Growing Demand for Waste to Energy Plants

The commercialization of innovative and modern biological waste to energy systems and technologies is promoting a new wave of growth in the green energy sector globally. The biological waste to energy plant represents an excellent option to treat biological waste and produce energy. Indeed, many governments acknowledge that these plants are an ideal solution to help fight climate change and guarantee energy independence. Driven by government regulation and support, demand for biological waste to energy plants in the world is growing and the market is becoming more competitive.

According to new analysis from Frost & Sullivan the market for biological waste to energy plant in Europe – which is the largest in the world - is expected to reach $3.6 billion in 2016 under an optimistic scenario. The German market was worth $998.3 million in 2009 and represented 76.8% of the European market. The market in Germany has grown exponentially over the last 10 years driven by government policies and a supportive banking sector. The same policies are being introduced in other European countries, such as Italy, and we can expect strong growth in these markets over the next 5-10 years.

In other areas of the world the biological waste to energy market is an embryonic stage. Frost & Sullivan Senior Analyst Nuno Oscar Branco says: "In the Asian, North, and South American regions the market remains underdeveloped, for three main reasons: first, governments in these regions have yet to introduce biogas or green energy policies; second, quantity, availability, quality and management of feedstock are not appropriate for investments or long term growth of this market; and finally the biogas industry, mostly European and German based, is not committing resources to develop these markets".

However, the situation is changing in some countries or municipalities where there have been improvements in the business environment for biological waste to energy. In the USA for example, the federal government launched programme AgSTAR that "encourages the use of methane recovery (biogas) technologies (...) reduce methane emissions while achieving other environmental benefits" and in India, the Punjab government, is promoting the construction of modern biological waste to energy plants to supply electricity to the state. "These two examples are evidence to the type of projects likely to take place across the world over the next decades", says Nuno Oscar.

The market potential for biogas generated by anaerobic digestion in a biological waste to energy plant is very high and market growth in some countries of Europe, such as Italy or Czech Republic; North and South America, such as Brazil, USA, Canada; and the Asia Pacific region, such as India and Australia, can be exponential. Companies operating or investing in this industry should weight the risk of missing the expected growth in demand in these countries and draw plans for international expansion and investments.

On this subject Frost & Sullivan has just published a comprehensive study that looks at the global market analyzing the different areas of the world with trends, challenges and forecast. If you are interested in more information and would like to receive a complimentary brochure, please send an e-mail to Chiara Carella, Corporate Communications, at chiara.carella@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

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Iowa Blazes Trail From Cornfields to Wind Fields

Iowa innovation and leadership moving wind energy toward next stage of transmission frontier

Iowa's leadership in wind energy continues to gain momentum as the state looks to ramp up efforts to export wind energy beyond its state lines – all while moving toward exceeding national goals of the amount of energy produced from wind. With 14 percent of Iowa's in-state energy produced by wind, the state is looking to make significant strides in transmission infrastructure policy as the industry matures in the United States.

As a result of Iowa's efforts, regions looking to increase their renewable energy portfolios, like the Tennessee Valley Authority and WE Energies of Milwaukee, can tap into wind energy from Iowa to meet their renewable energy standards. The next frontier will be efficient transmission of wind power across multiple state lines to East Coast population centers that need wind power most.

"As wind energy matures from a revolutionary idea into a dependable and pivotal resource for our nation, it only makes sense to ensure its availability where energy demand is greatest," said Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. "In the last five years, eight wind manufactures have relocated to Iowa, further demonstrating our state's strength in the industry.

"TPI Composite's plan for an additional facility in Sioux City is the most recent example of increased momentum and continued growth of Iowa's wind manufacturing capacity," Culver added.

In fact, Iowa leads the nation in wind industry manufacturing facilities and workers employed in wind industry manufacturing, and the state comes in second in the nation in wind industry construction and operations management jobs. More jobs are on the horizon, with approximately 14,569 more megawatts of generating capacity projects planned.

In keeping with the world's growing demand for wind power, Iowa has unveiled a new, aggressive plan to generate 50 percent of its electricity from wind, using 20 percent within state lines and exporting the additional 30 percent to other states. To meet the infrastructure demands of this goal, Iowa's government, economic development department and business leaders have focused efforts to attract wind turbine production companies and the accompanying logistics support to the state.

The results include up to 10,000 jobs in the wind energy sector, supported in 2009 with annual property tax payments by wind project owners of $16.5 million, and annual land lease payments of $11 million.

Iowa's educational system has also ramped up to meet the demand for skilled workers. The first and only two-year training program in wind energy and turbine technology in the country is offered at Iowa Lakes Community College. The first-of-its-kind Iowa Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development (IAWIND) connects Iowa's three Regents universities, seven of its community colleges, the state government, and the wind energy industry to offer options ranging from certifications to bachelor's and master's degrees that support wind energy companies and their research and training needs.

All of these efforts are building on the momentum from nearly three decades of pioneering efforts in wind energy policy. Iowa was one of the first states to enact a renewable energy standard by passing the Alternative Energy Production Law in 1983. The law requires investor-owned utilities to purchase a shared total of 105 MW of in-state renewable generating capacity and associated energy production.

Today, Iowa has a wealth of wind energy to sell. In 2009, Iowa produced more wind energy as a percentage of overall production than any other state and was second only to Texas in total amount of energy produced from wind, with 3,670 MW of installed capacity.

Iowa generated 14.2 percent of the state's overall electricity from wind in 2009, far ahead of the nation's figure of 1.8 percent. The U.S. Department of Energy established a national goal of generating 20 percent of the nation's energy from wind by 2030 and Iowa is well on its way of exceeding that goal.

"Iowa's standard for wind energy propelled the industry into the robust economy it is today and is helping to fuel future growth," said Bret Mills, director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). "Consumers want more renewable energy sources, and Iowa leaders in the private and public sectors are making that happen."

Follow the latest news from the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) on Twitter (@IowaWind) and Facebook (Facebook.com/IowaWind) before and during AWEA's 2010 WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition. For more information visit www.IowaLifeChanging.com

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Urban Genetics: Cities as Laboratories for Sustainability

Guided by the principle that today's cities are laboratories and their leaders are researchers in the new science of urban sustainability, Arizona State University's (ASU) Jonathan Fink, along with two British colleagues, will lead Comparative Urban Genetics: Towards a Common Methodology for Pragmatic Analysis of Cities. The workshop event takes place this weekend, May 21-23, at University College London (UCL) in London, England.

Fink, who is the Director of the Center for Sustainability Science Applications within the Global Institute of Sustainability, Foundation Professor for the School of Sustainability, and Foundation Professor of Geological Sciences for the School of Earth and Space Exploration, will bring together government and business representatives, researchers, and urban experts to contrast the experiences of two cities: London and Phoenix. From a comprehensive perspective, the group will consider new ways to collect complex data streams that feed information into models, help envision the future and, ultimately, translate those visions into improved urban policies.

"No matter how different urban environments may look on their surface, they typically share innumerable points of similarity," said Fink. "When we uncover these shared paths and patterns--the "genetic code" of cities--we move significantly closer to curing urban ills and putting our successful practices to the highest and best use."

