Green Investing News

October 2008 News Archives

Coca-Cola Taps WWF to Cut Water Use and Emissions - 2008-10-31
Days after releasing its environmental performance data in its 2007/2008 Sustainability Report, Coca-Cola unveiled new targets for reducing water use and greenhouse gas emissions.

FEATURE - "Carbon Army" Hopes To Grab Slice Of New Deal Cash - 2008-10-31
A growing "carbon army" of environmentalists, bankers and investors has seized on official backing last week for major public spending announced in Britain and the United States.

ANALYSIS - Obama To Go Green, But Push Could Be Costly - 2008-10-31
The green revolution has ground to a halt with the collapse in oil prices, right?

UK Aims To Support Small Renewable Power From 2010 - 2008-10-31
Britain says it wants to guarantee a price premium for small producers of renewable power, for example from the wind and sun, from 2010.

Report: Zero Carbon Global Economy Possible by 2090 - 2008-10-31
The world's energy needs could be met entirely from renewable sources by 2090, according to a major new study from Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC).

EPA Names Fireman's Fund an Energy Star Partner - 2008-10-31
The U.S. Environmental Agency has named Fireman's Fund an Energy Star partner, the first insurance company to be included among the businesses recognized for energy-saving, eco-friendly products, services and strategies.

DHL E-Billing to Cut Paper Invoices by One-Third - 2008-10-30
By the end of this year, DHL expects to have its e-Billing system rolled out in the reminder of its major European territories, hoping by 2010 to cut the amount of paper invoices it send by one-third.

EU Ready To Help Car Industry Develop Greener Cars - 2008-10-30
The European Commission is ready to support the car industry and help it achieve EU targets to curb CO2 emissions despite the economic crisis, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday.

AMD Aims for Lower Emissions, Greener Products - 2008-10-30
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) surpassed its 2007 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goal and now intends to cut normalized emissions by a third by 2010.

GE Seeks Federal Approval for Greener Refrigerant - 2008-10-30
GE is asking for federal approval to use, in the U.S., a type of refrigerant that has low global warming potential and is widely used in Europe and Asia.

Studies: Corn Ethanol Production Has Smaller Carbon Footprint than Gasoline and Will Continue to Improve - 2008-10-29
The reports also conclude that ongoing improvements in crop yield and more efficient production technologies will continue to improve the carbon profile of the biofuel, while also allowing room for expansion without impact on food or feed supplies.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Set New Efficiency Benchmark with Low-Volatility and Solvent-Free Electrolyte - 2008-10-29
Researchers in China and Switzerland are reporting efficiencies as high as 10% from new practical dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs, or Grätzel cells) with low volatility and solvent-free electrolyte.

Five Projects in U.S., Canada Strike LEED Gold - 2008-10-29
The Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Cadet Residence Hall, a vast mixed-use project on a former Canadian Forces Base, a key facility in a Savannah business park, a Rockwell Collins building and a clubhouse and pro shop at a Vail resort are among the projects to attain LEED Gold status recently.

Decomposition Machines Can Reduce Food Waste Volume 90 Percent - 2008-10-29
At least four companies in the United States are making it easy for hotels to dramatically reduce food waste volume by up to 90 percent.

Sustainability Reporting Grows Dramatically Among Multinationals - 2008-10-29
The number of large multinational companies reporting corporate responsibility (CR) data has risen dramatically over the last three years, with vast majority doing so because of ethical reasons, according to new research from KPMG.

Japan Steel Sector Buys 59 Mln Tonnes Kyoto Offsets - 2008-10-29
The Japan Iron and Steel Federation has bought a third more UN carbon offsets, called CERs, than a planned 44 million tonnes for 2008-2012 delivery to help meet the sector's voluntary target with the government to cut carbon dioxide emissions, a federation official said on Tuesday.

Goldman Takes Stake In Carbon Company Blue Source - 2008-10-28
Goldman Sachs Group Inc has taken a minority equity stake in Blue Source, LLC, a US developer of voluntary greenhouse gas emissions credits, the companies said on Monday.

