Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. of Hemlock, Michigan, is spending up to $500 million (U.S.) to expand its polycrystalline silicon production capacity. It’s a sign that the silicon shortage that has held back already stellar growth in the solar PV market will be a non-issue over the next year or two as more production comes online.

The Ontario government has announced nine new renewable energy projects — eight of them involving wind power — that will provide 975 megawatts of clean energy to the grid. These latest projects are the result of the province’s second request for proposals. Ontario hopes to add 2,700 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid by 2010. With this announcement the province is about half way toward that goal, having so far contracted for 1,370 megawatts.

In case you’re interested, a new poll shows how strongly Canadians support the use of renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, as part of the country’s overall fuel mix. The poll was conducted by The Strategic Counsel for the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

Ballard Power is in the early stages of trying to find an R&D and manufacturing partner in China. “When you look at the potential in China, the growth in China, and the environmental issues in China, there are natural forces there saying that China could be a number one market for fuel cell technology,” Ballard chairman John Sheridan told Bloomberg News during a trip to Beijing.

Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. of Hemlock, Michigan, is spending up to $500 million (U.S.) to expand its polycrystalline silicon production capacity. It’s a sign that the silicon shortage that has held back already stellar growth in the solar PV market will be a non-issue over the next year or two as more production comes online.

The Ontario government has announced nine new renewable energy projects — eight of them involving wind power — that will provide 975 megawatts of clean energy to the grid. These latest projects are the result of the province’s second request for proposals. Ontario hopes to add 2,700 megawatts of renewable energy to the grid by 2010. With this announcement the province is about half way toward that goal, having so far contracted for 1,370 megawatts.

In case you’re interested, a new poll shows how strongly Canadians support the use of renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, as part of the country’s overall fuel mix. The poll was conducted by The Strategic Counsel for the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

Ballard Power is in the early stages of trying to find an R&D and manufacturing partner in China. “When you look at the potential in China, the growth in China, and the environmental issues in China, there are natural forces there saying that China could be a number one market for fuel cell technology,” Ballard chairman John Sheridan told Bloomberg News during a trip to Beijing.

It’s good to see that SunPower Corp. closed the week at $26 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, eight days after the company’s initial public offering at $18 a share. Company shares gained more than 50 per cent on their first day of trading, just cracking $28, and while the stock has since settled down a bit it’s clear that SunPower has credibility with investors. I think many people were watching to see if the shares would begin to sink significantly after the initial enthusiasm with the IPO began to wane. Certainly this builds confidence in other solar power companies out there who are considering IPOs, including ATS Automation and its solar group (Photowatt and Spheral Solar Power). That said, sources tell me that ATS is now in no rush to spin off its solar group, so we may have to wait until later next year for the company to make its move.

The Green Car Congress reports that Toyoto has now sold more than 500,000 of its hybrid-electric cars worldwide, with 83 per cent of those sales coming from its popular Prius. If you think that’s impressive — and it is — consider what will happen when the cars go on sale in China in mid-December. Also consider that a new auto consumption tax will go into force next year in China. People who buy vehicles with large engines will pay significantly more tax than those who buy smaller-engined and fuel-efficient vehicles. This, of course, bodes well for the Prius as it makes its debut in China.

Funny, why can’t the Canadian government be this progressive with its tax policy? We don’t even have the guts to impose emission mandates, settling instead for a voluntary system that has never worked in the past.

My second daughter — Rebecca Leigh Anne Hamilton — was born yesterday. She came into the world like a lightning bolt. So fast, in fact, that we almost had to deliver her in the car. After we left the hospital I couldn’t help but notice the stink of the city — everything from second-hand smoke to car exhaust to the smell of garbage to pollution in general. From the protection and purity of the womb to what can only be described as the disgusting atmosphere outside. It’s sad, really, and it’s hard not to feel guilty for exposing this little human to all the crap in the air.

This blog is for her, and her 3-year-old sister Claire. As cheesy as it may sound, I think it’s important to create awareness of and interest in clean technologies, green policies and sustainable development so that when Rebecca and Claire have their own children they can breath a little easier when leaving the hospital. Progress is being made, and that’s encouraging, but we can no longer take two steps backward to go one step forward.

On a related note, I won’t be posting quite as consistently over the next few days because of this new little arrival. Lack of sleep aside, next week things should return back to normal. The new normal, that is.