Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic

I was just reading an article about somebody combining the two types of solar. Seems like deja vu, the same idea was tried a while ago. A challenge with solar voltaic is heat, and solar thermal (heating water) needs heat, so why not combine the two?

Here's the article. Waste Not, Want Not: A New Approach to Solar from the NY Times.

And now of course I can't find the older work I was thinking of. I did find one on using solar for water purification.

Solar Tax Credit - Not this year

Not very good news today:

Ominous omens for solar tax credit
Bizjournals.com, NC - 8 hours ago
The solar investment tax credit will not be extended on Monday, killing the last best hope for the extension to be renewed before the November presidential ...
Lawmakers at Impasse on Incentives for Renewable Energy New York Times
Solar Roundup: Tax Credits Remain in Limbo, Solar Raises Millions Greentech Media
Congress Bickers, Solar Stocks CrumbleEarth2Tech

Solar Water Heaters - Doing it right

Solar water heaters growing in power-hungry Burkina Faso

Key Points:

• Reduces deforestation.
• Local people taught by NGO how to build solar water heaters.
• Win win for all involved.
  

Still no word on solar tax credit extension

Still no word on solar tax credit extension and House Passes Tax Bill That Could Jeopardize Solar Tax Breaks - I would give it 20% chance of passing this year, before Congress adjourns.

I hope it passes in a form that won't be vetoed.

Nigeria - Rebels overplayed hand?

NIGERIA: Clean, Lean, Mean And On The Offensive

Key Points:

• New army commander because the previous one may have been corrupt.
• Rebels are demanding a cease fire.
• Investigators have been sent to check reports of payoffs to the military in the delta.

Hopefully this will payoff. Lots of corruption in Nigeria with the rebels able to make money by siphoning off the oil, which buys them speedboats and weapons. It looks like as long as they did not cause to much damage they were ignored, as the local government was more focused on lining their pockets. But they did too much damage, so now the military in the area seems to be cleaning itself up and being more effective.

Nigeria has such potential, but the corruption has hurt the country so much.

Solar Thieves

Thieves Are Stealing Solar Panels and Selling them from the NY Times. Pretty sad, but with the high cost if people are stealing copper, why not solar panels?

Solar Tax Credits?

Sunny Day For Solar from Forbes. Looks like the Senate passed them, now the House and Senate need to agree and get the Pres. to sign before Congress goes on break. 50% chance of passage per Forbes.