Infinia was funded an additional $7 million for its Stirling engine-based solar thermal system, and Stirling Energy Systems was funded $100 million from NTR, a developer and operator in renewable energy and sustainable waste management. eSolar raised $130 million, and is backed by Google.org, Idealab, and Oak Investment partners.

Other recent alternative energy deals include:

• Voorhees, N.J.-based American Water Works (NYSE: AWK) finally made it onto the public market, but pulled in a lower-than-expected $1.25 billion after pricing 58 million shares at $21.50 per share. The company had originally planned to offer 64 million shares at $24 to $26. All of the proceeds from the initial public offering are going to German power company RWE (OTC: RWEOY), which is exiting its water activities (see American Water Works prices below range).
• Albuquerque, N.M.-based Enerpulse, a developer of energy efficient automobile spark plugs, raised $5 million in additional Series B funding from Robeco, part of the Rabobank Group. This latest financing brings the total round up to $10.5 million, including a $5.5 million initial close from Sail Venture Partners and Altira Group.
• Qingdao Land of State Power Environment Engineering, a Chinese wind energy and environmental protection company, raised $5 million from the Aureos China Fund. Qingdao specializes in the production of wind energy turbines and in equipment needed to clean gas and water emissions from power stations.
• Think Global, a Norwegian electric car maker, launched a North American subsidiary, forming the unit as a joint venture with backers Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and RockPort Capital. Think Global will hold a 50 percent stake in the North American venture, with the venture capital firms splitting the remainder (see Think electric cars coming to North America).
• Kennewick, Wash.-based Infinia, a developer of Stirling engine-based solar thermal technology, raised $7 million in additional Series B funding from Foxconn Technology Group and an undisclosed investor. Infinia previously held a $50 million first close, with earlier round participants including GLG Partners, Wexford Capital, Vulcan Capital, Khosla Ventures, EQUUS Total Return, Idealab and Power Play Energy.
• Phoenix-based Stirling Energy Systems, another Stirling-powered solar thermal company, received its first big round of funding, pulling in $100 million. The cash comes from Dublin, Ireland’s NTR, a developer and operator in renewable energy and sustainable waste management. NTR is getting a 52 percent stake in Stirling Energy with its investment (see Stirling engines meet solar power in the desert).
• Traditional solar thermal developer eSolar, based in Pasadena, Calif., raised $130 million. No Stirling engines here, just some big-named backers, including Idealab, Oak Investment Partners and Google.org, the philanthropic arm of search giant Google. ESolar said Google.org’s January investment of $10 million in the company is included in this funding round (see Going modular with eSolar).
• The U.S. Department of Energy selected projects for up to $50 million in federal funding to modernize the nation’s electricity grid. The department said the nine demonstration projects are targeting a 15 percent reduction of U.S. peak load electricity demand. The DOE said the funds would be invested over five years , from fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2012.
• The DOE also selected three small-scale biorefinery projects for up to $86 million in financing in Maine, Tennessee and Kentucky. The DOE said the money would be invested over four years to support the development of cellulosic biorefineries in Old Town, Maine; Vonore, Tenn.; and Washington County, Ky.
• On top of grid improvement and biorefineries, the department of energy is also putting up cash for biomass research. The DOE said up to $7 million is available for projects that can improve the conversion of biomass to advanced biofuels via pyrolysis (see US DOE offering more funds for biomass).
• Broomfield, Colo.-based Real Goods Solar, a residential solar installer, set terms for its planned initial public offering, expecting to sell 5 million shares at $10 to $12 per share. ThinkPanmure, formerly ThinkEquity Partners, is the lead underwriter on the deal. Real Goods Solar is a subsidiary of Broomfield’s Gaiam (Nasdaq: GAIA), which will continue to control Real Goods Solar. Gaiam sells environmentally friendly lifestyle products (see Real Goods Solar sets IPO terms).
• Charlotte, N.C.-based solar company Sencera International raised $3.6 million in funding. Sencera said the investment was led by the Quercus Trust. The photovoltaic thin film module and systems developer said it would use the financing to accelerate increases in cell efficiency and to complete process integration of its Viper manufacturing platform.

Source: http://media.cleantech.com/2759/funding-heats-up-for-solar-thermal

Source: Newsmax.com “Gore has personal stake in Anti-warming Campaign“

Solar stocks traded higher following the news that LDK Solar signed a 10 year contract to supply Moser Baer Photo Volatic Ltd. with multicrystalline solar wafers.  LDK’s stock rallied as much as 10.7%, the highest since Feb. 21.

Piper Jaffray(NYSE:PJC)  added J.A. Solar Holdings, Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ), and Yingli Green Energy to its Alpha List.

