Green Investing News

February 2009 News Archives

Commercial Shipping Emits Almost Half As Much Particulate Pollution as Total Released by World’s Cars - 2009-02-27
Globally, commercial ships emit almost half as much particulate matter pollutants into the air as the total amount released by the world’s cars, according to a new study led by NOAA and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Renault-Nissan Alliance and Electromotive to Collaborate on Charging Infrastructure - 2009-02-27
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and UK company Elektromotive, a provider of electric vehicle recharging stations, are collaborating in the Partnership for Zero-Emission-Mobility, with the aim of accelerating the installation of charging networks for plug-in vehicles in cities.

Water Efficiency is Key to Saving Energy: Expert - 2009-02-27
In regions where pumping and distributing water requires significant electricity use, policies that lead to reduced water consumption could address climate change more efficiently than requiring businesses and households to use less energy, according to water expert Peter Gleick.

Businesses, Investors Must Give Water Risks Greater Attention - 2009-02-27
Companies need to think about water beyond just how much they use directly, and consider their water needs all the way from raw material extraction up to product use and disposal, according to a new report.

Wind Power Output Hits 1,000 MW In New York - 2009-02-27
Wind power in New York for the first time reached 1,000 megawatts last week, the New York Independent System Operator said on Thursday

Obama Budget Seeks To End Oil, Natgas Tax Breaks - 2009-02-27
President Barack Obama's budget outline on Thursday called for eliminating substantial tax breaks and increasing fees for the oil and natural gas industry, while boosting funding for cleaner fuel development.

Obama Budget Realistic On Climate Revenue: Analysts - 2009-02-27
President Barack Obama's estimate of $646 billion in revenue for the first years of a carbon-capping program to curb climate change is realistic or possibly a little low, policy analysts said on Thursday.

Honda to Build New Cellulosic Ethanol R&D Facility to Accelerate Commercialization - 2009-02-26
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will build a new research facility to work toward the establishment and practical application of bioethanol production technology from non-edible cellulosic material such as the stems and leaves of plants.

In Economic Downturn, Energy Efficiency and IT Take on Green Sheen - 2009-02-26
Companies believe it's important to make their operations more environmentally friendly. About half of all companies do (or don't, depending on how you look at it) have a green strategy in place. And concerns about the cost behind implementing these projects dominate the list of obstacles.

Canada Proposes Nationwide Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging - 2009-02-26
A Canadian government task force has announced proposals for nationwide strategies on extended producer responsibility and sustainable packaging aimed at making product makers pay for end-of-life disposal of packaging or to redesign their packaging.

New Products Aim To Save Money And The Planet - 2009-02-26
Dual-flush toilets, glitzy homemade club soda kits and reusable bamboo fiber diapers are just some of the eco-products being offered to consumers at the second annual Green Products Expos as the idea of green shifts to thrift amid the economic crisis.

RMI Launches Project Get Ready to Help Communities Prepare for Plug-ins - 2009-02-25
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) launched Project Get Ready, an initiative that emerged from its Smart Garage Summit in October 2008 and that is intended to help communities prepare for plug-in vehicles including full battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and converted hybrid or internal combustion vehicles.

Balqon Begins Production of Electric Port Drayage Trucks for San Pedro Ports - 2009-02-25
Balqon Corp. has begun production of all-electric, heavy-duty drayage trucks capable of hauling 30-ton shipping containers in and around the San Pedro Bay, California port complex.

Dell, PG&E Bet Big on Green Power - 2009-02-25
Two Fortune 500 firms announced significant commitments to renewable energy Tuesday: Dell has partnered with a local utility to supply its Oklahoma City campus with 100 percent wind power. Meanwhile, PG&E announced plans to develop 500 megawatts of solar power over the next five years.

Terracycle Sets Up Waste Collection Bins in Home Depot, Petco - 2009-02-25
Terracycle, the company that makes fertilizer from worm poop and tote bags from food wrappers, continues to find ways to use non-recyclable items, and this month is rolling out collection bins for products specific to various chain stores.

GM To Build Volt Engine At Existing Flint Plant - 2009-02-25
General Motors Corp (GM.N) said on Tuesday it would use an existing Michigan plant to build engines for its key all-electric Chevy Volt and its new Cruze small car, slashing capital investment costs by $120 million.

