Green Investing News

January 2008 News Archives

Hoku, Sanyo Electric extend contract term to 10 years - 2008-01-31
Total amounts that may be payable to Hoku Materials under the contract rose to up to about $530 million for the amended 10-year contract from up to about $371 million for the seven-year contract, the company said in a statement.

Composite Technology's DeWind Announces Sale of 40 Turbines - 2008-01-31
80 Megawatts of Turbines for Projects in Czech Republic

New 'Green' Energy from Dirty Sources - 2008-01-31
Wall Street has piled billions into solar panels, wind farms, and other alternatives to oil and gas, but many investors also see big opportunities in making better use of older, dirtier energy sources

US Seeks to Retaliate Against EU in GMO Case - 2008-01-31
The United States underlined on Wednesday its right to retaliate against the European Union in a row over an EU ban on biotech crops.

US DOE Selects First Round of Small-Scale Biorefinery Projects for Up to $114M in Federal Funding - 2008-01-30
The US Department of Energy (DOE) will invest up to $114 million, over four years, (Fiscal Years 2007-2010) in four small-scale biorefinery projects to be located in Commerce City, Colorado; St. Joseph, Missouri; Boardman, Oregon; and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Combined with industry cost share, more than $331 million will be invested in these four projects.

CIA Campus Embraces Green Building - 2008-01-30
The CIA campus was designed to be as green as possible from the top on down. The current office building's roof is covered in 22,000 square feet of vegetation. Green roofs lower the heating and cooling needs of buildings, reduce stormwater runoff and filter pollutants from the air and rainwater.

Russian Government Clears Way for Carbon Profits - 2008-01-30
Russia's government on Tuesday opened the door to applications from entrepreneurs and big polluters to profit from greenhouse gas emissions cuts by selling these to Western countries.

Austin Joins Growing Network of LED Cities to Promote and Deploy Energy-Efficient Lighting Technology - 2008-01-30
Austin Energy, the Nation's 10th Largest Community-Owned Electric Utility, Expands Rebate Program to Include LED Lighting

Daimler AG and Deutsche Post World Net Launch Hybrid Truck Trials in Europe - 2008-01-30
This marks the world’s first deployment of a Mercedes-Benz hybrid-drive truck. DHL has been using the Canter Eco Hybrid in Japan since its introduction in 2006.

California Asks EPA to Regulate Machine Emissions - 2008-01-30
California officials Monday called on the US Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from industrial machines that they say emit as much carbon dioxide as 40 million cars.

High Oil Prices Boost Energy Efficiency - Report - 2008-01-30
High oil prices have spurred countries to use energy more efficiently, a report by an energy industry group said, but the authors say concerted government action is still needed to encourage less waste.

Air France Pledges $3 Billion a Year to Cut Carbon Emissions - 2008-01-29
Air France has announced it will spend almost $3 billion a year until 2020 to modernize its fleet, a plan that will reduce pollution and noise.

Three Trends Push Green Building From Niche to Mainstream: Report - 2008-01-29
Government initiatives, demand for green residential housing and better sustainable building materials are pushing green building from niche to mainstream, according the 2008 U.S. Construction Overview from FMI Corp., a consulting and investment banking company that caters to the global construction industry.

New York Town Chooses LEED for New Standards - 2008-01-29
Monroe, located in the Hudson Valley area, has proposed that all new residential and commercial construction meet green building guidelines, according to Daily Commercial News and Construction Record.

US DOE and State of Hawaii Sign Agreement to Increase Renewable Energy Technologies in Hawaii - 2008-01-29
The partnership aims to put Hawaii on a path to supply 70% of its energy needs using clean energy by 2030, which could reduce 72% of Hawaii’s current crude oil consumption.

UK Food and Drink Companies Vow Water Reductions - 2008-01-29
Crafters of the plan estimate water-efficiency measures could reduce water use by as much as 37 million gallons (about 140 million liters) a day and save the companies around $87 million (about £60 million) a year.

