Green Investing News

September 2009 News Archives

China plans to encourage local use of solar cells - 2009-09-30
China will consider measures to support domestic consumption of solar cells made from local polysilicon materials, while taking international demand into consideration, the government said on late Tuesday.

Mercedes' green claim rejected by advert watchdog - 2009-09-30
Mercedes-Benz adverts for its new E class saloon series which said "CO2 emissions for the range are down to 139g/km" were banned on Wednesday after the advertising watchdog ruled the ads were misleading.

Honda to Show Hybrid and Battery-Electric Vehicle Concepts at Tokyo Motor Show; CR-Z Concept 2009 - 2009-09-30
Honda will reveal the CR-Z Concept 2009, the most recent prototype of a compact sports car using Honda’s IMA technology, at October’s Tokyo Motor Show. Honda introduced the first version of the CR-Z concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007.

California to Fund Largest Energy Efficiency Effort in US - 2009-09-30
State regulators have approved plans by Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas to provide $3.1 billion in consumer rebates, retrofits and other efficiency programs over the next three years -- the largest utility energy efficiency effort of its kind in the country, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Shareholders Urge Nike to Leave U.S. Chamber Over Anti-Climate Bill Efforts - 2009-09-30
Shareholders have begun urging Nike to leave the U.S. Chamber of Commerce following the recent departures of three utilities over the last week due to the chamber’s opposition to climate change legislation.

Ford Goes Lightweight With Alternative Materials - 2009-09-30
With the 2010 Escape and Mercury Mariner, Ford Motor Co. is using soy foam to make lighter headliners with fewer petroleum-based materials.

Italy to hit 1,500 MW photovoltaic capacity in 2010 - 2009-09-30
Italy, a major solar energy market in Europe, expects to reach 1,500 megawatts of installed photovoltaic capacity next year thanks to generous incentives, an official at the state-run power management agency GSE said.

Whirlpool: One Million 'Smart' Clothes Dryers by Late 2011 - 2009-09-29
One million clothes dryers that can receive and transmit signals to the electricity grid will hit the market by late 2011 as part of Whirlpool’s push to make all of its electronically controlled appliances smart grid compatible by 2015.

Green Supply Chain Academy to Open Second Site in China Next Year - 2009-09-29
Companies such as Starbucks, Nike, Walmart, GE, Honda, Dell and Timberland now send factory managers to a Chinese academy to learn how to make their supply chains less carbon-intensive.

Clean tech investments soar worldwide: report - 2009-09-29
Global investment in clean technology roared back in the third quarter, driven by solar power and a public offering that underscores growing enthusiasm for the sector, Greentech Media reported on Monday.

Everglades to get water relief from $81 mln bridge - 2009-09-29
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded an $81 million contract to a Florida company to build a road bridge that will help restore fresh water flows in Everglades National Park, nourishing its ecosystem.

Canadian Hydro to buy large offshore wind prospect - 2009-09-29
Canadian Hydro Developers Inc, which is fighting off a hostile takeover bid, plans to buy the rights to what it says could become the world's largest offshore wind farm, the company said on Monday.

Aveeno, Green Works, Nature's Source Products Get Green Good Housekeeping Seal - 2009-09-28
A bath wash by Aveeno, a Physician’s Formula moisturizer and five household products by Nature’s Source and Clorox Green Works are the first items to receive the Green Good Housekeeping Seal.

EU, U.S. eye green goods tax pact in climate fight - 2009-09-28
The European Union and the United States are holding talks on forging a pact with OECD countries and China to eliminate duties on green goods as part of incentives to Beijing in a potential global climate deal.

German solar industry counts on new government backing - 2009-09-28
Germany's solar industry can look ahead to continued state support despite a victory by center-right parties that are widely expected to cut subsidies, senior sector figures told Reuters on Monday.

TerniEnergia to exceed 2009 solar targets - 2009-09-28
Italian renewable energy company TerniEnergia is set to exceed its 2009 target for new solar installations and may review 2010 and 2011 goals aiming to expand in the rapidly growing market, its chairman told Reuters.

Energy producer Greenko buys Indian hydro project - 2009-09-28
Clean energy producer Greenko Group said it agreed to buy a license for a 96 megawatt hydro project in Sikkim, India to boost its production capacity.

