STUFF

TSLA hinting at 500-mile range in future. Started "idiot-proof" battery warranty. Topped Volt in sales.

China's 1st 2 shale NG wells expected to start production in June.

Duke Energy plans to more than double clean/renewable energy in its portfolio by '20.

SoloPower to permanently shut Portland factory in June, gut remaining work force. They rushed to market with expensive product only partly developed just as solar mart was tanking. They got $10M loan, $20M tax credit from Oregon. In line for $197M fed loan. They pioneered gleaming flexible CIGS thin film sheets that could be produced by the mile. Idea was to roll them out on big box roofs that couldn't support weight of PV systems. But 2x cost of conventional panels. Efficiency 9-10%. Below other thin film competitors. Comp also cut jobs at San Jose HQ.

Clean energy investment in Latin Am $9.7B in '12. Up 127% v. '11. $5.1B in Brazil. $2B in Mexico, up 595% v. '11. Chile $1B, up 313%. Peru $643M, up 176%. Uruguay $105M, up 285%. Increased activity by Inter-Am Development Bank and Euro players.

Toyota Mississippi powered up 50Kw solar array. 4th largest solar plant in state. Toyota's only large-scale array at their 17 N Am facilities.

Infogen Energy got 2 20-yr PPAs from S Cal Ed to supply 40Mw total solar power. Construction starts in '14.

Cedarville University (OH) dedicated 2.15Mw solar array built by Melink (Cincinnati). Supplies 10% of CU's el demand. Largest solar system directly connected to a university in OH.

Atlantic Wind & Solar (AWSL) got notice to proceed from Ontario Power Authority for 3 rooftop solar projects in Toronto. Total 600Kw. ~$3M cost. Power to be sold to OPA at $.63-71/Kwh.