Bill would give utilities conservation targets, incentives - 2008-01-28
The amendments, contained in HB 305, would require utilities to invest in new technologies and programs to achieve, by 2020, a cumulative savings in electric consumption equal to at least 10 percent of 2005 total retail kilowatt-hour sales to New Mexico customers. Utilities would have to achieve at least 5 percent savings by 2014.

Evergreen Solar partners with utility to push green power - 2008-01-25
The pair intends to install pilot photovoltaic systems on schools, public buildings and other high-profile sites in communities served by municipal utilities.

Wal-Mart Announces Next Steps in its Green Evolution - 2008-01-25
CEO Lee Scott outlined additional steps the world's largest retailer wants to take to improve its environmental footprint in a speech Wednesday. That includes strengthening environmental, social and ethical standards for its suppliers, some of whom could be paid more if they meet Wal-Mart's wishes.

French Billionaire Joins Charge on Car Batteries - 2008-01-25
Billionaire corporate raider turned ecology activist Vincent Bollore on Thursday opened a factory to produce batteries for electric cars that could be flooding cities from Tokyo to Turin.

UN Calls Water Top Priority - 2008-01-25
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the world on Thursday to put the looming crisis over water shortages at the top of the global agenda this year and take action to prevent conflicts over scarce supplies.

Westport to supply LNG fuel systems through new assembly centre in British Columbia - 2008-01-25
Under an exclusive agreement with Westport Innovations Inc., Kenworth will use Westport's LNG fuel system technology adapted for the Cummins ISX-15-liter engine.

EPA Expected to Lose Calif Emissions Suit - Documents - 2008-01-25
The US Environmental Protection Agency figured it would lose a lawsuit filed by California if the agency turned down the state's request to toughen vehicle emissions standards to fight global warming, according to documents released on Wednesday.

Freightliner Begins Production of Diesel Hybrid Class 6 Beverage Truck - 2008-01-25
The medium-duty hybrid system uses a parallel, pre-transmission design with Eaton’s Fuller UltraShift automated transmission. Primary components are the Hybrid Drive Unit (HDU), which combines a clutch, a 44 kW/420 Nm motor/generator and automatically controlled manual transmission; the motor inverter/controller; the DC/DC converter; and a 2 kWh li-ion battery pack.

Chrysler Executive Says Fuels Key to Success - 2008-01-24
Research and development in fuel alternatives for gasoline should be the auto industry's top priority, even in a weakened economy, and even if it means companies delay expanding or other expensive strategic decisions, the president of Chrysler LLC said on Tuesday.

EU Sets Tough Criteria for Green Biofuels - 2008-01-24
Biofuels used in the European Union will have to provide a real saving in greenhouse gas emissions of at least one-third compared to fossil fuels and meet other criteria, the EU's energy chief said on Wednesday.

EPA Promotes Green Infrastructure for Better Water Quality - 2008-01-24
Topics include green roofs, trees and tree boxes, porous and permeable pavements and vegetated medians. Green infrastructure approaches are meant to keep rainwater out of the sewer system, reduce the amount of pollutants that run off of a site, and let stormwater flow through and be cleansed by soil and vegetation.

Armed Forces Face Strain of Climate Change - Report - 2008-01-24
Security forces round the world will face tough new challenges as climate change unleashes violent storms, raises sea levels and causes floods and famines, a new report said on Thursday.

Biotech Critics Challenging Monsanto GMO Sugar Beet - 2008-01-24
Opponents of biotech crops said on Wednesday they were filing a lawsuit to challenge the USDA's deregulation of Monsanto Co's genetically engineered sugar beet because of fears of "biological contamination" and other harm to the environment.

European Commission Proposes Plans for 20% Cut in GHG Emissions and 20% Use of Renewable Power by 2020 - 2008-01-23
The European Commission has proposed a detailed set of plans to implement the vision put forward in 2007 of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20% and being ready to step up to 30% with an international agreement; and to produce 20% of power from renewable sources by 2020.

