More Bloggage from the BIPV Summit in San Diego -- Steven Strong  was the lead-off speaker at a recent BIPV event (see BIPV (vs. BAPV and BSPV) and The Yoda of PV) . He is a leading authority on integrating renewable energy systems, especially solar, in buildings in North America. Strong's firm consults to architects on the integration of solar power, and to the building industry on product development through his firm, Solar Design Associates. Over the past 25 years, Steven has designed scores of solar buildings including the world's first PV-powered neighborhood in central Massachusetts in 1984, and in what was the world's largest PV installation at the time -- the Natatorium Complex at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. Amongst his many PV installation accomplishments, Strong was involved in a semi-clandestine solar mission -- deploying solar in the less-than-friendly environment of the Bush/Cheney White House compound at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. "The dialogue actually began with the prior tenant," Strong explained.  "But Clinton was distracted by interns and impeachment," and Strong never heard from the Clinton people after that. Then, nine months after the start of the W. administration, Strong visited the site and spent the entire day with the White House architect.  They looked at all the potential siting opportunities, excepting the main mansion which is "covered with spook stuff."  (BTW: The White House grounds are managed by the Parks Service) Strong ended up helping design and install a 10kW+ photovoltaic system and two thermal solar systems within the compound.  All the inverters had to go to the secret service warehouse for clearance, presumably for inspection for listening devices and explosives.  The system was installed on one of those few occasions when the President was at his ranch clearing brush and the VP was at an undisclosed location. If you wonder why you didn't hear more about this seemingly positive news from the W. press office -- well, in an administration that had a VP saying things like, "conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy," the presence of PV on the White House never made it to their talking points.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance said Friday it will help the Chinese government map out plans to popularize electric cars.

The automaker will create a detailed plan mapping out a battery-charging network and a marketing program. The alliance will do all these work for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Nissan said it also is working with the city of Wuhan on a pilot project to create the infrastructure for electric cars.

The alliance plans to start selling electric cars in China in early 2011.

The alliance has been aggressively wooing governments from around the world to build markets for all-electric cars. It has inked similar deals in Japan, Israel, Denmark, Portugual, Monaco, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Ireland and the United States.

Other carmakers and players in the auto industry also have been lobbying for government support to provide incentives for consumers to buy electric cars and to create policies that would smooth the process of setting up charging networks.

Earlier this week, Mitsubishi said it plans to work with Oregon and utility Portland General Electric on developing a charging station network. The utility is developing the network, and Mitsubishi said it’d provide the all-electric i MiEV for testing the network. The automaker hasn’t said when it will start selling the i MiEV in the United States. Mitsubishi plans to launch the car in Japan this summer.

The Portland utility and the state of Oregon have a similar deal with the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

While the state and local governments in the United States are looking ahead to promote low- or zero-emission cars, the federal government is focusing on helping the domestic automakers now.

President Obama announced yesterday that the government would buy 17,600 fuel-efficient cars from American automakers for its fleet. The administration plans to spend $285 million by June to buy those cars from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, reported Washington Post. That would include 2,500 hybrid cars.

The General Services Administration will make the purchase. It also plans to spend $15 billion to test advanced technology cars in the federal fleet, including buses that run on compressed natural gas and all-electric cars.