Clean-tech Industry is Booming in California
The clean-tech industry, including solar, is booming in California. More money is being invested in solar and other alternative energy start-ups in California than other locations in the rest of the world. However, California's dominance is being threatened by competition from China and by an upcoming ballot initiative.
Proposition 23, if passed, would suspend a California law that requires utilities in the state to obtain a third of their power from renewable sources by 2020 until the state's unemployment rate drops to 5.5% for at least a year. In August 2010, the unemployment rate was 12.4% in California.
The Los Angeles times articles shows that the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area is the top U.S. metropolitan area with the most clean technology activity. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside area was second and the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy area was third.
Read the article: California clean-tech industry is booming
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Arizona Aims to Increase Role in Solar Revolution
Arizona is striving to become a center for manufacturing and generating solar energy, because afterall, abundant sunchine is one of Arizona's greatest natural resources. Solar projects in Clalifornia and Arizona are linked, and both states stand to gain as they form partnerships. First Solar and Stirling Energy Systems, companies based in Arizona, are building giant solar farms in California to supply electricity to Southern California Edison and Pacific, Gas & Electric Company. SolarCity, located in Californis's Silicon Valley, began operations in Phoenix, Arizona.
Read article: Arizona to world: Do we have solar!
Solar History
The solar industry has a long and fascinating history. While Albert Einstein was working on his Theory of Relativity, he was also studying how to use the energy from the sun. In 1921, Einstein won the Nobel Prize for his theories explaining the photoelectric effect.
The U.S. Department of Energy website shows a detailed and very informative solar history timeline covering solar energy development in the 1900's.
Read article: Solar History Timeline: 1900's
