Green Investing News

August 2008 News Archives

PGA, U.S. Open Aim for Eco-Friendly - 2008-08-29
The 'green Olympic Games' ended Sunday, the day before the spotlight shifted to tennis and the U.S. Open, which is pulling from its sleeve some green tricks of its own.

Big Growth Spurt in U.S. Schools Going Green - 2008-08-29
Almost 1,000 school buildings have met or are seeking LEED certification, bringing more than 8 million square feet of campus space under LEED certification and another 90 million square feet into the LEED pipeline as projects registered with the U.S. Green Building Council, the council said.

French Government Declares Car Feebates System a Success - 2008-08-29
French environment minister Jean-Louis Borloo declared a bonus/malus (“feebate”) system introduced to encourage car buyers to make greener purchase choices a success.

Geothermal Company Set to Open First Plants - 2008-08-29
Five years after going public, geothermal company Raser Technologies Inc is on the verge of a major milestone: earning real revenue.

Europeans Back Tough Car Emission Targets - Poll - 2008-08-29
A majority of Europeans back planned legislation to enforce big cuts in carbon dioxide emissions from new cars, a public opinion poll in the European Union's five biggest countries showed on Thursday.

'Green' Pay-as-You-Drive Car Insurance Proposed in California - 2008-08-29
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner wants to make pay-as-you-drive coverage available to California motorists as an insurance option that he says will encourage people to drive less and help reduce greenhouse gases.

CEZ to Build Biggest Onshore Wind Park in Europe - 2008-08-28
Czech power group CEZ plans to build a 1.1 billion euro (US$1.62 billion) wind park in Romania, the largest of its kind in Europe, in a move to offset emissions from dirtier coal-fired power plants.

Toyota to Accelerate Development of HEVs, PHEVs and EVs; Downgrades Sales Target for FY2009 - 2008-08-28
Outlining Toyota’s response to rapidly changing global market conditions, growing environmental issues and increasing material costs, President Katsuaki Watanabe said that the company was accelerating its development of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all electric vehicles. Watanabe said that Toyota would advance its delivery of plug-ins for fleet deployment to 2009 from 2010, and was planning series production of a next-generation electric vehicle in the early 2010s.

Wal-Mart Ramps Up the Green Factor at New Stores in Canada - 2008-08-28
New Wal-Mart stores in Canada will slash energy consumption by 30 percent under a high-efficiency design program that takes effect in February.

Government Views Green Issues as Highly Important, More Education Needed - 2008-08-28
Many federal program managers say their agencies are giving high priority to green issues, and even more take green steps at home, according to a recent survey. But actual implementation of green initiatives at the office is a different story.

Xcel Makes CO2 Disclosure Agreement - 2008-08-28
One of the largest U.S. utilities agreed to give its investors a thorough analysis of the financial and physical risks it faces from climate change.

South Korea to Pump US$103 Bln Into Renewable Energy - 2008-08-28
South Korea said on Wednesday it will spend 111.5 trillion won (US$103 billion) through 2030 in developing new renewable energy, in an effort to cut its reliance on fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Mitsubishi Bets Big on Solar - 2008-08-27
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. plans to spend billions of dollars quadrupling production of photovoltaic cells to take advantage of the skyrocketing demand for solar power caused by high fuel prices and climate change concerns.

UNEP Report Urges Global Energy Subsidy Reform, Including Cutting Fossil Fuel Subsidies; Reductions in GHG Emissions and Increase in Global GDP - 2008-08-27
Globally, approximately US$300 billion—0.7% of global GDP—is spent annually on energy subsidies. The bulk of this is being used to artificially lower or reduce the real price of fuels like oil, coal and gas or electricity generated from such fossil fuels.

Mitsubishi and Partners Launch R&D Project for EV Charging Infrastructure with Renewable Energy; Vehicle-to-Home Prominent - 2008-08-27
Mitsubishi Corporation recently launched a new R&D project in collaboration with Tokyo Institute of Technology (T. Tech), Tostem Housing Institute Co., Ltd., GS Yuasa Power Supply, Ltd. and other partners, to develop an infrastructure system to charge electric vehicles (EVs) using renewable energy such as solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal energy and wind power.