Volvo Car Corporation to Introduce Diesel Plug-in Hybrid in Europe in 2012 - 2009-09-25
Volvo Car Corporation is postponing its plans to produce a full hybrid based on a diesel engine and instead will introduce a series-produced plug-in diesel hybrid (PHEV) in Europe as early as 2012.

UN Review of Recent Climate Research Concludes That Impacts Of Climate Change Coming Faster Than Anticipated - 2009-09-25
A UN review of some 400 major scientific contributions to Earth systems and climate science released through peer-reviewed literature or from research institutions over the last three years, has found that the pace and scale of climate change may now be outstripping even the worst case predictions of the last report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC). (Earlier post.)

Commerce Secretary Releases Draft Smart Grid Interoperability Plan - 2009-09-25
Plug-in Vehicle Standards One of the Priorities

Global Dairy Industry Aims to Cut Climate Impacts - 2009-09-25
At the World Dairy Summit yesterday, industry associations from around the world signed a pact to reduce emissions associated with milk production, as well as develop and share innovations for lower-impact milk processing, packaging and distribution.

California sets biggest energy efficiency plan - 2009-09-25
California said it had approved the most aggressive energy efficiency plan among U.S. states on Thursday, earmarking $3.1 billion to retrofit homes and other programs that will cut power needs equivalent to three medium-sized power plants.

VW plans Varta tie-up on electric car batteries - 2009-09-25
Volkswagen is setting up a joint venture with Varta Microbattery GmbH to develop more powerful batteries for use in electric cars, Europe's biggest carmaker said on Friday.

Renewables – A Boon to the Economy - 2009-09-25
We’re starting to see a wave of articles that validate what we’ve been saying here at 2GreenEnergy since its inception.

Barclays pension fund eyes clean energy - 2009-09-25
The 15 billion pound ($24 billion) defined-benefit pension scheme of UK banking group Barclays Plc is poised to make a foray into clean energy investments, its chief investment officer said.

General Motors India And REVA Form Partnership To Develop Electric Vehicles for Indian Market - 2009-09-24
General Motors India and Reva Electric Car Company (REVA) have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop electric vehicles for the Indian market. The partnership will develop car platforms, electric vehicle technology and advanced control systems.

European, Australian Energy Efficiency Programs Can Be Good Models for US, Study Says - 2009-09-24
The United States could make its buildings more environmentally responsible and create more green jobs by taking a cue from programs in the European Union and Australia, according to new research by the Rand Corporation.

Green Building Councils Around Globe Call for Action on Climate Change - 2009-09-24
The U.S. Green Building Council led a delegation of sustainable building professionals to Capitol Hill today to push for climate change legislation as part of World Green Building Day.

Walmart Sustainability Index Means Big Business - 2009-09-24
Some of Walmart's top suppliers in the U.S. will begin sharing their environmental impact data with the world's largest retailer next week.

IBM Puts Tech to Work on Cutting Your Morning Commute - 2009-09-24
The company announced today the latest results of its Congestion Charging System in Stockholm, Sweden. The system, which was launched in August 2007 after a six-month pilot project in 2006, has resulted in overall traffic reductions of 18 percent in the capital.

Better Place sees price advantage for e-cars: report - 2009-09-24
Better Place, which is building a global network of charging stations for the electric car industry, expects its e-cars to be significantly cheaper than gasoline-powered counterparts, its CEO was quoted as saying.

Irreconcilable Differences - 2009-09-23
In a letter to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, PG&E Chairman and CEO Peter Darbee cited "fundamental differences" over climate change to explain why the company is pulling out of the organization, despite the Chamber's "long history as a positive force for America's businesses and its economy."

From Pretender to Leader: Duke Lives Up to Its Own Publicity - 2009-09-23
Duke Energy has long been one of the most visible Smart Grid advocates, with CEO Jim Rogers a mainstay on the speaking circuit. To outsiders, Duke is the poster child for the greening of the electric power sector. To insiders, however, Duke has been, if not a joke, at least a smirk.

DOE Announces $528.7M Conditional Loan for Fisker Automotive for PHEVs - 2009-09-23
The US Department of Energy is awarding a $528.7-million conditional loan to Fisker Automotive for the development of two lines of plug-in hybrids—the Karma and the new Project Nina vehicle—by 2016.

