Back in 2007, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) looked like it was setting a wonderful green precedent when it adopted a feed-in tariff for renewable energy. This allowed people who had adopted their own forms of renewable energy systems, like solar panels and wind turbines, to sell their excess power to the OPA at a set rate over a certain time period. Unfortunately, the OPA was accused by solar advocacy groups of setting the price too low and consequently failing to encourage the growth of any grass roots level renewable energy projects.

It looks like that issue might now be corrected as the legislature is now mulling over the idea of increasing feed-in tariff in concert with the proposed Green Energy Act. Both homeowners and renewable energy companies stand to start making better money for their clean energy this summer if the program gets approved. Renewable energy systems with the potential to qualify include: solar power, wind power, hydro, biogas, biomass and landfill gas turned to electricity.

The proposed new tariffs do a much better job of encouraging all of these, especially small-scale solar installations, which get the highest tariff. This is part of a larger effort to encourage 100,000 solar panel systems to be installed on residential rooftops. If this became a reality those solar panels would account for one percent of Ontario’s power supply. With the proposed feed-in tariff for small-scale solar projects proposed to be as high as 80.2 cents per kilowatt-hour; nearly double what a large solar plant would be paid, giving great incentive to start these kinds of small solar projects.

A Clean Edge report released today says that the wind and solar energy industries will be responsible for generating 2.65 million jobs globally in less than a decade. This expected number is about four and half times more than the current number of wind power and solar energy jobs which is approximately 600,000.

This positive predication is tempered by a less sunny short-term outlook, which predicts that renewable energy investments will plateau or even dip this year.

Chaos in the American economy is expected to seriously hamper what would’ve likely been massive, record-setting growth in the wind and solar power industries this year, but hopefully the rosey long-term outlook will keep the renewable energy jobs ball rolling at least somewhat.

The controversial Measure B was put to a vote yesterday and defeated by hair with 50.3 percent of L.A. voters saying “No.”

Measure B would have mandated L.A.’s utility to include more solar power in its supply. While this sounds fine in and of itself, detractors claimed it would unfairly exclude private installers from getting in on L.A.’s solar power program.

While the vote count shows a defeat for Measure B, the results aren’t official yet as the L.A. City Clerk’s Office requires 21 days to certify the results.

Specifically, Measure B would have mandated the installation of 400 megawatts of solar energy by 2014. The main sticking point for this for voters was that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) would be completely in charge of all installation, operation and maintenance of the solar panels.

Supporters of Measure B included Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, The California League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club and the utility worker’s union.

President Barack Obama addressed Congress and the nation tonight, warning that although it will take a long time for the flailing economy to mend, with courage and hard work, better economic times are on the horizon. Obama spoke to a joint session of Congress which was nationally televised. He gave a message of hope, but the President was clear he did not want to raise false expectations.

“If you haven’t been personally affected by this recession, you probably know someone who has,” Obama began.

“While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before,” Obama said to a rousing standing ovation.

“The answers to our problems don’t lie beyond our reach. They exist in our laboratories and universities; in our fields and our factories; in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth. Those qualities that have made America the greatest force of progress and prosperity in human history we still possess in ample measure. What is required now is for this country to pull together, confront boldly the challenges we face, and take responsibility for our future once more.”

Obama spoke about how we lived in an era where short-term gains became a priority. He warned that now is the time to act boldly and to invest in energy, education and health care. He hopes to create 3.5 million jobs in the private sector which includes constructing wind turbines and solar panels.

In the next few days, Obama said he will submit a budget to congress, which he sees as a vision for America. The budget will focus on three areas: renewable energy, health care and education. He added that to truly transform our planet, we need to make the energy that is profitable. To support that, Obama stressed that he would invest $15 billion a year on renewable energy technologies including biofuels, solar energy and wind energy. He also promised to double the nation’s supply of renewable energy within two years.

“That is why I will be asking Congress for a market based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of clean, renewable energy in Amercia,” Obama said.

Obama told Americans that if they have questions about the stimulus plan, they can go to Recovery.gov where they’ll be able to see how every penny is being spent. If you weren’t watching, Obama’s speech was met with multiple standing ovations.

Asia will produce over 80% of all crystalline silicon solar cells by 2012, according to Greentech Media Research. As of last year, Asia manufactured just over 70% of all solar cells on the planet.

With continued and increased assistance from government programs and lower labor costs, Asia will expand their production and hopes to become the global leader in this increasingly important and relevant technology. Most international solar cell makers are looking for ways to keep costs low so they can get solar power work out to be of the same input and output value as traditional sources of energy. Inexpensive labor is one of the simplest ways to keep costs relatively low.

China, Taiwan and Japan are on their way to being the world leaders in solar cell production, producing 44% of all solar cells by 2012, which is the equivalent of 12 MW of power.

Solzar has introduced the MSolar, a small system perfect for those emergency situations. With solar battery systems becoming lighter and smaller in power requirement this gives MSolar the edge in providing light weight, cost efficient solar portable power systems for various applications.

The MSolar device comes in a James Bond-like metal briefcase that is wired with solar panels and includes electronic accessories and batteries. The device comes in three sizes, 20W, 50W and 100W, and all three have a battery voltage of 12V and take 10 hours to charge. Other than emergency power uses, the MSolar can be used for recreation and for temporary lighting.

In an area of the world that gets tons of sunlight, and is swimming in oil money, it’s not surprising that the Middle East’s largest solar panel manufacturing facility will be built in Dubai. Announced at the Green Dubai World Forum 2008, the 1-million square foot Solar Technolgies FZE facility is expected to begin construction at the end of 2008, with production beginning in 2010. It has not yet been announced how many panels the plant will be able to turn out in a year, but the Khaleej Times says that the first phase will see the production of solar panels as big as 5.7sqm.