An Oregon teenager has been honored for his work on making solar cells more efficiently. Brian McCarthy of Liberty High School from Hillsboro, Oregon placed third and won a $50,000 scholarship in the 2008 Intel Science Talent Search: In his research, Brian McCarthy, 18, from Hillsboro, Oregon, investigated the viability of plastic solar cells as a new option in solar …
USDA Energy Grant Announcements
At last week’s Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) 2008, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that USDA will accept almost $221 million in loan and grant applications within USDA’s Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. “As demand for energy rises, these renewable energy loans and grants help farms and rural small businesses increase their investment in renewable energy …
25 x ’25 Energy Summit This Week
Coming up this week in Omaha is the National 25x’25 Renewable Energy Summit. The conference will feature leading renewable energy experts from across the nation. More than two dozen pre-eminent authorities on biofuels, biomass, wind, solar and other land-based renewable energy sources will address the summit. Presenters will include Dr. Steven Chu, Nobel laureate and director of the Lawrence Berkeley …
SOLAR 2008 Set for May
What’s being billed as “the premier technical conference for solar energy and energy efficiency professionals in the U.S.,” SOLAR 2008 is set for May 3rd-8th in, appropriately enough, sunny San Diego, California. This conference is in its 37th year and offers people in the solar industry information on emerging trends, technological breakthroughs, industry insight, and connections needed to stay ahead: …
Bush Urges US to “Get Off Oil”
As crude oil jumped to new record highs on the New York mercantile exchange due to falling oil inventories, trading over $104 a barrel, President Bush renewed his support for ethanol as a means toward energy independence. Speaking at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (WIREC) Wednesday, Bush said, “America has got to change its habits. We’ve got to …
Ohio Becoming Mecca for Green Collar Jobs
A new report says Ohio could be home to 174,000 advanced, renewable energy jobs by 2030. The report by the American Solar Energy Society, funded by the non-profit Ohio Business Development Coalition, says the Buckeye State is pioneering efforts to increase the number of skilled professionals in the renewable energy field: According to the Ohio Business Development Coalition (OBDC), the …
The Persian Gulf of Solar Energy
Arizona is being touted as becoming the “Persian Gulf of solar energy,” as a Spanish company unveils plans to build a three-square-mile sized solar power plant in the desert. This story on CNN says when it is done, it will be one of the largest solar plants in the world: Abengoa Solar, which has plants in Spain, northern Africa and …
“Golden” Energy for the ‘Golden State’
BT is getting a new solar power system for its Americas’ Headquarters in California. The new system will utilize a sun tracking system that’s meant to maximize the production of renewable energy. BT has announced it has entered into an agreement to begin construction next month (March) of an approximately 500 kW-AC solar photovoltaic system for its North American corporate …
Alternatives Could Be Winners from $100 Oil
With oil prices more than $100 a barrel, the big winners (besides the oil companies) from the price spike could be alternative energies… as people look for something other than pricey petroleum to meet their energy needs. This story on CNBC.com features hedge fund and private equity consultant John D’Agostino’s thoughts on the issue: The next wave of oil wealth …
Utah Legislature Considering Renewable Energy Bill
A bill before the Utah legislature that will encourage utilities to use renewable energy has received a boost from that state’s governor. This story in the Salt Lake Tribune says despite the support from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., it doesn’t mean he’s giving up his own push for more solar, wind and geothermal resources into the state’s electricity mix: During …