Grid Parity Blog - Green Chip Stocks

Cornell University Sustainability

Cornell University is located in the upstate New York town of Ithaca. Surrounded by lush wooded areas and beautiful gorges, the university has taken a number of steps to ensure the sustainability of the campus as well as the surrounding environment. Cornell University has taken on a number of sustainability initiatives, making it a powerhouse throughout New York State. Cornell University has created a number of teams that look after very specific aspects of university life, from purchasing to land use. The overall objective for Cornell University is to become fully sustainable, not endanger the surrounding environment, and provide students and employees with information about sustainability that they can take home with them and use outside of the university as well.

1. Cornell University Sustainable Campus Office. The Cornell University Sustainable Campus Office supports the research, development, and practical application of knowledge that will aid in addressing environmental sustainability. It was created by the Cornell University Strategic Plan, which looks for sustainability to become a guiding principle throughout all campus operations at Cornell University. The office supports a number of initiatives throughout the campus, including building, climate, energy, food, water, waste, and transportation.

2. Administration. Cornell University has a ten year strategic plan when it comes to sustainability throughout the campus. The President’s Sustainable Campus Committee created their own climate action plan that outlines all the goals the university has set in regards to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, increasing the level of recycling done on campus, as well as the increase in the use of energy efficient products and ideas.

3. Climate Change and Energy. Since 2008, Cornell University has been able to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by seven percent. The overall goal is to become a carbon neutral campus by the year 2050. There are two solar hot water systems on campus generating an estimated 100 million BTUs per year. The campus also features a one megawatt hydroplant as well as 17 kilowatts of photovoltaic solar arrays around the campus. There is also a renewable cooling system on campus saving around 25 million kilowatt hours annually and providing more than 90 percent of all the cooling energy throughout the campus.

4. Food and Recycling. At Cornell University, more than ten percent of its annual food budget is spent on local products. The university also follows the guidelines for sustainable fisheries for all purchases of seafood products. Approximately 85 percent of all dairy products and ten percent of all beef products do not contain any hormones. There is fair trade coffee available and students receive discounts from the cafes on campus when they use their own mugs rather than getting a cup from the café. All preconsumer food scraps are composted at all meals. The campus actively engages in collecting electronics to be recycled.

5. Green Building. All new buildings being put up at Cornell University need to meet the standards of at least LEED Silver Certification and then (there’s more!) exceed these established standards by being a minimum of 30 percent more energy efficient. So far, the campus boasts three LEED-certified buildings with another eight on the line awaiting certification from the United States Green Building Council. To ensure a reduction in water use, all buildings around campus are properly metered. A majority of building have low-flow fixtures for plumbing as well.

6. Student Involvement. The students who live in the Ecology House organize regular educational outreach program designed for the entire university community, including not only the students, but also faculty, administration, and staff. There are a number of students working on environmental initiatives as well as over twenty different student grounds that are focused on a wide range of sustainable issues, including climate neutrality, reducing the use of bottled water, creating a bike-sharing program around campus, building an organic farm, or brining sustainable foods to the campus cafeterias.

7. Transportation. All employees at Cornell University as well as first-year university students receive a free bus pass to get to the university rather than drive themselves. Returning students can get bus passes at a heavily discounted rate. Faculty and staff are also offered discounts as well as preferred parking for those who opt to carpool to the university every day rather than take their own car. In a recent study done on the Cornell University campus, it was determined that over 90 percent of students and approximately 45 percent of all university employees use environmentally preferable methods to get to school. During the spring and summer months, and even the fall, biking is extremely popular and students can receive discounts around campus for riding their bike to school.

8. Green Cleaning. Cornell University’s Department of Building Care ensures a much more sustainable future by offering a number of results, including the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products and equipment. To become less dependent upon chemicals, the department reviews all their products to ensure they are “Green Certified.” Aside from this, the department provides necessary training to all employees to aid them in achieving sustainable cleaning without ever compromising the safety and the health of the students, faculty, and administration.

9. Computing. The Cornell University Facilities Services purchases all their computers and laptops from Dell as the company is known for designing and engineering products that prevent further pollution and conserve natural resources throughout the life cycle of the system. The Facilities Service Department has also set a number of standards to buy green. All systems are RoHS Compliant (Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances), lead free, Energy Star Certified, and EPEAT registered (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool).

10. Farm to Cornell. The Farm to Cornell club is a student venture to celebrate local foods. One of the primary objectives is to collaborate with the Cornell University dining facilities as well as other student groups to utilize sustainable, local foods. Another goal of this club is to host a number of campus-wide events educating students about agricultural and food related issues and engage individuals in local food based activities like visiting the Ithaca Farmer’s Market and creating local food potluck meals.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com.

Japanese Solar Meltdown

Japanese Companies, which were the leading solar companies in the early part of the century have steadily lost the top global rankings to Chinese companies. Now many of the top Japanese Solar Energy Companies are retreating from markets and manufacturing completely.

Sharp, which was the largest solar company in 2009 and 2010 has radically restructured its strategy, but is still losing market share. Panasonic, the second biggest solar company has closed down its Japanese factory. Other Japanese solar companies like Mitsubishi and Kyocera are also being forced to rethink solar panel manufacturing.

Sumco which is the 2nd biggest producer of semiconductor wafers is closing down its solar wafer division after reporting a massive loss in 2011. The company will close 2 of its solar wafer divisions and shed more than 1,000 jobs.

Many of the Western companies like REC and Schott have already closed their solar wafer divisions due to a 70% reduction in solar wafer price in 2011. Only big Solar Wafer Producers like GCL and Renesola can be expected to survive the biggest down cycle in the solar industry.

Note: Most of the higher cost producers in the solar industry are effectively bankrupt and are only being supported by government or big parents. Many Western companies have already closed or are on the verge of closing. Some of the bankrupt companies are not finding buyers of their equipment even at 10c/dollar. Massive overcapacity remains in the solar industry, particularly in China which is not being taken out fast enough and could possibly lead to a very tough year for solar stocks in 2012.

Columbia University Sustainability

Located in the center of Manhattan, New York is Columbia University. Columbia University has been one of the leaders since the creation of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC to make New York City a more sustainable city. Therefore, the university has created a number of sustainable initiatives to aid in helping the university achieve its goal of being one of the most sustainable universities not just in New York State, but also throughout the entire United States. Here is a list of just a few of the sustainable initiatives Columbia University has taken on to make their campus much more sustainable and to teach the students and employees about sustainability for the future.

1. Environmental Stewardship Office. The Environmental Stewardship Office at Columbia University looks to have everyone on the campus work together “to reduce our consumption of resources in the classrooms, offices, and residences, [to] begin to develop a culture of respect for the environment.” The office works to implement a number of practical programs that will reduce the environmental footprint of the university and promote a strong culture valuing the environment and protecting it. The office sets up a number of interdepartmental and interdisciplinary working groups as well as joint programs to achieve all sustainability goals.

2. Administration. In 2007, Columbia University joined with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC Challenge, making toe pledge to reduce the total carbon dioxide emissions coming from the university by a minimum of 30 percent by the year 2017. The university’s Environmental Stewardship Office has a full time and part time staff that is dedicated to this by creating a number of policy recommendations as well as principles of sustainability.

3. Climate Change and Energy. Columbia University recently created a new policy that will reduce cooling and heating consumption throughout all residential buildings and classroom buildings. The university is doing this with the help of a computerized building management system that they are currently launching. Known as the Cool Columbia campaign, energy audits are conducted throughout off-campus housing, providing information on energy-efficient appliances and how to get them at reduced prices. The campaign also encourages the residents to take a three step pledge in an effort to reduce overall energy consumption.

4. Food and Recycling. Columbia University has made the commitment to purchase a percentage of its food locally. Currently, this percentage is at 16 percent. There is an organic student co-op in one of the campus dining halls well campus-grown produce is sold. As well, all food venues service fair trade coffee. As well, twice a week the campus has a farmer’s market right on the campus for people. All to-go containers in the dining halls are biodegradable. There is also a reusable mug program that offers discounts on the price of coffee to all participants.

5. Green Building. Currently, Columbia University required at all new construction projects on campus meets the standards of LEED Silver Certification. Right now the campus has five registered LEED projects currently in work. In 2008, Columbia University launched the beginning of its very first green residential dormitory. This dormitory features items like an automated energy monitoring system, energy efficient windows, and energy efficient boilers.

