There’s unrest in the world of solar in terms of a potential trade war against Chinese manufacturers and against solar advocacy organizations in the U.S. Maybe the debate will wipe Solyndra from the headlines—which, couldn’t compete with the Chinese imports. Yet another group sprouted up to push for more advanced energy in the U.S. To grow the relationship between banks and solar developers, representatives of both discussed their respective needs. And the juggernaut of third-party ownership for residential moved forward last week. That’s just some of the solar news making the headlines.

Last week the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), a U.S.-based solar advocacy organization led by SolarWorld Americas appeared before the U.S. Trade Commission to protest Chinese manufacturers’ low-cost PV. The day they appeared before the commission, another U.S.-based solar advocacy organization, the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE), spoke out against CASM. The latter organization is composed of a mix of solar companies, from manufacturers to installers.

Yet another advocacy organization was formed last week. The newly formed umbrella organization, Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), is hoping to expand business opportunity for solar, wind, other renewables, hybrid cars and more, on a local level, with the clout of a national entity. Upon launch it had the support of more than 700 companies, AEE said.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States may be leading the way. Last week it announced that it closed out fiscal year 2011 with its biggest round of investment in solar projects yet. It said it is financing $103 million in Indian solar projects that are using modules from First Solar Inc. and from SolarWorld Americas.

Boulder, Colo.’s residents—just barely—decided to exit from its electric contract with Xcel Energy. In the coming years the city will create a clean energy utility, sourcing all of its power from renewables.

With the city’s reinvigorated effort on renewables, it makes sense that industry insiders and potential investors met in Boulder recently to discuss reducing barriers to investing in more solar. Both solar project financiers and solar project developers stressed the need for more education on both sides of the equation at the first “Solar Finance Roundtable.”

While most efforts, like the roundtable, are currently focused on bringing the cost of solar down, Riverside County, Calif.’s board of supervisors voted to add cost to utility-scale solar projects with a $450-per-acre annual fee or “Sun Tax” on projects. That could hamper solar projects already underway in the county and even cause developers to look to other places to develop such projects in the future.

Residents continue to get more options in more markets for third-party owned systems with little or no upfront costs. For instance, SunRun last week entered the New York market with its solar power service. It’s the 10th state the company offers services in.

And Verengo Solar’s recent entrance into New Jersey, also with SunRun’s solar power service, has seen success, with $3 million a month in sales since launching there in June.

Image courtesy of the Illinois Solar Tour 2011.