Siemens Energy has announced it will open a wind research and development center in Colorado. This story in the Denver Business Journal says the German energy company made the announcement at the American Wind Energy Association annual conference in Houston that the center will bring 50 new green-collar jobs to Boulder: “We are very pleased to establish our first wind …
REG Buys US Biodiesel Group
Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group is buying the large assets of U.S. Biodiesel Group… a move that is expected to greatly enhance REG’s ability to distribute biodiesel on the West Coast and the Texas Gulf Coast. This story in the Chicago Tribune has details of the $80-million deal: Acquisition of the 35 million gallon per year biodiesel plant near Houston and …
Biodiesel Boat Breaks Prop; Limps Toward Record
A 100% biodiesel boat trying to break the world record for circumnavigation of the globe has run into a bit of trouble in the East Indies. The Earthrace hit some debris near Palau and is limping toward Singapore for more permanent repairs: Here’s an update from the captain of the 78-foot racing boat: Day 34 – 1st June Having made …
More Than Slime is Green at Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, the kids’ network known for dumping copious amounts of green slime on participants of its silly contests, is taking its show on the road. And while it won’t be green slime fueling the “Slime Across America” tour, there will be green fuel in the tank. This press release from the network says that biodiesel will be helping its 18-wheeler …
Green Host Urges Passage of Green Jobs Bill
A host of the Discovery Channel’s new “Planet Green” channel, which dedicates itself to earth-friendly causes, has written a pretty good opinion piece, urging the passage of a measure before Congress that will help create jobs in the renewable energy sector. In the piece on ItsGettingHotinHere.org titled, “Green-Collar Jobs or Rust-Belt Future,” model and environmental scientist (I know, I almost …
North Amerian Wind Turbine Giant Increases Power
Annual energy production from Brad Foote Gear Works is more than doubling with the purchase of additional advanced gear manufacturing systems. Brad Foote’s purchase from Germany-based Hofler Company amounts to more than $30 million. The company now owns 29 Hofler machines. With the new equipment, Brad Foote’s annual production will grow from the current equivalent of 2,000 MW of installed …
Ethanol Goes for the Big Leagues On and Off the Track
The 92nd Indianapolis 500 is one for the record books for Team Ethanol. Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay pilots the IndyCar sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and just a couple weeks ago he piloted the car to a 6th place finish, the best ever Indy 500 for the team. At one point in the race, Ryan was cruising …
Energy Abundance
This weekend I visited the RIT/NASA AstroZone exhibit in St. Louis. The free exhibit was offered in conjunction with the 212th meeting of the American Astronomical Society and it offered all kinds of fascinating scientific demonstrations: from seeing yourself in infrared to star-gazing in a portable planetarium to being enveloped in Cosmic Collisions while watching a video a portable dome. …
USDA Chief to Defend Biofuels at UN Summit
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Shafer is defending biofuels ahead of next week’s United Nations conference that will address the growing world food crisis. This story in the New York Times says Shafer is taking a stand that biodiesel and ethanol are making a minimum contribution to any price hikes in food worldwide while making a major contribution to extending …
Wind Power Company Receives Endorsement
A Minnesota-based wind energy development company has received an endorsement from a maker of safety gear and clothing for the construction industry. This press release from National Wind Assessments says the wind energy company picked up the product endorsement from Ergodyne. But why a deal of this kind?: “National Wind Assessments and its parent company, National Wind have received a …