“The goal of this acquisition is to add to our portfolio of solar generation while attracting similar assets to our model,” says Michael Gorton, president and CEO of PSI. “vis solis developed and built a great project, and adding it to our portfolio was an easy decision.”

R. Michael Martin, executive vice president of Business Development at PSI, adds, “This important acquisition fuels the build-up of our solar portfolio, and working with vis solis adds value to our partnership strategy. Our attention now focuses on multiple projects of similar scale, and going forward, we encourage developers to present us with such opportunities for acquisition.”

Carlos Mayer, president and CEO, vis solis says, “vis solis and PSI share the same vision: to convert the power of the sun, the most abundant sustainable energy resource on earth, into competitive, reliable and environmentally-friendly electricity. We are delighted to team with PSI and to be a part of PSI’s move into the Tennessee Valley region as it demonstrates its leadership and commitment to solar energy.”

“While we are extremely proud of completing these last two, large-scale solar projects for PG&E, we are more proud of the strong relationship that we’ve built with the utility that has fueled the success of these projects,” said Paul Aggarwal, vice president of operations for Cupertino Electric’s Energy Alternatives Division. “With each project, we gain invaluable knowledge and insight that we bring to each subsequent endeavor. We are forever grateful to PG&E for being a true partner and for having the wisdom to leverage our 60 years of construction experience on solar projects of this size and scope.”

About the Utility-Scale Projects
The 20-MW and 10-MW solar projects were engineered and constructed by Cupertino Electric under PG&E’s 500-MW Solar PV Program, a clean energy initiative that currently includes 250 MW of utility-owned solar generation. Cupertino Electric’s two solar projects are the third-year contributions to PG&E’s utility-owned generation program.

Construction of the two sites began in late 2012 and finished in May 2013 when the two sites became fully operational. The PG&E solar projects total 30 MW and feature 139,600 fixed-tilt solar modules installed by Cupertino Electric. Since 2011, when Cupertino Electric began working with PG&E to meet state-mandated renewable generation goals, the engineering and construction company has installed more than 385,700 solar modules for the utility.

“We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and leading the retail industry in use of green technology,” said Thomas Connolly, Walgreens vice president of facilities development. “Because we operate more than 8,000 stores, we believe our implementation of sustainable energy technology can have a significant positive impact on the nation’s environment while also creating jobs.”

The upcoming rollout will produce an estimated 13.5 million kWh annually, the equivalent of offsetting the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 1,400 homes for one year. Included in the rollout is the Walgreens net-zero energy, LEED Platinum store in Evanston, Ill., which will feature more than 850 roof-top solar panels.

Walgreens will host the solar arrays, and SoCore Energy will own, operate, and maintain them. This model has proven to be successful for the two Illinois-based companies since 2011, when the two collaborated on a 53-store rollout across the state of Ohio.

“SoCore is proud to be developing one of the most important and sizeable distributed solar platforms ever constructed in the United States,” said President and CEO of SoCore Energy Pete Kadens. “We love working with companies that strive to be leaders, and after we are done here, Walgreens will have more solar locations than any other company in the US. This is a remarkable accomplishment for both Walgreens and the team at SoCore.”

“I commend Walgreens and SoCore on this innovative partnership and the strong commitment shown by these two Chicago companies to renewable energy,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “These companies are demonstrating what we in Chicago know to be true – that environmentally friendly business is good business and that there are real economic opportunities associated with the new technologies and advances that are associated with the greening of our cities.”

This unprecedented rollout is the latest of many green initiatives for Walgreens. The company currently operates three stores that have achieved a LEED certification level of gold, silver and certified; a store in Oak Park, Ill., using geothermal energy; a distribution center in Waxahachie, Texas, that generates energy though the use of wind; and 400 locations with electric vehicle charging stations. Walgreens drugstores use 25-watt fluorescent lamps (lowest wattage in the industry), LED cooler and freezer lighting and energy management systems in more than 5,000 locations. In addition, 15 Walgreens distribution centers have achieved net zero waste, which means revenues from recycling exceed waste expense.

“Taking care of our environment is another way Walgreens can help people get, stay and live well in the communities we serve,” said Menno Enters, Walgreens director of energy and sustainability. “Walgreens will continue to strive for leadership in sustainability to create a happier, healthier environment for our customers and the communities we serve.”

Through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, Walgreens has committed to a chainwide 20 percent energy reduction by 2020.

The company will interview candidates for 70-plus new positions including certified electricians, electrical apprentices, solar sales consultants, field marketing associates, canvassers, solar installers, solar system designers, and several other positions.

“Verengo is seeking bright, energetic applicants with positive, can-do attitudes who are looking for a professional career in the booming clean energy business. We offer extensive training, highly competitive compensation and a unique opportunity for advancement,” said Co-Founder and President Ken Button.

“The company is very much in an expansion mode,” said Human Resources VP Rob Shneer. “We hired over 400 new employees last year, and we plan to hire at least that many this year. We have a values-driven, customer-centric corporate culture and programs that make for happy, loyal customers and employees. We prefer to promote from within our Verengo Team, making this a great ground floor opportunity for go-getters who are passionate about the solar energy field.”

The job fair is free and both full-time and part-time positions are available. Candidates are advised to dress professionally and come prepared with two copies of their resume.

Verengo Solar is an equal opportunity employer, a recently announced partner of Veterans Green Jobs, and has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the top job creators in the U.S over the past three years amongst private companies.

For job fair information call 714-453-2013 or email recruiter@verengosolar.com.