Dassault’s SVE to Combine with Dow Kokam in Li-ion Battery Partnership for EVs - 2009-09-23
Created in 2002 by Dassault, SVE designs, develops and markets under the Cleanova brand high performance lithium-ion battery and energy management systems for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Serious Materials Raises $60M More in Funds to Speed Growth, Product Development - 2009-09-23
Green building materials maker Serious Materials has raised $60 million in a third round of funding, bringing its total raised to more than $120 million, the company said today.

eBay Bids on a 15 Percent Emissions Cut - 2009-09-23
A combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy and promotion of more environmentally friendly behavior will be used to cut eBay’s greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2012.

U.S. says working on G20 pact to cut fossil fuel subsidies - 2009-09-23
The United States is still working toward an agreement with G20 partners to phase out subsidies for fossil fuels, a top White House adviser said ahead of this week's G20 summit.

JPMorgan ups offer for EcoSecurities - 2009-09-23
A JPMorgan Chase & Co vehicle on Wednesday increased its cash offer for London-listed carbon offset aggregator EcoSecurities, garnering further support from shareholders.

Plutonic, GE unit commit to buy Canada wind farm - 2009-09-23
Plutonic Power Corp and a unit of General Electric Co said on Wednesday that they had committed to buying the Dokie Ridge wind project in western Canada after completing a due diligence investigation.

Cisco, Yello launch new smart meters in Germany - 2009-09-23
U.S. network equipment maker Cisco and German Yello Strom said on Wednesday they are equipping 70 German households and small companies with novel meters to help cut their future bills and carbon footprints.

Chemetall Lithium Awarded €5.7M to Set Up Pilot Li-ion Battery Recycling Plant - 2009-09-22
The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety recently awarded €5.7 million (US$8.4 million) to Chemetall Lithium, a unit of Rockwood Holdings Inc., to set up a pilot plant for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. Chemetall will provide additional funds to bring the total investment above €10 million.

US DOT Awards $100M in Recovery Act Funds to 43 Transit Projects to Reduce Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions - 2009-09-22
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding $100 million in Economic Recovery Act funding to 43 transit agencies for projects to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from both vehicles and facilities.

Greening America's Schools - 2009-09-22
The USGBC just kicked off the third year of its highly successful National Green Schools Campaign (NSGC) with the launch of the Coalition for Green Schools.

Oregon Brewery's Solution to Employee Engagement: Free Bikes - 2009-09-22
Recently the entire San Francisco Bay Area went into a near collective panic-attack when it was announced that the Bay Bridge might not open in time for the morning commute. This prompted many people to ponder how they would get to work with a general sense of frustration, dread, confusion and impending helplessness.

Will the Ocean Cool Your Next Data Center? - 2009-09-22
Cooling the data center represents a big IT cost and contributes significantly to carbon emissions. But plans are afoot to cool data centers with cold water from the world's oceans and lakes.

IBM's Smart Grid Test Run Cuts Power Use by 15 Percent - 2009-09-22
IBM yesterday unveiled the results of a smart grid pilot project that aims to show how much energy savings are possible through the use of electricity monitoring devices.

Obama calls for world action on climate change - 2009-09-22
President Barack Obama challenged the world on Tuesday to act swiftly to fight global warming but offered no new proposals that could jumpstart stalled talks on a U.N. climate pact.

Solexant to take on First Solar on cost: CEO - 2009-09-22
Solar cell developer Solexant Corp is starting a new financing round that it hopes will bring its thin-film solar panels to market and take on low-cost leader First Solar Inc, company Chief Executive and President Damoder Reddy told Reuters on Monday.

BA CEO to pledge aviation sector C02 cuts to U.N. - 2009-09-22
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh will tell world leaders at the U.N. climate summit on Tuesday the aviation industry could halve its carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, a spokesman for the airline said on Monday.

German solar group to decide anti-dumping plan soon - 2009-09-22
German solar industry association BSW will decide by the end of the year whether to seek regulatory action over alleged dumping by Chinese rivals, its managing director told Reuters.

California Green Building Standards to Serve as Model for New International Code - 2009-09-21
California's green building code, the first of its kind in the nation, will be used as a resource in the development of a proposed international green code for commercial buildings.

