Expectations that we are on the verge of a global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources may be mistaken. “Humanity is not entering a period that will be dominated by renewables… investment in unconventional fossil-fuel extraction and distribution is now expected to outpace spending on renewables by a ratio of at least three-to-one in the… Keep reading →
Scientists at the Lawrence Berkley National Lab discovered a way to create a virus battery, for lack of a better term. The technology “produces electricity by using the piezoelectric properties of a biological material,” according to the US Department of Energy website. You can read more about the science and technical aspects below, but the… Keep reading →
What began with the father working quietly in a Eugene laboratory is now an aspiring business moving forward under the daughter. It was a visit to the University of Oregon by Cheers star Woody Harrelson that planted the seed of inspiration in a young Virginia Klausmeier (below). She was an undergraduate when Harrelson, a passionate… Keep reading →
The energy sector in New York has reached a turning point, a paradigm shift, a moment of self-awareness that is all too rare in the hustle of the city’s business life. For years the basic truism has been that New York doesn’t really have an energy sector to speak of. While the local super-utility ConEd… Keep reading →
Hoku Corp just filed for bankruptcy in Pocatello federal court according to reports in the Idaho State Journal. Hoku started out as a fuel cell membrane and materials company, went public in 2005 on little revenue, and then pivoted to becoming a solar polysilicon manufacturer. The company also tried its hand at solar installation… Keep reading →
The solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse landed at New York’s JFK airport Sunday night, capping the team’s historic Across America mission. Solar Impulse was forced to land earlier than planned due to a technical issue. “This last leg was especially difficult due to the damage of the fabric on the left wing. It obliged the team… Keep reading →
Cleantech is one of those words that traditionalists love to hate, and that self-described change advocates love to drop into conversation. Neither is entirely certain what it means, which is both the challenge and the promise of a sector that is just emerging into public consciousness and yet is rooted in long-standing practices of efficiency… Keep reading →
A mixture of business, academia and government is forming a Clean Technology Entrepreneur Center (NYC CTEC) in downtown Brooklyn. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is kicking in up to $750,000 in seed funding over two years to create space for 20 startups focused on energy efficiency, resilience, climate adaptation and other technologies.… Keep reading →
Several years ago, when Cleveland’s Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) first started to offer energy assessments for our business members, we anticipated lines out the door. Well, perhaps not lines, but we thought that business owners would be eager to learn how they could cut their utility bills. Unfortunately, that turned out not to be the case. It seems that people… Keep reading →
As a native New Yorker, I’m really thrilled to be a part of New York Energy Week (NYEW) as a Board of Director. This weeklong energy series will touch on some of the most intriguing and pressing ideas in the entire sector. Better yet, it’s really the first time the emphasis is not just on… Keep reading →
