counts a national membership of more than 11,000 energy professionals. The AEE-NE presented the awards for best energy projects in New England on Feb. 3, 2010.

ReneSola to Report Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results on March 10, 2010

JIASHAN, China, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOL) (AIM: SOLA), a leading global manufacturer of solar wafers, today announced that it will report its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009 before the U.S. markets open on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

ReneSola's management will host an earnings conference call on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 8 am U.S. Eastern Standard Time / 9 pm Beijing/Hong Kong time / 1 pm Greenwich Mean Time.

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

U.S. / International: +1-617-614-3473
United Kingdom: +44-207-365-8426
Hong Kong: +852-3002-1672

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is "ReneSola Call."

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until March 17, 2010:

International: +1-617-801-6888

Passcode: 81970616


Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of ReneSola's website at http://www.renesola.com

Aaron's, Inc. to Donate Solar-Powered Electric Systems to Haiti Relief Efforts

ATLANTA, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) will donate two solar-powered electric systems, arriving in Haiti today and valued at $100,000, in support of Haiti relief efforts through ACORP, Aaron's Community Outreach Program. Through ACORP, Aaron's associates have donated thousands of hours of associate time to community service projects in more than 1,700 cities across the U.S. and $6.8 million in goods and services donations.

The solar-powered systems, designed by Sundance Solar Designs, LLC, will provide enough power to sustain two medical centers and 34 treatment tents. According to Spencer Smith, the Aaron's franchise owner heading up the project with Sundance Solar, the lack of fuel to run generators in Haiti already has created a significant issue for medical professionals trying to administer treatment. Smith, a franchise owner of 21 Aaron's stores, and his employees, donated $50,000 while Aaron's, Inc. corporately donated an additional $50,000 through the ACORP program.

"American companies and individuals have offered support to Haiti on a massive scale, and Aaron's is proud to be a part of that effort," said Ken Butler, Aaron's, Inc. Chief Operating Officer. "However, it was important that Aaron's not just write a check, but give in a way that would create immediate impact. With these generators, thousands will receive critical medical treatment that we hope will make a life-saving difference for many Haitians."

Sundance Solar Designs will donate their time, expertise, and purchase of the equipment as well as personally delivering and installing the systems in Haiti. Sundance Solar Design's support team will arrive in Haiti today to ensure the generators are installed successfully. In addition to the solar panels that power the invertors and battery banks, Sundance Solar will bring the lighting fixtures and refrigeration units.

"With the donation of these solar-powered systems, we are addressing a specific and immediate need," Spencer Smith said. "Without the fuel to run their generators, medical staff is forced to stop operating with the absence of light after the sun goes down. These unique solar-powered systems are self-sustaining and will not only provide lighting 24/7 for two full medical centers, doubling the hours available to treat patients, but will also run the refrigeration units containing life-saving medical supplies."

Green Solar Finance Finalizes Deal with SunDurance Energy

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Solar Finance announced today that it has been awarded a professional services agreement by SunDurance Energy to assist the company in securing project financing for its solar clients. Green Solar Finance will develop a project finance program for SunDurance Energy to offer clients a favorable cost of capital from selected capital sources. SunDurance Energy will provide more compelling project financing options to clients by establishing long term relationships with financing sources. The objective of the partnership is to seamlessly integrate the financing process into the designing and building of solar power solutions.

“We are pleased to partner with Green Solar Finance to enhance our customer service offering with real time pricing and structuring,” said Al Bucknam, CEO of SunDurance Energy. “Green Solar Finance will provide the project finance expertise to accelerate the growth of our company by adding this strategic element to our core business of developing, designing, building and operating solar power solutions.”

David McGann, CEO of Green Solar Finance said “SunDurance Energy‘s deal flow and megawatt-scale focus provide a perfect platform for Green Solar Finance to implement our finance capabilities and bring projects to a successful close.”

SunEdison Activates First Phase of its 16MW North Carolina Solar Farm

BELTSVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider and a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR), has activated the first phase of its 16-megawatt solar farm in Davidson County, N.C.

The first phase of the project represents 4 megawatts of generation capacity and is comprised of more than 14,000 solar panels that will generate over 6 million kilowatt hours of electricity in the first year of operation. Duke Energy is buying the farm’s entire output under a 20-year contract.

