New Report Highlights Importance of Clean Energy Policy, as Well As Need For Reform

Walmart publishes 2012 global responsibility report

Photo: Walmart

by Melissa Hincha-Ownby (MNN.com) On Monday, Walmart released its 2012 Global Responsibility Report (GRR). The 2012 report covers sustainability issues at the retail giant during fiscal year 2011, which began on February 1, 2011 and ended on January 30, 2012. Walmart is a large company with a strong global presence and that means that it has a massive, information-filled GRR report, in this case, over 120 pages of data. … Continue Reading

U.S. Clean Energy Policies Risk Losing Lead Over China

Alex Morales, Bloomberg News  – The U.S. government is creating a “boom and bust” in renewable energy investment that threatens to undermine its lead over China, the Pew Charitable Trusts said in a report.

U.S. investment reached $48.1 billion in 2011, largely in wind and solar power, the Washington-based research group said last night in a report based on Bloomberg New Energy Finance data. Those funds trumped the $45.5 billion China allocated to renewables, for lead for the U.S. since 2008. … Continue Reading

Is Solar Power Really too Expensive or Is that Just What Opponents Want You to Think

Example of a centralized solar plant model where everything would be controlled by the utility company - even price.

Recently I visited the west coast of the U.S. and being a resident of Florida for the past twenty-plus years I must say that I was totally exhilarated by what I saw in California, and totally disappointed with what I know to be the case in Florida. Over and over, I saw the rooftops of homes covered with solar panels. Compare that to what is the case in Florida where such a sight is barely nascent. The simple fact is that Florida (the Sunshine State) homeowners are virtually non-existent when it comes to distributive solar power or rooftop solar. How is this possible when you consider the following presumption… … Continue Reading

New Mexico among solar energy leaders

Visual of First Solar, Southern Co. and Turner Renewable Energy project that will add 30 megawatts of utility-scale solar power to the New Mexico electric grid.

SANTA FE, N.M.—A new report says New Mexico is among the nation’s leaders in production of electricity from solar power. … Continue Reading

North America’s Largest Rooftop Solar Power Plant Formally Completed

The Riverside Project calls for the installation of 27528 photovoltaic rooftop solar - that's plenty of jobs created and energy being saved.

GLOUCESTER CITY, N.J., PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — U.S. Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., today presented Gloucester Marine Terminal officials with an award letter announcing an $11 million federal tax credit rebate for the recently-completed groundbreaking new rooftop solar power plant project, the largest of its kind in North America. … Continue Reading

Clean energy becoming a needed reality for the Great Lakes

If the U.S. wants wind power, The Great Lakes are definitely windy.

Illinois and four other states came a step closer to offshore wind farms in the Great Lakes (New, April 1), and that is welcome news. Wind farms, once mocked by climate skeptics and opponents of renewable energy, are now a profitable way to generate clean electricity for our homes and businesses. … Continue Reading

Turning Commercial Engines into Hybrids

 by Dana Blankenhorn – HPEV  is among the many companies trying to transform transport by making it more efficient.

CEO Tim Hassett said his Hybrid Plugin Electric Vehicle has patents on a technique for using heat pipes to turn engine waste heat into electricity, which can then help power the vehicle. The electric motor acts as a “load assist,”  meaning the main engine doesn’t work as hard and uses less fuel. It all gets attached to your rear axle. … Continue Reading