US Ethanol Plants Look to Tax-Free Financing
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Indonesia Says Needs US$22B Biofuels Investment
URL: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/37252/story.htm Website: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/37252/story.htm
Global Climate Index Marks First Year
The Global Climate 100 Index – the first global index focused on solutions to climate change – marked its first year with a total return of 22.22% from its launch on July 1, 2005. The Index had a strong return compared to 17.50% for the MSCI World Index for the same period.KLD Research & Analytics, Inc., a pioneering SRI investment research and index provider, created the Index. “What distinguishes the GC 100 from other environmental indexes is its broad diversification of international companies focused on solutions to climate change rather than a single ‘pure play’ sector or geographic region,” says Tom Kuh, managing director of KLD. “By design, there tends to be less volatility, and the companies are equally weighted in KLD?s Global Climate 100 Index.”KLD’s Global Climate 100 Index includes both large and small global companies across the value chain – producers, distributors, and consumers of renewable energies such as solar and wind, future fuels such as natural gas and hydrogen, and innovations or applications of new technologies that help to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. “KLD’s Global Climate 100 Index is designed for investors seeking specialized strategies to invest in these types of companies. Increasingly, institutional and individual […]
First LEED-Certified Airport Terminal – Boston
The new Delta Air Lines ‘Terminal A’ at Logan International Airport in Boston has achieved an environmental milestone as the world’s first air terminal to earn LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The terminal, the first to be built since 9/11, was designed by architecture firm HOK (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum), using Massport’s 2001 guidelines for sustainable airport construction. The facility maximizes sustainable building methods and technologies, overcoming the significant obstacles inherent in bringing green design to airports. To combat the accelerated heat island effect and stormwater runoff issues typically caused by impervious surfaces on runways, parking lots and large roofs areas, for example, Terminal A features a roofing membrane and paving designed to reflect heat from the building and special stormwater filtration devices to remove suspended solids and total phosphorous. Some of the project’s other sustainable strategies include: water-efficient plumbing and irrigation; extensive daylighting and high-insulation glass; energy-efficient electric lighting; construction waste recycling; and the use of recycled, local materials. These approaches take on particular significance when considering the large scale of the facility, which encompasses more than 640,000 square feet. With 10% of all materials on the job coming from recycled sources and 75% of construction […]
The 2006 SB20:Companies Changing the World (for the better!)
Over half of this year's list are renewable energy companies - the others are in water, forestry, natural products, pharmaceuticals and banking.
Creating Social Change:10 Innovative Technologies
Profiles of four social entrepreneurs that are solving problems in the developing world.
Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:July 13, 2006
News and EventsDOE Provides $96.4 Million for Home Weatherization DOE Releases Plan to Advance Cellulosic Ethanol New York Offers $20 Million for Cellulosic Ethanol Pilot Plant Missouri Requires 10 Percent Ethanol in Most Gasoline Sold New Science and Technology Facility Opens at NREL NREL Offsets All Its Energy Use with Renewable Energy Credits Energy ConnectionsTwo New Nuclear Plants Slated for Texas Gulf Coast News and EventsDOE Provides $96.4 Million for Home WeatherizationDOE announced last week that it will award $96.4 million in weatherization program grants to 19 states for energy efficiency improvements in low-income households. These 19 states begin their weatherization year in the summer; in April, $140.3 million in weatherization grants were announced for the remaining 31 states. Every state will receive weatherization grants this year, as well as the District of Columbia, the Navajo Nation, and the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona. The total funding for fiscal year 2006 is $243 million, which will provide weatherization to approximately 96,560 homes. See the DOE press release.DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program performs energy audits to identify the most cost-effective measures for each home. The energy-saving measures can include adding insulation, reducing air infiltration, servicing heating and cooling systems, and providing health and […]
SolarWorld Group Expanding Solar Wafer Production
SolarWorld AG is consistently implementing its group-wide production capacities expansion targets. Deutsche Solar AG will almost double its capacity for the manufacture of wafer-thin silicon discs to 350 Megawatts (MW) by the year 2008. To accomplish this goal, the SolarWorld subsidiary has constructed its new factory building at the integrated production location of Freiberg, Germany, over the last nine months. The topping out ceremony will be celebrated today, and the Federal Minister for the Environment, Sigmar Gabriel, will be attending. “The realization of our ‘Millennium Building’ to double wafer production is the largest expansion project of the group in Freiberg to date,” explained Prof. Dr. Peter Woditsch, Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Solar AG. “The employment of the latest technologies will make it possible to lastingly increase efficiency in wafer production and to save raw materials in this way. Thus, we will lead the market trend towards thinner and thinner wafers.” In the new factory, a highly advanced set of machines from our in-house development will be employed that will turn crystallized silicon into high-quality silicon columns and wafers. Initially the production capacity will be increased from currently 180 MW to 220 MW. “The investment volume into buildings, infrastructure, […]
ErSol Signs Polysilicon Supply Contract
ErSol Solar Energy AG (ErSol) has signed a contract for the supply of this scarce raw material with the world’s largest manufacturer of polysilicon for the solar and semiconductor industry, according to the company. The contract is valid from 2009 onwards and will enable ErSol to achieve an additional production output of at least 300 MWp. The silicon price has been fixed for the entire term of the contract. ErSol will make down payments in the two-digit millions, to be offset against subsequent payments for the purchase of silicon. “This contract is one building block for promoting our expansion plans in the solar cells division above and beyond the already-approved capacity of 180 MWp,” said CEO Dr. Claus Beneking, after the contract had been signed. ErSol AG is in an improved negotiating position, not least because of its successful entry to wafer production last year through the takeover of ASi Industries GmbH. “We have extremely good contacts with the well-known silicon manufacturers. These major suppliers, of which there are only six worldwide, prefer to sell directly to the users of their raw material,” Jrgen Pressl, Management Board member responsible for the Silicon and Wafers divisions within the ErSol Group, explains […]
Conergy Launches Commercial Finance Program
Conergy, Inc. has launched the Conergy Commercial Finance Program (CCFP), a financial solutions program for renewable energy projects 20 kW and larger for commercial, non-profit, and government customers. The program offers numerous lease options with flexible terms and conditions, along with experienced, dedicated resources. Conergy has established an exclusive partnership with Rockwell Financial Group, a financial services company with over 20 years experience providing financial solutions to the middle market. “Conergy is a full service partner to our dealers,” said Paul Benson, President. “Not only do we provide a complete range of products for the solar and small wind market, but we provide much needed technical and business support to our dealers through our knowledgeable sales and support teams, and Conergy DealerNet, our comprehensive 24×7 product ordering and account management tool. This program will provide Conergy dealers with a significant competitive advantage in winning projects in the commercial space while enabling Conergy to disproportionately grow its solar and small wind business.” Aylin Cankardes, President of Rockwell Financial Group said, “We are very excited to have partnered with Conergy for this program. Their strong position in the attractive renewable energy sector and caring for their customers is evident.While traditional lending institutions […]
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