Pokeberries Prove to Be Valuable in Solar Panel Production

Scientists at Wake Forest University have discovered that pokeberry dye can improve the efficiency of some solar cells. When applied to fiber-based solar cells, the berry's dye acts as an absorber, helping the cell's fibers capture more sunlight to convert into power. Fiber-based solar cells can produce twice as much power as current flat-cell technology and are less expensive to produce. Civil War soldiers used juice from the weeds to write letters home, reports UPI.com.

In the coming weeks, Texas electricity distribution and transmission company Oncor is expected to restart its solar incentive program, which has proven so popular the firm had to bring forward program funds slated for 2011 and 2012 in order to meet customer demand.

Putting solar photovoltaic panels on homes and other buildings has proved to be so popular, it’s driving rebate prices down. A record-setting rate of recent solar installations has resulted in rebate stepdowns for the California Solar Initiative.

Solar Power Heats Up in Midwest as Costs Drop, Electricity Rates Rise

The Midwest gets plenty of sunshine—some towns see as much sun as Miami and San Antonio—and the big cost considerations that for years have held back solar power in the region have changed, according to a story in the Kansas City Star. Solar-panel prices have plunged and tax rebates and credits have now cut the payback time for solar power from 25 years to 10 years. As a result, more businesses and homeowners are installing solar photovoltaic panels in Kansas City.

A Vermont clean energy board announced April 21 that the state government has made available $5.5 million to support the installation of solar and small wind projects at homes and businesses in the state.

The state of Utah opened its Renewable Energy Rebate Program a few days ago. The funds come from the state’s share of federal stimulus money for renewable energy.

The Tobacco Road and Research Triangle areas of North Carolina have a decent number of solar homes that sell power back into the grid—about 60--but down in the city of Charlotte there are only one-fourth that number: A mere 15 homes so far. That could change as North Carolina power companies rush to boost the amount of electricity they generate from solar energy by the end of the year, per state law.

The state of Colorado will launch a new energy rebate program April 19, complete with a comprehensive new Web site that will provide rebate and financial incentive information, as well as conservation and energy-saving tips.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center will open block 2 of funding for the Commonwealth Solar Stimulus rebate program and Commonwealth Solar II rebate program today, April 9, 2010.

Green Mountain Power, a utility company serving 25 percent of Vermonters, said the number of customers using small-scale renewable energy sources to generate their own electricity has more than doubled since 2008. The largest growth came from customers who generate electricity with solar panels, the company said in an April 6 press release.