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2008 – A Split Year for Clean Energy Investment

New figures show record investment in clean energy despite drop off in the second half of 2008.

Boston-Power Raises $55M for Li-Ion Batteries

Company says its lithium-ion batteries will come to market in early 2009 through a relationship with HP.

Hoku Update on Polysilicon Facility

Company says construction is on schedule, despite continued financing difficulties.

By Bart King I live in one of the many brick, ranch-style houses built across the United States in the 1960s. Along with split-levels from the same period, these homes seem to be rock-solid and have weathered well over the years. But energy efficiency is a different story. My house is certainly “tighter” than the turn-of-the-century homes in more desirable in-town neighborhoods, but this time of year my furnace only takes brief pauses to catch its breath. I’ve done what I can—insulating hot water pipes, caulking windows and adding weather stripping. But I’ve had to prioritize the big jobs—weighing my desire for new windows, metal roofing, and more insulation against my willingness (or ability) to take on home-equity debt. That’s one reason why I’ve got my eye on the National Clean Energy Lending Authority, as proposed by U.S. Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.). Like hundreds of other lawmakers, lobbyists and scientists with an idea for saving the country, these two have written to president-elect Obama, asking for the creation of a $10 billion “green bank” to finance the transformation of the energy sector. In addition to funding alternative energy projects for which private financing has become […]

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: January 14, 2009

GM to Buy Lithium-Ion Batteries for the Chevy Volt from LG Chem Chrysler, Ford, and Other Automakers Pursue Electric Vehicles Honda and Toyota Face Off with New and Updated Hybrids Advanced Gasoline and Diesel Engines Also Offer High Fuel Economy Progressive Automotive X Prize Expanded to Include Major Automakers U.S. Army to Lease 4,000 Neighborhood Electric Vehicles GM to Buy Lithium-Ion Batteries for Chevy Volt from LG Chem General Motors Corp (GM) announced on Monday that South Korea’s LG Chem will supply the lithium-ion batteries for the automaker’s upcoming plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt. In mid-2007, GM awarded a battery development contract to Compact Power, Inc. (CPI), a subsidiary of LG Chem, under which LG Chem developed the lithium-ion batteries and CPI integrated them into battery packs. However, GM has decided to build the battery packs itself at a U.S. manufacturing plant to be located in Michigan. Facility preparations will begin in the near future, with the production tooling installed by mid-year to support actual production in 2010. While the GM facility is being prepared, CPI will continue to manufacture the battery packs for the Chevy Volt prototypes. The Chevy Volt’s 16-kilowatt-hour battery pack is T-shaped, with the longer […]