The PReP xChange Blog

Posted on April 29, 2010 by PReP Intl

Obama Voices American Focus on Bio-Fuels

During a visit to the POET biorefinery in Macon, Missouri yesterday, President Barack Obama emphasized America’s focus on biofuel and our commitment to becoming a world leader in biodiesel technology. Obama promoted biofuel as a clean, renewable energy technology that could help lead to the United States’ energy independence.

Obama’s speech at the facility centered about the doubly beneficial nature of clean energy tech – in both producing sustainable power and fostering economic growth:

“We began early last year by making the largest investment in clean energy in our nation?s history. It?s an investment that we expect will create or save up to 700,000 jobs across America by the end of 2012?jobs manufacturing next-generation batteries for next-generation vehicles; jobs upgrading a smarter, stronger power grid; jobs doubling the capacity to generate renewable energy from sources like sun and wind and biofuels, just like you do here.”

Read the President’s full remarks here.

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Posted on April 28, 2010 by PReP Intl

Dept of Interior Approves "Cape Wind" Project

Ken Salazar, US Secretary of the Interior, announced yesterday the approval for “Cape Wind” – a major renewable energy initiative that would see a portion of submerged land in the Nantucket Sound converted into a farm of wind-energy generating turbines. Cape Wind would be the first US wind-energy project on the outer continental shelf and could generate enough wind energy to power 75% of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Sound. Opponents of Cape Wind expressed concern for preserving the existing cultural and historic resources in the area. After an in-depth review, the Department of the Interior approved the project.

?After careful consideration of all the concerns expressed during the lengthy review and consultation process and thorough analyses of the many factors involved, I find that the public benefits weigh in favor of approving the Cape Wind project at the Horseshoe Shoal location,? stated Salazar. ?With this decision we are beginning a new direction in our Nation?s energy future, ushering in America?s first offshore wind energy facility and opening a new chapter in the history of this region.?

Read more here.

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Posted on April 28, 2010 by PReP Intl

Shell Outlines "30 Year Rule" for New Energy Technology

At a recent conference in Bejing, China, Peter Voser, Chief Executive Office of Royal Dutch Shell plc, delivered a fact-filled speech that outlined what Voser refers to as the “30 year rule” for adopting new energy technology.

According to Voser, in order for a new energy to become universally adopted and gain 1% market share of energy production, it has to endure a roughly 30 year life-cycle. The breakdown looks a little like this:

- Year one, the original scientific innovation that delivers the new technology
- 1-3 years, the time it takes to build a pilot plant to manufacture the new tech
- 2-5 years, establish the start-up and achieve reliable operation
- 10 years, the time it takes to build more plants
- 10 more years, the time it takes to gain public acceptance/adoption

Clearly, the turnaround time in delivering new clean energy technology is nothing like bringing a new iPhone or Laptop to market. It is a generational investment that requires tremendous forethought and perseverance.

Read Voser’s complete speech here.

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Posted on April 27, 2010 by PReP Intl

American Businesses Urge Congress to Take Action on US Climate Bill

While bogged down in the Senate, the proposed US climate bill is garnering much attention from American businesses that are hoping to capitalize on potential fees levied against carbon emissions and possible tax incentives for investing in clean energy. The White House’s proposed bill would put restrictions on coal-burning energy and offer tax breaks for companies that develop and manufacture alternative, low-carbon, and renewable energy. However, a controversial immigration bill stands to jump in line ahead of the climate bill on the Senate floor, delaying any action in the climate measure. The American Business for Clean Energy group – which represents more than 3,000 US businesses – is urging lawmakers to continue to push for this bill and not let it get mired in political stagnation.

Read more here.

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Posted on April 26, 2010 by PReP Intl

Dow Corning Wants to Make America a 21st Century Solar Power

In a recent press release, Stephanie Burns, Chairman and CEO of Dow Corning, extolled her company’s commitment to solar power and detailed what she believes the United States needs to do to position itself as a “Solar Power” in the 21st century. In the past five years, Dow Corning has invested more than five billion dollars in the research and development of solar energy technology and continues to push for new advancements in the field. The company believes that by enacting advantageous public policy the American government can encourage domestic corporations like Dow Corning to expand renewable energy technologies, establishing the US as the global lead in clean-tech.

Read Burns’ complete outline here.

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Posted on April 25, 2010 by PReP Intl

Paving the Way for Green Technology

The focus on clean, or “green”, energy – sustainable, renewable power – isn’t just a recent goal. Tracking the roots of the energy technology revolution can take us back fifty, sixty, even a hundred years – if not more. The ancient Egyptians architectured passive cooling chambers into their pyramids. Early Greeks captured heat from the sun by reflecting solar energy off of bronze shields. Roman nobles had snow hauled in to cool their palaces. In the modern age, technology has redefined how we approach the timeless issues of heating and cooling (and now powering all our ever-expanding tech), but the desire to do so as efficiently as possible has been around for as long as we have.

Check out this list that breaks down the 40 top contributors to the green energy revolution and how their theories and inventions revolutionized the way we generate and distribute power.

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Posted on April 24, 2010 by PReP Intl

European Wind Energy Surged in 2009

In its annual report, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) announced recently that wind energy in Europe exhibited “phenomenal” growth in 2009. Over the last year, wind energy installations in the region were responsible for 39% of the total new electricity-generating capacity. This growth was a 23% increase over 2008′s gains in wind-energy capacity and marks the second year in a row that more wind-power was installed in the EU than any other energy technology.

Read more here.

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Posted on April 23, 2010 by PReP Intl

Finland Shares Smart Grid Expertise

Cleantech Finland and the Cluster for Energy and Environment consortium (CLEEN) will be delivering a presentation on their country’s successful Smart Grid deployment at a conference in Palo Alto, California today to help share their expertise in establishing and optimizing a national power grid. Decades ago, Finland had to address the problem of providing affordable energy to a country with harsh winters and a sparse population.? These logistics? made generating energy and delivering power across the nation a tough endeavor. Cleantech’s demonstration of the Finnish power infrastructure and delivery mechanism can help the US and other countries investing in Smart Grid technology expedite their own energy initiatives.

Read more here.

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Posted on April 23, 2010 by PReP Intl

US Department of Defense Clean Energy Investments

The United States’ military branches have long been the largest energy consumers in the country, and since our military operations often have to pay a premium for fuel and energy when deployed abroad, the need for renewable energy sources is critical. To achieve this end, the Department of Defense is investing major resources into a variety of energy-efficiency initiatives. Among them are programs to explore bio-fuels for Air Force and Navy jets, solar-power for Army outposts, and LED lighting for Naval vessels and Army stations.

Find more detail on all of these programs here.

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Posted on April 22, 2010 by PReP Intl

GE Brings Smart Grid Division to Atlanta, GA

GE announced today that it is creating a new division based in Atlanta, Georgia to focus on modernizing the US’ national electric grid as part of the Smart Grid initiative. Smart Grid technology is designed to lower the cost and improve the efficiency of the generation and delivery of power from a national electric infrastructure. The GE facility, which will bring nearly 400 new jobs to the Atlanta area, will incorporate an excellence center that will provide instruction and training to engineers and developers in their organization.

Read more here.

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