Guided by experts in their fields, and funded in part by the British Consulate in Los Angeles, workshop participants will address four key questions:

* How can urban decision-making be transformed by new datasets and analysis tools?
* Can cataloguing and classifying urban traits help city leaders learn from each other?
* Which tools are most appropriate and useful for which stages of urban development?
* How can we build multi-sector (corporate, government, NGO, academic) urban partnerships?


These questions build on a long series of applied urban research projects, including a recently-published Tyndall Centre report that studied Greater London's vulnerability to climate change and a U.S. National Science Foundation project at ASU titled "Decision Center for a Desert City," which evaluates ways that arid region water managers allocate their scarce resource in the face of uncertainty due to the heat island effect, population growth, and climate change.

Co-convenors Mike Batty from UCL and Jim Hall from Newcastle University have both spent the past few years working with ASU researchers and a global network of collaborators to develop a common urban methodology that can help all cities address their long-term sustainability.

"Cities are where most people live and work; most innovation takes place; most pollution and wealth are generated; and most vulnerability to climate change occurs," said Batty. "We need to study these phenomena and make a more common practice of compiling, publishing and comparing this critical information."

Along with leaders from American and European public and private sectors, key workshop speakers and panelists from ASU include Philip Christensen, Regents Professor, School of Earth and Space Exploration; Matthew Fraser, co-director of research development, Global Institute of Sustainability and associate professor, School of Sustainability; Subhajit Guhathakurta, Professor, School of Sustainability and Professor, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning; Rob Pahle, Assistant Professor of Research, Decision Theater; and Lela Prashad, Director, 100 Cities Project

More information on Comparative Urban Genetics workshop is available at https://cssa.asu.edu/ucl_may2010.

NJ Teachers Can Apply for PSEG Environmental Education Grants

New Jersey teachers are encouraged to apply for funding through PSEG's Environmental Education Grant Program. The program provides funding to educators who can link their students' understanding of math, science, computer science, and technology with an enthusiasm and appreciation for the environment.

"We've long been committed to education and the environment, and this program, which provides direct funding for hands-on environmental education, is one we're particularly proud of," said Vaughn McKoy, president of the PSEG Foundation. "Now in its 20th year, this program is a prime example of PSEG's commitment to sustainability, and of the ways in which we're working to improve the communities in which our employees live and work."

Teachers of grades K-9 are encouraged to apply. The grants, which may be as large as $3,500, can be used to purchase materials and equipment, fund field trips, and develop curriculum-related activities. Applications that focus on the development of one or more classroom units, the expansion of an existing course or curriculum, or the extension of classroom work to community or after-school activities will be considered. Projects must be conducted over at least two years.

Teachers from schools in PSE&G's utility service area, PSEG's estuary enhancement program area and PSEG's emergency planning zone may apply. Applications, which are available online, must be postmarked by Wednesday, June 30th. For more information on the towns, and to download an application, visit www.pseg.com/eegrants.

PSEG has awarded more than $335,000 to 143 project grantees since the program began twenty years ago.

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Global Clean Energy Investments Exceed $27.3 Billion

Global investments in clean energy reached $27.3 billion in the first quarter of 2010 according to an analysis issued by Bloomberg New Energy Finance on April 12.  This represents a 31% increase over the first quarter of 2009, but is 13.6% lower than the 4th quarter of 2009.

The figures include asset financing of wind farms, solar, biofuel production facilitiees plants, as well as public and private investments in clean energy companies.  China was the leader in clean energy asset financing in the first quarter of 2010 with investments of $6.5 billion, compared to $3.5 billion in US.

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Mylar Balloons and Power Outages

With the spring graduation season upon us and outdoor summer parties being planned, utilities are reminding customers to keep Mylar balloons tethered at all times. This helps reduce the chance of metallic balloons making contact with electrical lines and causing power outages, fires and possible injuries.

In the last four years, metallic balloons have caused about 200 outages affecting more than 100,000 Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) customers in Northern Illinois alone. This included about 28,000 customers in 2009. The most recent outage occurred Sunday night and left 3,825 customers without power for two hours after a Mylar balloon made contact with a power line near Laramie Avenue and Belden Street on Chicago's northwest side.

When Mylar balloons touch a power line or float into substation equipment, their metallic properties cause a surge of electricity. This can cause equipment to short circuit and lead to power outages, fires and possible injuries.

To reduce these outages and help keep customers' lights on, ComEd offers the following tips:

* Keep balloons tethered at all times and attached to a weight.
* When disposing of Mylar balloons, make sure to puncture them to ensure lingering helium doesn't cause them to float and blow around if the garbage container is overturned.
* If a balloon or another toy becomes entangled in an overhead power line, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RETRIEVE IT. CALL THE UTILITY COMPANY AND LET THEM HANDLE IT.
* Always assume power lines are live, and keep yourself, your equipment and all other items at least 10 feet away from power lines.


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Source: Commonwealth Edison Company

We Cannot Drill Or Mine Our Way To Energy Security

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont issued the following statement today, the clearest statement yet on the need to transform our energy infrastructure for the 21st Century.

"The unfolding disaster of the sinking and leaking of a drilling platform off the Louisiana coast, together with the recent tragedies at coal mines in West Virginia, remind us of some of the high human, environmental and economic costs associated with the extraction of fossil fuels. These incidents are all the more troubling because the evidence is clear that we cannot drill or mine our way to long-term energy security.

"Many workers have lost their lives and their families have lost loved ones and breadwinners. In the Gulf right now we have delicate ocean and coastal ecosystems at risk, as well as wildlife and fishery populations and the livelihoods of communities in several states. This accident may be the worst environmental disaster in recent years and brings into question the many claims about safety and advanced technology in the industry.

"This is a disaster for all concerned and especially for the people of the Gulf Coast. It should also be a learning experience. I strongly support the hearings that are being organized in the Senate and the House, and I hope there will be further significant inquiries as the situation develops.

"We need to adopt a comprehensive energy strategy that addresses the challenges of the 21st Century and does not simply rely on the energy sources of the past. We need to be more creative and in ways that strengthen our economy, our security and our environment. Our long-term energy security depends on promoting energy efficiency and supporting domestic sources of clean, renewable power such as biomass, solar, and wind energy. Instead of focusing so much on securing more fossil fuels, it is crucial that we address our dependence on oil, invest in renewable energy, and offer incentives for utility companies and others to use these clean, domestic forms of energy."

Source: Office of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy

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Massive Oil Spill? Send In The Lawyers??

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that he is dispatching a team of lawyers from multiple divisions within the Justice Department to New Orleans to meet with the U.S. Attorney and response teams and to monitor the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Not to be outdone, a law firm in Alabama, Beasley Allen has already filed a class action lawsuit against British Petroleum ("BP") and other companies with ties to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

And of course both the Attorney General and the plaintiffs' law firm immediately issued press releases announcing their heroic efforts.

This, sadly, is the state of America today. We are facing the worst oil spill since the Exxon Valdiz, and probably much worse in terms of environmental harm. Where we once would shout out "Send in the Marines!" or "Send in the Engineers!", today our call to arms is "Send in the Lawyers!" (The investment bankers will not be far behind, as soon as they can figure out how to profit from all sides of whatever transactions they can put together.)

Exactly what will all these lawyers be doing to address the environmental catastrophe on the Louisiana coast?

The Beasley Allen firm says that it seeks to represent individuals and businesses that have incurred damages related to the disaster, including; real property damages; personal property damages; loss of profits and earning capacity; loss of commercial and subsistence use of natural resources; increased costs of public services; and, loss of revenues.

