Green Investing News

June 2009 News Archives

SunPower, Wells Fargo funding solar projects - 2009-06-30
Solar panel maker SunPower Corp and Wells Fargo on Monday said they have teamed up to fund up to $100 million in solar projects for businesses and public buildings.

U.S. joins International Renewable Energy Agency - 2009-06-30
The United States joined the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on Monday as part of the Obama administration's commitment to developing a new energy policy, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

Plug-in autos charged overnight OK for grid - 2009-06-30
If plug-in hybrid vehicles proliferate as expected, utilities will be able to handle the added power demand without building new plants or straining transmission power grids as long as owners plug in overnight, the New York grid manager said in a report issued on Monday.

EPA approves California emissions standard - 2009-06-30
The Obama administration on Tuesday approved California's long-standing bid to set its own standard for reducing vehicle tailpipe emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement.

U.K. Targets SMBs For No-Interest Energy Efficiency Loans - 2009-06-30
The Carbon Trust announced today it has made it easier for small- and medium-sized businesses to make their operations more efficient. The company expanded eligibility for the interest-free loan program, which will dole out £100m (US$165.6 million) over the next two years, including £84 million in new allocations from the 2009 government budget.

EPA Proposes Stronger Air Quality Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide - 2009-06-30
EPA has proposed revisions to the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air quality standard, the first adjustment since 1971. The proposed changes reflect the latest science on the health effects of exposure to NO2, which is formed by emissions from cars, trucks, buses, power plants, and industrial facilities and can lead to respiratory disease.

Dow Planning to Build and Operate a Pilot-Scale Algae-to-Ethanol Biorefinery with Algenol Biofuels - 2009-06-30
The Dow Chemical Company plans to work with Algenol Biofuels, Inc. to build and operate a pilot-scale algae-based integrated biorefinery that will produce ethanol, located at Dow’s Freeport, Texas site. Dow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Membrane Technology & Research, Inc. are contributing science, expertise, and technology to the project.

BAF Technologies Begins Converting 600 AT&T Vehicles To CNG in 2009 - 2009-06-30
Dallas-based BAF Technologies has begun converting 600 AT&T Ford E-Series vans to dedicated CNG technology in 2009. This is part of AT&T’s plan to invest up to $565 million to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models, beginning with hybrids.

Interior Dept designates solar energy zones - 2009-06-30
Hoping to speed up the development of renewable energy resources on federal lands, the U.S. Interior Department designated about 670,000 acres of land on Monday as potential areas for solar energy production.

Shoots sprout in Canada's green sector - 2009-06-29
In recent weeks, companies ranging from water treatment firm GLV Inc to green building products maker Genesis Worldwide Inc have raised millions of dollars in share and debenture offerings.

U.S. may become largest green market: E.ON exec - 2009-06-29
The United States may become the largest market for renewable energy for E.ON, the world's largest utility by sales, within six years, the head of the company's green energy unit told Reuters in an interview.

PepsiCo Opens Green Beverage Plant in China - 2009-06-29
PepsiCo opened a new manufacturing plant in China specifically designed to be more environmentally friendly than conventional company facilities.

Scientific Conservation Brings a New Dimension to Energy Efficiency in Buildings - 2009-06-29
Berkeley firm Scientific Conservation Inc. goes to market today with its SCIwatch software-as-a-service solution -- a first in Automated Continuous Commissioning that its creators say enables building owners and operators to cut as much as 25 percent of annual energy spending by tackling a condition called energy drift.

New generation biofuels seen in 2010 at earliest - 2009-06-29
The first biofuels produced using new generations of biomass raw materials could be available in commercial volumes from 2010 at the earliest, German junior Environment Michael Mueller said on Monday.

Obama sets new efficiency standards for lighting - 2009-06-29
The new standards, which will come into effect in 2012, would save up to 594 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions through 2042, the official said.

County offers incentive for building green - 2009-06-26
Bernalillo County is now the first county in the state to offer discounts to anyone who decides to go green when building new homes or businesses.

U.S. to spend $3.9 billion on "smart" power grid: Chu - 2009-06-26
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on Thursday $3.9 billion in "smart grid" funding aimed at making power transmission around the country more flexible.

California Adopts Cooler Cars Regulation - 2009-06-26
The California Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that will require new cars sold in California starting in 2012 to have windows that reflect or absorb heat-producing rays from the sun. This will help keep cars cooler, increase their fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Norway proposes sea-based wind power - 2009-06-26
Norway's government proposed a new law on Friday to develop sea-based wind power as part of a plan to diversify from offshore oil and gas toward renewable energy.

New Law Requires Calif. Landfills to Capture Methane - 2009-06-26
A new regulation adopted today will force more than a dozen California landfills to install equipment that captures methane gas created by decomposing solid waste.

Global free trade accord seen helping environment - 2009-06-26
A new global free trade accord could help fight climate change by making clean-energy products more widely available, the World Trade Organization and United Nations Environment Program said on Friday.

Top 10 Green Building Products [2009] - 2009-06-25
As the magazine does every year, Sustainable Industries has just published its list of the Top 10 Green Building Products of 2009. Selections are chosen based upon environmental performance, scalability / market impact, innovation, design aesthetic, value, and compatibility with LEED.

First Solar sees costs down by a third in 5 years - 2009-06-25
First Solar Inc on Wednesday said it expected to cut manufacturing costs by a third or more over the next five years, mainly by making its solar panels more efficient at transforming sunlight into electricity.

