Green Investing News

November 2006 News Archives

Policy, Predictions & the U.S. Renewable Energy Industry - 2006-11-29
Members of Congress, corporate CEOs, government agency officials and representatives from prominent industry associations are converging on Capitol Hill today to discuss the next step in policy implementation and forecast how much renewable energy will contribute to U.S. energy supplies -- by 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050.

A wind-powered skyscraper in Paris - 2006-11-29
Developers have selected a design by an award-winning American architect for a bold new building nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower — and powered partly by the wind.

First "green" hospital in state planned for East Side - 2006-11-29
A planned East Side hospital will be the first “green” health-care facility in the state, with the UA’s architecture school teaming with Tucson Medical Center to create an energy-efficient, sustainable building.

Maine Dairy Switches Fleet to B20 Biodiesel; Largest Private Biodiesel Fleet in New England - 2006-11-29
Portland, Maine-based Oakhurst Dairy will have transitioned 130 delivery trucks—more than 90% of its fleet— to a B20 biodiesel blend by the end of 2006.

Human waste used to create green fuel - 2006-11-29
A Canadian company is creating an alternative green fuel from a new source of energy that was under our noses all along - human sewage.

It's Not Up to the EPA - 2006-11-29
Several states and environmentalist groups are asking the Supreme Court to force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose nationwide regulations on greenhouse gases, the most ubiquitous byproducts of modern industrial society.

Home builders think green - 2006-11-29
Building trend highlights environment, energy efficiency

Wind-powered System Under Way to Purify Water - 2006-11-29
The development of the integrated renewable energy-water system can reduce the cost of creating new sources of freshwater from impaired resources, such as brackish water, by directly addressing the major component of operating cost of desalination systems - energy.

Energy Use Can Be Cut by Efficiency, Survey Says - 2006-11-29
The growth rate of worldwide energy consumption could be cut by more than half over the next 15 years through more aggressive energy-efficiency efforts by households and industry, according to a study by the McKinsey Global Institute, which is scheduled to be released today.

Non-Silicon Manufacturing Plant to Open in 2008 - 2006-11-28
With news headlines around the world reporting on the silicon shortage and its potential impact on the future of the solar industry, two European-based companies are banking that next-generation non-silicon technology will be a cost-competitive -- and energy efficient -- alternative to silicon solar modules.

North Dakota pumped for E-85 - 2006-11-28
Some ethanol boosters say their product would be more attractive if drivers are allowed to select the percentage of the corn-based fuel that's blended in with regular gasoline.

Church on the Edge of Rome Offers a Solution to Smog - 2006-11-28
Several companies are now developing smog-eating products that can be used not only for the facades of buildings but also in paint, plaster and paving materials for roads. The new substances are now being tried in buildings, squares and highways in Europe and Japan.

As globe warms, can states force the EPA to act? - 2006-11-28
The agency argues that climate change requires a global solution, not federal regulations. The Supreme Court weighs in this week.

Asia urged to work towards energy sustainability - 2006-11-28
Asian countries should institute long-term plans for energy sustainability and take a multilateral cooperation approach, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said on Tuesday.

Electricity from wave power - 2006-11-28
Starting in 2007, massive, predictable waves off the coast of Oregon will help light homes and businesses along the West Coast.

Survey: 3 Out of 4 Americans Want Detroit and Washington to Impose 40 MPG Fuel-Efficiency Standard - 2006-11-22
Fully 78% of Americans want Washington to impose a 40 mile per gallon (mpg) fuel-efficiency standard for American vehicles, according to a new Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) national opinion survey released by the nonprofit Civil Society Institute (CSI).

Green paint - 2006-11-22
VOCs are particularly high in common household products such as paints, stains and adhesives. Growing consumer demand and advances in the manufacturing process have created more environmentally friendly alternatives

Schools are going green - 2006-11-22
Thanks to a law that just went into effect in New York, schools are now required to use environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance supplies.

Turning Green Into Gold - 2006-11-22
The Greening of Santa Monica

City employees get bonus for reaching 'green' goals - 2006-11-21
All full-time employees earned a $100 bonus because the city government reached its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 1 percent this year, according to Dan Richardson, the city's global warming project manager.