6. Student Involvement. There are a number of sustainability-related opportunities that are directed toward the students. This includes internships at the Environmental Stewardship Office and a number of Eco-Reps programs. There is an Eco-Reps program at Columbia’s medical campus. There is also the Green Umbrella Program, which is collaboration between the various environmental student groups to provide a voice to environmental sustainability and get more students involved in making the university a sustainable one, such as offering information of what students are doing at home. In the student-led RecycleBank program, students earn various rewards, including free meals and university apparel, for recycling items on campus.

7. Transportation. The entire Columbia University campus is serviced by an inter-campus shuttle that makes stops near major subway stations and bus stations. Columbia University also provides employees to purchase mass transit tickets with their pretax dollars. The university has also set up numerous bike racks for students to bike to classes rather than taking other transportation options. Eventually, the university will also be adopting a brand new policy for telecommuting.

8. CUIT. The Columbia University Information Technology center has also made the commitment to reduce their carbon footprint by creating a new project that will make various energy efficiency improvements to Columbia University’s Morningside Heights Data Center. The project is being supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

9. Clean, Give + Go Green. During December, Columbia University has the Clean, Give + Go Green recycling and donation drive. Hosted by the Environmental Stewardship Office along with other departments in the university, the drive collected more than 5,000 pounds of clothes, as well as hundreds of pounds of canned goods, computer equipment, toiletries, and other items for nonprofit organizations and homeless shelters. The drive also provided the opportunity for people to shred paper and recycle it rather than just rip it up and throw it away. The goal was to aid in bringing sustainability awareness to Columbia’s campus. It occurred at the end of the semester, providing students with a place to donate items they did not need while moving out.

10. Energy Conservation Pilot Programs. Columbia University has created a number of innovative pilot programs to test the different ways to improve overall energy efficient across the campus using LEDs, microturbines, as well as “dashboards” web interfaces that track energy. For instance, LED lights were installed throughout locations within the School of International and Public Affairs because the LED lights last longer and use much less energy than the regularly used fluorescent light bulbs. In another example, the facilities at the School of Social Work use the dashboards in an effort to track the heat and electricity being used in the business on an hour-by-hour basis, allowing the school to see data required to create strategies that will reduce energy consumption.

Tesla Motors Model S

Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) has recently put out a new promotional video for the Model S.

Because we are fans of what Tesla has accomplished so far, and what they will accomplish in the future, we are happy to share this video with our readers. Check it out. . .

American University Sustainability

American University is located right in the nation’s capital – Washington DC. Because of Washington DC’s recognition as a leader in the clean technology and sustainability movement in the United States, American University has long believed that it needs to do its part to bolster Washington DC’s status as not only the capital of the United States, but also the capital of sustainability. American University has long been at the forefront of university leaders in the sustainability list. It has received top rankings on the College Sustainability Report Card as well as a host of awards and recognitions for all it has done. Listed below are just a few of the sustainability initiatives at American Univeristy.

1 ) American University Office of Sustainability. American University houses their Office of Sustainability right on campus. As one of the greenest universities in the United States, it is only fitting that American University has an Office of Sustainability that aids in building a university campus whereby the students and faculty work together to clean up the campus and make it much more sustainable. The work done by the Office of Sustainability “celebrates the abundance of nature by building a campus community of leaders, who work to clean our air and water, cool our atmosphere, and produce fertile land and habitat.” Some of the areas the office focuses on include buildings, dining, energy, purchasing, recycling, water, and transportation.

2 ) Administration. The administration at American University has adopted a number of policies regarding different aspects of sustainability, including green cleaning, green building, zero-waste, and sustainable purchasing policies. The administration also makes certain that the university only purchases electronics and appliances that are Energy Star Certified. As well, the university only purchases EPEAT Gold Certified computers, and recycled paper towels and toilet paper. The administration also created a Clean Energy Revolving Fund to finance new sustainability projects.

3 ) Climate Change and Energy. American University looks to become the first carbon neutral campus in the United States by the year 2020. To get to this, the university has implemented a number of energy conserving technologies, including back pressure turbines, cogeneration, as well as placing energy management systems in a number of the buildings. Most of the energy utilized by the campus is generated via a rooftop solar array as well as a solar hot water system. In 2010, American University became the first university in the United States to purchase 100 percent energy credits in wind energy.

4 ) Food and Recycling. The Dining Services at American University spends over 25 percent of its annual food budget on local products. A majority of the produce used by the dining staff comes from the garden located right on campus. The dining halls only serve cage-free eggs, sustainably harvested seafood, as well as antibiotic-free and hormone-free milk. All dining halls are trayless and all food scraps are composted. Recently there was a 12 week food waste reduction campaign to cut food waste by ten percent. More than 65 percent of all waste on campus is recycled.

5 ) Green Building. All new constructions on the American University campus, as well as all major renovations, need to at least meet the LEED Silver Certification guidelines as set up by the United States Green Building Council. To date, 40 buildings are LEED registered in the LEED Volume Pilot program. The university has also installed weather-informed irrigation systems and low-flow faucets. There are a number of green roofs, vegetated swales, and porous pavement around campus that manage storm water.

6 ) Student Involvement. Students if they would like, can opt to live in the Sustainable Earth Hallways at American University. Just launched by the university is the Green Eagles eco-rep program. There is also the Eco-Sense student group that leads an eco-certification program for all university offices. Student groups have also launched campaigns against bottled water and started a farmer’s market on campus.

7 ) Transportation. American University has a ride-sharing website that provides discounts on rates as well as preferential parking spots for people who carpool to work. The university also provides students and employees with discounts on public transportation. As well, the university partners with a car-sharing program, and there is a student-run bicycle-lending program which is completely free.

8 ) Green Cleaning. American University realizes that conventional cleaning products may contribute to a number of health problems, including cancer and asthma, and are also very unsafe for the environment. By utilizing safer cleaning chemicals, the university can improve their indoor air quality and the environment at the same time. For this reason, American University has set up a green cleaning program whereby the maintenance staff only uses Green Seal Certified cleaning products that are nationally recognized for the benefits provided to individuals as well as the environment. The maintenance staff is also efficiently trained on how to handle chemicals properly and how to minimize areas where dirt can build up, thereby eliminating the constant need for chemical cleaners.

9 ) Green Office Program. The Office of Sustainability at American University recently launched the Green Office Program to assist the faculty and staff at the university “green up” their departments as well as their office spaces. The Green Office Program provides insight on how offices can mitigate the environmental impact in their department, such as using recycled paper products, double sided printing of documents, reducing margins to save paper, using scrap papers, or requesting vegetable-based or soy-based inks for print jobs as they reduce the amount of VOCs emitted during the printing process.

10 ) Earth Week. Every year, American University participates in Earth Week. Each day, a different topic regarding sustainability is focused on. There is a “passport of events” where students can find out what is going on. Topics focused on every year include energy and conservation, transportation, food and water, and different services. There are a variety of workshops, such as collecting trash to be recycled around campus and helping with the green roofs around campus. There is also tree planting events, visits to the solar panels, and a number of guest speakers on topics regarding sustainability.

Tesla Motors Price Target

Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) picked up some positive news today after it was announced that analyst Jesse Pichel from Jefferies initiative coverage with a $35 price target.

Calling Tesla the “Apple of autos,” Pichel notes that Tesla's strategy is based on a combination of technology, performance, unconventional marketing and a “cool factor.”

Pichel also commented on Tesla's price advantage, writing. . .

Model S offers unique value proposition: We believe the right economic question for the Model S is not “what is the payback period,” but rather, “would you buy a Model S with similar price/performance to a BMW 5-series and the ability to use cheaper electric fuel?” Unlike other EVs or hybrids that require a significant upfront price premium, the Model S is priced comparably to other luxury sedans in its segment.

We also believe that Tesla's a serious contender and has upped the ante in vehicle design and development. In fact, it could be argued that Tesla is responsible for lighting a fire under the asses of the big automakers. After all, we didn't see much development with the big guys until Tesla proved that you can successfully build and sell a quality, high-end electric car.

Just take a look at these. . .

The Tesla Roadster

The Model S

And coming soon, the Model X, which is an SUV crossover that will be unveiled in less than two weeks.

