Green Investing News

May 2009 News Archives

New York City Department of Sanitation Testing Four Different Hybrid Trucks - 2009-05-29
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will be testing in daily operation three different types of hybrid refuse collection trucks and a hybrid rack truck. The trucks were unveiled at the Parks & Recreation Department’s 21st Annual Vehicle & Equipment Show in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens.

Waste Management Fires Up New Trash-to-Gas Project - 2009-05-29
Waste Management already generates renewable energy by incinerating trash and converting methane from its miles of landfills. Now the company is wading into a new venture that can turn garbage into synthetic gas for heating, ethanol or electricity.

World Bank To Bolster Sustainable Energy Role - 2009-05-29
The World Bank seeks to play a bigger role in sustainable energy projects around the globe including experimental carbon capture and storage (CCS) research, Vice President Katherine Sierra said on Thursday.

EU States Seen Backing DutiesOon U.S. Biodiesel - 2009-05-29
Most European Union member states indicated on Thursday they would support a European Commission plan to extend anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports of biodiesel from the United States, EU sources said.

First Solar signs long-term supply deal - 2009-05-29
First Solar Inc., the nation's largest solar-panel maker, on Friday said it signed a multiyear supply contract with Pfalzsolar GmbH, a solar-project developer owned by Pfalzwerke AG.

Alstom wins contract for 25MW Humeros geothermal unit - 2009-05-29
Mexico's state power company CFE has awarded a turnkey contract to French power company Alstom for construction of a 25MW geothermal unit at the Los Humeros field in Puebla state.

Albany welcomes geothermal energy exploration - 2009-05-29
The Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed plans for geothermal exploration in the region.

Author preaches building green in city - 2009-05-29
Increasingly, states and governments are adopting green building codes. More government programs require LEED certification. There’s also more jobs. One of the fastest growing professions over the next few years is expected to be “energy auditor,” someone who tests the energy efficiency of a building.

French organic food sales rise 25 pct in 2008 - 2009-05-29
Sales of organic food in France jumped 25 percent last year and more than 60 percent in three years to reach 2.6 billion euros, France's organic association "Agence Bio" said on Friday.

High-Efficiency Lighting at New York Times' Building Exceeds Expectations - 2009-05-28
The green lighting system at the New York Times' new building is outstripping its benchmarked 70 percent reduction in energy use by delivering savings that amount to $30,000 per year per floor, according to new performance figures.

How Smart Building Owners Can Find the 'Green' and Stop Singing the Blues - 2009-05-28
Each day, owners lose a small fortune paying for energy wasted on lighting, heating and cooling inefficient buildings. That same wasted money could, instead, be spent on green projects to enhance building operations, net operating income and value.

Shareholders Convince Chevron to Track Product Carbon Content - 2009-05-28
A group of faith-based investors will back off a resolution it filed to get Chevron to track its products’ carbon contents after the oil company agreed to comply.

GE's 'Green' Business Rakes in $17B for 2008 -- a 21 Percent Jump in Revenue - 2009-05-28
General Electric's revenue for its portfolio of environmentally sensitive products and services grew 21 percent last year and rose to $17 billion, according to the firm's annual ecomagination report.

Colombian Ethanol Output To Surge In 2009 - 2009-05-28
Colombian ethanol output is expected to more than double to 2.42 million liters a day by the end of 2009 as new projects come onstream, Agriculture Minister Andres Fernandez Acosta said on Wednesday.

Greenland Ice Could Fuel Severe U.S. Sea Level Rise - 2009-05-28
New York, Boston and other cities on North America's northeast coast could face a rise in sea level this century that would exceed forecasts for the rest of the planet if Greenland's ice sheet keeps melting as fast as it is now, researchers said on Wednesday.

Obama touts solar power to break U.S. oil addiction - 2009-05-28
President Barack Obama provided a spending boost to the solar and geothermal energy industries on Wednesday and said increased use of the fuels would make America more secure.

Qatar National Convention Centre to have 'green building rating system' - 2009-05-28
Opening in 2011, the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) is the first convention and exhibition centre of its kind being built to the premium standard of an internationally recognised green building rating system.

Wind farm foundations constructed - 2009-05-28
Construction work on an £800m wind farm is under way off the east Kent coast, with the first foundation piles now visible above the water.

Wind farm in northern NH on its way to approval - 2009-05-28
A proposed $275 million wind park in Coos County seems to be closer to reality.

N.D. wind farm proposal discussed - 2009-05-28
Basin Electric Power Cooperative is seeking approval from the North Dakota Public Service Commission for 77 wind turbines south of Minot. Commissioners said the Air Force and other federal agencies also are involved.