Electrovaya Launches Maya-300 Low-Speed Electric Vehicle - 2008-01-23
It will have an extended range of up to 120 miles on a single charge, powered by Electrovaya’s Lithium-Ion SuperPolymer battery technology with integrated iBMS (intelligent battery management system).

Orders for Up To 1,700 Hybrid Buses Will More Than Double Existing GM-Allison Fleet - 2008-01-23
These new deliveries will more than double the current fleet of nearly 1,000 GM-Allison hybrid buses, and potentially include the largest single hybrid bus fleet acquisition yet—an order for 952 by the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Coca-Cola Rolls Out New Distribution Model With ZAP - 2008-01-23
The Coca-Cola Company and alternative transportation pioneer ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP) announced a project to use 30 of its compact trucks for a new beverage distribution system in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Lockheed Expands Into Energy Conservation Market - 2008-01-22
Lockheed Martin is expanding its business operations beyond military applications to capture a chunk of the private energy-management market.

All U.S. Facilities to be LEED-Compliant, ProLogis Announces - 2008-01-22
The company, which is the world's biggest manager of distribution facilities, will require all of its new developments in the U.S. to meet LEED standards, effective immediately.

Hologram prince hails new money for alternative energy - 2008-01-22
He welcomed an announcement by Abu Dhabi of an investment of $15bn of new money immediately, and far more later, into alternative energy projects including wind, solar, and carbon capture technologies.

First-of-Kind Nationwide Survey Finds Investors Focusing on the Environment - 2008-01-22
71% of investors classify environmental technology companies a "buy"

Hawaiian Electric & Hoku Solar Move Ahead on Photovoltaic Project - 2008-01-22
Installation Will Be Among Largest Single-Site Sun-to-Energy Units on Oahu

Shanghai GM Launches “Drive to Green Strategy”; Introduces LaCrosse Hybrid, Two-Mode and E-Flex Systems to Come - 2008-01-22
The strategy covers three key areas: developing products with improved performance, lower fuel consumption and lower emissions; cultivating greener manufacturing systems; and undertaking a “green responsibility.”

Union Pacific Reaches for More Fuel Efficient Locomotives - 2008-01-21
Union Pacific saved more than 20 million gallons of diesel fuel last year through a series of programs and locomotive acquisitions designed to improve its fleet's fuel efficiency.

Cap and Trade Not Enough to Cut Carbon - Goldman - 2008-01-21
Capping and trading carbon emissions will not be enough to fight output of the gases blamed for warming the planet, the managing director of Goldman Sachs' US carbon emissions desk said on Thursday.

Renault-Nissan and Project Better Place Sign MoU for Mass Marketed EVs in Israel - 2008-01-21
As part of the solution framework, the Israeli government will provide tax incentives to customers, Renault will supply the electric vehicles, and Project Better Place will construct and operate an Electric Recharge Grid across the entire country. Electric vehicles will be available for customers in 2011.

Japan Follows Europe by Tapping Offshore Wind for Power - 2008-01-21
A sudden change in breeze spins the turbines in a different direction, an apt symbol of Japan's efforts to shift away from fossil fuels for renewable energy such as wind power to help cut its greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.

Portugal, Spain Sign Green Car Partnership - 2008-01-21
Portugal and Spain want to create the first green car in Iberia, hoping to generate 150 million euros worth of investment and 800 new jobs in the region's struggling motor industry.

EU to Stick to Climate Plan Despite Rival Protests - 2008-01-18
The European Commission will spell out next week, over the din of protests from industry and governments as well as green groups, how it intends to cut greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change.

SC Johnson Launches Greenlist Product Labels - 2008-01-18
SC Johnson will begin designating products with a special label indicating they contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Norway Says Aims to Go Carbon Neutral by 2030 - 2008-01-18
Norway, which last year set what it called the world's most ambitious target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, said on Thursday it aimed to go "carbon neutral" in 2030, which is 20 years earlier than its previous target.

