Green Investing News

December 2011 News Archives

US Navy goes big with GREENS Solar - 2011-12-28
For the US armed forces, going green is about climate change and energy security, but as much as anything it's about troop safety.

A123 Systems to supply 11-megawatt grid battery system to Maui's Auwahi wind project - 2011-12-27
An 11-megawatt battery system for a wind farm on Maui's Ulupalakua Ranch land will help stabilize the island's energy.

Fox Uses Fuzzy Math To Attack Incentives For Electric Vehicles - 2011-12-23
Fox's vendetta against the Chevy Volt is especially puzzling given the potentially large market in the U.S. for electric vehicles. According to a recent IBM study, auto executives consider electric vehicles "one of the next hot products." But in order to realize that potential, the U.S. must continue to invest in electric vehicle technology and provide incentives to enable American companies to compete in the global market.

Wisconsin's biggest wind farm goes online - 2011-12-21
Construction of the largest wind farm in the state is complete, with the Glacier Hills Wind Park northeast of Madison online and generating power for We Energies. With 90 turbines, the Columbia County wind project is expected to generate 162 megawatts of power, or enough over a year's time to power 45,000 homes.

Google, KKR invest in California solar project - 2011-12-20
Online search and advertising giant Google is teaming with investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. to develop four solar energy farms serving the Sacramento Municipal Utility District in California.

Buffett Makes Second Solar Investment in a Month - 2011-12-19
Warren Buffett just made his second sizeable investment in the U.S. solar industry this month, adding more fuel to the debate over whether U.S. solar is on the cusp of a comeback.

Ford Ups the Electric Car Stakes - 2011-12-16
The new Ford (NYSE: F ) Focus Electric gets 100 miles per gallon.* Yep, that's an asterisk. Being an electric car that doesn't actually burn any gas, the latest Focus doesn't really get 100 miles per gallon. But the long-awaited model is expected to be the first car with a backseat to get a 100-mpg equivalent rating from the EPA, a milestone in the emerging electric car race.

Helping drivers make switch to electric cars - 2011-12-15
Despite a slow increase in the domestic sales of electric cars, Chinese buyers are expected to become more willing to drive these alternative-fuel vehicles in the near future, said an industry insider.

Wind energy leaders eye US expansion - 2011-12-14
German energy companies, well-established leaders in harvesting wind power, are focusing on exporting turbines to the growing US market as European turf becomes scarce. Erin Huggins reports.

Audi Investing In Battery Research For Electric Cars - 2011-12-13
With closest rivals BMW and Daimler forming industry alliances to help further the development of batteries and other electrical energy storage technologies for use in cars, it appears Audi too is getting in on the action, today announcing a new joint-research project of its own.

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Two Arizona Solar Farms - 2011-12-12
Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, purchased the Ajo Solar Project and Bagdad Solar Project from Recurrent Energy in August. Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) will buy all of the output from both solar farms from Duke Energy Renewables under the terms of two 25-year power purchase agreements.

Siemens, Shanghai Electric form wind power ventures - 2011-12-09
German industrial conglomerate Siemens said it would form two joint ventures with China's Shanghai Electric to expand its foothold in the country's wind turbine market, the world's largest.

California proposes big boost in electric cars - 2011-12-08
The California Air Resources Board proposed Wednesday new regulations to dramatically increase the number of electric vehicles on the Golden State's roads by 2025. By 2025, zero-emission or plug-in hybrid vehicles must account for one in seven new cars sold in California under a proposal released Wednesday.

Maryland wind energy drive gains momentum - 2011-12-07
As the Maryland General Assembly prepares for its 2012 session, environmental groups are encouraging elected officials to support legislation that could make Maryland the first state to build an offshore wind farm.

Turbine Titan GE Gives Offshore a Go - 2011-12-06
GE is making a go at the offshore wind turbine market, and has found a home for its new 4-megawatt (MW) offering. The company said installation had begun for its 4.1-113 Offshore Wind Turbine in Gothenburg Harbor.

Why Solar Will Win - 2011-12-02
Forget the fact that solar companies like Trina and Suntech have reported dismal earnings in recent weeks and fear that governments in North America, Europe and Asia will slash incentives for renewable energy. The solar industry will continue to grow, and likely even accelerate.