Green news harvest: Credit crisis slams wind, solar

A sampling of green-tech news with quick commentary.

• Dark Days for Green Energy - The New York Times
  The credit crisis is seriously disrupting wind and solar business, slackening demand and creating layoffs.
• Will Green Energy Wilt from Lack of Funds? - BusinessWeek
  More on why a dearth of "tax equity" is derailing renewable energy projects.

• Half Britain's homes could be heated by renewable gas, says National Grid - Press release
  One advantage: biomethane made either by gasifying biomass or processing sewage could be piped through the existing natural gas network.
• Ford to Follow GM in Making Plug-in Battery Cells Overseas - Earth2Tech
  Ford chooses battery supplier for electric vehicles due in 2012.
• Smart Grid Cross-Pollination at DistribuTech - Greentech Media
  A wrap-up of smart-grid news at utility conference, pointing to how Balkanized the smart-grid business is.
• Tesla in 'late-stage' talks on new factory site - San Jose Business Journal
  Having had to scrap plans to build a new factory for its Model S electric sedan, Tesla is now close to locating another spot, apparently still in Silicon Valley area.
• Can Oceans Power the Data Center of the Future? - GreenerComputing
  A project to power a floating data center with a tidal energy generator takes one step ahead.
• Peak Lithium: Will Supply Fears Drive Alternative Batteries? - Wall Street Journal
  Peak lithium is back in the news after Time and The New York Times travel to Bolivia and consider the geopolitics of lithium supply and demand.
• N.C. Utilities Commission schedules new hearing on Duke Energy solar plan - Triangle Business Journal
  Duke Energy's plan to install and own solar panels on building rooftops is in jeopardy because of complications ultimately stemming from tax-based renewable energy policies.