ReneSola Applauds Opening of Large-Scale German Solar Power Plant; Gahro Plant Utilizes 27.5 MW of Poly and Virtus High-Efficiency Modules

IASHAN, China, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOL), a leading global manufacturer of solar products, today extended its formal congratulations to Enerparc, a leading EPC company in Germany, for constructing and operating a large-scale solar power plant in Gahro, Germany. The plant, which came on line on September 2, 2011, is equipped with 27.5 MW of ReneSola's standard Multi and Virtus high-efficiency modules.

In June of this year, ReneSola shipped to Gahro 16.23 MW of its standard Multi modules, comprised of 230W, 235W and 240W modules, and 11.23 MW of its Virtus modules, comprised of 235W, 240W and 245W modules, which were installed in August.

The solar power plant, which occupies 55 hectares near Heideblick, generates more than 26 million kilowatt hours of electricity each day, enough to supply more than 7,500 households.

"Thanks to our great partnership with ReneSola, more than 200 containers of modules were delivered and installed in record time. This new plant exemplifies our combined technical expertise in building and operating large-scale photovoltaic plants," said Stefan Muller, COO of Enerparc.

"We were very pleased to participate in this great project, which will provide a cleaner energy alternative to the citizens of Gahro," noted Dr. Panjian (Paul) Li, RenesSola's senior vice president. "We continue to work with customers and local governments to build partnerships in the renewable energy sector, as well as with local banks to ensure the bankability of our projects. The fact that nearly half the modules we supplied to this project were of the new, high-efficiency Virtus type demonstrates the effectiveness of our newest products and their suitability for large-scale solar projects."

About ReneSola

ReneSola is a leading global manufacturer of solar wafers and producer of solar power products based in China. Capitalizing on proprietary technologies, economies of scale, low-cost production capabilities and technological innovations and know-how, ReneSola leverages its in-house virgin polysilicon and solar cell and module production capabilities to provide its customers with high-quality, cost-competitive solar wafer products and processing services. The Company possesses a global network of suppliers and customers that includes some of the leading global manufacturers of solar cells and modules. ReneSola's ADSs are traded on The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SOL). For more information about ReneSola, please visit http://www.renesola.com.

Constellation Energy Begins Construction on Maryland’s Largest Solar Photovoltaic Power System

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) today announced that its retail energy business affiliate has started construction on a 16.1 megawatt DC grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) solar installation in Emmitsburg, Md. Part of the state of Maryland’s Generating Clean Horizons initiative, the approximately $60 million solar facility will be financed, owned and operated by Constellation Energy. Renewable electricity produced by the system will be purchased by the state of Maryland’s Department of General Services and the University System of Maryland under 20-year solar power purchase agreements.

“Our state’s growing ‘green’ sector is vital to our ability to create jobs and compete in the new economy,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley. “I’d like to thank Constellation Energy for their commitment to helping us move toward our renewable energy goals. Together, we will continue to make Maryland a leader in the nation’s efforts for clean energy, bring more green jobs to our communities and create a more sustainable future.”

Constellation Energy employs approximately 75 people to construct the solar installation, and expects that workforce to reach a peak of 150 people during the height of construction. The system is scheduled for operation in early 2012 and is expected to produce more than 22 million kilowatt hours of emissions-free electricity per year. Generating the same amount of electricity using nonrenewable sources would result in the release of 15,170 metric tons of carbon dioxide or the equivalent emissions from 2,975 passenger vehicles annually, according to U.S. EPA data.

“Projects like this are part of Constellation Energy’s commitment to provide clean energy products and services for our customers, both in Maryland and nationally,” said Mark Huston, head of Constellation Energy's retail energy business. “Constellation Energy’s new 70-megawatt Criterion Wind Project, located in Garrett County, Md., meets the clean energy needs of approximately 23,000 households. We look forward to developing additional renewable projects that will help Maryland meet its environmental goals.”

Currently the largest solar photovoltaic power system under construction in Maryland, the ground-mounted installation will be comprised of approximately 220,000 advanced thin film PV panels from First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) situated on 100 acres of land leased from Mount St. Mary’s University. In addition to the 16.1- megawatt system, Constellation Energy is developing an approximately 1.3-megawatt solar power system on the site that will supply power directly to the university.

“This partnership with Constellation Energy supports our sustainability goals here at the Mount,” said Thomas H. Powell, president of Mount St. Mary’s University. “We continue to lead the way as responsible stewards of the environment, by recognizing the importance of clean, renewable energy for our students and the community.”

In addition to PV technology, First Solar is providing engineering, procurement and construction services for the project.

“First Solar is excited to be working with Constellation Energy on Maryland’s largest PV project,” said Frank De Rosa, First Solar senior vice president of project and business development for North America. “Utility-scale PV solar is a clean, affordable source of renewable energy in many parts of the United States beyond the Southwest, where it is typically thought of.”

In February 2009, the Maryland Energy Administration, in partnership with the University System of Maryland and the Department of General Services, approved the award of four renewable energy projects under the Generating Clean Horizons program to spur the development of large-scale, commercial renewable energy projects. Under the initiative, the state issued requests for proposals for long-term power purchase agreements from renewable sources delivering clean power to the grid by 2014.

Constellation Energy currently owns and operates approximately 100 megawatts of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction for commercial and government customers throughout the United States. By structuring its solar projects as power purchase agreements, Constellation Energy requires no upfront capital from its customers and is able to provide power at a fixed cost that is less than projected market rates.

Commercial customers, universities, school systems, hospitals and government agencies interested in on-site solar installations of 1 megawatt or larger may contact Constellation Energy at sustainable-solutions@constellation.com or 1-877-427-2005.

To watch a brief video about Constellation Energy’s solar power systems, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyaXDmgM55M.

About Constellation Energy

Constellation Energy (www.constellation.com) is a leading competitive supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. It owns a diversified fleet of generating units, totaling approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a leading advocate for clean, environmentally sustainable energy sources, such as solar power and nuclear energy. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy had revenues of $14.3 billion in 2010.

About First Solar, Inc.

First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology, and is a premier provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) system solutions. The company is delivering an economically viable alternative to fossil-fuel generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life collection and recycling, First Solar is focused on creating value-driven renewable energy solutions that protect and enhance the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50011544&lang=en

Duo-Gard Expands Solar PV Canopy Systems for Architectural Market

CANTON, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Designers no longer need to sacrifice aesthetics to achieve the benefits of building-integrated photovoltaics in canopies and walkways. New solar PV canopy systems from Duo-Gard Industries Inc. are custom-designed and engineered to integrate as part of a building’s architecture. Duo-Gard will introduce the new canopies at Greenbuild 2011 in Toronto.
 
The canopies are engineered with a sealed skin and continuous components, eliminating any gaps between panels. This achieves a weather-tight structure for all climatic regions. All wiring is built into framing channels for a clean, contemporary appearance.

Available currently in standard sloped and ridge styles, the canopies are configured for the size and scope required for each project. Duo-Gard’s turnkey approach includes in-house design, engineering, fabrication and installation services, as well as technical support to specify, plus field support on photovoltaics. A new in-house steel fabrication facility, opened earlier this year, enhances Duo-Gard’s abilities to quickly and cost effectively customize each project.

Aesthetically, the PV panels can be charcoal gray or blue. Designers can also specify integrated translucent multiwall polycarbonate panels to add diffused daylight.

“These new canopies enable designers to create an architectural power plant,” said David Miller, Duo-Gard’s president, “and they can achieve it as an aesthetically appealing, integrated structure instead of an add-on or after-thought.”

The architectural canopy addition follows Duo-Gard’s introduction earlier this year of solar PV charging stations. For more information, please visit www.duo-gard.com and Greenbuild 2011 Booth 1731 in Toronto.

About Duo-Gard Industries Inc.:

Duo-Gard Industries Inc. is an international innovator in high-performance translucent daylighting systems and architectural illumination, as well as custom canopies, shelters and outdoor structures. Duo-Gard advances translucent technology with design, engineering, fabrication and installation of custom architectural products that enhance sustainability consistent with LEED compliance. Duo-Gard was established in 1984 and is based in Canton MI. For additional information, please visit www.duo-gard.com.

New Energy Capital Invests In FLS Energy, Inc., the Nation’s Largest Installer of Commercial Solar Hot Water Systems

HANOVER, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The New Energy Capital Cleantech Infrastructure Fund today announced an investment of $12.0 million in FLS Energy, Inc., the nation’s largest installer of commercial solar hot water systems and one of the largest integrators of photovoltaic solar systems in the southeastern United States.
   
FLS Energy, Inc. is an Asheville, NC-based designer, installer, and owner of commercial solar hot water (SHW) and photovoltaic (PV) systems. FLS Energy supplies turn-key solutions to clients, offering direct sales of solar systems or the opportunity to purchase solar energy through long-term contracts at competitive energy rates. “The FLS Energy management team has developed a unique set of skills and relationships that allows them to build, own, and maintain solar systems that offer their customers competitive clean energy with no up-front cost. We are looking forward to helping them maintain their rapid growth,” said Scott Brown, CEO of New Energy Capital. FLS Energy was named by Inc. Magazine as the 46th fastest growing company in the U.S. in 2010. The investment will create approximately 30 new jobs related to the manufacture and installation of SHW and PV equipment.

