Solar
Nissan Whistleblower Compares DOE Spending on the Nissan Leaf EV with Solar Firm Solyndra: Bovat Testified at the TN State Capital about Wasted Spending of Taxpayer Funds
Nissan Whistleblower Compares DOE Spending on the Nissan Leaf EV with Solar Firm Solyndra: Bovat Testified at the TN State Capital about Wasted Spending of Taxpayer Funds
Franklin, Tennessee (PRWEB) September 27, 2011
The 3 time jailed whistleblower from Nissan Sharyn Bovat (case # gsc -3714) says she’s now an advocate for taxpayers rights and is promoting transparency of DOE spending. Last week she told Tennessee State legislatures that she alleges her arrest were harassment for complaining about how DOE money has been spent.
Prior to Bovat’s arrest she was considered one of the top relocation consultants in Middle Tennessee. It was her job to make people from all over the world WANT to move to TN. Since 2006 she helped NISSAN executives. In 2009 NISSAN she worked for Nissan board member Carlos Tavares.
When working with Carlos Tavares the 1st Nissan EVP to work outside Japan Sharyn became a whistle Blower and told him of discrimination against women: women in management at NISSAN declined from 20.9% in 2006 to 10% in 2009
Bovat also whistle blew on wasted spending of Tennessee taxpayer money. Bovat had documented that at taxpayer expense she was asked to find a spa for oxygen facials for a French VP. After Nissan applied for a DOE loan of over a billion American tax dollars in June 2009 she started a blogging about discrimination & spending.
At last week’s Court of Judiciary hearing in Nashville Tennessee Sharyn Bovat spoke her full written statement is at http://www.nissanwhistleblower.com . Sharyn said is not alone in her concerns & recently US Congressional Rep. Cliff Stearns, Chairman of the oversight and investigations committee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said “I think we have other Solyndras out there…” adding “The government should not be picking winners and losers — that’s what they’re doing with Nissan…”
Two weeks ago Bovat traveled to Washington DC to communicate that the DOE was spending money on electric car chargers that will only work on Japanese cars saying “Fast Chargers are being installed for over 100,000 in Washington State, Oregon and Illinois are paid for by DOE grants and the level 3 fast charger function will ONLY work on the NISSAN Leaf & Mitsubishi. Toyotas will NOT work on the new “Fast Chargers” being installed.
A Reuter’s article backs up the allegation “the RAV4 EV will not include a ChaDeMo charging port. Toyota will not offer fast charging on any vehicles until the SAE determines a standard.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/idUS357178020420110713 and the New York Times has written articles about the problem. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/ecotalitys-fast-charging-units-good-news-for-leaf-owners-and-for-now . Autoevolution states “The only car that can use Level 3 plug charger installed in Washington is the Nissan Leaf.” http://www.autoevolution.com/news/first-ev-highway-in-us-to-be-built-in-washington-37131.html
During the judicial hearing Bovat quoted a Forbes article saying “…the Leaf’s ‘real world’ range is 58 miles per charge. NOT the 100 that was touted to get the DOE funds…..and it’s been on her blog that the battery technology NISSAN is using is the same form the 90’s”
According to Elon Musk the CEO of Tesla the Nissan leaf battery is a “much more primitive level of technology” http://gigaom.com/cleantech/tesla-ceo-nissans-leaf-battery-is-primitive/
Bovat claims that Nissan insiders contacted Bovat telling her the technology for the NISSAN Leaf battery was created in the 90’s C.A.R.B. days when California required all car manufacturers to build EV’s.
Florida Congressman Cliff Stearns sums it all up by saying “I am concerned that the DOE is providing loans and loan guarantees to firms that aren’t capable of competing in the global market, even with government subsidies” New York Times: Full article: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=45886
NISSAN has spent government money from 5 countries to build capacity to make 500.000 Leafs per year. In June 2011 in Tokyo at the shareholders meeting it was announced the companies goal is to sell 250,000 a year. Bovat says that means 1/2 the jobs promised to the various countries will NOT happen
NISSAN has to sell 500,000 Leafs to “break even” & as of September they’ve sold a little over 12,000 worldwide!!! Carlos Ghosn has publically stated that the project must be profitable to succeed.
According to a recent USA Today article the Electric Car is have a “slow” start with the headline reading: Europeans showing little interest in electric cars http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/09/europeans-showing-mute-interest-in-electric-cars/1
Bovat believes NISSAN and those profiting from the DOE funded project wanted her discredited. Had she NOT spent 14 months + battling a trice “trumped up” 1st time misdemeanor she would have filed a False Claims lawsuit on behalf of the American taxpayers.
