The REmapping World Initiative that was launched in March of 2008 is finially complete, this according to 3TIER. The goal of the program was to address the biggest barrier to global renewable energy adoption, which is the lack of reliable information regarding resource potential. Today, the company released the global solar map and dataset and has already released a 5 …
World’s First Hybrid Biomass-Solar Refinery Announced
A Colorado company has come up with a way to harness to power of the sun to unlock the energy in biomass. This post from the CalFinder blog says Sundrop Fuels has developed the world’s first hybrid solar-biomass refinery that uses concentrated solar power (CSP) to heat plant scraps and wood chips to create biofuel: The use of solar power …
Idaho Power to Add More Geothermal Energy
While alternative energy continues to get a boost from the Obama administration, geothermal still doesn’t seem to be garnering much of the spotlight. However, the energy sector is growing and recently the state of Idaho announced that it will increase its percentage of energy output from wind, solar and biomass and is looking to add more geothermal derived energy. Based …
Petra Solar Announces $40M Growth Financing
Solar energy is not just for roofs. Petra Solar, a company that specializes in pole mounted solar systems for utilities, announced that it has raised $40 million in funding to be used for expansion initiatives. Current investors in the company participated in this round including Element Partners, Blue Run Ventures, OnPoint Technologies (U.S. Army’s Venture Fund) and Kuwait’s National Technology …
French Engineering Firm to Buy Cal. Solar Company
A California-based solar company capable of building solar facilities that put out as much energy as a plant running on non-renewable fuels is being bought by a French engineering firm best known for its nuclear capabilities. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Areva will buy Ausra, a startup specializing in large-scale solar power: The deal will give Areva a way …
Renewable Energy at Iowa Power Farming Show
The mission of Harness Nature (HN) is to design, market, install, and service renewable, sustainable, alternative energy sources in the Midwest, which is why they were exhibiting at the Iowa Power Farming Show this week in Des Moines. “We’re a renewable energy company based out of Des Moines,” says Harness Nature Team member Randy Skeie, pictured here on the left …
Utahns to Get Training for Wind, Solar, Alt Fuels Jobs
About 2,000 Utahns who need good jobs will get some training in fields looking to hire: alternative fuels, renewable energy, wind, solar and geothermal power. The Deseret News reports that a $4.6 million stimulus bucks grant will pay for training for displaced workers, disadvantaged youths and veterans: “We’re still working out some of the details,” department spokesman Curt Stewart said …
Solar, Biodiesel Make for a Green Valentine’s Day
Red might be the color of Valentine’s Day, but green is the attitude for the movie “Valentine’s Day.” The new Ashton Kutcher movie “Valentine’s Day” opens Feb. 12, and this story from USA Today says that Kutcher, who plays a florist in the movie, told Mother Nature Network’s Ecollywood that they had a green set: There was a lot of …
Obama to Slash Gov’t GHGs by 28%
For those of you who still have President Obama’s State of the Union speech in your mind, then you may remember his call for the government to slash greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). He has followed through. Less than a week after the pronouncement, Obama has issued an Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability for the federal government to slash GHG …
Solar Whale Boat to Clean Up Waterways
Entrepreneurs around the world have devised some clever ways to address global warming and here is another another one: a solar whale boat. Known as the Physalia, this 100 percent self sufficient energy amphibious garden is shaped like a whale and designed to clean up polluted waterways throughout Europe. Physalia means water bubble in Greek and according to Vincent Callebaut …