Green Investing News

December 2005 News Archives

BTU Receives $1.4 M Order for Solar Cell Production Equipment - 2005-12-30
BTU International announced the receipt of orders totaling $1.4 million for its solar cell diffusion and anti-reflective coating systems. Recent orders reflect renewed interest in BTU's anti-reflective coating technology.

U.S. renewable energy firms cash in - 2005-12-30
With European nations struggling to keep their promised targets under the Kyoto Protocol for greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. firms are set to cash in on the increased attention on renewable energies.

His Car Smelling Like French Fries, Willie Nelson Sells Biodiesel - 2005-12-30
Mr. Nelson's BioWillie is aimed mostly at truckers and is usually sold as B20 (pure biodiesel can congeal in colder climates). BioWillie is currently sold at 13 gas stations and truck stops in four states.

Vestas Supplies Turbines for Wind Power in France - 2005-12-30
The Vestas Group has received an order for 30 units of the V80-2.0 MW wind turbine from four French project companies in close cooperation with Volkswind France SARL.

In pictures: Green energy schemes - 2005-12-30
The government has named the top renewable energy schemes for 2005, which include several onshore wind farms.

New Mexico Greets New Year with New Solar RECs Program - 2005-12-30
Under the new rule, the utility will pay customers for every kilowatt-hour generated with their solar systems through at least 2018.

China to Monitor Economy-Wide Energy Efficiency - 2005-12-29
China said on Wednesday it would begin monitoring economy-wide energy efficiency, pursuing a goal of using less oil, coal and gas for each unit of production as its national income surges.

Wind Farm Opens Near San Diego County Casino - 2005-12-29
The power generated -- about 50 megawatts -- will be enough to electrify about 30,000 San Diego Gas & Electric customers.

Drought threaten water supply in Guangdong - 2005-12-29
A survey showed that underground water in 90 percent of Chinese cities has been polluted by organic and inorganic pollutants, and there are signs that (pollution) is spreading.

Soy-based fuel plants to open in PA - 2005-12-29
Pennsylvania's production of soy-based additives to diesel and home-heating oil is set to take a huge leap in the next few weeks with the scheduled opening of two more plants.

EBRD puts energy efficiency close to top of lending list - 2005-12-29
The president of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development has warned companies in eastern Europe to improve their energy efficiency if they want development loans.

Xcel Energy to Acquire 775 MW Wind Power in Colorado - 2005-12-29
Xcel Energy will acquire 775 MW of new wind power capacity for its Colorado system by 2007, in response to a process designed to address the state's growing energy demand.

US hybrid boom good for Toyota - 2005-12-28
Rising oil prices have seen the market for more fuel-efficient hybrid cars take off, but US auto makers are still lagging far behind their Japanese rivals.

Progress Energy Invests in Future Energy Sources - 2005-12-28
Progress Energy announced a commitment of $1 million to Microcell Corp., a Raleigh-based company working to bring commercially available fuel cell applications to industrial, commercial and consumer markets.

50 MW Kumeyaay Wind Project Goes Online - 2005-12-28
The Kumeyaay Wind farm annually will produce power sufficient for about 30,000 homes and will save approximately 110,000 tons a year in greenhouse gas emissions.

Newer homes incorporating materials that conserve energy, benefit health - 2005-12-28
Some companies have developed high-performance building materials that keep the living environment comfortable while curbing energy consumption, and these materials are becoming more widely used in new houses in Japan.

Brazil Exemplifies Global Move toward Clean Energy - 2005-12-27
Today, 42 percent of Brazil's energy use comes from renewable sources, compared with 6 percent for OECD countries.

Hexi Corridor Becomes Home for China's Biggest Wind Power Project - 2005-12-27
A wind power station with an installed capacity of 100,000 kilowatts has been built on the "Hexi Corridor Wind Power Industrial Belt," while another 50,000-kilowatt station is under construction and is expected to start operation in August 2006.