Over those 20 years, the farm will generate 115 million kilowatt hours of electricity – enough to power 10,000 average homes for one year. It also will offset more than 225 million pounds of carbon dioxide that otherwise would have been emitted from a traditional coal-burning power plant.

“This first phase represents a major milestone in our overall plan to develop 16 megawatts of solar energy at this site,” said SunEdison President Carlos Domenech. “Having financed and completed this initial installation, we have mobilized resources for the next phase of the solar farm.”

The farm is one of several North American utility-scale power plants that SunEdison has financed and developed, and now operates.

Sify and Solar Living Institute Launch Interactive Online Training Course on Solar Renewable Energy

CHENNAI, India and HOPLAND, California, February 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sify Technologies Limited, (NASDAQ National market: SIFY), a leader in enterprise data services and consumer Internet with global delivery capabilities; and Solar Living Institute (SLI), a US-based, non-profit organization that promotes renewable energy and sustainable living through quality education and training programs, announced today the launch of their first online training course titled 'PV Design and Installation Training'. The course, developed for the US market and currently in English, shall soon be translated and localized for markets across the globe including India, China, and Latin America.

John Schaeffer, Chairman of the SLI Board and Founder, said, "It gives me great pleasure that we are taking a big step toward making this planet cleaner and greener. For over 15 years, the Solar Living Institute has been offering our PV Design and Installation training at our 12-acre sustainability center in Northern California. We are happy to take another stride in our journey toward sustainability not only by going "paperless" but also by encouraging people to learn more and travel less, saving fossil fuels, time and money. Thanks to our great partners at Sify, and with the help of numerous PV industry experts, this training helps participants specialize in PV design and installation and prepares them for careers in the rapidly growing solar energy field. We are particularly proud to announce that this online training course has been accredited by the Institute for Sustainable Power (ISPQ) a globally respected accreditation authority. As such, many of our online students will be able to take the examination offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP,) an important entry-level credential for the solar industry."

Devraj Shetty, Business Head, Sify eLearning Services, Sify, said, "We are indeed delighted to partner with SLI for the best in online teaching, learning and training tools and applications in the area of renewable energy. Sify and SLI share the mission of improving the efficacy of teaching and learning in the ever-expanding areas of renewable energy and sustainable business practices. To do this, we bring state-of-the-art learning content interspersed with interactive 3D simulations, integrative exercises, and real-life scenarios that are guaranteed to develop knowledge and skills in a short span of time via use of social networking tools and new media technologies. Renewable energy training is certain to become amongst the fastest growing training domains - Sify and SLI are well positioned to collaborate and develop the best online training materials available in this field."

This unique collaboration will result in Sify and SLI working together to develop and rollout a variety of eLearning courses that range from technical training to sales, marketing, finance and sustainable personal and business practices for a green and sustainable future for all.

Advanced Energy Lands Second-Phase Contract for Expanded 6 MW Solar Plant

FORT COLLINS, Colo., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEIS), today announced that it has been awarded the second-phase contract for a newly expanded 6 MW solar plant installed at Aerojet's corporate headquarters in Sacramento, CA. The Solaron PV inverters were selected by Solar Power, Inc. for the expansion because of their industry leading efficiency ratings, as well as their ability to deliver maximum power and lowest LCOE (Levelized Cost Of Energy).

Dr. Hans Betz, chief executive officer of Advanced Energy, noted, "This expansion demonstrates the major strides that leading energy companies are making in accelerating the deployment of renewable energy solutions. Advanced Energy's industry-leading technology and comprehensive support services have enabled us to provide compelling benefits to our customers in the commercial and utility markets."

After the successful commissioning of the original 3.6 MW site in November, Solar Power, Inc. announced a 2.4 MW expansion, bringing the total capacity of the site to 6 MW. The expansion is expected to be completed in April 2010, and will make the Aerojet site the single largest industrial installation in the State of California, and one of the largest in the U.S. Electricity generated from the new site will provide just over 10 percent of electricity demand for the Aerojet facility, as well as provide clean, solar energy to the greater Sacramento district. The project was developed in partnership with Solar Power, Inc. as well as with Aerojet, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and HEK, LLC.

For more information on Advanced Energy's Solaron inverter solutions, please visit www.aesolaron.com.

