Pennsylvania: Sixth largest Photovoltaic state

Pennsylvania comes in sixth in this ranking of installed solar photovoltaic capacity, ahead of sunny states like New Mexico, Florida, and Texas. Surprisingly, New Jersey has three times Pennsylvania's installed PV capacity!

The Top 10 Solar States of 2010: Did Yours Make the List?

Google makes $280 million investment in solar energy

Even though this doesn't directly affect Northeastern Pennsylvania, this is big news. It isn't the first time Google has made an investment in solar power, but it is a very large investment.

Rather than trying to summarize this story, here is the story as reported by several different outlets:

Wall Street Journal: Google Invests $280 Million In Residential Solar Installations - WSJ.com

The Washington Post: Google Scaling Solar, Commits $280 Million To Finance SolarCity Installations

Los Angeles Times: Google, SolarCity, solar: Google creates $280-million solar power fund - latimes.com

Reuters: Google invests $280M in SolarCity solar roof fund

Huffington Post: Google's SolarCity Fund: $280 Million Invested In Solar Energy For Private Homes

Fight for solar power heats up | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton PA

An article on the current crisis facing the solar industry in Pennsylvania, and the uphill battle to make things right. The Corbett administration, which is very eager to embrace "alternative energy" from natural gas extraction, comes across as very reluctant to do anything to promote the expansion of solar.

Fight for solar power heats up The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton PA

Solar power at Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway as seen on Google Earth. The 25-acre solar farm is at the top left..

This is the weekend of the Pocono 500, or as it's officially known this year, the "5-Hour Energy 500," and many NASCAR fans are catching their first glimpse of the massive 3 megawatt 25-acre solar farm installed at Pocono Raceway last August.

Pocono Raceway solar farm will power today's race -The Scranton Times-Tribune

From the official Pocono Raceway Solar Project page:

In August of 2010 the 3MW Pocono Solar Project came online after just 3 months of construction. Consisting of nearly 40,000 American made photovoltaic modules covering 25 acres, the Project will produce more than 72 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy over the next 20 years. The environmental attributes associated with the system will offset more than 3,100 Metric Tons of carbon dioxide annually, Carbon Dioxide emissions from 106,529 propane BBQ grills and it will generate enough power to provide the electricity needs for close to 1,000 homes beyond the power needs of the Raceway.

According to the article that appeared on nascar.com last year, this is the largest solar-powered sports facility in the world, more than twice as large as the runner-up, a 1.2 megawatt stadium in Taiwan.

NASCAR.COM - Pocono prepares to reap benefits of its solar farm - Jul 30, 2010

The solar farm is just a part of Pocono Raceway's "Go Green" program - albeit a massively impressive part!

Go Green Solar Project - Pocono Raceway

Business Wire: The Hershey Company to Unveil New Solar Arrays at Hershey’s Chocolate World

As with the Ikea news, this isn't something that directly involves those of us in Northeastern Pennsylvania - but it's something to look for the next time you visit Hershey's Chocolate World!

The Hershey Company to Unveil New Solar Arrays at Hershey’s Chocolate World Business Wire

PPL Electric Utilities Completes 2011 Solicitation for Solar Renewable Energy Credits

The results of PPL's latest SREC solicitation. Next solicitation will be in July, to purchase 24,000 SRECs for an eight-year period beginning in June 2012.

PR Newswire: PPL Electric Utilities Completes 2011 Solicitation for Solar Renewable Energy Credits

Solar installations at Ikea

Northeastern Pennsylvania doesn't have any Ikea stores yet, but this is good news from any retailer. I have long hoped that Walmart, Lowes, or Home Depot would lead the way in retail solar installation, since they have enormous amounts of rooftop square footage and could synergistically sell solar panels to homeowners. But if Ikea is going to take the initiative, I'll be happy to keep my eye open for their installations the next time I'm near one of their stores!

Ikea A Rooftop Solar Juggernaut

Pottsville Republican Herald: Schuylkill County plants turning to solar power

Solar projects and problems in Schuylkill County.

Schuylkill County plants turning to solar power - News - Pottsville Republican Herald

Representative Chris Ross discusses the future of solar energy in Pennsylvania

Also, some backround information on Solar Renewable Energy Credits.



See here for more from Chris Ross on this topic.

Penn Future -Solar Jobs Bill will create employment,protect Pennsylvania’s businesses, and clean up our environment

A press release from Penn Future regarding HB 1580, the Solar Jobs Bill.

Penn Future: Solar Jobs Bill will create employment,protect Pennsylvania’s businesses, and clean up our environment

Scranton Times-Tribune: Don't let sun set on Pa. jobs

An opinion piece that appeared in the Scranton Times-Tribune this week regarding the collapse of Pennsylvania's SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Credit) market, and what state legislators could do to remedy the situation.

Don't let sun set on Pa. jobs - Opinion - The Times-Tribune

Calfinder: Last Call for Pennsylvania Solar Rebates

Is time running out for Pennsylvania homeowners to get solar rebates?

Calfinder: Last Call for Pennsylvania Solar Rebates

East Lycoming School District solar project

The East Lycoming School District threw the switch yesterday on a 600 kW ground-based solar array located near the Hughesville High School.

Solar project kicks off at high school - Williamsport Sun-Gazette

Mike Kroboth, president of PPL Renewable Energy, said 2,550 solar panels will produce 700,000 kilowatt-hours of green energy each year. The amount of energy could power 60 homes. The project will reduce the district's annual greenhouse gases by 1.1 million pounds of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to planting 100 acres of pine forest or removing 95 cars from the road.

East Lycoming Goes Green - Solar Power

The East Lycoming School District solar project was also featured on a segment of WNEP's The Power to Save.

Is there an oversupply of solar power in Pennsylvania?

While solar power development in Pennsylvania is still in a relatively nascent stage, the all-important solar renewable energy credit (SREC) market has become glutted, resulting in a crash in the prices offered for SRECs. Is there a legislative solution to this problem? Or is the Pennsylvania government too committed to natural gas extraction to care about renewable energy?

Pennsylvania's solar-energy industry suffering from success - Philly.com