“It just turns out to be a very abundant product that is easy to manipulate chemically, so you can turn it into many different products,” said Dr. Benny Freeman, past chairman of the American Chemical Society’s polymeric materials division. Not only does the American farm and grocery network rely on cheap fuel for low-cost shipping between the coasts, but food itself is grown using petroleum-based fertilizer.

From fossil fuel–derived fertilizers and pesticides, to diesel-powered tractors and water pumps, to an elaborate long-distance transport system, oil is something that—in a very real sense—we eat. Because modern agriculture has become so dependent upon oil, petroleum scarcity leads to significantly higher food prices and outright shortages, and was at least partially responsible for the global rice shortage of 2008, when oil reached record high prices.

“The poor are exquisitely sensitive to food prices,” notes Peter Winch, MD, MPH, International Health professor. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that more than 900 million people worldwide are undernourished, a number more than 100 million greater than before the oil-fueled food price increases that began around 1997. Increased food insecurity – and even outright famine – would likely result from any additional large increases in the price of oil. Some economists claim spiking oil prices caused four of the last five global economic recessions. And, says Parker, co-director of the Program on Global Sustainability and Health, economic decline is bad for public health: “Health outcomes decline when the economy declines. People make ends meet at the expense of their health, and societies reduce health benefits when budgets are tight.”

Despite the high costs of oil, hydrocarbons remain the cheapest source of energy on the planet. For decades, the United States has funded refineries, pipelines, and ports to help the economies of oil-producing regions. Figures released in BP’s “Statistical Review of World Energy” show, global oil production has struggled to keep up with increased demand recently, particularly from Asia.

The world needs a replacement; one that is sustainable, secure, and can compete on the open market. And they need it fast. In China alone consumption has risen by over 4m barrels per day in the past decade, accounting for two-fifths of the global rise. In 2010 consumption exceeded production by over 5m barrels per day for the first year ever, as world oil stocks were run down. Oil was cheap only so long as it was plentiful and easy to extract, but in tandem with growing demand from emerging economies like those in China and India, more and more of remaining “non-conventional oils” are locked in tar sands or buried deep under the ocean’s bed. This presents challenges to everything from transportation to food production—and ultimately, to global public health.

Extracting and processing the oil from beneath the sea, or tar sands, or shale deposits or the vast supplies of heavy oil known to exist in Saudi Arabia and Canada involve using ever more energy-intensive technology to produce each additional barrel of oil. “Non-conventional oil sources are dirty,” says Cindy Parker simply, “and if we make the choice to exploit them heavily we can actually accelerate carbon emissions and global warming, along with the many negative health consequences that will bring.”

“There are no solutions, only responses,” says EHS professor Brian Schwartz, co-director of the Program on Global Sustainability and Health and a nationally recognized expert on the health consequences of peak oil. “You can deny climate change forever, but you can’t deny the rising price of oil. The limitations to ever-increasing production are a geologic reality.” Now, it is time to build bio-refineries, and to create programs that help farmers collect and transport biomass.

There is one bright hope on the horizon. It turbocharges an enzyme but the only one who knows how it works is Novozymes, the Danish firm that makes it. Needless to say, there is a huge potential market for Novozymes. Enzymes are in everything from detergents to beer to gasohol. And they dominate the industrial market, growing at the expense of the chemical industry. They are making sure we can still have all the stuff we enjoy for our daily life but based on sugar instead of oil. With over 700 products used in 130 countries, Novozymes’ bio-innovations increase industrial performance and safeguard the world’s resources by offering superior and sustainable solutions for tomorrow’s ever-changing marketplace.

The U.S. needs to invest in industrial biotechnology. Biotechnology holds the promise, and increasingly the certainty, of reshaping our world for the better. In the future, our cars, trucks, airplanes, and ships will run on fuels cheaper and environmentally friendly fuels — derived from cellulose. Over the long term, bio-based fuels, chemicals, and plastics will become hugely profitable on their own. But today, the industry faces high start-up costs, and competes with an oil industry that receives billions of dollars year after year in government funds.

Novozymes, Inc. has joined Lignol’s consortium for its Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) funded project. Novozymes will contribute technical and development support related to advanced hydrolysis and fermentation of woody biomass into cellulosic ethanol. “In the last two years we have made significant progress with Novozymes towards our shared goal of producing cellulosic ethanol that is cost competitive with gasoline,” said Lignol CEO Ross MacLachlan.