Carbon Management Still a Priority Despite Recession, Report Finds - 2009-09-21
The vast majority of multinational companies are pushing ahead with developing and implementing carbon management strategies despite a steep global recession that sent financial markets into a tailspin and took a toll on corporate balance sheets, a new report has found.

Green Mountain Coffee Distribution Center Now Powered by Solar - 2009-09-21
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters completed the installation of a 572-panel solar array on the roof of its Waterbury distribution center this summer.

Starbucks, Dell to aid online effort to save rainforest - 2009-09-21
Environmental activists are taking to the Internet in a new bid to help save the world's rainforests with the help of major corporations including Starbucks Corp and Dell Inc.

Pittsburgh showcases green economy at G20 summit - 2009-09-21
Mihalek, 58, recalls bubbling caldrons of metal during summer jobs at U.S. Steel as a college student. Now he works in a dust-free workplace as environmental health and safety manager at Solar Power Industries, a maker of solar cells.

Economy, policies energizing Canada's wind sector - 2009-09-21
Canada's wind power companies are getting a lift from rising oil prices, a healthier economy and energy-friendly government policies, even as tight capital markets continue to curb the recovery of the fledgling sector.

SolarWorld calls for lower subsidies amid expansion - 2009-09-21
SolarWorld, Germany's third-biggest solar company by revenue, has called for a faster reduction of German solar subsidies after announcing plans to massively expand its solar module production.

US House Passes $2.85B Bill for Advanced Technology Vehicle R&D from 2010-2014 - 2009-09-17
The US House yesterday passed by a vote of 312-114 a bill that would authorize additional appropriations totalling $2.85 billion over the 2010-2014 period for the US Department of Energy (DOE) to support a broad range of research activities for advanced technology vehicles.

Volvo Working on Battery-Electric C30; EnerDel Li-ion Pack - 2009-09-17
In addition to its planned market introduction of a plug-in hybrid in 2012, Volvo Cars is currently evaluating the viability of a fully battery-electric vehicle (BEV).

Corporate America's Adoption of Green Practices Doubles, Study Says - 2009-09-17
Corporate America's embrace of sustainability has more than doubled in strength in the past three years with 76 percent of the largest U.S. firms reporting efforts and commitments that exceed those required by law, according to a new study from Siemens Building Technologies Inc. and McGraw-Hill Construction.

USGBC's Green Schools Effort Surges Forward in Third Year - 2009-09-17
Working with 11 education and environmental groups, the U.S. Green Building Council has formed the Coalition for Green Schools to launch the third year of its campaign to make America's classrooms more eco-friendly and healthier for students and teachers.

SunRun Offers a New Deal for Solar - 2009-09-17
The challenge for SunRun is to take the incredibly complicated business of solar and make it really simple to the consumer.

San Jose to Add 75K Homes to Smart Grid, New IBM Software to Facilitate Growth - 2009-09-17
In a partnership with IBM, Cisco and Pacific Gas & Electric, the City of San Jose has launched a project to add smart meters to 75,000 businesses and homes, while also expanding the amount of solar energy generated on buildings within the city.

DOE Launches $450M Program to Ramp Up Energy Efficiency Retrofits - 2009-09-17
The U.S. Department of Energy started a $450 million program this week to fire up large-scale retrofit programs in order to bring greater energy efficiency to businesses and households.

Businesses unharmed so far by EU CO2 scheme: survey - 2009-09-17
The European Union's flagship emissions trading scheme has had no negative impact so far on business costs or competitiveness, a survey by non-governmental organization The Climate Group said on Thursday.

India unveils tariff norms for renewable power - 2009-09-17
India laid out on Thursday new tariff norms for electricity from renewable energy sources, offering a higher return on investments to spur a sector that is at the center of the country's plans to fight climate change.

Better Place Debuts EV Services Platform and Partners at Frankfurt Motor Show - 2009-09-16
Better Place introduced its electric vehicle (EV) services platform at the Frankfurt Motor Show, in conjunction with Renault’s unveiling of the Fluence ZE Concept with Quickdrop (switchable) battery system and an expanded agreement with Renault, committing both companies to a volume of at least 100,000 electric cars in Israel and Denmark by 2016.

Volkswagen Unveils New One-Liter Concept Car; Smallest Production-Intent Diesel Yet from Volkswagen Applied in A Full Hybrid Desig - 2009-09-16
Volkswagen unveiled the L1, its second-generation one-liter class concept car, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The diesel-electric full-hybrid vehicle, weighing just 380 kilograms (838 lbs), offers an initial glimpse at how a future production version might appear.

