Green Investing News

May 2006 News Archives

AES to Put $325M into Bio-digester Joint Venture - 2006-05-31
Global power company AES and AgCert International plc have formed a joint venture—AES AgriVerde—to deploy AgCert’s anaerobic bio-digester technology to capture methane from agricultural and animal waste products.

Ethanol industry fuels demand for railroads - 2006-05-31
Iowa's booming ethanol industry is fueling a demand for railroads to haul the alternative fuel to gasoline markets.

Ethanol Industry Opens on Wall Street - 2006-05-31
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) opened trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange this week on Wall Street, in recognition of the growing importance of the U.S. ethanol industry to our nation's energy and economic future.

New Solutions for World's Energy Woes - 2006-05-31
Approximately 2 billion of the world's people -- nearly one-third of the human population -- have no access to electricity.

GE Says China Sales Could Soar Amid Energy Drive - 2006-05-30
General Electric Co., the world's second most valuable company, said it expects sales in China could double to US$10 billion by 2010, with some of that growth coming from the development of clean energy technologies.

PPM Energy Announces Two New Wind Farms in Two States - 2006-05-30
PPM Energy, ScottishPower's competitive U.S. energy business, will begin construction this fall on the 75-megawatt (MW) Twin Buttes Wind Power Project in southeastern Colorado.

Wal-Mart : Sustainability being sought, achieved on many fronts - 2006-05-30
In a visionary speech, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott recently talked about challenges of environmental loss and how to replace it with sustainability.

Solar, wind powered ferries to sail on S.F. Bay - 2006-05-30
Two tourist ferries powered in part by the wind and the sun will carry visitors to San Francisco’s Alcatraz island under a contract between the National Park Service and a private company.

Field Trials of Ethanol-Powered Vehicles Go Worldwide - 2006-05-26
Scania, manufacturer of ethanol-powered commercial vehicles, is supplying the city buses for use in the BEST (BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport) consortium's initial field trials of 'ethanol as a vehicle fuel'

Green roofs are cool! - 2006-05-26
The first life-cycle assessment of green roofs confirms that they save energy as well as improve the larger environment.

Michelin buys into Barrington wind power - 2006-05-26
The world’s largest tire maker and Barrington Wind Energy Ltd. of Halifax will announce today a contract for green power.

Toyota Looks to Hybrids, Detroit Pushes Ethanol - 2006-05-26
Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. told Congress on Wednesday it could produce more than 1 million hybrids per year globally within the next decade.

Students take peek at 'green' school - 2006-05-25
The school, being built by John Kreis Construction, will meet a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high performance, sustainable buildings.

California Advised to Adopt 50% Renewable Power Goal - 2006-05-25
To achieve the 50 percent renewable energy goal, Gawell called upon the state to expand its use of geothermal energy for direct uses, such as heating buildings and installing geothermal heat pumps, tenfold within 20 years.

Biodiesel facilities crop up in area - 2006-05-25
The fuel hasn't generated the buzz of ethanol, but operations to produce biodiesel are cropping up across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

REC Doubles its Production of Solar-Grade Polysilicon - 2006-05-25
Based on the proprietary technology that Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) developed for production of granular polysilicon, the company will build its third polysilicon plant, which it claims will more than double its production of polysilicon.

New Offshore Wind Project Proposed for Massachusetts - 2006-05-25
Despite an atmosphere of outright hostility toward offshore wind projects off the coast of Massachusetts, a second offshore wind bid was unveiled this week.

Better Fuel Cells Using Bacteria - 2006-05-25
Bioengineer Tim Gardner says synthetic biology could create bacteria that produce electricity from waste more efficiently.

UK's Newest Offshore Wind Farm Gearing Up - 2006-05-24
The project will supply electricity to British Gas customers and is capable of powering 65,000 homes with green energy, as well as saving 200,000 tons of CO2 annually.

Bill Approved to Strengthen Energy Savings, RE at Federal Level - 2006-05-24
The U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment offered by House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), which he says would save more than $200 million a year by making the Federal Government a leader in energy efficiency.

Wall St. Develops the Tools to Invest in Climate Change - 2006-05-24
Fund managers will monitor global warming regulations and will buy and sell the stocks on the basis of how the companies will be affected by those rules.

European Solar PV Industry Looks Ahead - 2006-05-24
With the current trend of development and if political efforts are maintained, it is estimated that solar electricity can bring electricity to more than 7 million families in Europe by 2010.

