Green Investing News

March 2008 News Archives

CFOs View Sustainability as a Business Opportunity: Survey - 2008-03-31
More than half of chief financial officers and finance executives in a recent survey believe their companies will boost revenue, investor returns and employee retention through sustainability.

London Launches £24m Program to Reduce Business Waste - 2008-03-31
A £24m program to deal with London's commercial and industrial waste has been launched which could see waste companies bid for funding before a 'Dragons' Den'-style panel of experts.

CoStar Study Finds Higher Demand, Rent Prices for Green Buildings - 2008-03-31
Green buildings that have earned LEED certification or the Energy Star label have higher occupancy rates as well as higher rents and sale prices than non-green facilities, according to a study by CoStar Group.

Huaneng To Build China's Largest Wind Farm - Paper - 2008-03-31
China's Huaneng Group will start in June building the country's largest wind farm of 300 megawatts, a Chinese paper said, as the world's second-largest energy user seeks to grow its tiny renewables sector.

Navajo Nation To Develop 500 MW Of Wind Power - 2008-03-28
The Navajo Nation, which has struggled for years to build a coal-fired power plant, said on Thursday it has formed a joint venture with a Boston company to develop 500 megawatts of wind energy on its lands in the US West.

Southern California Edison Plans Country's Largest Solar Project - 2008-03-28
Southern California Edison is planning an ambitious 250 megawatt solar project that would plant solar panels on 65 million square feet of commercial rooftops.

Credit Suisse to Invest $300M in Renewables - 2008-03-28
Credit Suisse and its partners will invest at least $300 million in the renewable energy sector through Hudson Clean Energy Partners, the bank announced Thursday.

Irish State Utility To Halve Carbon Output By 2020 - 2008-03-28
Ireland's Electricity Supply Board (ESB) on Thursday announced an investment programme of 22 billion euros ($34.72 billion), half of which it plans to spend on renewable energy sources such as wind, tidal and biomass.

Oil jumps as an attack on an Iraqi pipeline slows exports - 2008-03-28
Oil futures shot back above $107 a barrel Thursday after the bombing of an Iraqi oil pipeline diverted investors' attention away from a stabilizing U.S. dollar.

Venturi Automobiles and PSA Peugeot Citroën Partner on EVs for La Poste; PSA Re-Launching EV Business - 2008-03-27
One of the electric vans will be presented for the first time this week at the Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER) Monaco 2008 show, and will be available there for test use.

Hyundai to enter hybrid market - 2008-03-27
The South Korean car maker and India's third-largest producer of passenger cars said it is planning to launch its first liquid petroleum gas and electric hybrid car by 2010, the Hindustan Times reported.

California utility to turn roofs into solar power plants - 2008-03-27
It’s a potentially game-changing move, one that could lower the cost of solar cells as manufacturers ramp up production to meet the utility’s schedule of installing a megawatt-a-week of arrays until it reaches the 250-megawatt target.

TIAA-CREF to Improve Energy Efficiency of its Portfolio by 10 Percent - 2008-03-26
The company has already begun identifying energy reducing opportunities through an energy benchmarking its portfolio, which consists of 43 million square feet of office buildings and other properties. So far, it's been able reduce energy enough to avoid an estimated 37 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

Ohio Awards $17M in Advanced Energy Grants; Major Focus on Alternative Fuels - 2008-03-26
The Ohio Third Frontier Commission has awarded more than $12 million in grants to 17 Ohio-based entities to accelerate the development and growth of the advanced energy industry in Ohio. Awards for advanced energy were selected from the wind, solar, alternative fuel, energy storage and instruments, controls, and electronics sectors.

District considers no tax break for less-efficient hybrid vehicles - 2008-03-26
The District government is debating whether to eliminate the 6 percent excise tax exemption for vehicles that don’t get at least 40 mpg.

EU Environment Chief Backs Green Tax Plan - Report - 2008-03-25
The European Union's environment chief on Friday backed a Franco-British proposal to cut sales tax on green products to fight climate change, despite opposition from some countries and within the EU executive.

China's Auto Industry Agrees to Parts Recycling Program - 2008-03-25
China has launched a pilot program to recover and reuse auto parts. The country is looking to boost the amount of auto parts that are reprocessed as well as spur innovation in recovering and rebuilding parts.

German Parliament Heading for 100 Percent Renewable Power - 2008-03-25
The German Reichstag is set to become the first parliamentary building in the world to use only renewable energy.