Global "Green" Energy Stimulus Hits $200 Bln: Bank - 2009-02-25
Governments around the world have committed more than $200 billion toward technologies to cut dependence on fossil fuels, which should help keep green development moving despite the global economic crunch, an analyst for Deutsche Bank said on Tuesday.

Germany Says Green Jobs Will Shorten Recession - 2009-02-25
Strong growth in Germany's renewable energy sector along with increased state spending for environment protection could help shorten the country's worst post-war recession, the government said on Tuesday.

French Farmer Is New Sun King - 2009-02-25
Bright winter sun dissolves a blanket of snow on barn roofs to reveal a bold new sideline for Jean-Luc Westphal: besides producing eggs and grains, he is to generate solar power for thousands of homes.

DOE to Award Up to $300M in Stimulus Bill Funding for Projects to Expand Use of Alt-Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles - 2009-02-24
The US Department of Energy has issued a $300-million Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-PS26-09NT01236-04) for applications for cost-shared projects that expand the use of alternative fueled vehicles and advanced technology vehicles. The installation or acquisition of infrastructure necessary to directly support an alternative fueled vehicle or advanced technology vehicle is also eligible.

Clinton Climate Initiative, USGBC Expand Partnership; GBI, ASHRAE Team Up - 2009-02-24
The Clinton Climate Initiative and the U.S. Green Building Council are expanding their partnership to accelerate efforts to green existing buildings, while the Green Building Initiative and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers pledged to work together to speed adoption of sustainability principles in the built environment.

U.S. Agrees to Negotiate Global Mercury Emissions Treaty - 2009-02-24
The United States reversed its policy on mandatory mercury emissions reductions last week and joined roughly 140 countries in agreeing to treaty negotiations.

Vital to Business Survival: Assessing the Impact of Environmental Pressures - 2009-02-23
Identifying, planning and implementing changes in your environmental policies are not simple tasks. Yet, clear pressures from customers, shareholders and competition show that progress in this area is required

UNEP Unveils Seven-Point Green Food Plan to Cut Waste, Feed the Planet - 2009-02-23
World leaders at the U.N. Environment Programme's governing council meeting in Kenya said that, in the light of extreme amounts of waste in food production and consumption around the world, trimming inefficiencies could provide enough food to feed the global population.

US Water Woes Seen Underserved By Stimulus - 2009-02-23
Federal stimulus money to repair crumbling US infrastructure falls far short of what is needed to improve drinking water and waste management systems and address critical water shortages, a leading water industry contractor said on Thursday.

California Farms Lose Main Water Source To Drought - 2009-02-23
California's main source of irrigation water is expected to go dry this year for most of its growers due to drought, idling at least 60,000 workers and up to 1 million acres of farmland, federal officials and experts said Friday.

Chery Launches S18 Electric Vehicle - 2009-02-20
China automaker Chery has begun introduced the S18 EV, an all-battery electric vehicle it developed in-house. The S18 electric vehicle has a range of 120 to 150 km (75 to 93 miles) when fully charged, with a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph.).

Profile: Li-ion Provider Compact Power, Inc. Focusing on the Automotive and Vehicle Markets - 2009-02-20
Green Car Congress recently had the opportunity to spend some time with Dr. Prabhakar Patil, the CEO of Compact Power, Inc. (CPI) shortly after GM selected CPI and its parent LG Chem as the provider for the Li-ion batteries for the Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) Chevy Volt.

L.A. to Green Streetlights in the Largest LED Retrofit to Date - 2009-02-20
Los Angeles' 140,000 streetlight fixtures will be replaced with LED units over the next five years with help from the Clinton Climate Initiative in the most extensive municipal green lighting retrofit thus far.

Frito-Lay, UPS Expand Green Fleets - 2009-02-20
Frito-Lay is adding 1,200 fuel-efficient Sprinter delivery vehicles to its fleet, and 300 new compressed natural gas delivery trucks are now on the road for UPS.

California Ports Begin Charging Fees for Older Trucks - 2009-02-20
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach began collecting fees from pre-2007 diesel trucks this week as part of a Clean Trucks Program aimed at getting polluting rigs off the road.

