Green Investing News

July 2009 News Archives

Weyerhaeuser Cuts GHG Emissions, Takes Steps to Reduce Energy, Water Use - 2009-07-31
The Weyerhaeuser Company reduced its greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent in 2008 compared to its level in 2000, the forest products firm said in its latest sustainability report.

EU carbon prices up amid thin trade - 2009-07-31
Prices for European carbon emissions were higher on Friday, after a strong opening on the back of firmer equity markets but amid very light volume, traders said.

SunPower to grow market share, revenues - 2009-07-31
SunPower Corp expects to grow both its market share and revenue in a tough market for solar power, President and Chief Technical Officer Richard Swanson said on Thursday.

Toyota loss to narrow, helped by hybrid boost: report - 2009-07-31
Toyota Motor Corp's loss for this business year will likely be several tens of billions of yen less than originally forecast by the automaker thanks to strong sales of hybrid cars, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Farmer saves $200,000 with poo power - 2009-07-31
Four generations of Saylors have worked the family's dairy farm for nearly a century, but for the past three years, the cows have been doing something besides providing milk: They've been helping power the place.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Signs Cooperative Agreement with Algal Oil Producer SunEco Energy - 2009-07-30
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., one of the largest transportation logistics companies in North America, and algal oil producer SunEco Energy signed a cooperative agreement, which could lead to J.B. Hunt becoming a significant purchaser of biodiesel made from natural algae oil using SunEco Energy’s proprietary technology. J.B. Hunt runs about 10,000 tractors in its fleet, and burns some 100 million gallons of fuel per year.

More Green Building and Energy Efficiency Could Save U.S. Economy $1.2 Trillion - 2009-07-30
The typical building in the U.S. leaks energy like a sieve and its occupants usually make the situation worse.

Colleges Become Greener Thanks to Savvy Students - 2009-07-30
Smart students know they need environmental literacy to be prepared for the green economy, and more colleges are responding, reports The Princeton Review.

Intel Makes $10M Bet on Smart Grid, Energy Efficiency - 2009-07-30
Intel’s global investment arm has committed $10 million to five companies specializing in smart grid and energy efficiency technologies.

Timberland Pledges to Clean Up Leather Supply Chain - 2009-07-30
Timberland is now the second footwear company to craft a policy that will ensure its leather supply chain does not contribute to deforestation of the Amazon rainforest after being called out in a Greenpeace report.

PSE&G gets NJ approval to spend $515 mln on solar - 2009-07-30
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc (PEG.N) unit PSE&G can spend $515 million of ratepayer money for 80 megawatts of solar power projects, New Jersey utility regulators ruled on Wednesday.

Healthcare, green tech brighten dim U.S. jobs picture - 2009-07-30
Healthcare and clean energy rank as bright spots in a bleak U.S. jobs market and both stand to generate even more employment under plans put forward by President Barack Obama.

U.S. Senate climate bill to have tough market controls - 2009-07-30
Senator John Kerry, a leading architect of climate change legislation being drawn up in the U.S. Senate, on Wednesday said the bill will have tough controls to stop abusive financial market speculation on pollution permits that will be traded among companies.

Energy efficiency could save U.S. $600 billion - 2009-07-30
The United States could save about $600 billion in energy costs by 2020 if it hiked annual efficiency spending about five-fold, business consultants McKinsey and Co said in a report on Wednesday.

EERC Awarded Subcontract to Help Produce 100% Renewable Jet Fuel from Algae - 2009-07-29
The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota has been awarded a subcontract by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to help produce renewable jet fuel from algae.

Piaggio Introduces Li-ion Electric Version of Ape Calessino As Part of 2009 Refresh - 2009-07-29
Piaggio has introduced the refreshed 2009 range of the Ape Calessino, including a new electric version powered by lithium-ion batteries. The three-wheeler Ape has been on sale for more than 60 years, and has sold more than 2 million units in five continents.

Embassy Suites Site Reaps $250,000 in Energy Savings - 2009-07-29
Just seven months after launching efficiency initiatives, the Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort has spent a quarter of a million dollars less on energy -- and could double that savings by the end of the year.