US EIA Projects World Energy Use to Grow 44% Between 2006 and 2030, CO2 Emissions Up by 39% - 2009-05-27
World marketed energy consumption is projected to grow by 44% between 2006 and 2030, driven by strong long-term economic growth in the developing nations of the world, according to the reference case projection from the International Energy Outlook 2009 (IEO2009) released today by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Profile: Farmers’ Ethanol—Focusing on Sustainable Corn Ethanol Production and a Triple Bottom Line - 2009-05-27
Wendel Dreve and Marion Gilliland have dedicated the past five years to pursing their dream of transforming the corn ethanol industry. Their company, Farmers’ Ethanol, plans to combine energy and food production within the same facility and by doing so create a business that can survive the wild fluctuations in commodity prices that plague today’s corn ethanol business.

Chrysler LLC Requests $224M from DOE for the Rapid Development and Manufacturing of Electrified Vehicles; Total Investment of $448M - 2009-05-27
Chrysler LLC has submitted three proposals representing a request for $224 million in funding to two US Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives: the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative and the Transportation Electrification Initiative.

CCI, USGBC Embark on Global Program for 'Climate Positive' Urban Growth - 2009-05-27
Sixteen ambitious community development projects in 10 countries have been selected as models for the new Climate Positive Development Program for urban growth that was launched by the Clinton Climate Initiative and U.S. Green Building Council.

Johnson & Johnson Asked to Remove Chemicals from Baby Shampoo - 2009-05-27
Johnson & Johnson is being asked by a coalition of organizations to remove two chemicals, considered probable human carcinogens, from its baby shampoo and other personal care products.

Forster, Hearst Subsidiary, Willmott Dixon Top U.K. List of the 60 Greenest Companies - 2009-05-27
Two communications firms, two construction companies and the largest power generator in Britain to produce only renewable energy landed the top five slots in the Sunday Times' second annual list of "Best Green Companies" in the United Kingdom.

World Business Leaders Issue "Call" for New Climate Treaty - 2009-05-27
Business leaders from around the world issued a manifesto Tuesday advocating an international climate change treaty that will offer certainty, jump start investment and help rev up the ailing global economy.

Green IT Gaining in Importance Globally: Report - 2009-05-27
Green IT is taking root, whether you're looking at specific practices from power management to virtualization or taking a top-level look at corporate sustainability goals, according to a report released today by Symantec.

Manila Says Renewable Energy Investments May Reach $10 Billion - 2009-05-27
The Philippines hopes to attract $9-10 billion in investments in renewable energy projects over the next 10 years as a law giving investors fiscal incentives takes effect next month, a top official said on Monday

Showa Shell Shares Rise Most in 3 Weeks on Solar Spending Plan - 2009-05-27
Showa Shell Sekiyu KK, a Japanese refiner and solar-equipment maker, rose the most in almost three weeks after unveiling a plan to invest as much as 160 billion yen ($1.68 billion) in expanding solar panel production.

Samal mayor wants to turn town into ‘organic zone’ - 2009-05-27
Mayor Rolando Tigas of Samal, Bataan wants the entire town to go organic and is spearheading the move to convince farmers to shift from conventional to the more sustainable organic farming to boost farmers’ income.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Joins Culver City for Compost Pilot Program - 2009-05-26
The Puente Hills landfill in Los Angeles County is expected to reach capacity and close in 2013, which will force the county to send its waste outside the region by rail.

Showa Shell to Spend 160 Billion Yen on Solar Output - 2009-05-26
Showa Shell Sekiyu KK, a Japanese refiner and solar-equipment maker, will spend as much as 160 billion yen ($1.7 billion) over five years to increase solar output to 1 gigawatt a year from 80 megawatts now.

Wind energy trade group urges Ohio to change tax to attract developers, boost renewable energy - 2009-05-26
A national trade group is asking Ohio leaders to change its taxes to attract wind energy developers who might pay lower taxes on projects in neighboring states.

US energy secretary urges action on climate change - 2009-05-26
The U.S. energy secretary says countries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by building wind farms, developing solar panels and painting roofs of homes white -- not just by creating more emissions reduction targets.

U.S. Geothermal's Neal Hot Springs Oregon Project Selected for Department of Energy Loan Program - 2009-05-26
U.S. Geothermal Inc. (Amex:HTM), announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to enter into due diligence review on an $85 million project loan for its Neal Hot Springs project in eastern Oregon.

Green building becoming a mainstream global norm – council - 2009-05-26
Globally, during construction and life-cycle, buildings consumed between 40% and 50% of the world’s energy produced, about 30% of resources, 20% of available water, and emitted about 23% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions – more than any other single sector.

Scientists hunt for green building materials - 2009-05-26
The plank looks like a polished piece of plywood, and someday people may build coffee tables with it. But this wood was not grown in a forest — it was born from the greenhouse gasses seeping from landfills.

