Green versus Clean

You might think this is about the semantics of green tech versus clean tech. That is an interesting question in itself, but this is about a neighborly spat between two Sunnyvale residents and Santa Clara County and state laws and redwood trees and solar panels. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. See here for the Mercury News story. Its complete with a Google Earth map :-) A Sunnyvale couple has been found in violation of the California Solar Shade Control Act ( I bet you did not know that it existed), a law signed signed in 1978 by Gov. Jerry Brown. See, the solar movement in California has a long history :-)

The problem - eight Redwood trees in the Sunnyvale couples' home cast a shadow on their neighbor's 10kW solar panel system. So, the Santa Calara County and courts are asking them to cut down their trees or face hefty fines. The spat has been going on for a few years and has already cost the tree owning couple a fair amount in legal expenses. In any case, its a very interesting dilemma - would you cut down trees to save the environment with solar panels ? Its almost a philosophical question, let alone a purely economic and environmental one. The Mercury News ran a Web Vote on this question and today's (Jan. 27th) newspaper shows that 144 people thought the tree owners should trim the trees and 372 people thought they should not. Probably not a scientifically valid poll, but still, an interesting result.

Madan

Akeena Solar starts the year right

Akeena Solar is on a tear. They certainly started the New Year right. The stock is up from about $8 to $13.60 at today's close in just three days. The volume today was an astounding 22M+ compared to an average volume of 650K. You may wonder why this dramatic rise, especially when the stock market's been taking a beating all this week. Perhaps the story behind this press release is one of the reasons. Akeena Solar announced that their Andalay solar panel technology will be distributed in Europe, Japan and Australia by Suntech Power Holdings Co.

The New Year's hardly getting started and already my prediction #1 from Jan 1st is getting some wind beneath its wings :-) I have to believe that there is plenty more to come this year. Its going to be a good year for Silicon Valley :-)

Madan

Super Solar panel ?

The Inquirer has an interesting story about a South Carolina company which claims to have developed a solar panel which is 15 times more efficient than current solar panels. The company, FreEnergy LLC, claims to do this by using the entire spectrum of light from the sun, rather than a fraction as conventional solar cells do. The other interesting thing about the company is that one of the founders moved from California to South Carolina to start the company. :-) Rather the opposite of the usual clean tech startup trend :-) You can read more about the company on charleston.net . Is this a fundamental breakthrough or another cold fusion like story. ? Time will tell. The Inquirer, as usual, comes up with the most interesting stories, even if they don't all turn out to be true :-)

Madan