Better Sanitation Has Huge Economic Spin-Offs-UN - 2008-03-25
Spending $10 billion a year would enable the world to reach a 2015 goal of improved sanitation in developing countries with huge spin-offs such as less poverty and better health, UN experts said on Thursday.

Kansas Government Vetoes Plan For Coal-Fired Power Plants - 2008-03-25
In a big win for environmentalists, the Democratic governor of Kansas Friday vetoed legislation that would have allowed a huge coal-fired power plant to expand in the state and spew 11 million more tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year.

EEA Report Studies Six Successful Local and Regional Transport Policy Efforts for GHG Reduction - 2008-03-24
The projects, which also helped improve air quality and reduce noise, are not based on new vehicle technology. Measures include replacing business travel with teleconferencing, limiting driving speed, promoting behavioral change with ecodriving, introducing congestion charges and environmental zones, and improving energy efficiency by means of freight consolidation centers.

Coca-Cola Aims for 'Water Neutrality' - 2008-03-24
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) released last week a report detailing the evolution of The Coca-Cola Co.'s water management strategy.

San Francisco Officials Move Green Building Codes Forward - 2008-03-24
The green building movement in San Francisco got a boost last week when the city's Building Inspection Commission voted to pass strict green building codes onto the Board of Supervisors. Mayor Gavin Newsom has pledged to sign the regulations into law if the Board approves them, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

MDI Shows New Compressed Air Vehicle at NYIAS; Plans Larger Vehicle for US Market in 2010 - 2008-03-24
ZPM plans to introduce a 6-seat, 4-door family-size version of the compressed air vehicle to the US market in 2010. The ZPM model will achieve more than 100 MPGe and more than 90 mph, have zero to low C02 emissions and cost around $18,000.

Environmental study next step for Maui's wave-energy project - 2008-03-24
Australian technology company Oceanlinx is moving ahead with a wave-energy project that would anchor large floating generators off Maui's Pauwela Point and could power up to 2,500 homes.

Air Force contracts for solar cell tech - 2008-03-21
The U.S. Air Force says it has selected Colorado-based Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. to develop highly efficient solar cell technology.

Ecolab Expands Green Options for Carwashes - 2008-03-21
Ecolab will reportedly introduce a new environmental initiative to certify carwash operators and help them market their services to green-minded consumers.

HSBC Bank Pledges £100 Million for Renewable Energy Projects - 2008-03-20
The HSBC Environmental Infrastructure Fund has pledged up to £18 million for a 49 percent stake in Partnerships for Renewables, according to news reports. Partnerships for Renewables is a group set up by Carbon Trust that works only on getting renewable energy projects onto public sector land in the UK.

Suez Sees Water Fuelling Investment Boom - 2008-03-20
A global population boom and climate change will fuel huge investment in water and waste projects around the world in coming decades, the head of the world's second biggest water group said in an interview.

Big-Rig Hybrids - 2008-03-19
The dirty little secret of the cleaner diesel engines: they burn more fuel--a big problem for fleet operators facing a 44% rise in diesel fuel costs over the last year.

Thickest, Oldest Arctic Ice Is Melting - NASA Data - 2008-03-19
The thickest, oldest and toughest sea ice around the North Pole is melting, a bad sign for the future of the Arctic ice cap, NASA satellite data showed on Tuesday.

Europe's Renewables Lead Stirs US Concern-Germany - 2008-03-19
The United States' resistance to international efforts to fight climate change is linked to Europe's growing competitive advantage in the renewable energies sector, Germany's deputy environment minister said on Monday.

Report: Purpose Grown Energy Forests Could Meet All of New Zealand’s Transportation Fuel and Heat Energy Needs - 2008-03-19
Purpose-grown energy forests, if planted today, could meet all of New Zealand’s future transport fuel and heat energy needs without threatening the country’s agricultural industry, according to a study completed by New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute, Scion.

Ricardo Establishing Center for Development of Battery Systems for HEVs, PHEVs and EVs - 2008-03-19
Engineering firm Ricardo, Inc., is establishing a Battery Systems Development Center at its Van Buren Twp., Michigan headquarters to offer turnkey engineering and development of complete high-voltage battery-pack systems for hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric vehicles (EV).

JCPenney's Green Line to Focus on Recycled, Organic Materials - 2008-03-19
JCPenney this week announced the creation of its Simply Green line of clothing and houseware products, a move that responds to consumer demand for green products.

