UC Santa Barbara’s Institute for Energy Efficiency is hosting the 2013 Summit on Energy Efficiency on May 1-2, 2013. The forum will focus on the latest innovations in materials science and technology for energy generation, energy storage, lighting, and electronics. The event is designed to provide dialogue about how advancements in materials science and technology can meet future energy needs …
Mascoma Drops IPO
According to several sources, Mascoma Corporation has withdrawn its registration for its planned initial public offering (IPO). The company had hoped to raise as much as $100 million through the offering. The biofuel company has been focused on developing enzymes for breakdown of sugars in the cellulosic ethanol production process. In a filing, the company said it had determined not …
Rural GA Economic Recovery & Solar Act Introduced
Georgia State Rep. Rusty Kidd (Independent – Milledgeville) has introduced the Rural Georgia Economic Recovery and Solar Resource Act of 2014, that if passed, would create greater access to solar and an economic opportunity for rural Georgia. According to Georgia Solar Utilities, the bill would bust the current monopoly on solar in Georgia and allow competitive bidding for construction of …
Solar in Review 2012
GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has recently released the U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year-in-Review 2012. According to the report, solar is the fastest growing energy source in the U.S. The Solar Market Insight annual edition shows the U.S. installed 3,313 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV) in 2012, a record for the industry. Even with the …
Engine Products Group Appeals E15 Partial Waiver
The Engine Products Group (EPG) is challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to grant partial waivers approving the sale of gasoline containing E15 (fifteen percent ethanol, eighty-five percent gasoline) for 2001 model year and new passenger cars and light trucks. The Court of Appeals dismissed the case in August 2012 for lack of jurisdiction. Today, EPG has filed a …
Bioprocess Pilot Facility in Germany Attracts Attention
The Bioprocess Pilot Facility B.V. (BPF), a scale-up plant located on the Biotech Campus Delft, is attracting the right kind of attention. The “first green Minister-President” Mr. Kretschmann, the Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, one of the federal states of Germany, visited BPF’s facility to learn about their technology and contribution to the country’s bio-based economy. After his visit, Mr Kretschmann said …
Sun Valley Solar Launches Homeowner Loan Program
Sun Valley Solar Solutions is launching a new loan program for homeowners who would like to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Arizona. The program is in partnership with aleo solar, part of the Bosch Group. According to Sun Valley Solar, PV systems can generate up to 100% of a home’s yearly kilowatt hour electricity usage from solar panels, usually …
GRC Hosting Geothermal Workshop
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is holding a two-day geothermal workshop in Sacramento, California, on June 10-11, 2013. Titled “Resource Assessment and Optimization,” the workshop will provide practical information to anyone interested in geothermal energy, including developers, financiers, utilities, regulators, public-interest organizations, and members of the academic community. The goal of the workshop is to educate attendees on how to …
Green Biologics Wins Biobutanol Funding
Green Biologics has received funding from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), based in UK, to engineer a bacterial host for biobutanol production. The project is in collaboration with the Clostridia Research Group (CRG) at the University of Nottingham which is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The goal of the 18 month project is to develop a novel bacterial …
Switchgrass Versus Heating Oil
According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), using switchgrass pellets could be a cheaper source of energy, instead of fuel oil to heat homes and businesses in the Northeast. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researcher Paul Adler led efforts on a lifecycle analysis that compared costs of energy generation from coal, natural gas, fuel oil, and …