Argentine Biofuels Industry Gets Organized - 2006-11-21
The Argentine Biofuels Chamber (ABC) is a new professional international trade association representing the biofuels industry in Argentina. Its mission is to coordinate and interact with a broad range of cooperators from the public and private sectors as well as academia.

Broin Companies to Expand Corn Ethanol Plant with Cellulose-to-Ethanol Commercial Production by 2009 - 2006-11-21
Broin Companies, the nation’s largest dry mill ethanol producer, plans to build a cellulosic ethanol production facility in the state of Iowa with a completion date expected in 2009.

Shell, Codexis Sign Biofuels Pact - 2006-11-21
Big oil company and small biotech firm are latest to pursue hot market

A Sunnier Forecast for Solar Energy - 2006-11-21
Still Small, Industry Adds Capacity and Jobs to Compete With Utilities

PowerLight Completes First Phase of One MW Solar Project for S&P Co., Ltd in Gwangju, Korea - 2006-11-21
PowerLight Corporation, the leading global provider of solar power systems, announced today the completion of the first phase (800 kW) of a 1 megawatt (MW) solar power project in Gwangju, Korea, located 200 miles south of Seoul.

Ports pass clean air plan - 2006-11-21
Anti-pollution push includes tougher emissions standards aimed at improving health in Long Beach.

China to build one of the world's biggest solar power stations - 2006-11-21
The 100-megawatt facility, to be built in Dunhuang, an oasis town in northwest China's Gansu province, would be a collaborative effort between the local government and Beijing's Zhonghao New Energy Investment, Xinhua news said.

G.M. Plans Shift to Small Cars for the Emerging World - 2006-11-20
General Motors plans a shift toward building and selling more small cars after concluding that most of the growth will come in emerging markets where subcompacts and even smaller cars are most in demand, G.M. executives said this weekend at the Beijing auto show.

G.M. Plans Shift to Small Cars for the Emerging World - 2006-11-20
General Motors plans a shift toward building and selling more small cars after concluding that most of the growth will come in emerging markets where subcompacts and even smaller cars are most in demand, G.M. executives said this weekend at the Beijing auto show.

Group offers $150k sustainable energy innovation prize - 2006-11-20
A new Cambridge coalition of energy investors and academics being launched today is sponsoring a business-creation contest with a $150,000 prize for new ventures promoting sustainable energy technologies.

Chery Introduces New Hybrid for China - 2006-11-20
The new A5 ISG is a parallel hybrid with an all-electric capability at start-up or speeds below 40 kph (25 mph).

Winds of Change Blow Through California Power Grid - 2006-11-20
The whirling blades of 100 giant wind turbines sent a jolt of electricity into California's power grid as a group gathered in Rio Vista [last week] to dedicate the Shiloh Wind Power Plant.

Being Green a Marketing 'Must,' Says UK Study - 2006-11-14
PR management believe that an organization's green credentials are important to customers; and 84% predict this importance is likely to grow further over the next two years as the impact of environmental issues continues to bite, according to a new study.

It heats. It powers. Is it the future of home energy? - 2006-11-14
Residential 'micro-combined-heat-and-power' units are efficient furnaces that create electricity.

Rand Study Says Renewable Energy Could Play Larger Role In U.S. Energy Future - 2006-11-14
Renewable resources could produce 25 percent of the electricity and motor vehicle fuels used in the United States by 2025 at little or no additional cost if fossil fuel prices remain high enough and the cost of producing renewable energy continues falling in accord with historical trends, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

Shell president concedes global warming debate - 2006-11-14
Global warming doesn’t seem like an inconvenient truth to John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil Co., the giant U.S. subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Dutch/Shell Group.

Maxwell Technologies Introduces 125-Volt Ultracapacitor Module for Heavy Hybrid and Electric Vehicles - 2006-11-14
Maxwell Technologies, Inc. has introduced a compact, fully integrated, 125-volt BOOSTCAP ultracapacitor module to provide an easy-to-integrate building block for scalable energy storage and power delivery solutions for heavy hybrid and electric vehicles and heavy duty industrial applications requiring up to 1,500 volts.

Alternative energy comes with a 'moo' in Vermont - 2006-11-14
Besides pumping out 8,000 gallons of milk a day, these 2,000 dairy cows also light up 400 homes. The fuel is methane gas that bubbles from manure treated with bovine bacteria in heated underground tanks.

