Green Jobs Icon Van Jones Kicks off American Dream Movement

Posted on June 26, 2011 by quest

With the star-studded accompaniment of Shepard Fairey and The Roots, activist Van Jones kicked off the “American Dream Movement” campaign with an event that was one part TED Talk and one part concert. Presented with help from MoveOn.org and other organizations, the event was billed as an attempt to bring together the progressive movement under a united front. Jones’s message centered on the economy and the dangerous rhetoric coming from the American right.

“We are being lied to” Jones said. “We know that we cannot solve the problems our country is facing while continually and continuously being lied.” Jones, the former Special Advisor for Green Jobs to the Obama White House, drove home the message that misinformation is preventing America from rebuilding the economy, and that confronting these lies is paramount to moving forward. Jones focused on what he called the four big lies. Lie number one: America is broke.

“We are not broke and we are not alone,” Jones said. “If we’re still the richest country in the world, why are so many American suffering right now?” Jones, backed by a large-screen presentation, took the audience through America’s economy, the financial collapse, and the aftermath.

He likened telling America that it is broke to telling people in a burning building that all the exits are locked when they’re not. Jones pulled no punches in addressing the need to hold Wall Street and America’s richest citizens accountable for their share of taxes, but stressed the need to make sure that any plans encourage job growth. “Nothing stops a bullet like a job,” Jones said. Jones moved on to lie number two: Asking the super rich to pay taxes hurts the economy. “You do well in America, you should do well by America,

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Pythagoras Solar Window Wins GE ecomagination

Posted on June 24, 2011 by quest

Pythagoras Solar, provider of Photovoltaic Glass Unit (PVGU) technology, the industry’s first solar window to simultaneously deliver energy efficiency, high power density and transparency, has been selected as a winner of GE ecomagination Challenge, which recognizes the most promising building energy innovations. Winners were selected from nearly than 5,000 entrants based on originality, feasibility and potential impact. Pythagoras Solar’s window technology, an innovation for the real world, revolutionizes the design and construction of buildings, and answers market demand for aesthetically appealing architectural solutions that offer sustainability benefits and fast return on investment. With commercial installations underway, a growing project pipeline, and this prestigious award, Pythagoras Solar is well positioned for success in the global marketplace.

“After one year and $134 million committed to new partners, we delivered on our goal to scale and commercialize the best new ideas through open innovation,” said Beth Comstock, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, GE. “The power of networked ideas, collaboration and partnerships to accelerate innovation represents a gathering force whose impact will be a significant driver in the future of business.” “GE sets high standards and we are proud that our technology has been recognized as a distinctive solution, ready for the real world and set to enable a market shift towards net zero energy buildings,” said Udi Paret, VP Marketing and Business Development, Pythagoras Solar. “This award, along with its $100,000 prize, validates our proposition and supplements the increased interest we are seeing from successful pilots, first commercial projects and growing product demand.”

The Challenge, a collaboration of venture capital firms RockPort Capital, KPCB, Foundation Capital, and Emerald Technology Ventures is part of GE’s ecomagination initiative, a global commitment to build innovative clean energy technologies. The other innovation award winners include PlottWatt, Suntulit, Viridity and Xergy.

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Marin County Real Goods Solar To Merge With Alteris

Posted on June 23, 2011 by quest

by Jeff Quackenbush, Business Journal Staff Reporter: Real Goods Solar Inc , a solar energy systems integrator started in the North Bay, and Alteris Renewables Inc. today announced a deal to merge, giving Real Goods a large foothold in the Northeast. In the deal, Real Goods would issue 8 million shares, or more based on performance, to purchase all the stock of Wilton, Conn.-based Earth Friendly Energy Group Holdings, LLC, which does business as Alteris. The deal is set to close in the third quarter, pending approval of Real Goods shareholders, of which the majority is Boulder, Colo.-based Gaiam Inc. Gaiam intends to vote in favor of the merger, according to the announcement.

Real Goods Solar President John Schaeffer, who started the company in 1978 in Hopland, would become president of the residential division of the merged company.“Together, we are a much stronger company with a better ability to compete in the market that we established when Real Goods Solar sold the very first solar panel to the public in 1978,” Mr. Schaeffer said. “We can leverage our complementary expertise and geographies to accelerate the adoption of clean energy across the country. With the U.S. solar market projected to grow fivefold from 2010 to 2015, our company has plenty of opportunity ahead of it.”

The new chief executive officer of Real Goods Solar is Colorado resident and renewable energy advocate Bill Yearsley. A veteran of 40 mergers and acquisitions deals, he negotiated the Alteris merger, according to Real Goods Solar. Previously, he was chairman and CEO of the Construction and Aggregate Group and an executive director of Redland PLC. Real Goods Solar Chief Financial Officer Erik Zech would stay in that role. Ron French, head of Alteris’ commercial division would become president of the commercial division of the merged company. Alteris CEO Steven Kaufman would move to a board role, as would Alteris’ board Chairman David Belluck of Riverside Partners, Alteris’ controlling investor. Gaiam Chairman Jirka Rysavy will continue as Real Goods Solar’s chairman. “The Northeast and the West represent the two fastest growing markets for solar installations in the country, driven by high energy prices and government incentives in each region,” said Mr. Kaufman. Real Goods Solar has installed more than 7,300 home photovoltaic systems, as well as arrays for commercial, winery, education, government and institutional clients, in California and Colorado. Alteris has installed more than 4,000 systems in the past three decades in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

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Pilot Flies Landmark Biofuel 747 To Paris Airshow

Posted on June 21, 2011 by quest

By Kerry Reals: One of the pilots who flew the biofuel-powered Boeing 747-8 Freighter from Seattle to Le Bourget has described the landmark flight as uneventful, with nothing out of the ordinary to report.