USFloors Commissions Largest Commercial Solar Array in Georgia

DALTON, Ga., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The largest commercial solar array in the state was just commissioned in Dalton, GA. USFloors, a nationwide leader in sustainable flooring, installed a 144.48 kW solar array on their facilities. USFloors President Piet Dossche explained, "The array is expected to more than cover the energy needs for our green building, producing enough energy to power 14 homes. As part of USFloors' ongoing sustainability mission, we have more than quadrupled the amount of solar energy we provide to the community." The array covers approximately 14,500 square feet, and is visible from I-75.

By producing solar power on site, USFloors is able to take advantage of excellent Government and Utility benefits; a 30% Federal Grant, a 35% State Tax Credit and accelerated depreciation. North Georgia EMC pays USFloors a premium for the solar power that it generates. Ownership of power provides business owners with the opportunity to hedge against dramatic cost increases, and carries strong financial benefits.

The system was installed by Alpharetta based United Renewable Energy, LLC. William Silva, President of United Renewable Energy LLC, added that "USFloors continues to show leadership in sustainable manufacturing practices and job growth. This solar power system is impressive in its size alone, but more importantly because this is the largest commercial solar photovoltaic installation in Georgia since the 1996 Olympics."

Installing this solar array is just one of the many sustainable practices of USFloors, a company actively working towards a solar-powered future for Whitfield County. "Through our work with the Whitfield County Chamber, we have demonstrated how being sustainability stewards can benefit all local businesses," said Dossche. This solar array created at least fifteen jobs, and preserved many more by reducing operating costs, developing a new industry and introducing Dalton's business community to ways to stay sustainable and competitive.

Recurrent Energy Signs Agreement for 50 MW of Solar Projects with Southern California Edison

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Recurrent Energy, an independent power producer and a leading developer of solar power projects, today announced it has signed agreements with Southern California Edison (SCE). The utility will buy 100 percent of the power from three of Recurrent Energy’s California solar projects.

Recurrent Energy will build and operate the solar power systems, located in Kern County and San Bernardino County, which have a combined peak output of 50 megawatts of DC power (MWDC). The projects are expected to be completed in early 2013.

“These projects are a great example of the potential for distributed-scale solar to deliver significant quantities of power on relatively short timeframes,” said Arno Harris, CEO of Recurrent Energy. “Distributed-scale solar has an important role to play in helping to meet near-term renewable energy goals. This is a clear validation of our approach to developing and marketing solar power in California.”

The three solar photovoltaic ground-mounted power systems, two in Kern County (6 MWDC and 22 MWDC) and one in San Bernardino County (22 MWDC), are sited on private land leased by Recurrent Energy and construction is expected to begin in 2012.

“SCE sees solar as a key part of our renewable energy strategy,” said Marc Ulrich, Southern California Edison vice president, Renewable and Alternative Power. “We were pleased to work with Recurrent Energy’s experienced energy development, finance, and construction team to bring these distributed-scale solar projects online quickly. Projects like this make big steps toward contributing to California’s clean, green energy future.”

Carmanah Lights Up Polynesian Marine Facilities

VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Docks and wharfs throughout French Polynesia are now being illuminated with EverGEN™ solar LED lighting from Carmanah Technologies (TSX:CMH). This unique installation is the result of a government initiative to increase safety and security and significantly reduce operational costs at key marine facilities throughout the Polynesian Islands.

Providing illumination for both commercial shipping and local fishing activities, over 100 EverGEN solar LED lights will be installed in remote locales that have been without lighting until now. The systems are also replacing existing solar lighting units in other areas. The installation of Carmanah technology was motivated by a desire to improve the safety and security of facility operations with a flexible and reliable lighting solution. Carmanah’s extensive experience with solar LED technology, along with a continued investment in research and development efforts provided the customer with confidence in the performance and continued reliability of the EverGEN systems.

“It is thrilling to see our EverGEN solar LED lighting chosen for an installation that covers such a widespread geographic region,” said Ted Lattimore, Carmanah CEO. “The confidence in our solar LED lighting systems and the progress of the technology is becoming very obvious as Carmanah is chosen more and more often to satisfy large installation requirements such as this.”

