Green Investing News

November 2009 News Archives

UK Government Soliciting Bids for £30M for Charging Points; New Office for Low Emission Vehicles - 2009-11-19
The UK Government is soliciting bids for £30 million (US$50 million) in funding to support the installation of plug-in vehicle charging points on streets, car parks and in commercial, retail and leisure facilities.

Volvo Upgrades Hybrid System in Prototype Refuse Truck; Small-Scale Series Production Pushed Back to 2012 at the Earliest - 2009-11-19
After a year and a half of initial field testing, Volvo Trucks is releasing an upgraded hybrid refuse truck with new components and software. The new refuse truck will be tested by Veolia Environmental Services in central London.

POET Reduces Cellulosic Ethanol Production Cost from $4.13 to $2.35/Gallon in First Year of Pilot Operation; <$2.00/Gallon Target for Commercial Start - 2009-11-19
Over the first year of operations of its pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in South Dakota (earlier post), POET has reduced its per gallon production cost from $4.13 to $2.35, exceeding its expectations. Cost reduction came via reductions in energy usage, enzyme costs, raw material requirements and capital expenses. The pilot plant uses corn cobs for feedstock.

AU Optronics Helps Create a Frisbee-Shaped Solar Roof at Taipei Playground - 2009-11-19
AU Optronics Corp., Taiwan's largest manufacturer of thin film transistor liquid crystal display panels, has helped craft a “Solar Frisbee Roof” to canopy playground equipment at a Taipei schoolyard.

Phoenix Solar eyes partner in China - 2009-11-19
Phoenix Solar AG, one of Europe's largest solar power developers, is in talks to partner with a Chinese firm to push its business in China, said a company executive.

India's cabinet approves solar power programme - 2009-11-19
India's cabinet on Thursday approved its first solar power plan, pledging to boost output from near zero to 20 gigawatts (GW) by 2020 as part of its plan to fight global warming.

REG focuses on UK wind, waste oil for growth - 2009-11-19
Britain's Renewable Energy Generation is planning to significantly increase its wind power assets next year, while bringing its profitable waste cooking oil business to commercialization. Chief Executive Officer Andrew Whalley said the company planned to invest 100 million pounds ($166.6 million) over the next three years, mostly in expanding its operating wind assets.

Nuclear power: less effective than energy efficiency and renewable energy? - 2009-11-18
If the U.S. wants to help stop global warming, nuclear power is not the way to go, according to a new report released today.

Volt and Its Battery Pack Converging on Product and Process Validation in February 2010; Fine-Tuning in Preparation for Start of Regular Production in Nov 2010 - 2009-11-18
Both the Chevy Volt extended range electric vehicle and its battery pack are converging on the beginning of the product and process validation (PPV) stage of GM’s development and manufacturing process, scheduled to start in February 2010, according to an online status update given by Andrew Farrah, Volt Vehicle Chief Engineer and Bill Wallace, Engineering Group Manager, Voltec Battery Systems.

US and China Presidents Announce US-China Electric Vehicles Initiative, Six Other Measures to Strengthen Cooperation Between the Countries on Energy Issues - 2009-11-18
In Beijing, US President Barack Obama and China President Hu Jintao announced a package of seven measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy.

Forecast: Cumulative Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Fleet Sales to Reach Nearly 4 Million Units By 2015 - 2009-11-18
Cumulative sales of hybrid vehicles in the fleet sector will total nearly 4 million worldwide between 2009 and 2015, according to a recent report from Pike Research. The cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that hybrid fleet sales will increase from 300,000 in 2009 to more than 830,000 in 2015, with the largest growth categories in medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses.

EPA Proposes Stronger Air Quality Standards for SO2; First Proposed Increase Since 1971 - 2009-11-18
For the first time in nearly 40 years, EPA is proposing to strengthen the nation’s sulfur dioxide (SO2) primary air quality standard to protect public health.

When Behavioral Economics Meets Climate Change, Guess What's Coming for Dinner? - 2009-11-18
Might there be broad-based ways to promote a vegetarian diet, while giving people the freedom to choose what they want? How can smart-grid technology be designed to encourage people to conserve energy? Which green marketing messages work, and which don’t? Can the insights of behavioral economics help fight climate change?