Carnegie Mellon Sustainability

Located in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the popular Carnegie Mellon University. The university has long been in line with the sustainable activities undertaken by the entire state of Pennsylvania. Carnegie Mellon University realizes that in order for students to live sustainable lives outside of the university, they need to learn all they can about sustainability while in the university. Therefore, Carnegie Mellon University has set up a number of sustainability initiatives to not only make the university a much more sustainable place for the environment and future students, but also teach current students on what they can do to live a more environmentally sustainable life.

1) Carnegie Mellon University Office of Sustainability. The Carnegie Mellon Office of Sustainability, also known as the Green Practices Committee, is part of the strategic initiative to enhance the impact and the scope of education and research programs that are related to the environment. The objective of the Green Practices Committee is to “strive to develop university practices that improve environmental quality, decrease waste, and conserve natural resources and energy, thereby establishing Carnegie Mellon as a practical model for other universities and companies.” Through the increase of sustainability on campus, it is the hope of the university to enhance campus life as well as the infrastructure of the university.

2) Administration. At Carnegie Mellon University, the administration is working alongside the Green Practices Committee diligently to create a number of initiatives. The administration has also recently expanded the student-led eco-reps program and established a number of Green Teams throughout all the departments in an effort to encourage faculty and staff to reduce their total environmental impact. The university remains committed to increasing sustainable efforts for formal mission statements and a master plan for the campus.

3) Climate Change and Energy. Carnegie Mellon University has established a number of ways to reduce energy and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions. For instance, the university uses a series of digital controls for all HVAC systems throughout the buildings, and they have also installed lighting retrofits and steam line insulation in almost 100 percent of buildings. As well, all vending machines located in 80 percent of all buildings have sensors so they do not waste electricity when not in use. Approximately 75 percent of the power used at the university is purchased through wind power.

4) Food and Recycling. At Carnegie Mellon University, 32 percent of the Dining Service’s annual food budget is put toward the purchase of local products. 65 percent of all pre-consumer and post consumer food scraps are composted, and approximately 90 percent of all meals served in the dining facilities on campus are trayless. Two of the dormitories on the university have compost bins located outside. All printers on campus are set at default to print on both sides in order to reduce waste. All cardboard during the move in period is collected and then recycled. All unwanted items at the conclusion of the academic year are donated.

5) Green Building. The objective of Carnegie Mellon University is to have all new buildings constructed to meet the LEED Silver Certification standards as listed by the United States Green Building Council. Currently, there are ten LEED buildings throughout the campus, and there are two buildings that are expected to achieve LEED Platinum Certification. To reduce water use throughout the dormitories, all washing machines are energy and water efficient. 80 percent of all showerheads in all dormitories are low-flow, and approximately 50 percent of all buildings have water metering systems. There is also a student garden that is irrigated using rainwater.

6) Student Involvement. There are a number of groups on campus that work on various sustainability initiatives. For example, there are groups to get rid of bottled water from the university campus, create a garden on campus, organize a zero-waste luncheon, and develop a course for credit known as “Environment Today.” Those students that are interested in maintaining sustainability can opt to live in the Green Connections hallways or the Neville Co-op.

7) Transportation. The students, faculty, administration, and staff are given free passes to use the public transportation system in the area. They also get free shuttle services to all off-campus destinations from the university. All carpoolers receive decreased parking rates for on-campus parking rates and they get pre-validated parking tickets for the days when people need to bring in their own vehicles. Carnegie Mellon University also partners with a prominent car-sharing program.

8 ) Solar Panels on South Craig Street. Just recently, a solar panel roof installation was placed on South Craig Street at the university. It was done part of a $88,000 Energy Harvest grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The solar panels will feed directly into the power supply of the buildings as a large part of looking to reduce fossil fuels used by the Carnegie Mellon building. This building is right now home to the university’s SCS Interactive Systems Lab as well as the Institute for Software Research International.

9) Green Teams at Carnegie Mellon. The Green Teams at Carnegie Mellon is a volunteer group made up of students, faculty, administration and staff within a specific department of the university, so there are a number of green teams that all work together in helping the university become much more sustainable. Every team does an environmental sustainable assessment to locate all the areas in need of improvement, including indoor air quality, energy, waste management, lights, green purchasing, commuting, as well as general workplace practices.

10) Green Roofs. Carnegie Mellon University has a number of green roofs throughout the campus, including at Doherty Hall, Gates Center, Posner Center, Porter Hall, Mellon Institute, and Hamerschlag Hall. The green roofs on these buildings aid in reducing heating and cooling energy consumption, protecting the roof’s structural elements from ultraviolet rays, extending the overall lifespan of the roof, and lowering stormwater waste streams. The eventual goal is to have every roof of every building on Carnegie Mellon University’s campus become a green roof and add to the sustainability of the university.

Solar Stocks 2012

Solar Stocks in 2011 had a very rough year with 2 solar ETFs falling by more than 50% as the industry went into massive oversupply leading to crashing solar panel prices, revenue, profits, margins and anything else you can think of.

Many of the industry stalwarts that had been around since the inception of the solar industry like Solon and Evergreen Solar bit the dust. Even the much hyped solar startup Solyndra is bankrupt while others like Miasole and Nanosolar could soon share the same fate.

Even now, big companies like LDK and Sunpower are only operational because of government or parent company largess. And the carnage would have been much greater if a free market operated in the global solar industry, while the fossil fuel industries maintained their generous subsidies. Instead the solar industry is a mish mash of free markets, government subsidies, feed in tariffs , irrational support, etc. This makes investing in the industry really challenging even though the industry has grown by an astounding 200% in the last 2 years in terms of volume, and prices have come down by around 70%.

While below is a list of all the solar stocks, most are dead investments as few solar companies will see 2013 given that the oversupply of polysilicon will stay here throughout the year and more companies get weeded out.

So what are the criteria for staying alive in 2012

Government Support in Some Form – Most of the Tier 1 Chinese Solar Companies will fall into this bracket. However given that there are so many, you would have to look at the biggest like Suntech, LDK and Yingli for survival in any case. LDK, in my opinion, is a bankrupt company. The only reason it continues to produce solar panels is because of Chinese government support.
Low Cost – Though it seems like an obvious idea, there are still companies existing which have high costs like Q-Cells and REC. You just can’t invest in them given that low cost is a necessary, though not solely a sufficient condition to survive
Branding – Very necessary to get financing for solar projects as without a brand you are not bankable and will have to sell at a 10% discount in a market which is already selling at below cost
Efficiency and R&D Dollars – If you sell a low efficiency multicrystalline solar panel, then you are toast given that the market is now only looking at higher efficiency stuff given that choice the buyers now have. You also need to spend sufficient R&D dollars to get ahead of the competition in reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Smaller solar companies are at a disadvantage here.
Low Debt – Not necessary if you are LDK and have a Sugar Daddy like the Chinese Development Bank, but very important for every other solar company. Trina Solar shines in this respect, Suntech does not.

I have only given hints and conditions of which solar stocks to buy in 2012. For those who are saying this industry is not a good investment, they are wrong. Because a time will come when most of the weaker players are out and the winners will take all .

Stanford Clean Energy

Located in Stanford, California is the very well known Stanford University. Because the university resides in what is known as one of the largest “cleantech states” in the United States, being California, Stanford University does what it can in an effort to bolster California’s stance as the number one sustainable state, by making their campus much more sustainable for future generations to come as well as protect the environment. Stanford University has won quite a few awards and recognition for its sustainable initiatives, including second place in the list of Newsweek’s Greenest Colleges in 2011, recognition from the College Sustainability Report Card as Sustainable Endowments Institute Overall College Sustainability Leader in 2007 and 2009 – 2011, and top listed on the U.S. Green Building Council and Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges in 2010 and 2011. Here are just a few of the sustainability initiatives Stanford University is taking on.

1 ) Stanford University Office of Sustainability. The Stanford University Office of Sustainability is dedicated to reducing the university’s environmental impact, increasing sustainability and preserving resources. The vision of the Office of Sustainability is to establish a much healthier and happier environment that will offer a plethora of opportunities to future generations. There are a number of principles the office follows, including advancing knowledge about sustainability, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, fostering land stewardship, conserving water resources, creating environmentally friendly buildings, encouraging alternative and more environmentally friendlier modes of transportation, minimizing waste, and purchasing sustainability in regards to services, products, and food.

