Solar On the Brink of Dominating Power Production
So says Jon Luoma in Yale Environment 360, a publication of Yale University. Way back in 1931, Thomas Edison said that he’d put his money on solar as a source of power.

Apparently, Edison was right, because in spite of its small footprint as far as current power production goes, solar is gaining momentum with mainstream planners and producers. This is almost certainly a trend that will explode into the forefront of power generation as time goes on. More …

Wind Powered Ships Make a Return
A shipment of French wine was delivered to Ireland by a wind-powered ship for the first time in many years. If the company that delivered it has its way, however, it’s only the first of many deliveries that will come into port on clean wind power rather than under the power of polluting diesel engines.

Because 90% of the world’s goods are delivered by ship, using alternative energy such as wind power instead of diesel in as many as possible would make a huge difference in the rate of global warming and also reduce pollution. More …

Paying for Reforestation Could Be Feasible
If wealthy nations were willing to pony up a billion dollars annually, the rate of deforestation in tropical rainforests could be halted, or at least slowed appreciably. In addition, about half a million metric tons of CO2 would be eliminated.

Whether the wealthy nations of the world will participate in such a program may make the difference between the survival or death of rainforests and old growth forests in many parts of the world. More …

Germany On Top With Solar Thanks to Subsidies
The German government is determined to boost the country’s solar power generation and is using generous subsidies to encourage its citizens to install rooftop solar. So far, even in this not-so-sunny country, solar is still king.

While it leads the world in solar power generation, many wonder if that will continue if and when German leaders reduce the incentives they’ve been using to promote solar power. More …

Green Travel Is Now Easier With Google Maps
Everyone uses Google Maps to get driving directions, but what if you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint by walking as many places as possible? Well, now you can still get directions from Google and be eco-friendly too.

Google Maps now provides walking routes for those who would rather use their feet than their cars. Just one more indication that Green is going mainstream. More …

First US Community to Be Powered Completely By Wind
Rockport, Missouri is small with a population of only 1,300. This doesn’t detract from the fact that it now receives all of its electricity from wind power. Four turbines, part of a group of 75 installed in 3 counties, provide all the power that Rockport needs for its homes and businesses.

The townspeople were pleasantly surprised to find that there are two other side-benefits from the windpower project. The windpower provider pays hefty taxes to the town and landowners can lease their land for wind turbine use. Truly a win-win situation for the town and the environment. More …

Climate Change Toll Would Mean Billions Lost for States
A new study has determined the projected loss in dollars for several states, according to the Center for Integrative Environmental Research. The University of Maryland group which studied the impace of climate change on the US as a whole last year, studied the effect of rising oceans levels, loss of tourism, drought and other factors in the study.

The states studied were Ohio, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey and Michigan. The western states, especially, will almost certainly suffer from drought  which will have a drastic effect on the states’ inhabitants and tourism. More …

California to Offer Low Cost Loans for Solar, Energy Efficiency
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger put his signature on a bill that will allow cities to loan money to small businesses and homes so that they can install solar panels for electricity and hot water. The loans can also be used to improve energy efficiency by upgrading air conditioners or windows.

Paying back the loans would be integrated with residents’ utility or property tax payments, which would make it a seamless process and easier to administer for the cities. More …

Canada’s Oktok Solar Community A Role Model
With solar panels on almost every garage, this community is able to provide hot water, electricity and heat even in the coldest days of the Canadian winter. Geothermal storage of the day’s solar heat is the reason and it’s showing how well solar works even in cold climates.

With ingenuity and a system of storage for future use, solar energy can be a viable option for almost any climate. More …

US Schools Are Going Green
School administrators are changing their views from thinking that they can’t afford to green their schools to realizing that they can’t afford not to. With energy costs rising daily, heating, cooling and providing water for schools is getting almost impossible with traditional methods.

That’s why, especially when they construct new schools, the bottom line is starting to include things like geothermal heating systems, solar panels and even waterless urinals. More …

Nissan Predicts That There’s Plenty of Profit in Electric Cars
Zero tailpipe emissions and a range of 100 miles in the US versions is Nissan’s goal for the line of electric cars it’s planning to start selling in 2010. Unlike other EV manufacturers, Nissan is adamant that there will be no range-extending gasoline engine on their models.