U.S. Climate Bill Could Boost Economy by $111B, Study Says - 2009-11-18
As Republican senators in the U.S. attempt to delay proposed climate change legislation on the grounds that it could harm the country's economy, a major study from three influential universities suggests that a robust climate bill would have the exact opposite effect and would boost GDP by $111 billion by 2020.

Dell Protects Laptops With Bamboo Packaging - 2009-11-18
Dell will start shipping two of its products padded with bamboo cushioning, a part of the company's broad plan to reduce its packaging while using more recyclable material.

Israel water tech thrives in weakened economy - 2009-11-18
Israel's water technology sector has prospered despite the global financial crisis, largely due to global stimulus packages and penetration in developing countries, officials said on Wednesday.

Tidal Power Turbines Producing More Energy Than Expected - 2009-11-18
The twin generators typically produce an average of 5MWh of electricity during the 6.25 hours of each ebb and each flood tide, enough energy to meet the average electricity needs for 1500 UK homes.

What They Really Believe - 2009-11-18
If you follow the debate around the energy/climate bills working through Congress you will notice that the drill-baby-drill opponents of this legislation are now making two claims. One is that the globe has been cooling lately, not warming, and the other is that America simply can’t afford any kind of cap-and-trade/carbon tax.

German Government to Award up to €9M to Support Development of Battery-Electric Mercedes-Benz Vans - 2009-11-17
The Federal German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety (BMU) will award Mercedes-Benz Vans a grant of up to €9 million (US$13.4 million) for the research and development, testing and trial of battery-electric vans.

UL Environment to Develop Standards for a Range of Green Building Materials - 2009-11-17
UL Environment plans to develop sustainability standards for stone, ceramic, clay and glass building materials, as well as glazing materials, windows and their associated hardware and accessories.

Hyflux partners with JBIC for big water deals - 2009-11-17
Singapore's Hyflux Ltd said on Tuesday it would partner with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to target water treatment projects worth over S$1 billion ($723 million) in China and elsewhere.

Siemens confident on green technologies sales goa - 2009-11-17
German industrial conglomerate Siemens' goal of generating 25 billion euros ($37.40 billion) of sales from its environment-friendly technologies in 2011 is a "conservative" estimate, board member Barbara Kux said on Monday.

Electrification Coalition Roadmap Calls for 75% of Light-Duty Vehicle Miles Traveled in the US to Be Electric by 2040 - 2009-11-16
The newly formed Electrification Coalition (earlier post) has released its Electrification Roadmap, a report outlining a vision for the deployment of a fully integrated electric drive network.

Dutch Cabinet Approves Mileage Tax; In Effect in 2012 if Approved by Parliament - 2009-11-16
The Dutch Cabinet on Friday approved a new road tax bill that would eliminate the current motor vehicle tax and purchase tax and replace them with a charge per kilometer driven, starting in 2012 and increasing through 2018. The measure needs to be approved by the Dutch Parliament before becoming law.

Group says electric car is U.S. oil addiction cure - 2009-11-16
A coalition of energy companies, automakers and shipping firms unveiled on Monday their cure for America's oil addiction -- electric vehicles.

Airbus says wingtip change to save fuel - 2009-11-16
European planemaker Airbus said Sunday its planned large wingtip devices on the A320 aircraft will reduce fuel burn by 3.5 percent and save about $220,000 a year per plane.

World leaders back delay to final climate deal - 2009-11-16
U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders on Sunday supported delaying a legally binding climate pact until 2010 or even later, but European negotiators said the move did not imply weaker action.

DOE and USDA Select Projects for More Than $24M in Biomass Research and Development Grants - 2009-11-13
The US Departments of Agriculture and Energy selected projects for more than $24 million in grants to research and develop technologies to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products.

Northern Lights Energy and Reva Electric Car Company Sign Agreement to Develop the Electric Vehicle Market in Iceland - 2009-11-13
Northern Lights Energy (NLE), the initiator of the 2012 charging infrastructure project and provider of infrastructure and services for electric vehicles (EV) based in Iceland, has signed an agreement with Reva Electric Car Company to jointly develop the electric vehicle market in Iceland.