Provided through authorized Carmanah partner, Yune Tung S.A. the EverGEN solar lighting systems feature dark-sky friendly LED fixtures by RUUD Lighting. In addition to bright, focused light output, the fixtures will provide the sites with environmentally sensitive illumination by reducing light pollution. In combination with the solar-powered technology of the lights, the LED fixtures will provide for a significant reduction in maintenance costs, improve the reliability of illumination in remote locations and increase the security of those doing business at key marine facilities throughout the Polynesian Islands.

The Carmanah EverGEN series is available now from Carmanah Technologies. For more information on solar LED lighting, visit www.carmanah.com.

Solyndra, Inc. Hires John Gaffney as Senior Vice President

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solyndra Inc., a manufacturer of innovative cylindrical photovoltaic systems for commercial rooftops, announced today that John Gaffney will join the company as its Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and General Counsel. Mr. Gaffney will lead Solyndra’s legal and corporate development activities and will report to Chris Gronet, Chief Executive Officer of Solyndra.

Most recently, from January 2008 to December 2009, Mr. Gaffney was an Executive Vice President at First Solar, Inc. where he led the legal, corporate development, sustainable development and environmental affairs departments. Previously, Mr. Gaffney practiced law for over 20 years at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where he became a partner in 1993 and advised numerous corporate and institutional clients on merger, acquisition and capital markets transactions. Mr. Gaffney holds a B.A. from The George Washington University and a J.D. and an M.B.A. from New York University.

Soliant Energy Adds to Executive Team

MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Soliant Energy™, the leader in concentrated solar energy systems for commercial rooftops, today announced that Marco DeMiroz has joined Soliant Energy as chief operating officer and chief financial officer, reporting to Terry Bailey, chairman and CEO. In his new position, DeMiroz will have responsibility for finance, company administration, government and industry initiatives, and other operations including new factories that the company might need as it moves into an expanded manufacturing phase. DeMiroz will also assist Bailey with various strategic initiatives for Soliant.

“We are thrilled to have Marco join Soliant in this new permanent and full time role that is essential to our future growth and success,” said Bailey. “Marco previously served Soliant as interim CEO and special advisor to the company and, as I’ve gotten to know Marco over the past few months, I’ve found his proven background in finance, operations and management to be of immense value to Soliant as we continue to raise capital, ramp-up our manufacturing and take advantage of growth opportunities.”

“As Interim CEO I was able to evaluate the Soliant technology and market opportunity from the inside out,” said DeMiroz. “The opportunity to work with Terry and help bring high-efficiency, concentrated solar to commercial rooftops around the world proved irresistible to me.”

DeMiroz has over twenty years of experience in global investments and in executive roles with leading technology companies. Through his career, DeMiroz has helped create close to $1 billion in shareholder value. As an executive, he has raised close to $200 million in private and public financing from global institutions, including, as a CFO, an $88 million IPO of General Magic with an initial market capitalization exceeding $800 million. He implemented treasury policies and managed cash and equivalent assets in excess of $120 million.

DeMiroz has been an active venture investor in the U.S., China and Europe with main areas of interest in the cleantech and IT sectors. Prior to Soliant, DeMiroz was on the investment staff at Trinity Ventures, focusing on solar, energy storage, energy efficiency and smart grid sectors. Earlier, he was a Managing Director at Selby Ventures and led its investments in a number of technology companies.

DeMiroz holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University where he received a Rockwell Scholarship; a post-graduate Engineer Degree in Aeronautics/Astronautics from Stanford University; an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from San Jose State University; and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

DuPont Opens Photovoltaic Application Facility in Geneva

GENEVA, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To address the needs for the fast-growing photovoltaic market, DuPont (NYSE: DD) opened the Meyrin Photovoltaic Application Laboratory at its European Technical Center – adding new capabilities to this leading R&D hub by developing next-generation products.

Over 50 representatives from the photovoltaic industry joined government leaders and DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman and Ian Hudson, president – DuPont Europe, Middle East and Africa, for the facility's opening.

"Addressing energy needs is a global concern. The generation and storage of renewable energy will be the fastest growing sector in the energy market for the next 20 years," said Kullman. "We can apply the power of our market-driven science to offer products and technologies that can transform the sun's potential into clean energy, contributing to decreasing dependence on fossil fuels."

