Green news harvest: Wind power expands in Northwest; lime-laced oceans explored to fight global warming

A sampling of green-tech news with quick commentary.

• Wind power could quadruple in the Northwest by 2015 - The Oregonian
  Advocates of wind power are startled by its projected expansion in Oregon and Washington. But hooking up wind plants to the grid remains a challenge.
• Critics object to plans for coal plants in Michigan - Detroit Free Press
  Michigan utilities claim the popularity of plasma televisions and other electronics is spurring the need for new power plants.
• Seed oceans with lime to absorb CO2? - PhysOrg
  Lime from limestone improves the capability of seawater to absorb carbon dioxide. Shell is reportedly investing in a group effort by scientists to explore the idea to fight global warming.

Objections are growing to new coal power plants for Michigan. This plant sits near the shores of Lake Michigan and close to the Michigan state border in Indiana.
(Credit: Elsa Wenzel/CNET)
• Fulcrum BioEnergy plans Nevada waste-to-fuel plant - Greentech Media
  The company is planning a $120 million plant east of Reno to brew ethanol from household garbage.
• World's wealthiest investing 'green' - SocialFunds.com
  The ultra-rich in Europe and the Middle East are leading an increase in investments in the "green" sector, according to the World Wealth Report 2008 from Merrill Lynch and Capgemini.
• Hybrid shortage challenges New York City's green taxi goals - USA Today
  Big Apple taxis are supposed to transition to all-hybrid fleets starting in October. But short supplies of both the vehicles and replacement parts could make for a bumpy transition.
• How Wal-Mart became the new FDA - GreenBiz.com The retail giant is essentially regulating the market by deciding to stop stocking potentially toxic plastic bottles, says Fortune writer Marc Gunther.
• 'Green New Deal' urged by British think tank - Reuters
  Before a climate change "point of no return" strikes, the New Economics Foundation calls for a collective push for clean technologies.
• Zero-emission homes planned for Paris and Barcelona - Guardian.co.uk
  European developers are planning to make the world's first units of "smart" housing, featuring sensors and renewable energy, available by the end of 2009.