“We have been looking for an investor who really understands the clean energy markets, not just solar electric but also solar hot water. New Energy Capital was the only investor we talked to that really understood our business,” said Michael Shore, CEO of FLS Energy, Inc. FLS Energy has developed solar energy systems for leading industrial and technology companies such as SAS Institute, Prestage Foods, and Kimberly Clark; universities and colleges such as Wake Forest University, Guilford College, and Appalachian State University; and a number of governmental institutions, hotels, and other commercial enterprises throughout the Southeast. FLS Energy is currently installing solar systems on more than 2000 homes for the U.S. Marines.

New Energy Capital partnered on the investment with the CleanTech Alliance Fund, managed by North Sky Capital, of Minneapolis, MN. New Energy Capital was represented by Rath, Young & Pignatelli of Concord, NH

DaVita’s First Solar Thermal Dialysis Clinic Trial Shows Substantial Energy Reduction

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services committed to improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced the company’s first-ever dialysis clinic using solar thermal technology has shown a 75 percent reduction in natural gas consumption versus comparable DaVita facilities in the region.
   
The solar thermal technology was installed as a trial at DaVita’s Scottsburg, Ind., facility in 2010 and initial data has been analyzed in 2011. In the dialysis process water must be heated to a temperature equivalent to the human body before it is filtered in the blood cleaning process. To lessen the amount of fossil fuels consumed in the water heating process solar thermal panels were installed on the roof of the facility, using the sun to naturally increase the average temperature of water used for treatment.

“DaVita strives to identify innovative ways to reduce our energy consumption,” said Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita. “We’re very encouraged by the initial results from this trial.”

DaVita will continue to analyze and evaluate the data for the remainder of the year. If the pilot remains successful after this time, DaVita hopes to expand the use of solar thermal technology at more facilities across the country. In the meantime DaVita is testing other energy reduction technologies, including a water turbine in San Francisco, in an effort to continuously improve and learn.

DaVita places a high value on reducing the company’s environmental footprint and is credited with opening the nation’s first LEED-certified dialysis facility as well as the first dialyzer recycling pilot.

Visit DaVita’s newly launched sustainability page at http://www.davita.com/about/sustainability to learn more about the company’s efforts.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

JinkoSolar Wins Bid for 38 MW of Solar Module Supply and Signs Agreement for the First 18 MW with China Guangdong Nuclear

SHANGHAI, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS) a fast-growing, vertically-integrated solar power product manufacturer based in China, today announced that it has won a bid to supply China Guangdong Nuclear Solar Energy Development Co., Ltd. (China Guangdong Nuclear, or CGN-SEDC) with 38 MW of photovoltaic (PV) modules for two grid-connected PV power plant projects planned in Dunhuang city, Gansu Province and Qinghe County in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China. JinkoSolar is the only solar module supplier for the two projects.

JinkoSolar entered into an agreement with China Guangdong Nuclear to supply 18 MW of PV modules for the PV power plant project in Dunhuang City on September 27, 2011, pursuant to which Jinko will make the first delivery by October 25, 2011. China Guangdong Nuclear Engineering Co., Ltd. will provide the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) expertise for the project. JinkoSolar's obligation to supply the remaining 20 MW of PV modules is subject to the entry into of a separate supply agreement between both parties. The two PV power plant projects are an integral part of a 128 MW large-scale ground-mounted project that stretches across Western provinces in China and is owned and operated by CGN-SEDC.

"We are honored to be working with China Guangdong Nuclear," said Mr. Xiande Li, Chairman of the Board of Directors at JinkoSolar. "This validates our reputation as a large-scale producer of some of the highest quality solar modules available in the market today."

"It also represents an important step forward in expanding our global footprint, especially in China where we already have significant reach in a market that is expected to grow rapidly following the nation's new feed-in tariff announcement last month," added Mr. Li. "We hope to build a long-term relationship with China Guangdong Nuclear and the various other players in China's solar power plant industry. This is one of the top priorities for our global sales and marketing teams."

About China Guangdong Nuclear

Solar Energy Development Co., Ltd. of China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGN SEDC), was established in August 27, 2009. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group, CGN SEDC focuses on solar power investment, construction, operation and maintenance, and is actively involved in related industries. As a market leader, CGN-SEDC plans to complete over 5000MW of on-grid solar power projects by the end of 2020. For more information about CGN-SEDC, please visit： http://www.cgnpc.com.cn/n2881959/n3673953/n3674035/n3674285/3741349.html

About JinkoSolar

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) is a fast-growing, vertically-integrated solar power product manufacturer with low-cost operations based in Jiangxi Province and Zhejiang Province in China and sales and marketing offices in Shanghai, China, Munich, Germany, San Francisco, U.S. and Bologna, Italy. JinkoSolar has built a vertically-integrated solar product value chain with an integrated annual capacity of 900 MW each for silicon wafers, solar cells and solar modules as of March 31, 2011. JinkoSolar distributes its photovoltaic products to a diversified customer base in the global PV market, including Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the United States, France and other countries and regions.

SunRun and PV Solar Report Announce California's Top Solar Cities

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SunRun, the nation's leading home solar company, and PV Solar Report, an authority on California solar market data, today announced the top solar cities in California for the first eight months of 2011.  With San Jose in the number-one slot and Bakersfield, San Francisco and Fresno in the top five, the list indicates that families in northern and central California are setting the precedent for taking control of their electricity costs by switching to solar.

The top solar cities list is based on the California Solar Initiative's (CSI) database of residential rebate reservations through August 31, 2011.*  In seven of these ten cities the majority of homeowners chose a lease or similar options over a cash purchase.  Rankings are as follows:

1.     San Jose
2.     San Diego
3.     Bakersfield
4.     San Francisco
5.     Fresno
6.     Corona
7.     Simi Valley
8.     Santa Rosa
9.     Murrieta
10.     Lancaster

"Families in Fresno and Bakersfield have some of the highest electric bills in the state, so it's not surprising that more homeowners in those areas are looking for ways to save money on electricity by switching to solar," said SunRun president and co-founder Lynn Jurich.  "Because SunRun lets homeowners switch to solar without buying the panels, customers come to us with that financial pain in mind and save tens of thousands of dollars over time."

SunRun is growing at over 200% each year by letting American families switch to solar without spending $30,000 or more to buy panels.  SunRun owns, insures and maintains the solar panels and installs them on a homeowner's roof.  Families pay a low monthly rate for clean energy, fixing their energy costs for 20 years.

"PV Solar Report provides a daily snapshot of the industry for solar professionals, and as the solar market grows we see increasing interest from consumers in the reach and affordability of solar," said Stephen Torres, founder and managing director of PV Solar Report.  "This top cities list was designed to inform the industry, as well as demonstrate to California families that solar is affordable today.  For example, over the past twelve months the cost of a solar installation has dropped significantly and more homeowners are now using leases or power-purchase agreements to go solar than at anytime in the past."

PV Solar Report's analyses also indicate that going solar without buying the panels – known as 3rd-party-owned solar or solar power service – is becoming the preferred option in California.  For example, June of 2011 was the first month ever in which more Californians opted for 3rd-party-owned solar over cash purchases, and the trend continues.  SunRun invented this model for residential solar in 2007 and remains the market leader in California.  In August, the company had three times the market share of the next largest provider.

For more information on SunRun visit www.sunrunhome.com.  For an executive brief and comprehensive list of the top 25 cities in California from PV Solar Report click here.

*The CSI database includes data from the California utilities SDG&E, PG&E and SCE.

About SunRun

SunRun is the nation's leading residential solar company and its mission is to become the nation's largest energy provider. The company's Total Solar product is the smart and affordable choice for homeowners who want a clean alternative to their utility. SunRun offers solar power service, similar to a lease, allowing homeowners to upgrade their home to solar for as little as $0 upfront and simply pay monthly for solar electricity. More than 14,000 homeowners have chosen SunRun across Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. SunRun partners with over 25 leading local solar installers, who together employ more than 3,000 green-collar workers. SunRun has raised financing for more than $750 million in solar systems from investors including U.S. Bancorp, and $85 million in venture capital from Accel Partners, Foundation Capital and Sequoia Capital. For more information, please visit: www.sunrunhome.com.

About PV Solar Report

PV Solar Report is the leading authority on California solar market data with the mission of providing relevant, timely and succinct information to busy solar professionals. PV Solar Report publishes a daily digest for busy solar professionals, in-depth quarterly reports of the California residential solar market, and custom reports for solar company clients. PV Solar Report makes it easy for industry professionals to stay on top of the dynamic solar industry. For more information visit: www.pvsolarreport.com

LDK Solar Reaches Mechanical Completion Milestone for Third 5,000 MT Train at Mahong Polysilicon Plant

XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LDK Solar Co., Ltd. ("LDK Solar") (NYSE: LDK), a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic products, today announced that the Company successfully achieved mechanical completion of its third 5,000 MT polysilicon train at its Mahong polysilicon plant.

There are three 5,000 MT trains in the 15,000 MT Mahong polysilicon plant. Mechanical completion of this third train demonstrates that LDK Solar has successfully completed the plant's originally designed total polysilicon capacity of 15,000 MT per annum. With the extensive experience obtained from ramping up the previous two trains, the Company expects the third train will quickly ramp to reach full capacity production toward the end of 2011. The mechanical completion of the third train also enhances LDK Solar's leadership in manufacturing costs, lowers the key material supply risk and empowers LDK Solar as a leading player in the PV industry.

