A report by Akeena Solar Inc., Los Gatos, Calif., that it had inked a deal to distribute is solar panels in 21 home improvement stores throughout California sent the the company’s stock soaring 57 percent on Dec. 10, according to the San Jose Mercury News and other online news feeds. The shares closed at $1.55 on Dec. 10.
The company’s Andalay AC panels are available at 21 Lowe’s home-improvement stores throughout California. The panels, which were recently honored with a 2009 Popular Mechanics “Breakthrough Product award,” are featured as part of Lowe’s Energy Center at the stores. “The PC revolution in the computer industry occurred when new technology made PCs easy to use and affordable,” said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Akeena Solar. “Likewise, with panels becoming plug-and-play appliances, the solar revolution has started. The availability of solar panels in Lowe’s stores makes it easy for homeowners to go solar and is a big step toward getting solar on every sunny rooftop.”
Archive for December 10th, 2009
Lowe’s to Sell Do-It-Yourself PV Systems
EMCOR to Provide Maintenance Services for Kirkland Airforce Base
The Government Services division of EMCOR Group Inc., Norwalk, Conn., has received a facilities and maintenance contract from the Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB) Medical Clinic in Albuquerque, N. M. The contract includes full service facilities operations, scheduled and corrective maintenance, and repairs for the Medical Clinic, which includes two buildings, totaling 121,000 square feet. EMCO press release
Fastenal to Acquire Manufacturer of Socket-Head Screw Products
Fastenal Co., Winona, Wis., has signed a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets of Holo-Krome, West Hartford, Comm., a leader in the production of domestic socket head screw products. Fastenal press release
NEMA & AIA Call on Congress to Increase Commercial Building Tax Deduction
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rossyln, Va., and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington, D.C., have called on Congress to increase the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction from $1.80-per-square-foot to $3-per-square foot to help stimulate immediate job creation.
According to NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis, the increase would provide a valuable job-stimulating incentive to retrofit and renovate existing commercial buildings. “This tax incentive has a proven record of success in supporting thousands of construction, electrical, design, contractor, and manufacturing jobs prior to the recession. An increase is needed to address tight capital and other financing issues facing building owners. This is the type of measure that fits with the outlines of President Obama’s jobs stimulus announcement on December 8, 2009,” Gaddis said. NEMA press release
GE Energy Nails Order for World’s Largest Wind Farm
A $2 billion wind farm in Oregon will have a total of 338 turbines installed in 2011 and 2012. The Shepherds Flat wind farm will supply energy to Southern California Edison for approximately 235,000 California households. GE Energy release
Rockwell Automation CEO Says Industrial Market Indicators Looking Better
Rockwell CEO Keith Nosbusch told an investment conference that while the Purchasing Managers Index and some industrial manufacturing data is improving, end users will be cautious in their spending in 2010 and that he doesn’t expect a sharp recovery. Reuters report
DOE Launches New Website to Provide Energy Info to the Public
DOE Secretary Chu announced that the Department of Energy is launching Open Energy Information (www.openEI.org,) a new open-source web platform that will make DOE resources and open energy data widely available to the public. The data and tools housed on the free, editable and evolving wiki-platform will be used by government officials, the private sector, project developers, the international community, and others to help deploy clean energy technologies across the country and around the world. DOE release