First Solar Inc., an Arizona solar-panel maker whose only North American factory is in Perrysburg Township, on Thursday reported higher-than-expected second-quarter profits and raised its full-year earnings forecast. Its profit fell to $159 million, or $1.84 a share, from $181 million, or $2.11 a share, for the same period a year ago. Revenue rose 12 percent to $588 million. Analysts had …

First Solar Inc. , the worlds biggest maker of solar power modules, said second-quarter profit fell as panels were held for use on its own projects, reducing sales to customers, and as the euro declined against the dollar.

Editor’s Note: Scientific American’s George Musser will be chronicling his experiences installing solar panels in Solar at Home (formerly 60-Second Solar). Read his introduction here and see all posts here . As if the news coming out of Washington about a climate bill weren’t bad enough, state budget crises are also sucking the blood out of many local renewable-energy programs, which are the …

The solar electrical power industry may be ready for its moment in the sun. It’s still true that solar sources generate less than 1% of total U.S. electricity vs. the 70% generated from industrial-age fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas.

The solar sector has been on fire of late, but the latest round of earnings cooled things off on Friday.

The federal Bureau of Land Managements Arizona office has 33 applications for about 60 solar energy facilities on approximately 452,519 acres throughout the state, a BLM project manager said.

The Arizona Corporation Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday to require regulated electric utilities to reduce the amount of power they sell by 22 percent by the year 2020 by helping homeowners and businesses conserve energy.

The new technology could move the United States away from its dependence on fossil fuels–if it can overcome the high price tag for the massive plants needed.

PHOENIX—-In the first program of its kind in Arizona, 32 residential solar installers became the first to achieve the designation of Qualified Solar Installer from Arizona Public Service Co.

The record-breaking Zephyr unmanned solar-powered plane touches down in Arizona after two weeks of non-stop flight.

ANALYSIS-Solar thermal seeks U.S. breakthrough

Sunny days that are common in the desert, an executive said, are perfect for the solar power systems that Amonix will manufacture at its new plant in North Las Vegas by the end of the year.

Investors should buy bullish First Solar Inc. options because the worlds largest maker of thin- film solar power modules may beat analysts estimates when it reports earnings tomorrow, Jefferies Group Inc. said.

The federal Bureau of Land Managements Arizona office has 33 applications for about 60 solar energy facilities on approximately 452,519 acres throughout the state, a BLM project manager said.

The QinetiQ Zephyr unmanned solar plane has just shattered the world record for unmanned long duration flight by completing two weeks of non-stop flight at Yuma, Arizona, easily passing the previous official 30 hour record set back in 2001 by Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4A Global Hawk . QinetiQ is a UK defence and research company that designed the Zephyr to be ultra-light, so light in fact that it is …

A solar-powered unmanned aircraft has surpassed previous endurance records today flying day and night for two weeks.

PHOENIX (AP) Luke Air Force Base is expected to get power for a majority of the base through a massive solar project by 2011. The base’s array of solar panels would be among the nation’s largest and have the capacity to run appliances in 4,250 homes at once in direct sunlight. If it were built today, the 17-megawatt solar project would increase by about 50 percent the amount of solar power on …

PHOENIX (AP) – Luke Air Force Base is expected to get power for a majority of the base through a massive solar project by 2011. The base’s array of solar panels would be among the nation’s largest and have the capacity to run appliances in 4,250 homes at once in direct sunlight.

At a meeting of representatives of the state and regional solar industry associations at Intersolar North America, the premier solar industry exhibition and conference held in San Francisco last week, the state solar industry associations agreed that it is time for Feed-in Tariffs, the policies that have proved to be wildly successful in Europe in accelerating the growth of solar and other …

A British-made, solar-powered drone has made a record-breaking flight of 14 days and 24 minutes. QinetiQ UK Technology Solutions Group reported the unmanned aerial vehicle was launched July 9 for a flight to the United Kingdom from the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

Sunny days that are common in the desert, an executive said, are perfect for the solar power systems that Amonix will manufacture at its new plant in North Las Vegas by the end of the year.

LONDON, July 26 (UPI) — A British-made, solar-powered drone has made a record-breaking flight of 14 days and 24 minutes. Solar energy – Energy – Renewable – Solar – Business

A massive solar power project is planned for Luke Air Force Base.

An ultra-light unmanned aircraft powered by solar energy and designed for military surveillance landed after two weeks aloft and setting a record for the longest unmanned flight, its manufacturer said.