San Francisco Looks to LEED as the Path to Green Jobs and Buildings - 2009-09-16
The city and county of San Francisco now has over 120 architects, engineers and construction managers who have upgraded their knowledge and skills to become LEED Accredited Professionals.

TerraCycle Collects Scotch Tape for Reuse, Expands Into London - 2009-09-16
TerraCycle is deviating from its standard business model of collecting waste and turning it into something new with its new partnership with 3M.

EU plans 30 cities to lead world on "smart" energy - 2009-09-16
Europe will select 30 cities to pioneer "smart" electricity grids and space-proven insulation as it seeks to lead the global race for green technology, a draft European Union document shows.

Schwarzenegger boosts state's clean energy plan - 2009-09-16
California's governor on Tuesday ordered that a third of the state's electricity come from renewable resources by 2020, the same amount as a legislature plan but with promises to let power companies get more electricity from outside the state.

Big venture funds more cautious but still love green - 2009-09-16
Venture capitalists searching for the next big green idea to invest in are being more cautious in their due diligence but are still more than willing to place risky bets in the emerging sector.

Climate Exchange swings to profit as volumes leap - 2009-09-16
British carbon emissions exchange operator Climate Exchange swung to a first-half profit as trading volumes almost doubled, but said it expected growth rates to moderate in the second half.

East Africa should use farm waste for power: analyst - 2009-09-16
East Africa should tap its large cogeneration potential, burning waste from its sugar and tea output to cut reliance on hydro power, which is increasingly hit by drought, an energy analyst said on Wednesday.

Protesters target oil sands before Harper meets Obama - 2009-09-16
Environmentalists shut down a Canadian oil sands mine on Tuesday in a series of protests on the eve of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit with President Barack Obama, aimed at pressing their case that the projects undermine the fight against climate change.

Md. turning to offshore wind energy - 2009-09-16
The state began its pursuit of offshore wind generation Tuesday, a move that could lead to building 400-foot-tall turbines off Ocean City.

GE Energy Acquires ScanWind for Offshore Wind Sector Expansion - 2009-09-15
GE has completed the acquisition of ScanWind. ScanWind is a developer of advanced drive train and control wind turbine technologies aimed at offshore deployment.

Audi Introduces the e-tron Electric Sports Car Concept - 2009-09-15
The 53 kWh lithium-ion battery pack enables a range of approximately 248 kilometers (154 miles) (NECD combined cycle).

Renault Unveils Four Concept EVs and Quickdrop Battery Switch System; Commits to 100,000 EVs with Better Place - 2009-09-15
At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault unveiled four Lithium-ion battery electric concept vehicles that provide a preview of Renault’s range of production electric vehicles to be released from 2011 on

Volkswagen Introduces the E-Up! EV Concept - 2009-09-15
The 3+1 seater is driven by an electric motor with a peak power output of 60 kW (continuous power: 40 kW), and has a top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph).

Melbourne Convention Centre Earns Australian Green Building Council's Highest Rating - 2009-09-15
The Melbourne Convention Center has earned a 6 Star rating under the Green Star certification system of Green Building Council Australia.

Starbucks Kicks Off Cup-Recycling Pilot Program in NYC - 2009-09-15
Starbucks launched a pilot program in seven New York stores last week that could help the company move toward its goal of making all of its coffee cups recyclable by 2012.

CDP 2009 Preview: How to Be Sustainably Profitable in a Low-Carbon Economy - 2009-09-15
Backed by 475 institutional investors with assets of over US $55 trillion, Carbon Disclosure Project's climate change information request was sent to 3,700 of the world's largest corporations to discover how businesses are managing their carbon emissions and climate change risks and opportunities.

A Green Certification on the Horizon for the White House? - 2009-09-15
Going far beyond the organic vegetable garden and playground made from recycled materials, President Barack Obama intends to get the White House LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

California feud breaks out on clean energy plan - 2009-09-15
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will veto a bill requiring the state to get a third of its electricity from solar, wind and other renewable sources, his staff said on Monday in a fight that shows the difficulties of addressing climate change fast.

