Looking for some cutting-edge renewable energy news to share? Here's something for you. Green jobs just got a boost in the San Diego area. According to reports, San Diego State University just received a $1.6 million federal grant to build a green energy research and training center. You may know the Imperial Valley as one of the regions hit hardest by the recession; its unemployment rates hover around 30 percent. So the idea is that the injection of funds will help establish the area as "a hub of the renewable energy revolution." The grant initially supports construction of a geothermal...

The Washington Redskins and NRG together installed a PV installation at the teams home stadium. The solar installation is said to be able to power up to 20 percent of the stadiums game day needs. And on non-game days, the sun should be able to provide all of the stadiums electricity needs that is, as long as the sun is out. 

Curious for some details of this, the largest PV installation on a stadium in the country? Well, there are now 8,000 solar panels. And thanks to the panels, the stadiums now home to a solar shaded parking lot that can fit over 800 gamegoers in. 

Also, while...

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, taking place from Sept. 23Oct. 2, 2011 at the National Malls West Potomac Park in Washington D.C., will let people tour solar houses and attend awesome talks about a slew of issues related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Last year the decathlon was the subject of over 700 TV stories and 265 newspapers covered it, so you know its gonna be cool..

The Decathlon itself is a collegiate competition where teams design, build and run solar-powered houses. The public can tour these houses and see how the students have managed to blend...

You may have noticed that the pace of change in the solar industry is quite rapid, and that the path it takes is oftentimes winding. 

To help us mere mortals (a.k.a. non math-majors/engineers/scientists/policymakers/tax lawyers) follow the twists and turns of the exciting solar energy saga as it unfolds, Principal Solar Inc. has developed an online solar energy reference center its calling a world first. 

Michael Gorton, CEO of Principal Solar, said he hopes that the library will define issues as well as collect and distribute information for government, business, and academic...

San Antonio, Texas is working to be the home of the world's largest solar installation. CPS Energy, a utility serving San Antonio and surrounding areas, initially took bids for a 50 megawatt installation. After receiving offers with extremely competitive pricing, the utility revised its goal to 400 megawatts! Don't quote us, but we've heard through the grapevine that the levelized-cost of energy (LCOE) of the project is around 9 cents per kWh. This is an unprecedented low number.

CPS's interest in solar is part of a shift away from older coal-burning plants which will go offline in 2018....