Alternative Energy HQ solar power for homes, wind energy, and bio fuel issues

By Michael Gorton, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Principal Solar Despite the sluggish economy, the US solar industry has seen massive growth in the past two years, creating jobs across the country, driving innovation and attracting investors. In fact, solar installations reached 742MW in the second quarter, up 45 percent over the prior quarter, and a 116-percent increase over …

This coming year promises to be a good one for people looking to upgrade to a more fuel-efficient car. New models coming from the auto industry are showing excellent promise in styling, fuel efficiency and sticker prices. These economy-style gas savers appeal to a wide customer base looking at compact and subcompact cars to help save money at the pump. …

Likely voters in the 2012 election cycle overwhelmingly support solar energy and would like to see the federal government to do more to foster the growing industry, according to a national poll released today. The survey, conducted by independent polling firm Hart Research Associates, showed for the fifth consecutive year that Americans maintain a very favorable view of solar energy …

When the idea of the electric car was proposed to minimize greenhouse gases and pollution, the two basic platforms were the hybrid platform and a pure electric platform. When it comes to the latter, the main issue is the low range of operation. While the breakthrough in battery technology is unlikely to happen, students, scientists, hobbyists and of course companies …

Buildings represent a large percentage of all the energy consumed in the United States. That’s why increasing the energy efficiency of buildings – especially existing ones – has become a major priority for many cities throughout the country. In addition to enhancing overall quality of life, transforming commercial and industrial properties combats climate change and fosters innovation that ultimately strengthens …

Although they seem to be growing in popularity, hybrid cars haven’t taken over the vehicle market just yet. However, it is more than likely that this won’t be the case for long. Hybrids as a whole have been around for a while, one of the first true hybrid vehicles as a Lexus Hybrid released in 2004. 8 years on, and …

Listen to Podcast Download Transcript Today’s study could solidify the trend toward construction of gigantic windmills. In a report in ACS’ journal Environmental Science & Technology, scientists have concluded that the larger the wind turbine, the greener the electricity it produces. “Wind power is an increasingly popular source of electricity. It provides almost 2 percent of global electricity worldwide, a …

The EPA reports that 36 percent of total energy use and 65 percent of electricity consumption comes from buildings. When these numbers approach 0, mankind will have taken a major step towards fossil fuel independence. Exciting new green energy technologies are leading us towards a promising future at a more rapid pace than many have imagined. Recent developments in solar …

Nuclear energy has been around for a long time. All the back to Einstein’s formula E = mc^2, the potential in harnessing the energy by a small change in mass has been known. Apart from being the foundation of nuclear bombs, as well as massive environmental disasters such as Chernobyl and the Fukushima Daiichi in Japan last year, nuclear power …

Studies are showing that the interest and push for using new and clean renewable energy sources is growing fast among not just the public sector but also within the corporate world. Investment in technology for cleaner energy has surpassed that of traditional fossil fuel sources. Last week, businesses still on the fence about exploring their options in renewable energy were …

U.S. ENERGY POLICY IS “ALL WET” WHEN IT COMES TO HIDDEN COSTS 100,000 Gallons of Water to Produce a Single Megawatt Hour of Electricity? In a Time of Drought and Growing Water Shortages, “Business As Usual” Energy Approach Ignore Huge Water and Other Hidden Costs. Huge demands on increasingly scarce water are a major hidden cost of a “business as …

Electric Vehicles are popping up all over the automotive landscape as many car manufacturers are getting on board with producing hybrid or all EV cars to meet the growing demand of consumers who want to avoid the gas pump as much as they can or altogether in the case of plug in vehicles. This week in San Francisco EV Week …

300,000 Jobs and $200 Billion Economic Potential from U.S. Offshore Wind (via Clean Technica)   America has some of the best offshore wind resources in the world — especially along the Atlantic coastline. But while the promise is massive, zero turbines are currently spinning in U.S. waters. Fortunately, federal and state governments have made significant progress toward the first offshore…

The Phoenix International Auto Show promises to be electrifying in more ways than one, thanks to BMW’s continued commitment to hybrid vehicles. While the Motor Trend Auto Show’s website doesn’t reveal the exact BMW models that will be on hand Nov. 22- 25 at the Phoenix Convention Center, BMW may be considered remiss if it didn’t at least showcase a …

Japan to Phase Out Nuclear Power The Japanese government unveiled a plan today to phase out nuclear power over the next three decades, signaling a dramatic shift in energy policy 18 months after the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. The proposed policy calls for more reliance on renewable energy, greater conservation and sustainable use of fossil fuels, a move business …

With pricing for photovoltaic (PV) polysilicon declining at an accelerated rate in August, there are no signs that the glut plaguing the industry has abated, behooving Tier 1 suppliers to consider reducing production in order to stabilize market conditions. PV polysilicon prices last month fell at a faster rate than they did in July, continuing a losing streak that started …

It may not be easy being green, but it is getting better. With more and more companies climbing aboard the green parade, making your home more environmentally friendly is becoming simpler and financially more rewarding in terms of energy savings. While there are the big things you can do to your home like adding insulation and replacing your old doors …

Sustainability is more than a buzz word; it’s essential to the continuation and preservation of modern society. The old methods of construction are too wasteful to continue using in this age of dwindling resources and global climate change. Those who want to build green are to be commended, but getting a new deck, new house or new building built is …

Typical Wind Farm Supports Nearly 1,100 Jobs; Adds Millions of Dollars to Local Communities Congressional Inaction on Production Tax Credit Threatens to Stop Major Boost for Employment Each major wind farm in America creates nearly 1,100 jobs and can add tens of millions of dollars in new taxes and other benefits to the communities where they’re located, according to two …

American wind power has blown through an historic milestone: 50 gigawatts of electric generating capacity, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Denise Bode, CEO of AWEA, made the announcement at the recent National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas. The 50 gigawatts (GW) online means that U.S. wind turbines now power the equivalent of nearly 13 million American …