Recently in Alternative Energy Category

E.ON has placed an order with Siemens Energy for the supply of 87 2.3-MW SWT-2.3-101 wind turbines for the Papalote Creek II wind power plant in San Patricio County, Texas. With a total installed rated capacity of more than 200 megawatts (MW), the Papalote Creek II wind farm is expected to provide clean power to approximately 60,000 households.

"With this new project, E.ON and Siemens continue their great partnership in the wind power business," said Jan Kjaersgaard, vice president and general manager of Siemens Energy's Wind Power Americas business. Siemens is already one of the top three wind turbine suppliers in the U.S. According to the American Wind Energy Association's year-end 2009 market report, Siemens installed more than 1,160 MW out of the more than 10,000 MW installed total in the U.S. in 2009.

"We are delighted to partner with Siemens in the next phase of our Papalote Creek II wind farm in south Texas," said Steve Trenholm, CEO, E.ON Climate & Renewables North America. "This project will create more than 300 temporary jobs and provide an investment of more than $300 million to the local tax base. E.ON is pleased to make this investment and help further the growth of the U.S. renewables market."  

E.ON and Siemens have partnered on several U.S. wind farm projects in the past. Siemens supplied 54 2.3-MW units for E.ON's Forest Creek wind farm near Big Spring, Texas, in 2006 and 55 2.3-MW wind turbines for the Champion wind farm in Nolan County, Texas, in 2007.

The Siemens scope of supply for the Papalote Creek II wind power plant includes delivery and transportation of the 87 SWT-2.3-101 wind turbines with a rated capacity of 2.3 MW each. With a diameter of 101 meters, the rotor of the new SWT-2.3-101 has a swept area of 8,000 square meters, which equals one-and-a-half football fields. Delivery is expected to begin in May 2010 and the wind farm is expected to be commissioned in the fall of 2010. Siemens also will provide service and maintenance for two years.

To better meet the increasing demand for clean energy in the Americas, Siemens is currently constructing its wind turbine assembly facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, which is scheduled to become operational in December 2010. The 300,000-square-foot wind turbine nacelle facility is expected to employ up to approximately 400 "green-collar" employees. Siemens also recently expanded its 600,000-square-foot blade manufacturing facilities in Fort Madison, Iowa, which it opened in 2007. The blades for the Papalote Creek II wind power plant will be manufactured in Fort Madison, Iowa.

Wind power is part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2009, revenue from the Portfolio totaled approximately EUR23 billion, making Siemens the world's largest supplier of environmentally friendly technologies. In the same period, the company's products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 210 million tons. This amount equals the combined annual CO2 emissions of New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin.

The Siemens Energy Sector is the world's leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2009 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR25.8 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR30 billion and posted a profit of EUR3.3 billion. On September 30, 2009, the Energy Sector had a work force of approximately 85,100. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/energy.

E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) is responsible for the E.ON group's renewable energy and environmental protection activities around the world. Tapping renewable energy sources offers enormous alternatives, both from a business perspective and for the environment. E.ON Climate & Renewables will be investing EUR8 billion in renewable energy and environmental protection projects from 2007 - 2011 to expand the share of renewable energy in E.ON's portfolio for the long term. E.ON has thus taken a leading role in developing renewable energy sources worldwide. For more information, please visit www.eon.com/renewables.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by E.ON Group management and other information currently available to E.ON. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. E.ON AG does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

SOURCE Siemens Energy, Inc.

According to the Energy Information Administration, buildings already consume a third of energy worldwide, and world energy consumption is predicted to grow 60 percent by 2030.

To increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact, many building teams now incorporate renewable energy technologies into new construction and renovation projects.

Renewable energy technologies capture, store and deliver power derived from renewable resources, including sun, wind, water, the earth's core and plant matter. Because they do not depend on finite resources, renewable energies can increase stability in the power grid. Plus, there are state government incentives available to help fund many renewable installations.

At the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) Green Technologies Conference, Jim Knutson, comprehensive solutions director at Trane, will discuss emerging energy tools and technologies for high-performance buildings, their application and results. Knutson will also cover design stage tools and those specific to building construction, performance, operation and renovation. These will include:

• Energy modeling and analysis
• Solar/photovoltaic, geothermal, co-generation and thermal storage
• Infrared thermography, ultrasonic analysis and vibration transducers

Conference attendees will learn the benefits of these technologies and how they can be used to increase operational efficiency and sustainability while reducing energy consumption.

Details of this presentation:

When: Friday, April 16 at 11 a.m. (Conference is April 15-16)

Where: Mustang 6 room in Gaylord Texas Resort and Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas

Conference Web site: http://www.ieeegreentech.org/

The second annual IEEE Green Technologies Conference will feature a variety of papers, presentations and technical seminars on current and emerging topics related specifically to the development and use of green technologies.

Jim Knutson, director of comprehensive solutions for Trane, leads a Denver, Colo.-based team in serving new construction and retrofit customers in six states: Colorado, Nevada, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico. Knutson has over 27 years of experience providing energy efficiency and contracting solutions for federal, state and local government, K-12/higher education, commercial and industrial clients.

Knutson is a current board member of the Energy Efficient Business Coalition and a member of the Energy Services Coalition, Association of Energy Engineers and the Cogeneration & On-Site Power Association. He played a key role in drafting energy efficiency legislation in 10 states over the past 15 years. He also assisted in the development of the energy performance contracting M&V protocol used now as the standard in many states. He has a bachelor of arts in Business Administration from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.

Trane, a business of Ingersoll Rand - the world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and energy efficient environments - improves the performance of homes and buildings around the world. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced controls for homes and commercial buildings.  For more information, visit www.Trane.com.

Western Wind Energy Corp. ("Western Wind" or the "Company") announced today its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Highlights for the Year:

    -   Raised $6.3 million in new equity.
    -   Received zoning approval for its 120MW Windstar wind energy project.
    -   Engaged a senior lender to provide $200m in financing for Windstar
        subject to final lender approval.
    -   Entered into a turbine reservation order for Windstar with a leading
        turbine supplier.
    -   Received a 24 year extension of the Mesa land lease and the right to
        repower and expand.
    -   Secured an 11MW PPA for a combined wind and solar project in Arizona.
    -   Signed an amendment to the Windstar PPA that updates the terms to
        reflect the current market conditions and completion schedule.
    -   Secured additional prime wind and solar resource land in Tehachapi,
        California.

Subsequent to the year end:

    -   Closed two loan agreements with institutional investors for a total
        of $2.5 million.
    -   Selected a Institutionally recognized EPC - BOP contractor for
        Windstar
    -   Commenced Engineering, design and preliminary construction on
        Windstar

2009 FINANCIAL RESULTS

The Company is pleased to announce a 10% increase in electricity production to 58,859 MWh for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 53,579 MWh for the year ended December 31, 2008. However lower natural gas prices led to a decrease in the average Short Run Avoided Cost electricity selling prices which resulted in revenues decreasing 45% to $2,798,496 compared to $5,116,652 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Net loss from continuing operations increased from $4,993,000, or fifteen cents ($0.15) per share, for the year ended December 31, 2008 to a net loss of $5,023,162, or twelve three cents ($0.12) per share. The slight increase in net loss from continuing operations for the period was due to lower revenues and no interest recovery in 2009, which were mostly offset by a $1,400,182 (34%) decrease in general and administration costs and decreases in foreign exchange losses and amortization. Net loss for the year was $5,023,162, or twelve cents ($0.12) per share, compared to a net loss of $2,269,275, or seven cents ($0.07) per share, for the prior year. Net loss last year included income from discontinued operations of $2,724,047 primarily relating to a one-time US$3,000,000 reduction of the loan principal due to the Mesa loan repayment before the agreed upon repayment date of June 24, 2008. The net gain recorded was $2,900,000 after taking into account a Mesa Loan extension fee of $100,000.

Although electricity production for the three months ended December 31, 2009 was similar to the same period in the prior year, the decrease in average Short Run Avoided Cost electricity selling prices resulted in revenues decreasing 53% to $321,952 from $687,666 for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Despite the drop in revenues, net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2009 improved 33% to $1,512,001 or two cents ($0.02) per share compared to a net loss of $2,251,537 or seven cents ($0.07) per share for the comparable period in 2008 due primarily to a reduction in amortization, stock based compensation and travel expenses.

The Company's financial position continued to strengthen as cash increased from $1,817,371 as at December 31, 2008 to $1,882,152 as at December 31, 2009. Shareholders equity improved 11% from $22,442,493 last year to $24,843,162 primarily as a result of $6.3 million of new equity from the issue of shares and warrants.

The information in this news release should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, and the Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2009. The financial statements and MD&A will be available at the Company's website at www.westernwindenergy.com and at www.sedar.com.

Western Wind is a vertically integrated renewable energy electrical production company that currently owns over 500 wind turbines with 34.5 MW of rated capacity and a further 131MW of expansion power purchase agreements in the States of California and Arizona. Western Wind further owns additional development assets for both Solar and Wind Energy in California, Arizona, Ontario, Canada and a development team in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Western Wind is in the business of owning and acquiring land sites and technology for the production of electricity from wind and solar energy. Management of Western Wind Energy includes individuals involved in the operations and ownership of utility scale wind energy facilities in California since 1981.

More new wind power capacity was installed in the EU in 2009 than any other electricity-generating technology, new statistics published today by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) reveal. 39% of all new capacity installed in 2009 was wind power, followed by gas (26%) and solar photovoltaics (16%). Europe decommissioned more coal and nuclear capacity than it installed in 2009. Taken together, renewable energy technologies account for 61% of new power generating capacity in 2009.

Investment in new European wind farms in 2009 reached EUR13 billion, including EUR1.5 billion offshore. 10,163 MW of wind power capacity was installed across the European Union - a 23% increase compared to 2008 installations - made up of 9,581 MW onshore (up 21% from last year) and 582 MW offshore (up 56% from last year).

2009 is the second year running that more wind power capacity has been installed than any other electricity-generating technology, and wind's share of newly installed capacity increased from 35% in 2008 to 39% in 2009. It is also the second year running that renewable energies have accounted for the majority of new investments.

"It is a remarkable result in a difficult year" said Christian Kjaer, CEO of EWEA. "The figures, once again, confirm that wind power, together with other renewable energy technologies and a shift from coal to gas, are delivering massive European carbon reductions, while creating much needed economic activity and new jobs for Europe's citizens."

The countries with the biggest share of new capacity installed in 2009 were Spain (24% - 2459 MW), followed by Germany (19% - 1917 MW), Italy (11% - 1114 MW), France (11% - 1088 MW) and the UK (10% - 1077 MW).

Wind power's total capacity in the European Union has now reached 74,767 MW, up from 64,719 MW by the end of 2008 with Germany remaining the EU country with the largest installed capacity, followed by Spain, Italy, France and the UK.

The wind capacity installed by the end of 2009 will in a normal year produce 163 TWh of electricity, meeting 4.8% of total EU power demand[1].

Commenting on prospects for 2010, Kjaer added: "I am quite optimistic about the medium-term outlook for wind power in Europe, but project finance is still tight and it is clear that more orders must be announced in the coming months for the sector to repeat the 10 GW installed this year."

Please click here to download the pdf with the full analysis of the data.

http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/emag/statistics/2009generalstats

---------------------------------

[1] According to the latest figure from Eurostat, final electricity consumption in the EU-27 was 3,372 TWh in 2007.

SOURCE EWEA - European Wind Energy Association

A low-carbon future can be possible if policy makers and industry leaders shift their focus from green energy to clean energy, according a new whitepaper from Dr. Joseph A. Stanislaw, a senior advisor to Deloitte and founder of the advisory firm The JAStanislaw Group, LLC. Stanislaw is also co-founder and former president and CEO of Cambridge Energy Research Associates.

In his whitepaper, "Clean Over Green: Striking a New Energy Balance as We Build a Bridge to a Low-Carbon Future," Stanislaw explains that the "all-consuming global obsession with anything green has subsided" and stresses that energy decision makers should "move from breathless anticipation of a green dawn, to the more sober work of systematically and thoughtfully building toward a low-carbon future."

According to Stanislaw, this means pursuing energy options that are clean, not simply renewable and green. Implicit in this is the idea that oil, natural gas and coal have the potential to be clean. "The principle goal of policymakers should be to establish a level playing field that makes it easier to identify the cleanest fuels producible at the lowest cost, while also reducing energy use through efficiency and other technologies," said Stanislaw.

In the paper, Stanislaw stresses that now is a good time to shift from green to clean because we are "in the midst of creating a new development model that allows for industry leaders and policymakers to simultaneously promote economic growth and fight climate change."

Stanislaw further recommends a series of potential changes in how we think about energy, including the following:

• Policymakers could establish a predictable price for carbon emissions to unleash greater efforts at conservation, efficiency and demand reduction -- leading to a cleaner future. Stanislaw feels that an enlightened and fair policy framework is intrinsic to this effort.

• The current schism between the old and new energy industries -- wherein the green evangelists mock the traditional fuels and the oil and gas crowd reciprocate -- should end. This transformation also could be led by policymakers who admit there is no silver bullet in our common effort to build a low-carbon future. All energy forms, provided they can meet standards for being clean and cost-effective, should be able to compete for market share and funding.

• The marginalization of natural gas, which the United States has in increasing abundance, should be an area of focused attention. This relatively clean fuel is desperately sought after by nearly every country, yet somehow the U.S. considers it a lesser fuel. Natural gas could be treated equally with other fuels in the climate change bills currently being debated in Congress.