EPA invents battery-less hybrid system - 2005-12-27
While the EPA labs in Ann Arbor, Mich., are better known for creating new fuel mileage and emissions tests and standards, in recent years the labs have also begun working on creating new technologies for cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

A `zero-energy' home is the goal - 2005-12-27
The house, going up on an empty lot on East 29th Street, is one of several hundred homes being developed by U.S. builders who seek to create models for energy-efficient, environmentally friendly residences.

Lingle to push new energy initiatives - 2005-12-27
Lingle is expected to assemble a package of multiple bills that offer incentives to attract investors in alternative and renewable energy, require state buildings to be more energy efficient and generally make it more financially attractive for utilities

Saab Flex-Fuel BioPower Hot Seller in Sweden - 2005-12-23
Four months after its launch in Sweden, the Saab 9-5 BioPower—a flexible-fuel vehicle capable of running on ethanol blends of up to 85% (E85)—has already outsold its full-year 2006 sales target.

Solar energy shines throughout Negev village - 2005-12-23
Now, in an experiment to test the limits of solar power, the government and Interdan, a private natural-electricity company, are fitting houses, community centers, mosques and roads in Darajat with solar electricity systems.

Chip industry could save $500M on energy - 2005-12-23
The global semiconductor industry could save nearly $500 million a year in energy costs -- enough electricity to power a small city -- by making modest improvements to chip manufacturing tools and support systems, according to a study released Thursday by

Architects Call for 50% Reduction of Fossil Fuels Used to Construct, Operate Buildings - 2005-12-23
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Board of Directors has adopted position statements to promote sustainable design and resource conservation to achieve a minimum reduction of 50% percent of the current consumption level of fossil fuels used to co

Wisconsin One Step Closer to Enacting Ethanol Measure - 2005-12-22
The Wisconsin Assembly passed Assembly Bill 15, a measure to require nearly all regular-grade gasoline in the state to contain 10 percent ethanol.

Connecticut Funds 34 MW of New Renewable Energy Projects - 2005-12-22
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), a ratepayer fund administered by Connecticut Innovations Inc. (CI), has forwarded three renewable energy projects to the state's two major electric utilities.

Merger Forms Solar Finance and Installation Company - 2005-12-22
Sun Edison LLC and New Vision Technologies Inc. signed definitive agreements to merge, forming what they're describing as the nation's largest solar finance and installation company.

China plans to limit wasteful developments - 2005-12-22
China plans to limit the building of villas, golf courses and other luxury projects in an effort to protect the environment and prevent wasteful investments, the government said yesterday.

Stirling Engine Solar Power Contracts Approved - 2005-12-22
An unprecedented deployment of concentrated solar thermal in California took one step closer to becoming a real project this week as state regulators gave their approval for the power purchase agreement.

LADWP Moves to Accelerate Renewable Energy Goal - 2005-12-22
The Board of Water and Power Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) took the first step this week toward increasing renewable energy sources to 20 percent of the City's power mix by 2010.

Get Saudi: The neo-cons have gone green - 2005-12-22
A consequence of September 11 and US President George W Bush's "war on terror" has been a challenge to the conspicuous consumption of oil in the US from an unlikely source - sections of the Republican president's very own support base.

Chinese Cos Sign Ever-Largest Wind Power Generation Deal - 2005-12-21
State-owned China Power Investment Corp. and Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd, China's largest wind electric power generator manufacturer, have signed an agreement on equipment supply for 3 billion yuan (US$371.6 million) worth wind power plant cons

Seven States Agree on a Regional Program to Reduce Emissions From Power Plants - 2005-12-21
New York, New Jersey and five other Northeastern states have formally agreed to join in the first mandatory regional program in United States history to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Tidal Energy Project Approved for Construction - 2005-12-21
Marine Current Turbine (MCT) received the approval by the Environment & Heritage Service in Northern Ireland to install its next generation tidal energy device.

DeMarco Energy Systems Expands with Acquisition and Subsidiary - 2005-12-21
With DeMarco Energy Systems of America's plan to purchase all American Geothermal assets, making it an operating subsidiary of DeMarco Energy, it can begin installing DeMarco Energy-patented Geothermal Heat Pumps.