Calyon Securities continues to be bullish on the sector, and reiterates its buy ratinsgs on First Solar(NASDAQ:FSLR), Sunpower Corp (NASDAQ:SPWR), Evergreen Solar(OTC:ESLRW) (NASDAQ: ESLR), and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:ENER)

Source: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-24241301.htm

http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2008/03/27/88615.htm

There are three primary uses of energy: electricity, heat, and transportation.

The most commercially viable source of alternative energy in terms of cost per kilowatt hour is nuclear, hydroelectric and wind energy.

Nuclear Energy

Some of the advantage of nuclear energy is that it does not give off carbon emissions, reactors are cost-efficient, and last a long time. Disadvantages include the safety of nuclear waste disposal, and potential terrorist attacks.

The best opportunities lie in the developing countries which face less political opposition to nuclear projects. Countries such as China are open to diversifying their energy supply.

Hydroelectric

Power generated from water, primarily from large-scale dams, accounts for the greatest source or renewable energy. Despite the high construction costs for dam, hydroelectric power is popular because of the flexibility to handle both seasonal and peak loads. At peak times, water releases from the reservoir behind the dam generates hydroelectricity. During down times, the excess energy can be stored by pumping the water back into the reservoir.

Problems exist with the impact on wildlife, the displacement of people from planned areas, and carbon dioxide and methane gas emissions.

Once again, global growth in developing countries is very likely. China’s Three Gorges Dam project is schedule to reach the final stages of construction in 2009.

Wind Energy

The wind-power industry is far more developed that other types of renewable energy. New technologies such as fiber blades can generate greater amounts of electricity than in the past

This industry had grown rapidly in Europe where there are more political incentives for renewal energy. New technologies have been developed from improved turbine technologies to increase the efficiency of energy generation, and also to reduce the noise and the impact on the bird population.

One of the advantages of wind energy is that it’s a clean, renewable source, with no supply costs. Wind farms can be located in remote areas, and the land can be used for agriculture, and its cost competitive with wind farms cost lower the construction of conventional power plant.

Concerns include the intermittent nature of wind, and the visual impact of the wind towers.

Solar

Solar power is still a long way from being mainstream because the cost per kilowatt hour is significantly more expensive than fossil fuel.

Solar power makes use of a renewable energy source, and is emission-free. Solar energy is also scalable and can be used for domestic heating, or on a larger scale for commercial electricity generation.

The disadvantages include the costs, the intermittent nature of the supply, and the amount of land required for large-scale electricity production. Increases in this industry is dependent on technological breakthroughs that reduce the cost of the PV cells.

Hydrogen

Used by the space program, fuel cells use a catalyst to create a reaction between hydrogen from fuel and oxygen from the air to generate electricity. In the 1990s, new technology breakthroughs enabled General Motors and Daimler Chrysler to design fuel-cell powered vehicles.

Germany’s largest electric power company, RWE believes that by 2015 about 10 percent of electricity in Germany will be generated by fuel cells.

Fuel cells are ideally suited for mass production, and that cost can be reduced considerably by increased production.

Hydrogen powered vehicles face competition from biomass energy segment.

Biomass

Plants, trees, grass, agricultural crops and animal manure can be converted into heat and electricity using similar technologies used to convert fossil fuels.

The cost of biomass is usually low, and sometimes combined with coal. Cofiring is the most economical form of electricity generation.

Use of biomass is increasing in the US and abroad. Biomass can be combined with gasoline or diesel to make them cleaner.

The disadvantage of this industry is the cost of the land to grow the crops to produce the biomass.

Source: Wells Fargo Special Report: “Identifying the Opportunities in Alternative Energy” (pdf)

John McCain has been a leader on the issue of global warming, and believes it is our duty to be proper stewards of America’s resources. His solution for energy security include wind and solar power, high fuel economy standards, electric transportation and hybrids, biofuels, and also supports nuclear power because of its low greenhouse gas emissions. He opposes drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.

Hillary Clinton has a bold comprehensive plan to address America’s energy and environmental challenges. She plans to help transform America’s economy from a carbon-based one to an energy-efficient one through a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund and doubling of federal investment in basic energy research. She also plans to reduce electricity consumption by phasing out incandescent light bulbs.

Barack Obama plans to use a cap-and-trade system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a $150 billion investment in climate-friendly technology, and higher standards to improve energy efficiency and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Seattle Biodiesel

Miasole

Hydrogenics

Panda Development

STM Power

Ion America

Vestas Wind Systems

PowerLight

SunPower Corporation

Comverge, Inc.

