EV Connect Successfully Raises Funding

Joanna Schroeder

EV Connect has closed its initial round of financing with funding coming from 37 Technology Ventures, Jackrel Ventures, Tech Coast Angels, Maverick Angels Keiretsu Forum, and other key individual investors. The company works with companies, government and transit agencies, hotels and consumers to install, operate and maintain electric vehicle charging stations. With this funding, EV Connect will expand its sales, …

Alternative energy, Electric Vehicles

New Wind Turbine for Low Wind Sites

Joanna Schroeder

Northern Power Systems has launched two new wind turbine models specifically designed for low wind sites. The NPS 60-23 and the NPS 100-24 are based on the NPS 100-21 platform, but according to the company, leverage product features that produce higher energy capture in low winds while reducing the noise profile of the turbine. To date, more than 20 of …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Wind

Oil $$, No Ethanol. Coincidence? I Think Not.

Joanna Schroeder

Last week the biofuel industry took a hit when Florida voted to repeal its Renewable Fuel Standard, HB4001, that required fuel retailers to blend ethanol into their gasoline. The charge against ethanol was led by Florida Senator Greg Evers, who represents Escambia County, which happens to be the largest receiver of BP oil spill funds in the state. In fact, …

Alternative energy, biofuels, Ethanol, Opinion

Attacks on RFS, Blend Wall Bogus

Joanna Schroeder

The message being delivered to Washington, D.C. today is that Big Oil attacks on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), so-called blend wall and E15 are bogus. Today representatives from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and the Auto channel held a briefing in the Capitol Visitors Center to discuss these issues as well as …

ACE, Alternative energy, biofuels, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

IRFA, ACE & Auto Channel RFS/E15 Briefing

Joanna Schroeder

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and The Auto Channel are bringing together a panel of experts in the fields of renewable fuels, automotive and vehicle technology and fuel retailing to discuss important issues regarding E15 fuel, the so-called blend wall, and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The briefing will highlight how E15 and the RFS …

Alternative energy, biofuels, E15, RFS

CEC Debuts First Community-Owned Solar Project

Joanna Schroeder

The Clean Energy Collective (CEC) has cut the ribbon on the first community-owned solar array resulting from the Community Solar Garden Act. The 2010 Colorado legislation was sponsored by Representative Clair Levy as a means to encourage locally-produced clean energy. The Boulder Cowdery Meadows Solar Array was built on 3.5 acres of land located in South Boulder County and the …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

FREIF Adds Two Mexican Wind Farms to Portfolio

Joanna Schroeder

The First Reserve Energy Infrastructure Fund (FREIF I) of First Reserve and Renovalia Energy have announced the expansion of their Renovalia Reserve joint venture with the addition of two wind power plants in Southern Mexico. The investments diversify the Renovalia Reserve portfolio beyond Europe into North America and nearly double the power capacity of the wind farm assets worldwide. Financial …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, International, Wind

Mosaic Releases Large Solar Project for Investment

Joanna Schroeder

Mosaic, an online marketplace that connects investors to high-quality solar projects, has released its largest solar project to date with $700k in investment opportunities. This is the company’s second project in its Golden State Series, a $100 million series of solar investments available to residents of California. Mosaic’s first offering, a $153,000 project for a charity in San Diego, sold …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Facebook Blows Into Iowa with the Wind

Joanna Schroeder

According to a story from Radio Iowa, Jay Parikh, vice president of infrastructure engineering for Facebook, was in Altoona, Iowa earlier this week to officially announce they will be constructing a 476,000 square-foot data center. One of the reasons cited for the social media giant to choose Iowa: it’s commitment to renewable energy including wind energy. Parikh said the company …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Wind

Ski Area Powered by Renewables

Joanna Schroeder

It’s spring and most people are tired of the snow, but not Berkshire East, who has completed a solar installation that enables the Massachusetts family ski run area to be powered entirely from onsite renewable energy. The year-round resort recently developed a 500kW solar tracker farm that will produce 700,000kWh annually. The solar farm will supplement a 900kW wind turbine …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar, Wind