MIT Sheds New Light on Old Solar PV Approach - 2006-05-24
The research is applying new materials, new technologies and new ideas to radically improve an old concept -- thermophotovoltaic (TPV) conversion of light into electricity.

Toyota Develops Cleaner Auto-Body Surface Treatment Agent - 2006-05-24
Toyota Motor Corp. and Nihon Parkerizing Co., a Japanese manufacturer of surface treatment chemicals, have jointly developed an environmentally preferable surface treatment agent for automobile exteriors.

Canadian Geothermal Financing Helps Homeowners - 2006-05-23
Homeowners in Canada can now access a competitive financing option for geothermal installations due to a partnership between NextEnergy and Homeworks to meet increased demand.

Solar Photovoltaic Project Installation Update - 2006-05-23
Two new and notable solar photovoltaic projects were completed this past week, one which the developers say is the first Building Integrated PV (BIPV) high-rise solar-electric system in Arizona.

Sen. Clinton: Cut Oil Imports by 50% by 2025 - 2006-05-23
In a speech to the National Press Club, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) called for a targeted reduction in oil consumption equivalent to 50% of imported oil by 2025—roughly equivalent to 8 million barrels per day.

BP Expects Solar Sales to Jump in Japan, China, Korea - 2006-05-23
BP Plc, the world's third-biggest maker of solar cells, expects Asian sales to accelerate as 1 billion people seek access to electricity and developed nations such as Japan target lower fuel imports.

Wind Turbine Manufacturers Ramp Up Business - 2006-05-23
GE's major announcement took place in the Alsleben-Schackstedt region of Germany where 36 GE Energy 1.5 MW wind turbines have since been commissioned at the Alsleben Wind Project, one of the largest in Germany.

New York to add more hybrids to taxi fleet - 2006-05-22
The number of environmentally friendly taxicabs on New York City streets could grow tenfold after this summer, when the city designates a significant portion of new taxi medallion licenses for alternative-fuel cabs.

Elk River Wind Power Project Delivers Renewable Energy - 2006-05-22
The energy generated by the Elk River Wind Power Project, which was dedicated last week, is already sold to the Empire District Electric Company in Kansas, and at less than traditional cost.

Pacific Gas and Electric Adds 105 MW More Renewable Energy - 2006-05-22
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has secured an additional 105 megawatts (MW) of clean, reliable renewable energy resources to help meet the future electricity needs of nearly 80,000 PG&E customers.

Energy's new spin Underwater windmills in NYC create invisible solution - 2006-05-22
As consumers worry over an uncertain energy future, a Virginia company is eyeing an unusual untapped power source: the rivers of the Big Apple.

Victorian Renewable Energy Target Shows Promise Down Under - 2006-05-22
Under the Victorian Government's proposed Renewable Energy Target scheme, more than one fifth of Victorian homes could be supplied with zero- emission electricity at less than $1 per month, according to a new report.

Green light for megamall that vows to be green - 2006-05-22
Destiny USA — a megamall whose backers vow will run on renewable energy and be a model for clean living and shopping.

Fundy tides can provide renewable energy - 2006-05-18
The Electric Power Research Institute of California pooled money from seven state and provincial governments to investigate how underwater turbines could produce cheap, renewable energy.

Transformation Under Way in Transportation - 2006-05-18
Commercialization of plug-in vehicles could significantly reduce tailpipe emissions, save money at the gas pump, and help consumers avoid price fluctuations associated with reliance on a single fuel to power their cars.

House Democrats Take a Stand for U.S. Biodiesel - 2006-05-18
In response to public demand for new direction and leadership to meet the energy needs of America's families, Democrats in the House of Representatives announced a plan to invest in America, grow our energy and establish energy independence.

Real Estate Powerhouse Expands into Renewable Energy Markets - 2006-05-18
Municipal Mortgage & Equity (MuniMae), a player in the real estate and financial services markets, moved into the renewable energy markets by acquiring Renewable Ventures LLC, a third-party financer and operator of renewable energy generation facilities.

Back-to-Back Wind Conferences Highlight Industry Growth - 2006-05-18
According to our latest forecast, the international wind markets grew by 40.5% in 2005, generating some Euro 12 billion [~USD$15 billion] worth of new generating equipment.

General Electric Exceeds Its Own `Environmental' Product Goals - 2006-05-17
Sales of ``environmental products'' such as wind turbines and fuel-efficient locomotives rose 63 percent to $10.1 billion last year, and orders almost doubled to $17 billion, Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE said in a report released today.

