Green Investing News

July 2006 News Archives

Wave Energy Project to be Awarded €1.37 million - 2006-07-31
The 2MW full scale wave energy conversion power plant will be situated in 60 meters of water approximately 10 kilometers off the coastline midway between the Portuguese cities of Lisbon and Porto.

New Wind Power Project Destined for Iowa - 2006-07-31
Construction of this project is scheduled to begin later this year and is scheduled to be completed prior to the end of 2007.

MDI Biological Laboratory turning 'green' over building - 2006-07-31
The $6.5 million building should be up and running by fall 2007 and will more than double the lab's research capacity, officials said.

Garbage in, diesel out? It could be - 2006-07-27
A demonstration in Fife on Wednesday from Green Power, a company that says it can turn garbage into fuel in three minutes, amazed many of the several dozen spectators and left at least a few wanting a better explanation of the science behind the technology.

Sales of Grid-Connected PV Systems Soar in Ontario - 2006-07-27
CanSIA, the Canadian Solar Energy Industries Association, estimates that sales of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have soared in Canada by more than 400% in the first half of 2006.

France Implements New Renewable Tariffs for Solar, Wind and Biogas - 2006-07-27
Breakthrough policy doubles payment for solar energy and biogas, putting France on a par with Germany.

Changing to green - 2006-07-27
At Ipswich festival, a grass-roots group of locals will show off all kinds of ways to cut fuel costs

Paul: Who killed my electric car? - 2006-07-26
While you won't see many electric cars on the road, they've been around longer than you might think.

Hawaii BioEnergy Firm Looks at Renewable Fuel - 2006-07-26
The Hawaii BioEnergy, a recently formed international consortium, will join forces to research the viability of renewable energy crops, products and services in the state of Hawaii.

Federal NDP Suggests Feed Law for Canadian Provinces - 2006-07-26
The New Democratic Party (NDP) has become North America's first national political party to endorse the concept of establishing fixed prices to encourage renewable energy development. Such policies have been instrumental in countries such as Germany and Spain where renewable energy growth has been among the strongest in the world.

Biofuels take off overseas - 2006-07-26
Home-grown industry stalled but Australian canola growers cash in as high oil prices drive up global demand

Americans Seek Energy-Conscious Employers and Environmentally-Friendly Office Buildings - 2006-07-26
When it comes to workplace benefits, an overwhelming percentage of U.S. employees are looking for a different kind of green: not just the green in their paycheck, but an environmentally-friendly place to work.

Record Wind Power Growth: From Texas to Europe - 2006-07-26
As the U.S. wind energy industry stayed on pace for another record year, Texas for the first time supplanted historic leader California as the top state in cumulative wind power capacity, according to the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) Second Quarter Market Report.

Application Filed for First U.S. Commercial Wave Energy Project - 2006-07-25
Ocean Power Technologies (OPT), known for its PowerBuoy wave energy device, filed an application for construction permission to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a 50-megawatt (MW) wave power generation project in Oregon, the first request in the U.S. for such a power project on a utility-scale level.

Northern Ireland Proposes Mandatory Solar or Wind on All New Buildings - 2006-07-25
The Government of Northern Ireland is proposing changes to the Building Regulations which will make the use of renewable energy compulsory in all new buildings from 2008, according to Secretary of State Peter Hain MP.

Ireland Raises Bar for Electricity from Renewable Energy - 2006-07-25
According to figures released by Sustainable Energy Ireland's (SEI) Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit, electricity generated from renewables contributed 6.8% to electricity supply in 2005, up from 5.2% in 2004.

Development Rights Purchased for Wisconsin Wind Project - 2006-07-25
When complete, Cedar Ridge Wind Farm will generate enough electricity to power as many as 20,500 homes.

World's Deepest Offshore Wind Farm Nearing Installation - 2006-07-25
At the Talisman Energy Inc.-operated Beatrice oil platform last week, work started on the installation of a 35 million GBP (USD$ 64 million) deepwater wind farm demonstrator project 25 kilometers off the east coast of Scotland.

