Solar Power International 2011 (SPI 2011) is taking place this week in Dallas and six of the country’s leading solar executives and innovators held a press call this morning from the conference to talk about issues of interest to the industry. Lyndon Rive, CEO of SolarCity, says there is tremendous momentum in the solar industry despite backlash from the Solyndra …
Electric Vehicle Sharing Incentive Announced
Xatori Inc., the electric vehicle software company behind the PlugShare app suite, and peer-to-peer car sharing service Getaround have partnered to reward PlugShare members in select communities $50 for sharing their vehicles on Getaround’s car rental marketplace. PlugShare and Getaround announced the financial incentive in honor of National Plug In Day on Sunday, October 16. Eligible communities include the San …
ZeaChem Makes Cleantech 100 List
Cellulosic ethanol developer ZeaChem has been named one of the 2011 Global Cleantech 100 companies. The annual list is produced by Cleantech Group in collaboration with UK’s Guardian News, focusing on companies they believe are likely to make the most significant impact over the next 5-10 years. “ZeaChem is building a portfolio of advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals derived from …
Bill Would Require New Analysis of 15% Ethanol Blend
A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would mean additional testing for the use of 15% ethanol in regular gasoline. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced the legislation to require the Environmental Protection Agency to seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15 percent blend ethanol gasoline. Sensenbrenner says he has “serious concerns that the EPA used only …
Cellulosic Ethanol Demo Plant Marks Milestone
Biofuel tech company Coskata marked two years of successful operations at a cellulosic ethanol semi-commercial facility in Madison, Pennsylvania this month. According to company officials, the facility has completed over 15,000 run hours of operation and successfully converted wood biomass and municipal solid waste into fuel-grade ethanol. “The data and operating experience cultivated at this pre-commercial scale facility has conclusively …
Joule Wins Wall Street Journal Award
Joule Unlimited Technologies has received the 2011 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in the Energy category and was also named the Silver award winner across all of the competition’s 16 categories, from more than 600 entries around the globe. “We are honored to be the Wall Street Journal’s choice for the most innovative energy company, and to be recognized …
Chicago Vertical Farm Gets Grant for Renewable Energy System
An innovative sustainable food production project in the Windy City has received a grant for a renewable energy system that uses waste materials. The project called “The Plant” was recently awarded a total of $1.5 million in grant funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to support a comprehensive renewable energy system that will accept up …
Senate Amendment Attempts to End Blender Pump Funding
Ethanol interests were quick to oppose an amendment offered by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) today that would prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from funding Flex Fuel pump installations. “The McCain amendment would smother the only initiative we have to provide consumers the power to choose their fuel, and it gives OPEC the green light to tighten its grip on …
Senators to Address Algae Biomass Summit
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN) will address the 2011 Algae Biomass Summit October 25-27 in Minneapolis, according to the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO). Senator Franken will help kickoff the conference on October 25, while Senator Klobuchar will address the conference via a video lunchtime keynote on October 26, focusing on home grown energy and job creation. …
Plug In Day Celebrates Electric Vehicles
Sunday was National Plug-in Day and among many events around the country was a parade of electric vehicles (EV) with over 200 EV drivers taking part in Santa Monica, California. The day was organized by Plug-in America and included EV events in over 20 simultaneous venues from Honolulu to New York with displays and demonstrations of plug-in vehicles by Nissan, …