Ormat Technologies is combining with Itochu Corporation to build a 330 megawatt (MW) geothermal power plant in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

The project will cost an estimated $800 million, according a report in Reuters. Ormat and Japan’s Itochu Corp. were originally awarded the contract in 2006 and are working in collaboration with Indonesian energy firm PT Medco.

(more…)

CleanTechies is proud to be official media partner of two upcoming clean technology-related events that are just upon our alley: Both events connect CleanTechies from different parts of the world and allow them to share their insights and experiences with their counterparts. Both events are being held for the 5th time this year – while TABCON brings US professionals together with those from Turkey, the Germany California Solar Day unites them with their German counterparts.

Check out our Events Calendar for more upcoming CleanTech conferences, and submit more events.

If you are interested in a media partnership with CleanTechies, please contact us.

(more…)

Last night I had the dubious distinction of being the guy sitting next to former director of the CIA, Ambassador, and Undersecretary of the Navy (a post he held before I was born), and current Senior Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton and partner at Vantage Point Venture Partners, R. James Woolsey.

He has a fairly clear message that he is happy to share with anyone that will listen:

The United States is at grave risk to both “malignant” and “malevolent” disruptions to the grid and that threat can be addressed through distributed renewable generation which can simultaneously reduce the importance of oil to the ignominious fall from grace of salt.

I have had the pleasure of hearing him speak and spending some time with him before moderating last night’s event, and despite how highly I thought of him before, he did not disappoint.  His is a decidedly aggressive approach to the US’ energy future, and like the well trained litigator he is, he presents his case very well.  Electric vehicles and distributed renewables are the hallmarks of an utopian (utopic?) energy future, that would leave OPEC states reeling with the need to find, as he puts it,  honest work, and reducing the disposable cash reserves some currently use to fund terrorist activities.

(more…)

Don’t be insulted. Relax.

World Wildlife Fund has released two studies on lowering your carbon footprint. It turns out that it’s good for the environment, and your quality of life.

There’s nothing wrong with wearing a tie, or spending time in an office. Professionalism is important. But you don’t need to drive or fly (all the time) to be a professional. With the advent of the Internet (years ago), virtual conferencing can often take the place of in-person meetings. And who’s to say you aren’t wearing a pair of pajama bottoms below your shirt and tie. Who’s to know?

(more…)

Grab some stimulus cash while it’s hot…

VP Biden and Energy Secretary Chu announced Thursday an investment of nearly $8 billion in state and local weatherization and energy efficiency efforts as part of Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The funds will support programs nationwide while creating 87,000 jobs and cutting energy bills for families.

The total investment includes $5 billion through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and $3 billion for the State Energy Program (SEP).  About $780 million is set to be released in the next few days.  State offices are gearing up for the influx of cash and CleanTech stands to benefit in several ways.

(more…)

With less than a year left before the international community reconvenes to tackle climate change in Copenhagen this December, many unanswered questions remain.  Chief among them is whether the US can begin to patch together a flurry of legislation targeting reduced greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions in time to signal a renewed commitment to leading the international community on environmental issues.  Doing so will focus the spotlight on China, which together with the US, accounts for 40% of the world’s GHG emissions.

(more…)

Over breakfast with Clint Wilder this morning we had a good discussion about the interest and excitement of young and more ’seasoned’ professionals in the CleanTech space.  We launched into a discussion of his and Ron Pernick’s book, a great resource for career changers interested in transitioning into the CleanTech space.  It is now updated and out in paperback.

Like so many in the CleanTech space he and Ron are “high tech refugees”, and as longtime reporters they speak the language of communicating complicated stuff to the lay person. As a recruiter I’ve seen it to be a great resource for interested candidates as the first real step in the long journey that is learning about Clean Technologies.  To be fair what we term as CleanTech is terrifically broad and investors, entrepreneurs and job seekers need to do some real homework before attacking markets.

(more…)