EU To Extend Checks On Food From Chernobyl Area - 2009-06-25
The European Union plans to extend strict radioactivity checks by 10 years on food imports from areas affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster due to continuing nuclear contamination, a document showed on Monday.

Green Dining Best Practices Help Companies Cut Costs, Waste and Pollution - 2009-06-25
Random House and the Hearst Corporation have found that serving up a menu based on green dining practices can save their companies thousands of dollars while cutting down on waste and pollution.

$500M in Labor Department Grants Available for Green Job Training Programs - 2009-06-25
Grant competitions opened today for $500 million in Recovery Act funds for training programs that will help retool the U.S. workforce for a clean energy economy.

IBM Sharpens Focus on Business and Battery Efficiency - 2009-06-24
IBM launches two initiatives today that aim to make businesses, energy grids and lithium ion batteries more efficient.

Baxter's Green Practices Yield $11.9 Million in Environmental Savings and Income - 2009-06-24
Water conservation, energy efficiency, green building projects and other eco-friendly initiatives yielded Baxter International Inc. a total of $11.9 million in environmental income, savings and cost avoidance for 2008, the diversified healthcare products firm said in its latest sustainability report.

UK TSB Awards £25M to Eight Low-Carbon Vehicle Demonstration Projects; Focus On Electric Vehicles - 2009-06-24
Eight new low carbon vehicle projects will receive a share of £25 million (US$41 million) of funding from the UK’s Technology Strategy Board Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator to run ‘real-life’ trials. The project, which will put 340 vehicles on the road in trials within the next six to eighteen months, will be the biggest of its kind and is intended to accelerate the availability of low carbon cars to consumers.

GM will do "heavy lifting" toward plug-in goal - 2009-06-24
General Motors Corp will do the "heavy lifting" to help meet the ambitious goal set by President Barack Obama of having one million plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles on U.S. roads by 2015, a GM executive said on Tuesday.

Obama urges passage of "historic" climate change bill - 2009-06-24
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, urged on by President Barack Obama, announced progress on Tuesday toward quick passage of legislation to fight global warming by reducing industrial emissions of carbon dioxide.

Wind energy body says capacity grows at record pace - 2009-06-24
The world's wind power production capacity is expected to grow by a record 25 percent this year despite financing difficulties for some projects in the economic downturn, the World Wind Energy Association said.

Sahara solar plan "win-win" for Europe and North Africa - 2009-06-24
A 400-billion euro ($554 billion) project linking solar power produced in the Sahara to energy users in Europe and North Africa is a "win-win" for both continents and could also promote integration around the Mediterranean, a German minister said.

EU drive for carbon storage stumbles in Germany - 2009-06-24
Europe's push for pioneering carbon capture and storage (CCS) has suffered a setback in Germany, Europe's top greenhouse gas emitter, which put back a plan to create a legal framework for the technology.

Sears Tower owners looking to put 'green' hotel next door - 2009-06-24
The owners of Sears Tower will build an environmentally friendly hotel next to the skyscraper, which is also going green.

GE's Finance Arm Lining Up Green Power Deals - 2009-06-24
General Electric's Energy Financial Services is working on thousands of megawatts of renewable energy projects, but is not likely to move forward until the U.S. government decides on rules for new grants, an executive in the company's energy business said on Tuesday.

Canada to Reward Pulp and Paper Mills for Efficiency Improvements - 2009-06-24
The Canadian government will reward some pulp and paper producers for making their operations more environmentally friendly.

Maine Requires CFL Producers to Pay for CFL Recycling - 2009-06-24
The burden of collecting and recycling compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in Maine is being put on the bulb producers. Under a new Maine law, CFL manufacturers will have to provide free collection of household CFLs by 2011.

U.S. climate fix to cost consumers $175 a year: CBO - 2009-06-23
Climate change legislation pending in Congress would cost U.S. households only about $175 annually in higher energy and consumer prices, far less than the $3,100 "burden" opponents have claimed would result, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate.

ZF and ISE Plan to Collaborate to Supply Electric Hybrid Drive Systems and Components to North American Vehicle Market - 2009-06-23
ZF Friedrichshafen (ZF), a leading manufacturer of vehicle driveline and chassis technology, and ISE Corporation (ISE ), a leading designer and manufacture of series hybrid propulsion systems and components for heavy duty vehicles, plan to collaborate on the development and supply of a complete line of parallel-electric hybrid drive systems and components for the North American vehicle markets.

Cosentino's ECO Countertops Earn Cradle to Cradle Certification - 2009-06-23
ECO by Cosentino, a line of countertops and surfaces made from 75 percent recycled material, has received Cradle to Cradle Silver certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry.

Middle school girls will learn about green building at construction camp - 2009-06-23
Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. today began a camp to teach 20 low-income and minority middle school girls about the field of construction and green building techniques.

Skanska Cuts the Ribbon on Poland's First Green Building - 2009-06-23
Deloitte House, the first commercial structure in Poland to be certified as a green building by the European Commission, officially opened this month.

Tesla slashes production costs, eyes July profit - 2009-06-23
Electric car start-up Tesla Motors Inc has slashed production costs for its flagship Roadster sports car by 43 percent to about $80,000 per vehicle as of June, its chief executive said on Monday.