UPS to Purchase 7 Hydraulic Series Hybrid Vans; Prototype Showed 45-50% Improvement in Fuel Economy - 2008-10-28
After two years of road-testing of a prototype, UPS has placed its first order for hydraulic diesel series hybrid delivery vehicles (HHV), becoming the first in its industry to do so.

Coca-Cola Continues to Make Strides on Water, Recycling - 2008-10-28
Since 2002, when the company first shared its water usage data with the public, Coca-Cola has improved its water-efficiency by just over 20 percent, to the point where it now uses 2.47 liters of water to make a liter of one of its beverages. In the past year, the number continued to drop, with the company reporting a 2 percent improvement over last year's report.

Bolivia To Tap Huge Lithium Deposit In Salt Lake - 2008-10-28
Bolivia is moving ahead with plans to tap potentially huge lithium reserves at Uyuni, the world's biggest salt lake and one of the country's top tourist attractions, as demand for lithium-ion batteries surge.

Hidden Cost Of China's Coal Is $250 Bln - 2008-10-28
China's dirty and dangerous coal mining industry cost the country a hidden $250 billion last year in lost and damaged lives, wasted energy and environmental devastation, according to a survey launched on Monday.

Risks Of Global Warming Greater Than Financial Crisis - 2008-10-28
The risks of inaction over climate change far outweigh the turmoil of the global financial crisis, a leading climate change expert said on Monday, while calling for new fiscal spending tailored to low carbon growth.

Europe Incorporates Aviation into EU Greenhouse Gas Trading System as of 2012 - 2008-10-27
The European Council on Friday adopted a directive (doc. 3657/08) that includes aviation activities in the EU greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system (ETS). As of 1 January 2012, all flights arriving at or departing from an EU airport will be included in the scheme.

SK Energy to Invest $110M to Expand Li-Ion Production - 2008-10-27
South Korea-base SK Energy will invest 159 billion won (US$110 million) to expand its lithium-ion battery production, according to a filing with the Korea Exchange.

U.N. Set to Spur Global Green Market - 2008-10-27
The United Nations Environment Programme launched the Green Economic Initiative last week to shift the global economy toward environmentally friendly investments in order to create jobs and address climate change.

GM and Coskata Highlight Cellulosic Biofuels Opportunity in China; Estimates of 45-49 BGPY Market by 2030 - 2008-10-27
China has the potential to produce about 45-49 billion gallons per year (BGPY) of cellulosic biofuels by 2030, given appropriate supporting economic incentives, according to presentations by both General Motors and Coskata at the 4th World Biofuels Symposium at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Many Pesticides In EU May Damage Human Brain - Study - 2008-10-27
Many pesticides used in the European Union may damage brain growth in foetuses and young children, according to a study published on Friday.

Historic Willard Hotel Issues First Report on Green Performance - 2008-10-27
The landmark Willard InterContinental Hotel, which has played host to almost every American president since 1853, has released a report on its efforts to meet environmental, social and economic responsibilities.

Algae Biofuels Offer Enormous Promise, Face Tough Production and Cost Challenges to Scale - 2008-10-27
The 2008 Algae Biomass Summit (23-24 October), organized by the Algal Biomass Organization, drew more than 600 algae producers, scientists, engineers, investors and policy-makers from more than a dozen countries to Seattle to pitch, listen and network on emerging algae-based solutions to global energy, environmental, and economic issues.

Honeywell, Pittsburgh Housing Authority Embark on $25.1M Energy-Saving Program - 2008-10-27
Honeywell Building Solutions and the Pittsburgh Housing Authority are working on a $25.1 million energy efficiency program that is to be financed by a projected $3.2 million annual savings in utility costs.

How a Holistic Approach Makes Cisco's Supply Chain Green - 2008-10-24
In implementing its green supply chain initiative and its overall green effort, Cisco Systems starts with a holistic view. The company's EcoBoard brings together senior executives from almost all of the company's functions, ensuring they're all working towards the same vision, even if their actions might differ.

