It was the summer of 2011, a summer of eco-friendliness, of solar power, of green coffee. Besspresso rolled into Silver Lake and is changing the way L.A. makes coffee. Housed in an appropriately colored green van, the mobile, solar-powered specialty coffee business serves up fair trade, organic coffee with organic milk and sugar in 100% compostable cups. more ›

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has announced their soon-to-debut retooled Solar Incentive Program (SIP) to help get more local customers set up for solar power, and reaping the benefits. Late last year, the L.A. City Council asked the LADWP (voted one of the nation's 19 most-hated companies) to come up with a revised plan. more ›

Attention eco-conscious shoppers: Two Los Angeles malls will soon be outfitted with rooftop solar panels. They're going up on the tops of two Westfield properties, in Topanga and Fashion Square (Sherman Oaks), reports CBS2. The panels are expected to churn our over 2.4 million kilowatts, say mall chain Westfield officials. The price tag for this solar spree is $6.6 million; it's also Westfield's biggest solar endeavor. more ›

Swedish home decor retailer IKEA will harness a little sun power in Costa Mesa, and has applied for permits to install solar panels at their store, according to the Daily Pilot. "The 1,120 panels the store plans to install are expected to generate 250 kilowatts — enough to light up 2,500 regular light bulbs." Seven IKEA stores, including other LA-area locations in Burbank and Carson, and one warehouse will be going solar. "This effort represents the equivalent to reducing 5,268 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in California - equaling the emissions of 914 cars or providing 580 homes electricity yearly," says IKEA. more ›

If you think the Golden State is one of the top states when it comes to being an ideal location for harnessing that sun power, you'd be incorrect, according to The W.P. Carey School Of Business At Arizona State University's Professor Matt Croucher in the HuffPo. California didn't make the top 10, or even the top 20. Try a tie for #30 with Utah. more ›

Two major solar power projects in Southern California were announced today, proving that the state's commitment to reducing greenhouse gases may be on target. Locally, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power pushed forward plans for what will become the city's largest solar array. Meanwhile, the federal government approved... more ›

The largest B2B Solar Power get together lights up the Convention Center this week and it's not just for engineering geeks, policy wonks, and solar contraptioneers. From 5:30-8:30 tonight, the entire event and exhibit hall opens to the general public for free and it should be worth taking advantage of whether you're curious about the latest solar-powered gadgets or just want the down-low on the latest renewable energy trends and policies. more ›

No, it's not a photo-enforced stop sign powered by the sun (but how appropriate would that be for those controversial signs only found in state-owned parks), but Santa Monica is experimenting with curbing close calls at a stop sign near city hall at Olympic Drive and Avenida Mazatlan. The city testing out a stop sign that has blinking solar powered LED lights on the edges, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. more ›

Clean-tech firms seek to reuse a variety of rare, potentially toxic materials. New businesses emerge as manufacturers prepare for modules' end of life. In recent years the electronics industry has gained notoriety for creating an endless stream of disposable products that make their way at life’s end to developing countries... more ›

A 17,750-acre piece of land in Palmdale purchased in the early 1970s by Los Angeles World Airports could find renewed purpose if it is developed as a solar power plant, reports the LA Times. more ›

After the recent debates over renewable energy put Los Angeles into a position close to bankruptcy, a study released today says Los Angeles could garner 500 megawatts, or 3% of its energy needs, for $23 million a year with solar panels within Los Angeles. The plan would take 10 years. According to the report (.pdf), which was published by the Los Angeles Business Council and the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's recent plan only proposed 150 megawatts of local solar power. more ›

Once again, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's vision of a clean energy city is coming under fire. It's not the goal--have L.A. powered by 20% renewable energy by the end of 2010--it's the how you get there part, says the Los Angeles Times in an editorial today. more ›

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa yesterday unveiled his plan to raise energy rates to make Los Angeles cleaner and greener by having the city powered by 20% renewables by the end of 2010. It goes without saying, it's a proposal rife with controversy. The Mayor touts that most Angelenos will only see a $2.50 increase a month, but there are those who remain doubtful about that claim. more ›

If a 4,000-acre solar power project in San Bernardino County makes it through all of its approvals, over $1 billion is waiting in the wings, courtesy of the federal government. BrightSource Energy is working towards just that in the Ivanpah Valley and if successful, it will be the first solar power plant in California's desert in 20 years. It would create an estimated 1,000 union construction jobs (86 permanent ones) bringing in $400 million in state and local tax revenues and eventually powering some 140,000 homes. more ›

