Some schools in Minnesota are getting educated to the power of wind energy, as they look to stretch their dollars to meet the demands of rising energy costs. This story on the TwinCities.com web site talks about a district in Washington County and how officials are looking at putting up a wind turbine on school property… a growing trend in …
Biofuels Dominating Renewable Energy Patents
Patents for biofuels dominated renewable energy patents in 2007… outdistancing patents for solar and wind combined. According to this article on cleantech.com, since 2001, nearly 2,800 biofuel patents were published in the U.S. with 1,045 of those coming in 2007 alone. That compares to 555 for solar and 282 for wind power last year. Overall, the number of patents for …
Old Dominion Making New, Green Fuel
Researchers at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia are looking at a new way of turning algae into biodiesel. While the algae-into-biodiesel process is still relatively new, this article from the Virginian-Pilot says the latest twist is that the green fuel is made from sewage: In this era of clean and renewable energy development, researchers at other universities are conducting …
England Co. Gathers Biogas from Animal Waste
McCain Foods Great Britain is enlisting Eco-Tec for its new venture in capturing biogas from anaerobic digester lagoons. The project is the latest effort meant to promote energy efficiency from McCain Foods. As part of its energy efficiency projects, McCain Foods in Great Britain implemented a waste process that includes the capture of biogas from anaerobic digester lagoons, and purifying …
Georgia Power Fires Up Wood Biomass Plant
Wood-burning isn’t just great for pizza. It’s great for power. Georgia Power is using energy from wood biomass as part of its commitment to use independent renewable power producers. Georgia Power and Yellow Pine Energy Company, LLC, a biomass-fired facility to be located near Fort Gaines, Ga., recently signed a 20-year contract for electricity that will be generated from environmentally-friendly …
Virgin Atlantic 747 Soars on Biofuel
It will be a first-ever feat in commercial air travel… Virgin Atlantic is planning to fly one of its Boeing 747s on biofuel next month. The Virgin Atlantic 747 will fly from London Heathrow to Amsterdam on a demonstration flight, with no passengers on board, using a truly sustainable type of biofuel that doesn’t compete with food and fresh water …
Minnesota Trying to Lure Danish Wind Company
Minnesota might already be the home of the NFL’s Vikings, but lawmakers in that state are trying to lure some modern-day descendants of the marauders to set up a wind energy research center. This story from Forbes says they’re coming up with money to lure a major wind turbine producer to the state: House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and several …
Petroleum Terminal Goes Biodiesel
A new biodiesel blending facility located at a petroleum terminal in Aurora, Colorado is seen as key to improving the availability of biodiesel in the area while helping integrate the green fuel into the nation’s petroleum infrastructure. Pipeline company Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P., is the owner of the facility. The ceremony was attended by industry and legislative leaders and gained …
Renewable Energy Investments Up 50% in 2007
Venture capital (VC) investments in renewable energy sources, including solar, biodiesel, and ethanol (among others) hit $3.4 billion… up a whopping 50 percent over investments in green energy ventures in 2006. This story from RenewableEnergyAccess.com has more information: Investment in solar was more than $1.05 billion in more than 70 financing rounds. Investment in battery technology came to $433.9 Million …
Dakota Wind Announces Start-Up Plans
Dakota Wind Energy, LLC, has announced plans to form South Dakota’s first utility scale community-owned wind project. The project has the potential of generating 750 megawatts of energy and will spread over 700 square miles of farmland in Roberts, Marshall, and Day counties. This press release from the company says it will take advantage of the under-used wind power South …