“We have seen a growing interest from customers since we announced this program last year,” said Ken Barker, vice president-Customer Solutions and Energy Conservation. “This pilot program, which receives funding through our Dominion Green Power program, gives our customers who are interested in getting power from the sun another option than net metering that could help them reduce their installation costs.”

Customers interested in participating can obtain and submit an application online at www.dom.com, keyword: Solar Purchase Program. Participation in the program is first-come, first-serve. The pilot program is limited to a total of 3 MW.

Participating customers purchase, install and own the solar generation system located on their property, but sell the electricity and the associated solar Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) back to Dominion at a premium rate of 15 cents per kilowatt-hour. Participating customers purchase all of the electricity for their homes or businesses from the company on their current rate schedule. The Dominion Green Power program directly supports these solar projects through the purchase and retirement of the RECs produced.

The Solar Purchase Program is an alternative to Dominion’s net metering program in which customers offset their consumption with self-generated renewable energy using a variety of fuel sources. Currently, about 850 customers participate in the “net metering” program.

“Panasonic provided the best bankability and long term protection for our investment in solar on behalf of the taxpayers and citizens of Central Huron,” stated Mayor Jim Ginn of the Municipality of Central Huron.

Both solar PV systems will be designed in accordance with the respective Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) contracts associated with the two locations and the Ontario FIT Program. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) developed the FIT Program to encourage and promote a greater use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation and include solar PV systems.

For the Central Huron solar portfolio, Panasonic is working with Evergreen Power Ltd. In addition to the solar panels, the installation includes Panasonic TV monitors in the lobbies of both buildings with direct links to a Central Huron branded solar portal. The monitors will provide educational information about solar, as well as display the amount of energy that the solar panels are generating on each site.

“The project provides us the opportunity to demonstrate our full, one-stop solar build program, offering the Municipality and community of Central Huron peace of mind and the backing of a global brand behind their projects,” said Walter Buzzelli, Managing Director, Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada Inc.

Recently, Panasonic was ranked number four in Interbrand’s “Best Global Green Brands 2013″, moving up two spots from number six, and becoming the highest ranked electronics brand in the report. Panasonic scored especially well in “Products & Services”, “Governance” and “Operations” in the Green Performance category.

ShoEi selected Cenergy Power based on Cenergy’s in-depth approach to various design alternatives and strong solar background in the commercial/ industrial space. Stretching over approximately 3 acres of ground space, the solar system is optimized to generate over 1.2 million kWh of clean solar power annually, which will supplant the plant’s current energy needs by +90 percent and provide an attractive four-year unlevered return on investment.

“This is a great move for our company,” says Don Soetaert Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of ShoEi USA. “We are getting ready to kick off construction on the project and are excited to reduce our overall power costs and contribute to industry sustainability.”

While precipitous cost declines– roughly 70 cents per watt– from 2010 to 2012 were made possible by cutthroat pricing and margin erosion in the polysilicon and PV materials markets, the report sees cost reduction drivers migrating in-house for wafer, cell, and module suppliers, as adoption of advanced technology platforms and manufacturing automation will account for 80 percent of the forecasted declines.

“Yesterday’s PV cost reduction roadmaps are no longer relevant today,” said Shyam Mehta, Senior Analyst at GTM Research and the report’s author. “Three or four years ago, the industry was targeting one dollar per watt costs in 2013; today we are at 50 cents per watt, and there is currently little consensus on what is a realistic goal for the module supply chain to set for itself over the next three to five years. This is not only important for these manufacturers and their investors, but for installers and project developers across the globe.”

This 112-page report on the latest in c-Si PV wafer, cell, module, and materials technology is the most recent analysis from GTM Research’s flagship supply-side practice, and aims to provide a competitive outlook on the leading technology and cost trends through 2017 across the global PV supply chain. The report explores existing and innovative technology advancements in ingot growth, wafer slicing, cell processing, and module assembly, as well as their impacts on conversion efficiency and manufacturing costs.

In addition, the report is packaged with GTM Research’s proprietary PV module manufacturing cost model for China-based producers from 2011 through 2017. This 844-row workbook contains assumptions and results for key manufacturing cost drivers including: capital equipment costs, polysilicon pricing, consumables pricing, material utilization, manufacturing yield, technology parameters, labor rates/intensity, and utility rates/consumption.

For more information on PV Technology and Cost Outlook, 2013-2017, visit www.greentechmedia.com/research/report/pv-technology-and-cost-outlook-2013-2017.

The 83,700-square-foot solar addition will consist of a 623-kW system, built with 2,492 panels, and will produce 961,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store. Including the existing system, IKEA Centennial’s total 1,121-kW solar installation of 4,704 panels soon will generate 1,701,000 kWh of clean electricity yearly, the equivalent of reducing 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 250 cars or powering 180 homes.

For the development, design and installation of the Centennial store’s customized solar power system, IKEA contracted with REC Solar Inc., a national leader in solar electric system design and installation with more than 10,000 systems built across the United States.

Last month, IKEA achieved its goal of completing solar installations atop nearly 90 percent of its U.S. buildings (39 out of 44 locations), with a generation goal of 38 MW. IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems — as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) — and globally has allocated $1.8 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2015. This investment reinforces the long-term commitment to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology that IKEA has. Consistent with the company’s goal of being energy independent by 2020, IKEA has installed more than 250,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns/operates approximately 110 wind turbines in Europe.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to double the amount of solar energy generated and used by this store,” said John Ellis, IKEA Centennial store manager. “This is another example of the IKEA commitment to create a more sustainable life for communities where we operate.”