NOVA in the News

Sustainable Industries Journal (Link to original)
June 18, 2007

Solar center for Silicon Valley
by Sarah Crespi

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—The Bay Area has long been home to cutting-edge computer technology; the area is fast becoming a hub for solar technology. Giving a boost to the region’s solar power entrepreneurs, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group this month launched the SolarCenter for Excellence.

The San Jose, Calif-based group established the solar research and education center to help make solar technology more competitive with the Bay Area's high tech, biotech and life sciences industries.The center plans to focus on creating standards of performance and installation, which could reduce the cost of solar power installation. In addition, the center expects to create training programs for solar-industry workers and to provide new ways of financing solar power.

As part of the California Solar Initiative, the California Public Utilities Commission pledged $2.8 billion in January 2006 towards increasing the generation of solar power in the state [see “California serves up solar incentives,” SI, February 2006]. By examining the obstacles of solar power installation, the center intends to help simplify the permitting and rebate processes included in the California Solar Initiative and other government programs.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, founded in 1977, currently has more than 200 member companies. The group founded the collaborative SolarTech to help start the new SolarCenter. SolarTech members include Generating Assets, Miasolé, NOVA, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (NYSE: PCG), REgrid Power, Silicon Valley Power and Silicon Valley Solar.

The announcement was made at the one-day Energy Summit 2007 held by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the Stanford University Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency and hosted by Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE: CY).

© Celilo Group Media

About NOVA | What's New | Job Seekers | Business Community
Youth | Labor Market Info | Contact Us | Home