Steve Westly bullish on green startups

According to Reuters, “The U.S. recession and slow global economy have created big opportunities for investments in promising green startups, an area that at one time had lofty valuations, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Steve Westly said.
Westly, a former California state controller and eBay Inc executive, said he is seeing some “great quality of deals.”
“Two years [...]

United States Announces $1 Billion to Reduce Forest Emissions

According to the Press Release, “Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the United States, joined by Australia, France, Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom, agreed, in the context of an ambitious and comprehensive outcome in Copenhagen, to dedicate a total of USD3.5 billion as initial public finance towards slowing, halting and eventually reversing deforestation in [...]

GREEN BUSINESS: Nature’s Calling to General Motors?

Green, being the word of the day applies itself to every industry due to regulations and consumer demand for cleaner products. In the case of General Motors (GM), the only green they may ever see could be in the form of the grass that is covering their new home 6 feet under the ground in [...]

Solar Business – Ups and Downs

While green technology has taken off around the world, in several areas the concentration of an environmentally friendly ideal has truly sprouted wings. While the enlightened masses try their best to do their part to stave off global warming and reduce their carbon footprint, for some it is simply not enough. There is now a [...]

Being Green Pays

The energy crisis in California between the years of 2000-2001 left many state citizens angered at their utility providers, and rightfully so. Thanks to the corporate greed of companies such as Enron, the entire economy of the state was affected in an adverse way. However, there were good things that came from these trying years, [...]

Green Cars: Tesla Motors Shatters Single-Charge Distance Record

The biggest knock on the electric vehicles (EVs) is its lack of range on a single charge. On average the typical EV being produced today has about a 100-mile range before needing to recharge. On hybrids it becomes even more dismal with an all-electric range of roughly 40 miles. For normal [...]

Green Japan making waves

Long before the idea of creating power from the motion of the oceans, the Japanese have had a fascination with waves and weather. Ever since the kamikazes (divine wind) saved them from Mongol invasions under the command of Kublai Khan in the 13th century, the Japanese have honored the sea and its power. In more [...]

Centrica to invest £725 million to build 270MW offshore wind farm and also announces equity partner and refinancing of existing wind portfolio

According to the Press Release, “Centrica plc, the parent company of British Gas, today announced that its 270 megawatt (MW) Lincs offshore wind project has received final investment approval, and that construction is expected to begin in 2010.
Lincs will be situated eight kilometres off the coast of Skegness next to Centrica’s existing wind farm developments [...]

United States seeks more clean energy market access in China

According to Reuters, “Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will press for more access for American companies in China’s clean energy sector, an area where Washington feels it can make inroads on its enormous trade imbalance with China.
China’s ambitious wind power plans, as well as national policies to reduce emissions and use water and fuel more efficiently, [...]

U.S. House of Representatives passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act

On the 22nd of October, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, in the hopes of laying the groundwork for a more ecologically friendly future. The main purpose of the act was to bring together both politicians and representatives from the solar industry to plan out what needs to be done. [...]

DOE and the Power of Wind

In the world of wind energy there is constant research taking place, much of which is leading to improved means of creating renewable energy. When many think of wind energy, thoughts turn to the Netherlands and old fashioned windmills. Some other may recollect large “wind farms” full of white propeller [...]

PG&E To Buy 500 Megawatts Of Clean Solar Power From NextEra And Abengoa Solar

According to the Press Release, ” Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced that it has contracted with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources and Abengoa Solar for delivery of a total of 500 megawatts (MW) of clean solar power. The agreements are among several solar deals recently signed by the utility with independent developers [...]

According to UNEP: Public finance can scale up climate investment

According to Reuters, “Public finance could help stimulate private investment in climate change solutions in developing countries, a report commissioned by the United Nations’ Environment Program showed on Monday.
World leaders are grappling with how much funding should be provided for poor countries as part of a deal to tackle climate change which they hope to [...]

FTC Press Release: Maker of Rayon Clothes Barred from Deceptive “Bamboo” Claims

According to the US FTC press release, “Just because bamboo is green does not mean that companies who purport to make clothing and other textiles from processed bamboo can make unsupported “green” claims. The Federal Trade Commission today announced a settlement with a company that allegedly falsely claimed its rayon products are made of bamboo [...]

Japan may cut emissions by less than 25 percent

According to Reuters, “Japan cautioned on Friday that it could water down planned 2020 cuts in greenhouse gas emissions if other rich nations fail to make deep reductions as part of a U.N. deal due in Copenhagen in December.
In Brussels, a draft report showed that European Union states were preparing to endorse an estimate by [...]

Green Shipping Summit

In our everyday lives, we rely on transportation to get us to and from our destinations. The transportation mediums that we use are as varied as we are. Everything from cars, busses, boats, trains, planes, and our own two feet to name a few. The problem with modern transportation is that [...]

Siemens to acquire of Solel Solar Systems for about $418 million

According to the Press Release, “Siemens AG is to acquire the solar thermal power company Solel Solar Systems Ltd. To date, the majority stake has been held by Ecofin Ltd., a London-based investment firm, and another major shareholder. “After the rapid and highly successful expansion of our wind power business, we now want to continue [...]

BMW Returns Diesel to the United States

Most exposure in the United States to diesel automobiles was in the form of old Mercedes Benz clunkers. Since the arrival of these cars well over two decades ago, there has not been a desire for such an automobile in the United States. There have been several attempts to return diesel to the United States, [...]

Peak Oil & Mass Transit in California

Researchers at the UK Energy Research Center have recently completed a study indicating that Peak Oil – the point of highest production of oil worldwide, after which oil production will decline sharply – will be reached by the year 2030 at the very latest. On the alarmist side the report’s chief author Steve Sorrell warns [...]