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GE Announces Plans for Largest Desalination Plant in Africa

GE Infrastructure, Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), joined the Algerian Government, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the Algerian Energy Company (AEC), in announcing plans to build Hamma Water Desalination SpA (Hamma) — Africa’s largest seawater desalination plant. Funded by GE (70%) and AEC (30%), Hamma will be the first private desalination reverse osmosis potable water project in Algeria. The project will also be the largest membrane desalination plant in Africa, as well as one of the largest desalination plants in the entire world. OPIC, which helps U.S. businesses invest in new and emerging overseas markets, also financed $200 million towards the project. The Hamma project will supply 25% of Algeria’s capital city’s population with drinking water. By supplying 200,000 cubic meters (53 million U.S. gallons) of potable water a day and reducing energy and overall costs, the build-own-operate project will lessen Algeria’s water scarcity issues. Currently, the people of Algeria are plagued with usable water challenges that range from drinking water shortages and irregular rainfall to aging infrastructure that can cause immense losses of water. Because of the scarcity of clean water, the residents of Algiers only receive water one out of every […]

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Airtricity Expands into U.S. Energy Marketplace with $270M Wind Project

Airtricity, a leading renewable energy company, announced an initial investment in the U.S. of $270 million planned for the development of wind farms in Texas, New York and the Pacific Northwest and total investments in excess of $1.5 billion by 2010 in the North American market. Airtricity will use the initial investment to install turbines on a wind farm developed in conjunction with RGI, Inc. Located in the Abilene area, it will have an installed capacity of 125MW and will generate sufficient power to supply over 75,000 homes. The turbines will be supplied by the Siemens Wind Power company based in Florida. The other wind farms being constructed in 2006 will use wind turbines supplied by Gamesa. CEO Eddie O’Connor said, “This investment is a significant milestone for Airtricity as it comes at a time when there is limited wind energy capacity in the U.S. but growing recognition of the need to develop long-term renewable sources of energy. Over the next five years, we anticipate that growing demand for wind energy will enable our business in North America to account for nearly 50 percent of overall revenues, which will help us to become the largest private, renewable energy developer in […]

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Climate Shock

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Lost Energy

URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/25/AR2005062500860.html Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/25/AR2005062500860.html     

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Konarka and KURZ Collaborate on Power Plastic

Konarka Technologies, Inc., a company developing and commercializing power plastics that convert light to energy, and Leonard Kurz GmbH & CO.KG, a leader in the research, development and manufacture of polymer electronic technology, have established a non-exclusive partnership in support of light-activated power plastic. The companies are engaged in a multi-year, multi-phase collaboration to accelerate the development of Konarka’s organic photovoltaic technology. KURZ has committed significant capital, equipment and resources to the joint activities. Howard Berke, chairman and chief executive officer, Konarka, said, “KURZ is a world leader in innovative printed materials, and this relationship enhances Konarka’s ability to take its organic photovoltaic program beyond the laboratory and into development for manufacturing and production scale-up. With this partnership, we are continuing to execute on our strategy to partner with leading global companies who can print power plastic at very high volumes.” KURZ has expertise in printing and coating films and foils for a wide assortment of products, including packaging, electronic devices, security applications, automotive parts, household appliances, cosmetics, textiles, furniture and greeting cards, and manufacturing capabilities in Europe, North America and Asia. Konarka’s power plastic, which is made by printing conducting polymers and nano-engineered materials onto plastic, can integrate easily […]

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Trex Gets Decked

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Starbucks Partners with the African Wildlife Foundation

Building on its ongoing global coffee sustainability commitment to coffee farms and cooperatives throughout the world, Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq:SBUX) and the African Wildlife Foundation today announced the launch of the “Coffee for Conservation” project, aimed at promoting coffee quality, environmental sustainability and natural resource conservation in East Africa. The three-year “Coffee for Conservation” project, will focus on providing training for farmers to produce high quality coffee and ensuring natural resource conservation in two East African countries. It will be launched in Kenya in the first year with plans to extend to other regions, such as Tanzania, in the following years. With more than 45 years of experience in conservation and wildlife management in Africa, African Wildlife Foundation will lead and manage the project on the ground in Kenya. Starbucks primary roles will be to provide financial and technical support in terms of training and resources. Starbucks socially responsible purchasing practices include paying premium prices for the highest quality arabica coffee, providing farmers with access to affordable credit, investing in social development projects, purchasing conservation and certified coffees (such as Fair Trade Certified(TM) and organic coffees), collaborating with farmers through the Starbucks Coffee Agronomy Company (Farmer Support Center) in Costa […]

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