Building ‘Climate Positive’ Communities - 2009-05-26
It’s one thing to put up a LEED-certified building, but quite another to develop an entire urban community with enough energy-efficient bells and whistles that its on-site emissions are actually less than zero.

Airplanes with 'Waggling' Wings Could be 20% More Efficient - 2009-05-22
Playing with a model airplane wing in a wind tunnel led researchers at the University of Warwick to a surprising discovery: by waggling a wing, airplanes could be up to 20 percent more fuel efficient, saving huge costs and significantly reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from air travel.

U.S. Government Wastes Over $440 Million per Year in Printing: Report - 2009-05-22
Out of the nearly $1.3 billion dollars the federal government spends on printing every year, almost one-third -- $440 million -- is wasteful, according to a new report.

Zenn Motor Confirms EEStor Battery Results - 2009-05-22
Canadian electric car maker Zenn Motor Co said on Thursday it has confirmed test results for U.S. partner EEStor Inc's potentially ground-breaking battery and now plans to boost its stake in the battery technology developer.

Big U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Wins Crucial Permit - 2009-05-22
A $1 billion proposal to build the first big U.S. offshore wind-power farm passed a key hurdle on Thursday by winning permit requirements in Massachusetts, where it faces opposition from some influential residents.

Big U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Wins Crucial Permit - 2009-05-22
A $1 billion proposal to build the first big U.S. offshore wind-power farm passed a key hurdle on Thursday by winning permit requirements in Massachusetts, where it faces opposition from some influential residents.

Ban Ki-Moon Calls For "Green Deal" - 2009-05-22
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a "green new deal" on climate change on Thursday and urged for a final push in negotiations ahead of a key summit to be held in Copenhagen in December.

U.S. To Rely More On Scientists For Air Rules: EPA - 2009-05-22
The U.S. government will reverse a Bush administration policy and increase the role of scientists in setting air standards for criteria pollutants harmful to human health, Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said on Thursday.

2nd APS solar plant may surpass target set for green energy - 2009-05-22
Arizona Public Service Co. is teaming with a defense company and private-equity firm to build another solar-power plant west of Phoenix that could help it surpass state-imposed alternative-energy requirements.

Sanyo hits world record for solar cell efficiency - 2009-05-22
Electronics giant Sanyo says it has broken its own world record for solar cell efficiency with a new type of crystalline silicon-type solar cells, achieving an efficiency of 23 per cent.

GREEN BUILDING CONCEPT FOR FUTURE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS - 2009-05-22
Future government buildings in the country will incorporate the green building concept in their design said Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

Google Partners with Eight Utilities in Smart Meter Projects to Track Energy Use Online - 2009-05-21
Eight utilities in the U.S., Canada and India are teaming up with Google in smart meter projects that will enable customers to monitor their energy use online and better manage their power consumption, the Internet giant announced.

Limbach Energy Solutions Expands to Eight New U.S. Markets - 2009-05-21
Prompted by a growing demand for efficiency retrofits, Limbach Facility Services is expanding its energy solutions business to eight new markets in the U.S.

Cement Makers Eye Big Cuts To Greenhouse Gases - 2009-05-21
Nearly a third of the world's cement industry has united on a strategy to cut global warming gases in a way that will not slow a construction boom in poor countries, backers of the initiative said on Wednesday.

U.S. Lawmakers Reject Nuclear In Renewable Power Goal - 2009-05-21
U.S. lawmakers pushing to include greater recognition for existing nuclear power in a national renewable energy standard failed to win new breaks for the industry when a U.S. congressional panel on Wednesday voted down an amendment to a controversial climate change bill.

Government Funds To Boost Canadian Green Firms - 2009-05-21
A group of Canadian green energy and technology companies pitched for investment on Wednesday, saying they are poised to flourish from government stimulus spending and tougher environmental regulations.

Micron plans moves into LED, solar, says report - 2009-05-21
Micron Technology Inc. (Boise, Idaho), best known as a struggling DRAM manufacturer, is seeking funds to help it move into LED manufacture and is considering solar panel work, according to an article at the IdahoStatesman.com website.

Duke Energy acquires wind farm in eastern US - 2009-05-21
Power generator Duke Energy Corp. on Thursday said it is acquiring a 70-megawatt wind power project in Pennsylvania, the company's first in the eastern U.S.

Joint campaign to boost organic fruit-vegetable potential - 2009-05-21
Thai Organic Trade Association (TOTA) and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) recently signed an implementing agreement of the "Promotion of Thai Organic Fruit and Vegetable Industry" project.