Solar mirror power firms cling to Spanish subsidy - 2009-09-15
Spain slashed subsidies for power from solar panels in 2008, after causing a bubble, and is almost bound to reduce support for bigger solar farms that use mirrors -- but this sector may have the clout to limit cuts.

Süd-Chemie to Supply Evonik with Lithium Iron Phosphate Materials for Automotive and Industrial Batteries - 2009-09-14
Süd-Chemie AG will supply Evonik Industries AG with novel lithium iron phosphate materials for use in the next generation of lithium-ion batteries for automobiles and other industrial applications.

Ford to Convert Auto Plant to Clean Tech Manufacturing - 2009-09-14
A Ford car plant which was recently shut down as part of cost savings by the car maker is being converted into a facility for renewable energy companies.

Van makers face CO2 caps or fines in EU from 2013 - 2009-09-14
The auto industry faces a cap on carbon dioxide emissions from new vans sold in the 27-country European Union from July 2013 or fines for each vehicle that fails to comply, a draft EU document shows.

Many climate change costs seen avoidable - 2009-09-14
Climate change could cost some countries up to 19 percent of their gross domestic product by 2030, a panel including major insurance, banking and consulting companies as well as the European Commission said on Monday.

Europe wind power body sees big offshore potential - 2009-09-14
Offshore wind turbines could meet 13-17 percent of Europe's electricity need in 2030 if wind power projects get sufficient support, an industry lobby organization said on Monday.

JPMorgan to buy EcoSecurities for $204 million - 2009-09-14
JPMorgan Chase & Co agreed to buy carbon offset aggregator EcoSecurities for 122.9 million pounds ($204 million) on Monday, trumping a bid from the firm's co-founder, to boost its carbon-credit trading business.

Clean energy to create more jobs than coal: study - 2009-09-14
A strong shift toward renewable energies could create 2.7 million more jobs in power generation worldwide by 2030 than staying with dependence on fossil fuels would, a report suggested Monday.

California lawmakers pass tougher clean energy goals - 2009-09-14
A bill that would power up California's already ambitious effort to shift to cleaner, renewable energy has cleared the state legislature, but it was uncertain if Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would sign it.

Iraq to make biofuels out of rotting dates - 2009-09-14
Iraq's prime minister has approved a project by a United Arab Emirates-based company to make biofuel from dates that would otherwise be wasted because they have started to perish, Iraqi officials said on Sunday.

Organic foods are now ‘mainstream’, says USDA - 2009-09-14
Organic food has entered the mainstream with strong growth in all sectors over the past decade, including packaged and prepared foods and beverages, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Blackouts by 2016 unless Britain replaces ageing power stations, warns Government energy adviser Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1212744/Blackouts-2016-unless-Britain-replaces-ageing-power-stations-warns-Government-energy-adviser.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0QpYLeAOZ - 2009-09-11
A massive building programme which would 'industrialise' large swathes of the countryside will be needed if Britain is to meet its own energy needs from renewable sources, a Government adviser warned today.

Reuters Summit-SunPower planning U.S. panel facility - 2009-09-11
SunPower Corp. plans to make up to a quarter of its solar panels in the United States beginning a year or slightly longer from now, Chief Executive Tom Werner said on Thursday.

Clean energy future has humble beginnings - 2009-09-11
Humble, established technologies including natural gas and energy efficiency are top picks to lead a clean energy race through 2020, policymakers and senior executives told Reuters this week.

China, U.S. to dominate solar market - 2009-09-11
The United States and China are in a head-to-head race to become the world's top market for solar power, and panel makers are wasting no time making plans to cash in on the growth promise of both markets despite the global recession.

EU steps up efforts for new global climate pact - 2009-09-10
Fearing that a possible global deal on climate change is in danger, European foreign ministers announced Thursday they were stepping up efforts to make sure that nations around the world face up to global warming.

China could be $1 trillion green tech market - 2009-09-10
China potentially could be a $500 billion to $1 trillion a year market for environmentally sustainable "green technologies," a group of businesses and experts said in a report Thursday that urges governments to ease the way for such initiatives.

Statewide Water Solutions Sent by Top Experts to California Governor`s Office - 2009-09-10
vel water management solutions were sent to the California Governor`s office on Friday, September 4th highlighting the current changing values, ideas and solutions in water management and addressing sustainability of California communities.