With all the excitement surrounding the solar powered UAV’s record-breaking flights , we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that QinetiQ’s Zephyr has finally landed in an airfield in Arizona, 14 days and 24 minutes after take-off. This quadruples the previous unofficial world record for unmanned flight (which it set itself in 2008). This is a dramatic proof-of-concept, having flown longer …

The federal Bureau of Land Managements Arizona office has 33 applications for about 60 solar energy facilities on approximately 452,519 acres throughout the state, a BLM project manager said.

BENSON – Donald W. Kimball, who began his rural electric career more than 45 years ago and rose through the ranks to become Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Arizona’s Generation and Transmission (G&T) Cooperatives, says he’ll retire next year.

KAPOLEI, Hawaii—-REC Solar, a leading solar electric provider in the US, today announced the completion of another major commercial solar installation in the Hawaiian Islands at the Kapolei Inline Hockey Arenas on Oahu.

The federal Bureau of Land Managements Arizona office has 33 applications for about 60 solar energy facilities on approximately 452,519 acres throughout the state, a BLM project manager said.

TEMPE, Ariz.—-Aide Solar , a large-scale producer of photovoltaic modules, today announced its participation in the cooperative effort to install a 2.3 kW solar electric system using its donated 230 watt poly-crystalline black frame solar panels at the Compadre branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley in Chandler, Arizona has been completed.

A small crowd gathered Friday for the symbolic groundbreaking of the Payson school districts new solar system, baking under the same sun that would soon power most of the districts energy needs. Everybody sweltered, some sat in seats that scorched their bottoms, others reached gratefully into a cooler that held bottled water.

An unmanned solar-powered plane has set a record by remaining aloft for seven straight days, flying day and night, its designers say.

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 17 (UPI) — An unmanned solar-powered plane has set a record by remaining aloft for seven straight days, flying day and night, its designers say. Solar energy – Energy – Solar – England – Renewable

Los Angeles (AFP) July 16, 2010 – An ultra-light unmanned aircraft powered by solar energy and designed for military surveillance and other uses has stayed in the air a record seven days, its manufacturer said Friday. The British-based firm QinetiQ said its 22.5 meter (74-foot) long Zephyr, weighing just 50 kilos (110 pounds), continued to fly over a US military testing ground in Arizona, and …

Los Angeles (AFP) July 16, 2010 An ultra-light unmanned aircraft powered by solar energy and designed for military surveillance and other uses has stayed in the air a record seven days, its manufacturer said Friday. The British-based firm QinetiQ said its 22.5 meter (74-foot) long Zephyr, weighing just 50 kilos (110 pounds), continued to fly over a US military testing ground in Arizona, and …

The Zephyr solar-powered plane recently broke the endurance record for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The aircraft took off from the U.S. Army’s Yuma Providing Ground in Arizona last Friday and is still in the air. Its non-stop operation has gone five times longer than the official mark recognized by the world air sports federation. The defense and research company Qinetiq has developed the …

An unmanned solar aircraft has smashed the world record for continuous flight.

chichilalescu writes “The UK-built Zephyr solar-powered plane has smashed the endurance record for an unmanned aerial vehicle. The craft took off from the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona at 1440 BST (0640 local time) last Friday and is still in the air. Maybe we can attach some netbooks, and extend the Internet to the clouds.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

A major solar provider has plans to move into Tucson in thecoming week.

A UK firm which made an unmanned aircraft powered by solar energy stay in the air a record seven days.

LOS ANGELES – AN ULTRA-LIGHT unmanned aircraft powered by solar energy and designed for military surveillance and other uses has stayed in the air a record seven days, its manufacturer said on Friday. The British-based firm QinetiQ said its 22.5m long Zephyr, weighing just 50kg, continued to fly over a US military testing ground in Arizona, and could stay aloft for another week.

For years, Tucson Electric Power has been offering residents incentives to get involved in solar power. The program worked well, but now TEP wants to reduce how much you’re getting back. In the last 12 years a lot has changed in Tucson in regard to solar energy. “Business has really evolved and changed a lot the southern Arizona has always been very pro environment,” says Katherine Kent of the …

An ultra-light unmanned aircraft powered by solar energy and designed for military surveillance and other uses has stayed in the air a record seven days, its manufacturer said Friday.