"Mechanical completion of the third train in the Mahong polysilicon plant is significant for LDK Solar as well as the PV industry," stated Goran Bye, President and CEO of LDK Polysilicon. "It will greatly expand LDK Solar's access to polysilicon, lower vertical integrated cost of final solar products and support our customers' growing demands."

As of today, LDK Solar reached a total polysilicon production capacity of 17,000 MT per annum, combining both Mahong and Xiacun polysilicon plants.  With the completion of its currently ongoing debottlenecking and hydrochlorination projects in both the Mahong and Xiacun plants, as well as the line B project in Xiacun plant, the Company expects to reach a total polysilicon production capacity of 25,000 MT per annum in mid-2012.

About LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK)

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) products. LDK Solar manufactures polysilicon, mono and multicrystalline ingots, wafers, cells, modules, systems, power projects and solutions. LDK Solar's headquarters and principal manufacturing facilities are located in Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province in the People's Republic of China. LDK Solar's office in the United States is located in Sunnyvale, California. For more information about LDK Solar and its products, please visit www.ldksolar.com.

Solar Energy Powers Marrocco Memorial Chapel

CLIFTON, N.J., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This Spring, the Marrocco Memorial Chapel joined thousands of other New Jersey residents and businesses in choosing to switch to solar energy in an effort to not only save money, but save the environment. The lack of control over long-term energy costs is one of the primary risks facing funeral homes today. For Marrocco, it only made sense to change to a more stable and predictable energy source such as that from solar energy.

By combining state and federal incentives, the upfront cost of solar became reasonable. By utilizing the Department of Treasury Section 1603 Grant, Marrocco cut more than $44,000 off the initial costs. That combined with 100% bonus accelerated depreciation, New Jersey's market for Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), and the electric savings that come from producing their own solar energy, Marrocco is expected to have a pay-back period between four and six years. Once the system is paid off, Marrocco will enjoy 20-plus years of free energy coming from the sun.

The 31 kW solar photovoltaic system covers about 45% of the 8,100 square foot roof of the Chapel and will generate over 35,000 kilowatt-hours per year, cutting approximately 95% from their annual energy bill.

Over the system's life, CO2 emissions are projected to be reduced by over 380 tons, equivalent to removing nearly 70 cars from the nation's highways.

For 110 years, the name Marrocco has become synonymous with superior funeral service in the northern New Jersey area. Since its inception in the late 1800's, it has been a family owned and operated business. It only made sense that they would choose Trinity Solar, also a family owned and operated business, to service their transition to renewable Solar Energy.

To see this release, visit:

http://trinity-solar.com/about-us/in-the-news/solar-energy-powers-marrocco-memorial-chapel

About Trinity Solar

Trinity Solar, one of the leading solar electric system integrators for residential and commercial clients in North America, has 2,800 solar electric installations and more than 18,000 energy-related clients. With over 400 employees, NJBIZ ranked Trinity as the largest renewable energy company in New Jersey. Based upon data provided by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Trinity has installed nearly 20% of the solar electric systems operating in New Jersey. For more information about Trinity Solar, visit www.Trinity-Solar.com

Suntech Recognized as a New Sustainability Champion by World Economic Forum

WUXI, China, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest producer of solar panels, was recognized by the World Economic Forum as a New Sustainability Champion in their recent report entitled 'Redefining the Future Growth: The New Sustainability Champions'. Suntech was the only solar company to be named New Sustainability Champion, underscoring its commitment and achievement to continually lead the renewable energy industry in terms of sustainability and innovation.

"Suntech is honored to be recognized as a New Sustainability Champion by the World Economic Forum," said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Founder and CEO. "As we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, this recognition reaffirms Suntech's vision to be a sustainable, responsible company delivering energy choices for tomorrow. In the next ten years, Suntech will perpetually make strategic investments to accelerate humanity's transition towards a more sustainable and responsible way of living."

The report, prepared with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), takes into account criteria covering sustainability, innovation, scalability, geography and company size. Additionally, the World Economic Forum and BCG analyzed over 1,000 businesses around the world and identified 16 fast-growth companies, including Suntech, who demonstrated ability in tackling challenges of performance, innovation, sustainability and growth.

"Suntech stands out as a New Sustainability Champion, a company fully committed to business excellence and the improvement of society," said Jerry Yu, Director, Center for Global Growth Companies, World Economic Forum.  "Together with World Economic Forum, we are confident that Suntech will continually inspire and lead the next generation of companies around the world to be more sustainable, innovative, and environmentally responsible."

Suntech recently launched the first global edition of its Sustainability Report 2010, which showcases the company's successes and opportunities with sustainable business initiatives. Known for its technology leadership, all of Suntech's R&D programs have a clear goal - reduce the cost of harnessing solar energy and increase the performance of solar cells and panels to ultimately make solar affordable for everyone, everywhere. However, Suntech's commitment to sustainability goes beyond its products. The company works closely with industry partners around the world to take responsibility for the complete environmental lifecycle of its products and operations. In January 2011, Suntech was also awarded the "Global Leader Award 2011" from Murphy&Spitz recognizing Suntech's exceptional EH&S practices.

To learn more about Suntech's sustainability efforts, please down the Sustainability Report 2010 here.

About Suntech

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) produces industry-leading solar products for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility applications. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland, and the United States, and gigawatt-scale manufacturing worldwide, Suntech has delivered more than 15,000,000 photovoltaic panels to over a thousand customers in more than 80 countries. Suntech's pioneering R&D creates customer-centric innovations that are driving solar to grid parity against fossil fuels. Suntech's mission is to provide everyone with reliable access to nature's cleanest and most abundant energy source.

For more information about Suntech's people and products visit: http://www.suntech-power.com

JinkoSolar Announces Results of 2011 Annual General Meeting

SHANGHAI, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS) a fast-growing, vertically-integrated solar power product manufacturer based in China, today announced that all shareholders resolutions proposed at the Company's 2011 annual general meeting held today were duly passed. Specifically, the shareholders passed the following resolutions approving:

•     The change of name of the Company from "JINKOSOLAR HOLDING CO., LTD" into "JINKOSOLAR HOLDING CO., LTD.";
•     The re-election of  Mr. Kangping Chen as a director of the Company;
•     The re-election of Mr. Xianhua Li as a director of the Company;
•     The re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company as auditors of the Company for the fiscal year of 2011;
•     The authorization of the directors of the Company to determine the remuneration of the auditors;
•     The increase of the aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the Company's long term incentive plan (the "Plan") adopted on July 10, 2009, as amended, or covered by Awards (as such term is defined in the Plan) including upon the exercise of ISOs (as such term is defined in the Plan) from 7,325,122 ordinary shares to 9,325,122 ordinary shares; and
•     The authorization of each of the directors of the Company to take any and every action that might be necessary to effect the forgoing resolutions 1 to 6 as such director, in his or her absolute discretion, think fit. 

About JinkoSolar

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) is a fast-growing, vertically-integrated solar power product manufacturer with low-cost operations based in Jiangxi Province and Zhejiang Province in China and sales and marketing offices in Shanghai, China, Munich, Germany, San Francisco, U.S. and Bologna, Italy. JinkoSolar has built a vertically-integrated solar product value chain with an integrated annual capacity of 1,100 MW each for silicon wafers, solar cells and solar modules as of June 30, 2011. JinkoSolar distributes its photovoltaic products to a diversified customer base in the global PV market, including Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the United States, France and other countries and regions.

IKEA Powers-up Solar Energy System’s Panels at Covina, CA Store

COVINA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its San Gabriel Valley store in Covina, California. The 57,000-square-foot PV array consists of a 451-kW system, built with 2,002 panels. IKEA Covina’s program will produce approximately 651,800 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 495 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 88 cars or powering 55 homes yearly (calculating clean energy equivalents at www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html).


This investment by IKEA to purchase its solar photovoltaic energy system with Gloria Solar modules, and to install and operate it atop the Covina store it owns, will lower the carbon intensity of the electrical grid. It also represents the 12th completed solar energy project for IKEA in the United States. Additional installations currently are underway at eight more locations in the Eastern U.S.

For the development, design and installation of this customized solar power system, IKEA contracted with Gloria Solar, the U.S. operating group focused on the photovoltaic business within the family of E-Ton Solar Group. This project is the second IKEA installation in the 50,000-square-mile service area of Southern California Edison, the utility providing electric power to approximately 14 million people throughout Southern California.

“Our mission is to create a better everyday life for the many people, and at IKEA Covina, we just added to this effort,” said Kristien Verbeke, IKEA Covina store manager. “A solar energy system will help reduce our store’s carbon footprint and represents another investment toward our future in this community. We appreciate the continued support of the City of Covina, Southern California Edison, and Gloria Solar, our partners in this project.”

IKEA, drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, believes it can be a good business while doing good business and strives for its operations to minimize impacts on the environment. Globally, IKEA evaluates all locations regularly for energy conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works with Global Forest Watch to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. Specific U.S. sustainable efforts include: recycling waste material (paper, wood, plastic, etc.); incorporating environmental measures into the construction of buildings in terms of energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas, and water conserving restrooms; and operationally, phasing out the sale of incandescent light bulbs and facilitating recycling of customers’ compact fluorescent bulbs.