• The oil and gas industries could do their part by committing to developing carbon-neutral technology. The top goal could be to produce ever-cleaner oil, natural gas and coal. Within a generation, we could well be talking about clean oil, clean natural gas and clean coal.

Stanislaw concludes his whitepaper by explaining that "there will probably be more money spent in the energy sector in a broad sense in the next 50 years than has been invested in the past 100 years, if not in the history of mankind. Channeling these investments well, into an era of clean energy, is the challenge that policymakers, the private sector and the public all face together. The bridge to tomorrow's energy future depends on a sensible transition plan -- one that takes advantage of all of the clean fuel sources available to us."

To download the whitepaper, visit www.deloitte.com/us/newenergybalance.

About the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions:

The Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions (Center) provides a forum for innovation, thought leadership, groundbreaking research and industry collaboration to solve the most complex energy challenges. Through the Center, Deloitte's Energy & Resources group leads the debate on critical topics on the minds of executives -- from legislative and regulatory policy to operational efficiency to sustainable and profitable growth. The Center provides complete solutions to Deloitte's clients through a global network of specialists and thought leaders. With locations in Houston and Washington, D.C., the Center offers interaction through seminars, roundtables and other forms of engagement, where established and growing companies can come together to learn, discuss and debate. For more information, see www.deloitte.com/energysolutions.

SOURCE Deloitte

Results released today from a detailed economic study show that China may cut carbon emissions deeply and minimise the adverse effects on its economy over the next 40 years. The report, Going Clean: the economics of China's low-carbon development, by the Chinese Economists 50 Forum and Stockholm Environment Institute, says that emission reductions up to 2050 can be made for example through:

    - Energy efficiency gains through improved building design, standards for
      electrical appliances and the use of less energy-intensive materials

    - A massive shift towards the use of renewable energy such as wind and
      solar energy, municipal solid waste and biomass, and small hydropower

    - Electric vehicles for road transport

    - Using Carbon Capture and Storage technology in new coal-fired power
      plants

    - A better international cooperation mechanism that can channel more
      finance and technologies from developed countries

The report by Chinese, Swedish, German, British and American experts says that these changes would also present opportunities for China to improve its energy security and move its economy higher up the international value chain.

"A low-carbon China is a country with a larger service sector, more advanced labour skills and less environmental degradation," said Dr FAN Gang, Director of the National Economic Research Institute in China, who led the research in China. "Such a transition would also be an essential part of China's development."

China is currently one of the 10 most carbon-intensive economies in the world, meaning that it has a high carbon footprint in relation to the level of economic activity. "Avoiding dangerous climate change requires the world to act together to cut global emissions. Developed countries are largely responsible for the past build up in global green house gas emissions but future responsibility is shared by developed and developing countries alike," said Lord Nicholas Stern, report author and Professor at the London School of Economics. "This important report demonstrates that China can take strong and decisive action to reduce its carbon emissions, whilst continuing its economic growth and delivering a prosperous and a harmonious society for its people."

"China will be one of the countries most adversely affected by dangerous climate change. Avoiding dangerous climate change is in the best interest of China," said Professor Ottmar Edenhofer, report author, deputy director and chief economist of the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research. "The study demonstrates that China can combine a high economic growth path with ambitious emission reductions. This is the reason why China has the potential to become a role model for other economies in transition."

Going Clean recommends a phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies and for carbon to be priced more highly, either through a carbon tax or a global cap-and-trade system. "With today's low prices, the incentives for a low-carbon transition are not strong enough. But this can change," said Dr Fan Gang. The report shows that it is technologically feasible for China to reach a 2 degrees pathway and estimates that the savings from lower energy use and other efficiencies will partly offset the costs of transformation. "High-income countries account for a vast majority of global emissions to date and need to shoulder this responsibility through financial support to developing countries," said Professor Johan Rockstrom, Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute. "To make this a reality, Going Clean proposes a new international finance mechanism - the Inter-country Joint Mitigation Plan - as a broader and more efficient way of financing technology transfers."

"Consumption and production patterns also need to be steered in a more resource- sustainable direction," said Klas Eklund, report author and Senior Economist at the Nordic bank SEB. "As the world's most populous country and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China's role is critical in combating global climate change. Thus, effective economic tools to curb emissions are necessary."

The shift to a low-carbon economy will hit coal-fired power and some heavy industries, but will also create new 'green jobs'. In the first half of 2009, China built more wind turbines than the US. Low-carbon transport is growing - there are currently over 50 million electric bikes and motorcycles in the country, and China is now leading the mass production of electric hybrid cars.

"Even in these difficult economic times, climate change action may present more opportunities than costs," said Professor Johan Rockstrom. "Such a transformation, for China and the rest of the world, will not be easy. But it is possible, necessary and worthwhile to pursue."

The Chinese 50 Economists Forum is a Beijing-based grouping of Chinese economists for collaborative research and public discussion of China's economy. The Stockholm Environment Institute is an independent, non-profit research organization bridging science and policy for sustainable development.

    - Going Clean - The Economics of China's Low-Carbon Development will be
      launched in Beijing on 8 December 2009, 12:00 at the Raffles Beijing
      Hotel.

    - The report can be downloaded from http://www.sei-international.org

SOURCE Stockholm Environment Institute and the Chinese Economists 50 Forum

One of the Largest University Biomass Installations Part of Program to Reduce Utility Costs and Carbon Footprint

EIU will finance the improvements and use the savings, guaranteed by Honeywell through a 20-year performance contract, to pay for the work. As a result, the program will not place a burden on the university's budget, or require additional taxpayer dollars or student fees.

The upgrades will impact all facilities on the 320-acre campus, and significantly curb the university's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. For example, they will reduce electricity consumption by an estimated 6.2 million kilowatt-hours per year -- enough energy to power more than 580 homes annually. Carbon dioxide emissions will also decrease by nearly 20,000 metric tons each year. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this is equivalent to removing more than 3,600 cars from the road.

"Like many universities, our list of needs across campus is much larger than the financial resources available," said Bill Perry, president of Eastern Illinois University. "This program allows us to make critical improvements and keep our facilities comfortable and functional for years to come. Plus, we're able to reduce our carbon footprint at the same time. It's an ideal solution for the university and surrounding community."

The focal point of the program is the construction of a new steam plant on the southeast corner of campus that will be driven by two large biomass gasifiers, the first application of this technology in the region. The plant will use wood chips sourced from the local logging industry to generate steam and heat buildings on campus. And it will replace the university's aging steam plant, which is inconveniently located in the center of campus, consumes more than 10,000 tons of coal per year and requires constant maintenance.

Through biomass gasification, the wood chips are heated in an airtight, oxygen-deprived chamber until they break down to create a synthetic gas that burns similar to natural gas. The gas is then used to fire the boilers, giving the university a carbon-neutral solution for heating its facilities. As a result, all of the steam heating load for the university will be met through a renewable resource.

EIU chose the biomass system based on input from the Honeywell Renewable Energy Scorecard, a first-of-its-kind selection tool that analyzes location-specific details to pinpoint the technology with the most significant environmental and economic drivers.

As part of the new plant, Honeywell will also install a small turbine that uses excess steam
to produce electricity. The turbine is expected to generate more than 2.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, reducing the amount of energy the university purchases from the grid and providing another environmentally friendly energy source.

Additional conservation measures include:

• Retrocommissioning all mechanical systems on campus to ensure efficient operation;
• Constructing a new high-voltage switch yard to consolidate two intake points for electricity, which will lower the university's utility rates.
• Updating the chilled water system to provide more flexibility in determining which chillers to use for its cooling needs;
• Replacing windows at five residence halls with double-pane insulating glass;
• Upgrading lighting fixtures and installing occupancy sensors throughout campus to help reduce energy use;
• Retrofitting plumbing systems to conserve water use;
• And sealing building envelopes to prevent the loss of warm and cool air.
  

Honeywell will also provide ongoing commissioning, and measurement and verification as part of the contract. The upgrades are expected to be complete by end of 2012.

"Using renewable energy not only delivers environmental benefits, it can also generate economic payback," said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. "Through guaranteed energy savings, organizations like Eastern Illinois University can make investments in their facility infrastructure and reduce carbon dioxide emissions without impacting the bottom line." 

This release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Honeywell

SRS Energy, a leading developer of integrated solar roofing products, has received a 2009 "Best of What's New" award from Popular Science in the Home Tech category for its Sole Power Tile(TM), the first curved building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing product designed for clay Mission-style roofing systems.

"We're proud that our Sole Power Tile system has been recognized by the editors of Popular Science magazine as a product that is moving solar technology forward," said Marty Low, CEO of SRS Energy. "The Sole Power Tile system takes solar out of the glass box. We've fused this viable renewable technology with a desired product profile for the roofing environment. This is the first product to integrate with the Mission-style roof line of the West and Sunbelt regions. Homeowners and architects can now choose renewable energy without compromising on curb appeal."

"For 22 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us -- those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what's possible in the future," said Mark Jannot, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. "'The Best of What's New' award is the magazine's top honor, and the 100 winners -- chosen from among thousands of entrants -- represent the highest level of achievement in their fields."

Each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new products and innovations and selects the top 100 winners across 11 categories for inclusion in an annual "Best of What's New" issue, which is on newsstands November 11. To be selected for the award, a product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category.

SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile system blends seamlessly with several styles of US Tile's clay tiles, providing energy without unsightly solar panels and preserving design flexibility. The partnership between US Tile and SRS Energy makes going solar easy by integrating the BIPV system into the purchase of a new roof or a replacement roof.

The Sole Power Tile employs cutting-edge thin film solar technology, valued for its ability to convert a greater spectrum of light into electricity as well as its relative insensitivity to heat when compared to other solar technologies. As a complete roofing system, the barrel tile profile allows for airflow beneath the tiles, reducing the overall cooling needs of the home.

SRS Energy and US Tile are currently launching the Sole Power Tile system in select West Coast markets and will begin a nationwide rollout of the product in 2010.

SOURCE SRS Energy

Dow Polyglycols, Surfactants and Fluids, a business of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), announced today that three additional solar power plants in Spain are now being supplied with DOWTHERM(TM) A Heat Transfer Fluid, enabling the facilities to collect heat and convert it into electrical energy.

In total, chemistry from Dow is now helping six Spanish solar power plants generate 300 megawatts of renewable and sustainable electricity. Taking advantage of a sunny climate and a strong government commitment, Spain is pioneering Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Dow is strongly committed to the industry by providing high-quality materials, logistic excellence and top of the class technical support for heat transfer fluids.

"Dow is very proud to be the partner of the leading Spanish companies that are developing, building and operating these thermal solar plants that have a clear positive impact on today's energy challenges," said Renaud Jourdan, global marketing manager for Dow Heat Transfer Fluids.

How Concentrated Solar Power Works

CSP uses parabolic mirrors to reflect and magnify heat from the sun onto a pipe that contains DOWTHERM(TM) A heat transfer fluids to collect the heat energy and transport it to a power generating station. The heat transferred from the collectors to the station where the heat turns water to steam. The steam is used to drive turbines that make electricity.

Solar power and technology like CSP serves to help diversify the energy supply, produce power at peak demand, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, improve air quality and offset greenhouse gas emissions.

Solar Innovations

Dow's commitment to solar innovation extends beyond heat transfer fluids:

• In October, Dow unveiled the DOW(TM) POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle, revolutionary photovoltaic solar panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. The solar shingle systems are expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and projected to be more widely available in 2011, putting the power of solar electricity generation directly and conveniently in the hands of homeowners.
• Dow Adhesives and Functional Polymers is a leading global supplier of adhesives for photovoltaics, with exceptional performance in new backsheet substrates, as well as game-changing innovations in materials such as liquid encapsulants.
• Dow Electronic Materials recently introduced its new line of ENLIGHT(TM) photovoltaic products, which increase solar cell efficiency and yield.
• Dow Specialty Packaging & Films offers innovative polyolefin-based films used in the protective encapsulant layer and the structural backsheet of photovoltaic modules. The use of these films can improve productivity when the module is produced, and help increase its service life and reliability.
• Dow Corning, a joint venture equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated, is also participating in the solar photovoltaic sector, applying its expertise in silicon-based materials to improve the cost efficiency, durability and performance of solar modules and photovoltaic devices. Dow Corning recently began construction on a facility that will manufacture monosilane gas, a key material used to manufacture thin-film solar cells and liquid crystal displays. Via its Hemlock Semiconductor joint venture, Dow Corning is also a leading provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, and solar cells and modules.
  

SOURCE The Dow Chemical Company

A vast majority of Americans, across all political parties, overwhelmingly support development and funding of solar energy, and their support for solar has remained consistent over the last year. These and other findings were reported today in the 2009 SCHOTT Solar Barometer((TM)), a nationally representative survey conducted by independent polling firm Kelton Research.

The survey found that 92 percent of Americans think it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar energy. This strong support for solar remains unchanged since Americans were asked the same questions in the June 2008 SCHOTT Solar Barometer (94%). (The difference is within the margin of error for both polls.)

This support for solar power is consistent across political party affiliation with 89 percent of Republicans, 94 percent of Democrats and 93 percent of Independents agreeing that it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar power.

