Google & NASA Start “Green Flight Challenge” (+ 16 Other Cleantech Stories of the Week)

Google, NASA, and the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency Foundation (CAFE)  are teaming up in an effort to make flying a little bit (or a lot) greener. They are hosting the “Green Flight Challenge,” a clean air transportation competition.

“Contestants must demonstrate that their aircraft can fly 200 passengers over a distance of 200 miles, in less than two hours, using the energy equivalent of just one gallon of gas or less per occupant,” Tara Kelly of the Huffington Post reports. “Aircraft may be propelled by a variety of clean technology, including batteries, electric motors, bio-fuel solutions or hybrid engines.”

How much can the winner go home with? $1.65 million. This is the biggest aviation competition prize in history. Some more details on the Green Flight Challenge:

• Sept 25-Oct 2
• Location: Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California
• Public opportunity to see the competing aircraft at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California on Oct 3.

It’s no surprise to see Google, NASA, and CAFE teaming up on this — they are all clear green leaders.

Here’s some more cleantech news and commentary of the week for you:

1. China set to cap energy use in national low-carbon plan [Guardian]
2. Why Cleantech Should Join the Fight Against Tar Sands [GreenBiz]
3. Ikea assembles UK renewable energy portfolio [Business Green]
4. The Top Five Policy Priorities Now That Congress is Set to Slash Clean Energy Funding [Climate Progress]
5. Stunning Analysis: U.S. Shale Gas Reserves May Be Over Stated at Least 100 Percent [Climate Progress]
6. Musicians United for Safe Energy Launch Mega-Concert in San Francisco This Sunday [Huffington Post]
7. US cleantech investment plunges 44 per cent [Business Green]
8. Vice President Biden to Keynote CAP/Reid National Clean Energy Summit [Climate Progress]
9. Seven Cities and a Utility Company Team Up to Deliver Residential Energy Savings [DOE]
10. AMD and the Solar-Powered Data Center [Greentech Media]

Nuclear:

1. Vermont finds contaminated fish as nuclear debate rages [Reuters]
2. Fukushima Radiation Reaches Lethal Level [Guardian]
3. Tepco Says Highest Radiation Yet Is Detected at Fukushima Dai-Ichi [Bloomberg]

Fracking:

1. Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Bans Fracking Disposal Wells Due to Earthquakes [Desmog Blog]
2. Environmental Working Group Reveals EPA Knowledge of Water Contamination From Fracking [Desmog Blog]
3. EPA Proposes First-Ever Federal Fracking Rules [Desmog Blog]
   
4. In Gas Driller’s Canadian East Coast Heartland, A Day Of FRACtion [Desmog Blog]
   

Image adapted from nasa hq photo image