Magna Electronics Acquires BluWāv Systems LLC, Expands Electric Propulsion Capabilities - 2008-10-24
Magna Electronics, an operating unit of Magna International Inc., has acquired BluWāv Systems LLC (formerly Wavecrest Laboratories), a developer and supplier of controls, motors and energy-management systems for hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and battery electric vehicles.

Lignol and Suncor Sign Cellulosic Ethanol Project Development Agreement; Negotiating a JV - 2008-10-24
Canada-based companies Lignol Energy Corporation (LEC) and Suncor Energy Products Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suncor Energy Inc., are extending their earlier announced collaboration on a US Department of Energy (DOE)-funded commercial demonstration cellulosic ethanol facility with a new cellulosic ethanol project development agreement.

Dynegy Agrees to Warn Investors About Climate Change Risks - 2008-10-24
Nearly two months after forcing one of the country's largest utilities to disclose climate change risks to investors, New York's attorney general reached an agreement Thursday with Dynegy requiring that it offer investors a glimpse into potential liabilities posed by global warming.

Danish PM Says China Onboard For Climate Pact Goal - 2008-10-24
China is committed to seeking a climate change pact at key talks next year, the prime minister of Denmark said on Thursday, urging countries not to use global economic upheaval as a reason for delaying a deal.

Ausra Opens US Solar Plant, Hopes First Of Many - 2008-10-24
Solar thermal power developer Ausra Inc on Thursday opened a 5-megawatt demonstration plant in California that it says will prove it can deliver on its promise of providing clean energy cheaply.

EU Lawmakers Give Boost To Green Vehicles - 2008-10-23
Europe's local authorities and bus companies will have to buy greener, more fuel-efficient vehicles in future, following a vote by European Union lawmakers.

UK Carbon Trust Launches Algae Biofuels Challenge; Commercialization Targeted for 2020 - 2008-10-23
The UK Carbon Trust has launched the Algae Biofuels Challenge with the mission of commercializing the use of algae biofuel as an alternative to fossil-based oil by 2020.

Better Place Partners with AGL and Macquarie to Build EV Infrastructure in Australia - 2008-10-23
Better Place is partnering with AGL Energy and financial advisor Macquarie Capital Group to raise A$1 billion (US$665 million) and to begin deploying an electric vehicle (EV) network powered by renewable energy.

US To Boost Geothermal Energy Use On Federal Lands - 2008-10-23
The US Interior Department said on Wednesday it would make more than 190 million acres of federal lands in 11 western states and Alaska available to energy companies to develop geothermal energy resources for generating electricity.

GE Increases Investment in A123Systems; Total Position of $55M for 9% of Company - 2008-10-23
GE is making its sixth equity investment in lithium-ion battery manufacturer A123Systems, putting $30 million into A123’s $102 million Series E financing.

Calif. Businesses Must Collect Mercury Thermostats, U.S. Bans Mercury Exports - 2008-10-23
This month President George W. Bush signed legislation banning the export of mercury out of the United States as more states enact legislation to either ban the use of mercury in thermostats or require proper collection and disposal of such devices.

UK To Boost Wind Farm Power Generation By A Third - 2008-10-23
Britain will boost the generation of power from wind farms by a third next year as part of efforts to hit renewable energy targets, a government minister said on Wednesday.

Calif. Efficiency Laws Saved State Big Bucks - 2008-10-23
A report from the University of California, Berkeley, reaffirmed research recently released by the state Air Resources Board: Strong energy policies will become a key driver for improving job creation, household incomes and the Gross State Product.

"New Deal" Approach Needed For Climate Change – UN - 2008-10-23
The world should take a leaf from US President Franklin Roosevelt's playbook for tackling the Great Depression and fund a "Green New Deal" to fight climate change, a UN agency proposed.

UK's Brown Says Downturn Won't Hit Green Plans - 2008-10-22
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday the global economic downturn would not affect a government drive to reduce the country's carbon emissions.

Shrinking Products, Energy Sipping and Reusing Anything: Electronics Industry Makes Green Progress - 2008-10-22
For many consumer electronics companies, recycling and making energy efficient products are not new concepts. But whether companies embraced those ideas long ago or just recently, the consumer electronics industry has made large strides in improving the environmental impacts of its products, facilities and supply chains.

