The San Diego Zoo has gone solar. It’s Solar-to-EV-project, in partnership with Smart City San Diego, is run by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGR&E). The solar system is comprised of Kyocera Solar photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. All Kyocera solar panels used in this project were manufactured in the U.S. at the company’s San Diego facility. “Kyocera is celebrating 41 years …
Book Review – Who Turned Out the Lights?
Should we be entertained when reading about America’s energy crisis? Dare we be regaled by clever cliches, fun word pairings and sarcasm when learning our basic Energy 101 facts? Yes to infinity. And I experienced just these things when reading “Who Turned Out the Lights?” by Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson. Reading this book was a guilty pleasure because I enjoyed the …
Should We Shush Wind Turbines?
Scientists in Australia are studying where wind turbine noise comes from and how it might be reduced. Not a new concern, researchers from the University of Adelaide in the Flow and Noise Group at the School of Mechanical Engineering are building a scale-model turbine in a wind tunnel. They are also building an acoustic test room around the turbine. In …
New EV Charging Station App
ChargePoint has launched a new free electric vehicle (EV) charging station mobile app for all iPhone and Android smart phones. The app features a redesigned look and features all EV charging stations installed in the U.S. The user can browse information about the stations including distance and the cost to charge. “ChargePoint is the world’s largest electric vehicle global charging …
Algae. Tec Facility Continues to Attract Attention
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and Member for Eden-Monaro Dr Mike Kelly recently visited Alage.Tec facility in Shoalhaven (Australia). The plant is proving out technology that produces low cost, high grade algae-based biofuels. While on site, Dr. Kelly was briefed about the technology by company representatives. One element with great promise is the fact that algae “eat” carbon to grow. In …
Propel Receives $21M in Investments
Propel Fuels has closed on the initial phase of its Series D round of funding with $11 million in equity capital from existing investors Nth Power, Craton Equity Partners, and @Ventures as well as a new investor, Gentry Venture Partners. In addition, the company has secured $10 million in debt financing from CapX Partners. With the additional funds, Propels plans …
GROWMARK and FS Brighten the Holidays
Dashing through the fields comes GROWMARK and the FS member cooperatives with a load of fuel to make your holiday season warm and bright!
Just the Ethanol Facts
The National Corn Growers Association has created a simple website that offers just the facts about ethanol. The website EthanolFacts.com offers information about E15, food versus fuel, energy security, jobs in rural America and more. There is a lot of discussion about ethanol these days, and plenty of need for a look at the facts. That’s why the National Corn …
Solectria Renewables Named A Top Job Creator
Solectria Renewables has been named by Inc.’s Hire Power List, as a top job creator. The awards recognized private businesses that have generated the most jobs in the past three years. The company generated 105 jobs between 2008-2011, ranking them #1 Energy Sector job creator in Massachusetts. The company was also one of the top 10 private business job creators …
Movie Review – Chasing Ice
I spent the weekend in the Twin Cities attending several environmental events. The first event was a screening of the documentary Chasing Ice, produced by environmental photographer James Balog who founded Extreme Ice Survey. It is hard for me to put my emotions into words after watching this moving. It was simultaneously incredibly beautiful and yet horrific. Beautiful in that …