GCL-Poly says to buy $3.38 billion solar energy asset - 2009-06-23
GCL-Poly Energy, an independent power cogeneration plant operator in China, said on Tuesday it would pay US$3.38 billion for a Jiangsu province maker of polysilicon and wafers used in the solar industry.

Green Technology Will Make Up 40 Percent of Stimulus Orders From Siemens - 2009-06-23
Siemens is expecting $8 billion in new orders for green technology due to government stimulus programs from around the world.

State upping mandates for green building - 2009-06-22
California — and the Coachella Valley in particular — could have some of the most energy-efficient buildings in the nation come Aug. 1

Does Green Building Have to Break the Bank? - 2009-06-22
Myth buster: Green building doesn't mean expensive and complex.

Acciona inaugurates Red Hills wind farm - 2009-06-22
Acciona has inaugurated the Red Hills wind farm in Oklahoma. The 123 MW facility is equipped with 82 Acciona AW-1500 wind turbines, each of which have a 1.5 MW capacity.

Solar power to challenge in Europe by 2010 - 2009-06-22
European solar power will start to become economically competitive compared to mainstream electricity from next year, a report by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) said on Monday.

P&G, Eastman Chemical Among Winners of Green Chemistry Awards - 2009-06-22
The winners of the 14th annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards were announced today, with five winners from industry and academia taking home prizes for innovations in developing non-toxic chemicals and chemical processes.

New Asda Supermarket Diverts 95 Percent of Waste, Cuts CO2 Emissions in Half - 2009-06-22
A new Asda supermarket in a Liverpool suburb that diverts 95 percent of its operational waste and slashes greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent has been awarded an "excellent" green rating from the British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology.

Magna Electronics and Semikron Form a 50/50 Joint Venture for Power Electronics for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles - 2009-06-22
Magna Electronics, an operating unit of Magna International Inc. that delivers electronic solutions to the automotive market, and Semikron, a provider of power semiconductor components and systems, are forming a 50/50 joint venture to develop and produce power electronics for future electric and hybrid vehicle applications.

Smith Electric Vehicles, Altec and PG&E Partner on All-Electric Utility Truck - 2009-06-22
Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation (SEVUS) and Altec Industries Inc. have developed an all-electric utility truck with an aerial device. The truck is a battery-powered, all-electric Smith Newton produced by SEV US and SEV UK with an aerial bucket integrated by Altec Industries Inc. The partners inroduced the prototype at the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Williamsburg, Va.

U.S. Green Building Council Urges Congressional Action on Green Homes Bill In Testimony - 2009-06-19
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) urged Congress to pass the GREEN Act of 2009 to help homeowners build and remodel their homes in ways that save energy, thereby reducing their energy costs and their environmental impact.

Investors back green rehabs - 2009-06-19
More businesses believe that ecological consciousness can pay

Kyocera eyes solar panel growth in Japan - 2009-06-19
Kyocera Corp, fighting to hold its own in a competitive solar panel market, is banking on a revival of Japanese subsidies to bolster sales, and said orders for its panels in Japan have jumped this year.

Incentives add shine to China solar drive - 2009-06-19
Beijing's bid to boost the solar energy sector could draw more than $10 billion in private funding for projects and put China on track to become a leading market for solar equipment in the next three years.

Britain Faces Severe Warming By 2080s: Study - 2009-06-19
Climate change could lead to a rise in average summer temperatures in parts of Britain that is nearly double the level which the European Union and others say is dangerous, a study said on Thursday.

FPL Touts Efficiency Gains While Pursuing Rate Hike - 2009-06-19
Florida’s largest utility is seeking a rate hike it says will be offset by the savings generated from making its power plant fleet cleaner and more efficient.

Safeway Expands Its Local Food Focus - 2009-06-19
Just in time for the start of summer, Safeway has launched a campaign to highlight the amount of locally grown food it stocks in its produce departments.

Green Economy Investments Bring 300 Percent More Jobs, Reports Find - 2009-06-19
Two new reports on the impacts of moving to a low-carbon economy show putting money toward energy efficiency, building retrofits and renewable energy projects can create 1.7 million new jobs, significantly more than the same investment in fossil fuel industries.

NIST Releases EPRI Report on Smart Grid Development; Priorities, Standards, Architecture - 2009-06-19
The US Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released for public review a report that identifies issues and proposes priorities for developing technical standards and an architecture for a US Smart Grid.

From Design to Dismantling, Shipping Firms Embrace Green - 2009-06-18
At a conference for the shipping industry in Oslo, Norway, last week, the COO of Det Norske Veritas (DNV) said that significant cuts in carbon emissions from the industry are within reach.

Green Building May Reach To Homes - 2009-06-18
One year from now, the city, which has established green-building policies for municipal, commercial and larger-scale residential buildings, could extend those standards to include the construction of single-family homes.

Green Building Retrofits Represent a Potential $400B Market - 2009-06-18
Boosted in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will provide significant funding for renovations to federal building, the total potential market for major green renovations in the commercial building sector is approximately $400 billion, according to a new study by Pike Research.

EDC takes over last 2 geothermal plants under BOT - 2009-06-18
LISTED ENERGY Development Corp. (EDC) yesterday assumed full ownership and operation of the 52-megawatt (MW) Minda-nao 1 and 54-MW Mindanao 2 geothermal power plants from a foreign build-operate-transfer (BOT) partner following the completion of an Energy Conversion Agreement.