Sion Power Receives $800K DOE Grant to Enhance Lithium Sulfur Batteries - 2009-11-13
Sion Power Corporation has received a three-year, $800,000 research grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to support Sion’s ongoing work to develop a new class of electrolytes used in lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries for electric vehicle (EV) applications. Sion Power will provide matching funds for this three-year effort.

Dow and HPL Sign Li-ion Technology Transfer Agreement; Dow Kokam JV Acquires Assets of Kokam America - 2009-11-13
The Dow Chemical Company announced the transfer to Dow of collective assets from HPL (High Power Lithium).

Starbucks Expands Green Building Projects with LEED Volume Certifications - 2009-11-13
The U.S. Green Building Council has set a goal of 100,000 LEED certified buildings by next year, and although the green building label is far from achieving that goal, Starbucks yesterday announced its membership in a USGBC-launched project that aims to help move the ball forward more rapidly.

Ford Mixes Wheat Waste With Plastic in 2010 Flex - 2009-11-13
The 2010 Ford Flex will include the auto industry's first use of wheat straw, a waste byproduct of wheat production.

Marriott to Launch Prototype for Green Design of Courtyard Hotels - 2009-11-13
In the latest move to expand its sustainability efforts, Marriott International Inc. says its green hotel portfolio will grow tenfold in the next five years with the introduction of design prototypes for new green properties.

Heinz On Track to Reduce Waste, Water, Energy Impacts by 20 Percent - 2009-11-13
With the release of its 2009 corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, the H.J. Heinz Company this morning unveiled its progress on achieving its environmental goals of cutting its footprint by 20 percent across four categories by 2015.

China to crack down on investments that add pollution - 2009-11-13
China's environment ministry vowed on Friday to launch a two-year clampdown on investment projects that flout environmental rules, throwing its weight behind a campaign to curb inefficient and polluting projects.

Peugeot Shows Three-wheel Drive Hybrid Scooter Concept: the HYbrid3 Evolution - 2009-11-11
At the Milan International Cycle and Motorbike Show, Peugeot is presenting a three-wheel drive hybrid scooter concept: the HYbrid3 Evolution. The scooter delivers 36 kW (49 bhp) of power, with fuel consumption of 2.0L/100 km (118 mpg US) and 48 g/km of CO2 in the combined cycle.

Perkins+Will Launches First Chemical Blacklist for Building Designers - 2009-11-11
Architectural design firm Perkins+Will has created a list of 25 chemicals that are commonly used in the building industry but also pose a number of health threats to humans and the environment.

Smart Commuting Could Save 4.6 Million Work-Hours per Day - 2009-11-11
Out of the 26 million hours a day British workers spend commuting to and from work, 4.6 million of those hours are wasted, according to a survey released this week during National Commute Smart Week.

GM board approves plug-in Cadillac hybrid: sources - 2009-11-11
The board of General Motors Co has approved a plan to produce a plug-in hybrid for the luxury Cadillac brand that will adapt technology developed for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, according to people briefed on the decision.

Thin-film share of solar market to double: report - 2009-11-11
Solar panels that use thin-film technology in place of traditional silicon-based materials will more than double their share of the solar panel market by 2013, according to a report issued on Tuesday by industry research firm iSuppli.

Key oil figures were distorted by US pressure, says whistleblower - 2009-11-10
The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, according to a whistleblower at the International Energy Agency who claims it has been deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying.

Li-ion Startup ActaCell To Receive Up to $1M Through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund - 2009-11-10
ActaCell, a Li-ion battery spin-off from the University of Texas at Austin, was selected by the state of Texas, through the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Central Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (CenTex RCIC), to be awarded investment by the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF).

Citroën to Launch i MiEV-Derived C-ZERO EV in Q4 2010 - 2009-11-10
Citroën will launch its electric city car, the C-ZERO, developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation from the i MiEV, in the fourth quarter of 2010. C-ZERO is Citroën’s second electric vehicle alongside Berlingo First Electric, developed with Venturi.

