Solar Energy

Clean Energy Goes Mainstream with Earth Day

14 years ago daveroberts 3 Comments

All of us are beneficiaries of the paradigm shifts of credit cards and ATM’s; desktop computing and the Internet. For each of these widespread social shifts there were risk-taking start-up companies and “early adopter” consumers that helped lead social and economic change. In the case of today’s clean energy and energy conservation movement, we’ve come a long way from tree hugging by unshaven men (and women), saving the whales (and otters), Greenpeace and recycling in a few tangentially interested California neighborhoods. Going green has become more than an idealistic cause by the liberal left, to more broadly being recognized as an economic imperative.

End of Battery Nightmare for U.S. Soldiers

14 years ago Tina Casey 1 Comment

Disposable batteries have been called a “logistical nightmare” by the U.S. Army, and for good reason. With the increasing use of electronic gear, today’s foot soldier has to carry more batteries and the weight adds up. The Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency has been actively seeking a solution in the form of portable fuel cells, and now students at the Stevens Institute of Technology are working on a

Wind Power Needs Long-term Policy Support (Like Fossil Fuels Get), Ted Turner & Others Pronounce

14 years ago Zachary Shahan 2 Comments

Wind power needs to be and will likely be a key source of electricity in the near future (and already is in some places). As legendary business leader Ted Turner said at the U.S. WINDPOWER conference in California yesterday, embarcing renewable energy such as wind, solar, geothermal is an “even more of an obvious business decision for him today than launching eventual cable giant CNN was in 1980.” Turner stated, “I’ve never seen anything more clear as the case for wind, solar, and geothermal.”

Top 10 Clean Energy States (& Bottom 10)

14 years ago Zachary Shahan 1 Comment

Any “top 10” list is going to be a bit ambiguous, unless you’re ranking something that is very simply scored and ranked, like sports teams. Ranking states or countries on cleantech matters, especially cleantech or clean energy as a whole, is a little more difficult. So, I steer away from making such lists. However, if someone else makes one, it’s a fun thing to cover.

Clean Edge recently published its 2nd annual U.S. Clean Energy Leadership Index, which includes critical data and analysis on the nation’s clean energy landscape. Included in the index is a ranking of the states according to their clean energy leadership. Can you guess the top 10?

Solar Plane — Solar Impulse — Completes 1st International Flight

14 years ago Zachary Shahan 8 Comments

We’ve covered the birth and growth of this completely solar-powered plane from Switzerland, the Solar Impulse, here on CleanTechnica. The most recent news is that the plane had made its first international flight. “After a flight lasting 12 hours 59 minutes, using no fuel and propelled by solar energy alone, Solar Impulse HB-SIA landed safely in Brussels” last Firday evening, the plane’s website announced.

Toys”R”Us Installing Largest Solar Roof in North America

14 years ago Zachary Shahan 1 Comment

It’s hard not to report on the biggest solar, wind, or other renewable energy projects when they pop up (or get close to popping up). And why shouldn’t I? It’s a sign that these clean energy sources are maturing and an encouragement to you and others to implement clean energy projects yourself! The latest ‘biggest’ solar project I’ve read news about is an especially ‘fun’ one. Toys”R”Us (how do I make that “R” go backwards) is dropping the largest solar rooftop installation in North America on its distribution center in Flanders, New Jersey (its largest distribution center).