Jan 30 2009

The Green Seen

Posted by: Leonard Anderson

Several items relating to the business and technology of clean energy caught our attention this week:

• U.S. wind power capacity rose by a record 50 percent in 2008, bringing total capacity to 25,170 megawatts, or enough electricity to  power close to 7 million homes, the American Wind Energy Association said. However,  AWEA CEO Denise Bode called the numbers "both exciting and sobering," citing the weak economy and a lack of financing, along with layoffs at wind power manufacturers. She urged quick action on the stimulus bill in Congress to help the industry. Texas is the No. 1 state in wind capacity, followed by Iowa and California.
• Looking for a biofuel fill-up on your green drive to the Sierra for a ski weekend? Pull over in Sacramento. Startup Propel Fuels has opened five biofuel filling stations in the Sacramento area, offering E85, or ethanol blended to 85 percent, and biodiesel. Propel Fuels is available at four Shell stations in Sacramento, Citrus Heights and Elk Grove, and also at a 76 station in Rocklin. It plans to open two stations in Placerville and Roseville. The company also operates six stations in the Seattle region. Propel CEO Rob Elam told Earth2Tech the company also plans to charge electric and hydrogen vehicles.
• Cisco Systems launched a new software system -- Energy Wise -- to manage power consumption for corporate computers, phones, lights, air conditioners and other building equipment. The system will run on Cisco's Catalyst switches and will be rolled out in three phases through early 2010. Energy Wise was built "in alignment with Cisco's vision of how networking technology can support a low-carbon economy, cut energy use and promote overall environmental sustainability," the company said in a statement.

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