Swell Potential for Maine Ocean Energy - 2006-05-17
In a one-year study of Maine's tidal power potential, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) concluded that it provides an excellent resource that could produce electricity at costs competitive with wind and natural gas, and less expensive than solar and so-called "clean coal."

Drilling for Geothermal Plants in Nevada Yields Results - 2006-05-17
Nevada Geothermal Power (NGP) has initiated development drilling at Blue Mountain Nevada. Production test data from the wells will be used to complete a feasibility study for an initial 30 MW geothermal power plant.

DOE Honors Knight & Carver's Low Wind Speed Blade Design - 2006-05-17
The company's $2.8 million shared-cost research and development (R&D) project will ultimately lead to production of a wind blade that produces energy in low wind speed regions.

OTB Solar Provides Solar Manufacturing System to South Korea - 2006-05-17
OTB Solar announces the successful installation of a 30 megawatt (MW) production line to KPE, a South-Korean solar cell manufacturing company.

Biodiesel Made from Algae in Sewerage Ponds - 2006-05-17
Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation has produced its first sample of homegrown biodiesel fuel using algae sourced from sewerage ponds in its region of New Zealand.

Chevron May Invest in Ethanol Distilleries - 2006-05-17
Chevron Corp. is exploring investments in ethanol plants to guarantee steady supplies of the gasoline additive for its refineries.

China is world's leading investor in renewable energy - 2006-05-17
China has become the top investor in renewable energy in the world, experts said Tuesday at the ongoing forum for decentralized sustainable energy solutions in China.

ADM Expands Hamburg Oil Facility with Palm-Oil Refinery - 2006-05-15
Archer Daniels Midland Company is expanding its Hamburg, Germany, facility with the addition of a palm-oil refinery that will have an annual capacity of 350,000 metric tons per year.

New Plant to Supply 20 MW of Geothermal Power in 20-Year PPA - 2006-05-15
This agreement marks the 10th PPA between Ormat and Sierra Pacific Power, and the fourth executed since the enactment of Nevada's renewable portfolio standard legislation in 2001.

Potential Wind Energy Studied in U.S. Northwest - 2006-05-15
Umatilla County has the capacity to generate about 480,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of wind energy per year, or enough energy to power roughly 46,000 Oregon homes annually.

House Subcommittee Markup Gives $148M for Solar America Initiative - 2006-05-15
The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that the House Energy and Water Development subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee has released its mark for the 2007 DOE budget. The numbers include a robust funding increase in solar R&D

New York State Backs Cellulosic Ethanol - 2006-05-12
A $20 million program in the New York state budget is slotted for the development of a cellulosic ethanol pilot facility in New York State.

UN Secretary-General Calls for New Energy Approaches - 2006-05-12
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for new approaches to energy use with a focus on greater efficiency, increased investment in renewable sources and new technologies.

Texas Grants Lease for Gulf of Mexico Wind Project - 2006-05-12
Texas is now in a position to launch the first U.S. offshore wind project by announcing a lease agreement for a wind farm in the Gulf of Mexico.

Soybean Industry Outlines Priorities for Next Energy Bill - 2006-05-12
The American Soybean Association (ASA), which has long advocated that soybean farmers can help the U.S. meet its energy needs through producing soy biodiesel, outlined its biodiesel legislative priorities for Congress to consider as it drafts another ener

Harkin announces aggressive new renewable fuel effort - 2006-05-12
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, announced a renewable fuels program Thursday, calling for ethanol use in the nation to increase to 60 billion gallons a year by 2030.

Ethanol Plants and Processes All Across the Country - 2006-05-11
Even though the domestic ethanol industry is on edge over talk in Congress of lawmakers removing protectionist tariffs on international ethanol, ethanol plants and processes are going up far and wide.

Wind Power to Generate Hydrogen in New Research Project - 2006-05-11
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Xcel Energy recently signed a cooperative agreement for an innovative "wind to hydrogen" research, development and demonstration project.

Meeting Asia and Pacific Region's Renewable Energy Needs - 2006-05-11
The vice president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Geert van der Linden, said rising concerns about energy needs, costs and security call for new ways of thinking about sources and use of energy.

Chevron Takes 22% Stake in Texas Biodiesel Company - 2006-05-11
Chevron has taken a 22% stake in Galveston Bay Biodiesel LP (GBB). The Houston-based company is constructing a biodiesel production and distribution facility in Galveston, Texas, scheduled for completion by the end of 2006.