Scots firm wins £5m contract for giant turbines - 2005-12-20
A Scottish construction yard has secured the £5 million order to build the steel towers for two giant wind turbines which will power the world's deepest offshore wind farm in the Moray Firth.

Ford Readies F-150s for Flexible Fuel - 2005-12-20
Ford Motor Company is keeping its commitment to producing 250,000 FFVs in the coming year with actual production of the first Ford F-150 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) beginning this month at its Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Sea power to provide electricity - 2005-12-20
Electricity for about 800 homes will be provided by a turbine to be built as part of a five-year pilot project.

Commendations for Windfarm's Profits that Finance Housing - 2005-12-20
Invested profits from the community-owned Isle of Gigha's grid-connected windfarm, the only one of its kind in the UK, enabled completion of the first phase of a housing improvement program for its residents.

Cargill to Build Second 110 mgy Ethanol Plant - 2005-12-20
BioFuels Solutions will build a 110 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant in Wood River, Nebraska, about 100 miles west of Lincoln, its second such plant planned for the region.

VeraSun Opens Ethanol Plant Ahead of Schedule - 2005-12-19
Speaking at the opening of the VeraSun Fort Dodge ethanol plant last week, Paul Roberts, author of "The End of Oil," gave a stark perspective on the country's energy outlook and explained why ethanol represents one of the few bright spots.

360 MW Wind Project Online in Iowa - 2005-12-19
MidAmerican Energy's 360.5 MW wind project -- 257 wind turbines in north central and northwest Iowa -- is now online.

Interior Department Changes will Spur Wind Power Development - 2005-12-19
Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced the completion of an environmental review that will allow the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to significantly expand its wind energy program on public lands.

BJ's Rooftop Gains Solar Panels from Evergreen Solar - 2005-12-16
The success of a new solar energy system installed on the rooftop of BJ's Wholesale Club in Saratoga, New York, by Evergreen Solar last spring has prompted BJ's to install similar rooftop solar power plants operating on several stores throughout the North

America is Held Over an Oil Barrel - 2005-12-16
Oil prices are projected to remain well above $50 a barrel for years to come, according to an analysis released by the Energy Department this week.

California Solar Rebates Tripled for Next Year - 2005-12-16
The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted on Thursday to approve $300 million for statewide solar rebates for 2006.

Japan's First Woody Biomass Power Generation in Place - 2005-12-16
Woody biomass has now become a practical fuel for power generation.

Major Supply Contract Signed Between California PV Companies - 2005-12-16
On the same day the California Public Utilities Commission voted to approve $300 million to fund statewide solar photovoltaic rebates in 2006, a $330 million dollar supply contract was reached between a top solar module manufacturer and California's large

Microgeneration Potential for the UK - 2005-12-16
Mini wind turbines, solar panels and other small-scale technologies could provide a substantial portion of the UK's energy needs by 2050, according to a new report from the Energy Saving Trust.

Evergreen Renewables to Manufacture Soybean Biodiesel - 2005-12-16
Evergreen Renewables LLC will bring the first operating biodiesel plant to Indiana by adding a soybean-based biodiesel division to the 34-acre facility on Wolf Lake Terminals in Hammond. It is expected to produce 5 million gallons of biodiesel per year.

Proposal Arises for 5 MW New Jersey Solar Project - 2005-12-15
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) approved a study that could establish a solar energy farm across the 32-square mile Meadowlands District with the potential to generate renewable energy for local homes and businesses.

Vote Today Will Triple California Solar Rebates for 2006 - 2005-12-15
The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is expected to vote today to approve $300 million for statewide solar rebates for 2006.

Norwegians, Dutch Mix Sea and River to Make Power - 2005-12-15
The Dutch Centre for Sustainable Water Technology or Wetsus, and Norway's independent research organisation SINTEF, working with power company Statkraft, have invented devices that generate electricity by mixing sea and river water.