Steelcase Advances Toward Goal to Shrink Global Footprint 25 Percent - 2009-07-29
Steelcase’s latest corporate responsibility report charts the firm’s progress toward the company’s goal of reducing its global environmental 25 percent by 2012, its 100th anniversary.

Unilever to Push Customers Towards Concentrated Detergent - 2009-07-29
Unilever's new Cleaner Planet Plan is encouraging consumers to switch to concentrated versions of the company's laundry detergent brands and will give advice on how to reduce the water and energy impacts of laundry.

China says wants climate deal this year: U.N.'s Ban - 2009-07-29
China's leaders told U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that Beijing really wants to reach a new agreement on combating climate change in Copenhagen in December, Ban said on Wednesday.

USEC scraps uranium plant, mulls options - 2009-07-29
USEC Inc said on Tuesday it would scrap plans to build a new uranium enrichment plant and may now seek a partner or buyer after the U.S. Department of Energy denied its request for a loan guarantee, sending its stock plummeting.

It’s rainwater to the rescue if fire sprinkler is needed at ‘green’ Lee’s Summit middle school - 2009-07-29
The hope is that it will never be used, but if … just if … the fire sprinkler is ever needed at the new Raymore-Peculiar East Middle School, rainwater will spray from the ceiling.

University of Calgary Study Finds Large-Scale Adoption of PHEVs in Alberta Could Support Wind Power; PHEV GHG Benefits Range from 40-90% in Emissions Reduction - 2009-07-28
The environmental benefit of a large-scale deployment of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the Canadian province of Alberta could vary significantly, ranging from a 40% to a 90% reduction in greenhouse gases, according to a study by electrical engineers at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering.

Siemens and Viridity Energy Partner on Smart Grid Solution - 2009-07-28
Siemens Energy and Viridity Energy have formed a strategic partnership that's intended to blend the scope and reach of the power engineering giant with the startup's new technology for next generation demand response and energy management.

J&J On Track To Meet 2010 Climate Goal - 2009-07-28
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has cut emissions at its company-owned and larger leased facilities by 9 percent between 1990 and 2008, a period in which its worldwide sales have grown by more than 400 percent.

Offshore wind could be next wave for United States - 2009-07-28
The Cape Cod resort area, famous for sandy beaches and centuries-old fishing villages, could in the next few years claim a new title of home to the United States' first offshore wind farm.

Water crisis uproots Syrian farmers - 2009-07-28
The Euphrates River, which flows from Turkey through Syria and Iraq, is polluted and salinized. Damming by Turkey and demands for water by ballooning populations have drastically reduced its flow.

India to unveil 20GW solar target under climate plan - 2009-07-28
India will unveil its first solar power target as soon as September, pledging to boost output from near zero to 20 gigawatts (GW) by 2020 as it firms up its national plan to fight global warming, draft documents show.

Toyota to launch hybrid compact in Japan: report - 2009-07-28
Japan's Toyota Motor Corp plans to launch a hybrid compact for around 1.5 million yen ($15,760) in Japan in late 2011, broadening its hybrid car line-up, the Asahi newspaper reported on Tuesday.

GE, Plutonic get extension on wind farm purchase - 2009-07-28
Plutonic Power Corp and partner GE Energy Financial Services have been granted more time to finish a due diligence investigation into their planned purchase of a distressed wind farm project in Western Canada, they said on Monday.

More room for growth in fragmented kids’ organic sector - 2009-07-27
The market for organic kids’ snacks and baby food presents a growing opportunity for smaller food manufacturers, says a new report, although larger brands might do better to steer clear.

UQM Technologies to Supply EV Propulsion Systems to Coda Automotive - 2009-07-27
UQM Technologies has completed an agreement with Coda Automotive, a California-based electric car and battery company, to supply UQM PowerPhase 100 electric propulsion systems to Coda Automotive for a period of ten years.