Japanese Research Consortium Develops High-Strength Heat-Resistant Bioplastic for Auto Parts - 2006-05-11
The newly-developed bioplastic has three times the shock impact resistance along with 25% higher heat resistance when compared to contemporary bioplastics used for items such as electrical appliances.

Free Wind Turbines Part of Pennsylvania Push for Wind - 2006-05-11
Each of the turbines will generate enough electricity to power a typical residence -- and get people thinking about adopting alternative energy sources in their homes and businesses.

Biofuels Thriving in Western New York - 2006-05-11
This year's budget includes a Renewable Fuel Production Tax Credit that makes New York companies eligible to receive a tax credit for each gallon of renewable fuel they produce.

UN to Discuss Sustainable Energy Future of the World - 2006-05-10
The 14th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 14) to be held in New York this week will examine progress in sustainable energy, climate change, air pollution and industrial development issues.

Axiom Energy to Build 39.6 mgy Biodiesel Manufacturing Facility - 2006-05-10
After securing portside land at Toll GeelongPort, Axiom Energy plans to build a 39.6 million gallons per year (mgy) biodiesel manufacturing facility, expected to be fully operational mid 2007.

Pan-European Wind Energy Grid Proposed - 2006-05-10
Ireland-based Airtricity this week unveiled plans to create a pan European undersea energy grid, or so-called Supergrid, that would link a series of wind farms from as far ranging locations as the Mediterranean, up to the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic and

A New Drive for Greater Fuel Efficiency - 2006-05-10
In a sign of the political recalibrations sparked by high gasoline costs, senators Tuesday urged representatives of the auto industry and labor to back efforts to raise fuel efficiency standards that they have resisted for years.

San Francisco Lands its First LEED Hotel - 2006-05-10
The system, used widely throughout Europe and Asia, is expected to cut the hotel’s energy use by 20%.

"Green" building opens in McKinney - 2006-05-10
The building will use 60 percent less energy than a typical office building.

Backyard windmill may cut electricity bill - 2006-05-09
People could soon generate their own wind energy with a new type of domestic windmill that plugs straight into the grid.

A Better Image with Less Energy - 2006-05-09
For the first time, the specifications cover energy use when the product is in use as well as in standby.

Lennar Homes to Build Nation's Largest Solar Community - 2006-05-09
Lennar recently announced a partnership with PowerLight Corporation and Roseville Electric to build the nation’s largest solar community.

Giant Wind Turbines - 2006-05-09
GE has announced a $27 million partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop 5-7 megawatt turbines by 2009, each of which could power well over 1,000 homes.

A car that could save the planet—fast - 2006-05-05
Silicon Valley's big brains think they can beat Detroit and Tokyo and save the planet -- all while doing 0 to 60 faster than almost anything on the road.

Renewable Energy Takes Center Stage in Nevada Politics - 2006-05-05
In a twist on the age-old political contest, renewable energy has become a prominent campaign issue with one candidate announcing major plans and the topic proving itself worth addressing for the others.

GE Energy to research wind power in California - 2006-05-05
GE Energy has joined forces with the University of California to investigate the impact higher levels of intermittent renewable power generation, such as wind energy, will have on California's power grid.

ADM Breaks Ground on 85 Million Gallon Biodiesel Plant in North Dakota - 2006-05-05
The new facility will convert canola oil from the oil-crushing plant into biodiesel fuel, and use the equivalent of 1,000,000 acres of canola annually, adding further value to the crop.

Hydrogen Reality Check - 2006-05-05
Fuel cells won't significantly dent fuel consumption for 50 years -- we need to look elsewhere.

Sales of SUVs take back seat to hybrids - 2006-05-05
Sales of fuel-efficient hybrid autos are up, big sport-utility vehicle sales are down and Northern Californians are part of a steamrolling national trend to find vehicles that will cause them less fiscal pain at gas pumps.

Cattle power energizes Ontario Hydro - 2006-05-05
Their hydro bill has shrunk to $30 month from $2,500 since they installed a 500-cubic-metre manure digester and methane-powered generator three years ago.

Green Power Switch Program Achieves Sales Milestone - 2006-05-05
With monthly sales surpassing 30,000 blocks of green power at 150 kilowatt-hours (kWh) each, Green Power Switch (GPS) consumers bought as many blocks of renewable energy as they wished.