Green Products Help GE Weather Rough Economic Times - 2008-10-22
In a bright spot against the somber backdrop of a slowing economy, sales of General Electric's ecomagination products and services should top $17 billion this year, the company said Tuesday.

Crunch May Spur Rethink Of Nature As 'Free' - 2008-10-22
The worst financial crisis since the 1930s may be a chance to put price tags on nature in a radical economic rethink to protect everything from coral reefs to rainforests, environmental experts say.

Spain And Renault Study Electric Car Plan - 2008-10-21
Renault and the Spanish government are studying the introduction of fully electric cars on its roads within three years, Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian said in an interview with Reuters.

Boosting Green Energy Can Boost UK Jobs-Minister - 2008-10-21
Britain must remove bottlenecks holding back wind farms and other renewable energy projects as part of a drive that will create new jobs in green technologies, climate minister Ed Miliband said on Monday.

Hewlett-Packard to Bring More Green Energy, IT to Its Operations - 2008-10-21
By 2012, Hewlett-Packard plans to double the amount of renewable energy it uses to power its operations, whether from green power purchasing programs or from renewable energy projects on its facilities.

Wisconsin Awards $7.3 Million in Biofuels, Clean Energy Funding - 2008-10-21
The state of Wisconsin recently awarded $7.3 million in grants and loans from the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund (WEIF) for research and development and commercialization or adoption of new energy technologies, including biofuel and renewable hydrocarbon production.

U.S. Mayors, USGBC Join Forces to Green Schools - 2008-10-20
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has formed the Mayors' Alliance for Green Schools, which will work with the U.S. Green Building Council toward the goal of making the nation's schools environmentally friendly within a generation.

Kinder Morgan Successfully Completes Tests of Ethanol Transport in Pipeline: To Offer the Service by Mid-November - 2008-10-20
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP), the largest independent owner/operator of refined products pipelines in the US, recently successfully completed a series of tests to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of transporting batched denatured ethanol is the 195-mile, 16-inch gasoline pipeline between Tampa and Orlando, Florida. The pipeline is one of its Central Florida Pipeline Company’s assets.

Argentina Makes Environmental Insurance Mandatory - 2008-10-20
Argentina's government is the first in the world to require that companies involved in potentially hazardous activities purchase insurance covering environmental damage to the country, according to a report from Reuters news service.

USPS Saves $5 Million Annually With Transportation Consolidation - 2008-10-20
Since deploying a transportation optimization system two years ago, the United States Postal Service has saved $10 million through consolidating delivery trips.

Crisis Shows Urgency of Going Organic - Shiva - 2008-10-17
Indian physicist and environmental activist Vandana Shiva said the financial crisis showed it was high time for countries to rebuild local, diverse farms to become independent from global turmoil.

EU Vows "Cost-Effective" Climate Plan Amid Crisis - 2008-10-17
European Union leaders planned on Thursday to appease critics of the bloc's bold plans to fight climate change amid economic turmoil with concessions to heavy industry and former communist nations.

Giant Eagle Supermarket Tapped as First LEED Gold Grocer - 2008-10-17
Supermarket retailer Giant Eagle earned LEED Gold status for a store in Columbus, the first to receive such a high eco-friendly rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Ener1 Acquires Leading Korean Lithium-ion Battery Cell Producer; $34M Think Global Purchase Order - 2008-10-17
Ener1, Inc., the parent of US-based lithium-ion battery manufacturer EnerDel, is acquiring an 83% interest in Enertech International, one of South Korea’s leading lithium-ion battery cell producers.

California Air Resources Board Releases Proposed Scoping Plan for GHG Reductions - 2008-10-17
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released its proposed Scoping Plan to reduce California’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

Britain to Cut Emissions by 80 Pct by 2050 - 2008-10-17
Britain will adopt a more severe target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, increasing this to 80 percent from 60 percent, newly installed Energy and Climate Minister Ed Miliband said on Thursday.

US Solar Field Foresees Cost Parity With Coal, Gas - 2008-10-17
US producers of solar power will no longer need federal subsidies within eight years because by then solar power will cost less than electricity generated by conventional power plants, industry players said this week.