High Fuel Costs Leading to More Efficient Supply Chains: Report - 2008-08-27
High fuel prices are causing the country's manufacturers, retailers and logistics providers to rethink their transportation strategies, according to a new study.

New York Offers Utilities Incentives to Reduce Customer Energy Use - 2008-08-27
The New York State Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, will offer almost $27 million to electric utilities to encourage them to set up energy efficiency programs.

Conquering the World's Waste Mountains - 2008-08-27
Waste management experts around the world are starting to consider digging up old trash from existing landfill sites to recycle decades-old plastics and other materials into new products or energy sources.

12 States Sue EPA Over Refinery Carbon Emissions - 2008-08-26
New York and 11 other states are suing federal environmental regulators over greenhouse gas emissions from oil refineries, the New York attorney general's office said on Monday.

Swiss to Vote on SUV Ban - 2008-08-26
Swiss campaigners launched a bid on Monday to ban off-roaders, SUVs and gas-guzzling executive and sports cars, winning enough support for a referendum.

Japan Players Bet Big on Emerging Thin-film Solar - 2008-08-26
While startups attract the clean tech venture capital millions in the U.S. for new kinds of thin-film solar technologies, some big established players in Japan are also putting significant money into major new efforts to move these emerging technologies into volume production in the next few years.

LDK Reaches 1 GW of Wafer Production Capacity - 2008-08-26
LDK Solar Co., Ltd announced that its wafer plant has reached the milestone of 1 gigawatt (GW) of annualized production capacity.

Wind, solar projects race to finish before tax credit expires - 2008-08-26
A congressional stand-off that has blocked extension of federal tax credits for renewable energy projects is setting off a boom in the wind and solar industries. Developers and customers are racing to install systems by year's end to qualify for the credits, which can cut the cost of a large commercial system by 30%.

Biggest Desalination Plant in W.Hemisphere Gets OK - 2008-08-25
Plans for the biggest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere received final California state approval on Friday, clearing the way for construction to start next year and for the plant to open north of San Diego in 2011.

NY Nuclear Plant Seen at Greater Quake Risk: Study - 2008-08-25
A nuclear power plant that lies within commuting distance of New York City is more likely to be shaken by an earthquake than previously thought because it sits atop a newly identified intersection of two active seismic zones, scientists said.

Sanyo in Talks With Car Makers on Batteries - 2008-08-25
Sanyo Electric Co Ltd the world's largest rechargeable battery maker, said on Friday it was in talks with major car makers in Europe, the United States and Japan on the supply of auto-use batteries.

S.Korea Seeks Wider Climate Role With 2020 Goals - 2008-08-25
South Korea hopes to be a bridge between rich and poor countries in fighting global warming by setting itself 2020 goals for greenhouse gas emissions, the nation's climate change ambassador said on Saturday.

Travelodge Cuts Ribbon on London Hotel Made from Shipping Containers - 2008-08-25
According to Travelodge, the containers were modified and fitted with hotel room fixtures and fittings in Shenzen, China, shipped to England, trucked to the site and then fitted together in a framework to form the building. It took only 20 days to place the containers in the framework.

Behind Food, Energy and Climate Crises Looms Water and Sanitation - 2008-08-25
The World Water Week in Stockholm concluded with 2,400 scientists, leaders from governments and civil society declaring that slow progress on sanitation will cause the world to badly fail the Millennium Development Goals while weak policy, poor management, increasing waste and exploding water demands are pushing the planet towards the tipping point of global water crisis.

Queensland Premier Puts 20-Year Moratorium on Oil Shale Development - 2008-08-25
Queensland (Australia) Premier Anna Bligh has placed a 20-year moratorium on the development of oil shale in the state.

Christians See Climate Change as Moral Issue - 2008-08-25
Morality should be a spur for stronger action to fight climate change, which threatens food and water supplies for the poorest in Africa, a group of Christian activists said on Saturday during UN climate talks.

