Google invests $280 million in SolarCity

Google on Tuesday said it is putting $280 million into a fund for Silicon Valley startup SolarCity t

Tom Lydon submits: The recent market pullback has been cruel to clean energy and solar exchange traded funds. Solar ETFs have seen losses totaling around 20% over the past three months. Now technology giant Google (NasdaqGS: GOOG) is taking part in an alternative energy investment plan designed to benefit the environment, while helping out homeowners who are interested in solar energy panels.

The company's $1-billion SolarStrong project would add rooftop solar installations at 124 military housing developments in 33 states.

Residential solar power provider SolarCity and the U.S. government announced a deal Wednesday to put solar panels on military housing units, a move that could double the number of rooftop solar power installed in the United States.

SolarCity, an installer of rooftop solar electric systems, on Friday filed initial paperwork for taking the company public in stock offering that could raise about $200 million.

Zacks.com submits: ProLogis (PLD) a leading global provider of distribution facilities, recently announced a new rooftop solar project in Portland. On completion, the project spanning 90,000 square feet of roof space and generating about 2.4 megawatts ((MW)) of energy would be the largest rooftop solar system in the Pacific Northwest region.

In states with deregulated electricity markets, power providers must compete for customers who can switch to a competitor much like they change cellphone services. That's created an opening for renewable energy companies like Maryland's Clean Currents. But how to lure customers away from fossil fuel rivals? How about a free rooftop solar system? In a ...