BMW unveils the turbosteamer concept - 2005-12-15
BMW’s announcement of the new technology is somewhat of a technological bombshell as it adds yet another form of hybrid automobile – a turbosteamer.

Wisconsin Pledges $1M to Renewable Energy, Fuels & Products - 2005-12-15
Governor Jim Doyle launched the state's first-ever grant program to help develop Wisconsin's bio-based economy.

Scotland's Wave Energy Devices Ready for Testing - 2005-12-15
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) officially ratified the test facilities at the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) in Orkney, enabling renewable energy developers to gain an internationally recognized verification of the performance of th

ExxonMobil Chemical Sites Win Kudos for Energy Efficiency - 2005-12-14
The improvements at the company's chemical plants Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Baytown and Beaumont, Texas; and Edison, New Jersey, are yielding energy savings equal to the needs of more than 19,000 households.

A Close Look at Investing in Renewable Energy - 2005-12-14
total global investment in clean energy (renewable energy plus low-carbon technologies) in 2005 will be around $42.2 billion, according to estimates from New Energy Finance.

Federal Agency Rules on Commercial Wind Interconnection - 2005-12-14
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an official order on the Interconnection for Wind Energy (or "Grid Code") case for large generators with a capacity of 20 MW and above.

Green Lining Found in Beetle Infestation - 2005-12-14
The BIOCAP Canada Foundation, a multi-stakeholder research foundation, released a report showing that a portion of the trees killed by the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) could be a clean energy source.

Clarion University Enters the Solar Age - 2005-12-14
As volatile oil prices ping-pong with the weather and natural gas prices shoot up over 30 percent with North America's dwindling supplies, Clarion University is looking beyond fossil-fuels to clean renewable energy from the sun to power its new hi-tech te

Australia Report Identifies How Gov't Policy Can Help Spur Socially Responsible - 2005-12-14
The mainstreaming of socially responsible investment (SRI), which comprises both the top-down adoption of SRI strategies by mainstream investment firms as well as the bottom-up growth of traditional SRI into the mainstream, is going global.

Korea Gets Serious About Hybrid Cars - 2005-12-13
The Ministry of Environment said on Sunday that local and central governments will purchase 3,575 cars of Hyundai Motor's Verna and Kia Motors' Pride hybrid models over the next three years.

Iowa Grants for Expanding BioFuels Refueling Locations - 2005-12-13
The program provides funding to gasoline retailers and biodiesel suppliers to help offset the infrastructure cost of bringing biodiesel and E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) to the public.

CPUC to Release Long-term Solar Energy Plan for California - 2005-12-13
Planned for this afternoon, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is expected to release a major proposal that will effectively act as a replacement for the ill-fated SB1, or Million Solar Roofs Initiative. And like the SB-1 bill, the CPUC pla

GE Wind Power Grows to 166 MW in Germany - 2005-12-13
GE Energy Financial Services is acquiring a 12 MW wind farm in Germany from Germania Windpark GmbH & Co KG, in its fourth German wind investment this year.

REEEP Launches Secretariat in South Asia - 2005-12-12
South Asia, home to more than 1.3 billion people representing approximately one-fifth of the world's population, is witnessing rapid rates of development.

Fuel Cell Engine Partnership Forms among Auto OEMs - 2005-12-12
The goal of this wide-reaching program is to enable Nuvera, Fiat Powertrain Technologies and Centro Ricerche Fiat to further develop a fuel cell powertrain system to allow automakers to develop a technically, economically and environmentally viable fuel c

Shoppers with a conscience take over the high street - 2005-12-12
Clothes shopping is becoming an increasingly political pastime as buyers seek out organic, Fairtrade or recycled garments that are kinder to workers and the environment, according to new research.

How GE Captures New Energy Markets - 2005-12-12
Having recently completed its first year of operation, the Arklow Bank installation saves Ireland 15,000 tons of imported fossil fuel a year and prevents the release of about 68,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the equivalent of taking abou

Benchmark Reached on Unique Solar, Wind Hybrid Project - 2005-12-12
Once completed, the project will showcase a half-MW, commercial scale solar project, and five commercial scale wind turbines working in conjunction to provide on-site power for an essential public good.