As for the Attorney General of the United States, he promises that the "Justice Department stands ready to make available every resource at our disposal to vigorously enforce the laws that protect the people who work and reside near the Gulf, the wildlife, the environment and the American taxpayers."

Perhaps we should not make light of these noble efforts to ensure that justice is pursued swiftly (and profitably). But press releases? Why? Are they afraid that the people who are actually containing the spill and rescuing wildlife will get all the media attention?

Information Technology Generates Extraordinary Water Savings in Los Angeles

What's the best way to save water? The evidence suggest that it may be using information technology and controls systems.

Using wireless water management services from Water2Save, Cal State University in Los Angeles saved $100,000 on its water bills. The university reduced consumption by more than 27 million gallons of water since 2008, which is about 2,000 gallons of water an hour. That is enough to sustain 129 families in Los Angeles. The wireless technology remotely manages daily water usage based on a patented forecasted and measured weather data methodology.

"Not only are we saving water, but Water2Save does not require my employees to learn a new system, which saves my staff a lot of time. They also do not have to change watering schedules when the weather changes or shut the controllers off before it rains," says John Ferris, Director of Facilities Services at Cal State L.A.

This type of simple solution highlights the great possibilities that are available when information technology is used to control and manage water and energy costs. Simply by using information to better manage our consumption, we can achieve significant energy and water savings. Best of all, these systems pay for themselves very quickly. It is, as they say, a no-brainer.

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Solar Shows Strong Growth in 2009 Despite the Great Recession

U.S. solar electric generation capacity increased by 37 percent in 2009, showing strong growth despite the Great Recession. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the growth was the result of increased investment in both photovoltaic and concentrating solar power. It was driven primarily by strong demand in the residential and utility-scale markets.

Solar water heating and pool heating also grew in 2009, by about 10%. Not too bad given the overall state of the economy.

SEIA attributes the good news to a combination of government policies, new business models, and declining prices. Give the continued availability of tax credits and stimulus funds this year and next, SEIA expects continued growth in solar electricity generation in 2010.

The solar industry added 17,000 new jobs in 2009 and now employs a total of 46,000 workers in the USA. Solar manufacturing showed a 7 percent increase in PV module production from 2008.

California led the country in new solar electric generation capacity with 220 MW. Other states that continued to see growth in their installed base of solar electric generation were New Jersey (57 MW), Florida (36 MW), Arizona (23 MW), Colorado (23 MW), Hawaii (14 MW), New York (12 MW), Massachusetts (10 MW), Connecticut (9 MW), and North Carolina (8 MW).

There is still room for tremendous growth in this sector. The USA currently ranks fourth in the world in new solar generation capacity with 481 MW. Increasing advances in technologies such as thin film solar, lower prices, and government policies requiring fossil fuel prices to include the costs of pollution, solar electric generation should help solar capacity to reach into the gigawatts in the near future.

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Dow Corning CEO Urges Congress on Green Energy Incentives

Dr. Stephanie A. Burns, Dow Corning's chairman, president and CEO, testified today before the House Ways & Means Committee at a hearing on energy tax incentives and the green job economy. The central message of her testimony was: "America’s energy transformation is inexorably linked to our nation’s economic and manufacturing future."

Dr. Burns noted that Dow Corning has announced more than $5 billion in investments in solar technology. Most of that is in capital for advanced manufacturing operations for polycrystalline silicon. It also includes other operations like research & development and materials that improve the performance and cost efficiency of solar cells and modules. Dr. Burns pointed out that these recent initiatives build on a 70-year history at Dow Corning of producing products focused on energy efficiency and sustainability.

Companies such as Dow Corning and its joint venture partners are manufacturing solar and other renewable energy-related materials here in America. This creates thousands of jobs in construction, engineering, science and skilled trades, according to Dr. Burns.

The problem is that many countries are now competing for these good jobs with tax credits and other incentives to attract green and sustainable investments. "Other nations have enacted aggressive policies to support the growth of the renewable energy industry," she said. "Companies that hope to manufacture in the United States are faced with a tax structure that encourages them to do otherwise. It is time for America to enact policies that will essentially assure this industry grows here."

Dr. Burns pointed out that recent initiatives such as the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have had a very positive impact by leveraging investments from the private sector. She urged Congress to do even more to stay competitive in the global clean technology race. The tax credit was capped at $2.3 billion, and was significantly oversubscribed. According to the Department of Energy, there were many viable projects that were not funded. With that in mind, Dr. Burns asked Congress to make the tax credit permanent in any energy, climate, or jobs bill now under development. "This will help propel America into an era of sustained, renewable energy use and help put Americans back to work," she said.

Dr. Burn's complete testimony before Congress is available by clicking here.

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Major Business Leaders Pressure Senators to Enact Comprehensive Climate and Energy Legislation

The US Chamber of Commerce may be opposed to climate change and energy legislation, but that does not mean that it speaks for the entire US business community. In fact, some of the largest companies in the US are emphatically in favor of proposed legislation to address climate change and energy.

This week more than 200 businesses in targeted states around the country called on key Senators to pass clean energy and climate legislation upon return to Washington, D.C. In the letters to Senators the business leaders highlighted the economic and job creation benefits of national climate and energy legislation.

"Today, the United States is falling behind in the global race to lead the new clean energy economy," they said in the letter. "In order for American business to unleash a new industrial revolution in energy, we need cooperative and coordinated action in the public policy and business arenas. We are ready to compete in the global marketplace, and we urge you to act so that we can win the race for a new clean energy economy. We stand ready to work with you to build this vital and growing economic sector."

Under the banner of a "We Can Lead" campaign, these corporations argue that legislation to address climate change and energy is essential to the future prosperity of the nation. "Energy is the largest industry, by revenue, in the world. It represents the next breakout technology sector," said Rose Lige, chief financial officer for Gary's Wynter Power Services, LLC, a full-service energy management company located in Indiana. "Clean energy technology will do for energy what IT has done for information and communications -- grow jobs and spur innovation."

We Can Lead is sponsored by the Clean Economy Network and Ceres' Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP). Ceres is the largest coalition of investors, environmental and public interest organizations in North America. Ceres launched the BICEP coalition, whose members include Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Starbucks, Sun Microsystems, The Timberland Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Clif Bar & Company, eBay, Gap Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, The North Face, Seventh Generation, Ben and Jerry's, Eileen Fisher, Stonyfield Farm Inc., and Symantec.

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Residential Customers Are Open to the Smart Grid -- If It Will Save Them Money

A survey of 600 U.S. residential homes reveals that almost half have reported an increase in their electricity bill, due mostly to an increase in electricity consumption. Almost 60 percent of the homeowners who were surveyed say that they are willing to change their electricity use to save money. Among the thngs they are willing to do is enroll in a demand response program.

The survey was conducted and released by Frost & Sullivan. It is called "Smart Grid Market - A Customer Perspective on Demand Response", and it examines the motivations and probability of residential customers adopting demand response programs.

Demand response is a load power management program offered and controlled by either electric utilities or curtailment service providers. It is an important part of a smart grid, and it is expected to reduce the need for additional peak generation plants, as well as improve overall power quality and the environment.