Ahead of the Bell: Yingli 3Q to rebound on demand - 2009-09-10
A new surge in demand could push Yingli Green Energy Co. Ltd. to capacity in the third quarter, said an analyst on Thursday as he raised his price target and estimates for the solar cell maker.

indieresearch Analysts Bullish on Battery Stocks Ahead of Sector's Latest IPO - 2009-09-10
As electric car interest grows, battery technology stocks have gotten more and more attention, most recently earning bullish sentiment from another analyst.

California Kicks Off $75M Green Jobs Training Program - 2009-09-08
California is making a $75 million down payment on what is being touted as the nation’s largest state-sponsored green jobs training program.

U.N. panel to rule on $144 million China wind projects - 2009-09-08
Lobbyist pressure will not weigh on a U.N. panel's decision whether to award carbon finance worth about 100 million euros ($144 million) to Chinese wind power projects, said the chair of the panel on Tuesday.

Tokyo Electric to use carbon market - 2009-09-08
Tokyo Electric Power Co expects to keep buying carbon credits overseas beyond 2012, when the first phase of the Kyoto climate pact ends, the company's climate section chief said, underscoring the firm's continued reliance on the global emissions trading market.

Solar credit crunch to ease next year: Trina - 2009-09-08
China's export-dependent solar panel makers are seeing a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel after a difficult year fighting a global credit squeeze and a spate of project delays, a senior industry executive said.

Novozymes sees U.S. bioethanol output holding up - 2009-09-08
Danish industrial enzymes producer Novozymes, which is pinning big hopes on producing enzymes for biofuels, said it expected U.S. bioethanol production to hold up well in the second half of this year.

Peugeot to Introduce iMiEV-Based EV, Two HYbrid4 Concepts at Frankfurt Show - 2009-09-07
On the heels of the recently-signed EV cooperation agreement between Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroën, Peugeot will introduce the “iOn” EV—based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV (earlier post)—at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor show.

New Wells Fargo Branch Meets LEED Gold Standard for Green Building - 2009-09-07
Wells Fargo's newly opened Manhattan Beach branch has attained LEED-Gold status, exceeding certification expectations for the site, the financial services firm said this week.

EU proposes U.N. war chest for climate funds - 2009-09-07
The United Nations should set up a war chest to help process the billions of dollars poor countries will be paid to slash their greenhouse gas emissions, the European Union has proposed.

Showa Shell to spend $1.1 billion chasing First Solar - 2009-09-07
Japanese oil refiner Showa Shell Sekiyu KK said it will invest $1.1 billion to build a new thin-film solar cell plant, as it chases First Solar in a growing market.

India to set industry efficiency targets by December, 2010 - 2009-09-07
India hopes to set up by December next year energy efficiency targets for more than 700 industrial units, which account for 40 percent of India's fossil fuel use, the country's head of energy efficiency said on Monday.

Toyota Global Cumulative Hybrid Sales Top 2M - 2009-09-04
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has cumulatively sold more than 2 million hybrid vehicles since the launch in 1997 in Japan of the Coaster Hybrid EV in August and the Prius in December.

Iveco Electric Daily Prototype Begins Testing in Brazil - 2009-09-04
Iveco has presented a prototype of its new Electric Daily in Brazil, destined to be the first zero emission light commercial vehicle produced in Latin America.

Sempra Energy Heads the List of Top 25 Smart Grid Utilities - 2009-09-04
Sempra Energy leads the list of the top 25 smart grid utilities in the first ranking of its kind conducted by IDC Energy Insights and Intelligent Utility magazine.

Mitsubishi, Peugeot ink tie-up on electric cars - 2009-09-04
Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp said on Friday it has formally signed a contract for a previously announced tie-up with France's Peugeot-Citroen in electric vehicles.

GreenHunter biomass plant in power sales deal - 2009-09-04
A unit of GreenHunter Energy Inc said on Thursday it signed a 20-year power sales deal for its biomass power plant in California, enabling the company to complete construction.

UQM Technologies and BorgWarner Collaborate on Electric Powertrain Systems; Initial Project is the CODA Sedan - 2009-09-03
UQM Technologies is collaborating with BorgWarner on electric powertrain products for all-electric and hybrid-electric passenger automobiles.