China To Close 4,000 Small Coal Mines Annually - 2005-12-12
China will shut down 4,000 small coal mines annually in the forthcoming three years, said Zhao Tiechui, head of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety Supervision on Saturday.

Senator Predicts Congressional Shift on Climate Change - 2005-12-12
In the U.S. Congress, there appear to be signs of a shift toward greater acceptance of emissions reductions.

UK Bioprocessor Produces More Biodiesel for Less - 2005-12-12
Produced from new or used vegetable oil, the clean-burning biodiesel can be made for about 87 cents per liter including duty, a considerable savings on forecourt prices.

Air Force Looks to Fuel Cells for Savings at Home and Abroad - 2005-12-09
Robins Air Force Base officially welcomed an alternative fuel technology of ten 5 kW fuel cells that could save the Air Force thousands of dollars in energy costs.

Diester Industrie International to Build Biodiesel Plant in Mannheim - 2005-12-09
Annual capacity will be 120,000 metric tons (36.2 million gallons US), with a plan to expand it up to 250,000 metric tons.

Cameron goes for green vote - 2005-12-09
Looking at ways to improve the quality of life in the UK without restricting economic growth as well as investigating ways of tackling wider environmental problems.

New York Surcharge Would Support Renewable Energy - 2005-12-08
Assemblyman Ryan Scott Karben (D/I-Rockland), Chairman of the Assembly's recently created Subcommittee on Renewable Energy, launched the panel's work with an Albany hearing this week investigating a new 2 percent utility bill surcharge to fund the use of

GE to Assemble Wind Turbines in China for 150 MW Project - 2005-12-08
plans to assemble its wind turbines in Shenyang, China, in order to supply one of that country's largest wind projects to date.

Finland Announces Renewable Energy Ambitions - 2005-12-08
Finland's government finalized its report for the Finnish Parliament concerning the measures that will be carried out in the energy and climate policy in the near future.

Tax Plan Deeply Worries German Biodiesel Industry - 2005-12-08
Plans by Germany's new government to raise taxes on biodiesel made from rapeseed could devastate sales at petrol pumps, the head of Germany's biodiesel industry association said on Wednesday.

New Solar Panels For Hybrid Cars Improve MPG - 2005-12-08
With Solatec panels installed on the roof, the prototype SolaPrius averages 55 MPG city and 62 MPG highway - an overall 10 percent improvement over the pre-installation numbers.

Canadian RE Organization to Counter U.S. Kyoto Projections - 2005-12-08
The Canadian Association for Renewable Energies says more work is needed to promote renewable energies, calling for greater emphasis on green heat, green power and green fuel options.

PSE's Wind Project Produces 150 MW of Renewable Energy - 2005-12-07
Capable of generating up to 150 MW of electricity, Puget Sound Energy's (PSE) Hopkins Ridge Wind Project is now producing renewable energy for the utility's 1 million-plus electric customers.

Armenia launches first wind power plant - 2005-12-07
The government reiterated its pledge to make Armenia more reliant on renewable sources of energy on Tuesday as it inaugurated the country`s first-ever wind power plant financed by neighboring Iran.

Research Advances Hydrogen Fuel Production - 2005-12-07
Blocking oxygen's path to an enzyme's production machinery could lead to a renewable energy source that would generate only water as its waste product.

Uni-Solar to Provide 7 MW of Solar for Hawaii U.S. Army Homes - 2005-12-07
The solar network will pump clean energy into the Army's power grid and is designed to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by 30 percent for the entire complex of 7,894 new and renovated homes that Actus Lend Lease plans for Army families stationed on Oahu.

Capstone Introduces a New Generation of MicroTurbine Energy Systems - 2005-12-06
Capstone Turbine Corporation® (Nasdaq: CPST) announced today that next month the company will begin shipping an enhanced line of 65-kilowatt microturbine models that will replace its popular C60 series of power and heat generators.