Scientists Urge US To Protect Economy From Climate - 2008-08-22
Eight scientific organizations urged the next US president to help protect the country from climate change by pushing for increased funding for research and forecasting, saying about $2 trillion of US economic output could be hurt by storms, floods and droughts.

Japan To Offer Incentives On Clean Diesel Cars - 2008-08-22
Japan is looking to introduce incentives for consumers buying clean diesel cars starting next fiscal year in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a government official said on Thursday.

Struggling Forestries Bet On Biofuel Boom - 2008-08-22
European and North American forestry companies are increasingly investing in making biofuels out of wood residues, a market they say will be closely linked with their core paper business.

PECO Launches Drive to Be More Environmentally Friendly - 2008-08-22
The Philadelphia-based electric and natural gas utility PECO has embarked on a five-year, $15.3 million initiative to become more environmentally friendly.

Neenah Paper to Power Largest Mill With Waste - 2008-08-22
Neenah Paper, a maker of premium and specialty paper, plans to power its largest mill with wood and fiber waste starting next year.

First Draft of Sustainable Biofuels Standard Released - 2008-08-22
A coalition of farmers, businesses, governments and nonprofits released the first draft of a biofuels global standard.

Unregulated Nanoparticles from Diesel Engines Inhibit Lung Function - 2008-08-21
A new University of Michigan simulation shows that carbonaceous nanoparticles emitted by diesel engines and other combustion sources can get trapped in the lungs and inhibit the function of lung surfactant—a fluid that facilitates breathing.

Navistar Introduces Li-ion Battery Lease Program for Medium-Duty Hybrid Trucks - 2008-08-21
Navistar is now offering customers of the International DuraStar Hybrid medium-duty truck (earlier post) a battery-lease program—the first of its kind in the North American commercial truck industry—that results in an additional $10,000 off the initial purchase price of the truck in exchange for making 60 monthly lease payments on the battery.

Consumers Want Immediate, Noticeable Savings From Utilities: Survey - 2008-08-21
If utilities want to have successful green energy programs, they need to make savings and options highly visible to consumers, according to an EcoAlign survey.

Australian "Hot Rocks" Offer 26,000 Yrs of Power - 2008-08-21
Barely one percent of Australia's untapped geothermal energy could produce 26,000 years worth of clean electricity, scientists said, as the government announced a a A$50 million (US$43 million) project to help develop the technology.

Honda Considers Exporting Home-Use Solar Panels - 2008-08-21
Honda Motor Co Japan's second-biggest auto maker, said on Wednesday it is considering exporting solar cells as it plans to expand the annual capacity of a solar cell factory to 27.5 mega watts by the year-end.

South Pacific Leaders Warned on Economy, Climate - 2008-08-21
South Pacific leaders opened their annual summit in Niue on Tuesday with a warning that climate change was causing havoc to island states and that their struggling economies were continuing to falter.

US Court Says States Can Lift Emission Monitor Bar - 2008-08-21
A US federal court on Tuesday overturned a rule that prevented state and local authorities from raising emissions monitoring requirements for polluting units such as chemical plants and oil refineries.

Hyundai Aims to Launch First US Hybrid in 2010 - 2008-08-21
Hyundai Motor Co expects to release its first hybrid in the US market as early as 2010, featuring cutting-edge lithium-ion battery technology, an executive said on Wednesday.

Blowin' In The Wind: Bloomberg's Green Energy Plan - 2008-08-20
Mayor Proposes Energy Initiative That Could Drastically Change Skyline

Beijing Enjoys Best Air in Decade, Vows to Banish Smog - 2008-08-20
Olympic host Beijing enjoyed its cleanest air in 10 years this month and will adopt strict new measures to ensure its notorious smog does not return, a top environment official said on Tuesday.

Sam’s Club to Sell Solar Panels at Home Efficiency Centers - 2008-08-20
Sam's Club will offer solar panels and an array of energy saving products at nine Southern California locations, where the company has created Home Efficiency Centers to focus customer attention on goods for greening their dwellings.

IBM Expands Consulting Services With 'Green Sigma' - 2008-08-20
IBM is ramping up its consulting services targeting businesses seeking a softer environmental footprint.