Furthermore, close to eight in 10 (77%) Americans feel that the development of solar power, and other renewable energy sources, should be a major priority of the federal government, including the financial support needed. This sentiment also remains the same since June 2008 (77%).

"The SCHOTT Solar Barometer confirms our belief that Americans are ready for solar energy," said Dr. Gerald Fine, President & CEO of SCHOTT North America. "We've invested over $100 million in Albuquerque, New Mexico and created hundreds of green jobs manufacturing innovative solar products."

"With controversial debates happening all over America, this isn't one of them," said Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. "Americans overwhelmingly want clean, reliable solar energy for their homes and businesses. It's now time for Congress to listen to the American public and prioritize the use of solar in upcoming energy legislation. By expanding the U.S. market for solar, Congress will reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs in all 50 states."

The poll also showed that if they had to choose one energy source to financially support if they were President, 43 percent of Americans would opt for solar over other sources such as wind (17%), natural gas (12%) and nuclear (10%).

To view more key findings from the 2009 SCHOTT Solar Barometer, please visit

http://www.us.schott.com/english/news/ or http://www.seia.org/.

SOURCE Solar Energy Industries Association

Envion Inc. is leading the charge towards a green future with the introduction of a revolutionary plastic-to-oil conversion technology. The Envion Oil Generator(TM) (EOG) is a first-of-its-kind technology that converts any type of plastic waste into high quality, synthetic light medium oil for less than $10 per barrel.

Envion introduced its first market-ready commercial unit at a demonstration held at the Montgomery County Solid Waste Transfer Station in Derwood, Maryland today. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett joined Envion Chairman and CEO Michael S. Han for a demonstration of the process.

"The Envion Oil Generator(TM) provides a revolutionary solution to the problem of plastic waste by transforming it from an environmental hazard into a sustainable, renewable energy source," said Han. "The market for our technology is vast, and it provides municipalities with a solution that cuts costs."

As a petroleum-based product, plastic contains a huge amount of stored energy that literally goes to waste with conventional disposal methods. Envion's innovative technology reclaims that energy and provides it in a form that is immediately commercially viable: oil.

Through Envion's proprietary technology, one ton of waste plastic can be converted into approximately four 42-gallon barrels of high quality, synthetic light to medium oil. This oil is a refined and 99% sediment free product that can be used to produce gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and kerosene.

"About eight percent of world crude oil production is used to manufacture plastic," Han added. "The Envion Oil Generator(TM) uses a closed loop, catalyst-free system to take plastic and convert it back into oil safely, efficiently and economically."

Each individual unit can process up to 10,000 tons of plastic waste annually, generating as much as 50,000 barrels of oil. With full national deployment, the Envion Oil Generator(TM) could generate over 150,000,000 barrels of oil each year in the United States alone. Additionally, the EOG is capable of processing all types of plastic waste, thus reducing the time and cost of sorting plastic by type.

Envion's innovative approach provides a comprehensive solution that has the potential to remove plastic waste from landfills, freeing up the estimated 24% of capacity that plastic occupies in landfills. The United States produces approximately 50 million tons of plastic waste per year, the vast majority of which ends up taking up space in landfills. With the ability of a single EOG to eliminate 10,000 tons of plastic per year, at a cost of $17 per ton, the Envion Oil Generator is a cost effective alternative to the $70-$200 cost range of landfill disposal. Additionally, according to the EPA recycling programs process only 6.8% of plastic waste and are also not as cost effective, costing between $50 and $150 per ton of plastic recycled.

The Envion process uses a proprietary technology to convert plastic into energy without the need for fossil fuel combustion. The technology is cost effective because it requires only minimal energy input and is fully automated allowing the facility to operate with only two operators.

Envion is expected to have multiple EOGs in full operation within months, with orders coming in from the United States and Internationally. Envion's EOG is a shovel-ready, green technology that is sustainable and poised to reshape the renewable energy industry, offering a cost-effective solution for local municipalities to safely and efficiently manage their plastic waste.

"Given the shortage of sustainable plastic waste disposal alternatives, Envion is uniquely poised to capitalize on the substantial benefits of licensing its groundbreaking technology," continued Han. "Envion's products and services are specifically designed to be sustainable, renewable, and scalable with rapid delivery using cost-effective and efficient supply chains and applying just-in-time manufacturing to minimize inventories."

SOURCE Envion Inc.

Pace Global Energy Services, LLC ("Pace Global") and Standard Solar, Inc. have created a strategic alliance to quickly penetrate the growing solar energy markets in the commercial, academic, government, and residential sectors. This alliance builds on Standard Solar's existing success in the solar energy markets and will comprise a team with proven project origination and execution skills, global industrial experience, and supported by the necessary capital to expand quickly. Pace Global and Standard Solar are fully committed to bring added value to all of their customers and provide the differentiated energy solutions that solar power represents.

Pace Global and Standard Solar are currently developing a number of distributed power project opportunities in both the academic and the commercial marketplace. For these project hosts, the cost savings and dependence on renewable fuels will commence on day one of operation.

"The market environment for solar energy is strong and holds immediate opportunities for commercial and academic sites. The technology is now stable; the regulatory environment is extremely attractive; and demand for this cost effective renewable resource holds immense promise for our strategic alliance. Together we bring the development skills, the client portfolio, the capital and the regulatory experience to bring solar solutions to operational status immediately and we intend to do so," said Timothy F. Sutherland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pace Global.

Tony Clifford, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Solar, added, "We foresee an upward trend in electricity rates while the cost of implementing solar projects will fall. In addition, governments at both the Federal and the State level are providing attractive incentives for solar projects. This alliance has significant opportunities for successful growth and will allow us to provide real value to our current clients and as well as future customers."

Pace Financial Services, LLC - a wholly owned subsidiary of Pace Global - is serving as Financial Advisor to Standard Solar.

Source: Standard Solar Inc.

BlackLight Power, Inc. (BLP) today announces that scientists at Rowan University have for the first time independently formulated and tested fuels that on demand generated energy greater than that of combustion at power levels of kilowatts using BLP's proprietary solid-fuel chemistry capable of continuous regeneration. Operating power systems using BLP's chemistry, Rowan University professors have reported a net energy gain of up to 6.5 times the maximum energy potential of the materials in the system from known chemical reactions.

In a joint statement, Dr. K.V. Ramanujachary, Rowan University Meritorious Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Dr. Amos Mugweru, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, and Dr. Peter Jansson P.E., Associate Professor of Engineering said, "In independent tests conducted over the past three months involving 10 solid fuels made by us from commercially-available chemicals, our team of engineering and chemistry professors, staff, and students at Rowan University has independently and consistently generated energy in excesses ranging from 1.2 times to 6.5 times the maximum theoretical heat available through known chemical reactions."

"Additionally, we have analyzed the reaction products and are confident that the procedures we have followed and chemicals we have procured and reacted are not capable of generating the quantities of heat we have observed with previously known chemistry. This significant disclosure by BLP makes it readily possible for other laboratories to demonstrate the repeatability of these reactions that produce anomalous heat regularly in our university laboratory. Moreover, we have also reproduced BLP's tests that identify a novel form of hydrogen as the likely explanation of the additional heat evolved."

Based on the solid fuel used and power generated at scales of approximately 30 kW, the reaction appears scalable to any level. Moreover, BLP scientists were able to regenerate the fuel by simply applying heat. This breakthrough advances the commercial viability of the BlackLight Process as a new non-polluting energy source that was first announced by BLP in October 2008.

Proof of Power

The validation by the Rowan University team provides further evidence that the observed energy gain will enable the operation of commercial power plants by continuously replacing the hydrogen that is consumed by the BlackLight Process to form hydrinos. Hydrinos are a prior undiscovered form of hydrogen in lower-energy states produced by the BlackLight Process as latent energy is released by hydrogen atoms. The energy released forming a hydrino is over 200 times the energy required to extract hydrogen from water by electrolysis to produce the new hydrogen fuel consumed during the BlackLight Process.

"The advanced version of the solid fuel is very efficient at liberating energy from forming hydrinos and requires essentially no energy to reverse the chemical product back into the initial fuel. Regeneration was achieved simply with heat. This is enabling of continuous generation of power using simplistic and efficient systems that use heat liberated by forming "hydrinos" to concurrently maintain regeneration. The system is closed except that only hydrogen consumed in forming hydrinos needs to be replaced," said Dr. Randell Mills, Chairman, CEO and President of BlackLight Power, Inc.

"The observed energy gain and successful thermal regeneration of the solid fuel show the feasibility of using the solid fuel in a recycled manner as a replacement for fossil and nuclear fuels in power plants. These developments are anticipated to result in a significant decrease in the time to commercialization", noted Dr. Mills.

John Miller, recently appointed to the Board of Directors of BLP and former president of Standard Oil, described the recent advances saying, "The successful development of new-generation chemistry and its simple thermal regeneration is a major historical step toward near-term, commercial hydrino power. Our recent execution of eight billion watts of commercial licensing agreements demonstrates that the power market is beginning to agree."

Proof of Existence of Hydrinos

BLP also announces successful independent production and characterization of a new form of hydrogen by professors at Rowan University. In the study independently performed at Rowan University laboratories, Professor Ramanujachary and Professor Mugweru synthesized from base materials the previously undiscovered form of hydrogen and were able to characterize hydrogen atoms existing in lower-energy states - called hydrinos - as predicted by BLP. In further confirmation, the Rowan University team was also able to identify similar hydrino signatures from net energy producing systems operating in Professor Jansson's laboratories. This represents the first time BLP has taught independent labs the techniques for making hydrinos from scratch.

Dr. Ramanujachary remarked, "Recent advances in techniques at BLP in production of this new form of matter appear to make it straightforward for any lab in the world to synthesize sufficient volumes to characterize this previously unknown form of hydrogen." Dr. Mugweru continues, "Knowing the starting materials of the synthesis reaction and fully characterizing the by-products, other than a new form of hydrogen, we were unable to make an assignment to known species for the signatures observed."

Light Signature of Hydrino

BLP also announces today the publication of a paper, by Dr. Randell Mills, Dr. Kamran Akhtar, and Dr. Ying Lu in the Central European Journal of Physics describing a significant new confirmation of hydrinos. For the first time, BLP confirms direct spectral observation of transitions of hydrogen to form hydrinos. These experiments showing hydrogen spectral emissions below 80 nanometers, the previously known ground state, are decisive evidence of the existence of hydrinos theoretically predicted by Dr. Randell Mills. Describing the significance of the breakthrough, Dr. Mills said, "This is smoking-gun evidence of the existence of hydrinos, the light signature observed is from pure hydrogen and at much higher energy than deemed possible for this element in any known form."

Successful Application of Theory

BLP has published eight journal articles in the past seven months reporting the energetic characteristics of its power-producing process and released in July the newest edition of the Grand Unified Theory of Classical Physics that predicts hydrinos. These are available at: http://www.blacklightpower.com/.

BLP's wholly-owned subsidiary, Millsian, Inc., a developer of molecular modeling applications of classical physics, announces the release today of Millsian 2.0 Beta software that can visualize the exact three-dimensional structure and calculate physical characteristics of a boundless number of molecules of any length and complexity including complex proteins and DNA. BLP believes that Millsian software represents a major breakthrough that may impact nearly all businesses involved in drug development, material science, and chemistry. More importantly, it proves that classical laws of physics apply at the atomic and molecular scale, the principle that predicted hydrinos.

Professors Peter Jansson, K.V. Ramanujachary, and Amos Mugweru, have released reports outlining the full documentation and results of the off-site replication and independent testing of the new power systems, new-generation chemistry, and hydrino characterization testing that is available at: http://www.blacklightpower.com/.

A technical paper giving the detailed chemistry that BLP believes laboratories can easily follow and replicate is given at http://www.blacklightpower.com

About BlackLight Power

BlackLight Power, Inc. is the inventor of a new primary energy source and a new field of hydrogen chemistry with broad commercial applications.

BlackLight Power has invented a new primary energy source with applications to heating, distributed power generation, central power generation, and motive power based on a new chemical process of releasing the latent energy of the hydrogen atom, the BlackLight Process.

For more information, please visit http://www.blacklightpower.com/

About Rowan University

Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J., is a highly ranked comprehensive public university that offers bachelor through doctoral degrees. The University comprises seven colleges: Business, Communication, Education, Engineering, Fine & Performing Arts, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Professional & Continuing Education. U.S. News & World Report ranks Rowan's College of Engineering 12th in the nation among programs that offer bachelor and master degrees.

Glossary:

BlackLight Process: A novel chemical process invented by BLP causing the latent energy stored in the hydrogen atom to be released as a new primary energy source.

Hydrino: Hydrinos are a new form of hydrogen discovered by BLP. Hydrinos are produced during the BlackLight Process as energy is released from the hydrogen atom as the electron transitions to a lower-energy state resulting in a smaller radius hydrogen atom.

Spectral Emissions: Spectral emission of an atom such as hydrogen is a unique signature that acts like a fingerprint of its characteristics. Each line of the spectrum is characteristic of and identifies the energy levels of the atom.

Applications of BlackLight Process

Two of the potential applications of its technology are in heating and electric power production. The heat-generating prototypes have shown the BlackLight Process to be potentially competitive with existing primary generation sources over a range of scales from micro-distributed to central power generation. The BlackLight Process thermal power source may be ideal for interfacing with commercially available electric power generating equipment. BlackLight technology may be well-suited for the utility industries and could reduce or eliminate problems such as those arising from the variable regional supply and price of fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil, and the cost of building out a suitable supporting infrastructure and transmission grids, as well as eliminate pollution, greenhouse gas emission and other market, supply, infrastructure, or environmental adversities.

