Thanks partly to its success using biofuels to power cars instead of oil, Brazil has become known as something of a sustainable business leader. The country deserves credit for taking some initiative on renewable energy, and at last year’s climate summit in Copenhagen President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was one of the most outspoken proponents for an ambitious (more…)

Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have taken unprecedented steps to build a clean energy economy in this country. You may have already read about the events and announcements across the Administration in October on this front. I wanted to highlight a few items from the last couple of weeks:

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When the East Kentucky Power Cooperative proposed building a new 278 megawatt coal-fired power plant, a coalition of local environmental groups and concerned members of the cooperative became determined to stop this dirty energy and emissions project. For the past few years groups like Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, the Sierra Club, and the (more…)

Opel Solar, Inc. (Opel), recently announced that the US Patent Office has approved a patent for its latest high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) module.  The new technology promises to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar PV installations.  This most recent patent is the international company’s thirty-third, with seventeen others pending.  Opel’s (more…)

The most unusual place to harvest energy from the sun is perhaps also the most effective and efficient – underground. Earth absorbs nearly 50 percent of the sun’s radiation that reaches the surface and stores it as heat that can be used to warm up or cool down homes and other buildings – without polluting the environment. All you have to do is exchange it between (more…)

The Ontario Power Authority’s feed-in tariff program is quite popular in the province, which explains the increasing number of solar projects and the growing need for solar certification courses to train qualified installers.  Nevertheless, the program is being strongly criticized by Japan, who has formally started a World (more…)

It seems like every week that there is news about how India is pushing forward with various aspects of their renewable energy plan. By all accounts, the nation is sparing no expense when they can and have been seriously investing in any form of renewable energy they can manage. While the usefulness of solar energy and wind power is apparent to those working on renewable (more…)

Last week the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) formally announced its plan to extend and expand the Green Technology Pilot Program, which provides accelerated examination for patent applications relating to green technologies.

According to the Notice, the program will be extended to December 31, 2011; it was previously scheduled to end December 8, (more…)

The French Round Table on sustainability known as the Grenelle de l’Environnement is now three years old and this was the occasion for French government experts to publish an evaluation report.

Three years ago representatives of national and local government and private organizations from industry, labour, (more…)

In the latest news on the solar rebate front, Florida – which in 2006 offered $4 per watt for solar energy installations as an incentive to increase the state’s renewable energy portfolio – appears to be about to renege on at least part of its promise. (more…)