This Week in the Ethanol Business - 2006-05-04
With gas prices through the roof and every politician, including President George W. Bush, calling for more use of ethanol, the industry has been on a roll.

Oklahoma Wind Farm Gains Regulatory Approval - 2006-05-04
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved OG&E Electric Services' request to construct a 120 megawatt (MW) wind farm in northwestern Oklahoma.

Green Building Survey Shows 20% Growth in 2005, 30% in 2006 - 2006-05-04
Preliminary results of a McGraw-Hill Construction/National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey indicated that there was a 20% increase in 2005 among those in the home building community who are focusing their attention on green, environmentally- re

Univ. of Maryland Partners with Flexcar to Reduce Campus Car Use - 2006-05-04
The University of Maryland has launched the Flexcar car-sharing program on its campus.

Largest Onshore European Wind Farm Approved - 2006-05-04
Situated south of Glasgow, Scotland, when the ScottishPower wind farm is complete it will satisfy more than two percent of Scotland's electricity needs in a typical year.

450-Home Housing Development to Feature Solar Systems - 2006-05-03
The Sacramento division of the national builder, Lennar, announced a partnership with PowerLight Corporation and Roseville Electric to build what it is calling the nation's largest solar community.

Politicians call for new fuel economy rules - 2006-05-03
Today, as Congress struggles to calm the gas price furor, a House hearing will examine whether regulators should be allowed to change the fuel economy rules for cars.

Biotech company targets New England to launch ethanol production - 2006-05-03
New England is a long way from the hub of the nation's ethanol production in the Corn Belt, but a fledgling maker of the clean-burning fuel additive sees the nation's northeastern corner as fertile ground for its expansion plans.

GM Promotion: $1K Fuel Card with Flex-Fuel Vehicles - 2006-05-03
GM will offer a $1,000 fuel card with the purchase of any new 2006 or 2007 Chevrolet and GMC vehicles equipped with FlexFuel technology in the Chicago-Rockford and Minneapolis-St. Paul markets between 2 May and 31 July, 2006.

Geothermal Could Meet 6% of U.S. Electrical Needs by 2025 - 2006-05-03
Geothermal resources could supply more than 30,000 MW of power by 2025, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) told the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this week.

Momentum Builds for Lucrative Hydrogen Energy Prize - 2006-05-03
Four expert witnesses on Capitol Hill recently testified in support of a prize to promote technological advances in hydrogen technology.

State panel calls for an experimental wind farm offshore - 2006-05-03
Gov. Jon Corzine's blue-ribbon panel on wind power recommended creating an offshore wind farm with up to 80 turbines, throwing its weight behind a clean-energy option that has drawn fire from some ocean advocates and Shore communities.

Million Solar Roofs Bill Resurrected - 2006-05-02
By a vote of 6 to 1, the SB1 was approved by the State Assembly Utilities Committee.

Innovalight Raises $7.5 M for Its Silicon Ink Technology - 2006-05-02
Innovalight plans to accelerate the development of ultra-low cost, lightweight solar cells using a proprietary silicon ink-based technology.

Dynoil to Build 1.5 bgy Biodiesel Refinery in Houston - 2006-05-02
To help lessen the U.S. dependency on foreign oil, Dynoil's commitment to producing an alternative diesel fuel is under way with its plan to build a 1.5 billion gallon per year (bgy) refinery that will process vegetable oil feedstock into environmentally

AES Grows Its Wind Generation Assets in California - 2006-05-02
The AES Corporation will purchase 54 MW of wind generation assets from Enron Wind Systems in Tehachapi, California, bringing the total wind generation AES operates to 654 megawatts (MW).

Ford’s US Hybrid Sales More than Double in April - 2006-05-02
Sales of Ford’s Escape and Mariner hybrids more than doubled from March to April, shooting up to a combined 3,420 units from 1,590 units the month before—an increase of 115%.

Goldman Sachs Invests C$30 Million in Cellulosic Ethanol Provider - 2006-05-01
Goldman Sachs & Co. has invested C$30 million (US$27 million) in Iogen, the Canadian pioneer of commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production.

Growing Green: Building industry coalesces around environmental techniques - 2006-05-01
Concern about global warming, energy conservation and rapid depletion of the Earth's nonrenewable resources has not gone unheeded in the building industry in the United States.

2006 Already a Record Year for Canadian Wind Power - 2006-05-01
Canada's wind energy industry has already broken its annual growth record in 2006 and is set to shatter it before the year is out.