What’s Ahead for SVTC in 2015?
By: Sheila Davis, Executive Director, SVTC 2014 was a very productive year for SVTC. We laid a solid foundation for two major initiatives that will keep us very busy in 2015 and beyond. I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on our latest projects—and also to encourage you to join us by making …
5th Annual Solar Scorecard Paves the Way for Environmental Sustainability
By: Sheila Davis, Executive Director, SVTC The results are in! 2014 marks the fifth consecutive year since the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) began releasing its Annual Solar Scorecard. In case you aren’t familiar with it, the SVTC Solar Scorecard ranks manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules according to a range of environmental, sustainability …
Why SVTC Created a Lifecycle Website
At SVTC, we’ve learned that just because we can’t always see pollution does not mean that it doesn’t exist. This is certainly the case for solar energy. Solar panels, after all, don’t belch smoke or emit horrible odors from dirty smoke stacks. So it’s difficult to imagine that the panels that sit passively on your …
Solar Manufacturing in the US is Taking a Beating
Several solar firms, calling themselves the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), have filed a suit with the International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Chinese solar panel makers are dumping cheap solar panels on the US market. The complaint filed by seven manufacturers has divided the US solar industry and resulted in another group, calling …
Cleantech’s “Double” Bottomline: Sustainability Still Treated Separate But Not Equal
I recently served as a judge for the 2011 Cleantech Open Business Competition’s National Sustainability Award at the CaliforniaCleantech Open (CTO). The competition provides training and mentoring to bring start- up cleantech companies to market. CTO, considered by some to be the Academy Awards of the cleantech industry, continues to help grow and define the cleantech sector. As …
Sometimes It Isn’t Fun to be Right
Just as we feared, communities are being polluted due to toxic releases from irresponsible solar companies. This week international news headlines reported that 500 people protested at the Zhejiang Jinko Solar factory near Shanghai, China. The protesters complained that the factory spews dense smoke from a dozen chimneys and that fish are dying from Jinko …
Deregulate hazardous solar waste?
The California Department of Toxic Substance Control had earlier determined that cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar modules are hazardous, and that these modules will need to be disposed of in special hazardous waste landfills. But just last week, they proposed regulation that will exempt hazardous solar panels from hazardous waste handling laws, if these solar modules …
Who should pay to clean up?
Yesterday President Obama visited the Solyndra solar plant in Fremont where 3,0000 people are working to build a solar facility. Obama used the catastrophic oil spill in the gulf as an opportunity to highlight the need for green jobs and to develop alternative energy. While the administration is currently advocating for alternative energy and being portrayed as a …
#1 Recycling laws save lives and protects human health and the environment
Mandatory takeback and responsible recycling laws can be written to ensure that the environment and those who dismantle and recycle solar PV panels are protected during dismantling. Unfortunately, our history has proven that we don’t know how to handle electronic waste (e-waste), such as televisions and computers. We are much less prepared for the new …
#2 – Mandatory takeback and recycling will create jobs in the U.S.
When you consider the millions of dollars given to solar companies from both federal and state governments in the form of loans, grants, and tax credits, it only makes sense that these companies figure out ways to give back to our communities. It’s not enough for companies to just protect the environment, they should employ …