SOURCE BlackLight Power, Inc.

Petra Solar, Inc., the leading provider of innovative photovoltaic (PV) solutions for utilities, will be producing 200,000 smart solar systems for installation on PSE&G utility poles and street light poles in the largest pole-attached solar installation in the world, following the NJ Board of Public Utilities approval of a new PSE&G program today. Petra Solar will also be creating more than 100 green jobs in installation, research and development, operational and manufacturing of the pole-mounted, grid-connected solar PV system.

In a contract of about $200 million with PSE&G, Petra Solar will make units for 200,000 poles in New Jersey's six largest cities and 300 rural and suburban communities in PSE&G's service territory. Over the 3 1/2 year life of the contract, Petra will add the green jobs to its employee base of 40-plus employees, most of whom work in the company's South Plainfield headquarters and manufacturing facility.

Shihab Kuran, President and CEO of Petra Solar, said, "This contract is transformational for us. We are tripling in size and will start hiring immediately. We invite those interested in applying for positions to visit the company's website at www.petrasolar.com."

Kuran added, "We at Petra Solar are very pleased to enter a contract with PSE&G to provide 200,000 pole-mounted, grid-connected solar systems. This effort exemplifies the Obama and Corzine administration goals of transforming energy technology into energy employment opportunities while at the same time addressing global energy and climate change challenges."

"Our SunWave(TM) pole-mounted, grid-connected PV generation system delivers true technological innovation," Kuran said. "Our product will enable PSE&G to enhance the reliability of its delivery of electricity to customers."

Petra's SunWave system combines highly distributed, grid connected photovoltaic generation and smart grid communications capabilities. In addition it provides enhancement of electric distribution grid reliability through a host of functions such as voltage support.

Source: Petra Solar, Inc.

The Renewable Energy Institute International (REII), a non-profit organization, announced the formation of an alliance of industry, academic and government organizations to build a pilot demonstration plant in Toledo, Ohio for the efficient and economical conversion of waste biomass to clean, diesel fuel. This new alliance includes organizations from around the United States including Red Lion Bio-Energy, Pacific Renewable Fuels, Grace Davison, PACCAR, SolarTurbines/Caterpillar, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Desert Research Institute, Quanta Services, Worley Parsons, University of Toledo, Midwest Terminals/Port of Toledo, and other leading partners.

"REII's ultimate goal is to ensure that these technologies are reliable, efficient, economical and environmentally friendly," said Dr. Dennis Schuetzle, President of REII. "The project team assembled for this effort includes the best and brightest in their fields."

The demonstration plant, located near the Port of Toledo, will integrate and upgrade existing, next generation conversion processes that have been designed and validated at test sites in Sacramento and Toledo during the past two years. This demonstration plant will produce 350,000 gallons of no sulfur, high-cetane, clean diesel fuel per year with a high biomass to fuel energy conversion efficiency of 44%. Based upon a comprehensive life cycle analysis using Argonne National Labs' computer models, this production of diesel from biomass will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 89%, compared to petroleum derived fuels.

"It is imperative that the United States develop ways to produce fuels that can be used directly in the existing fuel infrastructure and with high fuel efficiency engines," said Dr. Schuetzle. "Unlike ethanol or bio-diesel, this 'synthetic' renewable diesel can be used in the existing transportation infrastructure without modification and therefore can dramatically reduce United States need for imported oil." This renewable, clean diesel has the potential to displace 74% of the diesel fuel used in the United States, using the waste biomass that is available today. The fuel will be used in diesel vehicles at the Port of Toledo and in diesel vehicles at other U.S. locations, reducing vehicle pollutant emissions by up to 40%.

The Toledo demonstration plant and research and development facilities at McClellan Park in California will be used in the long term to continually improve plant efficiencies and lower production costs. The plans are to begin deploying commercial-scale plants during 2011-12, each of which will have the capability of producing 5 - 42 million gallons of clean diesel fuel per year, depending upon the plant capacity and local availability of waste biomass. One of the first plants is planned for an industrial site in Gridley, California, where rice harvest waste, wood waste and other local biomass residues will be converted to diesel fuel and renewable electricity.

Enough waste biomass is generated each year to support thousands of these plants, distributed throughout the U.S. The successful deployment of these plants would result in the creation of hundreds of thousands of new U.S. jobs in manufacturing, research and development, and support industries. REII is coordinating their efforts with the Apollo Alliance, Chaired by Phil Angeledis, which has the objective of building a major clean and renewable energy industry in the U.S.

"This project has the long term potential to bring key manufacturing jobs back to the United States," said Alex Johnson, a key alliance partner and President of Red Lion Bio-Energy and Midwest Terminals of Toledo International who operates the Port of Toledo. "Our vision is to build a robust manufacturing capability in the Toledo/Lake Erie region for plant components that will be deployed in the U.S. and worldwide."

Funding support for this effort to date has been provided by private industry, the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and other organizations. The REII Alliance recently applied to DOE for additional financial support under the American Recovery Act, and the upgrade of the Toledo demonstration plant is ready to commence immediately.

SOURCE Renewable Energy Institute International

Karl W. Miller, a senior energy executive and institutional investor, today issued the following statement through his advisors, regarding the state of the U.S. renewable energy and the cap-and-trade bill, called the American Clean Energy and Security Act recently passed by the Congress and the overall lack of a credible and comprehensive US Energy Plan.

With the financial markets in turmoil, and a major renewable energy initiative being undertaken by the new Obama administration, major attention is being focused towards developing and implementing a comprehensive energy production and carbon emissions strategy for the United States.

This major paradigm shift is leading the politicians in Washington and the capital markets to attempt to develop and implement a credible energy plan for the United States. Unfortunately, all efforts to date have been flawed and billions of dollars in taxpayer capital is being wasted.

As a senior energy industry executive who has deregulated many energy products and markets in the United States, Europe and Asia, Mr. Miller has increasingly expressed his concern for the misguided direction that the Obama administration and the Democratic leadership has been taking evidenced by the cap-and-trade bill, called the American Clean Energy and Security Act recently passed by the Congress and other multi-billion dollar handouts for a renewable energy industry not equipped to manage nor deliver the promised results.

Mr. Miller who has a long history of implementing bipartisan and free market views in the energy industry believes the multi billion dollar Obama stimulus and cap-and-trade bill will be wasted with no meaningful change to the reliability and re-powering and re-fueling of US power generation industry and developing sustainable efficient energy production.

The only true proven method of changing energy production is through market driven technology in fuels and efficiency gains. This must be driven by venture and risk capital to finance and judge the winners and losers.

Mr. Miller and other disciplined investors do not intend to invest in the renewable energy sector following the short-term investment drive expected to be created by flawed policies created under the current Obama Administration.

Seasoned investors like Mr. Miller will continue to wait on the sidelines during the short-term boom period and will look to step in and buy failed renewable energy assets at substantial discounts to original cost when the renewable sector flounders in the very near future.

Mr. Miller believes that market will, in a short period of time, become littered with uneconomical renewable energy projects, similar to the illiquid and toxic real estate assets currently held by large banks and hedge funds.

Mr. Miller was one of the first senior energy executives to call the ethanol and bio diesel boom and bust three years ago and was quoted saying at the time, "It is a clear demonstration that government handouts simply do not work, and billions of dollars of investor capital were lost."

Seasoned and disciplined energy executives have begun securing development sites and options for gas and coal plants currently on the wayside in preparation for the next build and re-power cycle which is eminent. Venture capitalist should be taking the risky bets on new power generation technology and other renewable ventures, not the US government.

Who wins with the government renewable energy hand outs embedded in the stimulus package and the cap and trade bill? As always, the investment bankers have all geared up for the hand outs by expanding their respective renewable energy practices and started peddling their wares including project finance services, arrangement of IPO's for new renewable companies (most of which will fail shortly after being taken public) and carbon emission trading and hedging businesses, among other services.

The tag along corporate law firms have done the same and well as all of the major consulting firms. These financial institutions, law firms, and consulting firms will be the short term financial winners as service providers for fees.

The losers will be, as always the pension, insurance, endowment, and retail investors who directly or indirectly invest in the renewable energy sector during the boom period and then get stuck "holding the bag" when the bust comes, especially when the financial sponsor firms dump their renewable energy deals that they sponsored and financed.

Finally the biggest long term winners will be the vulture and distressed investors like Mr. Miller and other disciplined investors, who will be waiting on the sidelines during the short term boom period and will look to step in and buy assets for pennies on the dollar when the renewable bust comes in a few years. Thus the biggest winners will ultimately be the distressed investors, much like the current US real estate crisis, which the US Government is financing.

The Government will do the same in the Renewable energy sector when the bust comes as they will have no choice but to bail out the renewable energy sector.

SOURCE VBCC

Standard Renewable Energy (SRE) CEO, John Berger, along with several other energy CEOs were invited to the White House for a roundtable discussion on the stimulus, renewable energy, climate change legislation and the cumulative impact of all three issues on positive U.S. job creation.

President Barack Obama (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Moving-Forward-with-Energy-Innovation) noted that the assembled renewable energy leaders represented "the most innovative energy companies in America... (able to) save small businesses and large businesses alike up to 20 or 30 percent on their energy usage."

Berger, a former advisor to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission founded SRE in 2006 to help consumers understand that energy efficiency and renewable energy can have a highly positive financial impact for homes and businesses alike. Since then, SRE has grown to become the largest distributed energy services company (DESCO) or "on-site" renewable energy generation and energy efficiency provider in the U.S. with a mission to assist customers in achieving (i) lower energy bills, (ii) a reduced environmental footprint, and (iii) increased energy reliability.

"The transformation to a clean economy is job positive. The industry is moving in the right direction," Berger told the President. "SRE is proud to be one of the companies that is helping to lead the transformation toward a clean energy future."

In his Rose Garden press conference that followed the private roundtable meeting, President Obama made reference to companies that are rapidly growing in revenue and job creation. SRE is a prime example of this as it has grown from 21 employees in January of 2007 to a projected 400 by year's end and more than 550 by December of 2010.

SOURCE Standard Renewable Energy

VEGA PROMOTIONAL SYSTEMS, INC. (Pink Sheets: VGPR) today announced through its wholly owned subsidiary, Natural Fuels Industries, it is planning to construct a manufacturing facility in the State of Georgia to produce alternative energy from organic waste.

According to a recent Forbes Magazine article entitled "America's Best Places For Alternative Energy," the abundance of biomass in Georgia's Bioenergy Corridor ranks third in the nation as a potential source of renewable energy. The article referenced the amount of privately owned forest in Georgia, more than any other state in the country, as a reason for the state's ranking. Forbes also cited that roughly 50 million tons of the state's own timber ends up in the state's wood-products manufacturing plants every year and the industry returns nearly half of it in the form of primary mill wood debris.

"Georgia's wealth of natural resources combined with our research institutions and a strong business climate create an ideal environment for the development of renewable energy," said Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue. "We appreciate Forbes' recognition of our ability to develop alternative energy sources."

The proposed Georgia facility would be designed to produce alternative/green energy. When completed, the plant would have the capacity to produce several hundred thousand metric tons of biomass fuel pellets annually. NFI recently announced it has entered into a Letter of Intent to purchase a 20% equity interest in a biomass manufacturing facility currently under construction in MAP Ta PHUT, Thailand.

Biomass or biofuel is material derived from recently living organisms. This includes plants, animals and their by-products. For example, manure, garden waste and crop residues are all sources of biomass. It is a renewable energy source based on the carbon cycle, unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels. The use of biomass fuels can therefore contribute to waste management as well as fuel security and help to prevent global warming

NFI's Business Plan calls for manufacturing facilities to be constructed in various locations around the world. The Georgia plant would be the Company's first in the United States and would serve as a model facility for other plants in the U.S. A plant of this size could create approximately 200 jobs.

NFI markets various products including energy efficient pellet fuel made from organic waste bi-products using unique and innovative ideas combined with proven technology. The Company's current expansion includes building manufacturing plants in various international locations that will produce biomass products and bio-diesel products for power generation units. It is estimated that in the next five years the biomass industry will become a $20 billion industry.

SOURCE Vega Promotional Systems, Inc.

A new national poll of 800 residents by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute found a nearly even split between those suggesting nuclear energy was very or somewhat safe (46.1%) and those who said somewhat dangerous or very dangerous (44.7%).

"Americans are split about whether nuclear power is safe or not, and many people have specific security concerns about nuclear power. The two dangers that concern a majority of Americans are the problems with radioactive waste storage, a top criticism of nuclear power, and possible plant meltdowns," says Dr. Josh Klein, assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Sacred Heart University.

A majority of Americans (58.4%), however, indicated that nuclear energy's radioactive waste is a danger that humans will face for thousands of years to come.

Over one-third of respondents, 36.8%, expect the number of nuclear weapons to increase worldwide as a result of building more nuclear power plants.

Poll respondents did consider other energy sources as significantly more safe than nuclear energy. A large majority, 94.6%, saw wind energy as very or somewhat safe. This was followed by river and tidal energy (80.0%), geothermal energy (68.5%), fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas (56.1%), and biofuels (55.6%).

While over half of those surveyed, 53.6%, were concerned about the danger of future nuclear energy plant meltdowns, nearly the same percent (54.2%) suggested that nuclear power plants will be safer in the future because of newer technologies making plants meltdown-proof.