PNOC ties up with Japan-led consortium on wind energy research - 2009-06-18
The consortium--composed of Mecaro Rio Vista Energy Corp. (MOREnergy), Mecaro Co. Ltd., Philippine Nippon Steel Construction (PNS Construction), and ESCA Engineering--has signed an agreement with PNOC to share knowledge and expertise in the development of wind energy projects.

AmerenUE makes wind power purchase - 2009-06-18
AmerenUE, Missouri's largest electric utility, has agreed to buy 102 megawatts of wind power from an Iowa wind farm beginning Sept. 1.

A bright forecast for solar investments - 2009-06-18
Western investors are cashing in on favorable solar energy prices

Telecoms firms turn greener to lure Asia consumers - 2009-06-18
Telecoms firms are increasingly looking at more energy efficient and recyclable products in Asia as consumers check labels for environmental credentials and companies try to save on energy costs.

Continental Says Biofuel Did Well In Flight Test - 2009-06-18
Continental Airlines said a blend of biologically derived fuel and jet fuel performed slightly better than jet fuel alone during a test flight by the world's fifth-largest airline.

Phoenix gets grant to build green youth facilities - 2009-06-18
The city of Phoenix will use a U.S. Department of Labor grant to build its first green YouthBuild Phoenix Partnership project.

Investors Ask 200 U.K. Companies to Disclose Their Forestry Footprints - 2009-06-17
A coalition of 12 major investment firms are asking 200 U.K. companies to disclose their forestry practices and what they're doing to combat deforestation.

Sidock Building officially awarded 'green' certification - 2009-06-17
The skylight system and large glass windows of the Sidock Building in downtown Muskegon were not designed just to filter sunlight to the interior -- they also make the structure more "green."

Ordinances push green building - 2009-06-17
This Wednesday, June 17, the Oro Valley Town Council plans to consider a pair of ordinances that would force new development to include technologies that limit water and energy consumption.

Toyota to ramp up Prius output, denies Nummi plan - 2009-06-17
Toyota Motor Corp is preparing to ramp up production of the hot-selling Prius hybrid by adding weekend shifts, and denied a report that it was considering building the model at a plant in California held jointly with General Motors Corp.

California utility in new big solar deals - 2009-06-17
Southern California Edison, a utility arm of Edison International, has signed contracts to buy up to 960 megawatts of power from wind and solar energy suppliers, SCE said on Wednesday.

EU and U.S. set energy standards for office equipment - 2009-06-17
The European Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set new standards for office appliances which could save the equivalent of one year electricity consumption in Ireland.

U.S. climate report details energy, agriculture harm - 2009-06-17
Climate change has already caused "visible impacts" in the United States and poses particular risks to the U.S. agriculture and energy industries, a new government report said on Tuesday.

U.S. Senate panel approves comprehensive energy bill - 2009-06-17
A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday approved a comprehensive energy package that would require utilities to generate 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind power.

Court Orders $507.5 Million Damages in Exxon Valdez Spill - 2009-06-17
The amount is a fraction of the $5 billion in punitive damages originally awarded to fishermen, Alaska natives, business owners and other litigants by a jury in 1996, and equals the compensatory damages agreed to in a subsequent settlement, the opinion said.

ComEd Energy Efficiency Programs Save Customers More than $20M - 2009-06-17
Business and residential customers participating in the Commonwealth Edison Company's energy efficiency programs saved more than $20 million in utility costs in the past year, the power company said.

Hyundai Begins Taking Pre-Launch Orders for Elantra LPI Hybrid - 2009-06-17
The Elantra LPI Hybrid is a mild-hybrid with a fuel economy rating of 17.8 km/l (5.6 L/100km or 42 mpg US); gasoline-equivalent fuel economy is 22.2 km/l (4.5 L/100km, 51 mpg US). This represents a 47% improvement over a conventional 1.6L Elantra.

School Building Authority pushes green buildings - 2009-06-16
Students in West Virginia’s future public schools may not just learn about energy efficiency, but they may learn inside an energy-efficient building.

DOE Muffs IT Energy Efficiency at Seven Sites: Department Audit - 2009-06-16
An audit by U.S. Department Energy's Office of the Inspector General of seven facilities, including DOE headquarters, concluded that better management of IT resources could have saved at least $1.6 million in energy costs in fiscal year 2008.

JAMA Survey Attempts to Identify Shifting Attitudes of Younger Japanese Potential Car Buyers - 2009-06-16
A survey by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) focused on the “entry generation” of vehicle buyers found that while there has not been any definitive major shift in terms of the basic appeal of cars, fewer young people today have strong feelings towards car ownership. Meanwhile, a more cautious stance prevails with regard to the timing of a vehicle purchase.

Tesla Motors CEO: Gas Should Be $10/Gallon - 2009-06-16
Gasoline "should probably be $10" per gallon, said onetime PayPal co-founder Musk, who is also attempting to make sending satellites into space cheaper with a start-up called SpaceX. "I'm not paying for the true cost of gasoline at the pump...since nobody's explicitly paying for the CO2 capacity of the oceans and atmospheres, it's getting consumed. We will pay for it down the road, but we are sort of ignoring it for now."

GE Aviation Unveils GEnx Engine at Paris Air Show; Up to 15% More Fuel Efficient - 2009-06-16
GE Aviation unveiled its new GEnx engine in a special ceremony at the 2009 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. The GEnx engine offers up to 15% improved fuel efficiency compared with GE’s CF6 engine that it will replace. This fuel efficiency translates to approximately 15% less CO2. The GEnx will also be the quietest engine that GE has produced, based on the ratio of decibels to pounds of thrust.