Europe's CO2 war has room for electrics, hybrid cars - 2009-07-27
European carmakers are likely to rely on a mix of clean car technologies to achieve big emission cuts even as they gear up for fully electric cars, battling to put infrastructure in place and convince wary drivers.

U.S. solar startup Suniva gets $75 million in funding - 2009-07-27
U.S. solar startup Suniva Inc said on Monday it completed a $75 million financing round led by private equity firm Warburg Pincus.

E-China: The bicycle kingdom is going electric - 2009-07-27
It's a simple pleasure, but Xu Beilu savors it daily: gliding past snarled traffic on her motorized bicycle, relaxed and sweat-free alongside the pedal-pushing masses. China, the world's bicycle kingdom — one for every three inhabitants — is going electric.

Report: Why We Need the Climate Bill’s Building Code - 2009-07-27
A section spanning just 29 pages of the 1,428-page Waxman-Markey climate bill could have an outsized impact on energy use in the United States as it would require ambitious reductions in the energy use of new homes and commercial structures through a nationwide building energy code.

Samsung Elec to invest $4.3 billion in green R&D - 2009-07-20
Samsung Electronics said on Monday it would invest 5.4 trillion won ($4.3 billion) in green research and development and facilities to make the world's largest memory chip maker a leading eco-friendly company by 2013.

Nissan to invest in UK, Portugal battery plants - 2009-07-20
Car manufacturer Nissan said on Monday it will invest almost $700 million in two plants to make batteries for electric cars in Britain and Portugal after securing financial support from their governments.

Terra-Gen gets $115 mln for Calif. wind project - 2009-07-20
Renewable energy developer Terra-Gen Power LLC said on Monday it got commitments for $115 million in funding for the first phase of what it says will be one of the largest wind projects in the United States.

Two ‘water war’ reactions that weren’t by the book - 2009-07-20
On Friday, a federal judge stunned Georgia with his diagnosis of the 19-year, tri-state water war:

Some See Exxon Investments Into Alt Energy Signaling 'Paradigm Shift' for Big Oil - 2009-07-17
Is Big Oil warming at last to the notion of an alternative-energy future?

Four Ways to Solve the Energy Crisis - 2009-07-17
You hear it all the time: We've got to reduce our dependence on foreign oil; it's a matter of homeland security. Fine. Nobody's arguing. But the solutions that get offered -- drilling in ANWR, mandating better automobile fuel efficiency, pushing ethanol -- don't really solve anything. They're politically impossible, or too expensive, or contrary to free-market forces. They're losers.

Renewable Energy Standards Advance in Four States - 2009-07-17
The states of Kansas and West Virginia recently adopted their first mandatory requirements for renewable energy use through so-called renewable energy standards, while Maine and Nevada have boosted the requirements under their renewable energy standards.

With Push Toward Renewable Energy, California Sets Pace for Solar Power - 2009-07-17
A decade ago, only 500 rooftops in California boasted solar panels that harvest the sun’s energy. Today, there are nearly 50,000 solar-panel installations in the state, according to a report to be issued Thursday by the research and lobbying group Environment California.

H2-WHOA! Australian town bans bottled water sales - 2009-07-16
Residents of a rural Australian town hoping to protect the earth and their wallets have voted to ban the sale of bottled water, the first community in the country — and possibly the world — to take such a drastic step in the growing backlash against the industry.

Low carbon market to grow by a third - 2009-07-16
The global market for low carbon goods and services could grow by a third in six years and may expand even faster if a climate change deal is reached in Copenhagen later this year, the UK government said on Wednesday.

High-speed rail plan part of strategy to reduce transport emissions - 2009-07-16
High-speed rail, incentives for low-emission transport and investment in offshore wind and marine energy are at the heart of the government plans announced today to bring down the UK's carbon emissions.

High-speed rail plan part of strategy to reduce transport emissions - 2009-07-16
High-speed rail, incentives for low-emission transport and investment in offshore wind and marine energy are at the heart of the government plans announced today to bring down the UK's carbon emissions.