And, 36.8% did not see a proliferation of nuclear weapons because nuclear energy and nuclear bombs utilize significantly different technologies.

Three-quarters of Americans (76.5%) were aware the United States Environmental Protection Agency had begun the process of listing carbon dioxide emissions as pollution that endangers public health. And, 77.0% of all survey respondents strongly or somewhat supported the EPA's decision to regulate carbon emissions.

According to Dr. Klein, "The survey mixed pro and anti nuclear statements in equal measure. As a result, we found that about the same proportion expressed concern about future meltdowns (53.6%) as said that nuclear energy will be safer because they will be meltdown-proof (54.2%). Similar splits occurred in this survey regarding other nuclear safety concerns. These reflect some confusion, which is to be expected, given the limited information in major media."

EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT

• Dr. Josh Klein is an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Sacred Heart University. Prior to his full-time academic career, he worked in survey and public opinion research. His current research is about organized violence and state-corporate crime.
• Jerry Lindsley, director, Sacred Heart University Polling Institute

To speak with these experts, please contact Funda Alp at 203-396-8241 or alpf@sacredheart.edu" target=_new>alpf@sacredheart.edu or Tracy Deer-Mirek at 203-371-7751 or deer-mirekt@sacredheart.edu" target=_new>deer-mirekt@sacredheart.edu.

How the Poll Was Conducted

The Sacred Heart University Polling Institute completed 800 surveys nationally. All telephone interviews were conducted between May 27 and June 9, 2009. One survey instrument was used to elicit information from all respondents. Statistically, a sample of 800 completed telephone interviews represents a margin for error of +/-3.5% at a 95% confidence level.

SOURCE Sacred Heart University

DTE Energy Chairman and CEO Anthony F. Earley, Jr. said today that for the U.S. to achieve ambitious targets of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, nuclear energy will be one of the most effective climate control strategies for the nation's electric utilities.

Speaking at The National Summit, a three-day meeting in Detroit featuring prominent business, government and academic leaders, Earley said that nuclear energy will play a crucial role not only in addressing global climate change, but also in meeting the country's growing electricity needs.

"Nuclear energy provides clean, reasonably priced electricity at extremely high levels of safety and reliability," he said. "In 2008, the U.S. fleet of nuclear plants operated at just over 90 percent capacity - the highest level ever. Nuclear power has proven itself safe, clean, reliable and affordable. And that's with a generation of plants designed in the 1960s and 1970s."

Earley said today's nuclear power plant designs are much improved and more standardized, making them simpler, more compact, safer and less costly to build and operate. But he said there currently is a shortage of suppliers to provide the materials necessary for the construction of new nuclear plants.

"One of the challenges we'll face with the resurgence of nuclear energy is also one of our biggest opportunities," he said. "The number of U.S. nuclear suppliers has shrunk and global competition is already heating up for the limited material and manpower now available.

"There's no doubt we need more suppliers, as well as highly-skilled construction workers to build nuclear units, and more qualified operators to run new plants," Earley said. "At the peak of construction, a nuclear plant will employ an estimated 2,300 skilled workers. And upon completion, approximately 700 skilled workers will be required to operate and maintain the plant - at wages 36 percent above those for workers in similar jobs at non-nuclear facilities."

Each year the average nuclear plant generates approximately $430 million in sales of goods and services in the local community and nearly $40 million in total labor income, Earley said. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, the average nuclear plant generates state and local tax revenue of almost $20 million each year and federal tax payments of approximately $75 million each year. These tax dollars benefit schools, roads and other state and local infrastructure.

While nuclear energy will play a significant role in meeting the country's growing demand for electricity, Earley cautioned that there is no single solution to the nation's energy challenge.

Most utilities are working to increase their mix of renewable energy - and this is an area where the country will see incredible growth over the next decade, he said. Wind power is now the fastest-growing renewable energy source in the nation, accounting for about 30 percent of all new power generating capacity added in the U.S. last year.

"But windmills and solar panels will never power an auto assembly line or a cold-rolled steel mill," Earley said. "You need big baseload coal-fired and nuclear plants to keep them running and to form the reliable backbone of a national grid."

Earley also warned that the nation's energy infrastructure is nearing "the end of its useful life," noting that the average age of a power plant in Michigan is 48 years. Given that the useful life of a plant is usually 60 years, and that it can take a decade to plan and build a new plant, change is definitely on the horizon.

"To accommodate our growth, cope with plant retirements and deal with environmental concerns, we'll need to make massive investments to our infrastructure - as much as $2 trillion by 2030," he said. "And that doesn't include the unknown costs of potential climate change legislation and state or federal renewable portfolio requirements.

"The road to a clean, safe and secure energy future will require creative thinking, hard choices and huge investments," Earley continued. "And it will require adaptability - to shifting government policy, advancing technology, an uncertain economy and fickle consumer preferences.

"Buckle your seat belts. It's going to be an exciting ride."

Source: DTA Energy

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is shedding light on Concentrating Solar Power systems (CSP) with DOWTHERM(TM) A heat transfer fluids which collect, transport and store solar generated heat.

CSP technology uses mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect solar energy and convert it to heat. DOWTHERM(TM) A heat transfer fluids collect the heat energy and transport it to a power generating station. The transported heat converts water to steam, which in turn drives turbines to make electricity.

"We are committed to harnessing the vast potential of the sun to continue setting the standard for sustainability," said Neil Hawkins, Dow's vice president of sustainability. "In addition to innovations in sustainable chemistry that result in products like DOWTHERM(TM) A, we've also made significant advancements in photovoltaic technology through the development of a game-changing residential solar shingle by the Dow Solar Solutions business. Our 2015 sustainability goals are driving innovation that is good for business and good for the world."

Dow has supplied, or is in the process of supplying, enough DOWTHERM(TM) A globally to generate more than 500 megawatts of electricity from the sun - positioning its Performance Fluids Business as the leading supplier of heat transfer fluids in the world for parabolic trough based solar systems. Solar power producers in the United States, Middle East, Spain, Australia, India and other locations are tapping into Dow's technology and world-scale production and supply capabilities.

Recent projects in Spain will be using more than 5,000 metric tons of DOWTHERM(TM) A heat transfer fluids that will eventually generate enough electricity for about 120,000 households. These plants will also prevent the release of about 350,000 tons of carbon dioxide that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere had traditional fuels been used.

Dow has demonstrated its commitment and leadership in energy efficiency all around the world. Over the last 14 years, Dow's efforts to conserve power globally have resulted in saving more than 1,600 trillion BTUs of energy and prevented the release of about 86 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Source: The Dow Chemical Company

National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM) today announced results of rigorous internal reliability testing for its SolarMagic(TM) power optimizers. The results of the tests demonstrate SolarMagic has an industry-leading mean time between failures (MTBF) of 455 years which, when coupled with its 20-year warranty, make National's SolarMagic power optimizer one of the most reliable electronic photovoltaic (PV) system components available. SolarMagic improves the output of solar arrays when affected by real-world conditions such as shade, debris and panel aging.

"National Semiconductor has long been known for quality and reliability, creating high-performance analog and power management products for extremely demanding applications in space, military and automotive areas. We are now applying that expertise in reliability to raise the performance bar for the PV industry," said Dr. Prasad Chaparala, director of National's Technology Reliability.

After decades of designing and manufacturing analog and power management integrated circuits (ICs), National has the proven ability to provide an exceptionally reliable product in SolarMagic. National currently produces billions of analog and mixed-signal ICs a year and has a very low defect rate of less than one defective part per million (DPPM).

National designed SolarMagic to have a very high reliability by incorporating proper component derating, extensive reliability Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), thermal analysis and pre-qualification reliability testing.

National's SolarMagic power optimizers have passed rigorous environmental qualification tests such as damp-heat exposure, humidity-freeze cycling and thermal cycling used for PV module qualifications. In addition, they have successfully undergone electronic-systems reliability qualification tests such as high temperature operating life tests, power temperature cycling and highly accelerated life tests (HALT). Data from more than two thousand hours of reliability stress testing of SolarMagic power optimizers demonstrated an MTBF of 455 years.

National manufactures critical analog IC components for SolarMagic power optimizers at its in-house wafer-fabrication plants and assembly facilities, where they are subjected to enhanced quality manufacturing flows. In addition, the power optimizers undergo stringent quality control during the system assembly process. Comprehensive tri-temperature testing and burn-in tests are performed on all production units, virtually eliminating any potential early life failures.

In addition to rigorous internal testing, Santa Clara, Calif.- based Ops a La Carte LLC provided reliability testing of National's SolarMagic power optimizer at its HALT and HASS Labs in Santa Clara. Ops a La Carte has had a long-term presence in the reliability field, conducting extensive reliability testing for the aerospace, automotive, medical, telecom, defense and energy (including fuel cell, oil and solar) industries.

Using distributed electronics throughout a solar installation, SolarMagic recoups up to 57 percent of energy lost due to real-world conditions. SolarMagic power optimizers will be available to customers in North America and Europe in late May 2009. For more information about SolarMagic, visit www.solarmagic.com.

SOURCE National Semiconductor Corp.

Power Output of Solar Projects is Expected to Equal the Consumption of 530,000 Average Homes

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced today that it has entered into a series of contracts with BrightSource Energy, Inc. for a record total of 1,310 megawatts (MW) of solar thermal power. These power purchase agreements, covering seven projects, supersede the agreements PG&E executed with BrightSource in April 2008 for up to 900 MW of solar thermal power.

The first of these solar power plants, sized at 110 MW and located in Ivanpah, Calif., is contracted to begin operation in 2012. BrightSource will build and place in commercial operation each of its plants as quickly as permitting and infrastructure allow. All seven projects are expected to produce 3,666 gigawatt-hours of power each year, equal to the annual consumption of about 530,000 average homes.

"The solar thermal projects announced today exemplify PG&E's commitment to increasing the amount of renewable energy we provide to our customers throughout northern and central California," said John Conway, senior vice president of energy supply for PG&E. "Through these agreements with BrightSource, we can harness the sun's energy to meet our customers' power requirements when they need it most - during hot summer days."

"Today's agreements reflect the technological milestones that the BrightSource Energy team has achieved over the past year," said John Woolard, CEO of BrightSource Energy. "Our technology is setting the bar for efficient production of solar energy. We're thrilled by the opportunity to help PG&E and other leaders bring energy customers more clean and reliable solar energy."

Since 2002, PG&E has entered into contracts for more than 20 percent of its future electric power deliveries from renewable sources. On average, half of the electricity PG&E delivers to its customers comes from carbon-free generating sources, making the company's energy some of the cleanest in the nation.

SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) ("Trina Solar" or the "Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, today announced the commemoration and completion of the largest roof mounted solar array in the United States. Trina Solar's Director of Sales & Marketing for North America, Jim Day, joined project partners and invited guests as Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey and other officials dedicated the completion on March 5, 2009.

The Atlantic City Convention Center ("ACCC") project is North America's largest single roof-mounted solar array and consists of more than 13,400 modules. The project, which provides approximately 2.4 MW at peak capacity, was completed in December, 2008, and can power up to 280 homes and effectively curtail the release of 2,350 tons of carbon dioxide every year. The panels will produce about one-fourth of the building's energy and will provide the ACCC with energy savings of approximately $4.4 million over 20 years.

"We are very delighted by the completion of this significant project, which helps to bring clean, green solar energy solutions to Atlantic City," stated Jifan Gao, Trina Solar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are proud that Trina Solar's modules were selected for this landmark achievement. The success of this project demonstrates our capacity to deliver large scale commercial solar solutions to market as we continue to broaden our distribution networks and project partnership agreements in the U.S."

SOURCE Trina Solar Limited

Project will allow the recycling and conversion of 60% of Three Rivers region's waste material.

Enerkem Inc., a leading advanced biofuels and green chemicals technology company, today announced its plans to build and operate a second-generation biofuels production facility located in Pontotoc, Mississippi, USA. In addition, the company announced the signature of a Memorandum of Intent with the Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority of Mississippi (TRSWMA) for the supply of approximately 189,000 tons of unsorted municipal solid waste (MSW) per year for use as feedstock at the Pontotoc facility.

Plans call for the plant to be built, owned and operated by Enerkem Mississippi Biofuels, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enerkem. It is expected to produce 20 million gallons per year of next-generation ethanol using a mix of feedstock comprised of wood residues from regional forest and agricultural operations, as well as urban biomass such as municipal solid waste, construction and demolition debris, and treated wood. In addition to the biofuels production facility, the investment includes an upstream municipal solid waste recycling and pre-treatment center. The total project represents a US$250 million investment. The Enerkem process will recycle and convert approximately 60% of the MSW that crosses the gate at the Three Rivers landfill. The majority of the MSW will be converted into biofuels and the remainder will be distributed to recycling processors. The overall project is expected to create 150 long-term direct and indirect jobs, and to generate an additional 300 jobs during the construction and start-up phases.

"We are pleased to collaborate with the northern Mississippi community on building an unprecedented advanced biofuels project. The project, our first in the United States, will leverage the expertise we've gained both at our large-scale pilot facility and at our first commercial plant," said Vincent Chornet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enerkem. "This project is unique in that it uses a mix of municipal solid waste - which has negative cost - and wood residues as feedstock, allowing Enerkem to achieve substantial commercial scale and favorable economics."