2 ) Administration. The administration at Stanford University remains committed to sustainability via a formal plan and policy created by the Office of Sustainability, which manages all the campus-based sustainability initiatives as well as cross-functional working groups and specialized teams. The administration supports and sponsors a number of sustainability initiatives through a variety of sources, including a revolving loan fund and a green fund.

3 ) Climate Change and Energy. The objective of Stanford University is to reduce total carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent from the 1999 levels by the year 2020. A number of energy efficient technologies have been installed throughout Stanford’s campus, including energy monitoring devices. There are also a number of products that encourage the community at Stanford University to conserve energy. Stanford University also generates some of its own electricity using solar hot water systems and photovoltaic solar installations.

4 ) Food and Recycling. Stanford University commits 30 percent of its annual food budget for all campus cafeterias to the purchasing of local products, including many organic products, such as fruits and vegetables. There are also a few campus gardens where Dining Services is able to get some of their product from. Some of the eggs that Stanford University buys are confinement free. The university also purchases sustainably produced seafood and meats, and fair trade sugar, chocolate, and coffee. Students and faculty, staff, and administration receive discounts on their meals and drinks if they use reusable bags and reusable mugs. All pre-consumer and post-consumer food scraps wind up being composted rather than being thrown out.

5 ) Green Building. All new buildings being erected on the campus at Stanford University needs to meet LEED Gold Certification standards as set up by the United States Green Building Council. At Stanford’s campus, the knight Management Center is looking to meet LEED Platinum Certification. A number of other buildings are already meeting Gold and Silver Certification statuses. Throughout the campus, a number of recycled water management systems as well as storm water management technologies have also been established to further increase the sustainability of buildings.

6 ) Student Involvement. Students who attend Stanford University are able to select sustainability themed residential dormitories. The Stanford University new student orientation provides information on a number of green efforts that are going on throughout campus. There are a number of student-led groups dedicated to sustainability. There are also two main competitions held every year throughout campus aimed at reducing energy, waste, and water usage.

7 ) Transportation. More than 50 percent of all faculty, staff, and administration commute to Stanford University through sustainable means of transportation. The university provides a number of sustainable transportation options, including preferential parking as well as monetary initiatives to all employees that choose to carpool to work. There is also a ride matching programs for those who want to take part in the carpooling efforts. Employees are also provided with free access to all public transportation options while students get high discounts for the use of public transportation. The university also provides free shuttles to locations throughout campus, a bike sharing program, as well as a car sharing program.

8 ) Students for a Sustainable Stanford. Students for a Sustainable Stanford was established in 2000 to encourage the building of green buildings throughout the campus and to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions at Stanford. It is one of the most well known environmentally focused student groups at Stanford University. There are a number of subgroups for this group that focus on different issues regarding sustainability, such as climate and energy, environmental justice, a water group, and Zero-Wasters, which focuses on resource awareness and looks to improve recycling and reusing throughout campus.

9 ) Green Living Council. The Stanford University Green Living Council looks to engage students across Stanford’s campus that increases a culture whereby sustainability is integrated into every single aspect of daily campus life, including energy efficiency and recycling. The Green Living Council looks to engage students and convince them to switch to more sustainable habits without having to sacrifice a lot of make any big, drastic changes to their lives.

10 ) Stanford Community Farm. The Stanford Community Farm is located along the western side of Stanford’s campus and takes up one acre. This acre includes a large fruit plot, a number of individual plots, and communally-managed student plots. All students are allowed to visit the farm, where food and flowers are grown organically. The farm also holds a number of community workshops throughout the year about organic gardening and how to do it.

Wells Fargo Solar Investment

Wells Fargo just announced that it intends to pony up $100 million for new solar projects being developed by Enfinity America Corp.

Why would they do such a thing?

Because solar continues to be a booming business, and there's a lot of money to be made in the solar game.

Wells Fargo, just like Citigroup and U.S. Bancorp, which have both been very active in the clean energy space, has already invested $2.7 billion in more than 300 projects since 2006.

Enfinity is one of the world's largest solar development companies on the planet, with activities in North America, Europe and Asia. The company has developed some of the largest solar projects in the world, and it continues to expand its operations on a global scale.

Here's a quick history on Enfinity. . .

New Mexico Clean Energy

New Mexico, nicknamed the Land of Enchantment, has made numerous strides toward becoming more energy efficient and using renewable energy. Its goal is to have 20 percent of all investor owned utilities to incorporate at least 20 percent renewable energy by 2020, and all rural electric cooperatives incorporate a minimum of 10 percent renewable energy by 2020. By becoming more energy efficient, New Mexico will become more energy independent and make headway in becoming one of the most well noted sustainable states in the United States.

1 ) Incentives and Policies for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in New Mexico. The state government of New Mexico has created a number of great financial incentives for both homeowners and business owners that are looking to make the switch to renewable sources of energy and energy efficient products. These incentives include a number of corporate tax credits for items like sustainable building and renewable energy production, performance based incentives, personal tax credits, property tax incentives, sales tax incentives on items like biomass equipment and solar energy equipment, and utility rebate programs from leading energy providers like El Paso Electric Company, New Mexico Gas Company, and Xcel Energy.

2 ) New Mexico Wind Energy Center. The New Mexico Wind Energy Center was established in October of 2003 and looks to support New Mexico’s most ambition renewable energy project. Its wind center, located 170 miles from Albuquerque is suited for the windy landscape of the state. There are 136 turbines at 210 feet high. All together, it can create approximately 200 megawatts of energy, which is enough to power 94,000 average homes in the state. It was awarded the 2003 Utility Leadership Award because of its dedication to renewable energy and its advancements in wind energy.

3 ) Green Grid Initiative Gets Momentum. In 2009, New Mexico started to set in motion a brand new plan that will aid in creating the first fully integrated smart green grid in the United States. Along with state utilities, the government officials are working with national labs, energy businesses, and research universities to have the green grid modernized by the year 2014. The objective is “To create an Internet-enabled grid to allow utilities to continuously monitor energy supply and demand in real time. Automated controls would remotely shut things on and off across the network to conserve energy and better balance generation and consumption. Consumers also would receive real-time data on energy prices to decide when they want to use appliances or adjust thermostats.” With this project, New Mexico experts to reduce total consumer electricity use by six percent, reduce the local need for peak power generation by 25 percent by the year 2025, create over 850 permanent jobs, and increase private and public revenue by $11.5 billion by 2020.

4 ) University of New Mexico Living Green Program. At the University of New Mexico, the Resident Life and Student Housing association created the Living Green program. This is part of the university’s larger sustainable movement. The Living Green program provides students in dormitories with ways to conserve energy on a regular basis. These ideas include turning off all electronics when not in use, conserving HVAC systems by closing windows when system is in use, recycling at all times possible by placing recyclables in the right receptacle in the dormitory building, and cutting back on all waste, such as getting smaller servings in the cafeterias.

5 ) Geothermal Project Heading in Right Direction. In 2010, Raser Technologies, an energy technology company obtained over $15 million in financing for a New Mexico Lightning Dock project from Evergreen Clean Energy and FE Clean Energy Group. When this project is completed it will provide the state is 15 megawatts of clean geothermal power. This announcement demonstrated that there is still investor interest to create clean energy sources.

6 ) Energy Conservation and Management Division. The Energy Conservation and Management Division is part of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department. This division aids in the development and implementation of successful clean energy programs, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean fuels, conservation, as well as efficient transportation. The goal is the promotion of economic and environmental sustainability for all the citizens of new Mexico.

7 ) New Mexico Solar Energy Association. The New Mexico Solar Energy Association is a nonprofit organization that is committed to the continual promotion of solar energy and other sustainable practices. It was established in 1972 to find ideas and methods to use renewable energy and determine how smaller villages could become sustainable. The mission of the New Mexico Solar Energy Association is to “Promote clean, renewable energy and sustainability in New Mexico through education, empowerment, collaboration, and advocacy.” The association holds the Solar Fiesta every year, a two day educational event that provides information about all forms of renewable energy to everyone in New Mexico.

8 ) New Mexico Biofuels Information Center. The New Mexico Biofuels Information Center is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to promote the utilization of utility-scale renewable energy for the generation of electricity as well as to further the utilization of renewable fuels for transportation. The center is a member of the New Mexico Sustainable Energy Collaborative. The New Mexico Biofuels Information Center works with petroleum retailers to create partnerships that are mutually beneficial. One of the pilot programs the center is looking to take on is a school bus biodiesel program. It would provide a 1,000 gallon biodiesel tank (above ground) that would be installed at the school bus refueling yard.