Clorox Told to Modify 'Green Works' Claims - 2008-08-20
Following a complaint from a competitor to Clorox, the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has recommended that Clorox change some of the claims it's making about its Green Works products.

Eco-Friendly Luxury Hotel with Historic Past Greens Energy Management - 2008-08-20
The installation at the Hotel Metro, which was in its final stage on Monday, is the most recent of several Telkonet projects at five-star hotels in the area and illustrates the growing demand in the hospitality industry for energy efficiency solutions, representatives for the firm said.

Daimler to Introduce New Diesel and Natural Gas Hybrids at International Commercial Vehicles Show - 2008-08-20
Among the more than 80 vehicles Daimler AG is bringing to the 2008 IAA International Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Germany (25 September to 2 October 2008) are seven hybrid-drive trucks, vans and buses, as well as new natural gas variants.

Beijing’s Olympic Village Wins LEED Gold Status - 2008-08-19
The Olympic Village, temporary home to more than 16,000 athletes at the international games in Beijing, has been awarded LEED Gold status.

Living a Green Dream on Danish Island - 2008-08-19
Concerns about energy security may run high elsewhere in Europe, but on the windswept Danish island of Samso the inhabitants have achieved a decade-long target of self-sufficiency in renewable power.

Rich Urged to Set Deep Climate Cuts, Without US - 2008-08-19
Rich nations should not wait for the election of a new US president before making progress on agreeing ambitious 2020 greenhouse gas cuts, the chair of a UN committee said on Monday ahead of climate talks in Ghana.

Island Pilot to Introduce Diesel-Electric Series Hybrid Motor Yacht - 2008-08-19
Island Pilot, LLC will introduce a diesel-electric series hybrid production motor yacht at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The twin-hull Island Pilot DSe Hybrid 12m combines diesel, solar and electric power (the components of the DSe label).

Vestas Shares Surge on Wind Power Orders - 2008-08-18
Denmark's Vestas, the world's No.1 wind turbine maker, said on Friday its order backlog ballooned, sending its shares up nearly 8 percent despite operating profit coming in slightly below expectations.

Slower Economy Saps Climate Action; Oil a Prop - 2008-08-18
An economic slowdown is sapping enthusiasm for a costly drive to fight climate change but persistently high oil prices are a lifeline for a "green revolution" of renewable energy technology, experts say.

Clorox Sees Growing Sales from Green Works Line - 2008-08-18
Clorox Co's foray into environmentally friendly cleaning products is on track to add up to 2 percent to the company's sales and will amount to an even bigger chunk of its business over time, the company's chief executive said.

One in Three US Public Schools in Proximity to Major Highways and Pollutants - 2008-08-18
University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have found that more than 30% of American public schools are within 400 meters (0.25 mile) of major highways that consistently serve as main truck and traffic routes. Research has shown that proximity to such major highways—and thus environmental pollutants, such as aerosolizing diesel exhaust particles—can leave school-age children more susceptible to respiratory diseases later in life.

EPA to Launch Web Portal to Green Resources for Retailers - 2008-08-18
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to launch a Web portal to information and resources about environmental compliance, pollution prevention and other green issues specific to retailers, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) said.

Green Manufacturing Can Help 'Move Business Forward' - 2008-08-15
Manufacturers increasingly see green initiatives as a way to move business forward through cost savings, improved efficiency and reputation boost, according to a new survey.

GM to Finish Electric Car Design by Mid-September - 2008-08-15
General Motors Corp said Thursday it would finalize the design of the all-electric Chevy Volt by mid-September and aims to have 50 prototypes with production-ready parts by the end of 2008.

JCPenney Adds Solar and Wind Power to Its Green Program - 2008-08-15
J.C. Penney Company is advancing its environmental program by hosting solar power systems and a wind turbine and by setting a goal of attaining Energy Star status at 200 or more stores by 2011.

Certifications for Green Building Professionals are in High Demand, Trade Group Says - 2008-08-15
The demand for green building professionals is sharply rising as eco-friendly, energy efficient homes become more of a market norm than a market novelty.

