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October 26, 2007
Solar Energy Startup Lands VC Funding
SmartSpark Energy Ventures has received what it
calls "significant" funding from a venture capital company to
help make solar energy more efficient and affordable. The 4-
year-old company in the University of Illinois Research Park
got the investment from Battery Ventures, reports The News-
Gazette. More
October 26, 2007
Renewable Energy Technologies Attract Bay Area Venture Capital Funding
The Mercury News reports that, although its share of the
nation's venture capital investments has shrunk from a year
ago, the Bay Area remains the most desirable place by far
for VC financiers, according to an Ernst & Young and Dow
Jones VentureOne study. Among the hottest new venture
capital targets for the third quarter of this year were
alternative energy companies, said Robb Browne, Ernst &
Young's venture capital specialist for the Pacific Northwest. More
October 26, 2007
PV Manufacturer Uses Cheaper, Less Pure Silicon for Solar Panels
Cnet.com reports that CaliSolar, a solar start-up that derives
from research originally conducted at UC Berkeley, has come
up with a way to make solar cells out of upgraded
metallurgical silicon, which is less pure and less costly than
the industry standard electrical grade silicon. The
announcement was made by the company at a meeting at
the Dow Jones Alternative Energy Innovations conference
taking place this week. More
October 19, 2007
Chevron to Invest $75 Million in Energy Technology Ventures
Chevron Corporation has committed $75 million to its
venture capital arm, Chevron Technology Ventures, for the
group's fourth round of funding, reports CNN. The fund has a
history of investing in entrepreneurial-based technologies,
including wind turbines and an organic photovoltaic material
that could be used to charge electronic devices. More
October 19, 2007
Pennsylvania Energy Development Agency Invests $11 Million in Renewable Energy Projects
Earth Times reports that Pennsylvania Governor Edward G.
Rendell recently announced the investment of $11 million in
24 alternative and renewable energy projects designed to
attract nearly $122 million in economic growth and create
around 730 permanent jobs and 1,200 temporary positions. More
October 19, 2007
Arizona Renewable Energy Standard Poised to Make State Solar Energy Leader
This Arizona Star article discusses Arizona’s Renewable
Energy Standard (RES), which requires that the state's
electric utilities generate at least 15 percent of their energy
from renewable energy sources, including solar, wind,
biomass or geothermal. Additionally, 30 percent of the
renewable energy obtained by the utilities must be from
distributed sources of electric generation, which will come
primarily from rooftop solar systems or small wind turbines. More
October 12, 2007
University of Connecticut Poised to Lead Renewable Energy Research
This Daily Campus article highlights the University of
Connecticut’s eminent faculty initiative, passed last July by
the state legislature. The initiative – the first program of its
kind in the United States -- allows the university to hire new
faculty members to conduct alternative energy research. More
October 12, 2007
Landfill Gas System Benefits Small Businesses, Local Industry
The recent construction of a $23 million system that
transforms landfill gas into natural gas in Johnstown,
Pennsylvania has local businesses looking forward to
receiving their gas bills, reports The Tribune-Democrat. More
October 12, 2007
Renewable Energy Company Secures 15 Megawatt Solar Installation Deal
CNN.com reports that MMA Renewable Ventures recently
announced that it has closed financing commitments for
approximately 15 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic installation at
Nellis Air Force Base, the largest solar electric system in
North America. More
October 5, 2007
Foot Motion: The Next Energy Source?
This ABC News article analyzes the technological possibilities
of piezoelectricity, the process of generating electricity from
human motion. Two MIT architecture students estimate that
each human step generates enough power to light two 60-
watt bulbs for one second. More
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