Integrating Wind Energy into the European Power Network - 2006-11-14
According to Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, wind energy growth over the past 35 years in terms of turbine size and power output has increased in Europe one hundredfold since the first turbines.

Akeena Solar Announces Third Quarter 2006 Results - 2006-11-14
Third Quarter 2006 Revenue Reaches $3.6 Million, up 62% over Third Quarter 2005 Company Increases 2006 Annual Revenue Growth Expectations to 70% Compared to 2005

Companies gear up to move ethanol - 2006-11-14
With new ethanol and biodiesel plants going online monthly and increasing demand for the homegrown fuel additives, transportation companies are scurrying to provide the needed trains, trucks and storage tanks to keep up with the rapidly growing industry.

Green Star Products to Build 900 Million Gallons per Year of Biodiesel Capacity in South Africa; Integration with Greenfuels’ Algae Bioreactors - 2006-11-14
The output from the 90 reactors will be 4 times greater than the entire US output of biodiesel in 2006.

Haste to make waste into energy - 2006-11-13
New high-tech conversion methods are popping up

Cellulosic Ethanol Company Mascoma Raises $30 Million in Series B Funding - 2006-11-13
Mascoma will use this round of funding for further research, the development and construction of new demonstration facilities, and designing commercial facilities for additional buildout.

Smith Electric Vehicles Evaluating Enova 120kW Drive System - 2006-11-13
Enova Systems has entered into an evaluation project with Smith Electric Vehicles, a division of The Tanfield Group Plc (TAN) and the world’s largest producer of road-going commercial electric vehicles.

SMUD Testing Valence-EnergyCS Plug-in Hybrid Prius - 2006-11-13
Valence Technology, a provider of phosphate lithium-ion battery systems, has partnered with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) conversion company EnergyCS to deliver a converted PHEV Prius to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) for evaluation of its fuel economy and fleet adaptability.

Open Energy and Infinia To Develop a Suncone/Stirling Solar-Electric Power System - 2006-11-13
Open Energy Corporation and Infinia Corporation (formerly Stirling Technology Company) plan to integrate Sterling engines and solar concentrators to create a new solar-powered electric generation system.

Lennar Homes to Build Nation's Largest Solar Community - 2006-11-13
Lennar recently announced a partnership with PowerLight Corporation and Roseville Electric to build the nation’s largest solar community.

Solar expected to shine - 2006-11-13
Increasingly, investors and utilities are looking at large-scale solar power plants that over time — some say within the next 10 to 15 years — are expected to be cost-competitive with conventional fossil-fuel systems during expensive peak hours.

Sydney suburb to become first solar city - 2006-11-13
PEOPLE living in the heart of Sydney's west will have the chance to use solar energy as part of a $15 million project funded by the federal government.

New "Eco-modern" Homes For Sale - 2006-11-13
Some interesting new homes have popped up on the Omaha market as part of a neighborhood the architect describes as "Eco-modern."

US Geothermal Power Expanding Dramatically - 2006-11-10
Some 58 new geothermal energy projects are now under development in the US, according to a survey by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) - the industry trade group.

Peterbilt to Introduce Medium-Duty Hybrid Truck for Fuel Savings of 30-40% - 2006-11-10
Peterbilt, a division of PACCAR, will display a production-representative, hybrid-electric medium-duty truck—outfitted with a fully integrated bucket lift body—at the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) National Meeting in San Diego next week.

DaimlerChrysler Unveils new smart fortwo; Micro-Hybrid Version in 2007 - 2006-11-10
DaimlerChrysler unveiled the new smart gasoline- and diesel-powered smart city cars yesterday evening in Stuttgart, Germany. The company said it will introduce a micro-hybrid version (starter/generator with stop-start capability) on one of the models in 2007.

Geothermal power plants could also consume CO2 - 2006-11-10
Pumping carbon dioxide through hot rocks could simultaneously generate power and mop up the greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuel power stations, according to a new study.

Swiss Court Puts Wind in Sails of Renewable Energy - 2006-11-09
A recent landmark ruling by the Swiss Federal Court recognizing wind farms as being in the public interest could have wider implications across the country.