Ceres $5M ARPA-E Project to Focus on Increasing Biomass Yields of Energy Grasses by Up to 40% - 2009-11-10
Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. plans to expand an advanced trait development project to increase biomass yields of several energy grasses by as much as 40% in coming years, while simultaneously decreasing the use of inputs such as nitrogen fertilizers.

Companies More Likely Than Ever to Invest in Efficiency Retrofits, Study Says - 2009-11-10
Seventy-four percent of corporate real estate executives now say they would be willing to pay a premium to retrofit the office space they own to achieve sustainability goals, a new survey has found

Fortune Data Centers Lands LEED Gold Certification, Facebook as Tenant - 2009-11-10
Fortune Data Centers' San Jose facility earned the prestigious LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council last week, six months after opening the green facility.

TV Recycling Picks Up Speed with LG, Waste Management Partnership - 2009-11-10
LG Electronics yesterday announced a new partnership with Waste Management that aims to keep thousands of now-outdated displays out of landfills.

PNE Wind aims to generate 25 percent of sales in U.S.: CEO - 2009-11-10
German wind park developer PNE Wind aims to generate a quarter of its sales in the United States in three year's time, its chief executive told Reuters on Tuesday.

U.S. EPA sticks Energy Star label on millionth home - 2009-11-10
Energy Star homes are least 15 percent more efficient than traditional houses and have thick insulation, usually double-paned windows, tight construction and ducts and energy-saving heating and cooling equipment, along with lighting and appliances that use less energy.

Study: Bio-Based Plastics Could Ultimately Replace Up to 90% of Total Global Consumption of Plastics in 2007 - 2009-11-09
Replacement of up to 90% (270 Mt) of the total global consumption of plastics in 2007 with bio-based plastics is ultimately technically possible, according to new study by authors at Utrecht University, commissioned by the associations European Bioplastics and the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE).

'LEED for Landscapes' Aims to Green the Nation's Greens - 2009-11-09
The United States' first voluntary rating system for sustainable landscapes launched last week, a development its creators hope will do for the landscaping sector what LEED did for the building industry.

Is the U.S. News Media Failing to Do Its Job on Climate Change? - 2009-11-09
It sure seems that America is out of touch with the rest of the world regarding global warming, and that the world is slapping us in the face to awaken us from our stupor.

Enel Green Power buys into 64 MW Italy wind schemes - 2009-11-09
Enel Green Power, renewable energy arm of Italy's biggest utility Enel, has bought a majority stake in two wind power projects in Italy with a total installed capacity of 64 megawatts, the company said on Monday.

Pennsylvania lawsuit says drilling polluted water - 2009-11-09
A Pennsylvania landowner is suing an energy company for polluting his soil and water in an attempt to link a natural gas drilling technique with environmental contamination.

Ocean Power wins grant for Australian wave project - 2009-11-09
Renewable energy firm Ocean Power Technologies has won a A$66.5 million ($61 million) grant from the Australian government for a project set to be one of the first to generate power from waves on a utility scale.

Report from CS3 Symposium Highlights Work Toward Artificial Photosynthesis For Direct Solar Production of Liquid Transportation Fuels - 2009-11-06
Scientists are making progress toward development of an “artificial leaf” that mimics photosynthesis, but that converts sunlight and water into a liquid fuel such as methanol for cars and trucks, according to a new report summarizing the discussions from the 1st Annual Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium (CS3)

UK Government Providing Funding for New Electric City Car That Can Be Sustainably Manufactured - 2009-11-06
The UK-backed Technology Strategy Board is investing £4.5 million (US$$7.5 million) in a new £9-million research and development project that will allow a consortium to develop four prototypes of a new all-electric city car that can be more sustainably manufactured.

Reported US Sales of Hybrids Up 11.4% in October Year-on-Year; 2.9% New Vehicle Share for the Month - 2009-11-06
Reported US sales of hybrids in October 2009 rose 11.4% by volume to 24,475 units, representing a 2.9% share of reported new vehicle sales for the month. October 2009 had 28 selling days, while October 2008 had 27.

Green Buildings Continue Impressive Growth, New Market Study Finds - 2009-11-06
Green building activity has sustained impressive growth during 2009, amid a brutal construction market that has decimated other segments of the construction marketplace, according to the 2009 Green Building Market & Impact Report published today by GreenerBuildings.com.