UK Throttles Back on Biofuels; More Funding to Study Algae and Pyrolysis - 2008-10-16
UK Transport Minister Andrew Adonis outlined plans to take a more cautious approach to biofuels, as part of the Government’s response to concerns about the indirect environmental and social impacts of producing them.

DHL Says Small Efficiencies Can Deliver Big Carbon Savings - 2008-10-16
"The first thing you need to understand about greening a supply chain is that the term 'green' is not specific enough. It has the wrong connotations. This is about saving money and becoming efficient."

California Needs a Comprehensive Green Plan: Report - 2008-10-16
Countries around the world have benefitted from tackling environmental issues with comprehensive plans, successes that can be replicated in California if the state alters its operations, according to a new report.

EU Car Nations Close to Agreeing Slower CO2 Curbs - 2008-10-16
Italy is close to backing a French plan to phase in European Union curbs on greenhouse gas emissions from cars by 2015, leading to a united front among car-making nations, sources in the talks said on Wednesday.

Climate Deal to Help Overcome Financial Crisis - EU - 2008-10-15
Tackling climate change will help, not hinder, governments' efforts to overcome the global financial crisis, the EU's environment chief said on Tuesday.

Johnson Controls-Saft Announces Second Lithium-Ion Hybrid Battery Production Contract - 2008-10-15
Johnson Controls-Saft (JCS) will be providing lithium-ion batteries for production versions of BMW’s 7 Series ActiveHybrid car, currently being showcased at the Paris motor show.

Payless Adds a Shade of Green to Its Footwear - 2008-10-15
Payless ShoeSource is launching a line of shoes designed to have a lower impact on the environment, joining a number of other footwear makers and retailers that have already done the same.

Market Chaos Won't Slow Carbon Scheme - Australia PM - 2008-10-15
Australia's plans to launch a carbon emissions trading scheme within two years will not be derailed by the global financial crisis, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Tuesday.

Sharp Solar to Bring Thin-Film Solar to US Soon - 2008-10-15
Sharp Corp, one of the world's biggest makers of silicon-based solar cells, said on Monday it would introduce next generation thin film solar cells in the US market in the near future.

GM Developing Global Advanced Biofuels Program - 2008-10-14
GM has been steadily building a global advanced biofuels program as one element of its efforts to reduce the use of petroleum and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

A Dozen PNC Bank Branches Earn LEED Certification - 2008-10-14
Twelve Green Branches of the PNC Financial Services Group have received LEED certification, bringing the firm's total of eco-friendly buildings to 55.

Wells Fargo Launches Its First Sustainability Fund - 2008-10-14
Wells Fargo Funds Management has added another mutual fund to the 125 in the lineup of its Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. The Wells Fargo Advantage Social Sustainability Fund will be subadvised by Nelson Capital Management, an investment management firm with extensive experience in socially responsible

Carbon Trust Doubles Energy Efficiency Loans, Research Grants - 2008-10-14
U.K.-based Carbon Trust has doubled the size of loans available to small and medium sized businesses for upgrading to energy efficient equipment and also doubled its grants for research into technology that can cut carbon emissions.

Rochester Institute of Technology Offers the First Green Doctoral Program - 2008-10-14
The first doctoral degree in sustainability will be offered by the Rochester Institute of Technology, which has received New York state approval for the green doctoral program.

UK Government Invests £100M in £200M Low Carbon Vehicle Program - 2008-10-14
The UK government is putting £100 million (US$175 million) into a new £200 million investment program, jointly funded by government and business, to speed up the introduction of new low carbon vehicles onto Britain’s roads.

San Jose Sets Green Standards for New Buildings - 2008-10-13
Barely a year after adopting its Green Vision policy, the city of San Jose has approved environmentally friendly building standards to reduce energy and water consumption in new residential, commercial and industrial construction projects.

Companies Tackling Climate Change Top $300B - 2008-10-13
Companies that produce goods and services aimed at battling climate change generated $300 billion in annual revenues, surpassing the biotech and software sectors combined, according to HSBC.