Located on 12.5 acres along I-10 at Barranca Avenue, the 325,000-s.f. IKEA Covina opened in May 2003 and employs approximately 250 coworkers. In addition to 10,000 exclusively designed items, IKEA Covina presents 50 different room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a Children’s IKEA area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store.

IKEA strives to be ‘The Life Improvement Store,’ and since its 1943 founding in Sweden, has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 320 IKEA stores in 39 countries, including 38 in the U.S. IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings company, incorporates sustainable efforts into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, go to IKEA-USA.com.

Astrum Solar Expands Operations and Offerings in New York State

ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, Md., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to increased customer demand throughout the state, Astrum Solar – the leading full-service residential solar provider in the eastern United States – has significantly expanded its New York operations and, as part of that expansion, will now offer solar leasing to homeowners through Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG).

While Astrum Solar, which has a regional operations center in Henrietta, NY, has installed residential solar systems throughout New York – from Niagara Falls to Dobbs Ferry to the Adirondacks – it will now offer homeowners the flexibility to go solar on their own terms.  "Leasing Powered by Constellation Energy" will make solar generation a viable option for more state residents, with a choice of little to no-money down.

The leasing program also allows customers to select the solar panels and system design that best meets their energy needs and budget. As a special promotion to introduce the residential solar leasing program, Astrum Solar is offering homeowners who sign a lease before Oct. 1 a cash incentive of up to $2,000 to cover the first two years of the lease.

"New Yorkers have demonstrated a strong desire to convert from traditional energy consumers to clean energy producers, driving demand for our offerings and providing the opportunity to expand our operations in the state," said Vadim Polikov, president and chief executive officer of Astrum Solar.  "We believe that solar leasing will have an even broader appeal by greatly reducing upfront costs and making it more affordable for a larger segment of the population to go solar."

Under the leasing program, the homeowner receives the electricity generated by the solar panels for very little money down and a low monthly rate that is locked in for the next 20 years. The combined cost of the new lower electric bill and the monthly solar lease payment are less than the cost of the pre-solar electric bill. As utility rates rise over the years, that monthly savings is expected to grow since leasing solar essentially locks in the electricity rate for the 20 years.

"Solar can cut electricity purchased from the grid by 40 to 50 percent for the average homeowner, and leasing sharply reduces the upfront costs for installation," said Mark Huston, head of Constellation Energy's retail business. "Astrum Solar makes residential solar a seamless experience for consumers and aligns with Constellation Energy's commitment to developing products and services that help our customers to buy, manage and use energy more efficiently."

Oltmans Solar Completes Construction of Largest Rooftop Solar Installation in North America

WHITTIER, Calif., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Oltmans Construction Co., a leading U.S. industrial and commercial general contractor, announced today it has completed construction of the largest rooftop solar installation in North America, totaling 8.6 megawatts (MW).

"With the completion of this project, Oltmans has constructed a total of 13 solar installations totaling 26 MW and covering 5.5 million square feet with a value of more than $68 million," said Mike Englhard, vice president of Oltmans Solar. "We have longstanding, close relationships with both the construction and solar communities, which gives us the ability to manage large-scale solar installations from identification to construction completion."

The installation covers 1.2 million square feet on a Prologis distribution center rooftop and is part of Southern California Edison's renewable energy program. The installation is located in Rialto, California.

Tenaska Solar Ventures Chooses First Solar to Construct Imperial Solar Energy Center South

OMAHA, Neb., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In a major step in the development of the Imperial Solar Energy Center South, Tenaska Solar Ventures, the solar energy affiliate of Tenaska, has selected First Solar to be the technology provider and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project.

First Solar will provide EPC services, using advanced thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules for the solar generating plant to be located on approximately 950 acres in the southern part of Imperial County.

"The selection of First Solar to design and build Imperial Solar Energy Center South is a significant milestone in the development of new renewable sources of energy for Southern California," said Bart Ford, Tenaska vice president of Development. "First Solar is among the most respected and experienced manufacturers of solar energy systems in the United States, and we are pleased to obtain the company's services for our Imperial Solar facility."

The proposed Imperial Solar Energy Center South will be a ground-mounted PV solar power generating system with a capacity of approximately 130 megawatts (MW) of electricity. PV technology converts sunlight directly into electricity with panels using semiconductors that do not produce noise or emit any greenhouse gases. When operating at peak times, the project will produce enough electricity to meet the needs of at least 44,000 California homes. The electricity produced by the project will be sold under a 25-year power-purchase agreement to San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).

"We are excited to work with Tenaska on this project, bringing our industry-leading engineering, construction and operations expertise in utility-scale solar projects to the Imperial Valley," said Jim Lamon, First Solar senior vice president of EPC and Operations and Maintenance.

First Solar, formed in 1999 and headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., is a world leader in the manufacture of advanced, thin film PV solar modules, with over 4 gigawatts (GW) of working installations worldwide and factory production of 2 GW of modules per year, and is a premier provider of comprehensive PV solar systems.

The project is expected to create about 250 jobs at peak construction and four to five direct, long-term jobs to support ongoing operations. Construction is expected to begin in late 2011, with commercial operation in 2014.

Tenaska Solar Ventures will manage the Imperial Solar Energy Center South project for CSOLAR IV South, LLC, which will develop, own and operate the project.   Both Tenaska Solar Ventures and CSOLAR IV South, LLC are affiliates of Tenaska. Tenaska is an energy company based in Omaha, Nebraska, with a proven track record of developing, constructing, owning, and operating state-of-the-art electric generation and cogeneration plants.

CNPV Announces Master Distribution Agreement for North America

LUXEMBOURG and DONGYING, China, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- CNPV Solar Power SA, a public limited liability company organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products, announced today that they have signed a Master Distribution Agreement for Residential and Commercial installations with Solar Solutions and Distribution LLC of Denver, Colorado.

Under the terms of this strategic agreement, CNPV will supply Solar Solutions with a total of 100MWp of high performance PV Modules from 2011 to 2013, which includes 10MWp of scheduled delivery during 2011. The remaining 40MWp and 50MWp are scheduled for delivery in 2012 and 2013 respectively. This agreement has within its terms an aggressive detailed program of expansion that will lead to considerable increases on the initially stated volumes. Specifically created to provide coast to coast, instant response and 24 hour delivery, the Solar Solutions infrastructure and affiliated regional partners anticipate extensive further market penetration within their existing customer base of residential and commercial consumers.

As Jesse Stubbs, President and CEO of Solar Solutions was quick to point out, "Our business strategy has always been to provide the best value, service and quality, allowing us to cross sell between each of our channels. Our historical success in electrical and engineering installation supplies, and our associate network, allows us to capitalize further on the solar program with our loyal and diverse clientele. Our solar products sales growth to date has been ahead of the market. With CNPV, we believe that this rate of growth will now increase dramatically, based on the higher harvesting density, and the technical competence that underscores the products design, superior performance and longevity. Our collective initiative to provide 'joint' market development is fundamentally aligned to our existing business model, and therefore naturally integrates into our way of working with little or no disruption and only major positive benefits."

Bypina Veerraju Chaudary, CNPV's COO & CTO contributed similar comments: "Management effectiveness; our two Companies' alignment to develop the consumer solar PV market allows both organisations to play to their strengths without massive disruption or extended learning periods. This allows for faster, deeper, wider market penetration and brand development, that are not only strategically required, but allows exponential growth as the existing sales channels are broadened. We share with Solar Solutions the strategic goal of acquiring and retaining repeat growing customers, and are delighted that our solutions to the solar PV market, fulfill this requirement when evaluated by an experienced provider."

The roll out program for the aforementioned market development is underway, with the North American patrons able to access the cost effective solutions in the coming weeks.

Heilind Offers TE Connectivity's Solar Solutions

WILMINGTON, Mass., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Heilind Electronics, the largest interconnect distributor in North America, is now stocking the full line of TE Connectivity solar products. Heilind's large inventory of TE solar products includes the SOLARLOK product line, solar identification labels and solar relays.

TE's SOLARLOK product line includes PV connectors, junction boxes, grounding clips, grounding bolts and residential combiner boxes. SOLARLOK products deliver a flexible solution for easy, low cost, dependable interconnection from the photovoltaic modules to the DC/AC converter.

TE's SOLARLOK combiner box is a UL 1741-listed, five-stringed, pre-wired unit. It offers 30-second, error-proof terminations through factory wired TE SOLARLOK PV connectors, which have polarity keyed housings to help prevent mismating. In addition, their light-weight, low-profile design, which includes four pre-drilled knock-out selections, offers installation flexibility in various residential solar applications.  

SOLARLOK grounding clips bring a new ground connection solution to the market for 10AWG – 12 AWG wire sizes. Termination times are measured in seconds using the pre-mounted clip, thereby saving time and reducing labor costs.  

SOLARLOK ground bolts are designed for solar module grounding. Each grounding assembly accepts uninsulated solid copper wire sizes 12 through 6 AWG or uninsulated stranded (having 7 or 19 strands) copper wire sizes 10 through 6 AWG. The grounding assembly is used with metal–framed photovoltaic panels and related products that require grounding for safety reasons.  

TE solar identification labels are designed to withstand harsh outdoor environments, and can be exposed to rain, intense sunlight, UV rays, snow, ice, cold temperatures, sand, salt spray and condensation from fog.

Heilind also offers a variety of TE relays designed specially for PV solar applications. These automatic switching units are usually integrated into the inverters of the PV system.