Wal-Mart to unveil product sustainability index - 2009-07-15
Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's biggest retailer, is preparing to hold a meeting on Thursday to announce the development of an index that will be used to measure the environmental impact of the products it sells in its stores.

U.S. DOE takes step forward on FutureGen coal project - 2009-07-15
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) took another step forward on the coal-fueled 275-megawatt FutureGen carbon capture and sequestration power project in Illinois, the DOE said in a release late Tuesday.

China emissions cap an open question: U.S. officials - 2009-07-15
Top U.S. officials on Wednesday left open the possibility that China might not have to accept a hard cap on its greenhouse gas emissions under a new global climate change treaty.

A Ray of Light for Chinese Solar Index - 2009-07-15
China's solar stocks have struggled over the last month, but investors who bought on the dip won big on Wednesday.

Yingli opening offices in New York, California - 2009-07-15
Chinese solar panel maker Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd (YGE.N) said on Wednesday it is opening two U.S. regional headquarters in New York and San Francisco, marking the company's latest bid to expand its business in North America.

Renewable Energy Now Accounts for 13% U.S. Power Generation - 2009-07-15
Electrical generation from non-hydro renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, wind) continues its rapid growth according to the latest figures released by the Energy Information Administration in its "Electric Power Monthly" report.

$33.3B Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Heads to House Floor - 2009-07-13
The House will take up the $33.3 billion fiscal 2010 energy and water spending bill this week as Democratic leaders in that chamber push to complete all appropriations measures before the August break.

New Honda CEO wants to accelerate hybrid rollout - 2009-07-13
Honda Motor Co's new chief executive said on Monday that Japan's No.2 automaker would speed up the rollout of its hybrid cars as he aims to steer a nimble company that reacts more quickly to changing customer needs.

Abu Dhabi investor eyes energy alternatives - 2009-07-13
Speedy electric cars will soon compete with gas-guzzling SUVs on Abu Dhabi streets as the oil-exporting emirate buys into alternative energy, including, on Monday, a stake in electric-car start-up Tesla Motors Inc.

Desertec to develop investment plans by 2012: DII - 2009-07-13
The Desertec Industrial Initiative, the world's most ambitious solar power project, will map out investment plans by 2012 to develop carbon-free energy that could supply up to 15 percent of Europe's needs by 2050.

The water savers - 2009-07-13
It may seem paradoxical to New Englanders who spent June carrying umbrellas to work every day to hear that Dighton has a desalination plant that converts saltwater into fresh, and that there are more such plants on the way in the area.

Requiring Lower Sulfur Marine Fuels Could Reduce Emissions-Related Deaths by Up to 50% Annually By 2012 - 2009-07-10
The study is published in the current issue of the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology

Chipotle Earns the First LEED-Platinum Certification Awarded to a Restaurant - 2009-07-10
A Chipotle Mexican Grill in Illinois with its own wind turbine and a 2,500-gallon underground water cistern to harvest rainwater was certified by the U.S. Green Building Council at the organization's highest rating.

Logistics Efficiencies Show JohnsonDiversey that Less is More - 2009-07-10
JohnsonDiversey sells products in more than 175 countries but has put in place a series of projects that will cut logistics-related greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter while allowing the company to trim lead times on product deliveries and boost service levels.

Naked Juice, Earthbound Farms Switch to Recycled Packaging - 2009-07-10
This month, Earthbound Farm and Naked Juice have announced they're each putting out products in plastic packaging made with 100 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.

U.S. makes $3 billion available for renewable energy - 2009-07-10
The Obama administration on Thursday unveiled guidelines that will allow companies to apply for some $3 billion in government funds to boost development of renewable energy projects around the country, creating jobs.

Car makers losing fight against EU chemicals ban - 2009-07-10
Auto makers look set to fail in their attempts to delay an agreed 2011 European ban on climate-damaging chemicals in the air conditioners of new car models, a letter from the EU's industry chief shows.

ReVolt Technology and BASF in Joint Development Agreement for Zinc-Air Battery System - 2009-07-09
Revolt’s zinc-air technology offers up to three times the energy density on a volumetric basis and twice on a gravimetric basis of lithium-ion, according to the company.