The Zephyr, currently flying over Arizona in the USA, has passed the seven-day mark and is expected to fly for another week.

A British-designed solar-powered aircraft has broken the endurance record for an unmanned air system.

Tempe-based First Solar Inc. will break ground on a power plant near Yuma after finalizing its purchase Monday of NextLight Renewable Power LLC, a solar-development firm.

A UK unmanned solar-powered plane called Zephyr will soon attempt to fly non-stop, day and night, for a record two weeks.

TUCSON, Ariz.—-A dramatic surge in solar power system sales has depleted the rebate funds available from UniSource Energy Services to subsidize the installation of photovoltaic arrays at local homes and businesses.

TUCSON, Ariz.—-A surge in the popularity of solar energy systems has prompted Tucson Electric Power to propose new, lower subsidies for residential customers who install photovoltaic arrays.

The manufacturers of an unmanned solar-powered aircraft are preparing the plane to fly non-stop for two full weeks, according to a BBC News report on Wednesday.The Zephyr solar plane, which was conceived and constructed by a British defense firm known as QinetiQ, will be launching from the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground base, located in Arizona.The Zephyr has already flown unofficially for more …

An unmanned UK-made solar aircraft will take its first chance to endure a non-stop two-week flight only surviving on the energy of the Sun.

Arizona’s third-party candidates, representing the Libertarian and Green parties, hope to tap into voter frustration over the economy and the state budget to win election to the Governor’s Office.

Thin-film solar module maker First Solar has acquired Nextlight Renewable Power in a deal worth approximately $297m.

First Solar Inc. acquires solar development firm NextLight Renewable Power LLC, from private equity firm Energy Capital Partners.

TUCSON, Ariz.—-SOLON Corporation, one of the largest crystalline silicon solar manufacturers in the U.S. and provider of turnkey solar power plants, today announced it secured a contract from Rivermoor Energy and Fischbach & Moore, on behalf of National Grid, a leading international energy delivery company, to supply its premium quality solar modules for a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic …

STR Holdings Inc., the world’s largest supplier of protective coatings for solar power panels, has doubled production capacity in Malaysia and plans to add 50 percent more next year. STR can now produce enough coating, or encapsulant, for 2,000 megawatts of solar panels a year in Malaysia, and plans to add another 1,000 megawatts in the third quarter of 2011, the Enfield, Connecticut-based …

Its amazing how persuasive actual, hard numbers can be. Even I — a big advocate for solar-charged driving and the EV + renewable energy combination have been surprised by the numbers weve generated so far in terms of our own budding experiment with this revolutionary combination.

BusinessGreen.com staff, BusinessGreen , Tuesday 13 July 2010 at 12:59:00 US solar giant cements position as leading developer of utility-scale solar projects First Solar yesterday beefed up its presence as one of the leading solar farm developers in the US, completing its $297m (£196m) acquisition of rival operator NextLight Renewable Power, LLC. The company confirmed that the cash deal, which …

First Solar Inc. said Monday it completed its acquisition of solar-development firm NextLight Renewable Power LLC for $297 million in cash.

TEMPE, Ariz.—-First Solar, Inc. today announced it has completed the acquisition of NextLight Renewable Power, LLC, a solar development firm formed by the inaugural fund of Energy Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in North Americas energy infrastructure.

Free Home Energy Audits Identify Hot Spots That Can Be Fixed With Cool Energy Efficient Steps Including Installing Radiant Heat Barriers, Adding Solar Attic Fans, Sealing Ductwork and Adding More Insulation to Lower Attic Temperatures and Improve AC Unit Performance

PHOENIX, AZ–(Marketwire – 07/12/10) – As temperatures in Phoenix soar into the triple digits, Salt River Solar & Wind ( www.saltriverenergy.com ) is offering customers a FREE summertime energy savings home energy audit to help Arizona residents identify hot spots in their attics that can be fixed with cool energy efficiency products that will allow them to beat the …

In 1969, the Nixon White House asked a young assistant professor of engineering at the University of Maryland whether solar energy made sense for America. Absolutely, he replied.

WASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama, under pressure to spur job growth, said on Saturday two solar energy companies will get nearly $2 billion in US loan guarantees to create as many as 5,000 green jobs.

Arizona’s third-party candidates, representing the Libertarian and Green parties, hope to tap into voter frustration over the economy and the state budget to win election to the Governor’s Office.

