Biofuel | The Green Economy Post: Green Careers, Green Business, Sustainability

Celebrating Eight Women in Cleantech – Add Your Favorites to the List

By Tracey de Morsella on March 30, 2010 2 Comments ACORE, algae, algal fuel, American Council On Renewable Energy, Astia, Barefoot Motors, biobutanol, biodiesel, biofuel, Biomass Advisory Board, biotech, biotechnology, cancer therapy, Carole Cameron Inge, Center for Resource Solution, clean energy, Clean Energy Alliance, CleanTech Open, Cobalt Biofuels, Cobalt Technologies, ConcentRX, Cyber-Rain, Cygnet, Department of Energy, DESC, Diana Propper De Callejon, Diana Schulz, Electric Utility Vehicle, Environmental Entrepreneurs, EUV, Expansion Capital, green all-terrain utility vehicles, Hua Yuan Science and Technology Association, HYSTA, ITRI), Lissa Morgenthaler Jones, LiveFuels, Marianne Wu, Mary Jo Gresens, MDV, microbiologist, Nancy C. Floyd, National Institute for the Commercialization of Clean Energy, National Renewable Energy Lab, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NICCE, Northern Power, Northwest Business Leaders for Clean Energy, Nth Power, Oregon Economic and Community Development Commission, Pamela R. Contag, Propel Biofuels, renewable feedstock, SdForum, Serveron, Silicon Energy, smart sprinkler control system, SmartSynch, SpectraSensors, Springboard Enterprises, Sustainable Asset Management, Tracey de Morsella, VC Group, Virginia Clean Energy Business Incubator, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech Modeling and Simulation Center of Excellence, vivo biophotonic imaging, Western Governors' Association, woman-owned, World Data Center on Energy, Xenogen, zero emissions vehicle

All during this month we have been spotlighting the achievements of women in green careers. So far, we have profiled 29 women who are excelling in solar and wind power, sustainability, and conservation. Today, we are showcasing women who have found success in the cleantech sector in the United States. While men dominate in pretty […]

Could Algae be the New Corn?

By Julia Verdi on March 19, 2010 12 Comments algae, algae-based biofuel, biofuel, brackish, CO2, corn, corn based ethanol, corn-based biofuel, efficient, energy, environment, feedstock, food vs. fuel, fresh water, greenhouse gas emissions, high energy density, oil-producing lipids, salty water, sewage, solar;, sunlight, transportation sector, United States, vehicles, waste, wind

Studies show that corn based ethanol may nearly double greenhouse gas emissions instead of reducing them. Does Algae pose the same risks as corn? Are biofuels the wrong way to go when it comes to identifying fuel sources?

Report Finds that Missouri Now Has 130,000 Green Jobs

By Chris de Morsella on December 28, 2009 2 Comments biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, chemical technicians, construction managers, electricians, energy efficiency, energy efficiency remediation, energy-efficient appliance, environmental engineering technicians, environmental engineers, global warming, green building, green economy, green jobs, Green Jobs Report, green manufacturing, green supply chain, hybrid vehicle, LEED, LEED architects, Missouri, Missouri Clean Energy Initiative, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Missouri green jobs, operating engineers, organic food, pipe layers, plumbers, recycling, refrigeration mechanics and installers, refuse and recyclable material collectors, remediation of hazardous sites, renewable energy, renewable forestry, solar;, wastewater treatment, wind

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center recently conducted a survey of state businesses, the Green Jobs Report that found that nearly five percent of the state’s total employment, or more than 130,000 job positions, are now part of the green economy sectors. These numbers are also expected to rapidly grow as soon as the general economy begins to recover.

NASA Wants to Bag Biofuel From Sewage [UPDATED]

By Chris de Morsella on November 30, 2009 8 Comments algae, algae biofuel, algae production, Algae Systems, algal biofuel, biodiesel, biofuel, bioreactors, California, canola, Carbon-Negative, forward-osmosis membranes, green economy, Jonathan Trent, manmade ponds, Moffet Field, NASA, Offshore Membrane Enclosures for Growing Algae, OMEGA, osmosis, palm oil, semi-permeable membrane, sewage, soy, Spaceship Earth project at NASA Ames Research Center

NASA scientists from the Moffet Field laboratory in California have proposed an ingenious process to grow algal biofuels in the ocean enclosed within large floating bags made of a special semi-permeable clear plastic membrane. Growing algae in floating bags in the sea solves several major problems that are faced by current land based methods of algal biofuel production in an elegant low energy, low impact manner. This is the kind of out of the box thinking that is needed in order to grow the green economy. Now, in updated news NASA engineers and industry veterans have launched a company, Algae Systems, to commercialize the process.