For over 2 years she’s posted lots of bad spending & discrimination at http://www.girlintheblackhonda.com & Nissan has never issued a court order telling her to take it down so it’s still online. Bovat has since started other blogs including http://www.americantaxpayersforcommonsense.com , http://www.nissanwhistleblower and her newest http://www.carlostavaresrenault.com that blog was started after the man she first whistle blew too got promoted to lead Nissan’s parent partner Renault.
Sharyn Bovat cannot understand how after blogging for over year & without a court order why she was arrested at Nissan North America. Bovat says “6 police cars were sent to haul me, an unarmed relocation consultant to jail & the irony is that the warrant was ‘sworn out’ by a man that I had blogged about harassing me for a year.”
Why was Sharyn Bovat jailed 3 times in Tennessee???
Why has a relocation consultant who’s also a carpool mom, a woman with no criminal record endured excessive arrests & prosecution???
Why was a 1st time misdemeanor assigned to a Special Prosecutor, 2 assistant DA’s and now an Independent Prosecutor???
Why does the judicial system let the harassment of a whistleblower continue for over 14 months..???
Bovat believes the answer is that Nissan wanted to discredit her saying “had I NOT spent 14 months + battling a trice ‘trumped up’ 1st time misdemeanor I would have filed a False Claims lawsuit on behalf of the American taxpayers and I think Nissan knew that”
Sharyn Bovat is frustrated with the fact she’s done over 10 press releases and the local paper still does not report her story. Bovat even started a blog about the lack of press http://www.gannettmcnews.com .
The former Tennessean editor Mark Silverman has met with Bovat on numerous occasions and Bovat says he told her “one reason the Tennessean is not covering the story of a Whistle blower being jailed 3 times in Middle Tennessee is because he was understaffed at the Gannett owned paper” Sharyn adds “then a month later his paper laid off more reporters.”
A recent FCC report states “A shortage of reporting manifests itself in invisible ways: stories not written, scandals not exposed, government waste not discovered, health dangers not identified in time, local elections involving candidates about whom we know little,”
Sharyn Bovat is tired of all the drama in reference to NISSAN and she wants to move on with her life saying “I just want the DOE to audit all the companies that are not in bankruptcy like Solyndra and I want the American taxpayer respected. Those of use that pay taxes have worked hard and it’s about time we got respect.
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Full Frontal in behalf of Climate Change? Govt Subsidies in Peril for Solar, NREL initiates procedures for Electric Vehicles,
David Roberts of Grist makes a compellingcase for full frontal press behalf of climate change.
While renewable energy advocates have long argued that government subsidies for the sector are dwarfed by those for more traditional energy industries, they have had a more poignant complaint since the onset of the recession: one of the subsidies they do get, an investment tax credit, has been rendered nearly useless by the general business downturn. At issue is a complicated provision of the tax code called Section 1603, which is actually a modification of an earlier subsidy program.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released the country’s first set of test procedures to optimize how electric vehicles connect to the smart grid.
The technical report includes ways to evaluate the potential for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) connections, whereby power flows both ways, from grid to vehicle batteries and from batteries to grid. The test procedures evaluate EVs to determine their ability to connect and disconnect and to store and provide power to the grid, according to a NREL press release.
A Harvest of Solar Gardens for Colorado
A Harvest of Solar Gardens for Colorado
Alamosa, CO (PRWEB) October 20, 2011
On Thursday October 13, the Board of the San Luis Valley town of Antonito, Colorado voted 7-0 to host a community owned “solar garden” at their water treatment site, reported Alamosa’s Valley Courier. Managed by the Solar Panel Hosting Company, the half-acre, 50-kilowatt site will be sufficient to power 20 homes, and may be expanded up to 2000 kilowatts covering 16 acres if demand warrants. Says Andrea Guajardo of Conejos County Clean Water, Inc., “I’m excited that we can move forward with sustainable economic development, it’ll provide a way for our community to educate itself about solar given the strong interest in both large scale and distributed solar in our area.”
The following day, the Lake County Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a solar garden at a county-owned gravel pit near Leadville. The 50-kilowatt array could grow as large as 500 kilowatts, and supply subscribers in Lake, Chaffee, and Park counties including residents, businesses, nonprofits and county government.
Solar Panel Hosting CEO Joy Hughes said, “We now are assisting over a dozen Colorado projects, from Antonito, near the New Mexico border, up to Larimer county adjacent to Wyoming. Most of the sites are on retired farmland, old mines or landfills. In the cities, we are looking at covered parking and big roofs.” Not all the projects will be built the first year, said Hughes, “These will be small pilot projects in the beginning, but the gardens will grow. They will form a distributed power plant, a solar panel the size of Colorado.” A map of approximate locations will be hosted at solargardens.org.
To promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, citizens in Saguache County, in southern Colorado have formed an organization called SAGE – Saguache Alliance for Green Energy. In April 2011, the Saguache town Board of Trustees signed a letter of intent with the Solar Panel Hosting Company to develop a solar garden located on one to two acres in the former town dump. Saguache’s 200-kilowatt system will power municipal buildings and residents whose roofs are shaded by the town’s many heritage trees.
City officials from Aurora toured two sites in Arapahoe and Adams counties. At 500 kilowatts apiece, these solar gardens together could supply enough power for hundreds of homes. “We support solar energy and opportunities to make it more accessible for all members of our community,” says Karen Hancock, Environmental Program Supervisor for the City of Aurora.
Other sites are located in Boulder, Weld and Jefferson counties. Nine solar gardens have applied to the Renewable Energy Development team at SRA international for technical assistance grants funded through the Governor’s Energy Office.
Solar Gardens Primer:
On June 5, 2010, former Governor Bill Ritter signed the Community Solar Gardens Act. A solar garden is a community owned solar array with at least 10 grid-connected “subscribers.” Each subscriber owns or leases a number of solar panels, and receives credit for the electricity the panels produce. Subscribers can be individuals, companies, schools, or municipalities – anyone with electric service from Xcel Energy or Black Hills Energy. Under the Act, the subscribers to a solar garden must reside within the same county or municipality. In counties with a population under 20,000, customers may subscribe to solar gardens in a neighboring county. Solar garden subscriptions are portable for subscribers who move within the same county. The minimum subscription size is one kilowatt, and a certain number of subscriptions must go to individuals who qualify for LEAP (Low-income Energy Assistance Program).
Some municipal and rural electric areas in Colorado offer their own separate community solar programs, including United Power, Holy Cross, Delta-Montrose Electric Area, Grand Valley Rural Electric, and Colorado Springs Utilities.
About the Solar Panel Hosting Company (SPH): The Solar Panel Hosting Company helps communities everywhere develop community solar arrays by working with local installers and nonprofits. SPH operates the website solargardens.org. SPH is a for-profit, for-benefit corporation exploring certified B corporation status.
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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
U.S.: Solar Homes Offer New Hope for Renewable Energy
As a light drizzle fell Saturday, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven
Chu pointed to solar houses constructed by students on the
National Mall park in Washington as evidence that the U.S can
compete internationally in the renewable energy market to
create jobs and win “the war against climate change”.
Energy grants of solar system
For today usage of solar and renewable energy has got very popular.There is a financial support exist in many different countries of the world, if once you have decided to provide your house or living area with comfortable conditions and by using solar sytem you do also want to save money. Goverment and local authorities usually are occupied by these questions.They can help you to realize any energy grants in your house.
Different countries suggest different kinds of help. Among them old-age assistance and credit help, support of income, tax benefits,living subsidies and help to unemployed. But you should learn the details about your country and the help there.Actually nowadays secure, effective and cheap energy technologies can help the poorest families. Many companies are also ready to help in every part of the world. So wherever you live you should find out where you can get such help and what measures do your goverment take for help in this question and what kind of companies are occupied with it to give you more qualified information.
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In India banks give credits for solar systems, it is the same as you take the credit for anything else. Energy grant programm of credits in India won the World Energy Globe award for a constant help in creating of credits for people and their installation of solar energy systems at homes. So all over the world countries help to get a solar energy sytem and gives grants for it, because it is not cheap and requires firstly large investments. So in many countries lots of measures are already taken for providing the usage of solar energy more economic and motivated in usage of home conditions.
There are also discounts are represented or subsidies for the families that are interested in usage of solar energy system. The discounts exist in different forms, for example such as tax benefits. This all is intended for providing solar panels and solar batteries and make the equipment cheaper. So the enrgy grants can varify in different countries.So if you want to have a solar system in your home be sure you can get help from different sources.
First of all you should ask your goverment measures and any companies that can provide you this kind of help. Think before installation of solar system at home is that what you really want to have and pay for. Just check all the advatages and disadvatages before accepting this decision.
Reduce energy bills while adding value to your home. Our products are efficient and are designed to blend in with other domestic appliances.We also offers promotional offers. Leaders in Renewable Energy Solutions: Electric Innovation. For more information please visit us at : http://www.electric-innovation.com/
Article from articlesbase.com
www.government-grants-for.com find government grants for home solar power. I’ll show you how to apply and get approved.