British Gas Chief Says EU Must Make Polluters Pay - 2008-01-18
Lawmakers must act now to end a scheme that has handed billions of euros in windfall profits to Europe's biggest polluters, the chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica said on Thursday.

Smart Grid Consortium to Develop Smart Grid City; Support for PHEVs with V2G Part of the Design - 2008-01-18
The Smart Grid Consortium, established in December 2007 by Xcel Energy, will select a mid-size community of approximately 100,000 residents to become a Smart Grid City: a testbed for emerging smart grid technologies and deployment strategies.

Google's Philanthropy Funds Renewable Energy, Electric Cars - 2008-01-18
Google.org's announcement to spend more than $25 million in new grants and investments includes money for monitoring and predicating the effects of climate change, producing renewable energy cheaper than coal, and supporting plug-in vehicles.

UAE About to Start Building Green City in Desert - 2008-01-18
The United Arab Emirates plans to start building a multi-billion-dollar green city in the desert in the first quarter of this year, as the oil producer looks to become a pioneer of alternative energy.

Retailers Go Green to Cut Costs - 2008-01-18
Many retailers are touting their environmental efforts, from building stores with recycled materials to installing low-flow water faucets and investing in solar power, as benefits to the bottom line.

Khosla Ventures Increases Stake in Transonic Combustion; 100 MPG Demonstrator Targeted for Q3 2008 - 2008-01-17
Transonic is in the process of developing a 100 mpg technology demonstrator in a sports car which is targeted to be on the road by the third quarter of 2008.

Sierra Nevada Increases Solar Energy Production; U.K. Brewers Lighten Their Bottles - 2008-01-17
While Sierra Nevada in the United States is adding to its clean energy resources, brewers in the United Kingdom are making their bottles lighter to reduce carbon emissions and put less glass in the waste stream.

Canada Beginning Consultations on Fuel Consumption Regulations - 2008-01-17
Canada’s Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Lawrence Cannon, announced that the government is beginning consultations with automotive, environmental and other stakeholders as part of the government’s commitment to implement national fuel consumption regulations for motor vehicles.

Wash. State Governor to Launch Greenhouse Gas Bill - 2008-01-16
Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire said Monday she plans to introduce legislation to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent in 2050 from 1990 levels.

Fisker Automotive Unveils the Karma Luxury Plug-in Series Hybrid - 2008-01-16
The four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports sedan will have a starting price of $80,000. Initial deliveries of the Karma will commence in the 4th quarter of 2009 with annual production projected to reach 15,000 cars.

Planned US Wind Farm Clears Regulatory Hurdle - 2008-01-16
Plans to build the United States' first offshore wind farm cleared a regulatory hurdle on Monday when a preliminary federal environmental review found it would pose no major ecological risks.

Idaho Public Utility Commission Approves Full Output Power Purchase Agreement for Raft River Unit One - 2008-01-16
The terms of the new contract allow for variable output up to a maximum of 15.8 megawatts, in place of the previous limit of a 10-megawatt monthly average as stipulated by the existing PURPA contract.

BT- and Cisco-Sponsored Paper Says Sustainability Breeds Innovation and Profitability - 2008-01-16
Focusing on sustainability can help businesses innovate and see profits, but it's a concept that has to start with leadership and be part of a company's culture, according to a paper released yesterday.

Johnson Controls-Saft Supplying NiMH and Li-ion Batteries for Chery and SAIC Hybrids - 2008-01-15
Johnson Controls-Saft is supplying two Chinese automakers—Chery and SAIC— with NiMH and Li-ion batteries for their emerging hybrid and “new energy” solutions.

Manila Creates Green Courts for Environmental Cases - 2008-01-15
The Philippine Supreme Court will designate special courts to speed up a backlog of environmental cases and ensure polluters are penalised for breaking the law, a spokesman confirmed on Monday.

