Qatar, even though the largest global producer of gas, understands and values the importance of clean technologies, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Middle Eastern country has been taking many necessary strides to become a major cleantech player, including increasing its cleantech research, development, and projects, and hosting
Cleantech has always been a big part of the structure in Iceland. Currently, more than 80% of the primary energy in Iceland comes from renewable energy sources. The goal of Iceland is to become not only carbon-free, but oil-free by the year 2050. Because of Iceland’s isolation from the rest of the European continent, it has had to
After a crippling energy crisis in 2004, a result of a natural gas shortage created by a demand for the dwindling, high-priced supply, Argentina has increased their effort to diversify energy sources, and create more sources of renewable energy. Through much research and development, as well as attracting investments, Argentina is starting to build up its cleantech sector,
From 2005 to 2010, Portugal was able to raise the amount of renewable energy in the country up to 45 percent. Portugal has always been very adamant about the inclusion of using renewable energy sources. The first part of the plan was introducing natural gas to replace coal and oil and energy market liberalization to the private market. Now, Portugal is solely
Some companies are taking action to address climate change in spite of international gridlock. Bombardier is one of those companies, having received accolades in Canada for it’s commitment to sustainable business practices to taking innovative engineering approaches to getting employees involved.
Recently many states have chosen to deregulate their energy markets. This means that homeowners and consumers can choose who generates the power that they use. This is done in part to lower utility prices and to let competition drive the more or less monopolized market. At the moment there are 28 states that have deregulated either electricity, natural gas or both. In a
Chicago, the economic capital of Illinois, has constantly been responding to the increasing need for new sources of clean energy. Chicago currently has more than two megawatts of solar generating capacity. Chicago has had many other accomplishments since 2008. They have been able to buy more than 20 percent of
How great is it when one good thing creates a bunch of other good things? According to national averages provided by the American Wind Energy Association, the 201-megawatt Nobles Wind Farm in southeastern Minnesota created approximately:
• 200 construction jobs
Ohio, in 2008, created their own renewable portfolio standard that necessitated 25 percent of the overall energy in Ohio is created out of advanced energy sources by the year 2025. According to the portfolio, more than half of the energy created, must come from in-state sources. The impact of this standard and the venture into clean
Markham, Ontario recently flexed its solar leadership muscles by joining the province’s feed-in-tariff program. “It is an example for all to follow,” says Ontario’s Energy Minister, Brad Duguid. Under this program, a new 250-kilowatt solar installation at Markham’s offices on Warden Avenue will generate enough
As China takes over as the global leader in wind power, a top European renewable energy company is looking to the east of the Old Continent for expansion opportunities. Spanish powerhouse Iberdrola Renovables recently announced it has secured a 50% share of Hungary’s wind energy market.
For generations, getting a job in Central Appalachia has almost always translated into “going into the mines.” The coal industry has dominated the economies in West Virginia, Kentucky, and parts of Ohio for 150 years. While that hasn’t changed completely, a young organization has dedicated itself to keeping the region’s economy tied to energy production—but
Finally, after all our preaching here about compromise between the wants of environmentalists and the needs of solar energy developers, a California group is getting the message.
The California Desert and Renewable Energy Working Group says it wants to skip the courtroom drama (and probably all the
Over the past 25 years, the State of New York has been a national leader in many cleantech initiatives, including its state-wide programs to promote renewable and sustainable energies, reductions in carbon emissions, and recycling programs, just to name a few. Specifically, the State of New York has created administrative agencies