9 ) New Mexico Renewable Energy Conference. Every year, the New Mexico Renewable Energy Conference is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The objective of this conference is to locate more efficient and affordable ways to “mesh large scale solar and wind farms and smaller distributed generation systems that include the sea of solar panels popping up on residential rooftops around the world into grids that are dependent on consistent sources of power.” Also as a topic of discussion at the conference is how policy makers are able to develop regulatory roadmaps that would encourage the creation of additional sources of renewable energy.

10 ) Largest Solar Photovoltaic Project Completed. In August of 2010, the largest solar photovoltaic array in New Mexico was completed. This 1.1 megawatt project was installed in the city of Albuquerque at the headquarters of Bell Group. The solar photovoltaic array spreads over five acres and generates enough electricity to meet approximately 80 percent of the energy needs for Bell Group. It will avoid the creation of an estimated 1,125 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. As an added bonus, it also provides shaded parking areas for visitor and employee vehicles.

Montana Wind Power Development

Last week, Goldwind USA announced that it had acquired two 10 megawatt windfarms in Shawmut, Montana.

Volkswind USA will construct the farms, and has recently secured a power purchase agreement with NorthWestern Energy. Construction of the project is expected to begin shortly, with operations starting by the end of the year.

Here's what Matthew Olive, Goldwind USA's V.P. of Sales had to say. . .

This sale marks our 14th deal in the Americas sine we entered the market in June of 2010. Our customers continue to choose Goldwind turbines because their track record of unparalleled efficiency and reliability. We are pleased that our counterparts with Volkswind have recognized those advantages and we're excited to work with their team and with the community in Shawmut to get this project done."

Goldwind, which is actually a China-based company is aggressively moving into the U.S. market. The company already had turbines in Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Iowa. The company also recently announced a 34.5 megawatt deal and a 15 megawatt deal in Chile and Ecuador, respectively.

Women Biofuel Business Leaders

Series: Influential Women in Cleantech

As the founder of the Bay Area networking group, Women In Cleantech & Sustainability, I am keenly interested in learning about who the media thinks as being the most influential women in the field. However, it feels like every top ten list for women in Cleantech always lists the same lovely ladies. This is not to say that the women are not contributing massively to the effort of clean technology, they are. And there are so many more women in the field!

Clean technology is ever-changing, with new innovators, particularly among women, making their mark in a traditionally male-dominated field. In this occasional series, we shine the spotlight on the most savvy and accomplished women pioneers in cleantech and sustainability. Some are building their own start-ups, others are climbing the ranks of high-profile companies, and still others are investors. Whether they are on the front lines or behind the scenes, they inspire us to keep striving forward, to break the ever existent glass ceiling, and change how the world lives.

As always we are open to your suggestions of who you feel are the female game-changers. Who do you think should be on the list?

1. Virginia Klausmeier, CEO, Sylvatex

Quite possibly the youngest CEO in the biofuel/Green chemistry industry, Virginia Klausmeier has spent the past five years developing the Sylvatex fuel technology with her late father, Dr. William Klausmeier. Sylvatex is currently commercializing a proprietary renewable fuel for the US diesel and biodiesel markets. The company has won numerous awards at industry conferences and venture funding competitions, including Silicon Valley LAUNCH and PortTechLA, as well as funding and support through San Francisco’s Greenstart accelerator program. Virginia earned her B.S in Chemistry and Physiology and M.S. in Biomechanics at the University of Oregon and has is also active in San Francisco’s BioDiesel Task force and Biodiesel Coop.

2. Kef Kasdin, CEO, Proterro BioFuels

Kef Kasdin is CEO of Proterro, a venture-backed start-up located in Princeton, New Jersey. It develops non-plant-based, noncellulosic fermentation-ready sugar feedstock, which enables the economical and scalable production of biofuels and chemicals. The company, which is transitioning from discovery to the engineering phase, has functioning prototype sucrose-producing organisms and a working model bioreactor system. Proterro’s Protose sugar is a sustainable, inexpensive, geoflexible, feedstock that can be used to produce a variety of commercial scale fuels and chemicals through standard industrial fermentation methods. Before Proterro, Kef spent nine years at 3Com Corp, including managing $1B division. She also spent 10 years as venture capitalist, and is general partner/cofounder of Battelle Ventures and affiliate Innovation Valley Partners, with company-creation, lab-spinout, and energy-market expertise.

3. Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones, CEO and Co-Founder, LiveFuels

Lissa Morgenthalter-Jones leads strategic planning and corporate development for the LiveFuels, a company with the goal of developing the most efficient and scalable algae-based biofuel process. Since 1990, she has also specialized in biotechnology investing since 1990. After learning about turning algae and animal waste into fuel, she started her own clean energy venture capital fund in 2004. She raised $10 million from the Quercus Trust and individual investors in May 2007. To date, her company has established pilot operations across the U.S., generated extensive intellectual property, and is well on its way to producing an economically feasible and sustainable algal fuel.

4. K’ Lynne Johnson, CEO, Elevance Renewable Sciences

K’Lynne is leading Illinois based Elevance, with her 19 years of experience in the oil and petrochemicals industry (Amoco, BP and Innovene). The company is striving to be the first to successfully bridge the renewables and chemicals industries. With its Nobel-prize winning technology the company transforms natural plant-based oils, like soybean, rapeseed (canola), palm, corn, or algae, into specialty high-performance, cost-effective commercial products, such as advanced biofuels, deterents and cleaners, personal care products, and others.

5. Jennifer Case, co-founder and CEO, New Leaf Biofuel

In 2010, co-founder Jennifer Case took the helm at New Leaf Biofuel as CEO. She has helped grow the company to 24 employees and increase its customer base, including US Navy, the City of Chula Vista, Allied Waste, and dozens of other commercial and municipal fleets in Southern California. Jennifer Case obtained a BA in Political Science from UC San Diego, and a law degree from Pepperdine University. In her legal practice, Jennifer represented individuals, business and public entity clients in such areas as general business litigation, real estate, construction and technology. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Case was an administrator of a start-up fiber optics company in the Silicon Valley.

6. Pamela R. Contag, Ph.D, microbiologist, Founder of Xenogen Corp and Cobalt Biofuels

Cobalt Technologies, located in Mountain View, CA, is leading the transportation industry for cleaner, more efficient renewable fuels. It is a venture-backed company that produces biobutanol from renewable feedstock. Xenogen Corp, located in Alameda, CA, was founded in 1998, and is a leader in the field of biophotonic imaging. Pamela R. Contag, Ph.D., is a microbiologist who has been called a “serial entrepreneur,” having founded two biotech and two biofuel startups. She is the founder of Xenogen Corp. and Cobalt Biofuels, Inc. She is also the founder and CEO of Cygnet Biofuels and ConcentRX, Inc., a biotechnology company developing a unique cancer therapy. She founded Xenogen Corporation with two colleagues while at Stanford University, where they invented in vivo biophotonic imaging. Pamela has filed a patent on a process she developed that utilizes algae to produce polysaccharides that can be easily converted to alcohol fuels or to biolipids, and then to biodiesel. She was also named one of the “Top 25 Women in Small Business” by Fortune Magazine.

7. Cynthia (CJ) Warner, President, of Sapphire Energy

Cynthia (C.J.) Warner joined Sapphire Energy in February 2009 as President. She brings more than 27 years of experience in the energy, refining and transportation industries. At Sapphire Energy, Ms. Warner is tasked with driving the company’s initiative to transition technology trials and research into commercial-scale crude oil operations. Using only sunlight, CO2 and non-potable water, Sapphire Energy is one of the world’s largest leaders in algae-based crude oil. A chemical engineer by training and one of the very few senior women in the oil and gas industry, CJ served as an executive with energy industry giants British Petroleum, Amoco Oil Company and UOP. CJ is currently a member of the National Petroleum Council. She is a featured leader in the 2008 book ‘Becoming a Resonant Leader: Develop Your Emotional Intelligence′ (Harvard Business School Press). CJ has a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Illinois Institute of Technology.