BP, Verenium Partner to Build Biofuel Plant in Florida - 2009-02-20
Oil and gas giant BP and ethanol developer Verenium Corp. have formed a joint venture to develop a next-generation biofuel derived from inedible grasses and build what the firms say will be the world's largest refinery of its kind in Florida's Highland County.

DOE To OK Stimulus Energy Projects By Early Summer - 2009-02-20
Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Thursday he hopes the department can begin approving loan guarantees authorized by the stimulus for renewable energy projects by early summer.

China Says Crisis Won't Stop Its Climate Action - 2009-02-20
The global financial crisis will not affect China's resolve to tackle global warming, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, ahead of a visit to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Renault Powertrain Strategy: Focus on Electric Motor Development for EV Powertrains - 2009-02-18
Renault is currently working on the development of low-emission and zero-CO2 emissions vehicles in what it calls “a determined bid” to introduce as many effective technologies as possible at an affordable price.

IES Expands North American Team - 2009-02-18
Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd., an integrated building analysis software firm headquarted in Glasgow, is expanding its North American unit in response to "significant growth" in the U.S. market, the company said.

Cadbury Partners with Dairy Farmers to Shrink the Carbon Footprint of Milk Chocolate - 2009-02-18
With milk production accounting for more than 60 percent of the carbon footprint for its chocolate, confectioner Cadbury is teaming up with dairy farmers to trim down that figure -- and a big part of the strategy is putting cows on a lower-fiber diet so that they "burp" less.

Wal-Mart, Kmart Stock Up on Organic Jeans - 2009-02-18
Wal-Mart and Kmart are adding full lines of organic jeans made by Washington-based Greensource to their private label clothing lines.

U.S. Stimulus Crucial For "Smart Grid": Industry - 2009-02-18
The electric power industry and manufacturers say $4.5 billion in the $787-billion U.S. economic stimulus package will give a crucial boost to "smart grids" that will help the nation save money and electricity.

EPA Reconsiders Emissions Rule For New Power Plants - 2009-02-18
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it will reconsider a Bush administration rule to let new coal-fired power plants open without taking climate-warming carbon emissions into account.

Can Hybrid Solar Provide Nonstop Electricity? - 2009-02-18
sraeli energy company AORA wants to prove it doesn't have to be sunny for a solar power plant to make electricity. Like weaning a car from total dependence on fuel, the answer, it says, is to go hybrid.

Four Airlines Push to Include Aviation in Future Climate Treaty - 2009-02-17
Four major airlines called for an international post-Kyoto climate change treaty that includes aviation emissions last week.

China Urged To Cut Use Of Nitrogen Fertilisers - 2009-02-17
Excessive use of nitrogen fertilisers in China in the past few decades has polluted its groundwater, given rise to acid rain, soil acidification and increased greenhouse gas emissions, Chinese experts said.

UN Urges G20 Leaders To Back "Green New Deal" - 2009-02-17
World leaders meeting in London in April should kick-start a "Green New Deal" to fight climate change and revive the crippled global economy on a sustainable basis, a major UN environment meeting was told on Monday.

FUND VIEW - Schroders Green Fund Waits On Solar Valuations - 2009-02-17
Renewable energy stocks are likely to fall further in 2009, with solar stocks particularly vulnerable, although a sharp correction should offer a buying opportunity for long-term investors, a fund manager with Schroders said.

Irish Coast Guard Finds Oil Spill Near Russian Ships - 2009-02-17
A 300-tonne oil spill has occurred around Russian navy ships off Ireland's coast, probably during refuelling, but it is not expected to reach the shore, Ireland's Department of Transport said on Monday.

Marks & Spencer, Npower Ink U.K. Wind Power Deal to Benefit Farms - 2009-02-17
Marks & Spencer and Npower have today signed a landmark deal that will see the utility provide the retailer with enough renewable electricity to power all its stores and offices in England and Wales.

Whole Foods, Google, Trader Joe's Among Consumers' Greenest Brands: Report - 2009-02-17
If you want to know which companies shoppers consider the greenest, look no further than a grocery store near you: Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Wegmans, Fresh & Easy, Publix and MOMs have all made the list of the 35 companies that are the greenest, the best investments and the most recommendable by shoppers across the country.

US Stimulus Bill Likely To Revive Green Power - 2009-02-16
The US renewable energy sector, which has been hit hard by the banking crisis, will get a new lifeline from the economic stimulus package that is expected to pass the US Congress on Friday.