DOD Enlists GE for $2M Project to Make Military Base a Smart Microgrid Model - 2009-07-09
General Electric, the world's largest industrial company, will work with the Department of Defense in a $2 million project to transform the Twentynine Palms facility, the world's largest Marine Corps base, into a model smart microgrid system.

Cisco Debuts the 'Mediator' to Connect and Control Smart Buildings - 2009-07-09
Networking giant Cisco has rolled out its Building Mediator -- the firm's bid to connect and control smart buildings and their automation systems in order to better manage energy.

Alaska Airlines Begins 'Greener Skies' Testing - 2009-07-09
Alaska Airlines estimates that by using this technology for its approaches to Seattle-Tacoma Airport it can cut its fuel consumption by 2.1 million gallons per year and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 22,000 tons.

Second BSR Report Lays Out Impacts, Goals for a 'Reset' World - 2009-07-09
The current economic and environmental climate offers a host of challenges to businesses of all types, but perhaps none more so than organizations like Business for Social Responsibility, dedicated to the growth of socially and environmentally beneficial corporations.

Stimulus Cash To Boost $400 Billion Water Market: Panel - 2009-07-09
Economic stimulus cash flowing into the water sector will make this nascent $400 billion market an attractive alternative to traditional equity markets, a panel of water market experts said on Wednesday.

Shipping industry to feel heat over CO2 emissions - 2009-07-09
Failure by the U.N.'s shipping agency to come up with bold enough proposals to address carbon emissions by the industry could compel the European Union to impose solutions directly.

Utah coal plant scuttled, 100th in U.S. since 2002 - 2009-07-09
The Intermountain Power Agency said on Thursday it will not continue efforts to seek an air permit for a third 900-megawatt coal-fired power unit at its plant in Utah.

Equinox Carbon Equities eyes investors - 2009-07-09
U.S. carbon brokerage Equinox Carbon Equities is considering at least two offers for a stake in the company, president Billy Barnwell told Reuters.

Colored dyes offer cheap solar power: Israeli firm - 2009-07-09
Israeli start-up 3GSolar says it has developed the world's first commercial-size solar energy system that uses colored dyes to turn sunlight into electricity.

Exiled China tycoon in U.S. clean car venture: source - 2009-07-09
Yang Rong, a Chinese automobile tycoon who fled the country after being accused of economic crimes, is preparing to launch an ambitious plan to make clean-tech cars in the United States, said a source.

Sahara Solar project to move forward at Munich meet - 2009-07-09
A group of companies from Europe and northern Africa will meet in Munich on Monday to map out concrete steps for a series of large-scale renewable energy projects worth 400 billion euros ($560 billion) over 40 years.

Green building practices may be mandated - 2009-07-09
NATIONAL Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday called on the building industry to get greener and 'build more with less' . He underlined his call by suggesting that if the industry does not start adopting more environmentally sound materials and recycling practices, the Government could legislate it.

Piaggio Introduces Plug-in Hybrid Version of MP3 Scooter - 2009-07-08
The Piaggio Group has introduced the MP3 Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid version of its MP3 three-wheeled scooter. With a grid-chargeable Li-ion battery pack, the Piaggio MP3 Hybrid reduces both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50%.

UPS Adopts Plan to Cut Its Airline Carbon Emissions An Additional 20% by 2020; Biofuels Part of the Plan - 2009-07-08
UPS has adopted a plan to cut the carbon emissions of its airline by an additional 20% by 2020 to 1.24 CO2 lbs/ATM (Available Ton Mile), for a cumulative reduction of 42% since 1990.

Fairmont Hotels Power Up Green IT Program - 2009-07-08
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts are adding eco-friendly IT strategies to the company's Green Partnership environmental program and are developing power management, procurement and recycling plans for their facilities.

Fleets Leaner, Greener Despite the Recession - 2009-07-08
The collapsed economy hasn’t soured commercial fleets' interest in greener vehicles, and in some cases, the recession has actually accelerated efforts.

