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WilderHill Clean Energy Index ETF Begins Trading

On March 3, the first Clean Energy ETF started trading under the name “PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio” (Amex: PBW). This new exchange traded fund (ETF) managed by PowerShares Capital Management LLC, replicates the WilderHill Clean Energy Index, the first index comprised of companies focused on clean energy technologies. The WilderHill Clean Energy Index was developed by Dr. Robert Wilder as a benchmark for the clean and renewable energy sector. According to industry research, the total clean energy market for wind, solar and fuel cells will grow to $92 billion in 2013, roughly seven times its present size. Lower costs from advances in technology are helping fuel the growth in alternative energy investment. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the cost of wind and solar technology has declined by 80% over the past two decades. As the prices of crude oil and other petroleum products remain near historic highs, investment in the development and use of alternative sources of energy becomes more attractive and cost effective. Thirteen states now require utilities to obtain a portion of their electricity from renewable sources. Nonpolluting alternative energy sources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, bio-fuel, geothermal, hybrid automotive and fuel cells have become multi-billion […]

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Nokia Drops Immediate Plans to Develop Fuel Cells

LONDON – Nokia Corp. has dropped plans to develop mobile phones with fuel cells for at least the next few years, a spokesman for the Finnish company said Thursday. The world’s largest cell-phone maker, which only eight months ago signaled its commitment to fuel cells, said the technology isn’t yet mature. However, Nokia’s Matti Naskali left the door open for future use of the technology. “Fuel-cell technology is promising and Nokia continues to follow it closely,” he said. In a cell phone, a fuel cell would remove the need for a rechargeable battery, instead allowing a user to recharge it the same way a cigarette lighter is refilled when it runs out of butane. A fuel cell would also allow longer talk and standby times and increased stamina for power-hungry applications such as television. In June 2004, Tero Ojanpera, head of Nokia’s research center, showed off a headset that was powered by a small amount of methanol. The fuel cell combined the methanol with air to produce power. At that time, Ojanpera said the technology was “reasonably mature,” and predicted that it would take less than two years to commercialize it. But Naskali said several issues with the technology had […]

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Nuclear Delusion – The Case for a New Atomic Dawn to Meet the Carbon Challenge

by Tom Burke, March 2, 2005 The nuclear industry has grasped at climate change like a drowning man clutching a passing log. Its latest piece of flailing around involved persuading some journalists that the prime minister is just waiting for the general election to be over to put out a white paper setting out the case for 10 new nuclear reactors. This was as much news to No 10 as it was to the public. But no doubt it accurately reflects the aspirations of the diminishing band of nuclear advocates. In reality, as energy minister Michael O’Brien has pointed out on several recent occasions, the government would happily consider an application for one or 10 or any number of nuclear power stations right now from anyone who wants to build them. Unfortunately, no one is offering. The brutal truth is that no one has yet managed to work out a way of getting nuclear reactors to burn uranium as effectively as they burn money – though extraordinary creativity has gone into concealing this from public view. Nor has anyone yet discovered how to make atoms work for peace without making them available for war. For all their enthusiasm, not one […]

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Nearly One in Ten 2004 Homes Qualified for Energy Star

Nearly 10 percent of all homes built in 2004 qualified for Energy Star, according to an EPA report. Since 1995 more than 350,000 of the nation’s new homes have met Energy Star ratings, saving homeowners an estimated $200 million and eliminating approximately 4 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions of about 150,000 vehicles. Home energy use accounts for nearly 17 percent of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and 15 percent of energy consumption nationwide. For the past 10 years, EPA has been working with the housing industry, utilities, states, and independent energy efficiency home ratings professionals to bring increased energy efficiency to the homebuilding industry. Today more than 2,500 builders are committed to building Energy Star qualified homes, and in some markets 20 to 40 percent of new housing starts earn the Energy Star. New homes that qualify for the Energy Star designation use about 30 percent less energy than a home built to the model energy code without compromising comfort or quality. Energy Star qualified homes can be found in every state and the District of Columbia. States with the most Energy Star qualified homes include Texas, with more than 91,000 qualifying homes, California […]

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Wind Power Challenged but Turbines Still Turning

by Ken Silverstein – Director, Energy Industry Analysis Even though wind power is facing challenges on a few new projects, the industry is still working to establish itself as a cornerstone of global energy policy. Successful projects could cut the level of pollutants that are released into the atmosphere. But, the nascent technology has been battered lately by determined opponents armed with new studies who argue that wind power is adversely effecting wildlife and the environment as well as adding costs to consumers’ bills. What are some of the issues? Thousands of dead bats are turning up in the hills of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland and the matter has grabbed the attention of researchers, naturalists and utilities alike. No one knows why this is happening and the issue is likely to affect a host of new wind developments that have long been in the works; The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for New England has written to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that its draft proposal essentially giving the go-ahead to an off-shore wind project to be located in Cape Cod is “inadequate.” It says that the Corps must look into matters involving the effects on […]

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Citigroup Commended For Enforcing Environmental Policy

Citigroup requires Southeast Asian timber client to obtain independent, third party certification. Forest protection advocates, human rights activists and socially responsible investors (SRI) today commended Citigroup (NYSE:C) for its proactive constructive engagement to help end endangered forest destruction, rampant illegal logging and related human rights abuses in Southeast Asia. During an “Environmental and Social Risk Management Briefing” at Citigroup’s New York headquarters this week, CEO Chuck Prince told stakeholders that client Rimbunan Hijau, a Malaysian logging giant with a well-documented history of human rights abuses and illegal logging activities, must comply with a set of progressive new environmental policies adopted by the bank last year. Mr. Prince affirmed that Citigroup will require Rimbunan Hijau to obtain credible, independent, third party certification for its Papua New Guinea operations and specified the Forest Stewardship Council program by name during his comments. The environmental and SRI communities are awaiting formal targets and timelines from Citigroup for Rimbunan Hijau’s certification process. In January 2004, Rainforest Action Network and Citigroup announced that Citigroup had adopted a comprehensive environmental policy including initiatives on endangered ecosystems, illegal logging, ecologically sustainable development and climate change. During the implementation process, Rainforest Action Network alerted Citigroup to investigations into Rimbunan […]

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