Waste-to-Energy Plans for the UK - 2005-12-06
This week, a division of the Pirelli tire company announced a partnership to move ahead on a waste-to-energy plan in the UK.

Honda Considering Building Hybrids in Thailand - 2005-12-06
Honda is considering plans to assemble its hybrid cars in Thailand if the government provides sufficient tax incentives. This would mark Honda’s first hybrid assembly outside of Japan.

Minnesota Commercial Wind Farm Now Operational - 2005-12-06
The 100 MW wind energy development near Jackson, Minnesota, is expected to generate renewable energy equivalent to the annual electric consumption of 29,000 homes.

Toyota: Greener Cars -- and Factories - 2005-12-05
By replacing multiple production lines with single lines capable of producing different vehicles, Toyota has decreased energy usage by as much as 40%

More of Third World Fit for Wind Power - UN Study - 2005-12-05
Windmills have far bigger than expected potential for generating electricity in the Third World, according to new UN wind maps of countries from China to Nicaragua.

US facing pressure to sign up to future climate protocols - 2005-12-05
The United States will this week face intense lobbying in an effort to force concrete action from the Bush administration over climate change when ministers from around the world meet at a United Nations summit in Canada.

Lightening the Military Load using Fuel Cells - 2005-12-05
Millennium Cell has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) to assess the feasibility of operating Millennium Cell's hydrogen battery technology in co

Renewable Energy Research Yields Results in Europe - 2005-12-05
In Europe, about 95,000 dwellings are heated by geothermal energy, which has the capacity to generate about 1000 MW of electric power

Colorado Could be the Next Solar State - 2005-12-05
The pattern has been clear: vibrant solar industries can be created overnight in states that enact legislation supporting solar energy.

Adventure Travelers Say There's Value in Supplier Integrity - 2005-12-02
Almost 75% of adventure travelers polled said that responsible travel practices play a key role when choosing a travel provider for their vacation, according to a recent Opinion Research national survey.

First of Five Wind Turbines Raised in New Jersey - 2005-12-02
This week a crane hoisted a three-bladed rotor the size of a football field and gently placed it atop its tower completing the first of five wind turbines that will soon be generating clean wind power in New Jersey.

India Ranks Fourth in Wind Power Capacity - 2005-12-02
With 7000 MW of renewable energy grid power capacity currently installed in India, the country's Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources announced that India ranks fourth after Germany, the U.S. and Spain.

Fuel Cell Buses Deployed in China - 2005-12-02
The buses will go into service in Beijing to show the viability of fuel cell power for daily operation of transit buses under specific climatic and topographical conditions.

Ventura Inaugurates Public Works Solar Project - 2005-12-02
Ventura's 123 kW solar electric system -- one of the largest solar projects in Ventura County -- at its peak generates the equivalent energy to provide power for 120 homes.

New Zealand's Energy Need Looks to Bioenergy - 2005-12-01
More than 50 specialists met recently in Christchurch, New Zealand, to explore new approaches to producing fuel gas from biomass.

U.S. and China Collaborate on Sustainable Development Projects - 2005-12-01
An agreement signed this month by the United States and China Business Councils for Sustainable Development brings the U.S. closer to China on all things renewable.

Corporate Green Power Effort Expands to Europe - 2005-12-01
Some of the largest companies in the world this week announced they have increased their purchases of renewable energy

Yucca Town Hall, Library Gain Solar Electric System - 2005-12-01
When leaders of Yucca Valley, California, started building their Community Center complex more than 30 years ago, they had no way of knowing that the sunwould one day help the town save money on its electricity bill.

A Greener Hospitality Industry in the Golden State - 2005-12-01
In the 21st century, because sustainable technologies have arrived and the marketplace is ready to accept them, sustainable design practices are quickly becoming reality.

Exelon Exceeds 1 Million MWh Wind Energy Mark - 2005-12-01
Exelon's wind portfolio, currently at 154 MW, provides enough electricity to power about 40,000 homes annually.