New Study Finds Many Biofuels Come with a Large Carbon Footprint

By Chris de Morsella on October 25, 2009 3 Comments biofuel, biofuels production, biogeochemistry, carbon dioxide, carbon emissions, carbon footprint, Climate Change, climate policy, CO2, computer model, environmental effect, fertilizer, food crop displacement, fossil-fuel emissions, global modeling system, global warming, greenhouse gases, Jerry Melillo, land management, MA, Marine Biological Lab, Massachusets, MBL, N2O, nitrous oxide emissions, WHOI, Woods Hole, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

A new study by the Marine Biological Lab (MBL) of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has reported that biofuels that displace food crops may have a much bigger carbon footprint than previously thought. MBL senior scientist Jerry Melillo and his colleagues at the MBL have reported that carbon emissions from land-use change caused by the displacement of food crops and pastures by a global biofuels program may be twice as much as the emissions from lands directly devoted to biofuels production.

$750M in New Funding for Renewable Energy Projects from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

By Chris de Morsella on October 19, 2009 1 Comment American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, biofuel, biomass, clean energy, Department of Energy, DOE, Financial Institution Partnership Program, FIPP, Geothermal, hydropower, loan guarantees, power transmission, private sector, renewable energy, solar;, Steven Chu, U.S. Energy Secretary, Washington D.C., wind

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced in Washington that the Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to $750 million in new funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help accelerate the development of renewable energy generation projects. This funding will be targeted to cover the cost of loan guarantees for renewable energy projects and could support as much as $4 to 8 billion in lending to eligible projects, and the Department will invite private sector participation to accelerate the financing of these renewable energy projects.

Grant Alert: Recovery Act Local Energy Assurance Planning Grant

By Chris de Morsella on October 17, 2009 1 Comment American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, biofuel, city government, Department of Energy, Diane Franklin, DOE, electricity grid, emergency preparedness, energy assurance, energy portfolio, energy supply, energy supply system, grant, LEAP, Local Energy Assurance Planning, National Energy Technology Laboratory, renewable energy, smart grid

The National Energy Technology Laboratory’s Recovery Act – Local Energy Assurance Planning (LEAP) Initiative is offering grants to city or township governments for programs and initiatives that help them develop energy assurance and resilience plans. The deadline for application is 10/22/09 and awards will be in the range of $60,000 and $300,000.

Greenopia Ranks 50 State Governors for Environmental Responsibility

By Tracey de Morsella on July 29, 2009 3 Comments 50 Greenest Governors, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Richardson, Bill Ritter, biofuel, Brownfields, CA, California, California Green Corps, Carbon Fund, carbon offset, Christine Gregoire, Clean and Clear Water Action Plan, Clean Car initiative, clean energy, clear-cutting, Climate Action Plan, Climate Change, CO, coastlands, Colorado, Connecticut, Connecticut Green Lodging, conservation, CT, eco-leaders, electronics recycling program, emissions, Energy Master Plan, energy-efficient, environmental, forestlands, forests, Fort Collins, global, global warming pollution, Governor, Governor O’Malley, Governor Baldacci, Governor Corzine, Governor Douglas, Governor Gregoire, Governor Kulongoski, Governor Rell, Governor Richardson, Governor Schwarzenegger, green, green collar jobs, green economy, green jobs, green lifestyles, greenest cities, greenhouse gas emissions, Greenhouse Reduction Act, Greening, Greenopia, James Douglas, jobs, Jodi Rell, John Baldacci, Jon Corzine, LEED, LEED standards, liquidation harvesting, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Maine, mandatory, Martin O'Malley, Maryland., MD, ME, mercury limit laws, mountains, New Energy Economy, New Jersey, New Mexico, NJ, NM, offshore wind, OR, Oregon, Portland, Program Open Space, recycling, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, renewable energy, resource conservation, River Ecosystem Restoration Initiative, Solar Roof Program, solar;, sustainable standards, tax incentives, Ted Kulongowski, Ten Greenest Governors, Vermont, VT, WA, Washington, water purification, Western Climate Initiative, wildlife habitats, wind, zero energy

Greenopia recently released a comprehensive ranking of 50 governors in the US and compared their policies, transparency, and interest group ratings to determine which governors were eco-leaders and reveals which state governments are most dedicated to preserving the environment. Topping the list is Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado followed closely by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California.

5 Million Jobs and 5 Billion Tons in CO2 Reductions Can Be Achieved By 2020 Says Gigaton Throwdown

By Tracey de Morsella on July 10, 2009 2 Comments biofuel, building efficiency, building regulation, capital investment, carbon dioxide, clean energy, clean energy jobs, climate policy, climate protection, CO2 emissions, construction materials, Dan Kammen, Drexel University, efficiency standards, electrical grid, energy policy, energy security, fuel standards, Geothermal, Gigaton Throwdown, greenhouse gas emissions, industries, laboratory-to-industry partnerships, MIT, nuclear, policymakers, private capital, solar;, Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of California-Berkeley green businesses, University of Michigan, utility regulation, venture capitalists, wind

In a presentation before national policymakers and analysts recently, leading clean energy venture capitalists, academics and CEOs unveiled the “Gigaton Throwdown,” an assessment of the nation’s clean energy potential that identifies seven industries capable of creating 5 million clean energy jobs and reducing CO2 emissions by 5-7 gigatons by 2020. The report, a collaborative effort between leading researchers at UC Berkeley, MIT, University of Michigan, Stanford, and Drexel University, and clean tech leaders, challenges Washington policymakers to remove obstacles that keep billions of capital investment dollars sitting on the sidelines.