Diversey Ups Emissions Reductions Investments, Earns Bigger ROI - 2009-11-06
Last year, as part of a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund-led Climate Savers group, Diversey (formerly known as JohnsonDiversey) set a goal to reduce the firm's net greenhouse gas emissions by 8 percent before 2013.

Johnson Controls: The Quiet Company Raises Its Voice and Its Profile - 2009-11-06
Though a giant in the buildings and automotive industries, Johnson Controls Inc. was long considered a quiet company -- seldom a major presence outside its lines of business. That's changing as the firm increasingly raises its voice and its profile to spread its mantra of "Efficiency Now."

Wind sector cash inflow may blow small firms away - 2009-11-06
Small wind energy companies could be taken over cheap because fresh funding for the sector is set to flow selectively to bigger names, placing them in a stronger negotiating position.

U.S. Ex-Im Bank to promote renewable energy exports - 2009-11-06
The U.S. Export-Import Bank on Thursday said it will provide up to $250 million to help finance exports of U.S.-built-and-designed technology used in generating renewable energy including solar, wind and geothermal.

Senate Democrats advance climate bill without GOP - 2009-11-05
Ignoring a Republican boycott, Senate Democrats pushed a precedent-setting climate bill through a key committee Thursday.

EnerDel to Develop Batteries for Series Hybrid XM1124 Humvee - 2009-11-05
Automotive lithium-ion battery maker EnerDel, Inc. has received a $1.29 million contract to design and build high-performance lithium-ion battery systems for the hybrid version of the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee), the XM1124 Humvee. The XM1124 is a series hybrid with a diesel genset and two traction motors, one for each axle.

Renault-Nissan Alliance, CEA and FSI to Form Joint Venture to Develop and Manufacture Batteries for Electric Vehicles - 2009-11-05
The Renault-Nissan Alliance, the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the French Strategic Investment Fund (FSI) signed a letter of intent to set up a joint venture company that would develop and manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, under the patronage of Christian Estrosi, the French Minister for Industry.

Taiwan Skyscraper TAIPEI 101 Aims to Be World's Tallest Green Building - 2009-11-05
The owners of Taiwan's landmark skyscraper TAIPEI 101 are teaming up with SL+A International Asia Inc., Siemens and EcoTech International Inc. for an 18-month renovation that project partners say will make the highrise the tallest green building in the world.

Cadbury and Sprint to Save Tons of Waste with New Greener Packaging - 2009-11-05
Sprint and Cadbury will switch to more environmentally friendly packaging for a series of products as part of an effort to save tons of steel, waste and millions of dollars, the companies announced today.

KBC favors wind over sun in renewable investments - 2009-11-05
Investing in wind power offers safer, less volatile returns in the current market environment than the solar sector, a fund manager of KBC's asset management arm told Reuters.

Philippines targets $2.5 billion geothermal development - 2009-11-05
The Philippine government aims to approve contracts to explore and develop the country's massive geothermal energy resources, which could attract more than $2.5 billion in private investment, an official said.

EDF Energies Nouvelles coping well in the crisis - 2009-11-05
The current economic climate is favorable for French wind and solar power company EDF Energies Nouvelles as equipment prices remain low and banks are more prepared to lend, its chief executive said.

Recovery Act Announcement: Secretary Chu Announces More than $155 Million for Industrial Energy Efficiency Projects - 2009-11-04
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the Department of Energy is awarding more than $155 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for 41 industrial energy efficiency projects across the country.

MIT and National Research Foundation of Singapore Launch Project on New Models and Tools for Future Urban Transportation - 2009-11-04
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Research Foundation of Singapore launched a new project to develop new models and tools for the planning, design, and operation of future urban transportation.

SeriousWindows Selected by Largest Weatherization Agency in U.S. - 2009-11-04
Serious Materials, the California company that specializes in energy efficient, eco-friendly building products, is supplying its super-insulating SeriousWindows to the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, the largest weatherization agency in the United States.

