The countdown to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference is on as the talks begin in six days. The conference, December 7-18, 2009 is a meeting of the UN to hash out a successor to the Kyoto protocol that is set to expire in 2012. The aim is to prevent global warming, and similar talks date back to the 1992 Earth …
Montana Announces First Community Wind Project
Several counties in central-Montana are working together to develop, what could be, the largest wind development project of its kind in the state. National Wind, working with Billings-based Montana Wind Resources, LLC and along with area ranchers, have formed Judith Highlands Energy, LLC to develop over 500 megawatts (MW) of community-owned wind projects. “Area ranchers are realizing that National Wind’s …
An Inside View of the Brazilian Ethanol Industry
Oi from Brasil! I have spent the last three days learning about the ethanol industry in Brazil. I have been traveling with a group of 20 international journalists in the State of Sao Paulo, where 60 percent of the country’s sugarcane is grown and consequently where the majority of the ethanol is produced. I’ll be writing a series of posts …
Project LIBERTY Receives Significant Support From IOWA
Corn growers heard from Iowa Lt. Governor Patty Judge at POET’s Project LIBERTY Field Day. She said, “We are seeing for ourselves that cellulosic ethanol is here, that it is viable and that it will transform renewable fuel as we know it today”. It was a cold, breezy day and she talked General Wesley Clark out of his jacket. She …
Geothermal Research Gets boost with DOE Grant
Now here is an energy resource that we don’t hear or talk enough about: geothermal. Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS) projects produce electricity using heat extracted through engineered fluid flow paths in hot rock. Geothermal energy has the ability to produce electricity 24 hours a day. Electricity produced by wind has been criticized for its inability to produce electricity at all …
Patrick Hessini Joins Avant Energy as VP
Patrick Hessini has joined the Minneapolis-based Avant Energy team as Vice President. Hessini’s main role will be to lead Avant’s consulting business and help to develop additional innovative energy projects and programs. According to Avant Energy president Derick Dahlen, “Patrick enhances our ability to help municipal and cooperative utilities, educational institutions and corporations achieve their energy management goals.” Hessini joins …
President Clinton Discusses Economy, Energy at NACS
President Clinton was the keynote speaker during the closing session at the 2009 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) conference. His focus during his speech was the American economy, with a few words on the state of health care, education and energy in the mix. But the big question was: is the recession over? His answer: “Yes. No. Maybe.” If …
National Wind Challenges President Obama
Earlier this week, National Wind CEO Leon Steinberg, challenged President Obama to take a stand by insisting that legislators pass an energy bill establishing a federal oversight committee to implement an interstate transmission highway. Steinberg likens the challenge as similar to President “Ike” Eisenhower’s initiative of creating a federal interstate system. The only difference is that while the nation’s interstate …
CornPlus Ethanol Recognized for Energy Efficiency
Corn Plus Ethanol of Winnebago, Minnesota has been honored for energy efficiency and their commitment to being “green.” Corn Plus was one of five Minnesota businesses recognized by Alliant Energy with an “Excellence in Energy Efficiency Award” for leadership and vision in integrating energy efficiency into the design, construction or operation of their businesses. The awards were presented at the …