Environmental
Europe Mulls Suspending Airline Emissions Charge
September 11, 2012 1:41 pm | by Frank Jordans, Associated Press | News | CommentsEuropean officials signaled Tuesday that they may recommend the suspension of the continent's carbon emission fees for airlines to avert a trade war with major economic powers such as China and the United States, allowing time to forge a global agreement on climate charges for the aviation industry.
Trial To Start On Pollution Lawsuit Against AVX
September 9, 2012 3:44 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA trial for the second of three water pollution lawsuits against electronics manufacturer AVX Corp. is set to start in Horry County. The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports the trial starting Monday involves David and Steve Nance's claims that contamination from AVX killed their planned condominium project. The lawsuit seeks damages for the inability to build and sell the condos.
High-Tech Window Maker Raises $5 Million
September 7, 2012 2:29 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA developer of energy-efficient windows that reflect the sun when it's hot but let sunshine in when it's cool has raised $5 million as it moves into manufacturing. Denver-based RavenBrick LLC says the investment from an affiliate of Aravaipa Venture Fund of Boulder will help it build a production line and begin large-scale fabrication of its patented windows.
Solyndra Creditors Cleared To Plan Company's Future
September 7, 2012 1:50 pm | by Randall Chase, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsJudge Mary Walrath approved a disclosure statement outlining Solyndra's plan after Solyndra added revisions in response to objections from the Department of Energy and Internal Revenue Service over the lack of information about tax breaks that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to two private equity funds that control Solyndra.
Big Fans Bring The Heat During Winter Months
September 7, 2012 10:22 am | by Erin Hsu, Senior Copywriter, Big Ass Fans | Articles | CommentsMany facility managers dread the costs of keeping their workforce comfortable in spacious workplaces every winter. It may seem counterintuitive, but the answer for many facilities is better known for its summer cooling power: ceiling fans. More specifically, large diameter, low speed overhead fans can save facilities a major amount on their winter heat bills, with customers reporting savings of 35 percent.
Japan Utility: No Money To Develop Renewables
September 7, 2012 9:41 am | by Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe head of the Japanese utility that owns the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant says last year's meltdowns sapped away money it might have used to switch to alternative energy, making it all the more important for the company to stick with nuclear.
Post-Isaac Tests Confirm Oil Came From BP Spill
September 6, 2012 1:54 pm | by Cain Burdeau and Jay Reeves, Associated Press | News | CommentsTests run by Louisiana State University for state wildlife officials confirmed that oil found on Elmer's Island and Grand Isle matched the biological fingerprint of the hundreds of millions of gallons of oil that spewed from BP's Macondo well. On Wednesday, BP PLC said oil from its spill had been exposed by Isaac's waves and that the company would work to clean it up.
Carbon County, Wyo., Anxious To Get Coal-To-Gas Plant
September 6, 2012 1:16 pm | by Ben Neary, Associated Press | News | CommentsCarbon County officials say they're optimistic that a Texas company will follow through on plans to construct a plant to turn coal into gasoline by 2016. "For the most part, most people are very positive about it, as we need jobs and tax money," Carbon County Commission Chairman Terry Weickum said Wednesday.
Million-Dollar Electric Super-Car Revs Up For London Debut
September 6, 2012 10:20 am | by Reuters | Videos | CommentsHaving unveiled his superfast electric car in Frankfurt last year, a Croatian designer will be trying to find buyers at the prestigious Salon Prive motor show this week in London. The Concept One can get from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 2.8 seconds, reaching a top speed of 300 kph, and has an operational range of 600 kilometres.
EU Begins Anti-Dumping Probe Of China Solar Panels
September 6, 2012 4:32 am | by Slobodan Lekic, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe European Union launched an anti-dumping probe Thursday into Chinese solar panels, after an industry association claimed the products were being exported for less than it costs to make them. An EU statement said that in 2011 China exported solar panels and associated key components worth around €21 billion ($26.5 billion) to the 27-nation bloc.
Feds Vow To Prove Gross Negligence By BP
September 5, 2012 2:00 pm | by Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press | News | CommentsIn a court filing Friday, government lawyers renewed their vow to prove at trial that BP engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct leading up to the deadly rig explosion that killed 11 workers and spawned the nation's worst offshore oil spill. BP PLC faces billions of dollars in fines if U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ultimately sides with the government.
TransCanada Proposes New Keystone XL Route
September 5, 2012 12:30 pm | by Josh Funk, Associated Press | News | CommentsTransCanada said Wednesday that the new Keystone XL route minimizes the potential impact on the Sandhills region and avoids two small city well fields. This is TransCanada's second proposed new route through Nebraska. State regulators said the last proposal, submitted in April, still ran too close to sensitive areas.
Solar Products Makers Fall On Industry Challenges
August 30, 2012 1:47 pm | News | CommentsThe solar sector was hit hard Thursday after two more Chinese producers cut their expectations for the year, providing more evidence of a potentially long period of weak demand and prices. First Solar, the biggest U.S. solar producer, was the biggest percentage decliner on the Standard & Poor's 500 index, tumbling 15 percent.