The future of the planet vs. shiny looking panels on roofs? "Homeowners boards insist that they are protecting property values by enforcing rules that govern everything from paint color to how early trash bins can be set out for collection," reports the LA Times. "But residents say their right to invest in alternative energy trumps the sensibilities of neighbors who don't like how the panels look." Any good news? Yes. "Homeowners' main defense is the Solar Rights Act, adopted by California in 1978 to protect consumers' right to install solar energy technology. The law makes it difficult for homeowners groups to reject solar energy equipment unless it creates a safety hazard or a modification can be made without great cost." more ›

With a big smile on her face, North Hollywood resident Marta Duron has spent the last two evenings at North Hollywood Park. It's a first for her to be there after dark, but with newly installed solar lighting poles along the jogging path, she plans on taking advantage more often. "It makes it safer and more people are out at nighttime, even late at night" she said. "It's a major difference." more ›

But don't get too excited, the money from the feds going to the transit line is not for extending it northbound towards Burbank airport or anything close to that. Today's announcement from is about reducing energy consumption. The White Explains in a press release: more ›

Mayor Antonio Villaraigasa may want Los Angeles to be the greenest city in the country and San Francisco may be popularly referred to as one of the greenest, but when it comes to solar power, San Diego is king when it comes to California big cities, according to a report released by Environment California. The city leads with 2,267 solar roofs. By contrast, San Francisco has 1,493 with Los Angeles trailing behind at 1,432. "But when it comes to per capita installations, little Nevada City, Calif., topped the list, with nearly 1 in 5 households hosting a solar system," noted the LA Times. "City of Industry, outside Los Angeles, had the most capacity per capita, with 1.5 kilowatts installed per person. The bad news: Solar power still accounts for less than 1% of energy nationwide." more ›

Over the past few years, WorldFest has consistently been a useful, fun and conscious festival chock full of vegetarian restaurants, eco-minded speakers and do gooding exhibiters. And making it even more impact-less to the planet, the solar powered fest is located right off the Metro Orange Line at Woodley Park in Encino. more ›

Metro has done it again and this time broken a record for Los Angeles. Yesterday they unveiled the largest solar panel installation within the City of Los Angeles on top of their Support Services Center--basically a bus maintenance facility--in downtown. more ›

Today is Earth Day, but many of us are pledging to continue, or take on endeavors and habits that will make every day more green. If you're curious about solar power, and if it's the right step for you to take for your home or business, the LA County SolarMap and website can help you make your decision. more ›

Obama's California campaign manager Mitchell Schwartz was all about Measure B, the solar power initiative that barely failed on the March 3rd ballot. His tune is changing, at least in regards to the city's leadership on the measure. “When something that should be very popular doesn’t pass, it is a wakeup call to the mayor and the City Hall establishment," he said to the LA Weekly. "There was something that went on that the mayor and others need to look at and understand. There is some discontent out there which is directed at the powerful.” At issue was transparency for many voters and it shows without it, big budgets only buy so much. "Yes on B spent nearly $1.6 million only to fail against the tiny $74,451 mustered by No on Measure B," the Weekly found. more ›

Senator Dianne Feinstein has long been a champion of environmental causes, but now she may find herself pitted against one major faction of the movement as she launches a fight to designate a large portion of Southern California's desert as a national monument. more ›

The final vote count is over and the controversial measure B lost by 2,644 votes. By the morning after the March 3rd election, it was too close to tell with 45,000 more ballots to count. Two weeks later, the count was still close with 50.5% opposing, 49.5% in favor more ›

A difference of 1,322 votes has the solar power initiative losing in preliminary results after last week's election--46,000 ballots are still being counted. Measure B would give the DWP the guaranteed job of producing 400 megawatts of solar power for the city by 2014. Even if the measure loses, the agency will still work on solar power, but this time with a more public and transparent process. "The election results show it's clear the voters want an open process," Councilmember Richard Alarcon was quoted saying in the Daily News. "It also sent a message to the City Council and the mayor that we have some work to do. If we are going to drive this industry and make it profitable, we have to have everybody on board with what we're doing to develop long-term support of the public." more ›

Last night was the first night of Hanukkah and was observed accordingly by Jews all over Los Angeles by the lighting of the first of eight candles on the menorah. But the "Festival of Lights" this year might be casting a greenish glow on its observers as the move to make the ancient holiday more "eco-friendly" takes motion. more ›

15 California State University campuses, including five from the LA region, will receive solar power generated energy in a private-public partnership with SunEdison who will install panels on rooftops, parking canopies and other ground-mounted displays at campuses. This initiative will increase the university system's use of alternative energy from 20% to 25% (small steps, small steps), the LA Times says. Locally, the Los Angeles, Fullerton, Pomona, Channel Islands and San Bernardino campuses wil be included in the program. more ›

Bob Hertzberg ran for Mayor of Los Angeles in 2005. The former California Assembly Speaker and adviser to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lost and moved on away from politics to working on solar power in Wales where the Guardian newspaper named him one of the "50 people who could save the planet." more ›