Study: All New Vehicles By 2020 Will Have Some Level of Hybridization - 2008-08-14
Alternative power will see continued innovation that extends far beyond 2020, with hybridization and battery technology leading the drive toward environmentally sustainable transportation, according to the report. Micro-, mild- and full-hybridization are currently undergoing extensive development today, and study participants believe strongly that by 2020 all new vehicles will have some level of hybridization.

Chrysler to Incorporate Green Features in Detroit Plant Expansion - 2008-08-14
Chrysler plans to invest $1.8 billion in a new vehicles program and expansion of a Detroit assembly plant that will include a slew of environmentally friendly improvements.

Pulpwatch.org Rates Mills on Social, Environmental Performance - 2008-08-14
Pulpwatch.org has launched, providing an interactive map rating pulp and paper mills around the world on their environmental and social records.

German firm to extend Asia's largest solar power plant - 2008-08-13
A German firm said Wednesday it has signed a deal to extend a South Korean solar energy plant which is already Asia's largest.

Renewable Energy Gets Energized - 2008-08-13
An affordable share price and second-quarter earnings ahead of expectations make it a great time for investors to plug into Norwegian solar energy group Renewable Energy.

A New Environment for Biofuels - 2008-08-13
Gas prices may have gone down a bit in recent weeks, but interest in fuel alternatives is reaching new highs. Now the big questions for both lawmakers and consumers are: Where will the fuels come from and how economically and environmentally sustainable will they be?

Can NY infrastructure handle floods, intense heat? - 2008-08-13
Flooded subways. Bridges deteriorating in the hot sun. Rising seas nipping at the edges of Manhattan. Those scenarios are up for review by a panel of scientists, government officials and private sector representatives studying how the city's infrastructure will hold up to climate change.

Scotland must use alternative energy resources to grow the economy says first minister - 2008-08-13
Scotland must seize the opportunities offered by its world-class natural energy resources to realise its full economic potential despite current global challenges, Alex Salmond said yesterday.

China solar firm Shunda aims for $1 bln IPO in NY - 2008-08-12
China's Jiangsu Shunda Group, which makes silicon wafers used in solar power cells, aims to raise $1 billion from a share listing in New York during the first half of next year to fund rapid expansion, its president said on Monday.

Researchers work to turn car's exhaust into power - 2008-08-12
The stinky, steaming air that escapes from a car's tailpipe could help us use less gas.

Duke, AEP to Spend $1B on New Transmission Lines - 2008-08-12
American Electrical Power and Duke Energy said Monday they have formed a joint venture to build 240 miles of transmission lines in Indiana to ferry the growing amount of new energy generated from the region, including wind power.

Solar Module Prices To Drop 20% In ‘09, UBS Says - 2008-08-12
Sunshine is free. Solar modules are not. But they are getting cheaper:

US EPA Denies Texas Waiver Request; Biofuel Mandates Remain 9B Gallons for 2008, 11.1B for 2009 - 2008-08-08
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has denied the waiver request submitted by the state of Texas temporarily to halve the levels of biofuels required by the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

Strict Green Building Standards in Place in San Francisco - 2008-08-08
San Francisco's green building ordinance, the strictest municipal standards of their kind thus far in the U.S., has been signed into law.

IKEA to Invest $77 Million in Clean Tech, Could Result in Solar Sales in Stores - 2008-08-08
IKEA plans to invest in $77 million in clean tech startups in the next five years with an eye to selling solar panels and other green tech products in stores or having suppliers use them, the Cleantech Group reported.

Mitsubishi Motors to Begin i MiEV Fleet Testing in US with Two California Utilities - 2008-08-07
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has signed letters of intent with two California utilities—Southern California Edison (SCE) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)— that will result in the electric i MiEV entering the fleet testing and vehicle evaluation programs run by each.

Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump cost soars - 2008-08-07
The Yucca Mountain program, which began in 1983 and is expected to close in 2133, is expected to cost $96.2 billion in 2007 dollars over its 150-year life cycle, up 67 percent from a 2001 estimate of $57.5 billion.

Energy Efficiency Saves Dell $3M - 2008-08-07
Dell's three-tiered plan to neutralize its carbon footprint has reached its goal five months early and saved the company $3 million, Dell said Wednesday.