The Meyrin Photovoltaic Application Lab will operate as an open center, enabling technological exchanges and research collaborations between DuPont and customers, industrial partners, institutes and academia. The lab is designed to advance state-of-the-art solar module design, accelerate time to market in photovoltaic innovation and deliver cost-effective, high-performance solutions for the photovoltaic industry.

A new innovative building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panel system that replaces tile or slate roofs is an example of open innovation. This new innovation was developed at the lab in collaboration with DuPont Building Innovations, DuPont Performance Polymers and industry partners. It significantly improves the ease and speed of installation, offers high-energy efficiency, exceptional water tightness and superior aesthetics to the building. The system was initially developed for the French market where it will be commercialized in the first quarter of 2010. In a second phase, the product will be commercialized in other Southern European markets.

DuPont materials have been at the forefront of photovoltaic innovation for more than 25 years, setting standards around the world through materials that provide unmatched quality and reliability to photovoltaic modules. DuPont anticipates that the photovoltaic market will grow by about 30 percent in 2010 and will continue to grow rapidly over the next three years. DuPont sales exceeded $500 million in 2009, and the company expects overall sales of its family of products into the photovoltaic industry will exceed $1 billion by 2012. DuPont has recently made significant investments in product development and capacity expansions for leading brands critical to solar cell and module manufacturing, including DuPont™ Solamet® photovoltaic metallizations, DuPont™ PV5300 encapsulant sheets and DuPont™ Tedlar® polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) films.

"At DuPont, responding to the sustainability challenges often involves looking at where different science and capabilities intersect," Hudson said. "The new Meyrin Photovoltaic Application Lab will allow us to collaborate more closely with our customers in the photovoltaic industry, to provide local technical support and to develop the next generation of products for the global photovoltaic market."

DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions represents the broadest portfolio in the solar energy industry, with more than 10 products critical to photovoltaic production. DuPont materials and technology solutions are designed to work together to help increase the efficiency and lifetime of crystalline silicon and thin film photovoltaic solar modules, while reducing total systems cost and enabling the photovoltaic industry to reach grid parity faster. For more information on DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, please visit http://photovoltaics.dupont.com.

DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 20 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

Hanwha Commissions Spire's 30MW Solar Cell Manufacturing Line

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing capital equipment and turnkey lines to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, announced its 30MW per year turnkey solar cell line has been accepted by Hanwha Chemical Corporation Ltd. of South Korea (Hanwha). The line exceeded both its efficiency and throughput specifications producing 15.8% efficient multi-crystalline silicon solar cells at the rate of more than 34MW per year.

“We are very pleased with the performance of this solar cell line. Since Hanwha put their confidence in Spire, it was important for us to deliver a line that exceeded specifications. This is Hanwha’s debut to the solar cell market and this line makes them very competitive,” said Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation. “Spire has been providing turnkey PV lines for over twenty years and is known principally for its module lines; the success of this line continues to demonstrate our ability to provide state-of-the-art cell lines as well.”

“We knew Spire represented the best choice as a partner for this turnkey solar cell factory,” said a senior official of Hanwha about the commissioning of their new Spire-supplied cell line. “Their process technology and proven ability to deliver made them the company to work with. We have not been disappointed.”

GE Dedicates $45 Million, Eco-Friendly, Solar Powered, Renewable Energy Global Headquarters

SCHENECTADY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Signaling its continuing commitment to developing and delivering cleaner, more efficient energy solutions for the world, GE (NYSE:GE) today officially dedicated a $45 million Renewable Energy Global Headquarters in Schenectady, N.Y.

“The dedication of our new, state-of-the-art global headquarters represents our ongoing mission to provide renewable energy solutions that will help meet both the world’s energy and environmental needs,” said Victor Abate, vice president, renewable energy for GE Power & Water. “It also stands as an important symbol of the rapid growth and success of our renewable energy business. When we entered the wind energy industry in 2002, it was a $200 million business for us. Today it has grown significantly, with revenues topping $6 billion.”

The event also marked the installation of GE’s 13,500th wind turbine globally, further demonstrating the continued growth of GE’s renewable energy business. GE is the largest supplier of wind turbines in North America, and the company’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine is the most widely used wind turbine in the world. GE’s global installed fleet now generates enough electricity to power nearly 6 million U.S. homes.

