UCSB’s two solar powers
The burning question in energy research is how to harness the power of the sun in a cost-effective way. Nobel laureate and UC Santa Barbara Professor Alan Heeger’s answer — plastic solar cells that can be printed cheaply like photographic film — has drawn interest and more than $100 million from investors. But other researchers Read More →
Region's companies make Inc. 5000
A number of regional companies were included on the 2010 Inc. 5000, Inc. Magazine’s latest list of the fastest growing companies in the nation. Santa Barbara-based FastSpring was No. 41 on the list, and Xirrus in Thousand Oaks was No. 75. Carpinteria-based Lynda.com was No. 899 and Santa Barbara-based Jensen Audio Visual was No. 2845. Read More →
Editorial: Systemic pension problems
News that the University of California system faces a $20 billion pension shortfall underscores one sobering truth to consider on Labor Day: Public sector jobs are not a free ride. Every job in the public sector is paid for with taxes, fees, tuition or other levies on private enterprise. Public-sector employees have a certain amount Read More →
Editorial: Ventura Harbor comes to its parking senses
Score one point for small business. After just two months, Ventura Harbor authorities have at least temporarily abandoned their plan to charge drivers for parking during peak hours at the cozy retail and restaurant district that is the main tourist draw for the harbor. The decision to abandon ship on parking fees was officially blamed Read More →
RiverPark units sell for $81.5M
A 400-unit luxury apartment community in Oxnard’s RiverPark development has been purchased for $81.5 million by three L.A. area firms. Los Angeles-based Urban Partners LLC and Beverly Hills-based Capri Capital Partners and Kennedy Wilson purchased Serenade, a “resort-style community” within RiverPark, Oxnard’s proposed master-planned development. “Our focus has been on supply constrained, infill West Coast Read More →
First Solar buys Cuyama array site
The first proposed commercial-scale solar energy project in Santa Barbara County has changed hands. The Cuyama Solar Array Project is now being shepherded by First Solar, the same company proposing the much larger 550-megawatt Topaz Solar Farm on San Luis Obispo County’s Carrizo Plain. The Cuyama project was originally proposed in September 2009 by Edison Read More →