Climate Savers: Global Climate Treaty Good for Business - 2009-07-08
Nike, Nokia, HP and 16 other multinational companies launched a campaign Monday to nudge world leaders toward agreement of a global climate change treaty by late 2009.

EcoLogo to Develop Environmental Standard for Toys - 2009-07-08
The EcoLogo Program has started developing a standard that will allow toys to receive EcoLogo certification for meeting certain environmental criteria.

Milan Fair to Put World Biggest Solar Plant on Roof - 2009-07-08
The Milan trade fair said on Tuesday it is commissioning the world's biggest rooftop photovoltaic power installation covering some 270,000 square meters.

A Daily Dollar Could Prevent Climate Change: EPA - 2009-07-08
The average American family would pay at most $1 a day more to fight climate change, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told a Senate committee on Tuesday.

Efficiency, Renewables and Trees Vital to Global Climate Goals - 2009-07-07
Scaling up energy efficiency, renewable energy and deforestation prevention can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the short-term while next generation technologies are developed, according to a new report.

Big economies try to break climate impasse before G8 - 2009-07-07
Major economies tried on Tuesday to break the deadlock between rich and poor nations over 2050 goals for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions at a last-minute meeting before an expanded G8 summit in Italy.

GM product chief says no delay for plug-in SUV - 2009-07-07
General Motors is on track to launch a plug-in sport-utility vehicle in 2011 despite scrapping its Saturn brand as part of a sweeping reorganization in bankruptcy, according to the automaker's product chief.

Japan installs less wind power as tight rules bite - 2009-07-07
Tighter regulations on wind turbines have restricted construction in the past two years and the world's fifth largest greenhouse gas emittor has focused more on solar panels to help to fight global warming.

MCT wins 1st UK government support for marine energy - 2009-07-07
The SeaGen tidal energy system has become the first marine energy project to qualify for Britain's support for renewable energy, its developer UK Marine Current Turbines Ltd (MCT) said on Tuesday.

Qatar Green Building Council to develop sustainable property industry for Qatar - 2009-07-07
The Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), an independent non-profit organisation committed to developing a sustainable approach to design and development of buildings for Qatar, was officially launched.

CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. Registers 225 Office Buildings for U.S. Green Building Council's "LEED EB" Rating - 2009-07-07
CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG - News) has enrolled 225 office buildings in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED® EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Existing Building) Program, an achievement that will significantly increase the number of existing office buildings operated under “green” standards.

Three groups cite energy savings to fight Duke Energy coal plant - 2009-07-06
Three environmental groups that reached a Save-A-Watt compromise with Duke Energy Carolinas now cite that agreement as proof that Duke’s 825-megawatt Cliffside coal unit is unnecessary.

Daimler, Evonik Automotive Li-ion JV to Build Factory This Fall in Kamenz; Application in Mercedes Vehicles from 2012 - 2009-07-06
Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, the automotive lithium-ion battery joint venture formed in 2008 by Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG (earlier post), will begin construction of its production facility this autumn in Kamenz, Germany. Production is slated to begin in 2011, with the first application of Li-ion battery systems in Mercedes vehicles from 2012.

ECOtality Establishes Joint Venture to Manufacture and Distribute Electric Vehicle Charging Systems in China - 2009-07-06
ECOtality, Inc. has signed a letter of intent to enter into a joint venture with Shenzhen Goch Investment, Ltd. that will provide US$15 million to establish manufacturing and distribution operations for electric vehicle (EV) charging systems in China.

REI Prototype Store Lands Top Sustainable Design Award - 2009-07-06
Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) opened a new store in Round Rock, Texas, last year that tested several retail design and green building concepts.

Hybrids boost Toyota and Honda car sales - 2009-07-06
Toyota Motor Corp's Prius hybrid was Japan's best-selling car in June while Honda Motor Co's rival Insight ranked fourth, helping the two hybrid leaders dominate the list of top-selling models.