Water risks ripple through the beverage industry - 2009-06-16
As environmental worries cut into sales from traditionally lucrative bottled water, beverage companies such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle and SABMiller are becoming more attuned to the risks of negative consumer environmental perceptions.

LG Display to invest $40 million in solar cell R&D line - 2009-06-16
Flat-screen maker LG Display Co Ltd said on Tuesday it would invest 50 billion won ($40 million) in a pilot line and testing facility for solar power cells, aiming for commercial production in 2012.

Germans plan $555 billion Africa solar project: report - 2009-06-16
A consortium of around 20 companies, including Munich Re, Siemens, RWE and Deutsche Bank, plans to build a 400 billion euro ($555.3 billion) solar power project in Africa, a Munich Re executive told a German newspaper on Tuesday.

Sanyo says secures hybrid battery deals - 2009-06-16
Japan's Sanyo Electric Co said car makers in the United States, Japan and Europe have agreed to buy its auto-use lithium-ion batteries, as it looks to take advantage of growing demand for hybrid cars.

Ford on Track to Cut Vehicle Emissions, Lags on Energy Efficiency - 2009-06-16
New engine technology and releasing more electric and hybrids vehicles are some of the ways Ford is aiming to meet its goal of cutting the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of its new U.S. and European vehicles by 30 percent by 2020.

Sainsbury's Rolls Out Kinetic Energy Generator - 2009-06-16
The new Kinetic Road Plates have been installed at the supermarket giant's new store in Gloucester, U.K., and will harness enough energy from vehicles driving in and out of the store's car park to power all the store's check outs.

US homebuilders welcome green legislation - 2009-06-15
New legislation that could lead to cash incentives for green development has been welcomed by the US construction industry.

Manchester's manure to fill gas grid from 2011 - 2009-06-15
In a UK first, the two companies plan to turn a by-product of the wastewater treatment plant at Davyhulme in Manchester, northwest England into gas for the local network and fuel for a fleet of sludge tankers.

Waste Management to Distribute Solar Powered Trash Compactors - 2009-06-15
Waste Management has become the exclusive waste services distributor of BigBelly Solar's solar-powered trash compactors, which can reduce the amount of trash pick-ups and reduce waste-related costs.

Mainstream makes first U.S. wind power investment - 2009-06-15
Ireland's Mainstream Renewable Power bought three wind farms in Illinois and plans to spend $1.7 billion to ramp capacity up to 787-megawatts by 2013, marking its first investment in the United States.

California tribe, Invenergy, Sempra sign wind MOU - 2009-06-12
A branch of the Native American Kumeyaay Nation in southeastern California announced on Thursday signing an agreement with a wind energy developer Invenergy and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to place 160 megawatts of wind turbines on its land.

India Plans Much Solar Power, Slower Emissions Rise - 2009-06-12
India will submit plans within weeks to slow its rise in carbon emissions significantly and to generate more solar power by 2020 than the whole world generates now, a senior climate official said on Thursday.

NYC Water Towers Seen As Ground For "Wind Farms" - 2009-06-12
New York City could become the grounds for a new kind of urban wind farm if a Cleveland-based mechanical engineer has his way.

Kaine orders Virginia to have a green government - 2009-06-12
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine on Wednesday imposed the strictest environmental regulations to date on all state agencies.

In with Green Packaging, Out with Convenience, Consumers Say - 2009-06-12
Food producers, take note: Forget the easy-to-prepare foods and give consumers items made with fresh ingredients and encased in environmentally friendly packaging.

Clean Energy Creates Jobs, Improves Economic Growth - 2009-06-12
For at least the last year and a half, "Green Collar Jobs" has been the buzz term among those in business and policy circles as the answer to rising unemployment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Nation's largest solar plant to be built in NM - 2009-06-12
Nation's largest solar plant to be built in NM, producing enough electricity for 74,000 homes

As Wind Power Grows, a Push to Tear Down Dams - 2009-06-12
For decades, most of the nation’s renewable power has come from dams, which supplied cheap electricity without requiring fossil fuels. But the federal agencies running the dams often compiled woeful track records on other environmental issues.

First floating wind turbine buoyed off Norway - 2009-06-12
If successful, the project could open up offshore wind to countries that don't have relatively shallow waters of 100 feet to 165 feet off their coasts. The Hywind is suitable for depths of about 400 feet to more than 2,200 feet.

Cape Cod military base looks to wind energy - 2009-06-12
The Massachusetts National Guard submitted plans yesterday to place 17 wind turbines on the 22,000-acre Massachusetts Military Reservation in what could be a first step toward making it a "clean energy incubator," officials said.

Report points to geothermal jobs growth - 2009-06-11
MORE than 17,000 jobs could be created in the geothermal energy industry by 2050, a new report says.

Wind turbines could be on Great Lakes in 3 years - 2009-06-11
The first wind turbine development on the Great Lakes could be built within three years or so, experts on offshore wind power said during a conference Wednesday in Milwaukee.

New version of LEED tightens energy uses, mandates monitoring - 2009-06-11
The new version of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design tackles questions over whether LEED certification translates to energy savings.