Adam Capital and New Resource Bank Join Forces to Fill Critical Solar Funding Gap
Adam Capital and New Resource Bank Join Forces to Fill Critical Solar Funding Gap
San Francisco, California (PRWEB) July 13, 2011
Adam Capital Clean Energy Asset Finance LLC, is pleased to announce the approval of a $ 3 million line of credit from New Resource Bank. The funding will allow the solar energy finance firm to extend additional capital to small-scale solar developers throughout the United States, including home owners, small businesses, nonprofits, schools and low-income housing developments.
Adam Capital pioneered asset-based lending for rooftop-scale clean energy developers and has funded hundreds of completed projects with loans in the $ 500,000 to $ 5 million range. By providing loans to cover up-front construction and installation costs, Adam Capital enables developers to install solar energy systems that qualify for federal government ITC Grant funds as well as local utility rebates and incentives. Grants, rebates and incentives are directly assigned to Adam Capital to repay the short-term loans.
Adam Capital currently serves 400 to 600 solar projects per month. Backed by New Resource Bank, the firm will be able to fund more projects and developers—and bring the benefits of solar energy to more people—in this under-served market sector, where projects often stall for lack of financing.
Adam Boucher, founder and CEO of Adam Capital, says: “This line of credit from New Resource Bank demonstrates that Adam Capital has developed lending products, systems and controls that enable us to serve an overlooked market with a level of oversight unparalleled in the marketplace today. Combining our specific expertise in this space with the institutional resources of New Resource Bank allows us to expand our capacity. This relationship will allow us to fund hundreds more projects than we otherwise would have by the end of the year.”
“We’re excited to be growing our relationship with Adam Capital,” says Joe Anzalone, New Resource chief banking officer. “As a mission-focused bank with the goal of advancing sustainability and renewable energy, we view Adam Capital and its ability to provide financing to clean energy developers as invaluable. Few private lending institutions have the expertise necessary to provide funding for residential and small business–scale installations. Given our shared vision for distributed power generation and our shared philosophy to promote sustainable living, we see a great future in our relationship.”
About New Resource Bank
New Resource is the premiere bank for people who are leading the way to a more sustainable world. We match an entrepreneurial spirit with a dedication to achieving environmental and social as well as financial returns. Our mission is to advance sustainability with everything we do—the loans we make, the way we operate and our commitment to putting deposits to work for good. https://www.newresourcebank.com/
Media contact: Sandra Stewart, sandra(at)thinkshift(dot)com
About Adam Capital
Adam Capital Clean Energy Asset Finance LLC is a private investment fund operating solely within the clean energy sector. We extend collateralized loans under $ 5 million, an important niche within the clean energy finance spectrum that is largely unserved by banks, bond markets or venture capitalists. By leveraging ITC grant payments and other incentives as collateral, we enable our borrowers to install much-needed small-scale clean energy projects. We have had over 300 projects go full cycle across multiple states and utility districts, serving the needs of individuals, schools, nonprofits, and businesses. http://www.adamcapital.com/
Media contact: Andrew Mannle, Communications Director, andy(at)adamcapital(dot)com
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October is Solar Energy Month!
Get ready for a month of celebrating the joys of going solar during California Solar Energy Month this October 2009.
U.S. Government News
Getting Started with a Solar Powered Generator
Getting Started with a Solar Powered Generator
There are generally two reasons you would want to build your own solar powered generator: you want a reliable backup energy source, or you want to use it every day and live life off the grid. Whatever the reason, constructing your own solar powered generator is sure to give you respect for those that deal with solar energy on a daily basis and make you wonder why you never did it before.
This article is going to give a general overview of what it takes to build your own solar powered generator, starting with the materials you will need to invest in to get the generator constructed.
Your first article needed is a small solar panel. You can purchase a small diy kit, or construct one from scratch with solar cells, metal wiring and solder. You want to have at least a twelve volt rated panel, but sixteen volts is better. Following the solar panel, you want to get a deep cycle twelve volt battery. The battery can be gel, or of the lead/acid type, the deep cycle is required because you are going to be continually using it.
You then want to invest in a DC input. This looks like the cigarette lighter outlet in your car, and works the same. If you have any appliances that you can plug into your car lighter, then you will be able to use them with your solar powered generator. You are also going to need a twelve volt DC meter to use with this generator.
At this point you would be ready to power up any appliances that plug into a car outlet, in order to run AC appliances you want to invest in an inverter. Attach your meter and DC inlet to the top of a battery box with a drill. Connect the negative pole of the battery to the meter, after, connect the positive. Do not handle more than one wire at a time. Do the same with the DC inlet.