Biogold Fuel’s CEO Commends Senator Nancy Pelosi and US Congress on Legislative Efforts to Push Tax Credits for Renewable Energy Projects

    LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Biogold Fuels(TM)
Corporation, (OTC Bulletin Board: CBVA), Chief Executive Officer Steve
Racoosin released the following statement regarding the recent efforts of
California Senator Nancy Pelosi to push Congressional legislation to extend
renewable energy tax incentives and further the United States movement
towards alternative energy sources, including HR 3221, the New Direction
for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act.

    "Biogold Fuels commends Senator Pelosi for advancing HR 3221 and
similar efforts to push Congress to recognize the need for alternative
energy sources. HR 3221 provides long-term incentives spurring the
production of electricity from renewable sources, including wind, solar,
biomass, geothermal, river currents, ocean tides, landfill gas, and trash
combustion resources.

    Biogold's focus on taking municipal solid waste and converting this
waste to cellulosic bio-diesel and energy are the types of waste to energy
technologies that will directly benefit from Senator Pelosi's efforts. Our
processing plants will be one stop shops for all forms of waste to be
processed with resulting renewable energy byproducts produced such as
bio-diesel from this household garbage. Not only will our processing plants
benefit from the tax benefits of the Senator's legislation, but the
increased national focus on renewable energies and reduction in landfill
capacity will be beneficial for the environment as well."

    About Biogold Fuels(TM) Corporation

    Biogold Fuels(TM) Corporation is seeking to develop, acquire, license
and commercialize patented and proprietary technologies that its management
believes will allow a significant amount of municipal solid waste to be
recycled into synthetic diesel fuel and other renewable fuels to address
the $93 Billion diesel fuel market in the United States. A major component
of MSW is paper-based material, hydrocarbon-based material, and other
high-energy value feedstocks.

    The contents of this press release are presented as a general overview
of Biogold Fuels. This release is intended only to contain general
information regarding Biogold Fuels and its business and does not purport
to provide complete disclosure or analysis of all matters that may be
relevant to a decision to invest in Biogold Fuels. In addition, certain
matters discussed in this release may constitute 'forward-looking
statements.' Actual results and the timing of certain events may differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements due to a
variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Biogold Fuels'
ability to control or predict, including, but not limited to, risks and
uncertainties outlined in Biogold Fuels' periodic reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

    There can be no assurance that Biogold Fuels will in fact be successful
in raising subsequent financing in order to build synthetic diesel
production facilities to implement its business strategy. Other risk
factors may include, but are not limited to, Biogold Fuels' ability to
successfully implement its business strategy, including its ability to
develop and construct its planned facilities, to produce and sell product
at commercial levels and adequate prices and the acceptance of its product
by potential customers and by the market in general, the ability of Biogold
Fuels to achieve profitability even if it is able to sell its product at
commercial levels, Biogold Fuels' ability to develop synthetic diesel fuel
from MSW, fluctuations in quarterly results, increased competition, and
Biogold Fuels' ability to protect the proprietary technology it uses.
Further, Biogold Fuels operates in an industry sector where securities
values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other
factors beyond Biogold Fuels' control, such as announcements by competitors
and service providers.

    The statements made herein are made as of the date of this release, and
Biogold Fuels undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements contained in this press release, and we undertake no obligation
to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Chris Barsness
    Biogold Fuels(TM) Corporation
    1800 Century Park East, Suite 600
    Los Angeles, CA 90067
    310-556-0025
    cbarsness@biogoldfuels.com

By 2030, the number of renewable energy or energy efficiency jobs will range somewhere between 16.2 million and 40.1 million.

Besides environmental engineers, some of the new jobs needed will be environmental reporters, environmental lawyers, emissions brokers, sustainability coordinators, and green architects.

Sources: Forbes Magazine and www.asses.org.

Used with permission of the American Solar Energy Society,

www.ases.org, copyright © 2007 American Solar Energy Society (ASES).

All rights reserved.

“Switching to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power makes both environmental and business sense,” said Pat Tiernan, vice president, Social and Environmental Responsibility, HP. “These advances are just part of HP’s comprehensive energy-efficiency program, which we believe is the most aggressive in the technology industry.”

Under an agreement with Sun Power Corporation, HP will buy reduced, lock-in rate solar power from a 1 Megawatt solar electric power system, saving the company $750,000 in energy costs over 15 years. The company will also earn renewable energy credits.

HP which is headquartered in San Diego is taking advantage of California Public Utilities Commission’s California’s Solar Initiative.

Google, also in California, plans on having the largest corporate solar project, a 1.6 megawatt installation.

For a look at Google’s solar project,

http://www.google.com/corporate/solarpanels/home