8. Dr. Claire Kinlaw, Lead Product Development, TerViva BioEnergy

Claire is an MBA-trained scientist and currently Project Lead for TerViva BioEnergy, a startup commercializing the high oil seed tree pongamia in the US as a feedstock for biodiesel refining. Pongamia pinnata, a nitrogen fixing tree native to India that grows on marginal soils. TerVia is working to commercialize this tree as a renewable source of diesel fuel, planting across the southern USA on pasturelands and other lands not used for food production. Claire leads the R&D effort to improve the underlying asset, the tree for even greater, more predictable oil production and good growth characteristics in US locations. Prior to joining TerViva in 2010, Claire developed commercial strategies for biotechnology startups and small businesses, negotiated and managed research and business agreements, directed the USDA Institute of Forest Genetics, and led life science research projects with molecular genetics and genomic science focus. Claire holds an MBA from UC Berkeley, a PhD in biochemistry from Rice University, and a BA in chemistry from the University of Virginia.

9. Nicole Kennard, co-founder and former CEO, New Leaf Biofuel

Nicole Kennard founded New Leaf Biofuel in 2006 with four co-founders, with the aim to be the biggest provider of biodiesel in San Diego County, a dream that involves trucking tons of used fryer grease from 900 area restaurants to New Leaf’s San Diego processing facility and converting it into B99 (99 percent biodiesel fuel), which is then purchased by government and business fleets across the county, such as Sun Diego Charter Co and C & D Towing, and the Regional Transportation Center, San Diego’s only alternative fueling station. She built the company to 10 employees and a company capacity to produce 140,000 gallons of fuel a month. Nicole has BA in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from UC San Diego and an MS in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis on Renewable Energy from San Diego State University. Formerly, Nicole was the Coordinator of the Department of Energy’s Industrial Assessment Center (IAC), located at San Diego State University. She is also a renewable energy adviser and biodiesel consultant for the San Diego City School District and a co-founder of the Biofuels Action and Awareness Network, a student action group at UCSD focused on community outreach and education.

10. Susan B. Leschine, Founder and Chief Scientist, SunEthanol

Susan Leschine founded and was the Chief Scientist of SunEthanol, now QTeros. Currently, Dr. Leschine is a senior faculty member in the Microbiology Department at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Leschine is internationally-known as an authority on the biology and diversity of cellulose-digesting microbes. Her research formed the basis for SunEthanol’s Q Microbe biodigesting technology.

Lisa Ann Pinkerton is founder of Women In Cleantech & Sustainability, a San Francisco Bay Area networking group dedicated to the advancement of women in various environmental and technology sectors. She is also Founder and President of Technica Communications, where she handles marketing and public relations strategies for cleantech and biotech companies. Lisa Ann is a former award-winning broadcast journalist who reported for National Public Radio, PBS Television, WPXI-NBC, American Public Media, and Free Speech TV.

Goldwind Lands 13 North American Wind Power Contracts

Xinjiang Goldwind Science and Technology Co (Goldwind) is the second largest Chinese wind turbine producer and amongst the top 5 wind turbine companies in the world. But Goldwind's stock has also been punished along with other Chinese wind turbine stocks as a fierce price war in the Chinese market has led to nosediving margins and revenues.

Today, there is massive overcapacity in the Chinese wind market as there are around 100 producers of wind turbines with 7 out of the 15 top global wind turbine makers. Chinese Government policies have been changed to weed out the smaller inefficient wind turbine makers, however the competition still remains quite high just like the Solar Panel Industry. And other global heavywieghts like Vestas, Gamesa ,Suzlon are facing bankruptcy concerns as the 20-30% cheaper Chinese wind turbines take a big toll.

Goldwind has been trying to expand internationally by doing an IPO to raise funds, and has invested heavily in the North American market, where the U.S. market is the second largest wind market in the world. Its investments have paid off as it has managed to bag 13 wind farm projects and get marquee customers like Enel Green Power.

Chinese Wind Energy Dominance

The Chinese have not only captured most of the top rankings of the biggest solar panel producers in the world,they have extended their lead into Wind Energy as well. Seven of the top 15 positions in Global Wind Turbine Producers are Chinese according to a new ranking. Sinovel and Goldwind have become the No.2 and No.4 ranked in the world with more than 10% global marketshare each. Dongfang is the other top Chinese wind power company with a 7% market share. United Power is number ten. Other top Chinese wind energy companies include Mingyang, Sewind and XEMC China.

Eco-Friendly Trucking Companies

Numerous trucking companies in the United States and around the globe are starting to “go green.” Rather than just a fad, they see it as a new, sustainable way of life. As customers begin to increase their awareness on all green-related issues, they are going to look for trucking companies that follow in line with their beliefs in creating a better, more sustainable environment. Today, many trucking companies are starting to implement a wide variety of sustainable practices that allow them to become less dependent on fossil fuels, thereby reducing their carbon footprint as they drive from one location to another. The switch to renewable energy and energy efficient measures not only saves them a few dollars, but it also saves the environment as well.

1 ) United Parcel Service is known worldwide, not just for their shipping but also for the variety of environmental initiatives. UPS has over 2,200 alternative fuel vehicles, which is the largest fleet in the industry. UPS also provides the opportunity to allow customers to make the switch to paperless billing and invoices. Since 2000, UPS has recycled more than 24 million points of used electronic equipment.

2 ) J.B. Hunt announced in August of 2011 that it was named one of the top 75 Green Supply Chain Partners by Inbound Logistics. It received this recognition for the number of green initiatives the trucking company has done to remain environmentally sustainable. COO of J.B. Hunt, Craig Harper, said “We are committed to delivering the safe, sustainable, and cost-effective transportation solutions our customers need, and we are honored to be included in this list of like-minded service providers.” J.B. Hunt has been able to improve overall fuel efficiency, lower transportation costs, and lower carbon emissions by approximately 50 percent as compared to the traditional truckload. The Green Fleet is dedicated to reducing emissions and the Hunt Carbon Diet improves energy efficiency while also lowering transportation costs.

3 ) United Van Lines is the largest moving company in Canada, and has won a number of awards, including the 2009/2010 Award from Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies. As United Van Lines has more than 200 locations throughout the entire country, the company has realized the large role it plays in maintaining the Canadian environment. Some of the green initiatives include using reusable quilted furniture pads and floor runners, recycling tires and cartons, having regular scheduled trailer and truck maintenance to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and looking to become a paperless company.

4 ) Swift Transportation is a top trucking company throughout the United States offering a variety of solutions, including heavy haul, flat bed, container, dry van, intermodal, and temperature controlled. Swift is a participant in the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership as it is dedicated to creating a better future using green technologies. The company uses all the latest technologies to decrease their carbon footprint using their Clean Fleet and all new trucks and trailers are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

5 ) Penske Logistics was named, in 2010, a Green 50 Supply Chain Partner by Inbound Logistics due to the numerous approaches taken to lower the trucking company’s miles per gallon performance as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its fleet of trucks. Penske is also a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership. Penske always looks for optimized routes that will increase fuel efficiency. The trucking company is also involved with a number of recycling and green lighting programs.

6 ) Atlas Van Lines is one of the premier residential and commercial moving truck companies around the United States. Because of the many short and long distance moves Atlas Van Lines does, they are always looking to conserve energy, reduce waste, and other things to protect the environment. For example, all trucks are equipped with on-board information systems that help truck drivers become more efficient with their fuel. Atlas has earned a lot of recognition for the company’s environmental stewardship, such as the John Biasini Award given by the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana.

7 ) FedEx, since 2000, has teamed up with the Environmental Defense Fund to ensure their standard trucks remained environmentally friendly. FedEx for many years has continued to look for ways to make their fleet operations even more efficient than they already are. The work FedEx does with the Environmental Defense Fund helps to improve the company’s overall environmental performance, increase the market share for clean delivery vehicles, and maintain/improve operational performance. FedEx has continually looked to encourage other trucking companies to develop and purchase clean-technology trucks. Currently, FedEx has over 250 hybrid-electric delivery trucks.

8 ) DHL is one of the leading logistics companies around the globe. The trucking company recently introduced a brand new convoy of delivery trucks that are environmentally friendly throughout Manhattan, New York as a major step in the company’s green initiative. Frank Appel, the CEO of DHL said, “As customers worldwide are increasingly demanding greener logistics, sustainable business procedures, and initiatives…[it will not only foster climate protection to save our environment for future generations but] also enhance the profitability of our business.” DHL has done similar projects throughout Latin America.

