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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:August 9, 2007

DOE to Award up to $21.5 Million for Vehicle Efficiency Research Toyota to Road-Test Plug-In Hybrids in Japan and the United States Hybrid Sales on Record Course Despite Waning Interest New Fuel-Efficient Jet Prototype Features Blended-Wing Design DOE Announces New Criteria for Energy Star Refrigerators IBM Says Mainframes Yield Big Energy Savings in Data Centers DOE to Award up to $21.5 Million for Vehicle Efficiency ResearchDOE announced on Tuesday that it will award up to $21.5 million to 11 cost-shared research and development projects with a goal of improving the fuel efficiency of light-duty vehicle engines. Light-duty vehicles include cars, vans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. When combined with the industry cost-share, the investment will total nearly $43 million, with funding expected to begin this fiscal year and continue through fiscal year 2010. The 11 projects will focus on optimizing fuel economy in ethanol-powered engines; developing advanced lubrication systems; and exploring high-efficiency, clean-combustion diesel engines.Seven of the projects will aim to improve the fuel economy in light-duty vehicles that operate on E-85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) and in flex-fuel vehicles, which burn either E85 or gasoline. Five companies in Michigan and one each in Virginia […]

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LEED for Green Neighborhoods

The pilot phase has begun on a new LEED: LEED for Neighborhood Development – the first national standard for neighborhood design. A collaboration between the US Green Building Council, the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council, the new rating system integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building. LEED certification will provide independent, third-party verification that a development’s location and design meet accepted high standards for environmentally responsible, sustainable, development. The program emphasizes the design and construction elements that knit buildings together in to a neighborhood, and provides guidelines for better location, design and construction of new residential, commercial and mixed use development. Specifically, the pilot program for neighborhood development evaluates projects in four areas: – smart location and linkage– neighborhood pattern and design– green construction and technology– innovation and design process238 projects across the U.S. are participating in the pilot phase, which concludes in early 2008. Comments will be incorporated and the final version of LEED for Neighborhood Development will be released later that year. Learn more: [sorry this link is no longer available]

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Here Comes the Electric Truck

Are electric trucks feasible? UK-based Smith Electric Vehicles is proving they are. The company manufactures all-electric, highway-ready trucks and vans. This year, it introduced the Newton truck and Edison van in Europe. Both are totally battery-powered, and are capable of 50 mph and up to 150 miles on one battery charge. The company just celebrated its first order from Royal Mail in the UK – a test order for its 33,000 fleet of commercial delivery vehicles. The adoption of the Low Emission Zone in London and expected road pricing in 10 other urban conurbations across the UK will significantly increase the addressable market for electric vehicles. Now Smith is coming to the U.S. – it’s building a $30 million production plant capable of producing 1000 vehicles a year. It will produce US-specific versions of the urban delivery vehicles, Edison and Newton. Smith is planning another plant for 2009 that can produce up to 5000 vehicles a year for North America. The company says it’s already receiving about 25 enquiries a week from major fleet operators in the US. In the UK, Smith sources vehicle shells and chassisy from major automotive manufacturers and then assembles them for their own vehicles. The […]

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Hoku Signs Contract for Polysilicon Plant

Hoku Materials, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NasdaqGM:HOKU) has been awarded a contract to JH Kelly LLC, a Washington-based general contractor, to provide construction services for Hoku Materials’ polysilicon production plant located in Pocatello, Idaho. The contract is for construction services estimated at $120 million for a production facility capable of producing 2,000 metric tons of polysilicon annually with additional incentives of up to $5 million if certain construction schedule milestones, cost targets, and safety standards are met. “We are excited about our contract with JH Kelly. Their experience and partnership further our efforts to construct a polysilicon production plant,” noted Dustin Shindo, chairman of the board of directors, president and CEO of Hoku Scientific. “JH Kelly has more than eighty years of experience, and has performed construction services for polysilicon, chemical process, and semiconductor facilities, making them a solid choice to be our construction services provider.” “Hoku has impressed us with their approach to building their polysilicon plant,” said Dan Evans, Chairman of JH Kelly. “We look forward to working with them on this exciting project.” Website: [sorry this link is no longer available]     

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Veolia to Acquire Certain Allied Waste Assets

Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc. has signed an agreement with Allied Waste Industries to acquire certain of Allied’s integrated solid waste landfill and collection assets in the east-central and southeastern United States. The assets include a collection company and landfill near Claypool, Indiana; collection operations and two landfills in eastern Kentucky; a solid waste collection company and landfill in Wayne County, Illinois; and four solid waste collection companies, two transfer stations and a landfill in west-central Georgia. These operations are expected to generate approximately $54 million in revenue in 2007. Completion of the acquisition is subject to final regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. “These operations will provide Veolia with four new, vertically integrated service platforms that will further expand the company’s presence in southern Illinois, and establish our presence in northern Indiana, eastern Kentucky and west-central Georgia. The five landfills contain an aggregate of nearly 70 million cubic yards of permitted landfill airspace,” said Richard Burke, President and COO of Veolia ES Solid Waste, Inc. Mr. Burke added that this acquisition “further advances Veolia’s commitment to the active pursuit of acquisitions that expand our vertically integrated solid waste operations throughout North America, thereby enabling us to extend the […]

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