The establishment of the Renewable Energy Global Headquarters has spurred the creation of more than 650 new jobs in Schenectady, 150 more than originally anticipated and a year ahead of schedule.

Without long-term, supportive policy, however, the continued growth of the U.S. wind industry could be jeopardized, noted Abate. “The establishment of a federal renewable electricity standard (RES) with strong, near term goals, would provide the stability and support needed to encourage investors and drive growth in the U.S. wind industry,” he said. “This ongoing growth would continue the momentum experienced by the industry over the last several years, creating needed U.S. manufacturing jobs.”

Abate urged Congress to heed President Obama’s call during the State of the Union address to pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill that could help create jobs and make America energy independent. “If our elected officials, the public and the energy industry work together, the U.S. can provide the global leadership needed to solve the world’s clean energy challenges and create American jobs,” Abate said.

GE’s new Renewable Energy Global Headquarters meets federal Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standards and will be 20% more energy efficient than required by New York State building standards. Features include low-water faucets and improved insulation, energy efficient hot water boilers and air conditioning system, energy efficient, larger windows and bike racks and preferred parking for hybrid vehicles.

A 48-kilowatt GE solar system installed nearby helps to power the building, and a four-story atrium houses a scale model wind turbine and interactive displays featuring GE’s renewable energy technologies. A state-of-the-art Remote Operations Center is one of two global facilities that provides continuous monitoring and diagnostic services for GE’s installed base of wind turbines and solar power electronics

ONTILITY and Grape Solar to Partner

HOUSTON & EUGENE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ONTILITY, the nation’s fastest growing solar trainer, solar distributor and solar certified partner integration / installation network has teamed with Grape Solar, one of China’s leading solar product manufacturers offering premium grade mono and polycrystalline solar modules, to offer solar modules and complete solar appliance kits. Additionally, as part of the agreement, Grape Solar will also have the ability to promote and utilize ONTILITY’s nationally recognized solar training programs and its Certified Partner solar integration /installation network.

Additional details in regards to the strategic partnership include:

* ONTILITY will distribute Grape Solar mono and poly modules nationally, with exclusive distribution rights in certain states.
* ONTILITY will offer an exclusive Grape Solar predesigned, preconfigured turnkey appliance kit that features high quality solar modules, microinverters, monitoring and complete mounting priced under $2.80/W.
* ONTILITY has committed to a strategic purchasing agreement and pricing structure.
* Grape Solar will market and promote ONTILITY ONTraining solar training programs to it customer base.
* Grape Solar will offering solar consulting services through ONTILITY’s EcoSourcing, including: solar pv design support, project due diligence support and project field support as well as rebate and incentive processing.
* Grape Solar will team with ONTILITY and the ONTILITY Certified Partners network to offer integration/installation services across North America.
* Grape Solar will utilize ONTILITY’s Houston warehouse as a distribution warehouse, gateway to the Southern US market.
* ONTILITY and Grape Solar will integrate ordering and supply chain via NetSuite©, SuiteApps and SuiteCloud.

“Grape Solar is delighted with the opportunity to work with ONTILITY. We know it is a good fit because both companies place a high emphasis on quality products, aggressive market pricing and the overall growth of the solar industry. We are very excited to team with ONTILITY to offer solar training and solar consulting to our customer base as well. Additionally, we see the ability to leverage ONTILITY’s large Certified Partner network across the US as a key component to this relationship. ONTILITY’s network will truly and quickly allow us to connect the last mile between our quality solar modules and the end consumer. We would like to express our gratitude to the service-driven, quality focused people at ONTILITY for the confidence they have in Grape Solar. We look forward to a long term, mutually successful relationship," stated Ocean Yuan, CEO for Grape Solar.

“We like the Grape Solar business model a lot. Grape Solar offers premium solar products at a price point that makes sense in today’s market. ONTILITY understands that it is critical to the solar industry to offer the most efficient, high quality modules at the best price point. We also have been very impressed by Grape Solar’s level of service and consistent inventory levels. Last year when solar module supply got very constrained, Grape Solar always came through for us as promised. Having clear and consistent visibility to product availability is key to our model. When our dealers/installers and Certified Partners design and sell a solar pv system, it is import that those specification don’t have to change due to product availability," explained Tom Pash, CEO and President of ONTILITY.