Ceres National Switchgrass Field Trials Show Average 2008 Biomass Yields 50% Higher Than Federal Projected Yields for 2022 - 2009-05-20
Yield results from energy crop company Ceres, Inc.’s nation-wide network of field trials showed that average biomass yields among switchgrass seed varieties tested last season were as much as 50% higher than the government’s projected yields for 2022.

Brazil Wind Energy Sector Taking Off - 2009-05-20
Brazil's wind energy sector is expected to take off this year, boosted by the government's first auction for projects in the renewable energy source on November 25.

Auto Emission Standards Around The World - 2009-05-20
Here are highlights of the emission-cutting plans of some of the world's biggest emitters.

Neb. lawmakers advance wind-energy plan - 2009-05-20
A bill designed to remove what Nebraska lawmakers say is an obstacle to developing wind energy is headed to the final round of debate.

Tennessee's First LEED Platinum Homes Raise the Bar for Green Building in Chattanooga - 2009-05-20
Using innovative design and construction methods, Chattanooga green building pioneers have designed and built a sustainable development that has received LEED platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Rating System. The Madison Street homes are Chattanooga's first LEED certified homes as well as the first LEED platinum homes in Tennessee.

Organic Burger Chain Coming to Philly - 2009-05-20
Famous for dishing up the chemical-free goods to omnivores everywhere, Elevation Burgers creates 100% USDA-certified organic, grass-fed, free-range beef and real cheddar

Hitachi Develops Fourth-Generation, High Power Automotive Lithium-Ion Battery with 4,500 W/kg; Sampling to Start in the Fall - 2009-05-19
Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd., which develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications, have developed a lithium-ion battery having a power density of 4,500 W/kg—1.7 times the output of the company’s current generation of mass-produced, automotive lithium-ion batteries.

Daimler Takes 10% Stake in Tesla; Strategic Partnership to Collaborate on Future Models - 2009-05-19
Daimler AG has acquired an equity stake of nearly 10% in Tesla Motors Inc. The two companies have already been working closely to integrate Tesla’s lithium-ion battery packs and charging electronics into the first 1,000 units of Daimler’s electric smart car.

Cisco Queues Up Smart Grid Technologies - 2009-05-19
Cisco yesterday followed on the heels of its Energy Smart Miami project to offer a new line of technologies aimed at making the country's electrical infrastructure more energy efficient, responsive and secure.

ANALYSIS - 'Made In Germany' Not Enough For Solars To Prosper - 2009-05-19
German solar companies that have not yet set up US and Chinese production plants are likely to lose out on significant subsidies and will struggle to bring down their production costs to the levels of their Asian peers.

Brazil Hopes To Team Up With China In Biofuel - Media - 2009-05-19
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will focus on renewable fuels during his visit to Beijing this week, hoping to team up with China to develop bio-fuels, the Caijing Magazine has reported.

Japan solar cell makers eye 1GW production - 2009-05-19
As power plants go green, Japan's solar cell panel developers are expanding their focus from residential applications to deployments on a grander scale, targeting 1GW-class production within a few years.

Siemens to provide 175 wind turbines in UK project - 2009-05-19
German conglomerate Siemens AG said Tuesday it would provide 175 wind turbines for a U.K. offshore wind farm project in the Thames estuary, but did not provide financial details.

China Resources Plans to Increase Wind Power Capacity - 2009-05-19
China Resources Power Holdings Co., the third-largest Hong Kong-listed mainland electricity supplier by market value, plans to expand its wind-power capacity by more than four-fold to tap demand for cleaner fuels.

Panorama Meats Exclusively Supplies Organic Grass-Fed Angus Beef To Whole Foods Market - 2009-05-19
Panorama Meats, Inc., the nation's leading organic grass-fed beef producer, has partnered with Arapaho Ranch, the nation's largest certified organic cattle operation, to supply Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef exclusively to 28 Whole Foods Market stores in the Rocky Mountain region beginning this week.

Altair Nanotechnologies Partners with Amperex Technology to Accelerate Commercialization of Next-Generation Lithium-Titanate Batteries - 2009-05-18
Li-ion battery manufacturer Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (Altairnano) has entered a joint development agreement (JDA) with Amperex Technology Ltd. (ATL) to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation high-performance lithium-titanate battery cells. China-based ATL currently produces Lithium-ion polymer batteries under a license agreement with Valence Technology.

Waxman/Markey Bill Accelerates Infrastructure and Build-out for Plug-Ins - 2009-05-18
Under Title I, the bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to mandate that each electric utility develop a plan to support the use of plug-in electric vehicles, including heavy-duty plug-ins.

GM Quantifies CO2 and Fuel Consumption Reductions Via E-REVs And PHEVs, As Compared To “Conventional” Hybrids - 2009-05-18
General Motors has released a white paper that evaluates the CO2 reduction potential of extended-range electric vehicles (E-REVs) as well as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), in combination with multiple vehicle charging scenarios, as compared to conventional hybrids.