Matsushita to Include Emissions as Performance Indicator - 2008-01-15
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., the parent company of Panasonic, plans to add carbon dioxide emissions figures to its key performance indicators, the company announced Friday.

Toyota to Offer Some Plug-Ins by 2010 - 2008-01-15
Toyota Motor Corp plans to market a test fleet of rechargeable hybrid vehicles to companies or government agencies by the end of 2010, raising the stakes in a race with rival General Motors Corp to bring the first mass-market plug-in to market.

BYD Auto Introduces Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle in Detroit; On Sale This Year in China - 2008-01-15
BYD Auto, a subsidiary of China-based BYD Group, the leading provider of NiCd batteries (65% global market share) and lithium-ion cell phone batteries (30% global market share), introduced its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology at the North American International Auto Show.

GE Increases Renewable Energy Pledge to $6 Billion - 2008-01-15
GE Energy Financial Services has raised its 2010 target for renewable energy investing to $6 billion.

Toyota to Expand Diesel, Plug-in Hybrid Efforts; New Lexus and Toyota Dedicated Hybrids to Premiere Next Year - 2008-01-14
At a media reception at the North American International Auto Show tonight, Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe said that he has challenged the company’s engineers to meet the new US 35 mpg CAFE standard “well in advance” of 2020.

GM Eyes Breakthrough in Cellulosic Ethanol - 2008-01-14
General Motors Corp said on Sunday it has bought a stake in start-up biofuel company Coskata Inc. which has developed a commercially viable process to bring cellulose-based ethanol to the market in 2011.

ZAP Execs Take World Electric Car Tour - 2008-01-14
CEO Plans Meetings in 12 Cities, 7 Countries Over the Next Two Weeks With Former CEO of Lotus Engineering

AFS Trinity Unveils Plug-in Extreme Hybrid at Detroit Show - 2008-01-14
Ultracap/Battery Combination Delivers 40-Mile All Electric Range

Clorox and Sierra Club Announce Branding Partnership - 2008-01-14
Green Works, Clorox's first new product line in two decades, is the first line of natural cleaners developed by a major consumer products company.

IBM Leads Program to Share Clean Technologies - 2008-01-14
As of today, 31 patents that were previously the sole domain of IBM, Nokia, Pitney-Bowes and Sony have been released for the public good. These patents mark the launch of the Eco-Patent Commons, and the result of nearly two years of discussion and planning.

Oerlikon Solar Unit to Double Capacity, Lifts Target - 2008-01-14
The solar unit of Swiss technology group Oerlikon said on Friday it would double its production capacity by adding a new plant in Asia and raised its 2008 sales forecast by 17 percent on surging demand.

NYC Council Votes to Mandate Plastic Bag Recycling - 2008-01-11
In a bid to curb the environmental impact of nearly 1 billion plastic bags used by New York City consumers annually, the city's council passed a bill on Wednesday requiring large stores to set up recycling programs.

Australia to End Plastic Bags in Supermarkets - 2008-01-11
Australia has followed China in announcing it plans to end plastic bag use in supermarkets, with its new environment minister saying on Thursday he wants a phase-out to start by the end of 2008.

More Insights into Using Bacteria to Generate Electricity from Waste - 2008-01-11
Researchers at the Biodesign Institute are using the tiniest organisms on the planet -- bacteria -- as a viable option to make electricity.

Oregon Wave Energy Trust Gets Funding - 2008-01-11
The Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET) has received the first part of its $4.2 million budget approved by the 2007 state legislature, and is moving ahead with plans and activities to make Oregon a global leader in the industry. The group has received $1 million from the Oregon Innovation Council.

Japan Plans US$10 Bln Aid to Fight Global Warming - 2008-01-11
Japan plans to set aside about US$10 billion over the next five years to help countries such as China and Indonesia fight global warming, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

Report: Green Investments Creating First Sustainable Economy - 2008-01-11
The continual growth of green investments and efforts worldwide is creating the first global sustainable economy, according to a recent report.