The European models will have about half the range and may take longer to charge, which reflects the difference in patience and driving habits between Europeans and Americans. More …

All Of Europe Powered By Solar?
Will a vast grid of renewable energy someday power all of Europe? This is the plan gaining momentum in Europe, where several leaders have voiced support for tying solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy into a giant “pipeline” of DC transmission lines that would funnel solar from North Africa’s Sahara desert, wind from the Netherlands and other renewable energy to homes and businesses.

Because of the intensity of the sun’s rays in the Sahara, photovoltaic cells would have 3 times the power of other solar panels and DC lines would allow for power to be carried farther without the energy loss inherent in AC lines. More …

Low Cost LEDs May Revolutionize Lighting
Purdue University scientists have discovered a way to drastically reduce the cost of LEDs by eliminating the costly sapphire base that they required up until now. They replaced it with silicon wafers coated with metal.

Researchers note that if all the incandescent and fluorescent bulbs in the United States and other countries were replaced with these “solid-state” LEDs, power consumption could be cut by as much as ten percent. More …

Tesco Adds To Its Green Ways With Straw
The European grocery chain has already instituted many energy-saving measures. Three-quarters of its vehicle fleet runs on alternative fuels and it has labeled the biggest part of its products with carbon counts.

Now, in addition to plans for energy from wind-turbines, Tesco will build a facility that gets its power and heat from a steam-engine that runs on straw. Even the ashes will be recycled and excess energy will be sold back to the power grid. More …

Will Our Next Energy Source Be Super Bugs?
Extremophiles are strange organisms that survive in environments that would kill any other organism. They can breathe metal and nuclear waste and boiling toxins are meat and drink to them - literally. These little “bugs” can even heal themselves.

What does this have to do with alternative energy? Well, scientists think that we may be able to use their survival secrets to create new sources of renewable energy. More …

Approval Comes For Giant Texas Windpower Project
They say that everything is bigger in Texas and this project might prove that true. With a price tag of $4.93 billion this wind-power transmission project will be able to power 3.7 million air-conditioned homes in the middle of a hot Texas summer.

Texas already has 5,300 installed megawatts of windpower, which makes it the leader in windpower production. This new expansion will bring power from remote parts of Texas to major cities like Dallas and Houston. More …
Ontario Joins The Western Climate Initiative
Six US states and four Canadian provinces now belong to the WCI, a regional carbon trading pact formed to combat global warming. The WCI’s target for cutting greenhouse gases to 15% below 2005 would be accomplished by capping emissions and trading offset credits.

Environmentalists from both sides of the border were heartened by the announcement. The other Canadian provinces that have joined the WCI are British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec. More …
Al Gore Warns of Need for Drastic Alternative Energy Action
The former vice president warned in a speech that the future of the US “as we know it” and the future of civilization is at risk, if steps aren’t taken to convert the power grid in America to carbon-free energy.

Going far beyond what even most scientists and experts have called for, Mr. Gore warned that “every bit has to change” as far as America’s use of fossil fuel and dependence on foreign oil. More …
Solar Umbrella House Is 100% Sun-Powered
Built by the owners/arhitects, this house is stunning, yet very simple and unassuming. It’s self-ventilating and temperature management is built-in, as are radiant floors, solar hot water and even a pool heater.

Other environmentally-friendly touches are a storm water recycling system and earth-friendly construction materials. Completely off the grid, this home is economical and very livable. More …
Low-Speed Electric Vehicles Debut In Quebec
ZENN Motor Company and NEMO electric vehicles will soon be allowed on Quebec’s roads, but only on those that are posted at 50 kilometers (31 miles) per hour. They also must have an orange sign attached and stay in the extreme right lane.

Even with these restrictions, the project is thought to be a good trial for the EV’s and could lead to many more being produced if all goes well. More …

Solar Powered Plane In The Works
Trina Solar LTD will be making the photovoltaic cells for France’s Hy-Bird fuel cell and solar powered plane. It will take almost 300 of them to power the take-offs and landings while an electric engine handles cruising aloft.

With an assembly date planned for the latter part of 2009, this plane could prove to be the salvation of cash-strapped airlines as they struggle to cope with rising fuel prices and fewer passengers.
More …

Cape Cod Projects Get Closer to Reality
On Cape Cod, nothing has generated more passionate arguments than a wind power project designed to provide power to the Cape’s homeowners with alternative energy. However, two other projects that are poised to harness the tidal energy in the waters offshore are getting closer to implementation.

