renewable

Biofuel takes flight with Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Airways flew a 747 from London to Amsterdam on Sunday powered in part by a biodiesel made from tropical oils.

The fuel used by the plane is a combination of regular kerosene-based jet fuel and a biodiesel from Imperium Renewables composed of babassu oil and coconut oil. Babassu comes from a tree in Brazil. In fact, 80 percent of the fuel consumed by the plane was kerosene-based. Only 20 percent of the fuel used on the flight came from plant oils. Still, it's a first, says Virgin.

The oils came from existing plantations, Imperium said. No modifications … Read more

Solar industry to play hardball in D.C. to get tax credit

NEW YORK--The solar industry's trade group is borrowing political tactics from the oil and gas industry to try to extend a tax credit that it considers vital to continued growth of renewable energy.

Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industry Association ( SEIA), said Wednesday that his group has created a lobbying coalition of utilities, homebuilders, and environmentalists to pressure Congress to pass a law to extend--and improve --an existing tax credit for renewable energy investments.

The group has also formed a political action committee to ensure that Congress members who voted against the renewable energy tax credit are … Read more

Police fans, watch out!

I've written about "fan clubs" before--by and large, I think they're a scam by which very popular artists and concert promoters can charge even more money than the already ridiculous list prices. Usually, "fan clubs" make you pay a one-time fee of something like $100 for the right to buy tickets slightly earlier than the unwashed masses, then they throw in a couple of nearly worthless perks. In the case of The Police, I got the "right" to buy tickets near the top of the arena, access to online chat rooms, … Read more

Economic stimulus package leaves solar industry in the cold

An economic stimulus plan passed the Senate on Thursday without extending an important tax credit for the solar and wind industries.

Renewable energy companies and advocates were bitterly disappointed late last year with the passage of the Energy Act, which did not extend an investment tax credit. It would have been funded by repealing an existing tax break to oil companies.

Right now, renewable energy projects receive a federal tax credit once they are completed, but that provision runs out at the end of 2008.

On Thursday, the Senate again left out the tax credit extension, which solar and wind … Read more

Biodiesel maker Imperium Renewables slims down workforce

Imperium Renewables has cut its workforce, only weeks after pulling plans for its public offering and replacing its CEO, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

The Seattle-based biodiesel producer told the newspaper that the workforce reductions were done to "address short-term challenges and ensure the company's long-term growth."

It said that the changes will not affect the operation of its Grays Harbor, Wash., biodiesel plant which will produce 100 million gallons of biodiesel a year.

The news follows the company's announcement that it has delayed its planned initial public offering citing market conditions and the departure of former CEO Martin Tobias … Read more

Waste-to-electricity firm Ze-gen raises funds

Ze-gen, a company which has a process for converting municipal waste into electricity, has raised $2.5 million to fund construction of its first full-scale plant.

Pinnacle Ventures on Thursday said it will provide the debt financing, which will be used to develop a commercial plant. Ze-gen's pilot plant opened in the middle of last year in New Bedford, Mass.

Ze-gen developed a process to turn municipal solid waste into electricity, which you can sell onto the grid or to an on-site consumer.

Through gasification, it turns waste into syngas--a combination of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen--which is … Read more

GE funding five SunPower solar projects for California

SunPower and General Electric Energy Financial Services are partnering to build solar power installations generating 8 megawatts in California by the end of the year.

The five projects include what could become the nation's largest solar panel installation on one roof, capable of 2.3 megawatts, at Toyota Motor Sales' Parts Center. Construction is set to start next month.

GE Energy Financial Services is acquiring a majority equity interest in the projects for an undisclosed amount. It will own the systems built and run by SunPower, a maker of high-efficiency solar panels.

The San Jose, Calif.-based company, which … Read more

Imperium Renewables delays IPO plans

Biodiesel manufacturer Imperium Renewables has withdrawn its plans to go public, citing "unfavorable market conditions."

The Seattle-based company filed the paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. It had filed to go public in May, and had plans to raise $345 million.

The news comes a few weeks after the company replaced its then-CEO, Martin Tobias, naming President John Plaza as interim CEO and investor Nancy Floyd as chairman.

Imperium Renewables said that Tobias' departure was part of a planned transition, but company watchers noted that his leaving was abrupt and not well publicized. (The company … Read more

Dutch tap solar heat from asphalt roads

A Dutch civil engineering company has designed a heat-absorbing road that bridges winter and summer.

The Road Energy System, from Ooms Avenhorn Holding, is essentially an asphalt road with tubes placed underneath. Water circulates to siphon off the heat from the road and it is stored underground for several months.

The heated road, sort of like radiant floor heating in a home, was originally conceived as a way to melt ice from roads without heavy salting.

Now, with growing interest in renewable forms of energy, the system can also be used to heat and cool homes while reducing greenhouse gas … Read more