Danone Waters UK Pledges to Recycle As Much Plastic As it Uses - 2009-02-16
The company behind Volvic and Evian water has committed to buying recycled plastic in amounts equivalent to as many plastic water bottles it sells in the U.K.

Atlanta Declares Itself a 'Zero Waste Zone' - 2009-02-16
The Zero Waste Zone was announced last week through a partnership between local restaurants and the convention center that will divert tons of garbage, food scraps and used cooking oil from landfills.

Volkswagen and Toshiba to Partner on Electric Drive, Power Electronics and Batteries - 2009-02-13
Volkswagen AG and the Toshiba Corporation signed a letter of intent to cooperate for the development of electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen’s planned New Small Family. Furthermore, Volkswagen and Toshiba are planning the development of battery systems with a high specific energy density for the next generation of electric vehicles.

Epuramat's Box4Water Turns Wastewater to Drinking Water in Portable System - 2009-02-13
Luxembourg cleantech firm Epuramat has developed a portable wastewater treatment system called Box4Water that the company says can be deployed in sites ranging from communities, fairs and sports venues to remote areas and scenes of disaster.

Europe's Big Lenders Still Backing Green Power - 2009-02-13
The credit crunch is starting to make an impact on smaller European green energy projects, but cash-rich utilities and the bigger lending institutions will continue to get deals done, green power experts say.

Reducing Future Transportation CO2 Emissions to Kyoto Protocol Levels Will Require Combination of Vehicle Technology and Smart Growth - 2009-02-12
A Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning study on climate change concludes that “smart growth” combined with the use of hybrid vehicle technology could reduce cities’ carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions significantly by 2050.

Carl's Jr. Opens Green Restaurant, Aims to Make It a Company Prototype - 2009-02-12
The CEO for CKE Restaurants Inc. cut the ribbon on his firm's new eco-friendly Carl's Jr. this week with a goal of making it the flagship for the company's green building efforts.

New Bioplastic Manufacturing Process Lowers Emissions, Energy - 2009-02-12
Bioplastic manufacturer NatureWorks is now churning out its Ingeo bioplastic with fewer carbon dioxide emissions and less energy consumption.

For East Europe, Geothermal Can Replace Some Gas - 2009-02-12
Bulgaria's geothermal potential is mostly unused with at least 160 locations with geothermal springs, according to the Bulgarian Academy of Science.

Tesla Says Likely To be Profitable By Mid-2009 - 2009-02-12
Electric car start-up Tesla Motors Inc on Wednesday said it should be profitable by the middle of this year and that it sold out of its Roadster sports car model until early November.

Ford Jumps Back Into Green Car Fray - 2009-02-12
A renewed commitment to build more fuel-efficient and battery-powered cars and hybrids has become central to the high-stakes turnaround plan at Ford Motor Co as it looks to ride out the industry's worst downturn in decades.

Green Companies Do Better During Downturn: Study - 2009-02-11
Thinking of curbing or curtailing sustainability efforts because of the troubled economy? Think again, says a new study by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, whose research indicates that firms with "true commitment to sustainability" outperform industry peers in the financial markets.

Australia Firms Eye Energy Savings To Cut Carbon Costs - 2009-02-11
Australian businesses plan to slash energy consumption and step up efficiency to hold down the expenses of greenhouse gas reduction programs, a survey of chief executives of top 200 firms by PricewaterhouseCoopers showed.

"Smart Cities" Mean Rivalry In Power, Construction - 2009-02-11
In the city of the future, could power suppliers be rivaled by construction firms? An embryonic movement is growing in Europe to build "smart cities" that will challenge the status quo.

Congress Seen Backing Renewable Energy Standard - 2009-02-11
There is enough support in the U.S. Congress to pass legislation requiring utilities to generate a portion of their electricity supplies from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources, the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said on Tuesday.

Efficiency Alone Could Cut U.S. Electricity Use by 30 Percent: RMI Study - 2009-02-10
An assessment of the "electric productivity" of the 50 states indicates that shoring up performance gaps through energy efficiency could not only cut consumption by 30 percent, but also eliminate the need for more than 60 percent of coal-fired generation, according to a new study by the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Sun Microsystems Ramps Up CSR Reporting Efforts - 2009-02-10
Sun Microsystems entered a new arena of corporate reporting last week with its first mid-year progress update on its corporate social responsibility efforts.