Near Edgartown, in the Muskegat Channel, 50 tidal turbines may soon be generating enough power for 1500 homes. And on the other side of the sound, 150 turbines have been proposed in another tidal farm that could generate 1-3 megawatts, if the ocean current is strong enough. More …

Solar Tree: A Radical New Concept for Solar Rooftops
With an almost bird-like ability to change the position of its “wings”, this structure of solar structure designed by Gurdeep Sandhu is able to adjust to the sun’s intensity and angle. Most remarkable, it folds up at night and is easy to get to for maintenance and repairs.

The Solar Tree can even be placed in your garden and can be configured to power some or all of your home’s power need. Innovative, yet simple. More …

Recycling Electronics Will Add to Cost In Ontario, CA
If you’re planning to buy a computer, TV, monitor or fax machine after next April in Ontario, plan to pay more for it. Fees ranging from 32 cents to $13 will be assessed to the manufacturers with more electronics to be added to the list in future.

The money will go to set up recycling centers for the more than 90,000 tons of e-waste disposed of each year and it’s expected that the companies will pass all or some of the cost on to consumers. More …

Solar-Thermal Market Could Heat Up In US With Tax Credits
So says Fred Morse, senior advisor of US operations for Abengoa Solar of Spain. The former advisor to President Nixon, who ordered him to investigate how solar energy could be used in the US way back in 1969, has been studying solar ever since.

Morse has 3 decades of solar power research behind him and shares it in an interview that explores how solar thermal energy plants could become competitive with conventional power plants.
More …

Floating Wind Farms Closer to Reality
With the data that NASA has collected with its QuikSCAT satellite, scientists are better able to plan the location of offshore wind farms. With no hills or structures to block the wind, the ocean has the potential to support many windpower installations, but the trick is in siting them.

Even though windpower is slightly less efficient than solar power, being able to take advantage of vast tracts of ocean surface with floating wind turbines could make up the difference. More …

Worldwatch Reports Growth in Renewable Energy Jobs
2.3 million people are employed in the renewable energy field worldwide, according to the Worldwatch Institute’s latest report. This number includes direct and indirect employment and is rising.

Countries with governments that give “consistent, clear support”, such as Germany and Spain, have the most jobs. This report also notes that as jobs in renewable energy fields have risen, jobs in fossil fuel industries have fallen. More …
Duckweed… Superhero?
It’s very small and grows very fast, but few would even give this pond weed a second look, if it wasn’t for a team of Rutgers University scientists who say it might just save the world. Not only can it be used for biomass; it also is good for bioremediation and carbon capture.

How can a simple flowering plant do all of the above and reduce coliform bacteria and mosquito populations too? More …
The Truth About Tar Sands Oil
There’s a debate going on in Canada about whether or not to extract more oil from the vast Alberta tar sands. With oil prices rising and demands for escaping foreign oil dependence growing, many in government and the public sphere are saying that it’s only a matter of time before the tar sands will be exploited.

Others, however, are calling the idea of getting oil from the sands one of the worst ecological blunders the world could make, because of the devastation and greenhouse gas emissions it would produce.
More …
New World Trade Center Will Be Powered by Fuel Cells
The NYPA announced that the new building will be the site of one of the world’s biggest fuel cell installation. The fuel cells, using equipment from UTC Power will cost $10.6 million.

In addition to on-site fuel cells, the building will receive clean power from offsite via transmission lines in an effort to showcase the greater energy security achieved by not depending on foreign oil. More …

Investments in Green Technologies Climb
While Europe and the Middle East outpace the rest of the world, investment in environmentally sustainable technology has now become commonplace for the movers and shakers of the financial world.

Total investments in clean technology rose 41% from 2005 levels and are poised to rise even higher. More …
Weather Puts a Damper on Biofuels Market
The recent stormy weather that brought flooding to America’s midwestern farms had a huge impact on corn, soy and other biofuel components. With the forecast indicating that this type of weather, possibly a result of global warming, is here to stay into the future, biofuels are looking less and less like a good idea.

Prominent experts on the environment and alternative energy are suggesting that we would be wise not to pin our hopes on alternative energy sources that are easily affected by the weather.
More …
Trash to Energy Comes to Ontario
Plasco Energy Group is set to build the first trash to energy plant in North America in Ontario. Impossible until now, Plasco’s low heat method of gasifying trash is the secret to its success in generating power.

While there have been other trash incinerators, none has used this method to generate more power than they consume. More …
New Wave Generator Idea Based on a Snake
The Anaconda, a project from the University of Southampton, may someday provide the solution to the problem of generating wave energy profitably and practically. It’s a long, thin enclosed tube with a turbine at one end.

