RMT adds 555 MWs of wind to renewable energy portfolio

Wisconsin-based contractor RMT, Inc. is adding 555 megawatts worth of wind projects to their renewable energy portfolio in 2012. RMT, which specializes in the design and construction of wind and solar energy projects, currently has a renewable energy portfolio of around 5,000 MW.

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EnergySource completes first geothermal project in Salton Sea

EnergySource has completed their first 49.9 megawatt geothermal power plant in California. During the dedication ceremony for Hudson Ranch I, the first stand-alone geothermal plant in the Salton Sea area in 20 years, the geothermal company announced that the plant would now be known as the John L. Featherstone Plant in honor of the geothermal technology pioneer and founder of EnergySource.

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Phoenix extends solar financing program; eyes 1,000 installations

The city of Phoenix, Arizona is expanding its residential solar financing program with the help of a $25 million commitment from the National Bank of Arizona. The program, said to be the largest city-sponsored residential solar financing program in the United States, is entering its second phase.

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Hertz, Marriott launch E.V. car sharing program in San Francisco

First electric vehicle car rental program in downtown San Francisco

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Itron starts year with $25 million net income

Smart meter company Itron gained a net income of $25 million for the three months ending March 31 according to the company’s first quarter financial report. The company took in a quarterly revenue of $572 million, mostly from its global energy and water segments, said Itron president and chief executive LeRoy Nosbaum in a statement. Itron saw a slight increase in revenue this quarter from the $564 million reported for the same period last year.

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Cheaper solar prices to drive U.S. solar boom in next five years

In the next five years solar energy will be cheaper than power from the grid in most of the United States, with solar panel and installation costs moving down while transportation costs of electricity move up, experts predict. Eric Graber-Lopez of BlueWave Capital and former Carbon War Room chief executive Jigar Shah, both set to be speakers at “The Solar Future Eastern USA '12” conference, shared some early insights on the issue.

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Alta Wind gets $650 million for next construction phase

Renewable energy company Terra-Gen Power, LLC has closed $650 million in construction financing for the next phases of their 1.55 gigawatt Alta Wind Energy Center in Tehachapi, California. The financing will be used to complete the 168 megawatt Alta Wind VII and 132 MW Alta Wind IX projects at the Alta Wind facility.

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Ex-Im Bank approves $80-million loan for Asia’s largest CSP

An $80.32 million direct loan for the acquisition of concentrated solar power technology for Reliance Power’s solar project in Rajasthan in northwest India was approved by the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The project, "Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Limited," is a subsidiary of Reliance Power Ltd. and is being co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and FMO, the Dutch development bank.

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U.S. retakes lead in clean energy investments from China – Pew

The United States reclaimed the top spot from China in a global race to secure private clean energy finance and investment, according to a report from Pew Environment. The United States brought in $48 billion in investments last year largely due to investors taking advantage of the country’s stimulus programs before they expired at the end of 2011. The investments refer to combined venture capital, private equity and R & D money.

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San Francisco named ‘Cleantech Capital’ of North America

With 208 clean technology companies and investors calling it home, San Francisco is now the “Cleantech Capital of North America,” according to cleantech industry research firm Cleantech Group. “Cleantech Group is proud to name San Francisco the ‘Cleantech Capital of North America’ in recognition of the City’s ongoing support for all things clean and green,” said Cleantech Group chief executive Sheeraz Haji, presenting the award to Mayor Edwin M. Lee during the 10th Cleantech Forum conference held in San Francisco this week.

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