Solar Stocks Rally On China Support, Oil Prices - 2009-06-11
Solar stocks rallied on Wednesday as investors bet that increased Chinese interest in solar power, higher oil prices and signs of improvement in lending and financing will help spur demand for the clean energy source.

Australian Farm Irrigators Face Another Grim Year - 2009-06-11
Australia's major river system, the Murray-Darling, has recorded its third-lowest water intake in 118 years, due to a long-running drought that will continue to suppress production of export crops such as cotton.

Obama Administration Orders $210M Worth of Fuel Efficient Vehicles - 2009-06-11
Making good on U.S. President Barack Obama's promise to accelerate the greening of the federal fleet, the U.S. General Services Administration has ordered 14,105 fuel efficient vehicles this month and will use $210 million in Recovery Act money to pay for them.

IFMA Study Finds Average Office Space Per Person Jumped by 40sf in Two Years - 2009-06-11
Workers now average 435 square feet of space at the office and that area is greener than it used to be, but probably not much cleaner, according to a new study by the International Facility Management Association.

Solid-State Lighting is a Bright Idea for Energy Efficiency, Study Says - 2009-06-11
It is imperative for society to move to solid-state lighting to save money in the built environment and lessen the impacts to the broader environment -- but in the U.S. it may take a policy change to force the nation to use more sustainable lighting, according to a recent study by Carnegie Mellon engineering and public policy researchers.

Bill aimed at drawing solar firms advances - 2009-06-10
A Senate committee passed a bill Tuesday that offers solar and other renewable-energy equipment makers tax breaks if they open new manufacturing plants in Arizona.

Greener Empire State Building Could Be Model for Retrofits - 2009-06-10
While the owner of the 2.6-million-sq-ft Empire State Building gears up for a $500-million renovation, designed to cut energy costs by 38% and be a model for other green office-building retrofits, a construction firm that recently moved into its green ESB offices is releasing hard data on the 24,000-sq-ft retrofit. Skanska USA Building, which moved into its 32nd-floor space in November, reports it has reduced its energy bill by 46% over its smaller, previous offices elsewhere.

Google Closing In On Cheap Renewable Energy Goal - 2009-06-10
Google Inc is closing in on its goal of producing renewable energy at a price cheaper than coal, the company's so-called green energy czar, the engineer in charge of the project, said on Tuesday.

UK To Miss Clean Energy Goals On Govt Under-Spend - 2009-06-10
Britain will miss 2020 clean energy targets and the supporting certificate scheme "will die" if the government does not spend more to support renewables, the CEO of clean energy developer Climate Change Capital said on Tuesday.

EU Kicks Off Battle For $6 Billion Energy Funds - 2009-06-10
Advanced green technologies such as superheated solar towers and gas from trees can compete with industry-backed carbon-trapping technology for around $6 billion of European Union funding, an EU document shows.

Duke Energy Partners with Cisco to Spur Development of Utility's Smart Grid - 2009-06-10
Duke Energy, the third-largest electric utility in the U.S., will work with network communications giant Cisco Systems Inc. in an effort to speed development of an electric smart grid for the power company and its 11 million customers.

Loans from Whole Foods Help Small Producers Expand Business - 2009-06-10
The credit crunch may affect banks' ability to loan money, and the glut of milk products is sending dairy cows to slaughter, but neither of those things have affected Neal Gottlieb, founder and partial owner of Three Twins Organic Ice Cream, based in San Rafael, California. Gottlieb said in a telephone interview that he is building a new factory in a space leased from Cowgirl Creamery, an organic cheese maker in Point Reyes

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Opens Eco-Friendly Engineering Building - 2009-06-10
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center has officially opened a new state-of-the-art $30 million facility, the second of three designed according to green building standards for the center's engineering complex.

Software Upgrade to Prius PHEV NiMH Conversion Kit Enables All-Electric Driving At Up to 70mph - 2009-06-10
Poway, California-based Plug In Conversions Corp. (PICC) has completed a software upgrade to its 6.1 kWh NiMH plug-in hybrid (PHEV) conversion kit that enables all-electric mode driving at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (until the battery pack is depleted) in a converted Prius. The software upgrade is based upon patented technology developed by Chicago-based Ewert Energy Systems, which has granted PICC exclusive rights for its use in Prius conversion kits.

Water Scarcity and the Western Oil Shales - 2009-06-09
Vast technical and environmental challenges have long stood in the way of commercial oil shale production. But it is water – or more specifically, its scarcity – that is likely to be shale oil’s greatest stumbling block in the arid West.

Magma Energy IPO Creating Interest In Geothermal Sector - 2009-06-09
Canadian-listed geothermal stocks climbed sharply Monday, a move that market watchers attributed largely to the upcoming initial public offering of Magma Energy Corp.

Southeast Mulls Offshore Wind Power - 2009-06-09
To date, most offshore wind farms proposed in the United States have been in the Northeast. Cape Wind, a project off the shores of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, is awaiting a federal go-ahead, and similar ventures are in the offing near the coasts of Delaware, Rhode Island and New Jersey.

Senate energy panel will back gulf drilling plan, Sen. Dorgan says - 2009-06-09
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote on an amendment today that would bring eastern Gulf of Mexico oil and gas leasing closer to Florida's coast.

`Smart grid' _ buzz of the electric power industry - 2009-06-08
More than a century after Edison invented a reliable light bulb, the nation's electricity distribution system, an aging spider web of power lines, is poised to move into the digital age.