Victoria Commits to 60% Renewable Energy - 2006-07-24
The Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) congratulated the Victorian Government on its legislated target for renewable energy, which is designed to help secure Victoria's economy for future prosperity by preparing it for the challenges of global carbon constraints.

Houses could have own wind-turbine on roof - 2006-07-24
Some householders could generate about a third of their electricity requirements by fitting a small wind turbine to the roof of their home, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment said today.

Hybrid car owners hope to plug in to better mileage - 2006-07-24
Scientists are developing plug-in technology that would allow the Toyota Prius and other hybrid vehicles to travel their first 60 miles (95km) of the day on about half a gallon of gas.

Who needs gas? - 2006-07-24
Converted pickup is cooking down the roads on vegetable oil

Wind market needs nurturing - 2006-07-24
Tom Astle, energy analyst with National Bank Financial, put out a lengthy report last week citing the huge investment opportunities in the fast-growing wind energy sector, pointing to the United States as a "hotspot" and Canada as an "up and coming" market

BP Solar Announces Solar Manufacturing Advance - 2006-07-24
Just a week after announcing a new partnership with a university in Portugal that would explore new ways to produce "ribbon-style" solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, the solar giant announced the development of a new silicon growth process it says increases the all-important efficiency of their multi-crystalline-based cells.

Three Governors Join Governors' Ethanol Coalition - 2006-07-21
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced that Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, and Maryland Gov. Robert Erhlich are the newest additions to the 35-member Governors' Ethanol Coalition.

Go green, Miliband tells supermarket bosses - 2006-07-21
Environment secretary David Miliband yesterday summoned bosses from the big four supermarkets to demand they work harder to make their businesses more environmentally friendly.

Hawaii landowners form bio-energy company - 2006-07-21
Three of Hawaii's largest landowners have combined to start their own renewable bio-energy company.

Federal Gov. Begins Solar Photovoltaic Module Testing - 2006-07-21
With roof-top solar photovoltaic (PV) systems becoming more popular, the U.S. Government is stepping into the PV module testing arena, beginning with a new testing facility at the Federal Government's Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL).

Plans Announced for Belgium's Largest Offshore Wind Farm - 2006-07-20
With 66 five-megawatt (MW) wind turbines, the 330 MW project represents an investment of Euro 800 million [US$1 billion].

Solar-powered boat launched in London - 2006-07-20
Britain's biggest solar-powered boat debuted Tuesday on a lake in London's Hyde Park, opening what its developers hope is a door to the future of solar-powered transportation.

London Show: Smart Shows Zero-Emissions Vehicle - 2006-07-20
Smart has unveiled an electric version of its Fortwo city car, which will be supplied to corporate customers in the UK.

Toyota Plans Hybrid That Runs on Batteries - 2006-07-20
Toyota sees a future in plugging in vehicles _ instead of simply pulling in for gas.

Wind Energy Brings Power to the People in Pennsylvania - 2006-07-20
Due to a $193,000 grant awarded to Southwest Windpower from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA), Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that 15 Pennsylvania counties can now install small, advanced- technology wind turbines in highly visible locations at schools, local government buildings and other public facilities.

Oregon Architect Beats Heat with Radiant Cooling - 2006-07-19
When forecasters predict triple-digit weather for the Portland area, architects and staff at Opsis Architecture look forward to being in the office.

Toyota looks at ethanol car development - 2006-07-19
Toyota, a pioneer in the development of popular gas-electric hybrid vehicles, is considering a US investment in cars that run on ethanol and other alternative fuels, the automaker's North American president says.

Connecticut Governor Dedicates State's First Biodiesel Plant - 2006-07-19
It is said to be the first plant of its kind in Connecticut and the largest in southern New England.

State Offers Incentive for Home Solar-Power Units - 2006-07-19
Pumping electricity into grid pays 15 cents a kilowatt-hour.

Integrated Design Needed to Achieve Energy Goals - 2006-07-19
More can be done to achieve the Department of Energy's (DOE) goal to achieve marketable zero-energy buildings by 2025, concludes findings published in a recent study of low-energy, high-performance commercial buildings in the U.S.