BP and Verenium Form Strategic Alliance on Cellulosic Ethanol - 2008-08-06
BP and Verenium Corporation have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. The partnership combines a broad technology platform and operational capabilities in an effort to advance the development of a portfolio of low-cost, environmentally-sound cellulosic ethanol production facilities in the United States, and potentially throughout the world.

Green Allure for College Grads - 2008-08-06
A new poll suggests that today's college students are hoping for a job after school with a green-minded company.

Chicken Manure to Power Chinese Farm - 2008-08-06
The three million chickens on a farm about 30 miles north of Beijing are now providing power and heat for the farm via their manure.

National Labs Help DOE Strive for Zero-Net Energy Commercial Buildings - 2008-08-06
With guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), five national laboratories are banding together to help speed development of marketable zero-net energy commercial buildings.

MPs Say Green Tax on Cars Must Go Further - 2008-08-05
Tax rises for drivers of "gas guzzling" cars should be much higher if ministers are to persuade people to buy more environmentally friendly vehicles, a group of MPs said on Monday.

Lotus Engineering Develops Sound Simulation Technology for Electric Drive Vehicles - 2008-08-05
Lotus Engineering has developed technologies to synthesize external sound on electric and hybrid vehicles to counteract the growing concern these ‘quiet’ vehicles pose to pedestrians and cyclists. Lotus applied the technology to a standard Toyota Prius to create a ‘Safe & Sound’ Hybrid technology demonstrator vehicle.

Johnson Controls Helps Green Olympic Venues - 2008-08-05
Johnson Controls' green building and efficiency solutions are in play at 18 Olympic stadiums and supporting facilities, the firm said.

MIT Researchers Develop Efficient Solar Energy Storage System - 2008-08-05
Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has revealed a new way to use solar energy to provide power when the sun isn't shining.

Clipper and BP join wind energy arms race - 2008-08-05
Planned 5,050MW project latest to set sights on title of world's largest wind farm

50 Kohl’s Stores Awarded EPA’s Energy Star - 2008-08-04
The Kohl’s stores that earned the designation form the largest group of non-supermarket retail buildings to now bear the Energy Star label, the company said last week. The EPA’s Energy Star program singles out commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency.

US Light Duty Vehicle Sales Continue Decline in July - 2008-08-04
US sales of light-duty vehicles continued their decline in July, dropping to a total 1.136 million units, a 13.2% reduction in volume compared to July 2007, according to Autodata.

Ceres Readying First Optimized Seeds for Bioenergy Crops; Yield is the Goal - 2008-08-04
Ceres, Inc. is preparing to introduce its first commercial offering of energy crop seeds this fall under the trade name Blade to be ready for Spring 2009 sowing.

Green Revolution Emerges in Smokestack China - 2008-08-01
China, pilloried as the world's biggest polluter, has quietly taken a lead in moving to a low carbon economy, an independent climate advisory group said on Friday.

Wind Overtakes Water in Britain's Green Energy Mix - 2008-08-01
Wind supplied more of Britain's electricity than water for the first time last year, while power generators preferred gas to coal and nuclear output continued to decline, according to new government data.

'The Dollar and Sense of Green Retrofits' - 2008-08-01
Companies that pass up a chance to green their existing commercial buildings may never recover from the losses resulting from greater operating costs, lower productivity, negative brand image and declining attractiveness to workers, according to a recent study.

Two More Anheuser-Busch Plants to Add Alternative Energy - 2008-08-01
Anheuser-Busch is installing systems to partially power two breweries with landfill gas, brewing wastewater and solar energy.

Retrofit Brings New Life to Old Industrial Park - 2008-08-01
San Jose moves a step closer to its vision for a green community with the transformation of a tired former industrial property into an eco-friendly business park that was crafted according to LEED standards, civic leaders and developers said yesterday.

DOE and USDA to Award More than $10 Million for Bioenergy Plant Feedstock Research - 2008-08-01
The US Departments of Energy (DOE) and Agriculture (USDA) plan to award 10 grants totaling more than $10 million to accelerate fundamental research in the development of cellulosic biofuels.