Here’s the list, courtesy of our friends at Greentech Media, based on year-end 2009 data:

The debate over whether electricity from nuclear reactors is renewable is well underway and now is pushing itself into lawmaking in selected states. The current actions are happening on two fronts.

First, nuclear plant operators are forever trying to boost the output of their reactors. At least one utility is trying to cast these efforts, called “ uprates,” as “renewable” sources of electricity under the definition of state’s Renewable Portfolio Standards. Second, certain utilities want to roll back the clock and classify all existing generation from nuclear as renewable.

There may be some merits to either approach but should either succeed, it could very well eliminate the need for more true renewables going forward because the mandates would have been met, especially if there is no robust “carve-out” for solar.

Nuclear interests, led by the Goldwater Institute in Arizona, tried the former approach in February and were defeated by the combined efforts of Suntech, First Solar, other solar companies and Arizona Public Service, a utility. The debate apparently cost Arizona the opportunity to land a module manufacturing plant from China’s Yingli Green Energy. Despite a federal incentive to locate in Arizona, Yingli switched its sights to Texas.

Exelon Corp., which owns Philadelphia-based utility Peco Energy, tried last week to get uprates classified as “Tier 1″ mainstream renewables (e.g. wind and solar) in Pennsylvania but were reportedly pushed back by the administration of Gov. Ed Rendell. That isn’t stopping the company, however, from reportedly trying the next best thing: to classify uprated generation as “Tier 2″ renewables as an amendment in the debate over House Bill 2405. House Bill 2405 would set the required percentage of electricity from renewables at 15% by 2025, with 3% coming from solar.

Stay tuned. State lobbyists say similar manuevers are almost sure to come in states with nuclear plants and an RPS, e.g. Texas, Illinois, New York and Florida.

27 January 2009:

SAN FRANCISCO and GAITHERSBURG, Md., Jan. 27 — Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world’s leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) modules, and Standard Solar, Inc. are looking forward to powering cleaner energy solutions throughout the Mid-Atlantic U.S. under a new agreement by which Suntech will supply up to 5 megawatts of photovoltaic solar panels to the Maryland-based solar developer and installer during 2009.

“Partnering with Suntech, a top-tier manufacturer offering a broad assortment of high-quality solar panels, better equips Standard Solar to fulfill its rapidly growing customer requirements from New Jersey and Pennsylvania to North Carolina and Virginia,” said Scott Wiater, Vice President of Procurement at Standard Solar.

“Suntech looks forward to partnering with Standard Solar in supplying cleaner, cost-effective solutions to businesses, government agencies and homeowners. In addition to reducing the dependence on highly polluting fossil fuels, we believe that the solar industry can also help to generate new domestic, green jobs,” said Roger Efird, President, Suntech America, Inc.

In his address after taking the oath of office and becoming the nation’s 44th President, Barack Obama called for Americans to “harness the sun . . . to meet the demands of a new age.”

“This agreement,” said Standard Solar President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Clifford, “strengthens our ability to respond to this challenge. We cannot agree more with our new President when he added from the West front of the U.S. Capitol: “All this we can do. And all this we will do.

“Standard Solar looks forward to deploying Suntech’s high-quality panels in solar solutions that deliver cost-effective power. Recently, Standard Solar helped Kelly & Sons Electrical Construction source its electricity supply through a power purchase agreement with Washington Gas Energy Services. Find more information about this power purchase agreement at http://www.standardsolar.com/News-and-Events/Press-Releases.aspx.

Suntech recently achieved 1 gigawatt of global solar panel production capacity. In doing so, it completed an 18,000 square meter, 1 megawatt solar facade — the world’s largest to date — at its new world headquarters in Wuxi, China. You can find a photo of this precedent-setting application on Suntech’s website at http://www.suntech-power.com under Press: Press Assets.

About Standard Solar

Standard Solar is a full-service, turnkey solar system developer and integrator specializing in residential and commercial solar power installations in Maryland and the surrounding states. With hundreds of installations to date, Standard Solar is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for clean technologies and renewable sources of energy. The company has added more than 50 green collar jobs in the past year. For more information, please visit: www.StandardSolar.com.

About Suntech

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) is the world’s leading solar energy company as measured by production output of solar modules. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, and markets premium-quality, high-output, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech’s patent-pending Pluto technology for crystalline silicon solar cells improves power output by up to 12% compared to conventional production methods.Suntech also offers one of the broadest ranges of building-integrated solar products under the MSK Solar Design Line(TM). Suntech designs and delivers commercial and utility scale solar power systems through its wholly owned subsidiaries Suntech Energy Solutions and Suntech Energy Engineering and will own and operate projects greater than 10 megawatts in the United States through Gemini Solar Development Company, a joint venture with MMA Renewable Ventures. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland and the United States and sales offices worldwide, Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we live in and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enable sustainable development. For more information, please visit www.suntech-power.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements, and include Suntech’s ability to supply 5MW of solar panels. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Suntech’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Suntech does not undertake any obligation to update any forward- looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

For further information please contact:

Suntech:

In China:
Rory Macpherson
Investor Relations Director
Suntech Power Holdings, Co. Ltd.
Tel: +86-21-6288-5574
Email: rory@suntech-power.com

In the United States:
Sanjay M. Hurry
Vice President
The Piacente Group, Inc. (Investor Relations Counsel, Suntech)
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: suntech@tpg-ir.com

Standard Solar:
Jim Pierobon
Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Standard Solar, Inc.
Tel: 301-944-5133
Email: jim.pierobon@standardsolar.com

SOURCE Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.