EPA Asked For More Time To Study Taconite Plan
August 30, 2012 9:34 am | News | CommentsThe EPA is proposing tighter limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than called for by plans offered by Minnesota and Michigan. It's considering requiring a new type of "low NOx" burner for taconite pellet furnaces that already has been tested at U.S. Steel's Minntac plant. That type of burner can cut NOx pollution by up to 70 percent, said Douglas Aburano, a section chief with the EPA.
JA Solar Plunges On Global Slowdown, Low Prices
August 29, 2012 2:22 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsJA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd.'s second-quarter loss widened from a year earlier, the company said Wednesday, as it became the latest victim of turmoil in the Chinese solar panel industry. The results are another hit for a beleaguered solar industry. China's solar companies grew quickly over the past decade, selling to the U.S. and Europe as they invested in renewable energy.
New Mileage Standards Would Double Fuel Efficiency
August 29, 2012 9:20 am | by Matthew Daly and Tom Krisher, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Obama administration has finalized regulations that will force automakers to nearly double the average gas mileage of all new cars and trucks they sell by 2025. The rules mean that all new vehicles would have to get an average of 54.5 miles per gallon in 13 years, up from 28.6 mpg at the end of last year. The requirements will be phased in gradually between now and then, and automakers could be fined if they don't comply.
Australia To Join EU Emissions Trading Scheme
August 28, 2012 9:15 am | by Rod McGuirk, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe government said Australia's major polluters can start buying European carbon permits now to cover their liabilities from July 2015 when Australia merges with the EU system, where permits to pollute are traded at prices set by free market forces. The linking of the Australian and EU systems will answer business concerns that Australian companies would lose their competitive edge if they are charged more for their emissions.
Ill. Governor Rejects Plastic Bag Recycling Bill
August 27, 2012 9:47 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsGov. Pat Quinn vetoed a bill Sunday that would have required plastic bag manufacturers to set up collection and recycling programs, calling it a "roadblock" for local communities to make their own choices. The proposed law says manufacturers must set up recycling programs with the goal of increasing the recycling rate by 12 percent by 2015 and to eventually make bags from at least 30 percent recycled content.
EPA Chief Sees Ben & Jerry's Pollution Controls
August 24, 2012 1:22 pm | News | CommentsThe head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency says some of the pollution control practices developed for Vermont's Ben & Jerry's ice cream plants could serve as a model for other businesses. Jackson says one of the reasons she visited Vermont is because it's a state that has made a commitment to a green economy and sees it as important to its future.
Cedar Rapids Wind Turbine Plant Plans 76 Job Cuts
August 24, 2012 10:31 am | News | CommentsClipper Windpower has told Iowa Workforce Development that the company plans to eliminate the jobs of 76 people at the company's wind turbine plant in Cedar Rapids. Workforce Development says Clipper Windpower is providing the workers with at least 60 days of pay in lieu of providing 60 days of advance notification of the layoffs.
Debate Over Wind Credit Enters Congressional Races
August 24, 2012 8:28 am | by Ivan Moreno, Associated Press | News | CommentsRepublicans generally don't like subsidies that favor clean energy, which they deride as government picking winners and losers. Mitt Romney opposes the tax credit, and it's not part of the GOP platform for next week's convention. But many Colorado Republicans are joining Democrats in calling on Congress to extend a wind energy production tax credit.
Vestas To Lay Off 1,400 Workers Amid Wind Slowdown
August 22, 2012 9:44 am | News | CommentsVestas Wind Systems A/S, the world's biggest maker of wind turbines, says it is slashing 7 percent of its workforce in its second round of lay-offs this year. The western Denmark-based group says the job cuts of 1,400 workers will help it reduce fixed costs by more than €250 million ($310 million) as it deals with stiff competition and a market slowdown.
Chinese Solar Industry Faces Weak Sales, Price War
August 22, 2012 2:17 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsChinese solar panel makers that grew fast over the past decade are suffering big losses due to slumping global sales and a price war that threaten an industry seen by communist leaders as a role model for hopes to transform China into a technology leader. Another looming challenge: Moves by the United States and Europe toward imposing possible anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels that might further depress sales.
Carbon Footprint
August 21, 2012 1:19 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | Articles | CommentsChris Wheaton, CFO/COO and co-founder of Seattle-based EnerG2, describes his company’s product as “the least-interesting-looking product” around. “It’s literally just bags of black powder,” Wheaton explains. Despite its rather bland physical characteristics, this black powder has a big job. Designed to optimize the performance of energy storage devices, EnerG2’s carbon processing technique was born in a lab, but had bigger ambitions.
Minn. Lawmaker: EPA Rules 'Suffocating' Mining
August 18, 2012 5:12 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun implementing tougher emissions rules designed to improve air quality, drawing criticism from a Republican congressman who said the new regulations could devastate Minnesota's mining industry. The rules, which regulate haze caused in part by the six taconite plants in northeastern Minnesota, impose stricter limits on industrial emissions.