"Customer awareness of smart grids appears moderately high, though awareness does not likely stem from the direct efforts of electric utility companies," states Frost & Sullivan Senior Energy Consultant Farah Saeed. "Only 16 percent of all surveyed residential electric customers are aware of any effort by their electric utility company to introduce smart grid technology into their community."

The survey notes a high probability of customers signing up for demand response if the customer has access to smart appliances. So-called smart appliances will be connected to the smart grid, allowing them to either shut-off or go into energy saving mode during peak power periods.

More than half the respondents said that they are either likely or somewhat likely to adopt smart appliances (59 percent). However, the majority plan to wait until their appliances come due for replacement (75 percent), rather than adopting smart appliances right away. Those willing to be early adopters also want rapid payback on these appliances: 79 percent want payback in two years or less, with only 7 percent not insisting on a payback at all.

For more information on this survey, please send an e-mail to Johanna Haynes, Corporate Communications, at johanna.haynes@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

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26 MW Free-Field Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Going Up In Spain

The Spanish system integrator, Assyce Fotovoltaica, is constructing the largest First Solar free-field solar power plant in Extremadura, with a capacity of more than 26 MWp. The power plant with a land area of 69 hectares should be completed by the end of the year and will generate more than 42 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

"The area offers very good conditions for photovoltaics," explains Luis Garrido, managing director of Assyce Fotovoltaica. "Due to the high level of solar radiation in the south of Spain, we can expect a very good yield of electricity." The electricity yield will also benefit from the implementation of a new transformer technology. "In contrast to traditional power plants, electricity loss is considerably reduced," says Luis Garrido. Assyce is also implementing in this project the worldwide established inverter system technology from market-leader SMA Technology AG, based in Kassel, Germany. 36 transformer stations will be built up on the 69-hectare site. With more than 337,000 modules capturing solar radiation, Assyce Fotovoltaica, currently the only First Solar system integrator in Spain, is putting its trust in First Solar's thin film technology which has already proven its worth in many other solar power plants. "The modules are very effective and durable and they are perfect for use in hot climate regions," explains Luis Garrido. The First Solar modules offer a high level of operating reliability for the project. Assyce Fotovoltaica has been working together with First Solar with excellent success for years. Basically this partnership makes the realisation of this remarkable large-scale project possible.

The construction of the free-field solar power plant began at the end of January. The whole power plant should be completed by the end of the year at the latest. With the eco-friendly solar electricity over 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be saved every year and the electricity yield is enough to energize more than 14,000 four-person households for a whole year. "We are making an important contribution to the climate protection and to the expansion of renewable energy resources," explains Luis Garrido. "Power from the sun always has a future and will remain an important pillar of renewable energy."

Due to the limitation of 200 Megawatts per year for new free-field solar power plants (since the end of 2008), Assyce is particularly excited about being able to construct a power plant with a dimension of 10% of the total annual volume together with First Solar. Assyce Fotovoltaica is one of the pioneers in the Spanish free-field solar power plant market. The company, based in Padul (Granada), has already constructed more than 12 solar power plants all over Spain over the last few years.

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Bi-Partisan Global Conservation Act Introduced in US Congress

Today members of Congress from both parties introduced legislation—the Global Conservation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4959)—that for the first time places the strategic and diplomatic resources of the U.S. government behind efforts to address extinction and natural resource depletion worldwide.

With the accelerating destruction of forests, reefs and other natural ecosystems, scientists say half of all species could be driven to the brink of extinction by the end of the century.  And experts are tracking trends showing people around the world losing sources of fresh water, fuelwood, medicines and other products from nature.

"By working with nations and partners around the world we can confront conservation challenges that have a direct impact on U.S. security and economic interests," said Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-MO), the bill's lead Democratic sponsor.  "If we tackle this problem together, we can build economic strength here and around the globe, adding more stability to the world."

Even as six federal agencies conduct conservation programs around the globe, the U.S. government still lacks a coordinated, overarching strategy for stopping the environmental destruction.  The Global Conservation Act would mandate such a strategy.  Under the coordination of the White House, the bill requires that agencies come up with a plan to:

• Protect millions of square miles of land and sea,
• Address illegal and unregulated fishing around the world,
• Safeguard the natural sources of fresh water to several major population centers around the world,
• Stop the worst wildlife trafficking operations, and
• Stabilize environmental destruction trends in areas vulnerable to conflict and instability.

The bill identifies a coordinator in the executive branch to ensure action and encourages the administration to secure additional funding and support for a global conservation strategy from other countries—including European nations, Japan, China, and India. It is cosponsored by Representatives Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Dave Reichert (R-WA), Norman Dicks (D-WA), James Moran (D-VA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Judy Biggert (R-IL), and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).

"The Global Conservation Act of 2010 presents a wonderful opportunity for genuine and effective bipartisan cooperation on prudent, cost-effective environmental stewardship.  I am proud to join in this worthy effort to help protect some of our world's most fragile and magnificent ecosystems," said Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), the lead Republican co-sponsor of the bill.

"This bill represents a major step forward in our efforts to address worldwide resource destruction and species loss," said Jeff Wise, who directs the Alliance for Global Conservation.  "It lays out a common sense strategy that will help protect the world's most ecologically and economically important wilderness and marine areas, promote global security and even increase U.S. competitiveness."
Healthy terrestrial and marine ecosystems are also critical to food security and disaster prevention.  An analysis by David Pimental at Cornell University concludes that wild species such as birds and insects provide US$100 billion worth of pest control services to world agriculture every year.  And according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, healthy coral reefs reduce the impact of large storms on coastal populations, a protective function valued at US$9 billion a year.

The destruction of natural areas comes at a tremendous cost. Research by the World Resources Institute has found that medicines derived from natural sources, including 10 of the world's 25 top-selling drugs, have a market value of US$75-$150 billion per year. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, current extinction rates could eliminate at least one prescription drug from entering the market every two years.

"Environmental degradation and the loss of species dramatically reduces our ability to discover and develop new drugs for the treatment of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases," said Dr. Gordon Cragg, retired Chief of the National Cancer Institute's Natural Products Branch, an Institute of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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New York State Launches "Greenest New Yorker" Contest

I LOVE NEW YORK, New York State's tourism promotion agency, and EscapeMaker.com are seeking to celebrate those individuals who are doing their part to keep the Empire State green with the first-ever contest to find the "Greenest New Yorker."


I LOVE NEW YORK is looking for those New York State residents who are making earnest efforts to preserve the environment in their everyday lives and the lives of others.

Entries for the "Greenest New Yorker" contest will be judged by a panel of celebrities and influential green New Yorkers. Among them are Chef, author, and restaurateur Mario Batali, who has six New York State based, award-winning Certified Green Restaurants®; Josh Dorfman, author of "The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget," and Sundance Channel host of his own show "The Lazy Environmentalist"; actor Peter Facinelli, star of The Twilight Saga movies and Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" show; nationally renowned, eco-friendly and healthy home interior designer Robin Wilson, whose high profile projects include Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Green House" and the renovation of former president Bill Clinton's Harlem office; and renowned architect Morris Adjmi, whose current work includes the LEED gold High Line Building and a LEED platinum building for New York University.

The Grand Prize winner will be announced on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22. The winner will receive his or her choice of an I LOVE NEW YORK Green Getaway, which includes a three-day, two-night getaway package for two people to one of New York's Top Ten Green Destinations.