San Diego turns to ocean for fresh water - 2009-06-08
San Diego County hopes to get 20 percent of its tap water from the ocean by 2020, which would make it the world leader in desalination, officials said.

Sewage Worries Close 2 Brooklyn Beaches - 2009-06-08
Swimmers were told to stay out of the water on Sunday at Coney Island and nearby Manhattan Beach because of concerns about a sewage overflow.

Report: 2Q clean-energy investment improves - 2009-06-08
New global investment in renewable-energy projects showed a glimmer of improvement in the second quarter although the pace remained glacial as investors await stimulus program details, analysts said Friday.

Senate energy markup may herald return of offshore drilling debate - 2009-06-08
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee plans to complete marking up a broad energy bill this week with a session that will include debate over an oil and gas title that Republicans hope to amend with language expanding domestic leasing.

Water to Rival Energy Efficiency as Key Concern in Greening Buildings: Report - 2009-06-05
Managing water use is becoming increasingly important to commercial property owners, contractors, architects and engineers, and more than half say that water efficiency is an extremely important aspect of green building design, construction and related products, according to a recent survey by McGraw-Hill Construction.

U.S. plans to toughen Calif. water restrictions - 2009-06-05
California farmers reeling from three consecutive drought years are facing further water restrictions under a federal plan to aid imperiled salmon, steelhead, green sturgeon and killer whales.

Siemens Blows Into Chinese Wind Market - 2009-06-05
Germany's Siemens (NYSE: SI) broke ground on a new wind turbine manufacturing plant in Shanghai, marking the company's entry into China's wind energy market. Siemens Wind Power Blades (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., with an initial investment of RMB 581 million (EUR 64 million), is expected to begin operation in the second half of 2010. The new production site will initially produce blades for 2.3 and 3.6 megawatts (MW) wind turbine plants, and plans include produce turbine nacelles at a later stage.

PG&E signs third solar deal this year - 2009-06-05
Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced that it has signed a deal with AV Solar Ranch 1, a subsidiary of NextLight Renewable Power, for 230 megawatts of solar power — enough energy to meet the needs of nearly 90,000 homes annually.

Xcel files energy conservation/solar plan in Minn - 2009-06-05
Xcel Energy Inc would offer incentives for Minnesota customers who take steps to conserve energy, which could include installation of solar panels on homes and businesses, under a $280 million plan filed this week with regulators, the state's biggest power company said on Thursday.

Renewable energy center formed at UNR - 2009-06-04
The University of Nevada, Reno has announced a collaborative effort designed to increase its stature in the field of renewable energy.

High-Earning Green Sector Workers Feel Safe In Jobs - 2009-06-04
The economic downturn has claimed the jobs of tens of millions worldwide but most in the thriving climate change sector feel just as safe in their jobs, if not more so, than they did a year ago, a new Reuters survey shows.

Japan 15 Percent Carbon Cut Not Impossible: Business Lobby - 2009-06-04
Japan might be able to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent from 1990 levels by 2020, a Japanese business lobby executive said on Wednesday, in the first indication that some industries may opt to accept a more ambitious target for emissions cuts.

Western Michigan's health building wins green gold - 2009-06-04
An environmental group has given its coveted gold-level rating to Western Michigan University's health college building.

Hara Rolls Out Software to Measure and Manage Energy Efficiency, Carbon - 2009-06-04
Energy management startup Hara Software Inc. has entered the market with a software-as-a-service corporate application that enables organizations to track their use of resources, energy efficiency and emissions systemwide -- and take steps to reduce them.

DOE Issues RFI on Draft National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap - 2009-06-04
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit feedback on a Draft “National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap” Document prepared by a working group commissioned by DOE.

Baja California to develop wind, hydroelectric power - 2009-06-03
Baja California plans to decrease its dependence on fossil fuels by developing wind energy and hydroelectric power, the state's top environmental official said yesterday.

Solar Execs See Small Signs Of Recovery - 2009-06-03
Solar power executives are cautious about the remainder of 2009 after being pummeled by plunging demand during the global credit crisis.

Suntech Sees U.S. Solar Tripling In 2010 - 2009-06-03
The U.S. solar market is poised to triple next year as federal stimulus funds become available and access to financing for renewable energy projects is unfrozen, Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd Chief Strategy Officer Steven Chan said on Tuesday.

Carbon Storage Faces Costly Hurdles - 2009-06-03
The CEO of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP said on Tuesday that the pipeline giant will not enter the market to sock away heat-trapping greenhouse gases in underground reservoirs unless the U.S. government settles who is legally liable if the gas leaks out.

China Warms To Greener Refrigerators And Air-Cons - 2009-06-03
China aims to save 75 terawatt hours of power per year, the equivalent of 75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, by promoting energy-efficient air-conditioners and other home appliances.

China Warms To Greener Refrigerators And Air-Cons - 2009-06-03
China aims to save 75 terawatt hours of power per year, the equivalent of 75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, by promoting energy-efficient air-conditioners and other home appliances.

Green Energy Goal To Boost EU Jobs, Economy: Study - 2009-06-03
The European Union will boost economies and create an additional 410,000 jobs if the bloc meets its target of getting one fifth of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, a new report shows.

Dell's Renewable Power Sourcing Climbs to 26 Percent - 2009-06-03
New partnerships with utilities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden and Norway have boosted Dell's worldwide renewable energy power sourcing to 26 percent, a figure that represents a 20 percent increase for the firm compared to 2008, the IT company said yesterday.

