Clean Energy

New technology incubator in Hanover County

dkauffma — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 05:07:40 +0000

More businesses and more jobs – that’s the goal of the new Greentech Incubator in Hanover County. The facility, which opened in January, is dedicated to helping energy entrepreneurs jump-start their companies.

New innovative technology incubator in Hanover County

Right now about a dozen people work out of the Dominion Resources Greentech Incubator, but leaders hope that number will be closer to 150 within the next five years. A business incubator provides resources to help entrepreneurs successfully launch a business. This one is dedicated to going green. Read More on NBC12.com

Algae Powered Transportation

dkauffma — Sun, 27 May 2012 02:35:28 +0000

Algae is being tested as a potential for biofuel source and the initial results seem promising. Long term, biobutanol is a direct ‘Drop-In’ replacement for gasoline and has significant potential as an alternative fuel blend with ethanol (in E-85 as a replacement for gasoline). The technology is being tested and refined so that it can potentially be implemented on a commercial scale basis. The right strain of Algae with the ideal combination of carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight produces biodiesel. It appears that the technology might not become financially viable for a couple of years. Long-term, the development of large scale algae fuel production facilities in the United States could help us to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.

Dominion Resources Funds Green Tech Incubator

dkauffma — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:26:00 +0000

The Dominion Resources GreenTech Incubator (DRGI) seeks to attract clean energy innovators desiring to accelerate the successful growth of their early stage businesses. Each of our Founding Partners is committed to building the alternative, renewable energy sector in Central Virginia by supporting the needs of domestic clean energy entrepreneurs.

DRGI accepts member companies pursuing alternative energy solutions across a wide spectrum of technologies including, but not limited to, biotechnology (biofuels), wind and solar generation, hybrid, carbon capture and smart grid technologies, electric vehicles, fuel cells, batteries and other storage technologies, energy conservation, enabling software products, smart appliance and other clean energy products or services.

Our member companies benefit from access to staff expertise, business advisory boards, a complete offering of support services plus networking and educational programs. Our attractive facilities located in the Town of Ashland provide a range of office, office suite, cubicle and flex space designed to cost effectively serve the needs of start-up companies.

DRGI is managed for the Founding Partners by the Virginia Biosciences Development Center (VBDC). Over the past 15 years VBDC has successfully incubated nearly 70 biosciences companies in its incubation program at the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park. VBDC boasts of more than 40 graduates including three publicly traded companies. VBDC clients have accessed more than $400 million in equity and grant financing to grow their businesses.

Windstalks – harnessing wind energy in a new way

dkauffma — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 03:12:07 +0000

This new method of clean energy is unique in a number of ways. We currently have a lot of energy floating around and have only been able to harness a few sources well. I apprecaiate the innovative approach that this company took. I look forward to seeing other innovative clean energy technologies emerge as we move away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources. I particularly believe that the wavestalks (windstalks in the water) could be extremely valuable in the future.

Economics of Energy and the Environment Free Online Course

dkauffma — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:02:57 +0000

There’s a great website that provides various paid and free courses online called Udemy.

Udemy’s goal is to disrupt and democratize the world of education by enabling anyone to teach and learn online.

Just as blogging democratized the publishing industry (enabling anyone to instantly become a journalist), Udemy seeks to dramatically change education by empowering millions of experts around the world to teach & share what they know.

A free online course on the Economics of Energy and the Environment.

Clean Energy Junto Word Cloud

wblassingame — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:56:22 +0000

Super Bowl 15,000

wblassingame — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:44:50 +0000

Not only is the NFL tackling children’s health issues with its highly visible Play60 campaign, the league is also going after some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. To my surprise, the NFL Environmental Program has an 18 year history of promoting several large scale projects to address solid waste, material reuse and most recently, the Super Bowl’s contribution to climate change.

Similar to the New York Giants, the NFL Environmental Program is worthy of praise for their recent success in “greening” the Super Bowl. In partnership with Green Mountain Energy, the nation’s leader in clean electricity and carbon offset devices, the NFL is utilizing 15,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset their carbon footprint from last night’s Super Bowl. These emissions are being offset through a variety of renewable solutions from using wind energy from a plant in South Dakota to tree planting in Indianapolis. Green Mountain energy explains, “Overall the RECs will avoid more than 14,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions associated with Super Bowl electricity consumption over the course of the month long period leading up to and immediately following the Super Bowl.” The NFL Environmental Committee has also expanded the use of green power to all six major Super Bowl facilities so that similar initiatives can be continued in the future. It is safe to say that the future of the Super Bowl looks very green.

Source: Green Mountain Energy

Future of Hydro: Energy in the East River

Gavin P. Smith — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:37:54 +0000

Powerful currents and competition upstream have delayed the installation of more underwater turbines in the East River. But when it’s complete, will it work? Watch the video report on the New York Times site by clicking here.

Energy Subsidies – Fossil v. Renewables

Trevor Daubenspeck — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:15:11 +0000

A great article by Richard Matthews on the differences in renewable and fossil fuel subsidies and how that reflects upon energy producing options. Obviously the cheaper the fuel, the more likely energy producers will construct those types of energy plants.

Specific mentions:

The IEA estimates that removing fossil fuel consumption subsidies would reduce global carbon-dioxide emissions by 1.5 to 2 billion tons by 2020.
Additionally, IEA estimates that fossil fuel subsidies would be $660 billion in Y2020 compared to $395 billion in renewable sources during the same time period.
According to Bloomberg, the Wind Industry will become cost competitive without subsidies by 2020 in Europe and 2035 in the United States due to Shale Gas discovers. [To note, Bloomberg only mentions the affects of cutting Wind subsidies, not cutting all subsidies (including fossil fuels)].

Home – A Documentary

Gavin P. Smith — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:08:37 +0000

Click to watch “Home – A Documentary”

Internationally renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand makes his feature directorial debut with this environmentally conscious documentary produced by Luc Besson, and narrated by Glenn Close.