To apply, contestants can log onto http://www.escapemaker.com/ilovenygreen, and in 250 words or less, tell I LOVE NEW YORK and EscapeMaker.com why they deserve the title of "Greenest New Yorker." To be considered, New York State residents will need to describe how they've contributed to sustainable, eco practices and what they do regularly to maintain a "green spirit." The winner should illustrate a commitment to and leadership in protecting the environment while utilizing its natural resources. How feasibly an individual's green works can be replicated by others will also be taken into consideration. Submissions can be supported with videos and photographs. Submissions must be received no later than midnight on April 8, 2010.

For contest entry rules and regulations, visit http://www.escapemaker.com/ilovenygreen.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Greener Resume Can Give College Graduates Edge in Job Market

Green-collar jobs grew by more than 9 percent, twice the growth rate for traditional jobs, from 1998 to 2007. Even during a recession, a greener resume can be the answer to getting hired, says Wake Forest Director of Sustainability Dedee DeLongpre Johnston. "Sustainability is a competitive advantage in the marketplace," she says. "College graduates entering the job market this year will definitely have an edge if they have developed sustainability-related skill sets."

Getting a green job doesn't mean looking for jobs with "sustainability" or "environment" in the title any more. Green jobs are also not limited to installing solar panels or weatherizing houses. From marketing to publishing to accounting to finance, viewing the world through the lens of sustainability and having practical experience in that area can make a difference when applying for jobs.

As banks look at making loans for green buildings, law firms develop new kinds of contracts for carbon credits, and companies target consumers who value greener products, students who understand what sustainability looks like in various industries or organizations and have experience solving real-world problems will fare well. And, if students understand sustainability principles, any job can become a green job.

"Sustainability is a way of thinking," DeLongpre Johnston says. "And, that way of thinking has value across the job market. Experience and knowledge tied to sustainability will make this year's job hunters stronger candidates."

Internships focused on sustainability are invaluable for students who are job hunting because they help students demonstrate to employers that they can solve problems, says DeLongpre Johnston, who has business majors, anthropology majors and students from other academic departments interning in her office and helps students find off-campus internships.

Integrating sustainability into a career also helps students who are passionate about a greener world align their passions and talents with their work.

"Eventually, sustainability will be woven seamlessly into the fabric of society," she says. Just as proficiency using word processing, the Web, and other technology is now expected in the workplace, understanding sustainability principles and how to apply them will become a basic expectation of employers in the future, she says.  Sustainability also offers the biggest entrepreneurial opportunities out there, DeLongpre Johnston says. The green economy has created new outlets for innovation.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Marriott Turns Out the Lights at 500 Hotels Worldwide to Celebrate Earth Hour

This Saturday, March 27, at 8:30 p.m., local time, Marriott-branded hotels and resorts worldwide will turn out the lights, for one hour, in support of Earth Hour – a global movement uniting businesses, organizations and individuals in taking action to raise awareness to the issues of climate change – and kick off the company's month-long dedication to environmental awareness.

Last year, Earth Hour, organized by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) attracted more than 80 million participants in the U.S. and nearly a billion people around the world.  Watch this 30-second video for a fun overview of how this event is celebrated.

"We're encouraging our hotels and business units worldwide to dim or turn off their non-essential lighting in support of this event," said Mari Snyder, vice president, social responsibility and community engagement, Marriott International, Inc. "Our goal is to have 500 hotels, resorts and business units participate this year. It's just one part of our ongoing Spirit To Preserve environmental strategy and lead-in to our companywide initiative in April."

Every April, Marriott celebrates Environmental Awareness Month to actively engage employees and guests in doing their part to help protect the environment--a key component of the company's environmental strategy,   Throughout the month, hotels generate awareness about the effects of climate change; remind guests and employees of environmentally-friendly home, work and travel alternatives; and encourage employees to participate in activities to help beautify surrounding communities and sustain indigenous habitats.

A sampling of Environmental Awareness Month activities will include:

• Eighty Marriott employees in Korea will team up with the Green Rangers, an association for Korean school children, on Korea's Arbor Day, April 5, to plant trees in Pocheon-kun, in Gyeonggi-do and donate krw 2,375,000 ($2,050) to support green forest activities in the local community.
• The Renaissance Shanghai Pudong will partner with Roots & Shoots– to sell small plants and generate money to plant more trees in China.
• In Hong Kong, employees will take part in the "Tree Planting Challenge 2010" organized by Friends of the Earth Main Dam of Shing Mun Reservoir to promote the message of "Save Tree, Conserve Nature." Volunteers are required to dig pits, plant trees and seedlings and complete 13 km on a hiking trail within a few hours.
• The Doha Marriott will clean up the local beach and plant indigenous plants around the hotel.
• The employees of Marriott hotels in Dubai have invited students from three local schools to help plant 100 trees and educate them on the importance of reducing their carbon footprint.  
• The Sharm El Sheik Marriott Resort in Egypt is hosting an event entitled "Preservation of the Red Sea Environment" to raise employee and guest awareness about the deterioration of the Red Sea and its corals.
• In Paris, France, employees are teaming up with the Surfrider Foundation for their annual clean-up of the river Seine.
• London hotels are partnering once again with Thames 21 to clean up the shores of the river Thames in front of the London Marriott County Hall.
• The employees of Torrance Marriott South Bay adopted a section of the Madrona Marsh and each month, a group visits to prune, weed and plant indigenous plants. In April, employees are inviting volunteers, friends and family to join them.
• Employees in New Jersey are joining their local business partners to plant gardens outside of school entrances, landscape and remove trash from community parks, and paint lines for outdoor games on blank school parking lots in the cities of Newark, Plainfield, Union City, and Jersey City. 

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

New Solar Leasing Fund Established

Sungevity, the leading online residential solar provider, announced today a new partnership with U.S. Bancorp to finance solar systems for Californian homes.  The program provides the first ever 10-year solar lease program, making it easier for California residents to get electricity free from the sun, with no money down, at the click of a mouse.  U.S. Bancorp is the parent of U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States.

"We're excited to partner with Sungevity on their solar lease program," said Darren Van't Hof, Vice President of Renewable Energy Investments for U.S. Bank. "We like the residential solar space and are convinced its growth will outpace commercial solar development in the coming years."

Together the two companies have created a new tax equity fund to finance solar leases for Sungevity's future customers. Sungevity has become a leader in the solar industry because of its ability to offer easy and affordable residential solutions with its unique online design and sales process.

"Sungevity is thrilled to be able to offer the best solar lease on the market with the first ever 10-year term using this fund while maintaining a service unparalleled by our competitors," said Danny Kennedy, President and co-founder of Sungevity. "Having a great partner like U.S. Bank that believes in the power of solar helps ensure that more home owners than ever can reap the savings coming from solar power in their own homes."

Sungevity started providing solar leases this month and has already sold one-quarter of a megawatt under the offer. Leveraging the easy online "iQuote" process, which enables Sungevity to use satellite images and aerial photography to assess customers' roofs remotely and accurately determine the homes' solar potential, the company has been able to furnish thousands of customers with a firm proposal to use solar power with no capital cost. Demand has been huge with over 1000 iQuotes requested through www.sungevity.com in the last week alone.

The offer gives most customers savings from the start of their Sungevity Solar Lease. The graphic compares a typical customer's monthly electric bill over a ten year period – savings from the solar lease starts immediately and increases significantly over time.

