Court Blocks Permitting Process for Mountaintop Removal Mining
A federal judge ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers streamlined permit process is flawed.
Gray Wolves Delisted
Fish and Wildlife Service expecting law suits from both sides of the issue.
Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: April 8, 2009
Retrofit of Empire State Building to Slash Energy Use by 38% Progressive Automotive X Prize Names 111 Registered Teams Chrysler Selects A123Systems for EV Batteries Offshore Wind Energy Could Power the Country Geodynamics Proves Viability of Enhanced Geothermal Systems Today’s Low Oil Prices are Slowing Supply Growth Energy Star Partners and Retailers Recognized Retrofit of Empire State Building to Slash Energy Use by 38% A unique team of private companies and non-profit organizations has devised an energy retrofit for the Empire State Building that will reduce its energy use by 38%, including a 33% reduction in cooling load and a 3.5-megawatt reduction in peak electrical demand. The retrofit project, a small part of a $500 million upgrade for the New York City landmark, will reduce energy loads by upgrading windows and lighting and by adding radiative barriers behind the radiators. To deliver the remaining energy more efficiently, the retrofit will upgrade some of the chillers for the building while removing others, and it will install new variable-speed air handling units. And to better control energy delivery, the retrofit will add demand-control ventilation and tenant energy management systems, while also upgrading energy controls and meters for the building as a whole. […]
Suniva To Add Solar to Redeveloped Ford Plant
Atlanta-based solar company to install up to 10 MW of solar power at major redevelopment.
Invenergy, GE Announce Wind Turbine Deal
Announcement about expansion of wind farm in Illinois is first big development news from the sector in weeks.
REC Halts Production at New Silicon Plant
Operations halted just days after production began at the new plant in Moses Lake, Wasington.
Nano Terra, Pentair Partner On Water Tech
Nanotech company to develop new water treatment solutions in collaboration with experienced industry member.
Editorial: Biochar – The Great Black Hope
By Bart King When it comes to climate change, every potential solution seems to have a downside. For example, biofuels that could offset petroleum divert food stocks and/or have the potential to degrade ecosystems. Solar power is intermittent, requires the production of toxic materials and gases, and is still prohibitively expensive. And wind turbines are considered an eyesore by many and a threat to winged wildlife by others. However, biochar might be different. Despite a rather unpleasant name, which calls to mind road kill on hot summer day, it has refreshingly unspoiled promise. Admittedly, research into the production and use of biochar—also known as agrichar—is not yet widespread. It could still prove to be a bad idea—producing, for example, a breed of oversized zombie earthworms. But so far things look good. Simplicity is its greatest virtue. First of all, biochar is just another name for charcoal. It’s produced by burning any biomass under high temperatures and with very little oxygen—a process called pyrolysis. Roughly half of the carbon from wood chips, manure or crop residues fed into the oven is converted into synthetic gas or bio oil, which can be used as fuel or in co-products like cosmetics. The remaining […]
Draft of House Climate Bill Released
Representative Henry Waxman's climate bill creates a renewable energy standard and a cap-and-trade system, but it short on details.
McDonald's Agrees To Steps To Reduce Potato Pesticides
Shareholder group led by Bard College threatened fast food chain with a shareholder resolution.