Speaking to Flightglobal on board the aircraft, Captain Rick Braun said the fact that all four General Electric GEnx-2B engines were powered by a blend of 15% camelina-based biofuel and 85% kerosene had “no impact at all” on operations. The aircraft consumed the same amount of fuel as it would have done on the same flight using 100% kerosene, and the refuelling process took the same amount of time.

Boeing director of sustainable aviation fuels Darrin Morgan is hoping the “wow factor” of the flight – the first across the Atlantic of a large commercial jetliner with all four engines powered by sustainable jet fuel – will now be “replaced by the wow factor of airline customers starting revenue services [using biofuel blends].”Boeing could have used up to a 50/50 blend of camelina-based fuel and kerosene for the flight, but chose to use just 15% biofuel because “most airline customers won’t use higher blends than this at first”, said Morgan. The airframer chose to use camelina for the flight over other feedstocks simply because it “happened to be available, but there will be many options”, he added. “Going forward, we will use different blends. This is the next step.”

Camelina is a rotational crop, which in this case was grown in Montana. The goal is for each region to use locally available feedstocks.

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Verizon’s Sustainability Initiatives

New SunPower Solar Discovery Game Promotes Energy Awareness

Posted on June 21, 2011 by quest

SunPower Corp. today launched the Solar Discovery Game, an online contest and sweepstakes that promotes solar energy education and awareness in the U.S. The grand prize, which will be announced on September 16, 2011, is a high-efficiency SunPower solar power system, valued at up to $25,000.

To play, participants can access the Solar Discovery Game through SunPower’s Facebook page and answer a series of questions on solar power. Correct responses will earn players points and virtual badges, which can be posted to their Facebook walls. New questions will be added weekly through September 14. All participants will be entered into bi-weekly sweepstakes drawings to win prizes, including roundtrip plane tickets for two between any U.S. mainland airports via Hawaiian Airlines, video cameras, gift cards, event tickets, SunPower gear and more. The grand prize winner will receive an installed SunPower solar power system for their own home, or they may gift the system to a friend, neighbor or local community building, such as a school or recreation center.

“SunPower’s Solar Discovery Game is a great way to educate virtual audiences about solar, while providing the opportunity to win a high-efficiency SunPower solar power system,” said David Henry, SunPower chief marketing officer. “SunPower customers value our products for reliably delivering up to 50 percent more power than conventional solar power systems. With this game, we hope to inspire SunPower’s growing online community to discover more about emission-free solar power, and share that knowledge virally with friends and family.”

Partners collaborating with SunPower on the Solar Discovery Game include the Solar Energy Industries Association, Del Monte Foods, Hawaiian Airlines, eBay Green Team and California Academy of Sciences.

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U.S. Mayors Find Ways to Advance Energy Sustainability

Posted on June 20, 2011 by quest

Despite challenging economic conditions, a landmark survey of nearly 400 mayors in all 50 states has found that energy and sustainability efforts have maintained momentum within cities. The study, prepared for The U.S. Conference of Mayors and sponsored by Siemens, was based on survey research conducted from April to May, 2011, by the international research consultancy GlobeScan. The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,210 such cities in the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.

Among its key findings, the survey noted:
•   Three in four cities expect their use of clean energy technologies to increase over the next five years.
•   LED/efficient lighting, low-energy building technologies and solar electricity generation are the top three “most promising” technologies for reducing energy use and carbon emissions.
•   Mayors are looking to the economic benefits of these clean energy solutions as drivers of their energy strategies.
•   For one in three cities, adapting to climate change is already an element of their capital planning or capital improvement programs.
•   One-quarter of all cities have already set targets for the use of renewable energy.

“The overwhelming response to this survey – 396 mayors in all 50 states, representing about 74 million people – underscores the strong commitment of the nation’s mayors to clean energy technologies and energy efficiency solutions,” said Conference President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz. “Mayors are acting on these commitments, which also support our nation’s greater goals on energy independence and security,” she explained.”As a company that provides many of today’s technology solutions for cities, we’re pleased how cities are embracing the many economic benefits of sustainable technologies,” said Daryl Dulaney, president and CEO of Siemens Industry, Inc. “Our next challenge is to help cities come up with financing solutions that have minimal budget impact and keep cities on track with their sustainability goals using proven technologies.”

“LED and other efficient lighting sources are the technology of choice for cities aiming to reduce future energy use and climate-harming emissions,” said Conference Vice President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. “We know from our experience in Los Angeles that LED streetlights are the way of the future and having a tremendous impact globally. They save money, protect the environment, and create jobs.” The City of Los Angeles is now replacing 140,000 existing streetlight fixtures with LED units in order to save energy by a minimum of 40%, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 40,500 tons per year. Rob Kerr, Vice President of GlobeScan, which conducted the survey, said, “The survey reaffirms trends that we’re seeing in different countries around the world – that cities are taking the practical lead in pushing national sustainability objectives by actually deploying the technologies today. Sustainability efforts are not going to just go away in tough economic times.”