India to Mandate E10 - 2006-11-09
Financial Express. India plans to introduce the mandatory blending of 10% ethanol (E10) into gasoline across the entire country from June 2007, according to Shri M. S. Srinivasan, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Report: GM May Introduce Series-Hybrid Prototype - 2006-11-09
AutoWeek reports that General Motors may soon introduce a series-hybrid prototype as a step in its development path to future electric vehicles.

Odyne Awarded Heavy-Duty CNG Hybrid and Plug-In Diesel Hybrid Contracts - 2006-11-09
Odyne Corporation has landed new orders for heavy-duty hybrids, one for a CNG hybrid, and another for plug-in diesel hybrids.

IEA Focuses on Hybrids and Biofuels for Reducing Transportation Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions - 2006-11-09
The International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2006 outlines an alternative policy scenario that reduces global energy demand by 10% in 2030, thereby avoiding the worse affects of the “dirty, insecure and expensive” business-as-usual reference scenario.

ENERGY: An Acceleration Toward Alternative Fuels? - 2006-11-09
The possible shift in Congress on energy issues may be summed up in one race: House Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-Calif.), who received substantial contributions from oil and gas companies, lost his seat to Jerry McNerney, who runs a start-up company that hopes to make wind turbines.

Plug-in Hybrids - 2006-11-08
The Cars that Will Recharge America

Builders promote energy efficiency - 2006-11-08
Warehouses and distribution centers might not come to mind as examples of buildings constructed with energy-efficient "green" features. But that is what's coming, according to an executive with ProLogis, a global company active in the midstate warehouse market that is incorporating more green features in its buildings.

U.S. Colleges and Universities Form National Coalition on Renewable Energy - 2006-11-08
A coalition of college and university presidents and academic leaders has called upon American institutions of higher learning to commit to renewable energy by greening their campuses, investing in the industry and teaching future generations about renewable energy.

This biofuel mooves along - 2006-11-08
AN economical, low-pollutant diesel fuel is being produced from beef fat in a world-first process at Brisbane's BP refinery.

Toyota's Global Profit Surges - 2006-11-08
Efficient Cars Lead Way to 34% Gain

DOE Selects California to Jumpstart E85 Ethanol Fueling Network - 2006-11-07
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected a team comprised of CALSTART, General Motors, Pacific Ethanol, CleanFUEL USA, Community Environmental Council and others to receive grants to jump start an alternative fuel network in California.

Training Tomorrow's Renewable Energy Workforce - 2006-11-07
From coast to coast, industry experts are forecasting that 2006 and 2007 will be the "tipping point" for renewable energy in the U.S. But when the market tips -- and demand for renewables in the public sector explodes -- will companies be equipped with enough technicians trained in the art of solar installation and wind turbine maintenance to keep up?

Green cities 'boost economy' - 2006-11-07
Greener cities attract highly skilled workers, who contribute to stable economic growth and are likely to press for even tougher environmental standards, creating a virtuous circle, according to the economist Matthew E Kahn.

The car culture gets a tune up - 2006-11-07
California's emissions crackdown fuels a fight in a state with as many vehicles as people, says ROB Global Energy

Toyota to Acquire 5.9% of Isuzu; Two to Work on Diesels and Alt Fuel Technologies - 2006-11-07
Toyota Motor and Isuzu Motors have signed a memorandum of understanding stating they will start studying the synergic effects of business collaboration.

Hybrids the homes of the future - 2006-11-06
Aaron Needham thinks people will buy a house that is so efficient in saving energy they would pay in a year what most consumers pay in a month.

'Silent aircraft' on the horizon - 2006-11-06
A U.S.-British team of researchers thinks the passenger aircraft of the distant future will be fuel-efficient and nearly silent.

Future for hybrid cars hinges on U.S. growth: Audi - 2006-11-06
Carmaker Audi said the success of hybrid vehicles, which shave around a quarter from fuel costs, hinged on faster U.S. sales growth, even though high prices at the pump mean they are enjoying rising demand.

Solar Powers Up, Sans Silicon - 2006-11-06
As early as next year, startups plan to begin manufacturing printed solar products for use in power-generating facilities, rooftop installations and portable gadgets.