"This is the killer app for driving the mass adoption of solar," said Kennedy. "We've made it more than affordable to access electricity free from the sun, and we've made it easy by selling it over the internet."

"The Sungevity Solar Lease is a game changer: In one day this month we sold more solar power than our previous biggest month – people are voting with their mouses to get a lower electricity bill and do something for the planet."

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Worst Ice Year on Record Leads to Harp Seals' Demise

Thousands of harp seal pups are presumed dead in Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence and starving pups are being found abandoned on the beaches of Prince Edward Island, tragic victims of the worst ice conditions recorded in eastern Canada.

IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) reports that the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which is the annual birthing ground of hundreds of thousands of harp seals, is essentially devoid of both ice and seals.

"The conditions this year are disastrous for seal pups. I've surveyed this region for nine years and have never seen anything like this," said Sheryl Fink, a senior researcher with IFAW. "There is wide open water instead of the usual ice floes, and rather than the hundreds of thousands of seal pups that we normally encounter, only a handful of baby harp and hooded seals – animals that are normally found on ice – remain on the beaches."

Extremely high pup mortality is expected this year, making this one of several such occurrences in the past decade. In 2007, 99% of harp seal pups born in the Southern Gulf of St Lawrence are thought to have died due to lack of ice. In 2002, 75% of pups are thought to have suffered the same fate. Scientists with IFAW are concerned that the cumulative effects of high pup mortality due to the poor ice conditions, and high numbers of pups killed during Canada's commercial seal hunt could be devastating.

"Finding these ice-dependent seal species on land is extremely unusual, and should be considered a warning signal. The seal pups we have found on shore are thin and unable to defend themselves or escape from land-based predators. It is highly unlikely that any of these pups will survive long enough for there to be a seal hunt in the southern gulf this year," added Fink.

Earlier this month, Fisheries Minister Gail Shea increased the total allowable catch of harp seals, allowing 330,000 animals to be killed this year. In a rare moment of agreement, the Minister's announcement was loudly condemned by animal welfare organizations, conservationists, and sealers alike.

"It is reckless and irresponsible for the government to allow the hunt to proceed this year, given the high pup mortality that is expected," said Fink. "Under a precautionary approach, we should be protecting the few pups that might escape the devastating absence of ice this year. Given the almost complete lack of demand for seal skins, allowing the commercial slaughter of these survivors to proceed is simply adding insult to injury."

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

China Leads US and Other G-20 Members in Clean Energy Finance and Investment

For the first time, China led the United States and other G-20 members in 2009 clean energy investments and finance, according to data released today by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Last year, China invested $34.6 billion in the clean energy economy -- nearly double the United States' total of $18.6 billion. Over the last five years, the United States also trailed five G-20 members (Turkey, Brazil, China, the United Kingdom, and Italy) in the rate of clean energy investment growth.

In the Who's Winning the Clean Energy Race? Growth, Competition and Opportunity in the World's Largest Economies, Pew examines key financial, investment and technological trends related to G-20 members and the clean energy economy. The report tracks and measures global investment activity -- ranging from venture capital, initial public offerings from companies seeking to expand, mergers and acquisitions and lending for large-scale projects -- in this sector. Pew found that the global clean energy economy has experienced remarkable growth:

• Globally, clean energy investments have increased 230 percent since 2005.
• Investment by nearly all G-20 members grew by more than 50 percent over the past five years.
• Despite a worldwide recession, global clean energy investments reached $162 billion in 2009.
• G-20 members accounted for more than 90 percent of worldwide clean energy finance and investment.
• More than 250 gigawatts of renewable energy generating capacity have been installed around the world, producing six percent of global energy.
• Global clean energy investments are projected to reach $200 billion in 2010.

"Even in the midst of a global recession, the clean energy market has experienced impressive growth," said Phyllis Cuttino, who directs the Pew Environment Group's Global Warming Campaign. "Countries are jockeying for leadership. They know that investing in clean energy can renew manufacturing bases, and create export opportunities, jobs and businesses."

"The facts speak for themselves," said Bloomberg New Energy Finance Chief Executive Michael Liebreich. "2009 clean energy investment in China totaled $34.6 billion, while in the United States it totaled $18.6 billion. China is now clearly the world leader in attracting new capital and making new investments in this area."

Countries with strong nationwide policy frameworks, including renewable energy standards, carbon markets, priority loans for renewable energy projects and mandated clean energy targets, such as China, Brazil, Spain, United Kingdom and Germany, have the most robust clean energy sectors as a percentage of their economies. Countries without such policy frameworks including the United States, Japan, and Australia lag behind.

"The United States' competitive position is at risk in the emerging clean energy economy," said Cuttino. "Our nation has a critical choice to make: pass the federal policies necessary to position us as the world leader in the large and growing global clean energy market or continue to watch as China and other countries race ahead."

The United States' clean energy finance and investments lagged behind 10 G-20 members in percentage of gross domestic product. For instance, in relative terms, Spain invested five times more than the United States last year, and China and the United Kingdom three times more.

The United States did lead G-20 members in venture capital and private equity investments associated with technology innovation. However, it trailed in 2009 asset financing, with only $11.2 billion, while China led with $29.8 billion. Asset financing serves as a key barometer of clean energy deployment, job creation and business growth.

Pew published Who's Winning the Clean Energy Race? to highlight how G-20 members are participating and where they rank in the clean energy economy. The data have been compiled and reviewed by Pew's research partner, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the world's leading independent provider of news, data, research and analysis to decision-makers in renewable energy, carbon markets, energy smart technologies, and carbon capture and storage. The report's primary focus is on investment as it is the fuel that propels the innovation, commercialization, manufacturing and installation of clean energy technologies.

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Porsche to Unveil Its First Production Hybrid

Porsche will introduce the next-generation Cayenne sport utility vehicle, including a hybrid gas-electric version, to the North American market on March 31 during a press conference at the New York International Automobile Show.

Led by a highly advanced hybrid model, the new Porsche Cayenne sport-utility vehicle delivers improved performance while using less fuel and producing fewer emissions throughout the entire model lineup.

The North American Cayenne model range will include four models: the 2011 Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne Turbo and the Cayenne S Hybrid. The S and Turbo models go on sale in July, with the Cayenne and Cayenne S Hybrid in dealer showrooms this fall.

All the new Cayenne models embody the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy, the evolution of vehicles sportier than their predecessors, yet more fuel and emissions efficient.

"Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy is more than a slogan. It is nothing less than Porsche keeping pace with the modern automotive landscape by dramatically lowering emissions, becoming greener and saving fuel," explained Detlev von Platen, Porsche Cars North America President and CEO. "We will we accomplish this through technology and innovative ideas, just as we have throughout our history, and show that Porsche's high performance and efficiency are not contradictory terms."

Cayenne's dynamic new design offers less weight and more room

The Cayenne's new exterior leaves no doubt it is part of the Porsche family. Its sporting character is evident from all angles, and its Porsche shape and highlights are more distinct than before. From a dimensions standpoint, it is 1.9 inches longer than its predecessor, and its wheelbase adds 1.6 inches, ensuring extra interior space and greater versatility. Still, despite its larger exterior, this next-generation Cayenne looks even more compact and dynamic.