Visit Heilind's website for more information about TE's solar products.

PetersenDean Roofing and Solar Systems Honored by Alsion Montessori at Fundraising Gala

NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alsion Montessori Middle/High School celebrated its achievements last Friday, September 23rd, 2011, at its 10th Anniversary Gala. In keeping with the theme ‘Alsion, For a Greener Future’, it featured keynote speaker Rex Northern, Executive Director of Cleantech Open, which is the leader in developing clean technology startup entrepreneurs to address today’s most urgent energy, environmental, and economic challenges.

Mr. Michael Leahy, founder of Alsion Montessori, recognized PetersenDean Roofing and Solar Systems and the Petersen Family, for the donation of a 28 panel or 4.9kW system to the school. The system is expected to offset approximately 50% of the school’s electric needs, and is scheduled for installation by PetersenDean in October, 2011.

News of the donation has sparked a heightened interest in the student population, who has taken it upon themselves to learn more about solar and alternative energy. To further this interest, Alsion teacher, Jennifer Scriber and her 9th grade class, toured the PetersenDean headquarters in Newark, Ca. In addition to the facilities tour, the students spent time discussing solar energy with PetersenDean’s Chief Technology Officer, Bill Scott. His comment, after being bombarded with questions by the students was “What a bright bunch of kids!”

Using a sophisticated on-line monitoring system, the students will have the opportunity to study the equipment closely, track energy usage, make comparisons to their energy usage in previous years using more traditional energy sources, and calculate their energy savings over the course of the year. The Alsion student community believes that effective green technologies are important to their future and the future of this planet.

About Alsion Montessori Middle/High School. Alsion Montessori Middle/High School offers an educational program specifically designed to meet the academic and social needs of adolescents and young adults. 85% of its graduates are typically accepted into the University of California with advanced standing, and about 20% qualify for National Merit Scholarships each year. As a small learning community with a diverse student population, we can focus on the individual needs of each adolescent as he or she undergoes the critical transformation from child to young adult. To visit Alsion’s website, go to: www.alsion.org/index.php or www.alsionfoundation.org/.

About PetersenDean Roofing and Solar. Offering LEED certified roofing materials and state-of-the-art solar installations; PetersenDean continues to set the standard for roofing contractors and solar installers. With headquarters in Vacaville, California, PetersenDean employs approximately 4,000 seasoned construction professionals in Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, and Nevada. Establishing its success on the idea that quality roofs are based on superior workmanship, the company has built a proven track record of service and performance. To learn more go to www.petersendean.com.

Tegal Announces Sequel Power’s Sponsorship Role in Solar Arabia Summit; Industry Leaders Convene Next Month to Consider $100B Saudi Initiative

PETALUMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tegal Corporation (NASDAQ:TGAL) today announced that Sequel Power, its portfolio company dedicated to the development and operation of large scale photovoltaic (PV)-based solar utility projects, has been invited to be a major sponsor and panelist of the October 23-24 Solar Arabia Summit at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
   
The event combines some of the world’s leading authorities on solar energy and key policy-makers, Government officials, investors and business conglomerates involved in shaping Saudi Arabia's solar energy future. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is investing $100 billion in solar energy to achieve its goal of 5 gigawatts of solar-generated power by 2020.

Sequel Power representatives will be among the primary speakers and workshop panelists at the summit, which is one of the global solar industry’s most important and exclusive gatherings of project developers, technology manufacturers and investors. Up to 150 invited Chairpersons, Presidents, owners, c-level directors and investment executives from the largest financial institutions in the industry are attending, according to conference organizers.

Saudi solar initiatives are prominent among more than a dozen projects Sequel Power has with major partners in six countries.

“Saudi Arabia’s $100-billion initiative is tailor-made for the utility-scale expertise of Sequel Power,” said Thomas Mika, Tegal’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Sequel Power was invited to have a prominent position at the Summit because it focuses on PV-based utility-scale solar projects of 750+ megawatts (0.75 GW). Utility-scale projects on that scale are of a size that matches the ambition of Saudi Arabia.”

“The Summit enables the Saudi government, Sequel Power and industry officials to collaboratively define a renewable energy implementation plan within the Kingdom’s $100-billion initiative,” said Sequel Power President and Chief Executive Officer Ferdinand Seemann. “The plan is designed to focus in part on large-scale, green-field projects. We have been meeting with energy leaders in Saudi Arabia since 2008, and input from these discussions have contributed significantly to the cost-effectiveness and high reliability of Sequel Power’s large-scale utility PV solutions.”

Satcon Chosen for Landmark 5 Megawatt Project by Arizona Western College

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Satcon Technology Corporation® (NASDAQ CM: SATC), a leading provider of utility-scale power conversion solutions for the renewable energy market, today announced that it has delivered five megawatts (MW) of its industry-leading PowerGate Plus and Solstice solutions to Arizona Western College to power a five megawatt installation distributed across the college campus.

The Yuma Arizona project will serve as a state of the art research and testing site for government and corporate solar applications. The installation consists of five distinct photovoltaic technologies including; mono crystalline, poly crystalline, low concentration, high concentration, and thin film.

This site utilizes a combination of Satcon’s PowerGate Plus and Solstice inverter solutions. PowerGate Plus is the world’s most widely deployed large-scale, Utility-Ready solution. Satcon Solstice leverages string level power conversion and energy harvest optimization that is integrated as a complete system with a highly optimized centralized inverter. All of Satcon’s solutions include advanced utility-ready features to enable simplified grid interconnection and can be easily integrated into SCADA systems through standardized communication interfaces.

This site will go live in October 2011 with an anticipated energy output of 10,500,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year, equivalent to the annual consumption of 879 households in Yuma Arizona.

About Satcon

Satcon Technology Corporation® is the leading provider of utility-scale power conversion solutions for the renewable energy market, enabling the industry’s most advanced reliable and proven clean energy alternatives. For over 26 years, Satcon has designed and delivered the next generation of efficient energy systems for solar photovoltaic, stationary fuel cells, and energy storage systems. To learn more about Satcon, please visit www.Satcon.com.

US Army Airborne Selects Carmanah A704 for Precision Marking

VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carmanah Technologies Corporation (TSX: CMH) is pleased to announce an order valued at $120,000, with the US Army. The 101st Airborne Division, known for being called into action when the need is immediate and extreme, has selected the Carmanah A704 solar powered aviation lantern as the perfect tool to aid with rapidly deployed precision drop zone and helipad marking requirements. The A704 lanterns will be put to work in theatre in the Middle East, as well as continental US (CONUS) training activities.

This sale to the US Army 101st Airborne Division continues the long and mutually beneficial relationship between the US Department of Defense Services and Carmanah Technologies Corporation.

About Carmanah Technologies Corporation

As one of the most trusted names in solar technology, Carmanah has earned a reputation for delivering strong and effective products for industrial applications worldwide. Industry proven to perform reliably in some of the world's harshest environments, Carmanah solar LED lights and solar power systems provide a durable, dependable and cost effective energy alternative. Carmanah is a publicly traded company, with common shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "CMH”. For more information, visit www.carmanah.com.

SolarTech Unveils “Good Faith Estimate” Template to Address Customer Acquisition Costs Through ‘MPG-like’ Reporting for Residential Solar PV

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolarTech, a non-profit industry consortium with a mission to remove non-hardware, process-related cost-barriers to acceleration of U.S. solar markets, announced today the award of a development contract to SolarNexus for the implementation of SolarTech’s Solar Energy Estimate (SEE) report as an open web service in SolarHub.com. SolarNexus has been an active participant in SolarTech’s Performance Committee, and jointly worked with SolarTech and SolarPro Magazine in 2009 to introduce SolarHub. SolarHub is a freely available web-based data source for product specifications on thousands of solar products providing a cost-reducing resource to solar contractors consistent with SolarTech’s objectives.
   
“We are pleased to see our SEE report vision move from concept to implementation,” said Tim Keating, SolarTech Performance Committee Chair and VP of Marketing and Field Operations at Skyline Solar. “The Solar Energy Estimate report takes a giant step forward in reducing consumer confusion in solar PV buying decisions for homeowners and small businesses.”

The SEE report is a proposed standard for presenting consumers with a uniform performance quote template modeled on the Department of Transportation’s MPG rating system for new car purchases that consumers have grown to rely upon. The SEE report uses standardized calculations combined with the installer’s site specific equipment design and local solar insolation estimates to provide the annual estimated energy production for the solar system. Just like the MPG rating, this estimate offers consumers a uniform, standardized approach for relative comparison between multiple installer designs for a solar system in a specific location. Most important, in addition to the underlying calculations (based on NREL’s PVWatts, v2 and California CSI EPBB derate factors), it offers a standardized report format (modeled on the MPG window sticker) enabling consumers to easily find the data of interest for comparing quotes and building consumer confidence.

“NREL estimates for customer acquisition costs for your typical 5kW system currently represent up to $0.20/Wp due to consumer confusion about system performance, difficulties in comparing multiple bids, and prolonged decision making,” said Doug Payne, Executive Director of SolarTech. “We have integrated our Performance and Finance Initiatives to reduce these costs 20% annually through standardized quotation templates, uniform financing contracts, and related checklists that support this goal. The combined Performance and Finance toolkits eliminate hidden expenses and risk through delays and lost sales due to a lack of clarity. Our vision is low risk, low cost, high speed PV process. This is a small but important first step that dovetails with our National Solar3.0 platform recently announced as part of the DOE SunShot grant initiative.”