Toyota to mass produce plug-in hybrids from 2012: report - 2009-07-06
Toyota Motor Corp plans to start mass producing plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012, with a projected first-year output of about 20,000 to 30,000 units, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.

A green pioneer goes global - 2009-07-06
Environmental businesses are everywhere these days, but Ecology & Environment (EEI) was eco-friendly long before green was a hot property -- or a viable business model.

Reported US Hybrid Sales Up 5.2% Year on Year in June; 3% New Vehicle Market Share for the Month - 2009-07-03
Reported sales of hybrids in the US increased 5.2% by volume in June 2009 year-on-year to 26,205 units, representing 3% of new vehicles sold—marking the highest monthly new vehicle share since April 2008, and the fourth straight month of increasing share. For the first half of 2009, hybrids held a 2.6% new vehicle share.

Renault-Nissan Alliance and EDF to Test 100 Units of Production EV Models in Paris Region in 2010; New Partnership in Lombardy - 2009-07-03
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and EDF are planning a large-scale electric vehicle test in the Paris region. For one year from September 2010, consumers, professionals and local government employees will try out 100 electric Renault-Nissan Alliance passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

The Next Generation of Fireworks May All Be Green - 2009-07-03
Despite being a centerpiece of celebrations the world over, fireworks displays often release toxic chemicals into the environment, from heavy metals to perchlorate.

World's Largest Cement Firms Slow CO2 Emissions Despite Production Growth - 2009-07-03
Efforts by the world's leading cement companies knocked down carbon dioxide emissions from the industry's manufacturing process by 35 percent even while production climbed by 53 percent, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Cement Sustainability Initiative.

Green Energy Projects Get $59 Million In Guarantees - 2009-07-03
The U.S. Energy Department on Thursday offered loan guarantees worth $59 million to two renewable energy companies as the agency tries to quickly boost green energy production with a windfall of funding from the economic stimulus package.

EU seen meeting renewable fuel targets with blends - 2009-07-03
The European Union is likely to achieve its target of generating 10 percent of transport fuels from renewable sources by 2020 by blending biofuels with fossil fuels, a leading EU researcher said.

China wind companies poised for green policy boost - 2009-07-03
China's ambitious plan to increase wind power capacity could attract up to $150 billion in investment, but Beijing will have to get serious about revamping regulations and building much needed infrastructure.

Los Angeles will end use of coal-fired power - 2009-07-03
Los Angeles will eliminate the use of electricity made from coal by 2020, replacing it with power from cleaner renewable energy sources, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

Energy-efficient green home building trends - 2009-07-03
The Clarum homes are outfitted with Sharp solar power systems between 3.8 – 5kW. In addition to the Sharp solar arrays, the Clarum homes incorporate many energy efficient design principles, making it a particularly unique establishment in this region. The most progressive features of the homes include the combination of solar power and solar thermal units, 10” structural insulated wall panels and an advanced ventilation system.

£30M Fund for Low Carbon Buses in the UK; New GM-Allison Hybrid Buses in London - 2009-07-02
The UK Government is establishing a £30 million fund (US$49 million) to encourage the purchase of low carbon emission buses (LCEB). The fund is part of the Department for Transport’s wider strategy to encourage a shift to low carbon transport and improve air quality in UK cities.

EPA Proposes Tough Emissions Rules for Ships - 2009-07-02
A day after granting California the authority to regulate vehicle tailpipe emissions as part of its efforts to address climate change, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to create tougher rules to reduce air pollution from U.S.-flagged large ships.

Increase in Renewables Aids Human Rights - 2009-07-02
Since 2002, U.S. energy companies (along with the government) have increasingly looked to nations in Africa for crude oil as an alternative to Mid-East oil. While African nations pose less of an international threat, many of the governments of the leading oil exporting nations have a poor record in sharing the oil wealth and in respect for human rights.

Rumors, Takeover Bids Boost CO2 Market Stocks - 2009-07-02
A U.S. climate bill may eventually stoke major investment in the environmental sector, but analysts say a rise in takeover rumors is providing a short-term boost to shares in greenhouse gas emissions trading and offsetting companies. Britain is home to four major, publicly-traded carbon emissions trading companies, all of which have seen a marked rise in their share prices in the past month.