9 ) YRC Worldwide is one of the largest trucking services throughout the world, offering local, regional, national, and even international capabilities. They do a lot with heavyweight shipments and flexible supply chain solutions. YRC Worldwide takes the environment seriously. It is a previous winner of the SmartWay Environmental Excellence Award. The company’s Destination Green program aids them in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, gallons per mile, and empty miles. They are currently testing two diesel electric hybrids in the trucking fleet, which will be used for pickups and deliveries in metropolitan areas.

10 ) C&K Trucking, one of the largest intermodal trucking companies in the United States, takes a lot of pride in making the environment one of the trucking company’s top priorities. C&K Trucking works with the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transportation Program and has one of the highest ratings of all trucking companies. C&K Trucking has maintained focus on efficiencies and technologies that will aid in reducing their miles per gallon, thereby reducing their total carbon dioxide emissions. The company has installed software on trucks to measure efficiency metrics, retrofitted trucks, and created new speed management policies.

Domestic Wind Market Strong In 2012

USA Wind Energy in 2012 has gotten off to a flying start with the announcement of 3 new wind farms.

BP and Sempra announced two new wind farms with 560 MW capacity and a $1 billion investment, and a Spanish company will build a 189 MW wind farm.

GE will provide the turbines to the BP Wind Farms while Accionia wind turbines will be used by the Spanish company. Note there is a severe competition in the Wind Turbine space with the biggest wind company Vestas facing a possible bankruptcy or consolidation in the future. However wind farm developers are having a good time at the expense of the wind equipment companies as prices of wind turbines have plummeted to very low levels. And wind energy continues to be installed despite gas prices touching new lows below $3 /mmbtu as Utilities look to meet the RPS mandates and possible carbon prices in the future.

**Abhishek Shah is a computer engineer (NIT Warangal) and MBA (IIM Calcutta) by education with interests in technology, renewable energy and finance. He also writes about globalization, poverty, income inequality, corruption, and macroeconomics. By day, Abhishek works as an analyst with a green and technology focused investment fund. You can read more from Abhishek here.

MIT Energy Innovations

Universities house the future, no one will deny that. Universities house the next generation of thinkers and doers, the ones that will work to make the planet better for the following generations to come. One of the primary universities that is taking clean technology to heart, understanding that its development is key for the future of not just the United States, but the world, is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT as it is more commonly known across the globe. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT is a powerhouse when it comes to clean technology. Below are just ten of the highlights associated with MIT and all it has done for the clean technology sector.

1 ) MIT Clean Energy Prize. The MIT Clean Energy Prize is one of the foremost university competitions in the world that provides applicants with the opportunity to demonstrate new and exceptional ways to effectively make clean energy a cost-effective concept that will bring about positive environmental impacts. Its mission statement says thus, “The MIT Clean Energy Prize will catalyze a new generation of clean energy solutions to meet the world’s energy challenge through innovation and entrepreneurship.” Since established in 2008, this innovation and venture creation competition has aided in the startup of a number of energy ventures, including Covalent Solar and Levant Power.

2 ) Sustainable Design. MIT has long been integrating various innovative systems and technologies into renovations of current buildings and creation of new buildings. This has put the university at the very head of sustainable building. MIT created a number of standards and goals to ensure that all new capital projects as well as renovations earn the LEED Silver Plus certification from the US Green Building Council. Two recent projects, the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Building and the Stata Center are LEED registered and are planning for certification. For example, the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Building uses heat recovery techniques that are incorporated into all HVAC systems, thereby reducing energy consumption.

3 ) MIT Finds New Way to turn Heat from the Sun to Electricity. In May of 2011, a number of MIT researchers and collaborators determined a way to create a high performance, and even less expensive way of creating electricity from the heat of the sun. This new system is able to produce power with a level of efficiency that is approximately eight times higher than what has been reported in the past for solar thermoelectric devices. While this new system cannot substitute current solar photovoltaics, it will be another way to tap into solar energy in an inexpensive fashion.

4 ) Creating New Opportunities in Renewable Energy. MIT understands that developing renewable energy sources to provide power to the campus and all campus operations is crucial for their sustainable energy portfolio. MIT has explored a number of practical, viable options for the development of new innovative projects for renewable energy. For instance, departmental collaboration between Health and Safety, the Environmental Programs Office, Environment, Lab for Energy and the Environment, and the Bates Laboratory are looking at the feasibility associated with installing technology for wind turbine power generation at the Middleton, Massachusetts MIT Bates Laboratory.

5 ) Increase in Solar Photovoltaic Power Systems. Just recently, the MIT Community Solar Power Initiative finished the installation of 25 advanced solar photovoltaic systems throughout the campus as well as the surrounding community. The initiative is supported by a grant given by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The three systems on the campus at MIT has led the university to reach a very important milestone – this is the very first large scale renewable power systems that are inter-connected to the power grid at MIT. This project has showcased MITs capabilities in providing renewable energy to the campus in a practical and reliable fashion.

6 ) MIT Receives Recognition for their Energy Programs. In 2011, the energy programs supported by MIT have garnered recognition from two separate organizations. For example, MIT was awarded the 2011 Go Green Award from the City of Cambridge for its numerous campus programs that address climate and energy concerns. As well, the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership named the university a Business Leader for its partnership with NSTAR, a local utility provider, in creating the innovative MIT Efficiency Forward program.

7 ) MIT Energy Initiative. The MIT Energy Initiative, abbreviated as MITEI, was created in 2006. It is a campus-wide initiative that was designed to aid in the transformation of the global energy system into one that can meet future energy needs and improve current energy systems for tomorrow. Susan Hockfield, MIT president, said at her inaugural address in relation to the initiative, “[It is] our institutional responsibility to address the challenges of energy and the environment…Tackling the problems that energy and the environment present will require contributions from all our departments and schools…bringing scientists, engineers, and social scientists together to envision the best energy policies for the future.”

8 ) MIT and NSTAR Partner up for an Energy Efficiency Program. In 2010 MIT and NSTAR partnered together to create the MIT Efficiency Forward project to cut electricity use throughout the university by 15 percent in three years. It will be done through new and innovative programs, engagement by the staff, faculty, and students, as well as creating new approaches and technologies throughout MIT. In this three year time span, the university looks to save 34 million kilowatt hours.
“MIT Efficiency Forward will capitalize on one of MIT’s core strengths: the passion of our faculty, staff and students to tackle the world’s most challenging problems,” said MIT President Susan Hockfield. “Through this exciting new program, right here on the MIT campus, we will pursue one of the major opportunities to reduce energy consumption: finding smart, sensible, economic approaches to energy efficiency. Our participation in the program signals that the solutions for today’s climate and energy challenges will come not only from our research laboratories and classrooms, but also from practice-based management innovations.”

9 ) MIT Enhances their Bio-Based Energy Innovations. Recently, MIT has been hosting a new and innovative algae group at the roof of the Central Utility Plant. The algae being used is actually sequestering a portion of emitted carbon dioxide coming from the emission stream at the power plant. The algae also removes some of the nitrogen oxides, also known for polluting. The algae feeds on the carbon dioxide as well as the other pollutants, producing a type of biomass that may be converted into a number of biofuels, including biodiesel.

10 ) Turning MIT into a Learning Laboratory. A lot of MIT’s operations, including transportation fleets, systems for power generation, programs for recycling, and the building initiatives provide great opportunities to test and study new energy and environmental solutions. For instance, the Education Program of the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment and the Environmental Programs Office teamed together to develop the Campus Sustainability UROP program. This program looks to increase educational involvement of all MIT undergraduate in terms of sustainability initiatives throughout the campus.

German Solar Boom Continues

The German Solar Energy Market is biggest in the world and has installed the largest number of solar panels for the last few years. 2012 promises to be no different with Germany again set to the biggest solar market for solar panel manufacturers though Italy would give good competition. The German Solar Subsidy program has been the best in the world unlike the start and stop feed in tariff programs of Spain,Czech,UK,Australia and other places. A stable step in cut of feed in tariffs has helped solar energy prices coming down by more than 50% in the last few years though demand has only increased.

