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Morgan Stanley Backs SunPower's Access Program

Financial services firm Morgan Stanley has agreed to provide up to $190 million in financing to solar installation projects contracted by Silicon Valley-based SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWR). According to a release, the funds will be used for future commercial and public agency solar electric power installations under SunPower’s Access(TM) program through 2008. The program allows companies and public agencies to purchase solar-generated electricity as an alternative to purchasing the solar power systems themselves. With the SunPower Access program, SunPower designs, constructs and maintains solar electric power systems to the customer’s requirements. Rather than paying for the system itself, the customer pays for the solar electricity generated over a long-term power purchase agreement. The agreement typically includes options, subject to certain conditions, for the customer to renew the agreement, return the equipment, transfer the equipment to a new site, or purchase the system outright. According to the company, SunPower solar systems have a projected life of more than 25 years, depending on site location and other variables. Under reported terms of the agreement, Morgan Stanley and SunPower jointly own a holding company that will finance project companies established for individual installations. The project companies will purchase solar systems from SunPower and […]

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Ethanex Energy to Acquire Ethanol Plant

Ethanex Energy, Inc. (OTCBB: EHNX), a development stage company planning to engage in the ownership and operation of ethanol plants as well as development and sales of low-cost ethanol production technology, has agreed to purchase an ethanol plant located in Sutherland, Nebraska from Midwest Renewable Energy, LLC (MRE). The facility currently produces 26 million gallons per year (MGY) and is undergoing a two-phase expansion. Each phase is planned to add an additional 42.5MGY of production capacity to the plant, which would bring the plant’s total capacity to 111MGY upon completion. The first phase of the expansion is scheduled for completion in Q308, and the second phase in Q109. “This acquisition will transform our company. It will provide Ethanex with immediate production and revenue at a cost that we believe is below that of building a new facility,” said Al Knapp, President and CEO of Ethanex. “This facility will also serve as a showcase to demonstrate our fractionation platform. We expect that sales of integrated fractionation systems to third parties will become an additional avenue for our company’s growth in the future.” Ethanex plans to add its integrated fractionation platform to the plant in order to increase efficiency and profitability. Ethanex […]

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Private Equity Firm to Invest $1B in Renewables

Hudson Capital Management LP is planning $1 billion for its first renewable energy investment fund, according to a report by Dow Jones. The Teaneck, N.J.-based firm headed by former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner Neil Auerbach, has received $60 million in commitments from anchor investors including Macquarie Global Private Equity Securities Fund and Wolfson Group for its Hudson Clean Energy Partners LP fund, Dow Jones says. The report states, “The fund will invest in renewable generation and clean energy operating companies in sectors including wind, solar and biomass.”

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Optimum Energy Raises $5M

Optimum Energy LLC, a Seattle-based software company that develops technology to sharply reduce energy use in high rises and other large buildings, has raised $5 million in venture capital. The company says its second-round financing was quickly picked up almost entirely by Columbia Pacific Management Inc. of Seattle. Optimum Energy says its patented Hartman Technologies can reduce energy consumption and operating costs of HVAC systems in large government, commercial and institutional buildings by 30 to 50%. The company says its technology has achieved energy reduction targets in buildings in Washington and California. Optimum Energy also says it recently secured a contract to retrofit high rises in Hong Kong with its technology. “Large buildings use a huge amount of electricity for heating and cooling,” said Nathan Rothman, CEO of Optimum Energy. “By cutting their energy consumption virtually in half, we help building owners save a tremendous amount of money and reduce the size of their carbon footprint.” About Optimum Energy Founded in 2005 and based in Seattle, Optimum Energy’s technologies have been developed by Tom Hartman, an internationally recognized HVAC expert.

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Investing in Water and Water ETFs

URL: http://seekingalpha.com/article/55208-investing-in-water-and-water-etfs?source=yahoo Website: http://seekingalpha.com/article/55208-investing-in-water-and-water-etfs?source=yahoo     

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New Reports Increase Pressure on Bali

A U.N. report released today says that the world has less than two decades to reverse the trend of growing greenhouse gas emissions in order to avert massive human and economic setbacks, as well as ecological disasters. The U.N. Human Development Report calls for swift and collective action, putting even greater pressure on world leaders to lay the foundations of a successful initiative to combat global warming at the U.N. Climate Conference in Bali, Indonesia next month. The report states that the world’s poorest, citizens of developing nations, will suffer the most from climate change creating “life-long cycles of disadvantage.” According to the report climate disasters between 2000 and 2004 affected 262 million people, 98% of whom live in developing nations. Even if nations worldwide begin cutting greenhouse gases immediately, global temperatures will rise through 2050 due to accumulated carbon emissions, the report says, and greater flooding, drought and famine resulting from higher temperatures will be hardest on those who cannot rely on public investment. “We could be on the verge of seeing human development reverse for the first time in 30 years,” Kevin Watkins, lead author of the report, said in a Reuters interview. The U.N. Human Development Report […]

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HP Expands Renewable Energy Use

In an effort to cut costs and reduce the company’s carbon footprint, HP is installing a roof-mounted solar power installation at its San Diego facility and securing wind-produced electricity for its operations in Ireland. HP signed an agreement with SunPower Corp. for the installation of a 1-megawatt solar electric power system. Initial estimates indicate that the project will save HP approximately $750,000 in energy costs during the next 15 years, and allow HP earn renewable energy credits. HP will be taking advantage of incentives provided under the California Public Utilities Commission’s California Solar Initiative, which aims to increase solar energy use statewide. The international computing and printing company will not own the installation, rather it will buy the power produced from SunPower (approximately 10% of the facility’s needs) at a reduced, locked-in rate under SunPower’s AccessT program. The HP solar electric system will be financed and owned by a third-party financier. In Ireland, HP will purchase nearly 90% of it’s energy from Airtricity, a renewable energy company developing and operating wind farms across Europe and North America. Through the contract, HP will purchase more than 80 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy. It is estimated that the agreement will save HP approximately […]

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