Energy Roundup: Europe's Solar Play, Offshore Wind Flies, Climate Vote Approaching and More

(MoneyWatch)  Europe plans massive solar power project -- If $555 billion can be raised for construction, Europe could someday have a massive electrical network sending solar power from Northern African deserts to the chilly states of the EU. The Desertec consortium of 20 companies, with support from national governments, will hold its first meeting to discuss the plan on July 13. [Source: BusinessWeek / Spiegel Online]

Offshore wind leases begun -- The first leases for offshore wind power in the United States have been allowed by the Obama administration. Four companies will benefit: Bluewater Wind New Jersey, Bluewater Wind Delaware, Fisherman's Energy of New Jersey, and Deepwater Wind. A larger package of solar and wind power loan guarantees is set to go out in July. [Source: NYTimes,Bloomberg]

Climate bill coming up for vote -- The House will vote on the United States' first major climate bill by the end of this week, according to a spokesman for speaker Nancy Pelosi. The bill still faces some opposition from Democrats from farming communities, but the general expectation is that the bill will pass. [Source: Bloomberg]

Silver Spring wins Sacramento smart grid project -- Leading smart grid startup Silver Spring Networks has scored yet another big contract, this one in Sacramento, Calif. The 600,000 smart meter deployment for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District is the first the company has taken up for a municipal utility instead of an investor-owned utility, perhaps signaling that a new market is opening. [Source: Greentech Media]

LG and Sanyo invest in thin-film solar -- Two Asian electronics giants, LG Display and Sanyo, will both make multi-million dollar investments in thin-film solar technology. The $39 million bet by LG is a first from the company, while Sanyo's $83 million is for an existing technology and will boost the company's production to 430 megawatts a year. [Source: Renewable Energy World, Recharge News]

PG&E opposes California solar bills -- Pacific Gas & Electric, a major West coast utility, has set itself against new solar initiatives in California. According to the company, the new state bills would make solar energy "too popular", setting up a market that favored those installing renewable energy over normal customers. Renewable energy advocates are, of course, now unhappy with PG&E. [Source: San Jose Mercury]