The first quarter has been a rough one for most solar companies. Aside from First Solar whose profits tripled, most solar companies reported large decreases in their profits and, most likely, losses. But the last two reports (from Trina Solar and China Sunergy) paint the picture of a potential return to profitability in the (more…)
Archive for May, 2009
Solar may be emerging from 1st quarter bottom
Thursday, May 28th, 2009US bike sales higher than car sales in 2009
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
2006 Chapel Hill/Carrboro Blue Bikes Launch
During the first quarter of 2009, more bicycles were sold in the US than cars and trucks. While the Great Recession is hurting bike sales, they didn’t fall as fast as automobiles. Over 2.55 million bicycle purchases were made, compared to less than 2.4 million cars and trucks that left (more…)
House committee passes climate bill as electricity emissions plunge
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Yesterday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed Waxman-Markey’s American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act by a 33-25 vote. This passage does not guarantee ultimate passage in the full House or Senate, but gets some positive political momentum behind necessary federal (more…)
Oil price passes $60 on weaker dollar: Gas may hit $2.50
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
The price of oil is retracing its 2004-05 climb rather quickly of late. While some of the rise in oil prices relates to supply concerns from Nigeria and a perceived stabilization in the economy, it is also linked to (more…)
More solar progress this summer: laptops
Monday, May 18th, 2009
photo from PC World
I mentioned back in April that solar-powered cell phones are coming out this summer. Well, now there’s talk of solar netbooks emerging as well. Spanish producer iUnika will begin to sell its first solar model, Gyy, in (more…)
Oil rig count falls, gas price passes $2.30
Saturday, May 16th, 2009
The oil and natural gas rig count fell further last week, falling to just 918 or ~55% below its 2008 peak. This lower drilling activity seems to guarantee lower production within a few weeks that may bring balance to the fuel market. Another development was the price of gasoline passing (more…)
New report shows global emissions likely to fall
Thursday, May 14th, 2009The Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) reported today that they expect global oil demand to fall 2.6 million barrels per day (Mbd) in 2009, .24 Mbd lower than their April forecast. As I wrote last month, falling oil consumption can lead to lower overall global greenhouse gas emissions. And IEA’s prediction of even lower oil demand leads me to believe a 2009 emissions drop is now (more…)
Gas price passing diesel
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
As I wrote two months back would happen, the price of gasoline is catching up with diesel after a couple years of separation. A year ago, diesel would cost you 60 cents more than gasoline. But looking at the trends in pump prices over the last few days, parity should be reached by (more…)
May report: US emissions expected to fall further
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its monthly Short Term Energy Outlook today. And their projection for 2009 US carbon dioxide emissions from energy fell even further than last month’s. The drop was led by (more…)
Much of US to enjoy solar grid parity by 2012
Monday, May 11th, 2009
The economics of solar power are changing rapidly. And if the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development (PI) is right that solar module prices will fall more than 50% by 2012, grid parity will be achieved across many parts of the US. Solar electricity currently carries a price tag that is higher than (more…)