To connect your solar panel, run wires from the negative poles and then the positive poles the same way you did for your meter. Then place the battery in its box and put the lid on. The next step is to set your solar panel out in the sun! After your system has charged up you are ready to use it.
Should you wish to have a system capable of generating more energy, then you can add more batteries, panels and inverters to it. If you are going to be making a larger system, then you might want to add in a voltage meter. You can also connect a circuit breaker between the positive battery terminal and a volt meter.
A good understanding of electricity is recommended before you connect many solar powered generator systems together. You always want to consult with your local municipality for safety regulations surrounding renewable energy alternatives. If you found constructing your own solar generator simple
Article Tags:
Solar Powered Generator, Solar Powered, Powered Generator, Twelve Volt
All You Wanted To Know About The National Solar Schools Program
The National Solar Schools Program (NSSP) is an initiative by the Australian Government to help Australian schools take practical action to tackle climate change. Under the NSSP, the government is offering grants of up to $50,000 (GST exclusive) to schools for installing solar and other renewable power systems. The products that are eligible under the solar school program are solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks, solar power systems, small wind turbines, insulation, energy efficient lighting, and ceiling fans.
The prime objective of the National Solar Schools Program is to help schools improve their energy efficiency and reduce their energy consumption by generating their own electricity from renewable sources. While the NSSP enables the schools to enjoy reduced electricity and water bills, the community and nation as a whole will be able to reduce carbon emissions and conserve energy successfully for a green and healthy future.
By virtue of promoting the use of clean energy technologies and products, the solar schools program is also supporting the growth of the renewable energy industry in Australia.
The National Solar Schools Program has announced new assessment criteria, which ensures that schools that achieve the most greenhouse gas reductions and take into consideration a professional energy audit will be given priority.
In order to help the interested schools in Australia apply for and take advantage of the National Solar Schools Program grant, Carbonetix – a renowned company dedicated towards energy conservation and energy efficiency – has come up with the best solutions for schools to reduce their energy and water consumption to enjoy the National Solar Schools Grant.
Carbonetix has been working with schools since 2002 and has undertaken energy audits of over 200 Victorian schools and over 40 audits for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). It has a team of tertiary qualified engineers whose expertise is in saving energy in schools and is therefore able to guide and assist schools on sustainable products and practices.
Carbonetix offer complete solutions for Solar Schools Program requirements. As well as helping the schools meet their reporting criterion and filling out the funding submission paperwork, it offers Solar SETS, a real time energy monitoring device for recording energy use and solar generation. The company also provides solar lesson plans to help school staff and authorities teach energy conservation and energy efficiency to children in a simple and easy manner.
For complete details about how Carbonetix can help you and your school get the NSSP grant, visit .solarsets.com.au.
An Author is a contributor writer for the site and plays a major role for this site – Solar School Program ,Solar Energy Tracking System,Solar School Program
Federal Solar Tax Credits
Federal Solar Tax Credits
Federal Solar Tax Credits Extended through 2016 for Off-Grid and Grid
tie Systems! On Wednesday, October 1, 2008, the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act of 2008 was signed. This act is very good news for
solar customers since it contains to renewable energy legislation.
Thirty per cent of commercial solar investment tax credit was extended
to commercial and residential installations through the year 2017.
Federal Solar Tax Credits Extended through 2016 for Off-Grid and Grid tie Systems! On Wednesday, October 1, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 was signed. This act is very good news for solar customers since it contains to renewable energy legislation. Thirty per cent of commercial solar investment tax credit was extended to commercial and residential installations through the year 2017.
What this means is that the previous $2,000 cap for residential solar installations will be eliminated under this new legislation. Starting January 1, 2009, if you purchase a residential solar electric system, you will be eligible for a 305 tax credit which includes installation.
You can even purchase your system now and wait till after Jan.1 2009 to install it, thus taking advantage of the 30% credit. You can use a sizing calculator to figure out your system needs.
You can always find more information on the rebates and financial incentives available in your state from the following resources:
http://www.dsireusa.org is a helpful guide to energy tax credits.
DSIRE list of Rules, Regulations and Policies lists all the net metering and licensing laws for each state as well as local and the utility companies. They also list loans, grants, rebates, etc. that are offered by state, federal, non-profit, utility and local financial programs. This is listed for all states.
In order to get your federal tax credit, download the IRS form 5695, ‘Residential Energy Credits’ from http://www.irs.gov, then simply fill it out and file it with IRS.
The form that is available right now is (form 5695) which is for 2007, with the $2,000 cap in place, However, with this new legislation
Click Here For a FREE Ebook on How To Your Own Home Solar Panels