Enerkem is working closely with the Three Rivers Planning and Development District, which is responsible for the administration of the Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority landfill site in Pontotoc, Mississippi, where the facility would be located. Enerkem and TRSWMA have signed a Memorandum of Intent and are in the process of negotiating final financial and binding agreements. The company is also developing strong ties with local organizations and associations including the Mississippi State University, which will be collaborating on future R&D efforts with Enerkem, the Mississippi Loggers Association, the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Technology Alliance.

"We are very excited by this project as it will create green jobs, contribute to the rural economy in northern Mississippi and give us the opportunity to become an important player in the next-generation biofuels industry, while enabling the local governments of the Three Rivers region to provide major recycling at no additional cost to its citizens", said Randy Kelley, Executive Director of the Three Rivers Planning and Development District. "This biofuels facility will also provide environmental benefits by transforming our municipal solid waste into a locally produced green fuel."

Enerkem has designed a technology platform that is feedstock-flexible and can produce an array of valuable advanced transportation fuels, green chemicals and renewable electricity. Enerkem's renewable fuels represent a new technology path towards environmentally friendly energy, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by using materials that would otherwise produce methane when landfilled, and by producing a renewable fuel for cars, buses and trucks. Unlike first-generation biofuels, or agrofuels, which are produced from sugar-rich crops such as corn and sugar cane, Enerkem's second-generation biofuels are produced from biomass and waste materials.

SOURCE Enerkem Inc.

"Wind energy can replace a large proportion of the polluting and finite fuels we currently rely on," explained Andris Piebalgs, EU Energy Commissioner, at the opening session of the European Wind Energy Conference and Exhibition (EWEC) organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) this morning. "It makes good sense to invest in indigenous sources of power which hedge against unpredictable fossil fuel prices and in which Europe has a real competitive advantage".

According to the European Commission, 3.5% of the world's proven coal reserves are in the EU. We sit on less than 2% of the world's gas; less than 2% of its uranium and we have under 1% of the world's oil. "The fight over the world's rapidly depleting fuel resources is already intensifying," emphasised Arthouros Zervos, EWEA's President, at the session. "It will only become more brutal with time and Europe will lose the battle. European companies have two thirds of the EUR35 billion global market for wind power technology. Wind energy is Europe's contribution to peace, progress and prosperity and we should urgently develop, promote and export it to the best of our ability."

Wind energy's contribution to prosperity is analysed in detail in a new EWEA report launched today, which Zervos presented to delegates. 'The Economics of Wind Energy' provides a detailed insight into wind energy economics and compares the costs of wind to those of other power-generating technologies.

Zervos also announced that EWEA has increased its 2020 target for installed wind energy capacity in the EU from 180 GW to 230 GW, including 40 GW offshore. He explained that "the agreement on the EU Renewable Energy Directive in December 2008 and its mandatory 2020 renewables targets for the Member States have increased our optimism for the sector's outlook. We have therefore increased our targets. However, these targets will only be met if all the Member States implement the directive swiftly and effectively."

Previously, EWEA's target was set at 180 GW of installed capacity in the EU by 2020, including 35 GW offshore. The new 230 GW target would produce approximately 600 TWh per year in the EU by 2020, power equivalent to the needs of 135 million average EU households (60% of EU households) and meeting between 14 and 18% of EU electricity demand (depending on total demand in 2020).

Mechtild Rothe, Vice President of the European Parliament said that wind energy can make a real difference to employment and economies. "Wind energy is an excellent example of how to intelligently invest in a future-orientated sustainable economy getting thousands of people into jobs," she said. "Especially in these times of uncertainty it is very important that the European wind energy industry has created more than 60,000 new jobs over the past five years. These are not mere statistics - this is the competitive strength of Europe! Wind energy has definitely become a driving force of our economies. We have learned from the current crisis that we should not wait until the problems are there before we act - we need to invest in wind energy now."

Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA), focused on the environmental benefits of wind energy in his presentation, saying that it "has an important role to play in climate change mitigation" but to tap into wind's full potential "we need effective national policies and a strong international framework. We need to reinforce, expand and link up our transmission networks. We must also increase research and development efforts in wind energy technology." Tanaka went on to stress the importance of focusing economic recovery plans on green investments for a short-term stimulus and long-term benefits.

Roland Sunden, CEO of LM Glasfiber and Chair of EWEC 2009 said today that "in 2008, more wind was installed in the EU than any other power generating technology. The track record of wind is the most visible proof that it creates great value. And as the financial and economic crises deepen, this becomes especially relevant, and that relevance creates a historic window of opportunity for everybody who is committed to combating climate change, to supporting technological leadership and to creating new competitive exports and jobs."

Andre Antolini, President of the French Renewable Energy Association (SER) cited France as a specific example of the difference wind can make to the economy. He said that "in France there are now over 130 companies that produce components for - or offer services to - the wind energy sector. Wind energy helps industry and the economy." Marcin Korolec, Secretary of State for the Ministry of the Economy in Poland, agreed. "The development of wind energy stimulates the whole economy, particularly at times of crisis", he said.

Jean-Louis Bal, Renewable Energy Director at ADEME, reinforced the important effects meeting the 2020 targets will have on Europe's future, saying that "the 20-20-20 by 2020 objectives represent an important investment, but also an investment whose medium and long term benefits are far higher than the costs."

To give a visual display of the benefits of wind energy Roland Sunden switched on a 'wind energy counter', which will run until the close of EWEC. The counter will show how much electricity wind has provided in Europe, how many investments have been made and jobs created in the sector, and the number of turbines built during the four days.

EWEC is taking place in Marseille and will run until Thursday 19 March. Other sessions will cover political, grid, technical and scientific issues related to wind energy. Broadcast-standard videos highlighting the main activities at EWEC will be made available on www.thenewsmarket.com as from Tuesday, 17 March.

To download 'The Economics of Wind Energy', click here: http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=11.

SOURCE EWEA

In order to save money and energy, many people are purchasing hybrid electric cars or installing solar panels on the roofs of their homes. But both have a problem -- the technology to store the electrical power and energy is inadequate.

Battery systems that fit in cars don't hold enough energy for driving distances, yet take hours to recharge and don't give much power for acceleration. Renewable sources like solar and wind deliver significant power only part time, but devices to store their energy are expensive and too inefficient to deliver enough power for surge demand.

Researchers at the Maryland NanoCenter at the University of Maryland, College Park, have developed new systems for storing electrical energy derived from alternative sources that are, in some cases, 10 times more efficient than what is commercially available. The results of their research are available in the latest issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

"Renewable energy sources like solar and wind provide time-varying, somewhat unpredictable energy supply, which must be captured and stored as electrical energy until demanded," said Gary Rubloff, director of the University of Maryland's NanoCenter. "Conventional devices to store and deliver electrical energy - batteries and capacitors - cannot achieve the needed combination of high energy density, high power, and fast recharge that are essential for our energy future."

Researchers working with Professor Rubloff and his collaborator, Professor Sang Bok Lee, have developed a method to significantly enhance the performance of electrical energy storage devices.

Using new processes central to nanotechnology, they create millions of identical nanostructures with shapes tailored to transport energy as electrons rapidly to and from very large surface areas where they are stored. Materials behave according to physical laws of nature. The Maryland researchers exploit unusual combinations of these behaviors (called self-assembly, self-limiting reaction, and self-alignment) to construct millions -and ultimately billions - of tiny, virtually identical nanostructures to receive, store, and deliver electrical energy.

"These devices exploit unique combinations of materials, processes, and structures to optimize both energy and power density--combinations that, taken together, have real promise for building a viable next-generation technology, and around it, a vital new sector of the tech economy," Rubloff said.

"The goal for electrical energy storage systems is to simultaneously achieve high power and high energy density to enable the devices to hold large amounts of energy, to deliver that energy at high power, and to recharge rapidly (the complement to high power)," he continued.

Electrical energy storage devices fall into three categories. Batteries, particularly lithium ion, store large amounts of energy but cannot provide high power or fast recharge. Electrochemical capacitors (ECCs), also relying on electrochemical phenomena, offer higher power at the price of relatively lower energy density. In contrast, electrostatic capacitors (ESCs) operate by purely physical means, storing charge on the surfaces of two conductors. This makes them capable of high power and fast recharge, but at the price of lower energy density.

The Maryland research team's new devices are electrostatic nanocapacitors which dramatically increase energy storage density of such devices - by a factor of 10 over that of commercially available devices - without sacrificing the high power they traditionally characteristically offer. This advance brings electrostatic devices to a performance level competitive with electrochemical capacitors and introduces a new player into the field of candidates for next-generation electrical energy storage.

Where will these new nanodevices appear? Lee and Rubloff emphasize that they are developing the technology for mass production as layers of devices that could look like thin panels, similar to solar panels or the flat panel displays we see everywhere, manufactured at low cost. Multiple energy storage panels would be stacked together inside a car battery system or solar panel. In the longer run, they foresee the same nanotechnologies providing new energy capture technology (solar, thermoelectric) that could be fully integrated with storage devices in manufacturing.

This advance follows soon after another accomplishment--the dramatic improvement in performance (energy and power) of electrochemical capacitors (ECC's), thus 'supercapacitors,' by Lee's research group, published recently in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. (Figure 1). Efforts are under way to achieve comparable advances in energy density of lithium (Li) ion batteries but with much higher power density.

"U-Md.'s successes are built upon the convergence and collaboration of experts from a wide range of nanoscale science and technology areas with researchers already in the center of energy research," Rubloff said.

The Research Team

Gary Rubloff is Minta Martin Professor of Engineering in the materials science and engineering department and the Institute for Systems Research at the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering. Sang Bok Lee is associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the College of Chemical and Life Sciences and WCU (World Class University Program) professor at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) in Korea. Lee and Rubloff are part of a larger team developing nanotechnology solutions for energy capture, generation, and storage at Maryland. Their collaborators on electrical energy storage include Maryland professors Michael Fuhrer (physics), Reza Ghodssi (electrical and computer engineering), John Cumings (materials science engineering), Ray Adomaitis (chemical and biomolecular engineering), Oded Rabin (materials science and engineering), Janice Reutt-Robey (chemistry), Robert Walker (chemistry), Chunsheng Wang (chemical and biomolecular engineering), Yu-Huang Wang (chemistry) and Ellen Williams (physics).

More Information:

Nature Nanotech web site: http://www.nature.com/nnano/index.html

Article on related work (see "The Power of Super Batteries"): research@MDMarch09.pdf" target=_new>http://www.umresearch.umd.edu/research_at_um/issues/research@MDMarch09.pdf

SOURCE A. James Clark School of Engineering

Wind-generated electricity from the upper Midwest will become cost-competitive with power generated from more conventional fuel sources like coal, while providing substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions when connected to the nation's electricity grid via new extra-high voltage transmission lines, a new study by The Brattle Group (www.brattle.com) has concluded.

The study, "Transmission Super Highway: Benefits of Extra High Voltage Transmission Overlays" provides some of the most significant evidence to date that renewable resources offer an important and economically-feasible means to respond to escalating energy demands in a carbon-regulated environment with domestic energy sources. The study was commissioned by ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC)

In testimony today before the U.S. Senate and Natural Resources Committee, Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO of ITC, discussed the study's findings and urged Congress to facilitate renewable energy by updating the policies that govern America's power grid. He also stressed the need for new transmission development to enable states to meet renewable portfolio standards (RPS).

"Right now, the outdated laws that govern our electricity grid are standing in the way of America's energy goals," said Welch. "If Congress is serious about making renewable resources available, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, meeting renewable portfolio standards, and addressing climate change and other environmental challenges, they need to start by modernizing the rules that govern the grid.

"Transmission, which should be the enabler, is today a roadblock to the development of the full potential of renewable resources such as wind, solar and geothermal resources," Welch stressed.

The Brattle study shows that wind power from the windiest parts of the country can economically displace fossil-fuel power sources after 2020 under likely climate policies. The current lack of extra high voltage transmission lines through these regions -- the upper Midwest states including North and South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota -- is a significant barrier to harnessing this valuable resource as a viable energy solution in a carbon-regulated environment. The study concludes that extra-high voltage transmission projects like ITC's proposed Green Power Express (www.thegreenpowerexpress.com) are essential for accessing the nation's most important renewable energy resources.

The Green Power Express transmission project will traverse portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana and will ultimately include approximately 3,000 miles of extra high-voltage (765 kilovolt) transmission. The entire project is currently estimated to cost approximately $10-12 billion. ITC has been working with many of the upper Midwest wind developers over the last year in conducting a realistic accounting of their wind development plans and sites, which resulted in the design of the Green Power Express. The project could result in the efficient movement of up to 12,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power from the upper Midwest states to load centers in the Midwest and ultimately to the East Coast and eliminate up to 280 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over a 10-year period, the Brattle study concluded. This represents the annual emissions of about seven 600 MW coal plants.

In his testimony, Welch stressed that these environmental and cost savings will only be realized if projects like the Green Power Express can be developed and built in a timely manner. He urged Congress to establish mandatory industry participation in regional transmission planning authorities and for these organizations to aggressively pursue a new planning strategy that promotes electric grid interconnection across the country. Seven regional planning authorities -- collectively regional transmission operators or independent system operators (RTO/ISO) -- oversee transmission issues over wide areas in the continental U.S.