France Fast-Tracks Green Cars - 2008-10-13
French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged 400 million euros in state support last week for development of hybrid cars and electric vehicles, while the Renault Nissan Alliance and PSA Peugeot Citroën struck separate deals to work with EDF.

Carbon Tax Seen as Best Way to Slow Global Warming - 2008-10-13
Climate taxes, not cap and trade markets alone, will lead to the vast technological changes the world's energy system needs to fight global warming, a top US economist said on Thursday.

Green Building on Upswing Despite Down Market: Report - 2008-10-13
Building green is a market advantage in tough times and eco-friendly construction continues to grow even in the current economy, according to a new report.

Read Current Issue Global Group Establishes Best Practices for Green Tourism - 2008-10-10
Some of the world's most influential groups in environmentalism and tourism have joined forces to set standards for eco-friendly and socially responsible business operations in the industries catering to travelers.

Rating System for Green Cleaners Debuts - 2008-10-10
The National Cleaners Association has developed a process for cleaners to determine how green their entire operations are.

US Focus on Climate Could Ease Financial Crisis - 2008-10-10
If the United States focused on curbing climate change as soon as a new president took office -- or sooner -- it could help pull the world from the financial brink, environmental policy experts told Reuters.

France to Fund Research on Eco-Friendly Cars - 2008-10-10
France will support research on low-carbon emission cars with 400 million euros in funding over four years, President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a speech at the Paris auto show on Thursday.

Climate Change Could Force Millions From Homes - 2008-10-10
Environmental damage such as desertification or flooding caused by climate change could force millions of peoples from their homes in the next few decades, experts said on Wednesday.

BP: Biofuels Could Potentially Account for up to 30% of Global Transportation Fuel by 2030 - 2008-10-10
Based on announced targets and pending regulations, BP’s assessment is that biofuels could account for between 11 and 19% of the transport fuel market by 2030.

Applied Materials, California Governor Cut Ribbon on 2-Megawatt Solar Power System - 2008-10-10
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger presided over the dedication ceremony of a 2-megawatt solar power system at Applied Materials, one of the largest corporate installations of its kind in the country.

Lockheed Martin to Test Creating Energy From Ocean’s Heat - 2008-10-09
Lockheed Martin has been chosen to help commercialize a process that uses the difference in heat between shallow and deep water to provide energy.

Azure Dynamics Receives Six Orders for Mild Hybrid LEEP Freeze System - 2008-10-09
The LEEP is a mild hybrid electric system that provides ancillary power for a variety of applications.

Cities Should Do More to Protect Nature - 2008-10-09
The world's burgeoning cities must do more to safeguard animals and plants by increasing parkland, planting trees and recycling resources, the UN's top biodiversity official said on Wednesday.

Khosla Looking for Clean Energy 'Black Swans' - 2008-10-09
Venture capitalist and "cleantech" evangelist Vinod Khosla is placing his bets on alternative technologies that could potentially make at least 80 percent of global energy consumption cleaner in the next few years.

Electric Cars to Dominate Green Car Race - 2008-10-09
It will be years before demand for hybrid cars in the United States and Europe is big enough for battery manufacturers to make money from that business, but electric cars are nevertheless poised to dominate the market for greener vehicles, the world's largest car battery maker said on Tuesday.

Green Architecture Opportunity in Financial Woes - 2008-10-09
The current financial downturn could spur demand for sustainably designed buildings and communities, the chairman of one of the world's largest green architecture firms said Tuesday.

U.K. Leads World in Corporate Carbon Disclosure - 2008-10-09
The United Kingdom's largest firms are generally outperforming their global counterparts in their adoption of climate change strategies and willingness to report on their carbon emissions, according to figures just released by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

Renault and EDF to Partner on Electric Vehicles and Recharging Infrastructure in France - 2008-10-09
Renault and French electric utility EDF signed a memorandum of understanding to create, starting with France, a large-scale zero-emissions personal transport and travel system. The objective is to establish electric cars as a viable and attractive transport solution for consumers and to develop a supporting recharging infrastructure.

