Earth2Tech

Obama: We Will End Dependence on Middle East Oil in 10 Years Today at 8:26 PM

No wonder cleantech investors are standing behind Obama in droves. In the monumental speech where Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention, Obama pledged that the U.S. will end its dependence on oil from the Middle East within the next 10 years.

Earth2Tech

The Daily Sprout Today at 5:30 PM

Toyota Puts Tesla, Fisker & Volt on “Death Watch”: Bill Reinert, a Toyota technology manager and antagonist in Who Killed the Electric Car?, said that some at Toyota have started a “death watch” on the Tesla Model S, Fisker Karma and Chevy Volt. A bit morbid, but then again, so are we - Greentech Media.

Earth2Tech

Nexterra Ignites With $3.6M for Gasification Today at 3:00 PM

At 1,500-1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, wood chips don’t stand a chance, but under the right conditions, those chips can be efficiently turned into clean, energy-rich syngas. That’s what Vancouver, B.C.-based Nexterra Energy does with its gasification technology, for which it just raised C$3.8 million ($3.6 million) in a fourth round funding, the startup said yesterday. The round was led by return investor ARC Financial Corp., which has invested C$20 million in gasification venture to date.

Earth2Tech

‘Cleantech for Obama’ Group Starts Rallying Today at 1:30 PM

This week’s Democratic National Convention could go down in history as the one with the most mentions of green and clean technology. In attendance were members of the newly formed group Cleantech for Obama, which was created to help rally the cleantech community behind Barack Obama, and spearhead fundraising.

Earth2Tech

Toyota Plugs All-Electric Vehicle As 2009 Sales Outlook Dips Today at 12:30 PM

Toyota (TM) says it has rolled back its sales predictions for the upcoming year, but the company remains committed to hybrid car production and its plans to produce an electric vehicle to compete with rival auto manufacturers.

Earth2Tech

Green Mountain Energy Cites Policy, Not Price, for FPL Program’s Death Today at 11:22 AM

After the Florida Public Service Commission unceremoniously shuttered FPL’s leading utility green power program earlier this month, citing high marketing and sales costs, Green Mountain Energy has released data disputing the claim.

Earth2Tech

Xcel Energy: Did We Say Profit? Not When We Count Carbon Today at 10:35 AM

While cleantech investors are betting that global warming will make their investments perform well, most publicly-traded companies have had their head in the sand when it comes to warning its investors about the financial risks of global warming. That is until now — in an agreement between environmental crusader New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Minnesota-based Xcel Energy (XEL), the utility will disclose to its investors in detail the risks global warming pose to its business. This first of its kind disclosure could be a sign of things to come for the electricity generation industry, the single largest contributor to the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Earth2Tech

Look Out, First Solar: AVA Solar Scorches With $104M Today at 8:11 AM

It’s hotter than the lights at the Pepsi Center in the world of solar funding this week. On the heels of the news that thin-film solar startup Nanosolar has raised $300 million (bringing its total funding to half a billion dollars), solar startup AVA Solar announced late Wednesday it has raised a massive $104 million in equity financing from DCM, Technology Partners, GLG Partners, Bohemian Companies, and Invus.

Earth2Tech

The Daily Sprout August 27, 2008 at 5:52 PM

Florida’s First Energy Farm Planted in Destiny: Destiny, Florida, a city claiming “eco-sustainability” (whatever that means), says it has created the Sunshine state’s first energy farm where it will grow energy crops like sweet sorghum, algae, jatropha and other crops for alternative fuels - Press Release.

Earth2Tech

NBC Bans Pickens Ad, Boone Responds August 27, 2008 at 3:37 PM

The Pickens Plan media blitz hit a glitch this week when NBC refused to air the latest television spot promoting the former oil tycoon’s natural gas and wind energy plan. The 15-second ad, entitled “Iran” and embedded below, asserts that Iran is converting its own cars to run on natural gas “and we’re not doing a thing here.” NBC wants the Pickens Plan to prove that we are indeed a do-nothing nation when it comes to natural gas transport, according to the group. While it is a strange nit to pick, NBC has a point. Things are being done, some of them by Pickens’ own natural gas car venture.