Ecotech Institute Opens Its Doors to New, Progressive Facility in Aurora

Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainable design, today announced that students are now taking classes in its brand new facility. Located at 1400 South Abilene Street in Aurora, the school has transformed a vacant, large-footprint building into... 

Teams Prepare for Round Two in the 2010-2011 Clean Energy Prize Competition

Ideas for new green-energy businesses ranging from a credit card bonus points program to fund renewable energy projects to a speed bump that generates electricity for roadside electronics will go head to head Jan. 21 in Round-2 competition for the 2010-2011 Clean Energy Prize. The competition, presented by DTE Energy and the University of Michigan... 

State and Local Regulatory Hurdles Can Slow Clean Energy Innovations

Complex pricing, expansive approval processes and lack of incentives to use low carbon energy sources are some of the unintended consequences of the highly regulated energy sector that inhibit “clean energy” innovations, according to a Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation review of state and local laws presented at an energy conference at the... 

Electric vehicles, infrastructure power 2009 Beyond Oil conference

Shiny new electric vehicles, emitting only low-whirring sounds, glistened as they darted among the few sun breaks in Seattle outside a Cascadia Center conference titled Beyond Oil: The Sustainable Communities Initiative. The all-electric Ford Focus made its debut at the late-October event, co-sponsored by Idaho National Laboratory. Ford’s Focus... 

Natural Resources Canada: Government of Canada Invests in Saskatchewan Biofuels

Thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada, up to $77.75 million over seven years will support the production of ethanol in Saskatchewan, sustain job creation and help stimulate the economy. Ray Boughen, Member of Parliament for Palliser, on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced that... 

RES Americas Announces Completion Of Hackberry Wind Project

Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES Americas), a national leader in the development and construction of wind power projects, announced completion and commencement of commercial operations of its Hackberry Wind Project, a $350 million wind farm in Shackelford County, Texas. RES Americas is the developer, construction contractor, operator of the project,... 

Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing Announces $13.7 Million in New Solar Module Contracts

Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing USA, Inc., a U.S.-based China manufacturing company specializing in products for customers in the industries of solar energy, aerospace, wireless telecommunications, medical equipment and automotive, today announced that its solar division, AmeriSolar, has signed two new solar module contracts in November valued at... 

Regional Climate Policy Could Damage Minnesota’s Economy

An economic study released today shows a regional cap-and-trade policy would severely handicap Minnesota’s economy, causing sharp increases in energy prices and reducing net employment in Minnesota by 21,000 jobs by 2015. The report, titled “Economic Analysis of the Impact of a Midwest Regional Climate Policy on Minnesota,” was written... 

Puget Sound Energy Purchases Mint Farm Power Plant

Puget Sound Energy last week completed the $240 million purchase of a 310-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant in Longview, Wash., the latest step in the utility’s long-range effort to ensure a reliable, cost-effective energy supply for its growing customer base in Western Washington. PSE signed an agreement in September to buy the 11-month-old... 

Global Solar Leaders and UNEP Outline Central Role for Solar in Climate Solution at United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland

Representatives from three leading international solar companies and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) — Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech’s Chairman and CEO, Jeremy Leggett, Executive Chairman of Solarcentury, Mike Ahearn, Chairman and CEO of First Solar, and Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director — gathered at the United Nations...