DOE Awards Novozymes $12.3M to Increase Efficiency of Enzymes for Cellulosic Ethanol Production 2x - 2008-10-08
The US Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Novozymes a $12.3 million contract to improve the enzymes necessary to produce cellulosic ethanol.

AT&T, Constellation Wines, Gap to Each Host 1 to 1.2 MW Solar Power Systems - 2008-10-08
Gap Inc. has unveiled a 1-megawatt solar power system, and Constellation Wines U.S. and AT&T are each working with strategic partnerships of their own to host comparably large systems that will harness the power of the sun.

California Tops Energy Efficient Rankings as More State Improve - 2008-10-08
The top ten states in the 2008 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard are almost identical to those in the previous rankings, though some states are quickly moving up in the lower rankings, showing how much action they have taken on energy efficiency over the past few years.

India Hopes to Attract Over US$4bln in Green Energy - 2008-10-08
India is hoping to attract investments of more than US$4 billion in renewable energy over the next 5-7 years, as it prepares to unveil a new biofuels policy within a month, the renewable energy minister said.

Schools in Miami, San Francisco, Chicago to Vie for Green Makeover - 2008-10-08
A public school in Miami, San Francisco and Chicago will win a green makeover worth $250,000 in an environmentally friendly contest whose chief sponsors are EcoMedia and the CBS Corporation.

New Life Cycle Study Concludes That Biomass for Ethanol Is Not the Most Advantageous Energy and Emissions Use of the Feedstock - 2008-10-08
A new life cycle study assessing the benefit of cellulosic ethanol in the context of projected feedstock constraints concludes that in terms of reducing greenhouse emissions and fossil fuel dependency, more is lost than gained when prioritizing biomass or land for bioethanol, rather than for use in technology pathways involving heat and power production and/or biogas, or natural gas and electricity for transport. The study was published online in the journal Environmental Science & Technology on 4 October.

Chipotle Builds Two Eco-Friendly Restaurants - 2008-10-07
The company said it will seek LEED certification for the restaurant built in Gurnee, Ill., which includes a six-kilowatt wind turbine. The firm will also seek LEED status for a restaurant that will be part of an existing shopping center in Minnetonka, Minn.

Beijing City Raises Pump Prices to Fund Cleaner Fuel - 2008-10-07
Beijing's city authorities have raised pump prices by up to 4 percent to cover the cost of cleaner fuel, a bold gesture of support for efficiency and green growth on a day when global oil markets hit an eight-month low.

Cleantech Key to Northwest's Economic Future: Study - 2008-10-07
Cleantech stands to make the Pacific Northwest a leader in a low-carbon economy and deliver thousands of local green collar jobs by 2025, according to a new study.

All Firms Urged to Appoint Green Expert to Board - 2008-10-07
All businesses should appoint an environmental expert to their board to help safeguard the planet, the president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said on Sunday.

US DOE to Provide Up to $43.1M Over 4 Years for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Research, Development and Demonstration - 2008-10-07
The US Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to $43.1 million over four years (subject to annual appropriations) to 21 awardees, including a 13 awards to first-time recipients, for research, development and demonstration of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) for next-generation geothermal energy technologies.

Survey Shows US Public Transit Use Increasing - 2008-10-07
In the second quarter of 2008, public transportation ridership increased by 5.2% as Americans took more than 2.8 billion trips.

World Bank's "Green" Energy Funding Up 87 Percent - 2008-10-06
World Bank funding for efficient and renewable energy rose 87 this year to nearly US$2.7 billion, reflecting the importance of moving to a low-carbon economy, the bank's energy chief said on Thursday.

Kohl's Opens 45 New Green Stores - 2008-10-06
Kohl's has opened 45 new U.S. stores built to according to green designs that were pre-certified at LEED silver standards.

Mayors' Study Projects 4.2M Green Jobs in U.S. by 2038 - 2008-10-06
A report prepared for the U.S. Conference of Mayors says the number of green jobs in the country could grow fivefold to 4.2 million by 2038 if aggressive steps are taken to rely more on renewable energy resources, use alternative fuels and conserve energy.

