Energy & Climate | Clean Tech | Greenbiz.com

China and U.S. Partner for Clean Energy R&D

GreenBiz Staff — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:56:00 -0700

The world’s top two emitters of greenhouse gases will launch a research center to explore low-carbon technologies for green buildings, clean cars and carbon capture and storage.

IBM and Cisco to Help Amsterdam Become a 'Smart City'

GreenBiz Staff — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700

IBM and Cisco will join Accenture to help the City of Amsterdam in its quest to become the European Union’s first “smart city.” The pilot project will serve as a testing ground to prove that smart grid technologies can better manage energy use and transmission while also reducing electricity outages and congestion.

Why Biofuels Burned Up (Your) Dollars

Marc Gunther — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:19:00 -0700

Farm state politicians, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists have sold biofuels to rest of us as a way to revive rural America, attack the problem of global warming and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In response, investors and taxpayers have poured many millions of dollars into corn ethanol. But returns have been skimpy, says a new report.

Green Technology Will Make Up 40 Percent of Stimulus Orders From Siemens

GreenBiz Staff — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:32:00 -0700

Siemens estimates that it will receive $21 billion in new orders as a result of stimulus programs from countries around the world, and expects about 40 percent of those orders to come from wind turbines, building efficiency systems and other green technology.

The Downside of Mexico's Wind Power Boom

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700

El Viento es Malo? Clean Wind Energy May Spread 'Dirty Business' in Mexico

Researchers Light Up Bus Shelter With Flexible Solar Cells

Jonathan Bardelline — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:56:00 -0700

Engineering researchers at McMaster University in Ontario have installed flexible solar cells on a bus shelter to power the new lights in the shelter and hopefully power electronic bus schedule listings.

Will Coal Finally Get the Chance to Clean up its Act?

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:30:00 -0700

The Department of Energy announced its support for the first commercial-scale carbon capture and sequestration power plant, but will it live up to the much-hyped notion of "clean coal"?

Clean Energy Creates Jobs, Improves Economic Growth

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:55:00 -0700

"Green collar jobs" has been the buzz term in business and policy circles as the solution to rising unemployment and greenhouse gas emissions. Two new reports show that the U.S. and states such as California can improve economic growth by employing clean energy strategies. And one of the reports says "business as usual" could make California's economy worse in the long run.

Why the Ethanol Debate Isn't Helping Anyone

Noam Ross — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:50:00 -0700

Another ugly battle is raging in the ethanol wars. Sadly, while everyone is arguing over whether ethanol is bad, no one is talking about how to make it better. The worst impacts of ethanol occur far from Iowa or Washington in the forests that are burned down to respond to demands for cropland.

Reader Response from 'Watthead' Defends Big Government

Marc Gunther — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:48:00 -0700

A reader writes back: Blogger Jesse Jenkins, aka Watthead, responds to the post "Beware of Obama's 'Battery Gold Rush' " and argues that more government engagement is essential to spur a clean energy revolution.

The Green Future of the 'New GM'

Joel Makower — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

What to make of this week's bankruptcy filing by General Motors? The beginning of the end? The end of the beginning? A death? Rebirth? Something in between?

GE's Green Business Rakes in $17B for 2008 -- a 21 Percent Jump in Revenue

GreenBiz Staff — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:27:00 -0700

General Electric's revenue for its portfolio of environmentally sensitive products and services grew 21 percent last year and rose to $17 billion, according to the firm's annual ecomagination report.

Beware of Obama's 'Battery Gold Rush'

Marc Gunther — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:33:00 -0700

Electric cars are a great idea, writes Marc Gunther, the faster they arrive, the better. But judgments about which battery-makers to finance should best be left to venture capitalists, investors, big investment banks and the like, he says.

Warren Buffet's Big Battery Play

Marc Gunther — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:41:00 -0700

David Sokol, the chairman of MidAmerican Energy (majority controlled by Berkshire Hathaway), is about to start testing a utility-scale battery storage plan that could change the renewables game forever.

Cleantech, Sustainability and Women

Tilde Herrera — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:21:00 -0700

An all-star panel of female executives from the information technology, transportation, finance and nonprofit sectors gathered Thursday to discuss the sustainability opportunities offered by emerging technologies, as well as its limitations.