Steelcase Makes Five-Year Committment to a Texas Wind Farm - 2008-03-19
Office furniture manufacturer Steelcase Inc. bought all of the renewable energy produced by a Texas wind farm for the next five years -- and a golden branding opportunity.

Governor touts renewable energy - 2008-03-18
The quickest way to create jobs is in the renewable energy industry, according to Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Clover Technologies Joins USPS for E-waste Program - 2008-03-18
Clover Technologies Group will partner with the United States Postal Service to offer consumers free postage for recycling certain products, such as inkjet cartridges and digital cameras.

Subaru Will Evaluate The R1e EV in the US This Summer - 2008-03-18
The two-seat Subaru R1e is capable of driving at speeds up to 65 mph with a range of up to 50 miles.

India's Tata, BP Get $78 Mln More For Solar Venture - 2008-03-18
Tata BP Solar, a venture of India's Tata Power Co and BP Solar, said on Monday it had signed an agreement with Calyon Bank, BNP Paribas and others to raise $78 million for expansion.

Travelers Expands Property Coverage to Support Green Building - 2008-03-18
Mimicking the growing support for and adoption of green building practices, Travelers has become the third insurance company to announce green building coverage this month.

EPA Sets Tight Emissions Rules for Trains and Boats - 2008-03-17
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued stringent emissions regulations for boats and trains last week, drawing praise from industry and environmental groups alike.

Henkel Takes Steps to Reduce Energy and Water Consumption - 2008-03-17
Between 2003 and 2007, the company's energy consumption has dropped 21 percent, with associated greenhouse gas emissions falling 15 percent. At the same time, sales have grown 39 percent.

Brazil Flex-Fuel Cars Help Tame Gasoline Prices - 2008-03-17
A massive new fleet of flex-fuel cars in Brazil has prevented state oil company Petrobras from charging more for gasoline despite record world oil prices, the company said Friday.

Ozone Case Shows Bush Meddling In Science-Watchdogs - 2008-03-17
President George W. Bush's decision to intervene in setting air pollution standards is part of a longstanding administration pattern of meddling in environmental science, watchdog groups said on Friday.

Green Building is Best Bet for CO2 Cuts in N. America: Report - 2008-03-14
Green building practices could cut greenhouse gases in North America more effectively than any other action, according to research from Canada, Mexico and the United States.

UK Gives Homeowners Green Light For Solar Power - 2008-03-14
Homeowners across Britain will find it easier to make their own renewable power at home from April as part of a government push to cut carbon emissions from the residential sector.

Wal-Mart Pushing Chinese Suppliers To Go Green - CEO - 2008-03-14
Wal-Mart Stores Inc will meet with its thousands of Chinese suppliers this fall as part of a big push to reduce waste and emissions at factories that make its products, Chief Executive Lee Scott said on Thursday.

DP World Orders 19 Siemens Diesel-Hybrid Drive Gantry Cranes for Saigon Port - 2008-03-14
Operational data from container terminals that have purchased Rubber Tired Gantry cranes equipped with the hybrid ECO-RTG drive system indicate fuel savings of 50% or more compared to conventional RTG drive systems while maintaining the same levels of productivity.

UK To Introduce Domestic Carbon Emissions Trading - 2008-03-14
Energy-intensive businesses in Britain including supermarkets, banks and hotel chains will have to buy pollution permits from 2010 under a new government emissions trading scheme, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said on Thursday.

Continental Airlines, Boeing and GE Aviation Plan Biofuel Flight Test in 2009 - 2008-03-14
Continental Airlines, Boeing and GE Aviation plan to conduct a biofuel demonstration flight in the first half of 2009 as part of an ongoing effort in the aviation industry to identify sustainable alternative fuel solutions.

EPA Officials Tell Congress That Agency’s Own Efforts to Regulate Motor Vehicle CO2 Were Halted in December 2007 - 2008-03-13
Senior EPA officials have told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that, after the agency concluded in December that CO2 emissions were a danger to the United States and proposed significant cuts in motor vehicle emissions, the agency’s regulatory efforts on this were halted.

Canada to Release Green Advertising Guidelines - 2008-03-13
Businesses advertising green products in Canada will soon have to back up their environmentally friendly claims under stricter guidelines in the works.

New Regs Aim to Control Construction Waste - 2008-03-13
All construction projects in England costing more than £300,000 (US $608,078) will soon need plans setting out how building materials and other waste products will be removed from the site.

