Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwan Government Initiatives to Stimulate Green Energy Industry. The Taiwan government has started several initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of the domestic green energy industry, which is helping to cut carbon emissions and make better use of renewable energy.

Canberra, Australia: Government Stops Solar Rebate Program Early, Switches to Solar Credits Scheme. The Australian Government will today release the final legislation for the expanded Renewable Energy Target (RET) which will allow for the creation of new ‘Solar Credits' to replace the existing Solar Homes and Communities Plan (SHCP) from today onwards.

Canberra, Australia: Rudd Government Launches Solar Flagships Program. The Rudd Government announced today that it is to invest $4.5 billion in becoming a world leader in solar power and other clean energy initiatives

Canberra, Australia: Government Introduces "Solar Credits" Draft Legislation. Treasurer Wayne Swan, Minister for Climate Change Senator Penny Wong and Environment Peter Garrett have released details on the Government's 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target and new 'Solar Credits' as part of Australia's move to a low pollution future.

Washington, DC, USA: DOE to Provide up to $52.5 Million for Concentrating Solar Power Research. The U.S. Department of Energy will provide up to $52.5 million to research, develop, and demonstrate Concentrating Solar Power systems capable of providing low-cost electrical power both day and night.

Athens, Greece: Greece Introduces New Incentives for Small Rooftop PV. A new incentive program for small rooftop PV was introduced in Greece late last week.

Athens, Greece: Greek Parliament Gives Green Light to a New PV Law. A new PV law was introduced in Greece on January 15th 2009, amending the legislation originally voted in mid-2006.

Berlin, Germany: Parties Reach Agreement in Principle on New EEG Tariffs. The German government coalition between CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union / Christian Social Union) and SPD (Social Democratic Party) reached agreement in principle on the new funding terms for photovoltaics.

Berlin, Germany: CDU/CSU Calls for 25% Reduction in German Solar Funding. The Conservative CDU/CSU alliance in the German Bundestag (Lower House of Parliament) has announced that they want to see a decrease in solar funding by 2010 of over 25 percent.

Washington, DC, USA: DOE to Provide $87 Million in Funding to Support Solar Energy Technologies. At the opening of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon on the National Mall yesterday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced up to $87 million will be made available to support the development of new solar energy technologies.

Toronto, ON, Canada: Ontario Sets Out Feed In Tariff Rates; Minimum Domestic Content Criteria. The Government of Ontario has officially launched Canada’s first feed-in tariff, a new renewable energy program established under the landmark Green Energy Act.

Sacramento, CA, USA: California Raises Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to 33% by 2020. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday signed an Executive Order (EO) directing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to adopt regulations increasing California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 33 percent by 2020.

Sacramento, CA, USA: California Solar Net Metering Bill Stalls. The 2009 California legislative session ended on Friday without passing AB 560 (Skinner), a bill that would have allowed solar energy customers to continue benefiting 'net energy metering'.

Trenton, NJ, USA: ACE and JCP&L to Seek 61 MW of Solar Generating Capacity. As part of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ effort to support building new solar energy projects in New Jersey, Atlantic City Electric (ACE) and Jersey Central Power&Light (JCP&L) are conducting a Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs).

Washington, D.C., USA: DOE Provides Billions in Lending Authority for Renewable Energy Projects and to Modernize the Grid. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced yesterday that the Department of Energy will provide up to $30 billion in loan guarantees, depending on the applications and market conditions, for renewable energy projects.

Washington, D.C., USA: DOE Awards Up To $11 Million for New Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems. US Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today the investment of up to $11.8 million – $5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – for five projects designed to advance the next stage of development of solar energy grid integration systems (SEGIS).

Newark, NJ, USA: PSE&G Wins Approval for $515M Solar Program. PSE&G today received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to invest $515 million in 80 megawatts of solar projects, doubling the state's solar capacity and creating green jobs.

Sacramento, CA, USA: SMUD Establishes Feed-in Tariff for Customer-Sited Distributed Generation. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District has established a feed-in tariff (FIT) effective next January that streamlines buying electricity fed into its distribution system from eligible generation units at customer sites.

Washington, DC, USA: DOE to Provide up to $52.5 Million for Concentrating Solar Power Research. The U.S. Department of Energy will provide up to $52.5 million to research, develop, and demonstrate Concentrating Solar Power systems capable of providing low-cost electrical power both day and night.

Washington, DC, USA: Treasury, Energy Announce More than $3 Billion for Renewable Energy Projects. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy today announced an estimated $3 billion for the development of renewable energy projects.

Las Vegas, NV, USA: Department of Interior to ‘Fast-Track’ Initiatives for Solar Energy Development on Western Lands. Under initiatives announced today by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), federal agencies will work with western leaders to designate tracts of U.S. public lands in the West as prime zones for utility-scale solar energy development.

St Petersburg, FL, USA: Progress Energy Plans a Range of Solar Initiatives. Progress Energy has filed a 10-year plan with the Florida Public Service Commission this week to increase the company's existing energy-efficiency goal of 412 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) by nearly 50 percent throughout the course of the plan.