Drought-Hit Cyprus Eyes Water Imports - 2008-01-10
rought-stricken Cyprus may import water from Greece to cover a shortage that has forced the government to ration supplies to farmers, its agriculture minister said on Wednesday.

Report: Japanese Firms Increasing Production of Materials for Hybrids - 2008-01-10
The Nikkei reports that Asahi Kasei Corp., Showa Denko KK and other Japanese companies are moving to increase production of materials used in hybrid vehicle components, such as batteries and motors, on expectations that the global market will grow sharply on the back of high crude oil prices.

California H2 Highway Infrastructure Is Contracting - 2008-01-10
Instead of expanding, California’s Hydrogen Highway fueling infrastructure is contracting. Three hydrogen stations have recently closed, including one in Richmond that served county buses.

China poised to be world leader in renewable energy, expert predicts - 2008-01-10
China is poised to become a global leader in renewable energy in the next few years, the head of environmental research group Worldwatch said Wednesday.

Sunshine to Petrol Project Seeks Fuel from Thin Air - 2008-01-10
Team to chemically transform carbon dioxide into carbon-neutral liquid fuels.

Archer Daniels Midland Company, Bayer CropScience and Daimler to Cooperate in Jatropha Biodiesel Project - 2008-01-09
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), Bayer CropScience AG and Daimler AG plan to jointly explore the potential for a biodiesel industry based on Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.).

China Launches Surprise Crackdown on Plastic Bags - 2008-01-09
- China launched a surprise crackdown on plastic bags on Tuesday, banning production of ultra-thin bags and forbidding its supermarkets and shops from handing out free carriers from June 1.

Green energy's hottest stocks for 2008 - 2008-01-09
Investing experts say to stay away from solar, which saw a huge run up in 2007, and instead focus on wind, energy efficiency specialists or the battered biofuels sector.

Renewables Supply 14 Pct of German Power - Industry - 2008-01-09
Renewable energy made up more than 14 percent of Germany's power consumption in 2007, up from almost 12 percent in 2006, with wind as the main contributor, the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE) said on Tuesday.

New Jersey Might add "Mini" Windmills to Turnpike - 2008-01-09
New Jersey could erect "mini" windmills along the state's Turnpike as a way to generate electricity and cut pollution as part of a plan to create a new agency to raise funds to improve roads and bridges, a state lawmaker said on Monday

Study Boosts Switchgrass as New Alternative Fuel - 2008-01-09
There has been little evidence that growing grass could actually make a dent in the demand for oil. But now there's new research showing that this prairie plant might actually be a good source of ethanol.

Sierra Club Sues Shell Over Refinery Pollution - 2008-01-09
The Sierra Club, the largest and oldest US environmental organization, filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against Shell Oil Co and subsidiaries over pollution at a refining and chemical plant complex along the Houston Ship Channel.

French Compressed Air Car Set for Take-Off in India - 2008-01-08
What seemed like a pipe dream may soon become reality as Frenchman Guy Negre hopes versions of his compressed air car will be produced in India this year by Tata Motors Ltd after a 15 year quest for backers for his invention

New Connecticut Construction Must Meet Green Standards - 2008-01-08
New large construction projects in the state will have to be built green, due to legislation that goes into effect this month.

Study Finds Net Energy of Cellulosic Ethanol from Switchgrass Much Higher Than Expected - 2008-01-08
A five-year trial of switchgrass on farmland in the Midwestern United States found that the crop produces 540% more renewable energy as a biomass energy crop for cellulosic ethanol than energy consumed in its production.

Canon Unveils 'Generation Green' Brand - 2008-01-08
Canon U.S.A. unveiled Monday a new brand and campaign that will encompass all of its environmentally-focused products and initiatives.

GM Introducing E-Flex Cadillac Concept with Fuel-Cell Plug-in Hybrid Drive - 2008-01-08
GM CEO Rick Wagoner will use the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday as the platform to introduce the company’s newest E-Flex concept, the Cadillac Provoq crossover.