Report: Climate Change a Potential “Threat Multiplier” for European Security and Foreign Policy - 2008-03-13
According to the report’s findings, the EU could face increased competition over dwindling resources, influx waves of environmental refugees, and energy wars.

National Research Council Report: Climate Change Will Have a Significant Impact on US Transportation Infrastructure and Operations - 2008-03-12
While every mode of transportation in the US will be affected as the climate changes, potentially the greatest impact on transportation systems will be flooding of roads, railways, transit systems, and airport runways in coastal areas because of rising sea levels and surges brought on by more intense storms, according to a new report from the National Research Council.

Pilot Program to Quantify the Impact of Driving Behavior on Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions - 2008-03-12
The City of Denver, Colorado, is launching what it calls the world’s first vehicular greenhouse gas (GHG) management and reduction pilot program—Driving Change. Driving Change measures the environmental impact of individual driving behavior through the installation of accelerometers that connect to internal vehicle systems and the use of an Internet-based GHG management system.

MPSC Initiates Pilot Program to Integrate PHEVs into the Electric Grid - 2008-03-12
The Commission notes that achieving a high penetration of PHEVs that retains the stability of the electric grid is dependent on smart grid infrastructure research and development. Therefore, the MPSC is requiring all regulated electric distribution companies to participate in the smart grid collaborative, expanded by the order to include PHEV pilot projects.

AMB Opens Southeast's First LEED Industrial Building in Port of Savannah - 2008-03-12
As a quickly growing shipping facility, and one that hopes to become the country's biggest and busiest, it's no surprise that the Port of Savannah will soon be home to a major green business park.

Peru Bets On Desalination To Ensure Water Supplies - 2008-03-12
Peru plans to start desalinating water from the Pacific Ocean to make up for declining supplies from fast-melting glaciers affected by climate change, President Alan Garcia said on Tuesday.

Con-way Freight Slows Down Trucks to Save Fuel - 2008-03-11
The company estimates it will cut its diesel fuel use by 3.2 million gallons a year and its carbon dioxide emissions by 72 million pounds. Con-way, which provides trucking throughout North America, uses 100 million gallons of gas a year.

New Software Helps Companies Control Energy and Emissions - 2008-03-11
PeopleCube and Building Sustainability Ltd. have joined forces to offer software that will help companies better manage their energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Study: Meeting RFS Goals for Corn Ethanol Production Will Worsen “Dead Zone” in Gulf of Mexico - 2008-03-11
Ramping up the production of corn ethanol to meet the targets set by the new US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will worsen pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, increasing the “Dead Zone”—a growing hypoxic region in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM)—that kills fish and aquatic life, according to a Canadian-American research team.

Government of Canada to Require New Oil Sands Operations to Implement Carbon Capture and Storage Starting in 2012 - 2008-03-11
The Government of Canada has published details of its regulatory framework originally announced on 26 April 2007 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The newly published requirements include setting a target that will require oil sands starting operations in 2012 to implement carbon capture and storage.

Greener Cars In Spotlight As Carmakers Change Gear - 2008-03-10
When Lamborghini and Hummer try getting in on the action, you know greener cars have come of age.

Biofuels: Fields of dreams - 2008-03-10
We can run our cars on corn, sugar cane or wheat: limitless cheap energy grown on our doorstep. But are biofuels the answer to exhausted oil wells or just another nightmare scenario?

Wireless Industry Goes Green - 2008-03-10
The wireless industry is among the latest to consider “going green” to reduce their impact on the environment and potentially cut costs.

No Way To Fix Climate Without Private Sector--United Nations - 2008-03-10
The private sector must be encouraged to help developing countries combat climate change now, before it becomes too severe to handle, the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said.

Sweden Aims For Renewable Sources For Half Its Energy - 2008-03-06
Sweden will aim to get nearly half its energy from renewable sources by 2020 as part of an EU-wide plan, Energy and Enterprise Minister Maud Olofsson said on Wednesday.

Socially Responsible Investment Assets Top $2.71T - 2008-03-06
Socially responsible investment assets grew more than 18 percent between 2005 and 2007, compared to a 3 percent growth rate for all investment assets during the same period, according to a new report.

China’s BYD Unveils Second Plug-in Hybrid Model at Geneva Motor Show - 2008-03-06
Plans to Begin Sales in Europe in 2-3 Years

Italy Approves EU Requested CO2 Cut Plan 2008-2012 - 2008-03-06
Italy has given its final approval to a plan to cut annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2008-2012 by the full amount the European Commission has requested, the Environment Ministry said on Tuesday.