Mercedes-Benz Provides Update on BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS Extended Range Electric Vehicle Concept - 2009-09-03
At the North American International Autoshow in January, Mercedes-Benz presented the Concept BlueZERO for electric vehicles.

Michaels Cuts Energy Use Over 25 Percent with Site Controls - 2009-09-03
An energy management solution that Site Controls crafted for Michaels Stores Inc. has led to a more than 25 percent drop in consumption among the retailer’s nearly 1,000 stores.

Toyota Europe Accelerates Emissions Cuts While Achieving Zero Waste - 2009-09-03
Lower vehicle production and sales volume helped cut greenhouse gas emissions in the operations of Toyota’s European arm by 17 percent in fiscal year 2008, the company said Tuesday.

EU's Barroso plans "radical" action to cut CO2 - 2009-09-03
Europe must take bold steps to strip carbon emissions out of its transport and electricity generation systems, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said on Thursday.

Solarfun unit gets 400 million yuan credit facility - 2009-09-03
Chinese photovoltaic cell maker Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd said its unit, Jiangsu Linyang Solarfun Co Ltd, secured a 400 million yuan ($58.57 million) credit facility from the Bank of Shanghai.

Sprawling L.A. Shrinks Water and Energy Use - 2009-09-02
Commercial and industrial properties in sprawling Los Angeles reduced their water consumption by double-digits in July, the mayor’s office announced last week.

IBM Launches First Two-Year Green Data Center Degree - 2009-09-02
A new, two-year associate's degree from the Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Neb., is being touted as the first of its kind to give students an intensive focus on designing and managing green data centers.

Senate urged to let states keep climate plans - 2009-09-02
Five states have asked U.S. Senate leaders to let them impose stricter limits on greenhouse gas emissions than what would be permitted under the climate legislation working its way though Congress, saying both levels of regulation are necessary to fight global warming.

Khosla raises $1 billion for renewables, cleantech - 2009-09-02
Khosla Ventures said on Tuesday it had raised more than $1 billion for renewable energy and clean technology funds, a sign that skittish investors are hot for climate-change-related projects.

Applied Materials sees signs of solar uptick - 2009-09-02
Applied Materials Inc, the world's largest producer of chip-making gear, is seeing the first signs of improvement in the solar sector with the beginning of some capacity build-up in China, Chairman and Chief Executive Mike Splinter said on Tuesday.

Clean Energy Brazil sells sugar mill stake at a loss - 2009-09-02
Biofuels investor Clean Energy Brazil has sold its stake in a Brazilian sugar mill for much less than its initial investment after the plant's debt pile proved too much of a burden in a tough ethanol market.

USPS OIG Concludes Electrification of Post Office Delivery Fleet Operationally Feasible, But Costly; Federal Funds and V2G Revenue Required - 2009-09-01
Broad use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the US Postal Service (USPS) delivery fleet would be operationally feasible, according to a study assessing the operational and economic feasibility of moving the fleet to EVs conducted by the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Electrification of the USPS fleet could also provide a valuable opportunity for the nation to test EV technology.

ConEd, Viridity, Boeing Seek $46M in Fed Funds for NY Smart Grid Efforts - 2009-09-01
Consolidated Edison Inc. is partnering with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Viridity Energy, the Boeing Company, Columbia University and others to apply for $46 million in stimulus money from the U.S. Department of Energy to help fund demonstration projects for a $435 million smart grid program.

China Leads the World in the Race to Go Green - 2009-09-01
China is taking advantage of the green technology revolution that the challenge of climate change provides, according to a new report launched recently by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Beijing.

U.S. awards $503 million for renewable energy projects - 2009-09-01
The U.S. Energy and Treasury Departments on Tuesday announced $503 million in government cash grants to companies developing renewable energy projects.

Better climate information seen aiding U.N. pact - 2009-09-01
A push to improve climate information for everyone from farmers to investors in solar power will help a planned U.N. treaty to combat global warming, the head of the U.N.'s meteorological agency said on Tuesday.

Duke Energy to build wind farm in Wyoming - 2009-09-01
U.S. electric utility Duke Energy said on Monday it plans to build a 200-megawatt wind farm, its ninth in the United States.

No delay for car makers on EU chemicals ban - 2009-09-01
Car makers will not be granted a delay to an agreed 2011 European ban on climate-damaging chemicals in the air conditioners of new car models, European Parliament officials said on Tuesday.