Sierra Club, Steelworkers push clean energy - 2006-07-19
The pairing of the nation’s largest manufacturing union and the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization might seem strange, but their representatives say it’s a natural fit, given heavy bluecollar job losses in recent years and current energy problems.

Offshore turbines go on display - 2006-07-18
Two turbines for a prototype offshore wind farm have been showcased at a former oil fabrication yard in the Highlands.

Missouri Passes Renewable Fuels Act - 2006-07-18
Governor Matt Blunt signed House Bill 1270 establishing the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard Act, which requires most Missouri gasoline to contain at least ten percent ethanol (E-10) by January 1, 2008.

Biodiesel Edges Out Ethanol - 2006-07-18
Corn ethanol yields an energy dividend but gains are higher with soy biodiesel, a new study shows.

California Utility Seeks Renewable Energy Projects - 2006-07-18
Southern California Edison (SCE), the nation's largest purchaser of renewable energy, this week launched its fourth solicitation for renewable power contracts since 2002.

BP Solar Seeks Ribbon-style PV Manufacturing Approach - 2006-07-18
Echoing the direction of some rival solar companies, BP Solar is hoping to harness its own version of a ribbon-based approach to the manufacturing solar photovoltaic (PV) cells.

Canada aims to boost biofuel production - 2006-07-18
The Canadian government said on Monday it will give grassroots groups C$11 million ($9.7 million) toward boosting biofuel production to meet its 2010 production target.

Windmills: The next generation - 2006-07-17
This windmill is a 415-foot next-generation wind turbine with three 130-foot blades, and it can generate up to three megawatts of electricity when the wind speed reaches 30 mph. That's enough energy to power at least 2,200 Bay Area homes over the course of a year.

Wal-Mart Sustainability Meeting Focuses on Climate Change, Supply Chain - 2006-07-17
During the company's Sustainable Value Network meeting last week, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott lead a discussion about how Wal-Mart, working closely with suppliers, academics, NGOs, politicians, and other business leaders, can affect change at all levels of the supply chain.

Clipper Windpower and BP Form Wind Energy Alliance - 2006-07-17
Under a long-term turbine supply agreement, BP has secured a mix of firm and contingent orders of up to 2,250 MW of additional Clipper turbines in its global wind portfolio.

All Energy for Europe Could Come from Concentrating Solar Power - 2006-07-17
A study commissioned by the German Government shows in detail how Europe (including the UK and Ireland) can meet all its needs for electricity, cut emissions of CO2 from electricity generation by 70% by the year 2050

Wind Portfolio Grows with Investment - 2006-07-14
The Disgen portfolio has nine advanced development projects totaling more than 1,000 MW, which will be combined with CPV Wind's existing development program.

Making gas from grass - 2006-07-14
Groundbreaking research at the University of Calgary may someday see mowed grass - and other previously-discarded plant products - used as gas.

Turbine plans for county's farms - 2006-07-14
Somerset County Council is looking into how many of its 74 farms could have wind turbines installed.

Wind Capital plans second Mo. wind farm - 2006-07-14
Wind Capital Group, John Deere and Missouri cooperatives said Wednesday that a second 50-megawatt wind farm would be constructed in Atchison County, Mo., next year.

Construction Begins on ErSol's 40 MW Thin-Film Module Plant - 2006-07-14
Once complete in the year 2008, the facility is expected to produce approximately 40 megawatts (MW) of thin-film solar modules.

Got the power: Solar array augments school energy and education - 2006-07-14
The panels began producing energy on June 14.

Alternative fuel plants to get tax breaks - 2006-07-14
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed bills into law giving tax breaks to plants that convert crops into fuel.

Canada Passes 1,000 MW of Installed Wind Energy Capacity - 2006-07-13
Canada has now become the 12th country in the world to surpass 1,000 megawatts (MW) of installed wind energy capacity.

Zipcar to Double Fleet in San Francisco Area and Expand into Chicago - 2006-07-13
Zipcar, North America’s largest car sharing company, announced plans to double its San Francisco Bay Area fleet within the year, expanding into new communities throughout the region while increasing service in existing neighborhoods.