Funding for this project was made possible from two significant sources: Pacific Gas & Electric Company as well as the California Energy Commission’s PIER grant program. PG&E has been a major supporter of SolarTech’s mission and an active participant in the Performance Committee. The Energy Commission recognized the significant rate-payer value to allocating a portion of SolarTech’s 2008 PIER grant award towards this project.

“We are pleased to be supporting SolarTech's mission to lower Balance of System soft costs, as it is in direct alignment with the SolarNexus vision of leveraging software to streamline installers’ business operations,” said Eric Alderman, President and CEO of SolarNexus. “This project is a natural fit to SolarHub, which has built a reputation as a reliable industry resource. We fully expect to unveil a working prototype of the SEE Report in SolarHub in the next quarter.”

NRCO Solar RFP Winner Announced

CARMEL, Ind., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO) announced today that one of its members, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), has engaged SunEdison to develop a 5.5 MW AC solar facility.  SMECO will own and operate the facility through a wholly owned subsidiary, SMECO Solar LLC.

Pending approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission and final engineering and permitting, the solar farm is planned to be a 5,500 kilowatt (AC) solar photovoltaic facility to be located on 47.2 acres of land owned by SMECO in Hughesville, Maryland, adjacent to SMECO's new Engineering and Operations Building.  The solar facility is scheduled to reach full commercial operation in early 2013.  The facility is expected to supply generation of 8,471 MWh in its first year of operation and will be net metered with SMECO's Engineering & Operations Building, which will consume over 10% of the project output.  The project will generate electricity for at least 20 years.  

The project is the result of a request for proposals that was issued by NRCO on behalf of SMECO in March of this year.  After receiving a robust response to the RFP, NRCO and SMECO spent the summer evaluating the 30 submissions.  NRCO and SMECO carefully considered many diverse attributes of specific projects before selecting SunEdison and to pursue project ownership over a purchase power agreement.  NRCO and SMECO are looking forward to working with SunEdison, a worldwide leader in solar project development headquartered in Beltsville, MD.  NRCO and SMECO are also excited about this opportunity to bring locally sourced green energy to the cooperative members in southern Maryland.

This project is the first solar project that NRCO has facilitated for SMECO, though it is the third renewable project.  SMECO previously purchased the energy and environmental attributes of two wind projects through NRCO's subscription process.  Producing solar renewable energy will help SMECO fulfill its renewable portfolio obligation as required by the state.  Utilities are obligated to purchase .1 percent of their load from solar energy resources in 2012; that percentage increases each year thereafter.  Utilities that don't purchase the required amount of solar energy must buy renewable energy credits or pay a penalty.

"The administration of this RFP and the selection of a development partner, as well as the creation of SMECO Solar LLC, represent the fulfillment of several of NRCO's strategic goals to bring affordable, green energy to our cooperative members.  We congratulate SMECO on this exciting new venture and we thank all the bidders who submitted proposals for their hard work and thoughtful responses," commented Amadou Fall, CEO of NRCO.

"We are making the most of our existing resources to increase our effectiveness as a cooperative: land that was once used to produce tobacco will now be used to produce electric energy," according to Austin J. Slater, Jr., SMECO's president and CEO.  "Working with NRCO and SunEdison has allowed us to develop a project tailored to our needs that will benefit our customer-members.  Through our partnership, we will be able to obtain low-cost financing for infrastructure that will increase the availability of solar resources within our service area."

About NRCO:

Cooperatives across the country formed the National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO) to promote and facilitate the development of renewable energy resources for its members.  NRCO's main purposes are to facilitate the cost-effective, joint development of renewable resources nationwide for its cooperative owners, helping its owners meet the requirements of voluntary and mandatory Renewable Energy Standards (RES).

Membership in the NRCO is open to generation and transmission cooperatives (G&Ts) and distribution cooperatives that have the legal ability to buy power in the wholesale market.  Members located in areas that may not have renewable resources can participate in projects across the United States through renewable projects originated and/or developed by NRCO.  For more information, please visit www.nrco.coop.

About SMECO:

SMECO is a customer-owned electric distribution cooperative based in Hughesville, MD and serving 150,000 customers.  SMECO serves southern Prince George's County, Charles County, St. Mary's County, and all but the northeast portion of Calvert County. SMECO contracts with wholesale power providers to meet the energy needs of its members.  For more information on SMECO visit www.smeco.coop

John Lefebvre Appointed President of Suntech America

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest producer of solar panels, has appointed John Lefebvre as President of Suntech America. Based at Suntech America's headquarters in San Francisco, Mr. Lefebvre is charged with extending Suntech's market leadership position throughout North and South America. He will report directly to Suntech's Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Beebe.

"John brings the ideal mix of industry experience and proven business development capabilities to lead Suntech America through the next phase of our industry's growth," said Andrew Beebe, Suntech's Chief Commercial Officer. "As we enter a grid parity environment, markets throughout the Americas, particularly the U.S. and Canada, are major strategic priorities for our global organization. This appointment will help to solidify our leadership position in what will remain a key regional driver of our global growth."

"I'm honored to join the Suntech team and plan to accelerate the company's remarkable trajectory throughout North and South America," said John Lefebvre, President of Suntech America. "I've been working with Suntech and their local teams for years now, and understand why and how Suntech has become the U.S. and global market leader."

For the past four years, Mr. Lefebvre served as Vice President of Sales and Business Development at SolarCity, a leading full-service solar provider for homeowners, businesses and government organizations, as well as a Suntech customer. In that role, Mr. Lefebvre was responsible for all of the company's sales, channel partnerships and corporate partnerships, including end-to-end management of SolarCity's residential, government and commercial sales activities, and strategic channel management.

Mr. Lefebvre began his career in the aerospace division of GE before transitioning to the semiconductor equipment industry. At Lam Research and Mattson Technology, Mr. Lefebvre held senior management and product development positions working across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Mr. Lefebvre received an M.B.A. from the University of British Columbia and ESADE (Barcelona, Spain), a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Physics from Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University.

SolarTech Streamlines Solar PV Permitting & Inspection

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolarTech, a non-profit industry collaborative driving six initiatives to streamline the growth and acceleration of solar in the U.S., announced today the release of the first edition of a Microinverter and AC Module Application Guide. Existing codes and standards can be confusing as new disruptive technologies enter the existing construction world. This guide is targeted at installers, building officials and fire officials to assist in the rapid adoption of these new technologies.
   
SolarTech is committed to reducing the balance of system soft costs by 50% by 2014 in time to meet the DOE’s target cost goals of $0.40/W by 2017. GTM Research forecasts a $6.9 billion PV inverter market for 2011 with many emerging microinverter and AC module manufacturers poised to take a significant share of the market. Clearly these technologies will become significant players in the near future. Opportunities for improvements in permitting, inspection and utility interconnection processes will help lower overhead costs. This becomes even more important as these new technologies are introduced, which are also needed to meet overall system costs reductions, but unforeseen in the development of current electrical codes (NEC) and safety standards (UL 50, 1703, 1741). SolarTech’s announced application guide provides a “one stop” source document enabling solar PV installers and building officials to make faster decisions from a common reference document.

“This application guide doesn’t try to invent or propose new standards,” said Doug Eakin, Weiland Electric Solar Business Development Manage, and Installation Committee Chair. “Leveraging the great existing body of work from the National Electrical Code and Underwriters Laboratory while consulting with inspectors within the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), the application guide explains the application of existing codes and standards to system installations taking advantage of new Microinverters and AC Module technologies.”

The authorship of the document was through several leading member company experts in SolarTech’s committee process, and reviewed by several influential nonmembers and building inspectors.

“This is a major high-value addition to our California Solar Challenge,” said Doug Payne, Executive Director and co-Founder of SolarTech. “The Microinverter and AC Module Application Guide represents the kind of tool that can be developed when experts, who otherwise might compete, come together under the SolarTech umbrella to solve common problems. The industry needs more similar kinds of solutions in performance, interconnection and finance.”

SolarTech will host a webinar on Wednesday Oct 5th at 9:30am Pacific Time to introduce and explore the benefits of the Microinverter and AC Module Application Guide. Visit www.solartech.org to register and obtain the necessary webinar login information.

For availability and downloads, also see www.solartech.org.

BigBelly Solar Unveils Smart Grid for Waste & RecyclingTM

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BigBelly Solar today announced the launch of its next-generation intelligent waste & recycling collection system, the Smart Grid for Waste & Recycling^TM. The system features new and expanded capabilities at each layer:

• From any web browser, a new management console provides unprecedented visibility and transparency into public space waste & recycling collection operations. New visualization tools and reporting capabilities provide powerful insights for more efficient management of operations, better activity tracking and enhanced auditing of results.
• Behind the scenes, a network command center delivers software functionality to the waste & recycling stations, remote diagnostics, over-the-air software upgrades and proactive maintenance alerts.
• On the street, in parks and on campus, the family of waste & recycling stations has been substantially expanded to address a broader range of customer situations:
  • The 4^th generation BigBelly solar compactor is being introduced, with bi-directional communication, improved software integration & energy management, and new ruggedized features.
  • After piloting with several customers – including MIT and Markham, Ontario – the BigBelly compacting recycler is being launched to manage single-stream recycling in high-volume locations.
  • Leveraging learnings from numerous deployments about the essential value of real-time information, BigBelly Solar is debuting an entirely new family of SmartBelly components that sense but do not compact - with a broad set of waste, recycling and organics options to meet the needs of Zero Waste initiatives.

