Green news harvest: Mascoma, Konarka ramp up clean tech

A sampling of green-tech news with quick commentary.

• Konarka opens world's largest roll-to-roll thin-film solar manufacturing facility with 1 gigawatt nameplate capacity - Press release
  After many years of development, Konarka boosts production of plastic solar cells it wants to embed in everything from cell phone chargers to more solid clothing.
• Blowing offshore power into Oregon - Greentech Media
  Seems like a wind company to watch. Principle Power makes, among other things, off-shore wind turbines using three-legged supports.
• Mascoma announces $49.5 million in DOE and state of Michigan funding for cellulosic fuel facility - Press release
  Here's one way clean-tech start-ups will scale up: government incentives. Michigan lures Mascoma to build a plant to make ethanol from wood chips.
• The failing business of conservation - NYTimes.com
  NYT's newish Green Inc. blog features a report from World Conservation Congress in which experts tell environmentalists to better understand business and learn how to motivate people.
• Green TECHpulse, multicultural market research, multiclient study analysis - Press release
  A survey of businesses and consumers shows strong interest in buying green.
• Test driving the all-electric mini-car - Greentech Media
  Kanellos tries the Tango (already purchased by George Clooney), an all-electric car with room for one driver in front and a person behind that zooms from 0 to 60 in four seconds.

Study finds that clean-energy industry can power Northwest economy, job creation, and carbon reduction - Clean Edge
Research firm Clean Edge sees job growth in budding Northwest clean-tech cluster.

Direct-methanol fuel cell takes DoD prize - EETimes.com
Portable power for soldiers via a liquid fuel cell.

Why clean-tech is taking biotech's shine - BusinessWeek
A piece on the clear opportunity to apply biotech to energy.