Tom Cheyney

Advent Solar has added financial veteran Dick Trueblood andmanufacturing expert Bernard Wilimitis to its executive managementteam. Trueblood joins the company as its CFO, responsible for financial management, taxation, and global businessstructuring in support of international growth. Wilimitis was promotedto VP of manufacturing and operations, where he oversees allmanufacturing and operations.

Six early-stage and established photovoltaic companies based inCalifornia and New England have been awarded up to $17.6 million todevelop advanced solar PV manufacturing technologies as part of theSolar America Initiative, the U.S. Department of Energy announced. DOEsays that, including the costshare from industry--which will be at least 20%-- the totalresearch investment is expected to reach up to $35.4 million.

Sanyo North America has received approval from the Salem, OR, city council to build a new solar silicon ingot and wafer factory in the community's Renewable Energy and Technology Park. The company says it plans to begin operations at the plant in October 2009 and be at full operation by April 2010, with a production capacity of approximately 70 MW and an employee headcount of 200.

Ascent Solarand Texsa have signed a definitive cooperation agreement focusing onthe development of new flexible copper-indium-gallium(di)selenide thin-film photovoltaic roofing products for the Europeanmarketplace.

In the wake of Hurricane Ike, MEMC Electronic Materials has experienced some production slowdowns largely caused by delays in raw materials deliveries from suppliers to the company's Pasadena, TX, polysilicon plant. As a result, the company has updated its financial outlook and lowered its third-quarter revenue targets from a previous guidance range of $560 million-$620 million to $520 million-$540 million.

Confluence Solar has raised $12.7 million in a Series A financing roundled by Convexa Capital. The high-quality photovoltaic siliconmanufacturer will use the money to help finance the opening of its newfacility in Hazelwood, MO, where the company will develop its HiCzsingle-crystal product, which it says produces greater wattoutput than that found in traditional multicrystalline siliconplatforms.

After repeated failures to pass similar legislation, the U.S. Senatevoted Tuesday to extend the investment tax credits for solar and otherrenewable energy sources as well as renew the R&D tax credit foranother year, the Associated Press reports.The $17 billion renewable credits package (known as the "EnergyImprovement and Extension Act of 2008," an amendment to HR 6049) ispart of a major tax relief bill approved in a 93-2 vote. TheHouse of Representative still has to vote on the renewable energycredits' portion of the bill. Reuters reports that the White House saidTuesday morning that it will now sign the legislation. The energy legislation extends for eight years, through 2016,investment tax credits for the solar power industry and for homeownerswho install solar and wind equipment.

Gestamp Asetym has inaugurated a 26-MW solar plant in southeastSpain--one of the largest in Europe--featuring photovoltaic modulesmanufactured and supplied by Trina Solar.

Schott Solar said ithas signed a multiyear contract withAEE Solar to supply the company with more than 5 MW of multicrystallinephotovoltaic modules. The deal marks the third U.S. supply contractannounced by Schott in less than a month, following agreements withPermaCity Solar and DC Power.

Johnson Controls has chosen Solar Integrated Technologies to supply andinstall building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing systems onprojects inWisconsin, California, and Washington. The companies said the threecontracts total $3million and should be completed by the end of 2008.