One of the challenges with fixed-price offerings is finding the right prices. Too low and nothing happens, too high and ratepayers take the hit.

The City of Palo Alto Utilities is proposing a solar FIT, but with an innovative twist.

The program is for 4 MW of solar resources in 2012, (more…)

This is the third and final part of my blog on critical metals and cleantech (read Part 1 and Part 2). This one aims to give an overview of where the opportunities are presenting themselves and those that are leading and innovating in the sector today. For many of these metals, processes to recycle (more…)

Two green patent lawsuits have been filed in the last few weeks in the areas of smart grid and solar.

Smart Grid

Sensus USA Inc. v. Nxegen LLC

Sensus USA filed a complaint (Sensus-Nxegen_Complaint) against Nxegen on October 19, (more…)

John Petersen is one of the most thoughtful critics of the electric vehicles industry. In a phone conversation I had with him a few weeks ago, he laid out a few reasons why he thinks the whole idea needs to be scrapped. Here, in his column on AltEnergyStocks.com, he further defends his (more…)

The average human takes 3,000-5,000 steps a day. Seems like a lot, but most health experts would tell you to average 10,000 a day (but that’s a post for another time…).

What if we could harness power from some of the steps you take each day? (more…)

Normally Oxygen is fairly tight bound to the hydrogen in water. If it can be easily removed, it has potential benefits for certain energy and fuel systems. A team of researchers at MIT has found one of the most effective catalysts ever discovered for splitting oxygen atoms from water molecules — a key reaction (more…)

Does your business have a comprehensive energy plan?

Implementing a plan can save energy and drastically reduce costs and emissions, while creating a culture that fosters continuous improvement in sustainability and building performance. High performance buildings operate efficiently and cost-effectively. (more…)

The cleantech industry as a whole, and the electric vehicle industry in particular, have been in the news nearly every day since Solyndra went bust, and not in a good way. The media and blogosphere are repeatedly asking the question, Which company will be the next recipient of money from the Department (more…)

Across the United States and the world, climate change is already affecting communities, livelihoods, and the environment.  We must understand and adapt to a changing climate, including more frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves, drought and floods, and continued sea level rise.  Taking action (more…)

The Obama administration has unveiled a plan detailing where utility-scale solar power projects can be developed in the western U.S., with 17 proposed solar energy zones in six western states given the highest priority for solar development.

The blueprint of the plan, released by the Bureau of (more…)