A new Southeast Region of Cleantech Open is launching in Miami and Sean O’Hanlon has been named the Area Director for Florida, the Caribbean and Latin America. The Cleantech Open is a source of potential funding for cleantech entrepreneurs. Startups submit their ideas and technologies and compete for funding and along the way experts help mentor the entrepreneurs on how …
Is the Fossil-Fuel Industrial Era Over?
According to Ethical Markets’ Green Transition Scorecard, which tracks private investments growing the green economy since 2007, $4.1 trillion was invested or committed by the fourth quarter of 2012. The Green Transition Scoreboard tracks five sectors: Renewable Energy; Green Construction, Energy Efficiency; Corporate R&D and Cleantech. The report is based on Ethical Markets president Hazel Henderson’s research as a science …
Strong Policies Will Boost Clean Jobs
According to a new report from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), there were more than 300 clean energy and clean transportation projects in 2012 that created 110,000 jobs. E2 notes that the report comes at a time that groups and lobbyists backed by the fossil fuel industry are currently trying to derail clean energy policies including the Renewable Fuel Standard and state …
Marjority of Americans Support Reduction of CO2
According to a new nationwide survey, 65 percent of American think that climate change is a serious problem and a substantial majority support President Obama using his authority to reduce its main cause, carbon dioxide. The national poll, conducted on behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), surveyed 1,218 registered voters and was conducted immediately following the president’s State …
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu Resigns
In a letter to U.S. Energy Department employees today, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced his decision to not serve a second term. In his remarks he highlighted the tremendous progress of the last four years. Chu wrote, “Serving the country as Secretary of Energy, and working alongside such an extraordinary team of people at the Department, has been the greatest …
DOE Announces New SunShot Projects
The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded seven data-driven projects focused on reducing costs and accelerating solar energy deployment as part of the SunShot Initiative. DOE said the goal of the projects will result in viable methods for dramatically transforming the operations of solar researchers, manufacturers, developers, installers and policymakers, and speed the commercialization and deployment of affordable clean energy. …
Regional Clean Energy Challenge Winners Named
Aerosol Control Technologies (ACT) of Washington University in St. Louis, has won the $10,000 Missouri Clean Energy Student Challenge. The team will compete for more than $300,000 in prizes in the second annual Clean Energy Student Challenge on April 4, 2013 in Chicago. ACT is developing an advanced particulate matter capture system that will significantly improve diesel engine efficiency using …
Sungevity Secures $125 Million
Sungevity has completed a series of venture capital and project financings securing up to $125 million. The funding includes $40 million in equity financings raised in 2012 led by Oakland-based impact investment fund, Brightpath Capital Partners, and home improvement retailer, Lowe’s. New equity investors Vision Ridge Partners, Craton Equity Partners and Eastern Sun Capital Partners, LLC, also participated. The funding …
Ceres Awarded Zayed Future Energy Prize
Ceres has been awarded the top prize in the non-governmental organization (NGO) category of the Zayed Future Energy Prize that honors innovative companies who have had a positive impact and shown strong leadership in the renewable energy and sustainability sectors. The award is part of the World Future Energy Summit, and this year’s awards attracted 579 submissions from companies in …
Book Review – Build the New City!
Here is an idea to take into the new year – build a new city – or a utopia for the future. Author Todd Durant proposes the U.S. “Build The New City!” to solve three major problems: create millions of jobs, preparation for population growth and rising sea levels and national pride. Some of our readers may be familiar with …