Owens Corning Works to Keep Roof Shingles Out of Landfills - 2009-11-04
Owens Corning is teaming up with one of the country's largest environmental services companies for a new program aimed at reducing the amount of used asphalt roofing shingles sent to landfills.

How to boost fuel efficiency? Raise taxes, executives say - 2009-11-04
There's a simple way to get Americans to drive fuel-efficient cars, according to auto executives, but they are not going to like it -- sharply hike the gas tax.

UK energy park gets all clear - 2009-11-04
Peterborough Renewable Energy Limited (PREL) has been granted approval to build a waste recycling and green power plant that could eliminate the need for landfill sites in the area, the government said on Wednesday.

Israeli firms aim to plug world's water leaks - 2009-11-04
The systems are part of a drive for export orders as rising populations and massive urbanization boost demand for fresh water, and experts say pipe leakage is one of the biggest problems facing the world today.

Solar companies focus on nuts and bolts to cut costs - 2009-11-04
Even as solar companies cook up high tech ways to cut costs, the next push to make the renewable energy source more economical could come from workers who bolt panels onto rooftops and mount them across empty fields.

Recovery Act Announcement: Hydropower Upgrades to Yield Added Generation at Average Costs Less Than 4 cents per kWh – Without New Dams - 2009-11-04
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $30.6 million in Recovery Act funding for the selection of seven hydropower projects that modernize hydropower infrastructure by increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impacts at existing facilities.

Toyota Shows Surfrider Camry Hybrid CNG, Two Modified Prius Hybrids at SEMA - 2009-11-03
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA has partnered with the Surfrider Foundation to create a specially modified Camry Hybrid fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG).

Hotel Guests Need Help Staying Green on the Road, Study Finds - 2009-11-03
A significant gap lies between consumers' attitudes towards "green" initiatives in the hospitality industry and their actual behavior, says a recent study by two hospitality and tourism management graduate students at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business.

Water-Saving Technologies Help Abbott Save 1 Billion Gallons a Year - 2009-11-03
Introducing a slew of water-saving technologies to its facilities has helped Abbott save roughly one billion gallons a year despite production growth at many of its plants.

Next Wave of TerraCycle Products to Come From Huggies, Kleenex Packaging - 2009-11-03
The company that built an empire by turning worm poop into fertilizer and cookie wrappers into backpacks has set its sights on the used plastic packaging from Huggies diapers, Scott toilet paper and Kleenex tissue.

What solar shakeout? U.S. and China firms say there’s room for all - 2009-11-03
When California’s SunPower and China’s Suntech strode onstage at an industry conference last week, onlookers braced themselves for a bit of sabre-rattling, or at least an animated debate about two global superpowers’ role in solar energy.

Decision on Cape Wind project by year end-Salazar - 2009-11-03
A decision will be made by the end of 2009 on whether the go ahead will be given to the massive Cape Wind electricity project off the shore of Massachusetts, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Monday.

Saft to Raise Approximately €120M to Fund Li-ion Plants in US - 2009-11-02
Saft intends, depending on market conditions, to raise approximately €120 million (US$177 million) in equity capital by way of an issue of preferential subscription rights to fund its lithium-ion battery plant in Jacksonville (Florida), the lithium-ion hybrid and electric battery plant of the Johnson-Controls-Saft JV in Holland (Michigan) and to reinforce its financial flexibility.

ARPA-E Awards Consortium $4.4M to Develop Next-Generation Magnets; Applications in Motors in Hybrids, EVs, Wind Turbines - 2009-11-02
A consortium led by the University of Delaware won a $4.4 million grant from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) (earlier post) to develop high-performance, next-generation permanent magnet materials, with a 2x target increase over the state-of-the art magnetic energy density.

BMW and Toyota Create Most 'Sustainable Value,' Report Finds; GM, Fiat Among Laggers - 2009-11-02
Toyota and BMW use their economic, environmental and social resources more efficiently than other worldwide automakers, a new study has found, while General Motors and Fiat significantly lagged behind their industry peers.

Landslide risk rises near Three Gorges Dam: report - 2009-11-02
China's vast Three Gorges reservoir will see a increasing number of landslides and other geological hazards as the water reaches its maximum level this autumn, a magazine report warned on Monday.