The influx of cheap solar panels from China has let the December 2012 explode to almost 2-3 GW according to the German solar association BSW. The high rates of return of over 10% due to super cheap Chinese solar panels at 80-90c/watt has been the major reason for the explosion in demand which could be the biggest month in Germany ever. While German Solar Market has remained robust as ever,the German solar panel producers like Solon, Sunways have been vanquished with a number of major solar companies failing and getting acquired. The Asian solar companies have been the major beneficiaries of this demand growth in Germany and Europe.

The massive rise in demand will imply that according to the EEG ,t here will be a 15% cut in July 2012 after a 15% cut in January 2011. This would bring the solar FIT prices quite low and provide a restraint to the galloping German solar energy installations which is reaching more than 25 GW .

Clean Energy Africa

The developing nations resting on the continent of Africa have become in recent years popular destinations for applying clean technologies, including renewable energy. Because of the excessive cost associated with transporting electricity from power plants, small-scale geothermal, wind, and solar devices have provided much energy to many rural and urban populations. Using renewable energy resource technologies in Africa shows a potential to relieve numerous problems many African nations face. Currently, one-third of the entire African population does not have access to electricity, and aside from major African countries, such as Egypt and South Africa, electricity is often only provided to roughly 20 percent of the population. Because energy is vital to reduce poverty and stem economic growth, it is essential that Africa look into clean technologies.

1 ) African Renewable Energy Alliance (AREA). The African Renewable Energy Alliance, or AREA, is a number of utility companies, industries, policy makers, and civil society members who have all come together to boost the research, development, and use of renewable energy throughout Africa. According to Abel Didier Tella, the Secretary General of union of African utilities UPDEA, “True exchange of information on new technologies as well as workable funding mechanisms for renewable energy is exactly what is needed. By creating the alliance we expect to create an on-going exchange and to speed up renewable energy production in Africa.” Part of the declaration of AREA states, “If we fail to immediately take decisions on renewable energy production and distribution in grid connected areas as well as in off grid regions, we undermine the right of millions of African citizens to develop a better life in the future.”

2 ) General Electric (GE) Investing into East Africa. General Electric, or GE, has created a strategy to assist East Africa in obtaining renewable sources of energy. It has done a lot of investment in Kenya especially as they believe as it can be the African hub for renewable energy technologies. It has large potential for geothermal energy, as well as a strong wind corridor and high solar rations. Kenya also has a large agrarian region, making it suitable for biowaste being turned into fuel. As well, in Algiers, GE is setting up desalinization plants, and in inland cities, GE is looking into the reuse and recycling of various water resources.

3 ) Increasing Renewable Energy Investment into Africa. In 2010, for example, a number of African policy makers and business leaders met in Berlin, Germany to look at renewable energy opportunities in an effort to increase infrastructural development and employment. Emmanuel Emielu, a Chief Executive from one of these businesses stated, “We must invest in developing the entrepreneurial and skills base needed to achieve a massive diffusion of renewable energy technology…across Africa.” Emielu stressed the need of investment into Africa’s growing cleantech desires as it will create much needed employment opportunities and will prevent Africa from becoming an “importer renewable energy business men,” turning it into a dumping ground.

4 ) African Wind Energy Association. Even though a majority of Africa, which lies around the equatorial belt, has a decreased wind resource that other countries. And though, in the past, this has been a barrier, many now believe that there is potential in Africa for large scale wind development. The African Wind Energy Association was created “in order to encourage manufacturers, developer, governments, renewable energy owners, and individuals to promote and support wind energy development on the African continent…[it] aims to become an influential umbrella organization representing the wind energy sector in Africa and this assisting interaction and cooperation between all energy players.”

5 ) Geothermal Potential in Kenya. Because of its location in the Rift Valley, Kenya has potential using geothermal resources. Currently there are two power stations and one power plant producing ample megawatts of energy. It houses Africa’s largest geothermal power station.

6 ) Africa Carbon Forum. The Africa Carbon Forum is held every year with numerous World Bank specialists and business leaders who get together to create strategies for “clean development mechanism” projects for the African continent, including greenhouse gas emissions-reducing initiatives. Because Africa benefits the least out of all continents through the clean development mechanism market and has the least investments, the forum outlines the potential within the African continent to house renewable energy sources. For example, a European Commission researcher stated that just 0.3 percent of sunlight that hits the Sahara desert could supply Europe will all its current energy needs.

7 ) African Renewable Energy Technology Platform. The African Renewable Energy Technology Platform is part of the European Union Energy Initiative, an organization that focuses on energy and poverty that “raise[s] political awareness among high level decision maters of the important role energy can play in poverty reduction [and clarifies] the need for energy services for poverty reduction and sustainable development.” This platform has the aim of “[contributing] to [the understanding of] the potential for renewable energy options in Africa for increased access to electrification in rural areas.”

8 ) Growing Renewable Energy Market. As of the end of 2010, a number of wind projects were developed in North Africa and complete. There has also been an increase in the off-grid solar power market throughout Sub-Saharan Africa that is expected to advance at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of ten percent between 2009 and 2015. “Many developmental agencies consider small-scale renewable energy projects as the most feasible solution for accelerated rural electrification and therefore are increasingly investing in [Africa in] medium-sized projects, especially wind and solar,” said Energy and Power Systems Programme Manager of Frost and Sullivan Cornelis van der Waal.

9 ) Joint Action Between EU and Africa. Through the Africa-EU Energy Partnership the Renewable Energy Cooperation Programme was developed to assist in helping Africa meet its 2020 renewable energy targets and bringing relevant renewable energy technologies to the African market. The overreaching goal is “to bring access to modern and sustainable energy services to at least an additional 100 million Africans by 2020.”

10 ) Decreasing Overall Reliance on Fossil Fuels. For a poor, underdeveloped continent that relies heavily on the import of fossil fuels, it has become ever more important to increase renewable energy technologies. It will not only provide a cheaper, alternative source of energy, but it will provide more energy to more locations throughout the continent and reduce levels of poverty.

Pakistan Solar Growth

Pakistan is a energy deficit country like most other South Asian countries with inadequate investment in the electricity sector and the distribution infrastructure. The cause of the energy crisis in the country is due to massive corruption and misgovernance, a theme which will be familiar to citizens of India as well.

Pakistan has been looking at investments from the Chinese power companies in the hydro and wind sectors to boost electricity generation. However these investments take time and some may never come to fruition. That being said, Pakistanis are now turning towards cheap Chinese solar panels to beat the high electricity tariffs and dependence on expensive diesel generators and UPS systems.

Note Diesel is not only expensive but also environmentally very harmful. UPS which is generally made of lead acid batteries is not great either with short lives and maintainability problems. Small Cheap solar panels enough to power a couple of lights and fans can be now be bought with small investments of $400-500 which is within reach of most citizens.Though problems exist such as cartelization and corruption in buying solar panels, it still is becoming a feasible economic alternative to fossil fuel sourcs.

Importers of solar energy panels told The Express Tribune that unbearable energy outages, high tariffs and heavy expenses on generators and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) had left consumers with no option but to turn to alternative energy, particularly solar panels. They said Chinese solar panels were much cheaper compared to panels imported from Germany which were very expensive and did not come within the range of consumers.

In a bid to promote alternative energy, the government has scrapped duty on import of solar energy systems. Khawaja Cotton Industries Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Amjad Khawaja said he invested Rs5 million to install solar water boilers, but after this the gas bill dropped 40 per cent. He also installed solar energy panels at his home at a cost of Rs90,000 and his electricity bill fell almost 60 per cent.

I have always predicted that solar energy growth has been vastly underestimated by analysts and policymakers.The fact that it is already starting to compete with fossil fuel sources in third world countries shows the massive growth potential.

Solar Energy is currently the amongst the costliest form of energy generation and except in niche applications is not economic without some sort of government subsidies. However growth in solar energy has been one of the fastest in the past decade upwards of 50% CAGR as costs have declined and technology improved manifold.

Solar Energy forms just 0.1% of the the total energy supply of the planet currently and analysts and decision makers don’t think that Solar Energy can form a big chunk in the future as well. However I differ strongly in that aspect. The main reason for my very bullish opinion on Solar Energy is based on the simple fact that Solar Energy is the only form of Energy whose costs are declining rapidly on a secular basis.

In a world facing the prospects of “peak commodity”, solar energy remains vastly abundant and it remains up to human technology to capture it at the lowest costs.