North Bay Business Journal

Auto body chain installs $2 million in solar on three shops

Santa Rosa-based G&C AutoBody is spending $2.09 million installing photovoltaic power arrays on three of its seven locations to write off the whole project cost in one year under a special 2011 tax incentive for capital investments.

BoDean Co. Mark West Rock Quarry achieves a first in solar

SANTA ROSA — With the largest solar powered rock quarry in the western United States, and the first all solar facility of its kind in the industry, the BoDean Company has taken the use of photovoltaic cells and sustainability to the next level at its Mark West quarry.

Large RP solar array activated

ROHNERT PARK — Sonoma Mountain Village’s additional 1.158-megawatt solar system was dedicated Friday.

Manufacturing Awards 2011: Leadership: Enphase Energy takes lead in solar technology

PETALUMA — Enphase Energy is the winner in the Leadership category, clearly ahead of the pack of new, green technology companies in the North Bay.

Builder seeks the perfect energy-efficient home

SANTA ROSA — Homebuilder Meritage Homes worked for two years on research and development to create an energy-efficient home that could have a zero carbon footprint but not cost more or reduce comfort.

Multi-Contact expands to make more products in the U.S.

WINDSOR — Multi-Contact USA is rapidly expanding its manufacturing capabilities here to produce a greater percentage of standard and custom products in North America. Today some 75 percent of MC-USA’s output is standard products, while 25 percent is devoted to custom solutions.

Zep Solar expands Europe market with Centrosolar license deal

SAN RAFAEL — Photovoltaic panel installation system developer Zep Solar Inc. signed a license agreement with Centrosolar AG of Hamburg, Germany, that is expected to expand the market for Zep products, which are set to come to market this year.

A 100% solar-powered quarry

SANTA ROSA — The BoDean Company aggregate and asphalt supplier is going 100 percent solar-powered, the first to do so in the world, according to the industry magazine Rock Products.

U.C. students tackling energy issues

SANTA ROSA — A team of graduate students is spending the next couple of months analyzing the Summit State Bank headquarters building in northeast Santa Rosa as part of a feasibility study on a new type of renewable-energy system financing designed to lower energy costs for multitenant commercial property tenants and owners while reducing underwriting risk.

Enphase expands to Europe

PETALUMA — Solar microinverter systems maker Enphase Energy today announced the opening of offices in France and Italy and appointment of two country managers there.

Tegal sells off chip-fab products to focus solely on green energy

PETALUMA — Tegal Corp. today announced the sale of its semiconductor-fabrication product lines and certain related assets to SPP Process Technology Systems Ltd. for $2.1 million, so Tegal can focus on solar energy development worldwide.

Genesis Renewable Energy locates office in Sebastopol

SEBASTOPOL – Two years after establishing a corporate headquarters in Laguna Beach in 2008, Genesis Renewable Energy selected Sebastopol as home for its Northern California operations division. The firm opened an office at 101 Morris St. in August staffed with 12 employees.

Top Projects: Solar: Constellation Wines U.S. solar project

CALIFORNIA — Constellation Wines U.S., one of the world’s largest wine companies and operator of several North Coast wineries, undertook one of the largest such projects for the wine industry this year.

Mesa Beverage installs 415-kilowatt rooftop solar array

SANTA ROSA — Mesa Beverage Co. Inc. is having a 415-kilowatt solar electricity system installed on the roof of its recently built 160,000-square-foot distribution facility near Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.

Enphase Energy in 4.5 megawatt deal

PETALUMA — Enphase Energy Inc. announced today that its microinverter technology will power 4.5 megawatts of solar projects developed and operated by Main Street Power, a national solar developer, and financed by Morgan Stanley.

Solar component maker leases former Windsor Vineyards building

WINDSOR — Multi-Contact USA, a Sonoma County maker of electrical and electronic connectors, has leased the former Windsor Vineyards building on the Town Green and intends to showcase its products there.

Constellation launches 4-megawatt solar project

GEYSERVILLE — Constellation Wines U.S., one of the world’s largest wine companies and operator of several North Coast wineries, on Monday unveiled a solar-electricity project at four California wineries — including Clos du Bois and Ravenswood — expected to be one of the largest such projects for the wine industry when completed by the end of this year.

Enphase, Raydiance, Métier bring new energy

SANTA ROSA and PETALUMA — Three of Sonoma County’s newest tech companies have widely diverse products: ultra-short pulse lasers, microinverters for the solar industry and project portfolio management software. But Raydiance, Enphase Energy and Métier are alike in three ways: they each arrived within the last four years, they each consciously chose the North Bay to locate their headquarters or a major center and all three are growing as fast as they can find qualified staff.

Medtronic to install solar

SANTA ROSA — Medtronic CardioVascular will install a $1.2 million solar array at its Fountaingrove campus, the company announced today.

The 324-kilowatt system, scheduled to be completed by next summer, is expected to reduce the electrical demand of Medtronic’s largest Santa Rosa facility by 40 percent at peak hours and realize net savings of approximately $1.8 million over 20 years.

NCES to provide free solar

NORTH BAY — North Coast Energy Services will offer free solar electric systems funded by the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to qualifying homeowners in Solano, Napa, Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake and Yolo counties. NCES will use Real Goods Solar and Gaia Energy Systems to install the systems and provide weatherization.