Welch called for a greater federal role in determining the need for new transmission projects that will support renewable resources but added that states should continue to maintain the primary lead in determining where new transmission lines will be sited within their borders. Welch additionally noted that it is essential to improve the cost allocation system to ensure that the entire region that benefits from a project shares the costs.

"Our country is trying to tackle 21st century energy challenges with an electric transmission grid largely built more than 30 years ago while operating under an outdated regulatory system," Welch told the committee. "To put it simply, we will not meet our energy security, efficiency and environmental goals if we don't change how we do business. We urgently need to reform how we plan, locate and pay for new transmission. This requires moving beyond the parochial interests and fractured regulatory structure that has led to decades of underinvestment in our electricity grid."

Welch pointed out that Congress and federal regulators have the ability to modernize the rules to allow private companies such as ITC and others to make these critical infrastructure investments. He emphasized that the congressional policy changes needed to facilitate this investment "don't require an infusion of taxpayer dollars, but will create new jobs and help address our looming energy and environmental crises."

ITC supports improvements to the transmission planning process as proposed in the draft bill recently released by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) (http://energy.senate.gov/public). ITC also supports a greater federal role in siting transmission, but believes states should continue to decide where lines are routed.

"A modern grid will solve our environmental and renewable energy challenges and improve reliability and associated costs to the economy," said Welch. "Now is the time for Congress to encourage private investment in America's energy infrastructure."

More information on the study can be found on ITC's website at http://www.thegreenpowerexpress.comwhite_papers.php and on The Brattle Group's website at www.brattle.com. SOURCE ITC Holdings Corp

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) modules, in partnership with the City of Santa Barbara and Tioga Energy, a leading solar financing firm, today announced the activation of the City's first large-scale solar power system. The 384 kW DC system is the first large-scale solar deployment for the City of Santa Barbara as well as the largest solar power system in the City.

The ceremony and educational tour are to be held from 2:00 - 3:00 PM beginning in the David Gebhard Meeting Room, located at 630 Garden Street in Santa Barbara. The speaker program includes local Nobel Prize Laureate and sustainability advocate Walter Kohn and Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum, who will dedicate the City's Corporate Yard solar system.

"We are excited to produce clean, renewable power here in Santa Barbara while simultaneously reducing our energy costs," said Marty Blum, Mayor of the City of Santa Barbara. "Our climate is perfect for solar, we can apply the savings to other city programs, and we are helping the environment. This is a tremendous win for everyone."

The system, which is spread among the Corporate Yard's roofs, features Suntech modules designed to minimize aesthetic impact while providing maximum energy output. Suntech solar panels were chosen for their consistent high quality, reliable performance, and efficiency. Suntech Energy Solutions installed the system in Fall 2008 in less than three months.

"Working with the City of Santa Barbara and Tioga Energy has been a pleasure for Suntech," said Marco Garcia, Vice President of Project Development for Suntech Energy Solutions. "We look forward to helping cities and local governments follow Santa Barbara's lead in converting unused land and roof space into power generating assets."

The solar energy system was built without any large capital outlay on behalf of the City of Santa Barbara. Instead, the system is financed and operated by Tioga Energy, through its SurePath(TM) Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Through the SurePath PPA agreement, Tioga Energy sells the energy generated by the system to the city at a fixed, predictable price over the 20-year contract term. As a result, the city receives immediate energy savings and a hedge against future utility rate increases, without the hassle of owning the system outright.

"With its commitment to clean energy, the City is demonstrating that solar power is an affordable option for public agencies concerned with reducing carbon emissions," said Paul Detering, CEO of Tioga Energy. "Our collaborative effort with the City of Santa Barbara and Suntech provides the City with predictably-priced power and demonstrates how successful public-private partnerships can help municipalities meet their financial and sustainability objectives."

The system will produce 550,000 kWh of energy per year, effectively offsetting 421,466 lbs, or 191 metric tons, of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to removing 35 cars from the road, saving 21,328 gallons of gasoline, or powering over 100 Santa Barbara-area homes a year (based on a single family occupancy energy use of 5,000 kWh per year).

"This first system is a first step in reducing our energy costs and producing clean, renewable energy. We look forward to 'throwing the switch' on more projects in the years to come," said Mayor Marty Blum.

For more information about the City of Santa Barbara, visit http://www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/ .

SOURCE Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd.

When Vice President Joe Biden brought his first Town Hall Meeting of the "Taskforce for the Middle Class and Working Families Green Meeting" to Philadelphia on February 27, our own Bruce Murray was there. In an interview with Dray Clark a reporter with CBS3 which was broadcast at noon, 5, and 11 PM, Murray explained that Aztec Solar Power is among the visionary local enterprises already involved in this transformation to a new Green economy. He went on to state that early adopters of solar technology are about to have a lot of company from mainstream home and business owners. The amount of the 2009 incentives and the reliability of the technology make this the year when every residence and business owner should learn how they can make a very wise investment by purchasing a solar system for their roof, parking lot or yard.

The Vice President announced that $500,000,000 is provided in the 2009 Recovery Bill to create an energy efficiency workforce. In Philadelphia, $1,300,000 has already been pledged and it will be used to train people from all walks of life with skills that will provide a future living wage in the Green economy. Aztec Solar Power has always felt the importance of education and as part of our business plan will recruit and put members of the community to work on our residential and commercial projects.

SOURCE Aztec Solar Power

ProCon.org, a nonpartisan 501c3 nonprofit research organization, created the new website alternativeenergyprocon.org to explore the core question, "Can alternative energy effectively replace fossil fuels?"

President Obama's budget has invested billions of dollars in alternative energy development, and ProCon.org investigates this topic and related issues including:

* whether alternative energy will revitalize the economy, increase energy independence, or should be subsidized, and

* pros and cons of peak oil theory, ethanol, biofuels, wind energy, solar energy, hydrogen vs. electricity, nuclear power, causes of global climate change, and more

Pro and con statements on over 30 energy-related questions were researched and solicited from more than 175 experts including: Samuel Bodman, former US Secretary of Energy; Helen Caldicott, President of the Nuclear Policy Research Institute; Al Gore, former Vice-President of the United States; representatives of Greenpeace, Heartland Institute, Institute for Energy Research, Cato Institute, World Wildlife Fund, the US Conference of Mayors, and dozens more.

The research has been made publicly available at no charge and with no advertising.

Some interesting facts presented on the new website include:

* The US has 1.6% of the world's oil supply, and it uses 24% of the world's oil production.

* The US used fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) for 85% of its energy needs from 2003-2007. Of the remainder, 7% came from alternative energies (wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass), and 8% came from nuclear power.

* Illinois produces the most nuclear energy of any state with 982.4 trillion Btu's (about 25% of its total energy). 19 states and the District of Columbia do not produce any nuclear power.

* The resource-rich states of West Virginia, Wyoming, and North Dakota export a greater percentage of their energy than any other state with 69%, 65%, and 53%, respectively, of their energy going outside their borders.

SOURCE ProCon.org

Echoing the same energy and climate change policies that President Obama trumpeted in his speech to Congress last night, a group of 35 investors with over $3 trillion in assets today called on Congressional leaders to pass strong legislation to advance a clean energy, low-carbon economy and U.S. competitiveness.

In a letter delivered this morning to House and Senate leaders and the Obama Administration, U.S. investors specifically called for adoption of the following policies: a strong national Energy Efficiency Resource Standard; a national Renewable Portfolio Standard (also called a Renewable Electricity Standard); a mandatory national climate policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide; and a low-carbon fuel standard and other transportation policies to lower use oil use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Coordinated by Ceres and its Investor Network on Climate Risk, the letter was signed by leading pension funds such as the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS); large asset managers including BlackRock and Deutsche Asset Management; nine state treasurers; three state/city comptrollers; two labor pension funds -- SEIU Master Trust and UNITE HERE -- as well as other investors (see full list of signers below).

The letter states that strong energy and climate action is 'essential' for long-term economic prosperity and that the costs of inaction could be 'economically debilitating.' "We are convinced that building our nation's low-carbon energy infrastructure is an important part of the solution to our current economic crisis. Delaying action on these policies will deny U.S. families and businesses access to low-cost clean power, reduce our nation's energy security, and require more stringent, costly solutions to address climate change in the future," states the letter.

"The value of aggressive, national action to fight climate change and remake our energy and transportation sectors cannot be overstated," said California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, a board member of the nation's two largest public pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, with approximately $300 billion in combined assets. "The benefits will extend far beyond the environment. If we succeed, we will secure long-term security and prosperity for our economy, our businesses, and our workers and families, and in the bargain save taxpayers and consumers billions and billions of dollars."

"The policies outlined in the letter would allow us to invest our clients' assets with appropriate cognizance of the continuing risks -- and exciting opportunities -- that will result from physical, regulatory and technological change spurred by a changing climate and the policy response," said Alex Popplewell, global co-head of responsible investment at BlackRock, which manages $1.3 trillion in assets. "2009 will be a year of intense investor focus on the architecture of global agreements on climate change policy. We see it as essential that the United States play a full and urgent part in both clarifying its domestic approach to this complex issue and contributing to the successful conclusion of international agreements."

"Strong national climate and energy legislation will send clear market signals to the business community -- creating new industries, putting people back to work, and helping move American companies to the forefront of global competitiveness on clean energy," said Mindy S. Lubber, President of Ceres and the Director of the Investor Network on Climate Risk, an alliance of 77 investors with approximately $7 trillion in assets. "An energy efficiency resource standard is a critical component of such legislation and is equally as important as a renewable energy standard," she added.

Calling energy efficiency and conservation the "fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the bottom line of companies," the letter urges passage of a national Energy Efficiency Resource Standard that would set national energy savings targets and save utility customers up to $144 billion by 2020, according to estimates provided by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. "Energy efficiency is the cheapest form of power we can produce and it is time for national policy to step in and tell electric utility companies that they need to shift their business practices to deliver a lot more of it," states the letter.

The letter assigns high importance to sending a signal to the markets that greenhouse gas emissions will carry a price. "National climate legislation acting in harmony with the market will facilitate greater investment in clean technologies and other climate change solutions and will enable the U.S. to not only compete globally, but to lead," it states.

To facilitate rapid deployment of existing and emerging technologies, the letter urges Congress to enact a strong national renewable portfolio standard (also referred to as a renewable electricity standard), a policy already in place in 29 states.

Stressing the need to extend clean energy policies to the transportation sector, the letter urges legislators to: adopt a national low-carbon fuel standard, support expansion of public transit and legislation to promote the reduction of vehicle miles traveled, adopt performance-based incentives to stimulate the development of new technologies and adopt maximum feasible fuel economy standards.  SOURCE Ceres, Boston, MA and INCR, Boston, MA

A new study announced today on ethanol land use impact found that a modern ethanol plant does not meaningfully change farmland use, neither the amount of land farmed nor the mix of crops planted (e.g., corn, soybeans). Commissioned by the Illinois Corn Growers (ICGA), the study's findings contest an unproven theory that increased production of corn ethanol results in the conversion of unused farmland into corn production and an increase in the percentage of corn acres planted by farmers. "This is the most thorough and far-reaching study on land use impact done to date," stated Rod Weinzierl, executive director of the ICGA. "It demonstrates that the often cited link between new ethanol plants and the conversion of non agricultural land to corn is highly questionable. Corn ethanol is not a central driver in the conversion of non corn farmland to corn production."

The study was conducted by Dr. Steffen Mueller from the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago utilizing a modern ethanol plant in Rochelle, Illinois, (approximately 75 miles northwest of Chicago) as its test subject. The study looked at relevant farming data - including satellite imagery and farmer surveys - one year prior to the plant opening through to two years after.

"Our objective was to take a bottom-up approach to data collection and analysis, and thereby arrive at a fully considered assessment on the potential impact of ethanol production on farmland use," commented Dr. Mueller. "We examined each acre of farmland within a 40 mile radius of the test site - prior to and after the launch of an ethanol plant - and found that neither intensification nor extensification occurred. Farmers had land available to convert (extensification) for corn production and did not. And, ethanol plant grain demand was quickly met by incremental production improvements and so increased percentages of corn acres (intensification) cannot be explained by the new ethanol plant. The results of this study on one modern ethanol plant are sufficiently dramatic to indicate that the science of ethanol and land use is far from being set."

The study's findings are in conflict with the current federal and state governmental draft standards that utilize older and less thorough science. "With California a recognized national leader in renewable fuel policy, the risk that state's draft renewable fuel standards being prematurely approved is that ethanol will be branded a brown fuel nationally," stated Rod Weinzierl. "This threatens to marginalize the use of ethanol in the U.S. fuel mix and would have far reaching, non beneficial environmental and financial impact. California will be worsening, not improving, our nation's carbon footprint at a time when we have the green fuel supply to do otherwise."

The study found that a new ethanol plant requiring 20.45 million bushels of corn annually for fuel production utilizes the yield from 104,284 acres, which is less than 7% of the acres from the "draw area." However, during the study period, more than 260,000 acres were converted from mostly soybeans to corn indicating that other factors contributed to corn intensification (an increase in percentage of corn acres grown).

"During the early phase of plant startup it's possible that corn acres are intensified as a result of perceived plant market demand," Dave Loos, Technical Director of ICGA, noted. "This quickly levels off and other factors such as export demand and grain economics drive on farm planting decisions. Once an ethanol plant has been in operation for two years, its supply requirements are a marginal factor in local farmers' planting strategy. Annual production increases quickly exceeded the total new demand from the plant."