PHOENIX (AP) – The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved construction of a $2 billion solar generating plant near Gila Bend. The Solana Generating Station planned by Abengoa Solar Inc. of Spain will provide 280 megawatts of electricity to Arizona Public Service.

PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona Game and Fish Department has issued new guidelines aimed at helping energy developers protect the state’s wildlife. The department says wind turbines threaten birds and bats who fly near the blades, and solar facilities could block or reroute surface water flows. The guidelines include assessing biological resources, conducting site screenings, and identifying and …

In his weekly video address, President Obama announced today the offer of a conditional commitment to Abengoa Solar Inc. for a $1.45 billion loan guarantee to finance the construction and start-up of a concentrating solar power generating facility.

SUGAR LAND, TX–(Marketwire – July 9, 2010) – Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas) — The sun is shining a little brighter for two solar power companies after they were selected last week to receive $1.85 billion in federal loan guarantees under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Abengoa Solar Incorporated (Denver, Colorado), a unit of Abengoa S …

In the 1950s, the Nevada Test Site provided the evidence that U.S. nuclear capability was far ahead of the rest of the worlds. The federal reservation 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas is now tasked with making the nation the global leader in solar power.

State regulators have approved a Mojave Desert solar power contract for Southern California Edison.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved construction of a $2 billion solar generating plant near Gila Bend.

Green solutions for solar power and groundwater solutions got a go signal from council last month, but not without debate.

The Obama administration has been vocally supportive of the alternative energy sector this year, and on Saturday the president announced plans to send $2 billion to a pair of solar firms.

One of the tricky things about solar power is calculating the myriad incentives that bring the huge sticker prices somewhere within reason for buyers.

TUCSON – Astronomers at the University of Arizona have looked at distance stars for years. Now they’re focused on the closest one to us; the sun. Or rather they’re finding a new way to focus the sun on us. The results could well be the future of solar power.

WASHINGTON , DC Two solar companies — one building a giant solar power plant in Arizona and the other constructing state-of-the-art factories to make thin-film panels — have been offered conditional commitments for $1.85 billion in loan guarantees backed by Recovery Act funds, President Barack Obama said.

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) – An Arizona company is getting a big loan to build a large solar plant. Abengoa Solar Inc. in Gila Bend is getting $1.45 Billion to build a 280-megawatt solar generating plant.

President Obama announced a $1.45 billion loan guarantee to help the solar-power plant planned near Gila Bend.

Abound Solar to buy unfinished plant once intended as transmission factory.

President Obama announced the award of $1.85 billion in loan guarantees Saturday to two solar power companies that he said will create thousands of new jobs. Solar power – Energy – Renewable – Solar – Business

Longmont-based Abound Solar Inc. received a $400 million loan guarantee Saturday from the Obama administration that will enable the company to boost its production of thin-film solar panels and hire 1,500 workers in Colorado and Indiana.

Barack Obama awarded $US 2 billion to two solar energy companies who agreed to build new power plants.

Abengoa SA surged the most in 20 months in Madrid trading after the company won a $1.45 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. government to build a solar-power plant in Arizona.

Schools, governments and non-profits in Arizona can buy electricity from solar-power companies that build arrays of solar panels and sell the power thanks to a unanimous decision last week from utility regulators.

A company that makes solar panels plans to turn the Getrag factory in Tipton into a solar hub.

The US is to give nearly $2bn in loan guarantees to two solar energy companies, creating one of the world’s biggest solar energy plants in Arizona.

SAN JOSE: Adema Technologies has received a contract from Frito-Lay to install a 1.7MWp solar system at a plant in Arizona. Adema Technologies is an indirect subsidiary of solar cell maker E-ton Solar Tech , and are based in the US. Sources say the solar project will be implemented as three parts – a 240KWp system covering the parking area, 25KWp at the plant entrance and a 1.435MWp solar plant .

Tucson – The Arizona Appliance Rebate program begins Thursday July 1st. The state has $6.2 million from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to dole out to consumers who purchase energy effecent refrigerators, freezers, solar water heaters and other products.

What used to be a featureless blob in the lens of prior telescopes has now become clear. University of Arizona astronomer Joshua Eisner and his team are now able to see into protoplanetary disks – the building blocks of a growing solar system, over 500 light years away. KJZZ’s Morning Edition Host Dennis Lambert talked with Eisner about the technique called Spectro-Astrometry to see better …