Prius finally available without a wait - 2006-11-06
For the first time since the current version of Prius went on sale in October 2003, there are enough to fill customer demand, Toyota (TM) Group Vice President Jim Farley says.

HECO will consider biodiesel to fuel its newest power station - 2006-11-06
Hawaiian Electric Co. is considering using 99 percent biodiesel to fuel its new 100-megawatt power station planned for Campbell Industrial Park in 2009.

Report: Toyota To Unveil Flex-Fuel Tundra In North America In 2008 - 2006-11-06
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Toyota Motor plans to introduce E85 flexible-fuel vehicles in North America starting with the Tundra pickup truck as early as 2008.

HIE to turn island into test area for green technology - 2006-11-06
Under the scheme, which should start next year, renewable energy, efficient heating systems and environmentally friendly transport would be combined on a scale which has yet to be tried in the UK.

Millionaires' Green Mansions - 2006-11-06
Solar power is cheaper than ever for homes, American families are using geothermal heating and cooling systems, and efficient wind turbines make it a breeze to generate electricity without using polluting fossil fuels.

GE Finances Two Landfill Gas Projects in Delaware - 2006-11-03
GE is helping Delaware meet its requirement for generating power from renewable sources by providing a $7.25 million loan for construction and supplying equipment to generate power using methane from two Delaware landfill gas-to-energy generation projects.

US Sales of Hybrids in October Up 11% Year-on-Year - 2006-11-03
Sales of hybrids in the US in October rose to 18,784 units, up 10.9% from the 16,934 sold in October 2005. The October 2006 tally does not yet include sales of GM’s VUE Green Line Hybrid—GM is not yet breaking out those results separately.

Ethanol Producer VeraSun Announces Biodiesel Co-Production - 2006-11-03
VeraSun Energy Corporation, the US’ second-largest ethanol producer, plans to produce biodiesel from oil extracted from distillers dried grains (DDG), a co-product of the ethanol production process.

Alcoa Develops 'Engineered Natural Systems' to Reduce Discharges - 2006-11-03
Alcoa says it is actively developing, evaluating, and implementing natural sustainable technologies to reduce the environmental footprint at its aluminum smelting, refining, and production facilities.

Report: Toyota May Use Prius as Basis for Line of Hybrids - 2006-11-02
Bloomberg reports that Toyota Motor may extend the Prius into a line of vehicles as the company tries to triple annual US sales of hybrids.

Study Shows Going Green Saves Schools $100,000 a Year - 2006-11-02
A new national report finds that building "green" would save an average school $100,000 each year - enough to hire two new additional full-time teachers.

Closed-Loop Ethanol Plant to Start Production - 2006-11-02
The first closed-loop system for distilling commercial quantities of ethanol using methane gas recaptured from cow manure is set to begin production next month in Mead, Nebraska.

Shark biomimicry produces renewable energy system - 2006-11-02
An Australian firm has developed a renewable tidal energy conversion system based on the highly efficient fin structure of shark, tuna, and mackerel.

Solar to Become Top Alternative Energy, Author Says - 2006-11-02
Solar power will become economically viable and available to almost anyone in the next 10 to 15 years, Travis Bradford, a former corporate buyout specialist, says in his book "Solar Revolution."

Arizona Votes 4-1 in Favor of Renewable Energy - 2006-11-01
Arizona Corporation Commission will require 15% of all electricity sold by utilities to come from renewables by 2025.

Green chimney could save the planet - 2006-11-01
A new power plant chimney that converts greenhouse gases into helpful substances could have a huge impact on global warming.

Dawn of the 'solar salon' in U.S. living rooms - 2006-11-01
Across the United States, bankers and hedge fund managers rub shoulders with philanthropists and solar panel installers.

Mayor of London Introduces Hybrid Double-Deck Bus - 2006-11-01
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, today unveiled the first hybrid double-deck bus in the world and announced plans for a hybrid bus fleet for London.

US Homeowners Think Green on Improvements - Survey - 2006-11-01
For home owners dreaming of making improvements, environmentally friendly changes are the top choice, according to a survey released on Monday by Wells Fargo.

Energy-saving light bulbs promoted in Vietnam - 2006-11-01
Vietnam's economy has been growing at such a fast pace over the past five years that there are concerns the nation is using too much energy.