The study found that while land such as grass and pasture was available for farmers within the ethanol plant draw area to convert to and increase planted corn acres by as much as 21%, less than three tenths of a percent increase actually took place, which is not a meaningful amount.

"As we continue to improve the agricultural productivity and processing efficiencies of corn-based ethanol, it is important that the body of scientific work developing around corn's role as a part of our national renewable fuels strategy keep pace with these advancements," added Dr. Martha Schlicher, vice president of Illinois River Energy. "This study is an accurate reflection of the ability of the advancements in corn productivity to absorb incremental ethanol capacity when plants are appropriately added in the right locations at the right time. While it is very important to clearly understand all of the direct and indirect environmental costs and benefits of renewable fuel use, it is equally critical that we accurately account for current and future technological advancements that reaffirm the environmental benefits of corn ethanol. It is unfortunate that we continue to increase gasoline imports while idling existing available corn based ethanol supply that measures in the billions of gallons."

The study - The Land Use Impact Of A New Ethanol Plant, February 2009 - was prepared for the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and can be accessed in full at: (http://www.ilcorn.org)

SOURCE Illinois Corn Growers Association

In an interesting development in the battle against global warming, a graveyard in Spain now generates clean energy ever since members from the local population were convinced by the government that by placing solar panels above each of the mausoleums in the cemetery, they were benefitting the living without insulting the dead.
The town of Santa Coloma de Gramenet now produces 124,374KW of electricity from the 462 panels installed in the cemetery which is enough to provide electricity to 60 homes.
Since the price of plots of land in the city are exorbitant, Conste- Live Energy, a solar energy company came up with this idea and with the help of the local council, convinced citizens to start this project.
The panels cost 720,000 Euros to be installed but keep out 62 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year.
Santa Coloma has four solar parks, but the cemetery is their biggest even though only 5 percent of the total area of the cemetery has been used so far.
To read the whole article click here.

 In a first of its kind project in both Ireland and Britain, a spin off of civil engineering firm Liffey Developments, Geothermal Energy, is spending 100 million Euros to build a system that will use geothermal energy to provide heating and hot water to 60,000 homes.
The company plans to develop a district heating system on the south side of Dublin, Ireland.
The next stage of the plan will be to build such systems in Grangecastle, Newcastle and Tallaght.
Commercial director for the company, Pádraig Hanly has said that the initial exploration work to identify suitable sites has already been done and that work on the Tallaght facility will begin in 2009.
GT Energy is an independent company that branched out of Liffey Developments, which is a well- known civil engineering firm from Ireland, whose clients are Ballymore Properties, Ellier Developments and Iarnród Éireann amongst others.

On Wednesday, the Vatican activated a new solar energy system consisting of 2,400 photovoltaic panels on the massive roof of the 'Nervi Hall, where popes hold general audiences. The new system which will produce 300MW of energy is worth 1.2 million euro ($1.6 million) and was donated by German companies SolarWorld and SMA Solar Technology.
With this energy plan the 108 acre city- state has now cut down its carbon dioxide emissions by 225 tons and is saving the equivalent of 80 tons of oil every year.
After several weeks of testing, the system was finally, officially started on Wednesday during which time the pope addressed a general audience in the hall.
That's not all. The Vatican now proposes to set into motion an ambitious solar power project that will utilize 300 hectares (740 acres) of land that they own to the north of Rome, called Santa Maria di Galeria, which at present is used as a transmission center for Vatican Radio.
This plan will produce six times the amount of energy needed to power the transmission antennas thus the Vatican proposes to transfer the remaining energy to the Italian national grid.
The Vatican's famous skyline, especially St Peter's Basilica, will remain untouched.

Pic courtesy closelyobserved.com/ Christopher Walker from flickr.com

The revolution to identify novel ways to produce energy is catching on all over the world. In India, villagers in the western state of Rajasthan have developed a Biomass Gasifier System to convert agricultural waste into electrical energy. The system converts biomass into producer gas which is used as a fuel in diesel engines. Thus the system can be used to operate pumps in remote fields, in houses to lift water, to operate saw machines, flour mills and to generate electricity.

To read more about this system click here.

A relatively unexplored method to harness renewable energy is that of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). This method exploits the temperature differences between various layers of oceanic water. If cultivated, OTEC could provide us with an inexhaustible source of energy.
According to US Navy Shore Energy Office Director Bill Tayler, OTEC has the potential to develop sufficient power outputs much faster than tidal power or wave buoys.
To read about the scientific principle behind OTEC click here.
Pilot plants already exist in Japan but they do not produce enough energy for commercial use. Now Lockheed Martin is working with a Hawaii based engineering company to build a 10 to 20 MW plant to supply energy to the main grid of the U.S. via underwater cables.

The wind energy industry in Europe is beginning to be affected by the global economic slowdown. Some companies have begun to cut down their forecasts and production for 2009. This is the first sign of a slowdown in this industry.
The positive side-effect of this situation is that turbine prices will reduce (due to a fall in raw material prices) and the delivery time of components will also reduce. According to Gouri Nambudrpad, Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan, this situation will create a balance in supply and demand where earlier there was a state of overheated undersupply.
To read the complete article on the Market Watch website click here.

Spain is using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology in a bid to cut down its carbon emissions. The new technology makes use of giant mirrors- roughly the size of half a tennis court- positioned in such away that they superheat water resulting in the creation of energy. These solar towers, as they are called, are seen by many to be a simpler, more efficient and cheaper method to harness the sun's energy than the use of photovoltaic panels. However, this method only works in regions with clear skies and strong sunshine.
The Andalusian deserts in southern Spain provide exactly the right conditions for such a project to work.
The EUR80 million plant, which is being built 30km outside Seville, will begin its operations in January next year and will produce 20 MW of power, enough to power 11,000 Spanish homes.
This project is the biggest of its kind in the world and is just the beginning for Spain which plans on building more than 50 solar projects all around the country. The government aims to produce 2GW of solar power from CSPs by 2015 which will exceed the country's national targets.  
To read the whole article click here.

Pic courtesy jacobo.portillo/ Jacobo from flickr.com

Spain is using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology in a bid to cut down its carbon emissions. The new technology makes use of giant mirrors- roughly the size of half a tennis court- positioned in such away that they superheat water resulting in the creation of energy. These solar towers, as they are called, are seen by many to be a simpler, more efficient and cheaper method to harness the sun's energy than the use of photovoltaic panels. However, this method only works in regions with clear skies and strong sunshine.
The Andalusian deserts in southern Spain provide exactly the right conditions for such a project to work.
The EUR80 million plant which is being built 30km on the outskirts of Seville, will begin its operations in January next year and will produce 20 MW of power, enough to power 11,000 Spanish homes.
This project is the biggest of its kind in the world and is just the beginning for Spain which plans on building more than 50 solar projects all around the country. The government aims to produce 2GW of solar power from CSPs by 2015 which will exceed the country's national targets.  
To read the whole article click here.

Pic courtesy jacobo.portillo/ Jacobo from flickr.com

Iceland's economic meltdown may have left its citizens a little hot under the collar but they undoubtedly respect their administration for one thing, their energy. The country gets 99 percent of its electricity and 78 percent of its primary energy from hydro and geothermal sources. One generation ago, the isolated island country imported all of its coal and oil for heat and electricity. Now, residents of Iceland have such a surplus of energy that at times, they leave their windows open on a cold night even with their heaters on.
Having cultivated energy from renewable sources for several years, Iceland's technology is quite advanced. Their undoubted expertise in this field could provide them with the economic opportunity they are looking for to get their country out of bankruptcy.
To read the complete article on the Renewable Energy World website click here.

Pic courtesy Óli Jón from flickr.com 

Oklahoma is geared to become a leader in the renewable energy industry. With a huge wind corridor in western Oklahoma and lots of investments being made in the development of perennial native grasses as biofuels, Oklahoma is quite focussed on adhering to President- elect Obama's visionary goals to make America, energy independent in the years to come.
The state has the potential to generate 40,000MW of wind energy in their western region. With Obama's administration planning to introduce wind energy into the national grid, Oklahoma could profit a lot if they develop their wind energy industry.
Added to this, their plans to convert perennially growing switchgrass into a biofuel, could find Oklahoma emerging as a leader in the renewable energy sector even as the whole world attempts a meteoric shift towards making their economies run on renewable energy.
To read the complete article on the Forbes website click here.

Intelligent Living Corp. a leading automation and technology solutions provider that has begun implementing green building practices in its projects recently announced that was going to adopt green practices for all of its current and upcoming projects. The company which offers institutional, industrial, commercial and multi- unit constructions as well as takes up major renovation projects will now offer green building practices as part of its suite of product offerings.
Green buildings conserve electricity, water, materials and land by ensuring that they are used more efficiently in the construction and maintenance of the buildings than in buildings that have been built as per norm. Green buildings try to set in place techniques and practices that help reduce the impact of buildings on the environment.
To read more details about the article click here.

 

Marine energy, an often spoken about substitute to the conventional and more polluting form of energy production is being given a new lease of life after factors such as global warming, energy security and rising oil prices have put pressure on governments around the world to come up with sustainable alternatives.
Ocean energy is a reliable and abundant source of energy that can supply up to 10 percent of the world's electricity needs. Like all forms of renewable energy, the cost to set up a marine energy plant is quite considerable. However, the marine energy sector is trying to reduce its cost in order to achieve grid parity.
Countries in Europe have already begun investing in this technology. The United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal are rich in marine resources and have already begun investing in marine energy technology.
Within Europe, the UK has emerged as a leader in the marine energy industry. Researchers estimate that 20 percent of the UK's total energy requirements could be harnessed from the ocean.
Information from the marketwatch website. To read the complete article click here.

Pic courtesy martapiqs from flickr.com

Manz Automation, a German solar technology firm recently formed a joint venture with the Indian company Technicom- Chemie to promote the generation of sun based power in the country. Another victory for humankind in its battle against global warming, this venture is positive news for the leaders of the world as they wait with baited breath for developing nations like India, China and Brazil to stop the blame game and make an effort towards reducing their carbon footprint. More importantly eco- friendly businesses are going to dominate global markets in the future.
The joint venture company, Manz Automation India Pvt Ltd, will market complex solar energy equipment and also provide technical support to their clients to optimize energy generation.
The German group is planning to start three projects in India and may even set up production facilities there.
The Managing Director of the new company, Ajay Chauhan, stated that they expected to have a turnover of Rs 1,500 crore (around $307million) in the current financial year.
Dieter Manz, the President and CEO of Manz Automation is very optimistic about the sector stating that at the moment, since the cost of such equipment is higher than conventional sources of energy, companies are wary of investing in it. He felt that once grid parity (cost equalization) takes place, this sector would see a boom.

Pic courtesy swanksalot/ Seth Anderson from flickr.com.

CBS 3’s Angela Russell recently reported an encouraging new eco trend that’s taking parts of the world by storm. People are wizening up to their responsibility in curbing global warming to the extent that some of them are even installing wind turbines on their roofs. Not only do they reduce their carbon footprint, they also save on their electricity bill.
The American Wind Energy Association study has shown a 15 percent rise in the number of small turbines last year. While smaller rooftop models support the overall use of electricity at home, larger pole mounted turbines that require more space, can power a whole house.
People also have the option of generating clean electricity and putting it on the national grid thus earning a credit for every kilowatt they put in.
The Department of Energy stated on cbs3.com that a household could shave 50 to 90 percent off their utility bill this way. The only intimidating factor is the cost of setting up a turbine. A unit big enough to power a house can cost from $12,000 to $60,000.

Pic of rooftop wind turbines on a London building courtesy maistora from flickr.com

 

The owner of Western Europe’s largest coal- fired power station, Drax, announced a plan to make a £2 billion investment in renewable energy in order to diversify its business and exploit government subsidies. As a part of its plan, it will build 300MW power plants that would burn biomass consisting of energy crops and agricultural and forestry waste. Partnering with Siemens of Germany, Drax will own 60 percent of the project and operate the plants while Siemens will own 40 percent and provide the technology.
Drax, which is regarded as UK’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide could become one of its biggest sources of renewable energy if their project proceeds according to plan.
To learn about the details of the project read the complete article here.

Pic of Drax power station, UK, courtesy Gareth Davies/ yorkshiregeek from flickr.com

According to the American Wind Energy Association a 164 MW NedPower Mount Storm project in Grant County has more than tripled West Virginia’s wind energy capacity. With the addition of this project a trade group is crediting W. Va as being the fastest growing state for wind energy production.

A second phase of the project that is set to complete this year will add 100 more MW of capacity to the plant.

The trade group also says that the US has completed projects amounting to 4,204 MW so far this year.

Pic courtesy NNECAPA from flickr.com

190 million federal acres of land in the United States are set to be allocated for the creation of geothermal energy so as to boost their domestic energy output. This decision, taken by the interior department of the government is heartening to note as it shows a clear shift towards harnessing renewable sources of energy with minimum carbon emissions for the clean creation of energy in the future. The plans are in their final stage and if implemented well, could provide energy to more than 5.5 million homes in just seven years.
The area to be allocated for this project also includes 18 areas of Utah which already has two geothermal plants in its south-western quadrant.
Following Hawii’s decision to gradually shift towards renewable sources of energy, this decision is certainly a positive move forward towards curbing the ever growing threat of global warming.
To learn the details of the project, check out the complete article here.

Pic courtesy WorldIslandInfo from flickr.com