ITC Proposes Project to Move Wind Power to Chicago - 2009-02-10
ITC Holdings Corp on Monday proposed to build a $10 billion to $12 billion power transmission network to move up to 12,000 megawatts of electricity from wind-abundant areas in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa to the heavily populated Chicago area.

Ford Launching Transit Connect in US Starting This Summer; Battery-Electric Version Due in 2010 - 2009-02-09
Ford is introducing the North American version of the 2010 Transit Connect light commercial vehicle at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show this week. Sales begin this summer.

Raser Provides Update on PHEV Project; Road Testing to Begin By the End of March - 2009-02-09
Raser Technologies is tracking to begin road testing of its prototype plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle powertrain for full-size SUVs and pickups by the end of March, according to a video update on the development status.

Converting Brownfields to Renewable Energy Sites Will Create Jobs, Lure Investors: Study - 2009-02-09
Michigan's unoccupied brownfield sites have the potential of housing renewable energy facilities that could generate 5,855 megawatts, some 17,500 jobs and more than $15 billion in investments, according to a study by the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University.

Consumers Still Buying Green Through Economic Changes - 2009-02-09
Most consumers have not cut back their spending on green products, according to a new survey.

Green X Prize Challenge to Focus on Advanced Energy Storage - 2009-02-06
A winner has been chosen from the 133 entries in the X Prize Foundation's "What's Your Crazy Green Idea?" competition to determine the focus of an X Prize energy and environment challenge.

Honda Sees Insight Hybrid Below $20,000 In U.S. - 2009-02-06
Honda Motor Co said on Thursday it wants to price the new Insight -- its first real attempt at selling gas-sipping hybrid cars in big volumes -- below $20,000 in the U.S. market.

Main Renewables Being Developed In Australia - 2009-02-06
Australia is blessed with abundant sunshine, strong winds and unceasing waves in the south from stormy weather whipped up near Antarctica.

Aussie Firm Sees Buoyant Future In Wave Power - 2009-02-06
For millennia, Australia's rugged southern coast has been carved by the relentless action of waves crashing ashore. The same wave energy could soon be harnessed to power towns and cities and trim Australia's carbon emissions.

25 Big Companies That Are Going Green - 2009-02-02
The average person might believe that the worldwide push to “go green” is coming solely from politicians and concerned citizens. In fact, this is not the case! In recent years, many big-name companies have realized their way towards more sustainable and eco-friendly business practices.

Pennsylvania Awards Axion Power $800,000 to Demonstrate PbC Batteries in Hybrids, PHEVs and EVs - 2009-02-02
The Pennsylvania Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program has awarded Axion Power International, Inc. an $800,000 grant to demonstrate Axion’s proprietary PbC battery technology in a variety of electric vehicle types including: hybrids (HEVs); plug-in hybrid electric (PHEVs) used in commuter, delivery and other vehicles; and EVs , including converted (from combustion engine operation) EVs.

Ener1 Expands Relationship with ITOCHU, Preparing to Enter Japanese Marketplace - 2009-02-02
Ener1, Inc., the parent of EnerDel, maker of lithium-ion batteries, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japan-based ITOCHU Corporation, a highly diversified global trading company that leads the world market in distribution of specialized equipment and materials needed to produce lithium-ion battery cells. ITOCHU is a long-term strategic partner of and current investor in Ener1.

State of Green Business 2009: Green is Growing, But Not Fast Enough - 2009-02-02
The second annual State of Green Business Report, created by Joel Makower and the editors of GreenBiz.com, looks at hard data behind 20 indicators to find out just how well companies are doing on addressing environmental issues.

New Wal-Mart CEO Says Sustainability Drive Will Continue at Full Speed - 2009-02-02
New Wal-Mart President and CEO Mike Duke, who succeeds Lee Scott as head of the world's largest retailer, says he expects the company to accelerate and broaden efforts to achieve its sweeping environmental goals.

VantagePoint Has Over $1 Bln For Green Startups - 2009-02-02
Silicon Valley venture capital firm VantagePoint Venture Partners will invest more than $1 billion in green startups over the next 24 to 30 months, Managing Partner Alan Salzman said on Saturday.