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West Hollywood Triggers Green Building Ordinance

West Hollywood, California’s Green Building Ordinance has gone into effect – one of the first mandatory “green building” programs in the country. The Green Building Requirements and Incentives for Private Development Ordinance: 1. Establishes new development standards that apply to all development, including all new residential and commercial projects as well as remodels and tenant improvements; 2. Develops a point system for new construction with incentives for projects that achieve “exemplary” status; and 3. Implements “green building” education and outreach program. These standards were incorporated into the Zoning Ordinance so that all projects incorporate elements such as drought-tolerant landscaping, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and energy efficient appliances. The green building point system will be incorporated in all new structures, with incentives for projects that go above and beyond minimum requirements. The requirements are structured as a point system to allow for maximum flexibility and the points allowed each reflect West Hollywood’s unique opportunities and constraints. Specifically, the point system was designed to emphasize locally-available materials, encourage green elements to be incorporated early into project design and provide flexibility to alter green elements as the project evolves. Mandatory Items for all Projects Including Remodels and Additions 1. Divert 80% of construction and […]

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First Solar Announces Expansion into Malaysia

Thin-film solar firm, First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSLR) announced that its board of directors has approved the construction of an additional manufacturing plant in Malaysia with an annual production capacity of 120 megawatts (MW) representing an investment of about $150 million. The new plant is scheduled to start production in the first half of 2009 and will be built adjacent to two previously announced plants currently under construction in Malaysia. First Solar operates manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Germany with total annual production capacity of 210MW and is currently constructing two additional manufacturing plants in Malaysia with total annual nameplate production capacity of 240MW. This expansion will bring the Company’s total annual nameplate production capacity to 570MW upon completion of all announced projects by the end of 2009. The production from the newly announced plant expansion will be used to meet additional demand from First Solar’s existing customers, including Blitzstrom GmbH, Conergy AG, Gehrlicher Umweltschonende Energiesysteme GmbH, Phoenix Solar AG, and Reinecke + Pohl Sun Energy AG, and to meet demand under a new long term contract with ASSYCE Fotovoltaica, a Spanish renewable energy project developer and system integrator focused on large scale, grid connected solar power plants. First Solar […]

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Global VC Investments in Clean Technology Surge

Global venture capital investments in clean technology companies surged to US$1.1 billion in the first six months of 2007 alone, according to a mid-year research by Ernst & Young and Dow Jones VentureOne. Propelled by activity in the US, 2007 venture capital investments in clean technology companies are now on track to increase by more than 35% compared to 2006. “Clean technology has moved from vision to reality, and it’s now a priority on the CEO agenda of every company from the entrepreneurial growth companies to the multinational market leaders,” said Gil Forer, Global Director of Ernst & Young’s Venture Capital Advisory Group. “The accelerating venture capital investments reflect the growing importance of the sector. A strong innovation pipeline and confidence in the global drivers supporting growth in the clean technology market – such as government policies, consumer awareness, energy prices and concern about carbon emissions – are driving venture capital investment.” The largest number of investments was in the US with 71 deals closed in the first six months of 2007, which raised over US$893 million. European investments are set to reach or even exceed 2006 levels, with 19 deals and US$80 million invested in the first six months […]

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ConsumerPowerline Raises $17M

Demand Response firm ConsumerPowerline has completed a $17 million Series A Preferred Financing. The round was led by Expansion Capital Partners, LLC, with co-investors Bessemer Venture Partners, as well as Schneider Electric Ventures, the New York City Investment Fund and Vantania Holdings, advised by Consensus Business Group. ConsumerPowerline will use the funds to aggressively expand Demand Response, smart metering technologies, permanent energy efficiency solutions and other products and services designed to pay end-users for the efficiencies that they offer to the national, regional and local energy markets. ConsumerPowerline uses an “aligned incentive” model, in which the firm shares in the incremental savings or revenues it generates for clients. Demand Response is a kind of electricity “insurance policy” in which large energy users help prevent widespread blackouts, brownouts and voltage reductions by using less power when the local and regional electric grid is under stress and a power outage looms. Energy companies can buy “negative watts” (negawatts), at the same rate as electricity for those peak hours–avoiding the far higher cost of outages, building new power plants or running dirty, uneconomic peaking plants. Using a web-based technology platform and an integrated national approach, ConsumerPowerline helps owners and operators of large commercial, […]

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