Berlin Aims to Become Solar Powerhouse - 2008-10-06
Berlin wants to become a world leader in the solar energy field, both as a user of the sun's rays for energy and as a pioneer in solar technology despite its northern, cloud-covered location, its economy minister said.

Google, U.S. Chamber Offer Energy Plans - 2008-10-06
Google unveiled an aggressive $4 trillion energy plan to significantly wean the U.S. off fossil fuels by 2030.

Sustainable Agriculture Standard Talks Begin - 2008-10-03
More than 50 representatives from a broad range of industries and areas have begun discussions to set a standard for sustainable agriculture.

Oil's Green Costs Set to Rise as Canada Vote Nears - 2008-10-03
Already struggling with the soaring costs of developing the Alberta oil sands, Canada's energy industry now also faces the prospect of tighter environmental controls regardless of which party wins the country's upcoming general election.

USPS Aims to Cut Energy Use by a Third - 2008-10-03
The United States Postal Service (USPS) plans to reduce energy use 30 percent by 2015. USPS launched this week an internal communications and conservation program to meet this goal, the organization announced.

Mitsubishi Motors Set to Test Electric Cars in Europe - 2008-10-02
Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp said on Wednesday it will begin testing its electric cars in Europe next month as it aims to beat rivals to the uncharted market and promote itself as the pioneer of the zero-emission vehicles.

Renault Unveils New Electric Concept Car - 2008-10-02
Renault has unveiled a new battery-electric concept car—the Z.E. Concept (Z.E. = Zero Emission)—at the Paris Motor Show. Based on the new Renault Kangoo be bop, the Z.E. Concept is powered by a 70 kW (95 hp) electric motor with 226 Nm (167 lb-ft) of torque and a lithium-ion battery pack.

Honda Reveals Insight Concept Hybrid at Paris - 2008-10-02
The new Insight marks the return of a dedicated hybrid to the Honda model line-up and the start of a new phase of Honda’s hybrid strategy—the Insight is the first of three new hybrid models that will appear within the next four years.

Renault Pushes Electric Vehicle Sales - 2008-10-02
Renault expects to sell between 20,000 and 40,000 electric vehicles in 2011, and break through the 100,000 unit threshold the following year, said Patrick Pelata, executive vice president of the fourth largest European carmaker by sales volume.

Big is Best in Resilient Renewables Sector - 2008-10-02
The "green economy" will rebound faster than most from global financial turmoil, because of government-guaranteed revenues for renewable energy.

Study Eases Fear About Wind Farm Threat to Birds - 2008-10-01
Wind turbines do not drive birds from surrounding areas, British researchers said on Wednesday, in findings which could make it easier to build more wind farms.

Battle Over EU Car Emissions Takes Greener Path - 2008-10-01
A key European Union vote on curbing tailpipe emissions from cars ended in chaos last week, but a consensus is now emerging in favour of swiftly enforced limits and tight controls on potential loopholes.

DuraCar Introduces New EV Derived from ITS InnoVan at Paris Show - 2008-10-01
DuraCar, a Dutch automobile manufacturer, is introducing its QUICC! brand and the prototype of a new electric vehicle at the Mondial de L’Automobile opening in Paris this week. The QUICC! DiVa is fully battery-powered distribution van (DiVa), and the body and chassis of the vehicle are entirely made of plastic.

SF Mayor Issues Solar Challenge to 1,500 Biggest Firms - 2008-10-01
The 1,500 largest firms in San Francisco can each get a free solar assessment and an energy audit, if they enlist in Mayor Gavin Newsom's drive to install enough solar power arrays to generate 5 megawatts of electricity — double the city's current capacity for sun power.

Coca Cola Pioneers Lighter Can - 2008-10-01
Drinks giant Coca Cola has managed to shave 5 percent off the weight of its cans in a move set to save 15,000 tonnes of aluminum in the European Union (EU) each year.

Enterprise Offers Nationwide Car Sharing Program - 2008-10-01
Enterprise expanded its business-to-business car sharing service nationwide in a move it says will accommodate the recent surge in public transportation ridership, the company said Tuesday.