The combination of these “mix and match” system components enables a full range of custom-configured stations that address specific waste & recycling capacity and stream mix, including those locations where volumes do not support an investment in on-site compaction.

“BigBelly Solar has evolved from the creation of the patented solar compactor into an enterprise system provider for optimally managing public space waste & recycling collection operations. Every BigBelly and SmartBelly component senses activity and provides information to our customers in real-time,” said Barry Fougere, CEO of BigBelly Solar. “Combined with powerful historical analysis and reporting, these insights provide transparency and control to customers who previously had to assign peak resources at all times given the absence of data to support more targeted resourcing decisions. That visibility across the entire operation is also attractive at the executive level, which is under increasing pressure to justify investments and provide measurable and verifiable results to their stakeholders.”

“I can tell you that the CLEAN management console has made an enormous improvement in how we manage our operations,” said Marty Howell, Sustainability Manager for the City of El Paso, which has dropped 9 collections per week and eliminated weekend collections altogether with the BigBelly System. “We've seen a dramatic improvement in overall cleanliness, while reducing our operating expenses. Like all cities, our agencies are challenged to maintain service levels while dealing with tighter budgets, and we’ve found a solution that cuts costs without reducing service."

"As the first municipality in North America to use the BigBelly solar compactors to collect recyclables, not waste, Markham has once again demonstrated its leadership in recycling and in the use of green technology,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti of Markham, Ontario. “Not only are you saving your operational costs, your staff time, your trucks, you’re saving on carbon, and you’re giving the proper messaging by making recycling easy and garbage difficult. This is one more significant step toward achieving our sustainability and Zero Waste goals."

“Over the past few years, the BigBelly System has helped us reduce operating costs while increasing recycling options and keeping the campus cleaner,” said Koby Weatherford, Landscape Maintenance Foreman at Texas A&M University. “We are excited to be the first US customer for BigBelly Solar's new SmartBelly system. The BigBelly solar compactor has been particularly helpful in our high-traffic areas and we look forward to gaining visibility and control in our less-trafficked areas with the SmartBelly solution.”
Data-driven insights, on-site compaction and a full range of Zero Waste recycling options – all powered by solar energy and utilizing advanced information technology – are a powerful combination. In times where customers of all types face difficult budget pressures, the ability to reduce collections while improving services levels is not a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. Similar to the “nega-watt” in grid energy efficiency, BigBelly Solar delivers the “nega-mile^TM” – helping customers remove 7-8 out of every 10 trash vehicle trips from their streets, reducing the carbon footprint and fuel cost drain for vehicles that typically average less than 3 MPG.

Supported by various leasing options to align system savings with costs, the BigBelly Solar intelligent waste & recycling collection system is a true asset for city, university, park system and corporate leadership looking to dramatically reduce their environmental impact while simultaneously achieving substantial budgetary savings.    

OneRoof Energy Secures $50 million in Financing, Introduces New Leasing Model for Solar Roof Installations

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OneRoof Energy, the nation’s first residential solar company that works directly with roofers to lease and install residential solar power systems, has secured $50 million in financing and has also officially launched its residential solar leasing program. Homeowners can now integrate solar into their new roof at no upfront cost through a simple lease program.
   
OneRoof Energy develops and maintains rooftop solar energy systems for homeowners. The company works with builders and roofing contractors to combine roofing and solar installation into one seamless process. Homeowners can install solar easily and affordably because there are no upfront costs or ongoing maintenance expenses.

Homeowners installing a new roof can lower their electricity bills and add solar at no additional cost through OneRoof Energy’s SolarSelect Lease. Customers simply make a monthly lease payment for the system, which when combined with their new, lower electric bill, is typically lower than their existing bill without solar. Once complete, a simple warranty covers both the roof and solar installation.

Series A financing was led by Hanwha International, part of the Hanwha Group which represents one of the largest corporate conglomerates in Korea, which will receive a significant, non-controlling stake in the company. The Group holds a controlling interest in Hanwha SolarOne, a leading global solar manufacturing company. The equity investment by Hanwha enables OneRoof Energy to roll out its rapid growth plan to develop the residential solar leasing market, specifically targeting roofing companies and large homebuilders.

The Hanwha Group has a strong interest in climate change and supports the expansion of renewable energy adaptation, especially solar technology. “OneRoof Energy represents a great opportunity for us,” said Simon Lee, CEO of Hanwha International. “With OneRoof Energy’s deep channel access and ease of scalability, we look forward to increasing solar affordability and accessibility to homeowners across the U.S. market.”

OneRoof Energy has also closed its first fund to finance residential solar projects in partnership with Black Coral Capital, a leading cleantech investment firm, and with a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB). The fund provides capital for the company’s lease financing program, which enables homeowners to have solar roofs installed with no incremental costs.

U.S. Bancorp has committed more than $554 million of renewable energy tax equity to finance more than $1 billion of renewable energy projects in the United States, primarily in the solar market and in select opportunities in the wind energy market. Black Coral Capital’s backing of OneRoof Energy stems from its focus on backing innovative companies with strong customer value propositions and high-quality management teams within the cleantech arena.

“We believe that the most efficient and cost-effective way to install a solar system is at the time a roof is built or rebuilt, and our first-round investment partners agree,” said OneRoof Energy President and CEO David Field. “Customers can now enjoy all the benefits of going solar without the upfront costs and on-going maintenance expense. Our product and model will significantly increase the number of homeowners installing solar power systems.”

For more information about OneRoof Energy, and to learn more about its simple, affordable solar and energy management systems, please visit www.oneroofenergy.com. The Company is being advised for subsequent residential solar funds by Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (NYSE:C), Dale A. Vander Woude, dale.vanderwoude@citi.com.

ONYX President Embarks on Latin American Campaign to Capture New Solar Projects

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Onyx Service & Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: ONYX) announced that Company President Malcolm Burleson commenced his travels to Roatan, Panama City and Bogota, in attempts to securer large solar construction projects. In Roatan, the Company has already been in development of an 18.5 megawatt solar power project and is currently seeking government approval before proceeding further on the project.
 
The ONYX business plan recognizes that there is an extremely lucrative market for solar power projects in nations that currently use diesel generator produced electricity. Most of the Caribbean and Latin America uses diesel generator powered electricity, causing rates between 35 cents to 44 cents per kilowatt hour. The Company is currently concentrating on securing the most profitable solar power projects in the region - while insuring to align its focus on building projects in US energy policy aligned nations.

“We are expecting this trip to result in very positive results for the Company,” Burleson stated. “A lot of hard work and valuable resources have gone into the attempt to secure new projects during these travels and I am optimistic that our Company has the best tools to compete for these projects,” he concluded.

Onyx Service & Solutions, Inc. aggressively acquires, develops and markets the most promising and potentially profitable energy projects and technology possible. The Onyx mission is to manifest cutting edge energy technology, products, manufacturing advances and construction projects to successfully compete in a global energy marketplace, which includes General Electric (NYSE: GE), Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO) and Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ).

For more information on the Company see: www.OnyxService.com.

MIT’s Technology Review Features Solar3D

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solar3D, Inc. (OTCBB:SLTD), the developer of a breakthrough 3-dimensional solar cell technology to maximize the conversion of sunlight into electricity, has been featured in an article published by MIT’s prestigious technological journal, Technology Review.
   
Inspired by light management techniques used in fiber optic devices, the company’s innovative solar cell technology utilizes a 3-dimensional design to trap sunlight inside micro-photovoltaic structures where photons bounce around until they are converted into electrons. Solar3D’s management believes that this breakthrough solar cell design will dramatically change the economics of solar energy.

“It is exciting to see our innovative 3-dimensional solar cell highlighted by a publication like Technology Review,” commented Jim Nelson, President and CEO of Solar3D. “The publication recognizes the top advances in a broad spectrum of science. We feel gratified to be counted as part of the great breakthroughs among the advances in solar technology.”

With the design complete, Solar3D has begun the process of evaluating methods of fabricating a prototype along with techno-economic analysis of the new solar cell. The article reported that Solar3D’s new 3-dimensional solar cell will have two principal sections: the Light Collector section and the Micro Photovoltaic section. The purpose of the design is to eliminate reflection and electron re-absorption.

Nelson continued, “The article describes our focus on mass production and competitiveness. We focus on both of those items to help us move closer to grid parity. Ultimately, our overriding objective is to make solar energy affordable to the world and to achieve its destiny of becoming the primary source of energy for mankind.”

As the Company nears the completion of its prototype in the next few months, management will seek a fabrication partner, most likely in the semiconductor industry, who will participate in bringing the product to market.

About Solar3D, Inc.

Solar3D, Inc. is developing a breakthrough 3-dimensional solar cell technology to maximize the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Up to 30% of incident sunlight is currently reflected off the surface of conventional solar cells, and more is lost inside the solar cell materials. Inspired by light management techniques used in fiber optic devices, our innovative solar cell technology utilizes a 3-dimensional design to trap sunlight inside micro-photovoltaic structures where photons bounce around until they are converted into electrons. This next generation solar cell will be dramatically more efficient, resulting in a lower cost per watt that will make solar power affordable for the world. To learn more about Solar3D, please visit our website at http://www.Solar3D.com.

