News

Largest Federal Wind Farm To Be Built At Texas Nuclear Weapons Facility

Cree, the well-known manufacturer of silicon carbide-based semiconductors and LED lighting systems, continues to dazzle with its latest production. It has launched the first low-cost, high-quality, LED street light. This low-cost, bright light could speed adoption of LED street lights as cities update their lighting infrastructure. Read more here. 

Edison International, a public utility company based in California, announced that it had acquired SoCore Energy, a solar company based in Chicago. SoCore, which was founded in 2008, will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Edison International. Over the last five years, SoCore's partners have included large companies like Ikea and Walgreen Co., as well as several other industrial, commercial, and retail customers. 

Ecotality, an AEE member company and California-based electric vehicle (EV) charging startup, has begun to install EV chargers at workplaces. EV drivers use workplace EV charging as much as 300 percent more than typical public chargers attached to municipal buildings or public parking lots. Installation of workplace chargers is especially important as EV adoption is on the rise. The LA Times reports: "In a recent survey, Ecotality found its workplace chargers showed a dramatic increase in usage over the first half of 2013, up about 61%."

Tesla's Model S has been selling very well this year, with more than 5,000 units shipping in Q2. High Model S sales have helped Tesla's Q2 revenue "crush" earlier estimates. The company's Q2 revenue was $405 million, beating prior estimates by $22 million, and bringing 2013 revenues to $967 million so far.

GridGain Systems, an IT firm with customers in the energy, agricultural, biotechnology, and applied research industries raised more than $10 million in series B funding. GridGain’s new in-memory computing initiatives specialize in low-latency database solutions for operations management in data-heavy business sectors.

Texas paved the way for a stronger local market for wind and solar power last Friday, when the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) reviewed the performance of wind and solar installations and resolved to increase their capacity values.

Sapphire Energy, a California-based technology firm, has confirmed fulfilment of a $54.5 million USD loan from the Department of Agriculture.

The sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have skyrocketed in the face of soaring gas prices. More and more consumers are placing more value not having to fill up at the pump, opting instead to plug in. Comparing Q1 and Q2 of 2013 to their 2012 counterparts, electric car sales have more than doubled, and 36% of all EVs on the road have been purchased within the past 6 months – perhaps a sign of the technology maturing.

With all the attention garnered by solar, wind, and geothermal energy, it may be surprising to learn that hydropower accounts for more electricity production than all of the aforementioned forms of energy – combined.