Design Renewable Energy into Carbon-Smart Buildings - 2006-07-13
Architecture and building design must undergo a rapid transformation as a key step toward reducing carbon emissions enough to avoid the catastrophic effects of global warming.

Governor Ehrlich Boosts Renewable Energy Initiatives - 2006-07-13
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., outlined his plans to increase Maryland's access to renewable energy sources, especially the use of biofuels and biomass such as animal manure and underutilized wood resources, and will provide incentives for the use of renewable electricity, including solar and wind resources.

First All-Natural Hot Beverage Cup Made from Corn-Based Bioplastic - 2006-07-13
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and International Paper have teamed to launch the only all-natural paper hot beverage cup available in consumer outlets throughout the U.S.

Green Energy: A Second Coming - 2006-07-12
The younger generation is taking part in finding workable solutions to the myriad problems related to the production, distribution and consumption of energy.

Canadian Start-up Secures Funding for Silicon Production - 2006-07-12
Ontario-based ARISE Technologies Corp. made strides this week toward its goal of demonstrating what it says will be a new approach for refining high-purity solar-grade silicon.

Positive, Tentative Congressional Steps on Ocean Renewables - 2006-07-12
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 232-187 with 14 Not Voting to approve H.R. 4761 -- the Deep Ocean Energy Resource (DOER) Act -- an important piece of legislation for the budding U.S. ocean energy industry.

Renewables Are the Solution to Global Climate Change - 2006-07-12
Global climate change can be significantly slowed with the proper economic incentives and technological developments, according to presenters at the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) conference in Denver, Colorado.

SunPower Silicon Demand Spurs New Manufacturing Facility - 2006-07-11
SunPower Corp. this week announced a major silicon supply agreement topping USD$ 250 million. The deal calls for DC Chemical Co., one of South Korea's leading chemical companies, to provide polysilicon for SunPower's solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing operations.

Green Ideals and Markets Meet at U.K. Eco-Business School - 2006-07-11
Idealism and market economics made for an explosive mix at this summer's eco-business school, as the cream of London's young eco-entrepreneurs gathered to learn about green niche markets -- and why profit should not be a dirty word.

State offers incentive for home solar-power units - 2006-07-11
Pumping electricity into grid pays 15 cents a kilowatt-hour

Fourteen Ethanol Stations Open "Ethanol Corridor" - 2006-07-11
VeraSun Energy Corporation, in partnership with Ford Motor Company, officially opened a new Midwest Ethanol Corridor, which will increase the availability of VE85, VeraSun's branded E85, with the addition of 14 new retail locations along I-55 in Illinois.

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Under Construction - 2006-07-10
Construction is currently under way this month on a rare wind energy project, a 200 kilowatt (kW) vertical-axis wind turbine outside a large residential complex in Michigan.

Contract Secured for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells - 2006-07-10
Sustainable Technologies International (STI) and Dyesol Limited announced the first major contract for its flexible solar panels that hold promise for applications -- including powering cooling, communications, and sensors -- as lightweight mobile powerpacks or integrated into field structures.

Cow power - 2006-07-10
Dairy farm draws electricity from unlikely source

California and Sweden Collaborate on Renewable Fuels - 2006-07-10
California and the Kingdom of Sweden have finalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperatively develop bioenergy, particularly biomethane.

China's Yingli Eyes $400 mln Nasdaq Listing - 2006-07-10
Chinese solar power equipment maker Yingli Solar plans to raise about US$400 million through a initial public offering on Nasdaq by early 2007, a Hong Kong newspaper citing market sources reported on Friday.

Wind projects gaining support - 2006-07-10
Massachusetts is running out of gas.

Green energy call for developers - 2006-07-10
New developments would have to generate at least 10% of their energy from on-site renewable sources under new guidelines proposed by ministers.

HK's CLP Eyes Renewable Energy Projects in Asia - 2006-07-10
Hong Kong's largest electricity utility, CLP Holdings Ltd., is actively seeking wind energy and hydro power projects in China, India and other Asian countries to beat its renewable energy target.

