Constellation Energy has received the approval of the New York State Public Service Commission to sell the three New York nuclear plants owned by Constellation Nuclear to Electricité de France SA. The sale is part of a $4.5 billion deal between Constellation and EDF that was announced in December.
Here’s an excerpt of the statement released by the NYS Public Service Commission in reference to the sale of the nuclear plants:
The acquisition is expected … Read the rest
This is exciting…Echelon and T-Mobile just announced that they have formed a partnership that will allow Echelon to use T-Mobile’s GSM wireless network to connect its smart meters with utility companies. Under the agreement, T-Mobile will provide special, heavy-duty silicon SIM cards that will be embedded into Echelon’s smart meters. The SIM cards can then be used to wirelessly communicate data on electricity uses and outages by sending it to the utility company via … Read the rest
Wal Mart (WMT) announced today it is going to double its use of solar energy in California over the next 18 months by installing solar panels on 10 – 20 of their stores, adding to the 18 solar arrays already in place. The company expects to generate up to 32 million kilowatt hrs of renewable energy per year, remove 22,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and provide 20 – 30% of the total electricity … Read the rest
Obama spent some time on Earth day at an old Maytag plant in Iowa now being used to manufacture wind power turbines by Trinity Structural Towers. He discussed the need for more renewable energy and ultimately revealed new regulations regarding offshore wind farms that would clear the way for developers to install wind farms on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Michael Olsen, a former Bush Interior Department official, said the rules will allow projects to move … Read the rest
Altair Nanotechnologies (ALTI) is announcing this morning it has shipped 40 advanced lithium ion battery systems to the US Army as part of a testing program to improve performance reliability and safety of the M119 gun batteries. The testing is expected to continue through the summer. If the tests are successful, Altair’s batteries could be used in a wide array of other military applications.
“Altairnano’s advanced battery systems exhibit the widest operating temperature ranges and … Read the rest
According to StreetInsider.com Citi is out with a hold on First Solar (FSLR) but is raising the price target from $130 to $150.
Citi believes the solar industry is entering a sustainable period of secular growth with business models in the space “exhibiting positive earnings leverage.”
“Consistent with our investment framework, we believe that solar stocks, in general, should trade at a premium to the broader market given fundamental demand drivers that should fuel earnings … Read the rest
UQM Technologies has just released a new 145 KW motor/generator propulsion system. The system is meant to be used in hybrid/electric vehicles, and offers the following advantages (per a UQM press release):
The new 145 kW system extends the peak power available in the company’s smaller 280 mm diameter frame size from 125 kW to 145 kW, has a continuous power rating of 85 kW, delivers peak torque of 400 N-m and weighs only … Read the rest
General Electric expects its wind division, GE Wind, to see double-digit growth this year,according to Reuters. The company attributes its expectations for growth to the release of new products and to an increase in sales to European customers, as well as the incentives for wind power that were built in to the US financial stimulus bill.
GE Wind is also gunning for Vestas, according to Rainer Broering, the head of GE Wind in Germany. He … Read the rest
Cree Inc (CREE) reported after the bell today and beat lowered expectations by posting a non GAAP EPS of .13/share (beating estimates by .02) on revenues of $131 million which was basically in line with estimates. While the company beat estimates and guided revenues a touch higher for next quarter, the growth over the year ago quarter was relatively flat. Earnings were down 7% from the year ago quarter while revenues were up 5%. That’s … Read the rest
Echelon’s (ELON) LonWorks technology will be used in California’s first smart streetlight project in San Jose which is part of the City’s Green Vision. The plan calls for a transformation of San Jose into an epicenter of clean technology and innovation in order to promote green energy and limit energy use.
125 streetlights will be converted to use LED and will be controlled with Echelon’s power line networking technology and segment controllers, improving quality, decreasing … Read the rest