Show Me the Money: Uncovering Rebates and Grants to Help Boost Business Efficiency - 2009-05-18
People love to talk about the millions of dollars available to help companies go green, with public and private agencies offering hundreds of grants, incentives, and rebate programs designed to help offset the costs of making businesses more efficient. The new stimulus package promises to add millions more to these coffers.

Australia To Build World's Largest Solar Energy Plant - PM - 2009-05-18
Australia plans to build the world's largest solar power station with an output of 1000 megawatts in a A$1.4 billion (US$1.05 billion) investment, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Sunday

China Grants Subsidies For Private Hybrid Cars - Paper - 2009-05-18
China will give 43,000 yuan ($6,300) in subsidies to buyers of hybrid car buyers in the southwestern city of Chongqing, the first state initiative for private cars, the Shanghai Securities News said on Friday.

Solar-rebate program to begin today in Roxborough - 2009-05-18
Gov. Rendell plans to declare the Pennsylvania Sunshine Program open for business this morning during a visit to a home in Roxborough. The program will offer rebates of up to 35 percent of the cost of a solar system.

On board with green: Unions getting up to speed on sustainable building - 2009-05-18
Not a day goes by that Pat Conway isn’t thinking about new ways to make members of the Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Union Local 8 better educated about the future of green building.

BASF and Sion Power to Collaborate on Lithium Sulfur Battery Technology; Targeting EV Market - 2009-05-15
Sion Power Corporation and BASF SE have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to accelerate the commercialization of Sion Power’s proprietary lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology for the electric vehicle (EV) market and other high-energy applications.

German Solars See Stronger Second Half - 2009-05-15
The German solar industry expects a recovery in the second half of this year after a string of earnings showed on Thursday the sector has written off the first three months as the low point of 2009.

Paterson's solar power plan envisions 50,000 jobs - 2009-05-15
Gov. David A. Paterson will announce today that the state’s two power authorities will purchase up to 150 megawatts of solar power through a program aiming to make the state the nation’s second-biggest solar power producer.

New Tower Reaches High to Catch the Wind - 2009-05-15
Officially grid-connected and set to work this week in Germany is a new wind tower from ATS. The novel tower construction allows very high hub heights that may increase a turbine's yield by 20% or more.

ITT May Spend Up to $1 Billion in Water-Treatment Acquisitions - 2009-05-15
ITT Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steven Loranger may seek as much as $1 billion in water- treatment acquisitions to profit from demand in emerging markets where the resource’s scarcity limits economic growth.

Toyota to Lease More Than 150 Experimental Li-Ion PHEVs in Europe - 2009-05-14
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) will lease more than 150 units of its experimental Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) to selected fleet customers across Europe as a next step towards commercialization. Toyota says it will deploy more than 500 new PHVs in global trials—including in Europe, Japan and the US—by 2010.

House Dems settle on 15% renewable energy target - 2009-05-14
House Democrats negotiating a major energy and climate bill have reached a tentative agreement to include a scaled-back renewable power target of 15 percent by 2020, senior lawmakers said yesterday.

Mannington Lays Out Program to Recycle 19M Pounds of Floor Tiles - 2009-05-14
Mannington Commercial has launched an ambitious program to recover and recycle post-consumer vinyl composition tile as part of the firm's broader initiative to close the loop of its manufacturing process.

Consumers in India, Brazil and China are the 'Greenest': Greendex Survey - 2009-05-14
For a second year in a row, consumers in India, Brazil and China scored the highest -- and those in the U.S., the lowest -- for green behavior among the countries included the Greendex survey conducted by the National Geographic Society and international polling firm GlobeScan.

Green IT Is Key to an Energy-Efficient Future: Report - 2009-05-14
Whether it's teleworking enabled by broadband internet or the spread of video conferencing technologies that reduce business travel, information technologies (IT) are responsible for significantly reducing the amount of energy used in the United States in the last 20 years, according to a report released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

EU Targets Transport, Power For Next Climate Action - 2009-05-14
Eradicating greenhouse gases from power stations and cars, trucks and aviation must be Europe's next policy move to tackle climate change, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday.

World Bank Helps Bangladesh Control Air Pollution - 2009-05-14
The World Bank approved on Wednesday a $62.2 million credit to help Bangladesh to control urban air pollution through cutting emissions in key polluting sectors such as transport and brick-making.

PG&E signs solar deal to light 530,000 homes - 2009-05-14
California utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has signed new solar contracts that are expected to produce enough electricity to power about 530,000 homes during peak hours.