Thanks to a special combination of materials as well as changes in the overall vehicle concept, such as a new all-wheel drive system, weight has been reduced on all models. Despite a higher standard of safety features, the Cayenne S, for example, is almost 400 lbs lighter, which not only improves fuel consumption and lowers emissions, but also boosts performance, agility, and handling.

Inside, the luxurious interior features a high center console that, like the Panamera, rises up at an incline to meet the dashboard center stack and a touch-screen infotainment interface. Porsche's traditional set of five round instruments in the driver's gauge cluster includes a high-resolution circular TFT screen to the right of the tachometer. It can be used to change radio stations, vehicle settings, access the navigation system or view the map. Rear-seat comfort is improved, as well. The bench slides fore-and-aft by 6.3 inches, while the backrest can be adjusted.

The advanced Cayenne S Hybrid

The high-tech Cayenne S Hybrid that is debuting at the New York show next week features a highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid system. With a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the performance of a V8 with the economy of a V6.

Through continuous interaction between the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid focuses on maximum efficiency. Depending on driving conditions, either drive unit can operate independently or together. The 47-horsepower (34 kW) electric motor is the ideal partner for the 333-horsepower engine, which produces high torque at low engine speeds. With peak torque at 428 lb-ft at just 1,000 rpm, the Cayenne S Hybrid's performance is on par with a V8-powered Cayenne S.

The Cayenne S Hybrid's two drive units are connected by a decoupling clutch. A hybrid controller constantly coordinates their complex interaction, and intelligent management of the clutch makes the transition among various driving modes seamless. Like many hybrids, the Cayenne S Hybrid can cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to 60 km/h or almost 40 mph. For aggressive acceleration, the motor provides an extra 'boost' to the gasoline engine.

Like many hybrids, the Cayenne S Hybrid can cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to 60 km/h or almost 40 mph. For aggressive acceleration, the motor provides an extra 'boost' to the gasoline engine.

A new standard for Sport Utility Vehicles

All new-generation Cayenne SUVs set high standards for efficiency and performance. Compared with the former models, fuel consumption is down by up to 23 percent in the New European Driving Cycle and CO2 emissions are reduced. Actual EPA-certified fuel economy figures will be available when the cars go on sale in North America in July.

A new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission with a wide range of gear ratios and the Automatic Start Stop function (first introduced on the Panamera) contribute to these improvements. So does efficient thermal management of the engine and transmission cooling circuits, on-board electrical network recuperation, variable deceleration fuel cut-off and the Cayenne's intelligent lightweight construction.

The entry-level Cayenne with its 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine and mated to the new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission consumes 20 percent less fuel than its predecessor.

Fuel consumption is also down significantly on the high-torque Cayenne S. Its 4.8-liter V8 produces 400 horsepower, 15 more than the previous model.

The Cayenne Turbo, with its 500-horsepower, 4.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 also consumes less fuel than its predecessor despite its improved performance and acceleration.

Three other new Porsche models are making their New York debuts next week. Most prominent is the agile, light and dynamic 2011 Boxster Spyder roadster, a purer Porsche roadster weighing in at just 2,811 lbs. This sleek version of Porsche's popular mid-engine sports car is the lightest Porsche available is on sale now with an MSRP of $61,200. Also on display will be the 2011 911 Turbo Cabriolet featuring a 500-horsepower 3.8-liter engine, the first entirely new engine in 911 Turbo's storied 35-year- history. Finally, the new Porsche Panamera, the company's first four-door Gran Turismo, will grace the Porsche display in New York.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Inventor Seeks Licensee for Gulf Stream Turbine Patents

Gulf Stream Turbines LLC is seeking a suitable company or group of investors that will license an invention that can produce continuous low-cost electricity from the constantly flowing Gulf Stream.

Unlike the intermittent energy that is in the winds, tides, and waves, the Gulf Stream's kinetic energy is relatively steady because it is produced by a Coriolis force that results from the earth's eastward rotation. It is because of the Gulf Stream's greater steadiness that the Gulf Stream Turbines can continuously generate power at near their theoretical capacities, making it possible for them to produce from two to six times the electricity that can be produced by the wind turbines and at one-half to one-sixth the cost.

"Because these submersible power plants will be in the ocean, they must be able to operate for long periods without requiring servicing," said John Robson, the inventor. "This is made possible by relying on the unchanging laws of physics – rather than on mechanical systems that can fail."

Robson said, "A free-floating submerged object will always float with its center of gravity directly under its center of buoyancy. This fact not only can provide great inherent stability but also permit a machine's depth to be easily changed by transferring ballast water between the front and rear compartments of the buoyancy tank to adjust the hydrofoils' lifting forces. It also can make the machines much easier to install and recover."

Companies that generate electricity from renewable energy are eligible for a government production tax credit of 2.1 cents per kilowatt-hour for the first ten years of a renewable-energy facilities' operation. The Gulf Stream's more consistent kinetic energy not only will produce from two to six times the revenues from the sale of the electricity, but also from that subsidy.

The Gulf Stream Turbines will also produce proportionally larger reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases. A single Gulf Stream Turbine that is equipped with two 600-kW generators will theoretically generate 8,941,300 kilowatt-hours per year, operating at 85% of its theoretical capacity. If that electricity were to replace the electricity produced by a coal plant, the CO2 emissions would be reduced by about 13,000 tons. If that electricity were to replace the electricity produced by burning natural gas, the emissions would be reduced by 5,900 tons and gas consumption by 52.85 billion Btu.

Because the earnings produced by the Gulf Stream Turbines will substantially exceed those of the other renewable energy generating systems, thousands of these machines could soon be generating electricity from that current is just off the coast of South Florida.

Gulf Stream Turbines LLC was formed in 2009 for the purpose of getting the invention into production.

For additional information, visit www.gulfstreamturbine.com.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

U.S. Has Already Agreed to Store Enough Nuclear Reactor Waste to Fill Two Yucca Mountains

Between the output of existing commercial nuclear reactors and 21 proposed nuclear reactors covered by agreements quietly signed by the outgoing Bush Administration with more than a dozen electric utilities, the United States already has agreed to store enough spent (used) reactor fuel to fill the equivalent of not one, but two, Yucca Mountain high-level radioactive waste repositories, according to documents acquired under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Given that the U.S. is back to square one for the first repository, U.S. taxpayers would be on the hook for potentially tens of billions of dollars in penalties that would have to be paid to utilities if the 21 proposed reactor projects proceed.

This new information about the daunting scale of the challenge that faces the United States in disposing of spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors comes one day before the first meeting of the Obama Administration's "Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future." In addition to highlighting the serious consequences of the eleventh-hour deals stuck by the Bush White House, experts also focused public attention on the fact that the recently cancelled Yucca Mountain repository -- even if it were open today, 35 years after the process to create it started -- would already be filled to its legal limit of 63,000 metric tons of commercial waste by this spring. A second repository the same size would be filled with the 42,000 additional metric tons of spent fuel yet to be produced by existing nuclear reactors and the 21,000 metric tons that would be produced by the 21 proposed reactors covered under the Bush-industry agreements.

Separately, over 170 groups in all 50 states today released the "Principles for Safeguarding Nuclear Waste at Reactors" calling for specific steps to protect the public from the immediate threats posed by the currently vulnerable storage of commercial spent fuel at nuclear reactor facilities. The principles call for safer on-site storage of spent nuclear fuel through the use of less densely packed reactor pools and "hardened on-site storage" (HOSS) designed to "withstand an attack by air, land, or water from a force at least equal in size and coordination to the 9/11 attacks."

