South Carolina gets plenty of sun. But a combination of cheap conventional electricity and the lack of robust renewable-energy incentives has so far kept the state from realizing its full solar potential.

Until now, maybe.

Announced several weeks ago, South Carolina Electric & Gas is planning a single solar project that will — in one fell swoop — triple the amount of solar photovoltaic (PV) power installed statewide.

At around 2.6 megawatts, the array will comprise 18,095 solar panels and cover 10 acres of roof space at Boeing Co.’s new 787 Dreamliner assembly plant at Charleston International Airport.

As relayed by the Charleston Post and Courrier, it was recently announced that …click here to read more

In terms of energy-related headlines, General Electric has been absolutely stealing the show this week.

The Fairfield, Connecticut-based company this morning unveiled a new solar charging station (below), which will power electric vehicles parked at its facility in Plainville, CT. Earlier in the week, it announced the launch of FlexEfficiency 50, a gas-fired power plant designed largely to complement solar, wind and other renewable-energy technologies. And (also this week) the company made known its intention to buy FMC Tech, a smart grid start-up company based in Ireland.

Whew. As if that weren’t enough, …click here to read more

Lakeside Dairy in California’s central valley has installed a big solar power system that will cut its use of conventional electricity by 75 percent.

Developed, designed and installed by SPG Solar — one of the biggest commercial solar installers in California — the 891-kilowatt (kW) solar array comprises 3,240 Suntech solar panels and two big Solaron inverters.

According to GetSolar’s online solar power calculator, an 890-kW DC solar power system in the dairy’s region should produce around 1.2 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in its first year of operation. That’s enough juice to power about 100 typical U.S. homes annually.

Like many businesses, Lakeside Dairy installed the system in part to help smooth operating costs.

“The recent volatility of milk prices …click here to read more

Good news for Arizona residents who are customers of Salt River Project (SRP): the Arizona utility recently relaunched its popular solar rebate program after a months-long hiatus during which an interim rebate was available.

As of May 1, SRP customers who install a residential solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system will be eligible to receive a rebate worth $1.35 per watt (solar panels are sized in watts). The rebate will be capped at 5 kilowatts (kW), which means that a homeowner who installs a system that’s 5-kilowatts or bigger in size could receive $6,750 in incentives.

Here is SRP’s explanation of how it has restructured the program: …click here to read more

As part of on-going efforts to increase the use of renewable energy, Japan may soon unveil a plan to make rooftop solar arrays a required feature of all new buildings and houses by 2030, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday.

The plan may be announced in a statement on energy policy by Prime Minister Naoto Kan at the G8 summit, which will be held in northern France this week. As relayed by Reuters, Kan will likely make clear Japan’s intention to continue to use nuclear energy after steps are taken to improve safety standards. Workers are still struggling to control the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in northern Japan.

Like nuclear reactors, solar panels are a low- to no-emissions source …click here to read more

We commonly think of this globalized economy of ours in terms of American companies shifting production overseas. It turns out the reverse occurs, too, even if at a much smaller scale.

Suntech Power, a leading China-based manufacturer of solar panels, said it has hired 30 workers at its Arizona plant in a push to expand its U.S. operations. To reach a goal of producing about 15,000 solar panels each month, the company will also add a third production shift to run the plant 24 hours a day.

“With growing demand for our U.S.-manufactured panels, we’re excited to increase our production capacity and growth in Arizona’s solar industry,” Suntech’s Arizona Production Manager Mike Starr said in a statement.

Suntech opened its Goodyear, Arizona facility …click here to read more

In an effort to provide solar home energy options to its customers, Lowe’s is teaming up with Sungevity, an Oakland, California-based company that leases the systems to homeowners in handful of states.

The home improvement retailer has taken a minority stake in Sungevity that will help each company make up ground where it was previously lacking. Starting at stores in California, Lowe’s will at last have a solar power option to discuss with its customers. Its main competitor, Home Depot, has offered such an option since March 2010, when the Atlanta-based company launched a partnership with SolarCity.

Sungevity, meanwhile, …click here to read more

General Motors is continuing its slow but steady push to improve the energy efficiency of its operations and increase its use of renewable energy.

This week, the vehicle manufacturer announced that work began on a large photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant in southeastern Michigan, via Osha Gray Davidson.

At 516-kilowatts (kW) in size, the solar power array will produce enough electricity each year to fully charge 54,750 Chevy Volt electric cars, which (aptly) GM assembles at the plant. …click here to read more

Last month, we profiled a new lineup of energy-efficient homes from Meritage Homes. Not to be outdone, KB Home today announced plans to make solar panels a standard feature at its new community in southern California.

Having recently acquired land in West Hills Village in Valencia, the company will build energy-efficient homes on 43 lots. Each home will come with a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system that will reduce owners’ electricity costs, saving thousands of dollars in the coming years. The PV solar panels will of course also benefit the environment.

Here’s a requisite snippet from the press release: …click here to read more

Toys “R” Us is the latest company to transition to solar power — and it’s doing so in a big way.

The New Jersey-based retailer today announced it will install two photovoltaic (PV) energy systems in an effort to reduce annual electricity costs and green its operations.

At 5.38-megawatts (MW), the first system will be big. Real big. In fact, …click here to read more