Vietnam's Asian Renewable Energy Plans 50 MW Wind Power Plant - 2009-05-14
Vietnam's Asian Renewable Energy Co. will invest VND1.82 trillion ($107 million) to build a wind power plant in the country's southern region, a local government official said Thursday.

Google energy guru hot on geothermal - 2009-05-14
Dan Reicher, the director of climate and energy initiatives at Google.org, says we're standing on a great untapped source of renewable energy: enhanced geothermal.

Organic farming needed to fight global heating, advocates say - 2009-05-14
Shifting to organic farming now would help fight global warming and cushion the impact of climate change by going organic, which substantially will reduce the country’s carbon footprint or greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere.

Better Place Demonstrates Battery Switch Technology - 2009-05-13
Better Place officially opened the Yokohama, Japan EV exhibit with the public debut of its automated battery switch system, designed to make long distance travel by EV convenient for customers.

Wales Becomes First in U.K. to Set a National Green Building Standard - 2009-05-13
Strict thresholds for reduction of carbon emissions, energy efficiency, decreased water consumption and use of more sustainable materials in new buildings take effect September 1 in Wales, whose Assembly Government adopted the first national green building standard in the U.K.

Dell Spells Out E-Waste Policy: If It's Broken, Don't Export It - 2009-05-13
Dell today upped the ante on the information technology (IT) industry's efforts to responsibly deal with broken, outdated or discarded technology with a simple but comprehensive company-wide policy on electronic waste.

China mulls 3 trln yuan spending for renewable energy - 2009-05-13
China is considering investing a more than 3 trillion yuan ($440 billion) in the renewable energy sector by 2020, an official with the National Energy Administration said on Tuesday.

Barge With Stolen Oil Sinks In Nigerian Waters - 2009-05-13
A barge carrying 2,000 tonnes of allegedly stolen crude oil has sunk off the coast of Nigeria's Niger Delta, causing some environmental damage, a military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Canada Scolded Over Greenhouse Gas Estimates - 2009-05-13
Canada has overstated how effective its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions will be, the country's top environmental watchdog said Tuesday.

Iraq Parliament Demands More Water From Neighbours - 2009-05-13
Iraq's parliament voted on Tuesday to force the government to demand on a greater share of water resources from neighbours upstream of its vital rivers, Turkey, Iran and Syria, in any bilateral deals with them.

Haywood County could land $62.5M Tennessee solar farm - 2009-05-13
A $62.5 million solar project in Tennessee could develop Haywood County’s industrial megasite into the West Tennessee Solar Farm with a proposed initiative from Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Frost & Sullivan: Offshore Wind Energy Set to Boom in the Next Few Years - 2009-05-13
According to Frost & Sullivan estimates, installed capacity of offshore wind is expected to grow from 1,276 MW in 2008 to 18,769 MW by 2015.

Indonesia urges Medco to speed up geothermal power project - 2009-05-13
Indonesia's energy ministry said on Wednesday it has asked energy firm PT Medco Energi Internasional to resolve a price dispute and build a $800 million geothermal power plant in North Sumatra province.

New Xerox Printer Cuts Waste by 90 Percent - 2009-05-12
Xerox last week unveiled its new ColorQube 9200 multifunction printer, a machine that uses a combination of innovations to reduce waste by 90 percent, cuts energy use and emissions by 10 percent, all while saving nearly two-thirds the costs of traditional color printing.

Schott Solar dedicates Albuquerque plant - 2009-05-12
Schott Solar has formally dedicated its flagship U.S. manufacturing plant -- the first in the world capable of producing both photovoltaic panels for homes and businesses and thermal receivers for large-scale solar power plants.

CPS Energy leads the nation in wind energy - 2009-05-12
CPS Energy is No. 1 in the nation for wind-energy capacity among municipal utilities, according to the latest ranking by the American Wind Energy Association.

Dong Energy, E.ON and Masdar give green light to build world's largest offshore wind farm - 2009-05-12
Dong Energy, E.ON and Masdar, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mubadala Development Company, have today announced that they will invest €2.2bn in building the first 630MW phase of the London Array offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary.

GE Transportation Announces New $100 Million Battery Manufacturing Facility to Advance Hybrid Technologies - 2009-05-12
GE Transportation, a unit of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE - News), announced today the next step in its commitment to develop leading hybrid technology. The Company announced plans to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant for advanced storage batteries.

Recovery Act Announcement: Secretary Chu, Governor Patrick Announce $25 Million for Massachusetts Wind Technology Testing Center - 2009-05-12
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Governor Deval Patrick today announced the Department of Energy's intent to award Massachusetts $25 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate development of the state's Wind Technology Testing Center and create hundreds of new jobs in the area.

