Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, questions Mr. Michael Ahearn, Chairman of the Board for First Solar, Inc. during the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight & Government Spending hearing entitled, “The Obama Administration’s Green Energy Gamble: What Have All The Taxpayer Subsidies Achieved?” May 16, 2012

Virginia reports on REC’s 5 millionth solar panel, Victoria’s Yarra Climate Action Now pursuing a community-owned solar farm and solar soon to be an even better deal for small businesses in Australia. For further details of these stories and more, visit www.energymatters.com.au

The Italian government has recently funded a project in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip which includes the establishment of a solar-powered kindergarten. The solar panels installed on the roof of Umm al-Nasser kindergarten, trap energy from the sun which generates electricity enough to power the school’s lighting and electric-run machines the entire day. Naheda Khail, project coordinator at Vento di Terra in Gaza explained that solar energy is both cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. Umm al-Nasser kindergarten consists of eight classrooms and serves 150 children from the local Bedouin community. Ibrahim Sharayha, an engineer, said there are two energy converters on site to ensure continual electricity supply. “The school uses alternative power. It gives around 10 kilowatts of electricity. We have two convertors, each one produces 5 kilowatts. Near the school, there is mosque which also uses the same kind of alternative energy that gives it approximately 24 hours of electricity,” she said. Kindergarten headmistress Fatma Abu Rashed said that the school doesn’t need to rely on intermittent electricity due to the consistent supply from solar energy. This isn’t the first solar energy project in Gaza aided by the Italian government. 5 out of 15 intensive care units in Gaza’s Shifa hospital are powered by the sun. Years of Israeli-imposed blockades on Gaza along with internal Palestinian political strife meant fuel had to be smuggled from Egypt via underground border …

The HCT-Wharton Innovation Tournament, held this past Monday and Tuesday in Dubai, challenged entrepreneurs to produce innovative solutions to enhance sustainability by reducing the effects of greenhouse gases, or controlling consumption of non-renewable energy resources. The winning team, KarmSolar, won AED 40000 (~800) for their innovative solar energy-based water pumping solution. By helping farmers pump and conserve water through a solar-powered management system, it aims to transform economies by reducing dependence on diesel as well as food imports. Watch their reactions to the win and what’s next.

Virginia reports on Australia’s renewable energy target under threat, the mining industry still on the subsidy gravy train and the US EPA’s latest top 50 Green Power Partnership rankings. For further details of these stories and more, visit www.energymatters.com.au

Missouri Wind and Solar website www.mwands.com Our Ebay store http This video shows the MWANDS solar hot air home heater that can be built by you with some basic knowledege of carpentry tools. Two of these can heat a typical ranch size house. We sell the dvd on how to build these on our website, here’s the link www.mwands.com We now sell the complete solar hot air heater assembled at our store for 98.00 plus shipping. These units can easily pay for themselves in the first year, then it’s FREE heat from there on out. See the hot air heater installed at our store Missouri Wind And Solar 332 Cobblestone Drive Seymour, Mo. 65746 email wyatt@mwands.com

www.intelligencesquared.com In the fourth installment of our iq2 Shorts series, Professor Michael Düren of DESERTEC argues that we can harness the African desert sun to power the world. The animation is adapted from our Switched On evening ‘Energy Game Changers’ from March 2012. Click on the following link to watch the four other carbon cutting energy solutions presented that evening bit.ly

Clayton Christensen, professor at the Harvard Business School, compares factors such as demand, disruption and non-consumption that determine the viability of solar energy in different regions around the world. View more of the series at phoenix.edu

Even as Indian power plants run short of coal, scientists at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy are experimenting with new ways of using the sun to generate energy. These are purely experimental right now – there are no plans to roll them out commercially at affordable rates yet. ibnlive.com

tinyurl.com Green Eco Club is your one place to get all the Ongoing Support and Ideas for Going Green and creating Renewable Energy on a budget. Enjoy an ongoing source of Green Living Ideas and DIY Strategies that help Save the Environment while also Saving you Money. tinyurl.com