How it produces energy is the fascinating subject of a video and an explanation that has to be seen to be believed. More …
BLM Reverses Moratorium on Solar Installations
Just days after it had announced that there would be no more permits for solar plants on public land, the Bureau of Land Management had a change of heart. This may have been because of the huge public outcry that arose around its decision.

With 125 major projects in the works, solar power companies weren’t about to just roll over and neither was the public. More …

Solar Tower Concept Heats Up Solar Power
Up to 200,000 homes could be powered by a huge solar tower that looks like a chimney, but doesn’t emit gases. The concept has been used already in Spain in a demonstration project that worked well on a much smaller scale, but blew over in a storm.

The new tower would be much taller, made of concrete and designed to last at least 50 years. While the idea isn’t new, the scale and design have been improved and updated to be more cost-effective and powerful. More …

Ford’s Fumes-To-Fuel Program Creates Power From Paint
Solving two problems with one solution, Ford Motor Company has announced that it will use the VOC’s that its autobody painting generates to run a fuel cell that will power its plant. The VOC’s, which are considered toxic, will be captured forever in beads that will burn in the fuel cell and create the power to run the plant.

This will result not only in a reduction of toxic substances, but also cut down on costs and greenhouse gas emissions from heating and lighting the factory. More …

New Mexico Solar Power Ramps Up In Big Way
The four biggest utility companies in NM are proposing to build the state’s largest solar power installation, now that the US government has done an about-face on their solar power moratorium.
The project would power up to 52,000 homes and use thermal energy to store the solar power for cloudy days. More …

Biofuels Fuel Food Shortages and Prices
According to the World Bank’s recent report, biofuels made from food crops are responsible for up to 75% of the food shortages worldwide. The report also claims that food prices have risen because of speculation over food crops as biofuel sources and because farmers are being encouraged to set aside land just for biofuel production.

The only bright spot in the biofuel sector may be algae as a biofuel source, along with using it for sequestering greenhouse gas emissions. More …

Flush For the Planet
Using gray water for flushing toilets, watering gardens and lawns may be an idea whose time has come. Saniflo makes a greywater pumping system that can use water from bathtubs, dishwashers and clothes washers to flush, irrigate and water.

While many localities have laws against gray water use, others are introducing legislation to allow it. More …

Test Run For Solar Car
Marcelo De Luz from Toronto is taking a car for a test drive. This is not your usual 15 minute drive down to the next highway exit though. Mr De Luz is driving a solar-powered car from Buffalo, New York to Inuvik, which is in Canada’s Northwest Territory.

“No fair,” you say, “The sun is out for 24 hours in Inuvik at this time of year, so of course the solar car will have no problem.” Well, the sun DOES shine all day and night, but the angle of it is so low on the horizon that the car’s solar cells will have a hard time using them to repower, so it’s a true test. More …

New Zealand Leads the Way in Curbing Global Warming
New Zealand may soon be the first country in the world with an emission trading plan that covers all greenhouse gases and all sections of greenhouse gas generators.
It’s goals are ambitious: carbon neutral in the electricity sector by 2025 and in transportation by 2045. The plan also calls for much more reforestation in an industrialized country that is unique, in that almost half of its emissions come from the agricultural sector. More …

Green Motor Oil is Not an Oxymoron
Hard as it is to believe, there is now a motor oil that is completely biodegradable - with the help of a small dose of additive, that is. Certified by The American Petroleum Institute, the G-Oil is made from tallow, animal fat, and exceeds the API’s standards for use in vehicles.

When you’re ready to change your oil, you simply add the G-Disposoil additive to it and it turns into soil. More …

How Do You Recycle a  Wind Turbine?
Aeronautica, a Massachusetts company, has a plan for recycling them, starting with some that are being retired from California wind farms. While these turbines are still perfectly usable, they’re being replaced by bigger and more technically refined turbines, so they’re no longer suitable for large wind farms.

But that doesn’t mean that they can’t still provide power for smaller installations, which is where Aeronautica comes in. More …

Mega Solar Project for Japanese City
Sakai, Japan is embarking on a very ambitious project: a 28,000KW capacity solar power generation station that will reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 10,000 tons annually.

The first facility will be installed on top of a landfill and the second will be on top of the Sharp Company’s building, so that it can run Sharp’s manufacturing installation. Sharp and Kansai Electric Power will be working with the city on the project. More …