Petra Solar Launches Unique IntelliView ™ Platform That Combines Smart Grid Network Management with Energy Management Services

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Petra Solar, a NJ- based technology company providing reliable, cost-effective smart energy solutions to the electric supply industry, announced the launch of its IntelliView smart energy platform. IntelliView provides utilities with a suite of state-of-the-art services to manage a wide range of smart grid applications.
 
“IntelliView uniquely combines smart grid network infrastructure management with renewable energy management services for our worldwide utility partners,” said Dr. Shihab Kuran, President and CEO of Petra Solar. “The robust platform is scalable to future smart grid applications, including energy efficiency, energy conservation, grid reliability and smart microgrids.”

The IntelliView smart energy platform provides critical analysis of smart grid application data to enable remote command and control of large distributed energy systems. With the Network Management System (NMS) as a foundation module, users have a dashboard view of all elements of the communications network. Alerts, performance summaries, and mesh networking diagnostics are provided for problem identification and resolution on an exception basis. The Energy Management System (EMS) module of IntelliView enables a centralized view of a virtual power plant consisting of a large installed base of SunWave™ smart solar systems distributed over a broad geographical area. The user can perform essential analysis required for ensuring peak generation and maximizing their investment. IntelliView’s modular design creates the platform for additional data-analytics modules, coupling critical network management with smart energy applications.

The Petra Solar Network Operations Center (NOC) also expands its smart energy services offering from support of SunWave smart solar systems to the option for full remote 24/7 operations of Petra Solar designed smart grid networks. Utilities can leverage the expertise of the Petra Solar highly trained technical staff to be the first line of defense in managing, monitoring and troubleshooting the system. This model allows utilities to focus on other key functions of their operations, while deriving full benefits from their investment in the Petra Solar designed smart grid system.

Walgreens Marks Its Continued Commitment to Sustainability With its 100th Solar Power Installation

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) (NASDAQ:WAG) today marks its continued commitment to sustainability with its 100th rooftop solar power system installation in Mason, Ohio.
 
Since its first solar installation in 2007, Walgreens has expanded its plans to include stores and distribution centers in Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Oregon and Ohio, for a total of more than 130 installations nationwide by the end of the year, more than any other U.S. retailer. Typically, rooftop solar systems help offset energy usage by an estimated 15 to 20 percent.

“This is an important milestone for us as we continue to explore ways to expand our use of environmentally-friendly technology to reduce our energy consumption,” said Mark Wagner, Walgreens President of Community Management and Operations. “Our use of solar power across Ohio is a great example of how businesses, state officials and developers of green technologies can work together to help make a difference in our communities and for the planet.”

In Ohio alone, the company has 53 installations in 20 counties, making this the largest rollout of solar in one state for one entity. Walgreens is working with SoCore Energy which will own, maintain and monitor the rooftop systems. SoCore and Walgreens have teamed up with First Energy Solutions to manage the Renewable Energy Certificate process.

Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, will join officials from SoCore Energy, state and local officials and Walgreens for a community celebration marking its 100th solar installation today at the Mason Walgreens located at 8060 S. Mason Montgomery Road. The event will feature a dedication ceremony, samples of eco-friendly products and a green bag giveaway.

“Solar energy solutions cut costs and promote emerging clean energy jobs and markets in communities across America,” said Sutley. “It is leadership from private sector companies like Walgreens and the commitment of this Administration to building a cleaner, greener economy that will help to ensure America is second to none.”

“Walgreens’ impressive sustainability efforts include this substantial commitment to solar power and on-site renewable energy,” said Pete Kadens, SoCore Energy president. “These projects are not only producing solar power, they are also generating solar renewable energy credits and reducing energy costs for Walgreens, which in turn saves money for its customers while benefitting the broader community.”

The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority in May provided a $5.2 million loan to SoCore for development of the 53 rooftop solar systems across the state, including five in northwest Ohio. The remainder of the project’s $9.9 million cost is being funded by SoCore and a federal solar tax credit.

Walgreens has a long-standing commitment to reducing energy usage and expanding its renewable energy initiatives. The company became the nation’s first drugstore chain to install a geothermal energy system at one of its stores in Oak Park, Ill., last November. The company’s Mira Mesa, Calif., location became the first drugstore to receive LEED gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition, the company utilizes an energy management system that monitors electricity, water, heating and cooling and waste management at more than 1,100 stores to help reduce energy usage and maintenance costs while extending equipment life.

Canadian Solar Supplies 5.1 MW of Solar Modules to EOSOL's Solar Power Plant in South West of France

PARIS, Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world's largest solar companies, announced today that the company has supplied solar modules to EOSOL Energies Nouvelles' new ground-mounted solar plant. Canadian Solar provided a total of 21,560 solar modules for an installed capacity of 5.1 MW. EOSOL EN's new power plant called "Le Petit Chataignier" has been built in La Genetouze in the South West of France on an area of 89,300 m². The new solar power plant was inaugurated on September 22, 2011.

EOSOL EN previously selected Canadian Solar's high-quality, high-performance solar modules for three other installations in France with an overall installed capacity of more than 16 MW.

This new project in La Genetouze, in the department of Charente-Maritime, adds another 5.1 MW to this and has been installed in a record time of five months. Other collaboration partners of EOSOL EN within this project were TSK, 3E, a technical construction auditor, BIOTOPE for ecological engineering and biodiversity management, ERDF as electric line constructor and the bank Credit Agricole.

M. Bruno BERNAL, President of EOSOL Group, said: "Canadian Solar has proven to be an excellent partner with its high quality modules and its efficient customer service for our previous projects in France. That's why we logically selected them to become our partner for this important and strategic project in La Genetouze and we plan to extend our successful cooperation."

Dr. Shawn QU, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar, said: "This project is a testament to the high quality work by EOSOL EN and its partners, including Canadian Solar. We are proud that our modules were selected again to be part of this landmark project and look forward to continuing to work with EOSOL EN to promote the expansion of solar energy in France."

LDK Solar Provides an Update on Debt Repurchase Activity

XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept, 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LDK Solar Co., Ltd. ("LDK Solar" or the "Company"; NYSE: LDK), a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic products, today provided an update on recent debt repurchase activity.  The Company repurchased US$10.8 million nominal value of the Company's 4.75% convertible senior notes due 2013 in an open market purchase for approximately US$7.4 million, reflecting a discount from par.  The Company also repurchased US$10.7 million nominal value RMB US$-settled 10% senior notes due 2014 in an open market purchase for approximately US$8.2 million, reflecting a discount from par.

"We continually evaluate ways to strengthen our balance sheet. The recent repurchase of debt is an example of our ongoing commitment to reduce our debt," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar.

About LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK)

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) products. LDK Solar manufactures polysilicon, mono and multicrystalline ingots, wafers, cells, modules, systems, power projects and solutions. LDK Solar's headquarters and principal manufacturing facilities are located in Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province in the People's Republic of China. LDK Solar's office in the United States is located in Sunnyvale, California. For more information about LDK Solar and its products, please visit www.ldksolar.com.

California Governor Jerry Brown Visits Marshall Elementary School in Fowler to Sign Bill to Restore Funding for State's Solar Initiative Rebate Program

FOWLER, Calif., Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Jerry Brown and representatives from TerraVerde Renewable Partners (TVRP) visited Marshall Elementary School in Fowler, California on Thursday, September 22, 2011, where the Governor signed SB 585 (Kehoe), legislation that restored funding for the California Solar Initiative Rebate Program, including solar rebates for projects in California School Districts.

TerraVerde Renewable Partners, a leader in overseeing solar projects for school districts, as well as public agencies and non-profits throughout California, worked closely with the Fowler Unified School District to develop a solar installation proposal that is projected to save the District $439,000 in total electricity costs in the first year. These savings will go directly into the District's general fund and are expected to grow over the years as utility rates increase. Over a five year period, savings are estimated to be $2,321,000 and more than $13 million over 25 years. Installation of the solar panels in the area is expected to begin in 2012.

Fowler Unified School District, like many other school districts, local public agencies and non-profit organizations in the state, relies on rebates offered under the California Solar Initiative to finance and develop their solar projects.  In December 2010, PG&E announced that they had run out of funding for these rebates.  Fowler USD joined with TerraVerde Renewable Partners, and a number of other school districts in the Central Valley, members of the solar industry and education communities, to support legislation that would restore funding for these rebates.

"California schools and the solar industry know that there is support across the political spectrum for programs that implement green energy saving solutions," said Rick Brown, PhD, TerraVerde's President.  "Working together, they were able to gather more than 2/3 votes for Senator Kehoe's important piece of legislation."

In addition to the economic benefits of installing the solar panels, the project will provide reductions in pollutants such as carbon and sulfur dioxide, as well conserving over one million gallons of water a year used in cooling gas fired power plants.  The school district will also use the cost savings as an educational opportunity for students by providing displays with "real time" information about the production of solar electricity from the panels.

TerraVerde Renewable Partners (TVRP) develops solar energy facilities for local and state governments, school districts, non-profits and commercial real estate owners.  TVRP's solar energy systems provide clients with a fairly priced, reliable, long-term inflation-hedged source of "green" energy.  TVRP has worked with dozens of other school districts across the state including the Petaluma City Schools and Sonoma County YMCA.  More information about TerraVerde Renewable Partners can be found at:  http://www.tvrpllc.com/index.php.