Hawaii Considers Plans for Shell's Proposed Maui Wind Farm - 2006-07-07
Hawaii, which pays among the highest utility rates in the U.S. and is seeking to produce more power from renewable sources, may get some relief from Shell WindEnergy Inc.'s (Shell) recent announcement of plans to develop the Auwahi wind project on Maui's Ulupalakua Ranch, Shell's first wind farm in the State of Hawaii.

U.S. Postal Service Saves $110 M Using Renewable Energy - 2006-07-07
Ten energy conservation contracts issued under the Postal Service's Shared Energy Savings (SES) program will help the United States Postal Service (USPS) avoid an average of $11 million a year in energy costs over 10 years -- for a total savings of $110 million.

More Lenders Join in Pledge to Safeguard Environment - 2006-07-07
Three years ago, 10 financial institutions — with Citigroup the only United States company on the list — announced that they would abide by the Equator Principles, a set of standards intended to ensure that the large projects they financed did not have a harmful impact on the environment or local population.

U.S. Energy Giant Acquires UK Wind Power Developer - 2006-07-07
The AES Corporation has acquired majority control of the Wind Energy Ltd. (WEL) group companies, a UK-based wind development company, with 640 megawatt (MW) of wind generation projects under development throughout Scotland.

PG&E Requests 400 MW More in Renewable Energy - 2006-07-07
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is asking suppliers to submit competitive bids to provide the utility with 400 megawatts (MW) of additional renewable power resources in order to meet state goals and increase the clean energy available for its five million customers.

Years after automakers pulled the plug, electricity still attracts - 2006-07-06
Electric cars, ones that you could plug into a socket, charge up and go, emit no pollution and require no fuel imports.

Survey Finds Solar Energy Growth Expected - 2006-07-06
More than half of participants surveyed at the Jefferies Alternative Energy and Cleantech Conference believe solar power will be cost competitive with grid-generated electricity by 2015

Renewable Energy Gives Power to Storm-prone Regions - 2006-07-06
National Storm Management and Mythos Solar Energy signed an agreement to deliver renewable energy solutions to new and existing National Storm clients in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio, as well as to other storm-prone regions of the U.S. in an attempt to alleviate injury caused by energy-stranded storm victims turning to portable generators.

Spain's Acciona Wind Power Expands into Chinese Market - 2006-07-06
Spain-based Acciona Group's rise as a large and diversified player in the global renewable energy field was evident at the recent inauguration of a wind turbine manufacturing facility in China.

Swedish Firm to Build Bioethanol Plants in Hungary - 2006-07-06
The Hungarian unit of Swedish biofuels firm SEKAB will build four bioethanol plants in a total investment of up to 380 million euros (487 million US), the company said on Wednesday.

Ford Motor to air TV ads promoting use of ethanol - 2006-07-05
Ford Motor Co. will begin airing television commercials and publishing print advertising today touting the company’s ethanol-powered and hybrid-fueled vehicles.

Weyerhaeuser Uses Biomass to Cut Its GHG Emissions by 40% - 2006-07-05
Weyerhaeuser pledged to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 40 percent by 2020 while also reducing its reliance on high-priced fossil fuels by using biomass leftover from its paper and pulp operations as a fuel in its facilities.

Eight Corn-Ethanol Plants to be Identical, Modular and Green - 2006-07-05
Western Milling, one of California's largest grain milling companies, and Khosla Ventures, a venture assistance and capital firm, have formed Cilion, a company to operate modular, standardized 55 million gallons per year (mgy) ethanol plants.

Airtricity Buys 500 MW of Renewable Energy in GE Turbines - 2006-07-05
Airtricity plans to purchase more than 300 GE 1.5-MW wind turbines, with 500 MW capacity in an arrangement exceeding $550 million, which the company describes as unprecedented.

Solar Company Q-Cells Invests in New Swiss Technology - 2006-07-05
Q-Cells AG, a global manufacturer of solar cells, signed an agreement to invest Euro 7 million [US$8.9 million] into the Swiss company VHF Technologies SA (Flexcell) to industrialize Flexcell's new photovoltaic technology.