Toyota: A Hybrid Model for Every Vehicle Series - 2008-01-07
Days after designating a Mississippi manufacturing facility a model of sustainable practices, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe said the company plans to offer a hybrid model in every vehicle series.

Austin Wants a Zero-Waste Plan - 2008-01-07
The city of Austin wants to follow in the footsteps of San Francisco and Seattle by creating a zero-waste plan that will eradicate the garbage it sends to landfills.

Hybrid Drive on the Porsche Panamera - 2008-01-07
Porsche is investing more than €1 billion in the development of the Panamera, its fourth model series. The new car is a premium-class Sports Coupé with four seats and four doors, and will be the first production four-door sports model to feature hybrid technology.

The new buzz words? Energy efficiency -- for everyone - 2008-01-07
At the public level, the state is preparing new legislation to push energy efficiency in the upcoming session, said Craig O'Hare, special assistant for renewable energy in the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

Green Mobile Homes Maximize Efficiency, Minimize Price - 2008-01-07
The increase in green building programs has covered commercial and retail space, healthcare facilities, and homes and neighborhoods. But one professor has introduced a new type of eco-friendly dwelling, a green mobile home.

Tokyo Eyes Buying Carbon Credits From China - 2008-01-04
Japan is planning to buy up carbon credits yielded by its investments in emissions-cutting projects in China, a newspaper said on Thursday.

NC officials begin water supply study; population surge expected - 2008-01-04
Sharing limited water resources is becoming a pressing issue in North Carolina as state leaders grapple with how to prepare for a projected population surge.

USABC Awards Compact Power, Inc. Lithium-Ion Battery Technology Development Contract for PHEV10s - 2008-01-04
The contract is for a 27-month period, beginning this month, and is valued at $12.9 million, with $4.5 million funded through a cost share by the USABC.

Beijing Introduces Cleaner Fuel Standards - 2008-01-03
China has introduced cleaner fuel standards in its capital Beijing, its latest effort to curb the city's notorious pollution ahead of the Olympic Games in August.

Clean energy investment up one third in 07 -report - 2008-01-03
Investment in clean energy worldwide rose by a third last year to $117 billion, boosted by widespread concerns over global warming, researchers New Energy Finance said on Wednesday.

Toyota to Introduce A-BAT Hybrid Compact Pickup Truck Concept at Detroit Show - 2008-01-03
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) will introduce a hybrid compact pickup truck concept—the A-BAT—at the 2008 North American International Auto Show which opens in Detroit 14 January.

California ARB Details Refutation of EPA Claim that New Federal CAFE Is More Effective at GHG Reduction than AB1493 - 2008-01-03
The ARB study shows that California’s regulations on tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions are more effective than the new CAFE regulations contained in federal energy bill.

Milan's Pollution Charge Gets Off to Smooth Start - 2008-01-03
Under the innovative "EcoPass" system cars will be charged up to 10 euros (US$14.7) per day, the graduated charge based on the amount of pollution a car's engine produces.

India to provide subsidy for solar power plants - 2008-01-02
India will subsidize the running of solar power plants to help develop a renewable energy infrastructure, where high costs can be prohibitive, the minister for renewable energy said on Wednesday.

Milan Drivers Face Trend-Setting Pollution Charge - 2008-01-02
Drivers will have to pay a "pollution charge" to enter Milan's city centre from Wednesday in what the Italian financial capital bills as a trend-setting way to cut smog.

Md. Lawmakers Likely to Tackle Global Warming Next Session - 2008-01-02
Saying Maryland cannot wait to try to address global warming, state lawmakers predict a menu of environmental proposals could dominate this year's session.

Parker, FedEx Ground Announce Hydraulic Hybrid Joint Testing Program - 2008-01-02
Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) and FedEx Ground, a unit of FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX), today announced they have agreed to test a Class 6 vehicle employing hybrid hydraulic technology that seeks to improve fuel mileage by greater than 50 percent and significantly reduce engine emissions.