Sentience Project Intelligent Automotive Air Conditioning Control System Delivers Fuel Savings in Excess of 9% in Urban Cycle - 2009-05-11
Testing of an intelligent air conditioning control system integrated with a hybrid powertrain as part of the UK’s Sentience project —showed that, under conditions representative of UK summer weather, the new system consistently delivers fuel savings in excess of 9% over the urban portion of the NEDC drive cycle.

Bioelectricity Offers More Miles and Fewer Emissions Than Ethanol: Study - 2009-05-11
A new study suggests converting biomass to electricity rather than ethanol for transportation produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions and offers more “miles per acre.”

Spain Plans Changes To Renewable Energy Aid Rules - 2009-05-11
Spain plans to change rules on state aid for renewable energy generators, an industry ministry spokesman said on Friday, arousing fears in the sector that its lucrative subsidies may shrink.

Obama Budget Sticks To Auctioning All CO2 Permits - 2009-05-11
President Barack Obama's $3.55 trillion budget, released on Thursday, retains his plan to cut climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions by auctioning off 100 percent of emission permits to industries.

US Commerce Chief Plans Clean Energy Trip To China - 2009-05-11
US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said on Friday he will travel to China this year to promote sales of US clean energy goods as part of the Obama administration's effort to fight global warming.

Beijing To Raise Water Prices This Year - Report - 2009-05-11
The Chinese capital of Beijing will raise water prices this year as it tries to conserve precious supplies, China News Service reported, citing a local official.

EnerDel Signs Letter of Intent to Supply Lithium-Ion Batteries to Fisker Automotive; Inaugurates New Manufacturing Line - 2009-05-08
EnerDel and Fisker, the independent American carmaker developing a line of plug-in vehicles for the global market, have signed a letter of intent for a potential long-term battery supply agreement. Results of reliability and performance testing will determine a final contract.

Four in Five Big Cities Put High Value on Sustainability Goals: Report - 2009-05-08
Only one in six of the country's 40 largest cities say sustainability is not one of their top five problems, according to a new report from Living Cities, a collaboration of 21 of the world's largest foundations and financial institutions. The vast majority of city leaders have focused attention and effort on improving the environmental performance of their towns.

Cap-and-Trade Won't Cause Mass Manufacturing Migration - 2009-05-08
As the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee wrestles over the draft climate change legislation proposed by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), a new study has been released suggesting the feared economic toll may be lighter than some predict.

City Hall Watch: Large solar farm garners approval - 2009-05-07
One of the largest solar energy plants in California will soon open for businesses in the Sunset district.

Clean Energy Firms Still Offer Good Returns: Investors - 2009-05-07
Renewable energy companies could still provide substantial returns for private equity investors this year as those with real growth potential are surviving the economic slowdown, investors said at a conference on Wednesday.

California Says Corn Ethanol Needs to Go On Carbon Diet - 2009-05-07
Corn-based ethanol may not impact the price of food as much as thought, but a controversial decision in California questions its ability to curb greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. A new report entitled "The Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions" concluded that increased use of the fuel did not contribute as much as expected to last year's rise in corn prices.

Some Americans Clamor To Try Wind Power At Home - 2009-05-07
The idea of wind turbines churning out free electricity alongside every home and office building has appeal, judging by the throngs around "community wind" purveyors at a Chicago wind power convention this week.

Asia Construction Frenzy Needs Green Injection - 2009-05-07
Powered by solar energy generated on its roof, Taipei 101, the world's tallest completed building, is not only a leader for its breathtaking height but also for its eco-friendly features.

BT's North American Headquarters Goes Solar - 2009-05-07
Communications giant BT now has a line to the sun: The firm has completed installation of a solar photovoltaic system at its North American headquarters.

GM And University of Michigan Form GM/U-M Institute Of Automotive Research And Education - 2009-05-07
General Motors and the University of Michigan have formed the GM/U-M Institute of Automotive Research and Education, with a strategic focus on reinventing the automobile and developing the next generation of high-efficiency vehicles powered by diverse energy sources.

Ford Investing $550M to Retool SUV Plant to Produce Focus Small Car and EV - 2009-05-06
Ford Motor Company is investing $550 million to transform its Michigan Assembly Plant into a flexible manufacturing complex that will build Ford’s next-generation Focus global small car along with a new battery-electric version of the Focus for the North American market.

Kohl's Stores Awarded Energy Star Label, LEED Ratings - 2009-05-06
Kohl's tally of Energy Star-labeled stores now stands at 219, the retailer's design prototype for stores has been awarded initial LEED Silver certification and three other stores in the chain have attained LEED ratings.

USDA: $50 Million In EQIP For Farmers Going Organic - 2009-05-06
Farmers will have three weeks to apply for $50 million in land stewardship funding to help pay the cost of converting to organic production, said the U.S. Agriculture Department on Tuesday.