Green stocks flourish despite demand concerns - 2009-07-02
While green shoots of economic recovery are appearing only tentatively, green stocks are showing no such hesitation.

New York inches closer to offshore wind farm - 2009-07-02
Government agencies and power companies said on Wednesday they are gauging interest from developers and manufacturers about building a wind farm about 13 miles off the New York city coast that could end up being the largest such project in the United States.

New Jersey approves $225 million in energy efficiency proposals - 2009-07-02
New Jersey regulators on Wednesday approved more than $225 million in energy efficiency proposals from three utilities expected to spur the economy by creating nearly 1,000 new jobs over the next 18 months.

Consultant Claims: "Europeans Lead the World in Green Building Practices" - 2009-07-02
Where should the world look for the best examples of large-scale, energy-efficient green building today? Not New York or Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. Instead the greenest new buildings on the planet are located in London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

Green adds another level of comfort for consumers - 2009-07-02
When Mike Miller’s employees and other tenants in the building began complaining about the shoddy lighting conditions in their offices and hallways, he did what many business owners are starting to do: He went green.

Study Finds Carbon in Frozen Soils 2X Prior Estimates; Permafrost Melt Poses Major Climate Change Threat - 2009-07-01
New research shows that the amount of carbon stored in frozen soils in the Arctic and boreal regions of the world is more than double previous estimates and could, if emitted as carbon dioxide and methane, lead to a significant increase in global temperatures by the end of this century. The new estimate is more than 1.5 trillion tons of frozen carbon, about twice as much carbon as contained in the atmosphere.

Obama, Chu Roll Out New Lighting Rules and $346M for Energy Efficient Buildings - 2009-07-01
With Energy Secretary Steven Chu by his side, U.S. President Barack Obama detailed stricter new lighting standards and promised the swift release of $346 million in Recovery Act funds to boost energy efficiency in new and existing commercial buildings and homes.

Symantec's Oregon Site Lands LEED Gold Rating - 2009-07-01
Symantec’s Oregon facility has been certified as a green building with a gold rating under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. It's the second time that the firm has earned the ranking for one of its sites.

Yahoo! Abandons Carbon Offsets in Favor of Efficiency - 2009-07-01
Yahoo! today said it will no longer purchase carbon offsets for its operations, focusing its climate strategy on reducing the energy used by its data centers.

French Radioactive Waste to Double by 2030 - 2009-07-01
France's highly radioactive waste will more than double by 2030 mainly as spent fuel derived from nuclear reactors mounts up, the French national radioactive waste management agency (Andra) said on Tuesday.

U.S. utility-scale solar market could be oligopoly - 2009-07-01
Solar panel makers from California to China are gearing up to capture a slice of the growing U.S. market for utility-scale solar power plants, but just a handful of players are expected to snap up most of the business in the coming years.

Clean energy investment leaps in second quarter - 2009-07-01
Global investment in clean energy and climate-friendly technologies leapt in the last three months but full-year levels won't recover until 2010 or 2011, analysts said on Wednesday.

NY agrees low-cost power for Yahoo, Sunworks builds - 2009-07-01
The New York Power Authority agreed on Tuesday to sell low-cost power to Yahoo Inc to build a data canter and to Sunworks Solar LLC to build a solar panel manufacturing plant.

California utilities issue RFPs for renewables - 2009-07-01
California's biggest utilities on Tuesday asked renewable power developers to submit proposals to them for new solar, wind and other renewable power plants, which would then be approved by the state next spring.

Green triumphs over mean in global car choice survey - 2009-07-01
Is green becoming mainstream? A new global survey shows nearly six in 10 people would choose an environment-friendly car over a petrol-powered one, even if they had all the money in the world.

'Green' building is here to stay - 2009-07-01
From local efforts such as York's wind and green-building ordinances, to Vinalhaven's soon to be installed wind turbines to the Sears Tower makeover, green building and sustainable design appear to be in full stride.