The solar energy movement continues its busy way through April and in advance of what many in the industry foresee as an exciting summer to come. Legislation and innovation continue to sweeten the deal for homeowners and businesses while states gear up for much anticipated, renewable energy-directed stimulus dollars.

Photo Credit: rankun76

For many lawmakers and proponents solar power has the unique ability to alleviate three pressing global issues: energy independence, energy cleanliness, and our struggling economy. That notion could not be more evident in April’s solar happenings thus far. Below are just five examples of action on the solar front in the first few weeks of springtime and the sun’s triumphant return.

• First to milestones and the cutting edge of solar tech application. The world’s largest solar boat is under construction in Germany with plans to circumnavigate the globe while proving that solar shipping is a valuable and feasible mode of transportation.
• From the oceans of Earth to the depths of space where West Coast utility giant PG&E signed a landmark 200 MW power purchase agreement with Solaren, a company building solar panels in space.
• The MSCC, or Mobile Solar Computer Classroom, continues to educate children in Uganda about solar energy and computers. How do they do it? By packing a portable, solar-powered classroom into the back of an SUV.


Photo Credit: treehugger.com

• The world has been watching Berkeley’s benchmark for solar financing, and it appears that many of those eyes like what they see. The idea of solar financing via voluntary property tax increases will hit the big stage this summer in San Diego.
• The Berkeley bug is also spreading to New Mexico where counties now have permission from their state government to implement solar lending programs which embed payments into property taxes — a movement that started in Berkeley, spread throughout California and continues heading east. Watch out Appalachia!

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Posted on April 24th in Solar News by Dan.