Origin Triples Potential Australia Wind-Farm Capacity - 2009-05-06
Origin Energy Ltd., Australia’s second-biggest electricity and gas retailer, acquired Wind Power Pty, more than tripling its potential wind capacity to benefit from regulations supporting renewable energy.

Testing Finds Proterra Electric Transit Bus Achieves More Than 20 mpg Diesel Equivalent - 2009-05-05
An all-electric version of the 35-foot Proterra FCBE 35 transit bus, powered by a UQM PowerPhase 150 electric propulsion system and an Altairnano Li-ion battery pack, achieved more than 20 miles per gallon diesel equivalent in fuel economy equivalency testing conducted by the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute at Pennsylvania State University.

Target Australia to Eliminate Plastic Bags, South Australia's Bag Ban Begins - 2009-05-05
The plastic bag ban in the state of South Australia goes into effect this month as the retailer Target Australia plans to eliminate plastic bags from all of its stores countrywide.

Obama To Form Interagency Biofuels Group - 2009-05-05
President Barack Obama will direct the heads of three US agencies to make the biofuels industry cleaner and encourage output of ethanol made from non-food crops, according to a draft memo obtained by Reuters on Monday.

China Aims To Advance Thermal Plant Closures Plan - 2009-05-05
China plans to close 15 gigawatts (GW) of small coal-fired power generators this year, as part of measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Monday.

Experts Mull Global Ban On Commercial Chemicals - 2009-05-05
Experts and officials from some 150 countries started talks on Monday on banning production of nine chemicals considered potentially dangerous but still used in farming and for other commercial purposes.

Obama Faces Climate Test With EPA Rule On Ethanol - 2009-05-05
President Barack Obama's administration will face a big test on fighting climate change when it seeks to determine if ethanol, the top US alternative motor fuel, cuts greenhouse gas emissions.

California Legislature Considering Bill Requiring Smog Testing for Motorcycles - 2009-05-04
A bill under consideration in the California state legislature would require California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to include Class III (280 cc or greater) model-year 2000 and newer motorcycles in the state’s smog check program beginning 1 January 2012. The measure is targeted at reducing tampering with the emissions control systems, which can result in higher emissions.

Farm Air Quality Talks Get Underway Amidst New Pollution Findings - 2009-05-04
The EPA next week will convene an Agricultural Air Quality Task Force this week in the town that, according to a new study by the American Lung Association, is among the 10 most-polluted cities in the nation.

Chinese Company To Finance $300 million In U.S. Wind Farms - 2009-05-04
Private U.S. company Tang Energy Group said on Friday a Chinese company has agreed to provide $300 million in financing for its wind power projects.

Canadian Solar strikes new deal with Topinfrasolar - 2009-05-04
Canadian Solar Inc. on Monday said it signed a new sales contract with Korean systems integrator Topinfrasolar to expand their supply agreement of solar products by an additional 5 megawatts.

Organic Trade Association Releases Its 2009 Organic Industry Survey - 2009-05-04
U.S. sales of organic products, both food and non-food, reached $24.6 billion by the end of 2008, growing an impressive 17.1 percent over 2007 sales despite tough economic times, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA), which today made available final results from its 2009 Organic Industry Survey.

Study Finds UK Power Infrastructure Has Capacity for Significant Rise in Use of EVs and PHEVs - 2009-05-01
According to the results of simulation studies by a consortium including Ricardo, Jaguar-Land Rover, E.ON and Amberjac Projects, a substantial medium-term rise in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles would have a much lower impact on the UK national power grid than has previously been estimated.

FedEx Aims for 30 Percent Biofuels by 2030 - 2009-05-01
FedEx wants a third of its jet fuel to come from biofuels by 2030, the company’s chief executive said Wednesday in a speech delivered during a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit.

Teijin to Cut Back Plastics Development, Focus on Green Chemistry - 2009-05-01
Japanese chemical and textile firm Teijin has developed a wide-ranging restructuring plan that will cut back on plastics development and boost its green chemistry operations.

Green Becoming a 'Tiebreaker' in Shopping Decisions, Survey Finds - 2009-05-01
Green product attributes are evolving into an important brand differentiator for consumers and can serve as a tiebreaker for shoppers evaluating similar products, according to results of a new study from the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Deloitte.

GE Expands Lifecycle Research at Ecoassessment Center - 2009-05-01
At General Electric's Ecoassessment Center of Excellence, researchers delve deep into GE products, looking for ways to better assess and manage their lifecycle environmental impacts.

UK Launches Green Study For Marine Energy - 2009-05-01
The UK government is to launch an environmental study on marine energy projects in England and Wales, paving the way for commercial wave and tidal devices to be deployed.