SOLAR TODAY Blog

By Corey Dahl
SOLAR TODAY Associate Editor 

 Renewable energy enthusiasts who expect big deals to come from the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen this December might be in for some disappointment.

During the closing general session at Solar Power International this morning, several leaders -- including New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and SunPower CEO Tom Werner -- weighed in on what they expect will happen at the summit. Most agreed: nothing incredibly significant.

By Corey Dahl
SOLAR TODAY Associate Editor 

Forget trying to build brand recognition among your potential customers. In solar today, it's all about building brand connection.

While brand recognition means your company is known, brand connection means your company is known for doing something unique. It's an important distinction in an increasingly crowded solar marketplace, says Alan Brew, a principal at RiechesBaird and the host of "Building Brand Recognition" at Solar Power International today.

By Corey Dahl
SOLAR TODAY Associate Editor 

Opponents of solar and other renewables often gripe that solar is "expensive" relative to other power sources like coal.

That might be true on the surface -- coal costs about six cents per kilowatt-hour -- but it quickly becomes a lie once you dig a little deeper, says Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

By Corey Dahl
SOLAR TODAY Associate Editor 

Solar Power International kicked off this morning with Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, declaring today the solar industry's "4^th of July" and unveiling a Solar Bill of Rights.

The document states that Americans are entitled to things like the ability to buy solar electricity from their utilities and ethical treatment from the solar industry -- all rights Resch vowed SEIA and other industry organizations would continue working toward.