Proposed Vending Machines Standards Cut Energy Use By Up to 42 Percent - 2009-06-03
Vending machines for soda and other beverages would sip energy rather than guzzle it under new standards proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Toyota to Lease 200 PHEVs in Japan Starting at End of 2009, 500 Globally; Gen3 Prius Plus Li-ion Pack - 2009-06-03
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will begin leasing approximately 200 plug-in versions of its third-generation Prius equipped with lithium-ion battery packs in Japan starting at the end of this year. This will be the first time a lithium-ion battery is to be employed in a Toyota vehicle for propulsion.

California Must Lead on Green Building - 2009-06-02
Facilitating green building is one of the best things California can do to fight climate change. We have the technology, we know green buildings save money, and we know that the built environment is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Germany opens geothermal power station in Bavaria - 2009-06-02
Germany has officially opened an eco-friendly power plant near Munich in what is seen as a significant step in the creation of its promised geothermal energy network.

Eden Project's Geothermal Plant Could Power 10% of British Homes - 2009-06-02
The proposed geothermal plant--Britain's first--will release heat buried three miles below the surface of Cornwall to drive electricity-producing turbines above ground. If successful, the plant will produce up to 3 megawatts of power, or enough to power almost 5,000 homes.

China to Invest $14.6 Billion in Wind Power by 2010 - 2009-06-02
China, the world’s second-biggest energy consumer, will invest about 100 billion yuan ($14.6 billion) to more than double its wind power capacity by 2010 from last year, a government official said.

Michigan identifies 4 regions with wind potential - 2009-06-02
Michigan board identifies 4 regions with most potential to harvest wind into energy production

U.S. climate bill best bet to take enviro lead: Chu - 2009-06-02
The U.S. climate change bill making its way through Congress is the best legislative bet to help the country take the lead in tackling global warming on the world stage, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said on Monday.

Philadelphia creates green jobs to weatherize row houses - 2009-06-02
The City of Brotherly Love is tackling rising unemployment and improving the energy efficiency of homes by training people to weatherize its estimated 400,000 low-income row houses.

Brazil to invest in ethanol workers, environment - 2009-06-02
The Brazilian government and the sugar cane-based ethanol industry are hoping to head off complaints about harmful environmental and labor practices by investing in socially responsible production methods, speakers at the 2nd Ethanol Summit 2009 said on Monday.

Report Ranks PG&E and SCE Tops for Solar - 2009-06-02
Future climate change regulations, state renewables portfolio standards and power generation cost volatility are driving the nation’s utilities toward solar power.

Boston-Power Pursuing $100M in Federal Funds for Li-Ion Plant in Massachusetts; Introduces High-Energy “Swing” for EVs and PHEVs - 2009-06-02
Boston-Power, Inc., maker of the long-lasting, fast-charging Sonata Li-ion battery for laptops, is planning to build a 455,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Auburn, Massachusetts that would complement its existing China-based operations. The company is also applying its battery technology in the new high-energy Swing Li-ion cell for battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Critical Next Stage of Green Building Industry Will Focus on Water Efficiency, According to Report from McGraw-Hill Construction - 2009-06-01
Over the next five years, water efficiency and conservation will become critical factors in green design, construction and product selection, according to McGraw-Hill Construction's latest SmartMarket Report, Water Use in Buildings,

GE and Plutonic Power Considering Acquisition of Largest Wind Project in British Columbia - 2009-06-01
GE Energy Financial Services announced today it has signed an agreement with EarthFirst Canada Inc. (TSX:EF)(TSX:EF.WT) to consider purchasing the up to 300-megawatt Dokie Ridge Wind Project, the largest wind farm project under construction in British Columbia.

Buffett’s MidAmerican May Buy FPL Wind Power Assets in Iowa - 2009-06-01
MidAmerican Energy Co., the Iowa utility controlled by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. may buy wind-power assets from FPL Group Inc. rather than starting from scratch with its own windmill farms.

Nokia Siemens Networks Cuts Emissions 13%, Plans to Slash Another Third - 2009-06-01
Nokia Siemens Networks reduced greenhouse gas emissions in its facilities by 13 percent, with plans to cut another 30 percent by 2012, the company said in its 2008 Corporate Responsibility report.

Report Shows How Calif. Businesses Can Cut Water Use in Half - 2009-06-01
Existing technologies and practices can help California businesses save up to 1.3 million acre-feet of water every year -- that’s enough to meet the needs of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, according to a new research.

Shareholder Effort to Force Home Depot to Set Energy Plan Fails, Talks on Issue Possible - 2009-06-01
Investors voted down a shareholders resolution that would have required Home Depot to develop an energy efficiency plan for its buildings, transportation and supply chain, but talks on the issue may be possible.

Vehicle Electrification a Key Strategic Initiative for Magna - 2009-06-01
Canada-based international auto supplier and contract assembler Magna International, now with a Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of Opel from General Motors, sees vehicle electrification as one of its key strategic initiatives. Accordingly, it has been steadily increasing its capabilities with hybrid and electric vehicle technologies over the past several years.

Volvo Cars and Vattenfall to Develop New Plug-in Diesel-Electric Hybrids - 2009-06-01
Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the Volvo Car Corporation are launching an industrial joint venture partnership to introduce plug-in hybrids on the market by 2012.