As it stands now, the wildly successful 30% Grant in Lieu of Tax Credit for renewable energy property (affectionately known as the 1603 or Treasury Grant Program) will not see the light of day in 2012, nor will 100% first-year bonus depreciation. This is not so much a policy development as a lack of policy development, but all is not lost. The clean energy industry will still be able to benefit from the 30% business energy investment tax credit and the residential renewable energy tax credit through the end of 2016, as well as 50% first-year bonus depreciation through 2012.  See DSIRE's Database from complete details.

American Honda Motor has unveiled its 100kW solar-cell demonstration project at Honda Performance Development (HPD) in Santa Clarita, California featuring 800 thin-film CIGS solar panels manufactured by Honda Soltec. The project was designed and installed by Stellar Energy and includes a roof, carport and load dock canopy installation at the HPD headquarters and is said to be one of Honda's largest solar installations to date.

The 100kW system includes solar tracking and is designed power to power electric vehicle charging stations. The PV system's energy output is monitored in real-time through an internet-based monitoring system.

"The installation of Honda Soltec solar panels along with an electric vehicle charging station at one of our most advanced Honda facilities in the United States represents a big step for us in our solar product development," said Mike Hodge, manager of Honda Home Energy for the Power Equipment Division of American Honda Motor. "What we learn from this new project at HPD will provide real-world data and feedback on the use of Honda solar cells in a typical commercial application."

Click here to see an interview with Mike Hodge who explains the project.

Click here to download a fact sheet with complete proect details.

In October, The Solar Foundation (thesolarfoundation.org) released the results of the 2011 US Solar Jobs Census – and the results are sunny!

The solar energy industry boasts a 6% growth in the past year - growing nearly ten times faster than the overall economy. As of August 2011, the industry includes 100,237 jobs. The solar workforce is anticipated to continue growing with an increase of 24% by this time next year, which would create a total of 24,000 new solar jobs.

For the complete census report, visit National Solar Jobs Census 2011.

An article in North Bay Business Journal, published on October 4, featured the dedication of the Sonoma Mountain Village solar installation project, which is being installed by Stellar Energy.

The article highlights, "The solar arrays, provided by Stellar Energy, are comprised of 4,928 solar panel modules, generating electricity that when combined with the existing on-site solar, will allow Sonoma Mountain Village to offset 100 percent of its electric needs from on-site renewable power."

For more details, see the complete article: Large RP Solar Array Activated.

Stellar Energy, a leading engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm, announced today that it has completed a 1.158 megawatt (MW) solar project at Sonoma Mountain Village. The system was financed in part through Sonoma County's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) finance program and is the largest solar system in Sonoma County to be PACE-financed to date. Sonoma Mountain Village is now able to generate 100% of its electricity needs from on-site solar.

Download the case study for Sonoma Mountain Village (pdf)

In keeping with a continuing mission to green its operations, BoDean Company’s Mark West Quarry in Santa Rosa, California, will soon switch to a new solar power system recently installed by Stellar Energy GP, Inc. The system – designed to meet 100 percent of BoDean’s electrical billing needs – will go online Wednesday, May 11, during a “Flip the Switch” ceremony, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mark West Quarry, 4611 Porter Creek Road in Santa Rosa.

Download the case study for BoDean Company's Mark West Quarry (pdf)

A 483-kilowatt solar energy project recently completed by Stellar Energy for Valley Fine Foods in Benicia, California, is expected to produce enough energy to offset more than one-third of the total energy needs of the food producer.

Stellar Energy is a leading engineering, procurement and construction firm in the renewable energy industry. Valley Fine Foods produces and sells the Pasta Prima brand of high quality, gourmet, filled pasta products, available throughout the United States.

Download the case study for Valley Fine Foods (pdf)

Stellar Energy, a leading engineering, procurement and construction firm in the renewable energy industry, and Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD) in Pittsburg, California, have signed an agreement to increase the district’s energy independence and save money with 3.1 megawatts of solar energy installed at 14 schools and facilities across the district.

Download the case study for Pittsburg Unified School District (pdf)