In This Issue:

U.S. wind power sector grows 15% in 2010: AWEA; RENEWABLE ENERGY FOCUS - BrightSource raises $201M amid IPO rumors; DOE issues $50M in SunShot grants to two California solar companies; San Diego County solar project connects to grid; Study: East Coast solar market gaining on California; Solar power cost to drop 50% in a decade, analysts say; Senate shoots down GOP anti-EPA legislation; Audit finds Los Angeles utility had no coherent plan to meet renewable energy goals; Analysis: California faces difficulty wooing renewable energy firms; NOTABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS AND DEALS California firm joins Hawaii wind project; SolFocus, Bechtel partner on Central Valley's first CPV facility; Sacramento city partners with SolarCity on three solar projects; Verengo to expand PV installation business to Fresno; and SCE to buy power from City of Industry PV project.

U.S. wind power sector grows 15% in 2010: AWEA

AWEA - Apr 7

The U.S. wind energy sector grew by 15% in 2010 and accounted for more than a quarter of all new U.S. electric generating capacity, according to AWEA's 2010 Annual Market Report. There are currently 40,181 megawatts of wind power installed in the U.S., with the potential to power more than 10 million American homes. Observers say competitive, lower costs as compared to other sources of power and the extension of the Treasury Department’s Section 1603 tax credit program have spurred the wind industry’s growth.