Dr. Arjun Makhijani, president, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER) said: "Yucca Mountain was known to be a poor repository site when it was chosen. Now, after 10 billion dollars of ratepayer money has been wasted and Yucca has rightly been abandoned, even the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not expressed confidence that a repository will open within ten years of the expiration of the first new reactor. In fact the NRC has not committed to any specific date for a repository; it has no logical or factual basis to come up with one. It was rash for the Bush Administration to sign contracts for new reactors while taxpayers are on the hook for billions due to default on existing waste contracts. These new contracts are likely to add billions more in damages at a time when the federal government is struggling with deficit containment."

Beyond Nuclear Radioactive Waste Specialist Kevin Kamps: "The bottom line here is that we have an industry and a White House proposing to race ahead with new reactors when we haven't figured out how to clean up the mess created by the first wave of reactors. Instead, 28 years after passage of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, 35 years after the repository search began, 53 years into commercial nuclear power, and 68 years after Fermi first split the atom during the Manhattan Project, the U.S. still has no safe, sound, permanent storage plan for high-level radioactive waste."

The utilities and the 21 reactor projects covered under the Bush Administration agreements are: Duke Energy in South Carolina (Lee 1&2); Southern Nuclear in Georgia (Vogtle 3&4); South Texas Project in Texas (South Texas 3&4); Nine Mile Point in New York (Nine Mile Point 3); UniStar Nuclear in Maryland (Calvert Cliffs 3); Virginia Electric in Virginia (North Anna 3); Florida Power and Light in Florida (Turkey Point 6&7); South Carolina Electric & Gas in South Carolina (Summer 2&3); Pennsylvania Power and Light in Pennsylvania (Bell Bend); Progress Energy in North Carolina (Shearon Harris 2&3) and Florida (Levy 1&2); Ameren UE in Missouri (Callaway 2); and Luminant in Texas (Comanche Peak 3&4).

A backgrounder outlining the "below the radar" Bush Administration deals with the nuclear industry and the implications of the same for taxpayers is available online at http://www.ieer.org.

Smart Grid Will Reinvent and Revitalize Energy Efficiency for Retailers

Apogee Interactive founder and long-time industry expert Joel Gilbert advised national retailers to keep a close eye on the smart grid, saying "What was once price prohibitive is now going to be relatively easy, and this will reinvent and revitalize energy efficiency efforts for many retailers." Gilbert addressed the Edison Electric Institute annual conference for national accounts in Boston yesterday.

"The Smart Grid may enable smaller retailers to participate in deeper partnerships with their energy providers on price-responsive load and in tracking energy efficiency efforts," said Gilbert. This meeting marked Gilbert's 10th consecutive year to address EEI's National Accounts Conference comprised of more than 600 senior executives and facilities directors for national chain retailers such as Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, Marriott, Starbucks and more.

He encouraged the retailers to pursue efficiency retrofits and renewable energy projects now saying, "Funding for energy initiatives are likely to peak this year, so it's time to get even more aggressive with what was once thought to be advanced technology. There may never be a better time to put together such energy projects."

Gilbert also noted the advent of devices from home automation and energy management system companies such as Control4 and others will make it easy and cost effective for small customers to easily manage their energy use. Apogee Interactive developed and licenses the energy analysis software that serves as the analytical engine for the control devices.

However, Gilbert did offer a word of caution, "The smart meters we all hear about may not be able to do decimal-level math and record fractional kilowatt hour use. Using whole number or integer-based meters is like trying to navigate around your neighborhood using an odometer without a tenth-of-a-mile digit."

Gilbert has observed the energy roller coaster for nearly four decades, through boom times and down turns, through cogeneration, deregulation and reregulation. "Today, energy suppliers, their customers, and trade allies will all have to work together as our country works through the details of our policies and politics on energy over this next year," Gilbert said. "We need true dialogue and not dogma to make this possible."

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

European Commission's 2010 Sustainable Energy Europe Competition Recognizes Alcatel's Alternative Energy Program

Alcatel-Lucent's "Alternative Energy Program for Global Green Telecommunications" was named as a winner in the 2010 European Commission's Sustainable Energy Europe (SEE) campaign. Alcatel-Lucent was recognized in the "Market Transformation-Voluntary Commitments" category.

The Sustainable Energy Europe (SEE) campaign ( http://www.sustenergy.org/tpl/page.cfm?pageName=home) is an initiative of the European Commission managed by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness & Innovation (EACI), under the authority of Commissioner for Energy Mr. Gunther H. Oettinger. The winners of the annual competition were announced at an awards ceremony in Brussels on March 23 as part of the European Union's Sustainable Energy Week (http://www.eusew.eu/).

Alcatel-Lucent entry outlined its program to develop and build wireless telecommunications base stations powered with alternative energies, such as solar, wind and fuel cells. This program, announced in February 2009, is designed to enable communications service providers to extend the reach of their wireless services to areas not served by an electrical grid, making it possible to provide telephone and broadband communications services to the more than 1 billion people who are still cut off from this vital tool for economic and social development. The program will also make it possible for service providers in developed regions to retrofit their wireless base stations so that they can take advantage of advances in alternative energy technology.

The program makes it possible to address a market estimated at more than 100,000 mobile base stations that could be powered with alternative energy solutions between 2010 and 2012, representing a yearly savings of about 7 million tons of CO2.

"The Alcatel-Lucent program is bringing the advantages of alternative energies to telecom networks, a key component in our strategy to bridge the energy and the telecom worlds," said Jean-Philippe Poirault, president of Alcatel-Lucent's Network and Systems Integration activities. "As growing telecom traffic sparks more demand for energy and as electricity transport and distribution grids face growing challenges that information and communication technologies can help solve, these two essential industry sectors have a lot to bring to each other."

The program includes the Alcatel-Lucent Alternative Energy Laboratory (http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/alternative-energy/) and Pilot Station, the world's first such facility for the telecom market. Bringing together industrial, institutional and academic partners from the telecommunications world and the alternative energy world, this laboratory has the facilities to analyse, test and validate solutions being offered by the dynamic alternative energy market and how they might meet the needs of the telecommunications industry.

In addition to the advanced research, Alcatel-Lucent is developing a multi-year roadmap to enable its telecom customers to benefit from the best possible alternative energy solutions as soon as the technology becomes available while creating a new market for alternative energy systems vendors.

"The renewable energy base stations developed by Alcatel-Lucent will result in a paradigm shift in the global telecommunications industry. Stakeholders of global IT companies will now see this as the gold standard in triple bottom line innovation. Alcatel-Lucent's proactive commitment to sustainability has resulted in a solution that will resonate in all markets improving access to global communication and internet services," said analyst Brad Allen, TBR Program Manager for Global Business Sustainability. "We believe that these base stations when fully deployed, will serve as community-based examples of the potential of progressive renewable energy applications that may promote further development of sustainable energy technologies."

Leveraging its "Sustainable Power" services suite, Alcatel-Lucent provides consulting to help operators build a comprehensive deployment plan tailored to their specific environment, and then manages design, dimensioning, installation, transformation and integration of the entire network, for new deployments or retrofit programs of any base stations.

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