Energy News

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Energy Leaders Breakfast Club: Energy Leaders Breakfast Club: The future of natural gas
The Energy Leaders Breakfast Club engages in new dialogues by inviting some of the region's thought leaders for breakfast and conversation on issues in the clean energy sector. The following is a transcript of one of these meetings – on the future of natural gas.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

MassCEC, MTTC awards $120K for clean energy projects
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Catalyst Program, funded by MassCEC and Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, has awarded $120,000 in clean energy research grants to three researchers from UMass Dartmouth, Tufts University and Northeastern University.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Satcon stock rises more than 55% on China deal
Shares of utility-scale power conversion product supplier Satcon Technology Corp. of Boston jumped more than 55 percent to 87 cents per share in mid-day trading Tuesday after the company said it had inked a five-year sales, marketing and distribution agreement in China.
RI aids Utilidata's relocation with $500K loan
Rhode Island is luring Utilidata Inc., an energy technology company from Spokane, Wash., to its state with support from a $500,000 Renewable Energy Fund loan approved by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Chinese court dismisses one of AMSC vs. Sinovel cases
Devens-based AMSC will see one its cases against former partner Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. decided in arbitration, as a Chinese court has thrown out its civil complaint.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Wing Power Energy's wind turbines fueled by funding
Wing Power Energy Inc., a Salem maker of vertical platform small wind/solar hybrid turbines urban areas or low wind conditions, raised just over $600,000 in an equity funding round, CEO Harry Ruda said.
MIT makes solar panels from plants
MIT researchers said they have come up with a way to make photovoltaic panels from plant material as an inexpensive and easy alternative to traditional solar cells.
Zipcar buys majority stake in Spain’s Avancar
Zipcar Inc. is now the majority owner of a Spanish company it had previously invested in, Catalunya Carsharing S.A., known as Avancar and the first car sharing operator in Spain.
Energy Leaders Breakfast Club: Energy Leaders Breakfast Club: Green Communities Act, energy costs, and volatility
The Energy Leaders Breakfast Club engages in new dialogues by inviting some of the region's thought leaders for breakfast and conversation on issues in the clean energy sector. The following is a transcript of one of these meetings – on Green Communities Act, energy costs and volatility.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Clean energy firm MTPV raises $10M financing
MTPV closed a $10 million Series B funding round for the clean energy semiconductor chip company with offices in both Boston and Austin, Texas.

Monday, January 23, 2012

DOE reports: Maine could generate 10% of all tidal power
Maine has the potential to produce 10 percent of the nation's tidal power energy, or 15 terrawatt-hours of electricity per year, according to recent reports by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

First Wind gets OK for Maine wind project
Energy company First Wind has landed approval from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for its proposed 150 megawatt Oakfield Wind project in Aroostook County, Maine, where it could create 300 local construction jobs.
MIT Energy Lab founder David White dies
David Calvin White, a 40-year MIT faculty member and founding director of the MIT Energy Laboratory, died last week at the age of 89.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Joule's ethanol plant moves forward on $70M funding round
Biofuels company Joule Unlimited Inc. has closed on $70 million in a third funding round from new, unnamed institutional and private investors, along with previous backer Flagship Ventures.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Solectria Renewables doubling workforce, expanding to Asia
Solectria Renewables LLC, a photovoltaic inverter maker based in Lawrence, said it plans to double its workforce to around 200 this year after having grown it 65 percent to 130 people in 2011 as state and federal energy incentives boosted the company's business.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Mascoma begins commercializing yeast-ethanol product
Renewable fuels company Mascoma Corp. of Lebanon, N.H., said it has implemented a commercialization strategy for its yeast product — the first application of its consolidated bioprocessing platform — and plans to generate revenues starting in the first quarter of this year.
Sebago Farms plans massive greenhouse, algae biofuels facility in Maine
In an area of Maine generally known for its strip malls and big box stores, newcomer Sebago Farms plans to build a 1.7 million square foot mixed-use facility that will house hydroponic greenhouses, a fish farm, and an algae-based biofuels research area and employ up to 170 people.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Conn. biomass project gets $225M in funding
The Plainfield Renewable Energy biomass project in Connecticut will receive $225 million for construction financing from Science Applications International Corp. and the Carlyle Energy Mezzanine Opportunities Group.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Novogy taps backers for $4M
Novogy Inc., a Cambridge cleantech startup, has raised $4 million of a planned $7.5 million fundraise, federal documents show.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Satcon to cut costs, another 140 workers worldwide
Satcon Technology Corp. of Boston said it will cut 140 employees globally, close its Canadian plant, and reduce other costs in an effort to improve its financial performance.