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Breaks Ground On Two-Megawatt Solar System At Denver International Airport - 2008-03-05
Initiative Will Generate 3.5 Million Kilowatt-hours (kWh) of Clean Electricity Annually for Fifth Busiest International Airport in the U.S.

The Golf TDI Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept: 69 MPG US - 2008-03-05
The Golf TDI Hybrid concept (earlier post) introduced by Volkswagen at the Geneva Motor Show combines an advanced diesel engine with an electric motor and the latest generation of VW’s seven-speed DSG gearbox. The hybrid concept vehicle is capable of achieving 3.4 L/100km (69 mpg US) of fuel consumption.

Think Global Gets Investment from GE, Launches TH!NK City, Introduces New Crossover EV Concept and Signs Li-Ion Supply Deal with A123Systems - 2008-03-05
At the Geneva Motor Show, Norwegian electric car manufacturer Think Global presented a new investment relationship with GE, which is putting $4 million in Think via GE Energy Financial Services to further ramp up GE’s efforts to enable global electrification of transportation.

Minnesota Study Finds E20 Passes Materials Compatibility and Driving Performance Tests - 2008-03-05
Increasing the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline from 10% (E10) to 20% (E20) does not present problems for materials used in current vehicles or fuel dispensing equipment and provides similar power and performance, according to a new study released Wednesday by the State of Minnesota.

US Won't Meet Ethanol Goal Due Cellulosic Shortfall - 2008-03-05
The United States will not meet Congress' mandate to produce more ethanol from waste products over the next 15 years, resulting in an overall shortfall in ethanol production requirements contained in a new energy law, a government forecaster said Tuesday.

France, Germany Draw Battlelines On Car Emissions - 2008-03-04
European Union countries that make heavy cars, led by Germany, clashed on Monday with makers of smaller ones such as France over tough measures to force automobile manufacturers to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

DuPont's Energy Reductions Save $100M - 2008-03-04
Since 2001, DuPont Titanium Technologies has saved more than $100 million through cuts in energy consumption achieved through innovation and operational changes.

Insurance Company Adds Eco-Friendly Coverage for Commercial Buildings - 2008-03-04
Along with covering the costs of sustainable building practices and eco-friendly materials, the insurance covers expenses for recycling during reconstruction and at the time of loss.

EU To Adopt Climate Fight Plan Despite Differences - 2008-03-04
European Union environment ministers expect to approve pivotal plans by December to combat climate change, despite differences over plans for energy-intensive industries and the sustainability of biofuels.

U.K. Retailers Threatened With Plastic Bag Fee, Figures on Bag Use by Government, Stores Revealed - 2008-03-03
Under legislation set to be introduced, retailers that are still giving away plastic bags a year from now would have to impose a fee and keep track of how much it raises.

Japan May Invest $1.93 Bn In Climate Fund - Report - 2008-03-03
Japan is planning to invest up to $1.93 billion in an international fund aimed at encouraging the use of renewable energy technology in developing countries, the Nikkei financial daily said on Sunday.

EU Fails to Curb Transport GHG Emissions; Focus on Vehicle and Fuel Technologies is Not Enough, Demand Must Be Constrained - 2008-03-03
The EU-wide study reveals that voluntary commitments by car manufacturers to improve efficiency in vehicles have not resulted in sufficient gains. In addition, the occupancy rates of private vehicles have gradually been going down. Approximately 12% of the overall EU emissions of CO2 come from fuel burnt by passenger cars.

Calif. Awards Green Schools Grant - 2008-03-03
The state will give $107,000 to Animo Venice Charter High School in Los Angeles to help fund construction of the its new campus. The grant program earmarks $100 million for green school building projects under Proposition D.

Banks Say In Talks To Shape US Climate Policy - 2008-03-03
US banks, industry and decision makers are holding open talks about the shape of future climate regulations in the United States, likely to have far-reaching impact on the economy, bankers say.

New UK EV Vendor Launches; Stevens Vehicles Ze Line - 2008-03-03
Top speed for the Ze vehicles is 56 mph (90 kph), with a range of 56 miles (90 km). Acceleration from 0-40 mph takes 15 seconds. For drivers requiring greater range, Stevens offers a larger battery pack with 50% more range.

New York’s 10,000 Black Cars to Go Hybrid - 2008-03-03
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will require black cars—the large sedans (often Lincoln Town Cars) that primarily service corporate clients—to increase fuel efficiency standards to a level currently achievable only by using hybrid technology.