To that Novozymes’ MD for Bioenergy R&D, Claus Fuglsang confirms, “The combination of Novozymes’ latest enzymes with Lignol’s extremely clean and highly reactive substrates is anticipated to provide a compelling cost structure for cellulose-to-ethanol conversion at commercial scale”.

Bloomberg’s green power resources include biomass and wind power.

Bloomberg Recognized for Industry-Leading Use of Green Electricity

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bloomberg L.P., a leader in sustainability efforts among global corporations, has been named by the Environmental Protection Agency as number 30 on its list of the 50 green power partners using the most renewable electricity and the only media company in the top 50. Green Power helps to prevent emissions from conventional power sources that are linked to harmful air pollution and climate change.

“Purchasing green power helps our organization become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk,” said Peter T. Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg L.P.

The EPA recognized Bloomberg for its annual green power usage of more than 140,000,000 kWh, 59% of its total electricity use. Bloomberg’s green power resources include biomass and wind power.

The Bloomberg sustainability program is on track to reduce the company’s carbon footprint 50% by 2013 (from its 2007 baseline) through implementing energy efficiency measures, increasing renewable resource use and activating comprehensive waste reduction strategies. Bloomberg has implemented composting programs in major U.S. offices and has LEED certified offices in the U.S., Japan, and U.K.

Bloomberg’s commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates extends beyond its own doors – it also engages vendors and customers in setting standards, promoting clean technologies and reducing natural resource use. Bloomberg employees use an internal site to share information and tips about sustainable practices both at the office and at home. BGREEN, as Bloomberg calls the program, has been widely embraced, and is now an ingrained part of the company’s culture.

The EPA report is available at: yosemite.epa.gov

Photo Credit

A Boeing 747 cargo plane was demolished for recycling this month by the Aircraft Recycling Corporation at the former George AFB in Victorville. About 80-85 percent of an airplane is recyclable. Photo courtesy of ARC – Doug Scroggins

It may be counterintuitive to think of EPA Superfund sites as hotbeds of green technology. But as the Air Force Real Property Agency — responsible for buying, selling and managing Air Force property worldwide — continues cleaning, restoring and transferring property to the community, the former bases are attracting more clean, green businesses by the day.

McClellan and Mather in Sacramento, George in Victorville, Castle in Atwater, March in Riverside, and Norton in San Bernardino – all on the EPA’s National Priorities List due to pollution from former days – house a growing number of businesses promoting environmentally-friendly practices and products.

McClellan Park in Sacramento may be the green giant of the group, with numerous tenants on the leading edge of green technology. One is the 91,000-square-foot factory of ZETA Communities, manufacturers of “net-zero energy” homes, which produce as much energy as they use over the course of a year. Constructed in modules, the buildings use photovoltaic power (also known as solar power), Energy Star appliances, ultra-efficient insulation and high-performance windows, among other features. ZETA Communities, headquartered in San Francisco, won Green Builder magazine’s 2009 Home of the Year Award for a 1,540-square-foot modular home now permanently located near a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station in Oakland. The McClellan Park factory can produce five modules (or two townhouses) per day. ZETA also manufactures energy-efficient mixed-use facilities at McClellan and is planning to produce green housing and other buildings for various military bases around the U.S., according to Shilpa Sankaran, VP of Business Operations and co-founder.

This energy efficient modular home, by ZETA Communities, won Green Builder magazine’s home of the year award. ZETA’s factory at the former McClellan AFB can produce two townhouses per day. (Photo by Nandita Geerdink)

Fiberwood LLC, also at McClellan, operates a successful business recycling 50-100 tons of newspaper per day into a product called hydroseed mulch. Mixed with whatever seeds a contractor wants to add, as well as water and fertilizer, it’s sprayed wet on highway embankments, large building sites, and sites damaged by fire to control erosion and dust. The mulch keeps the seeds wet to promote rapid germination. Fiberwood recently expanded to produce spray-on building insulation, called Kozi, also made of recycled materials, in this case denim and cardboard. “We’re using totally recycled material,” Stuart Douglass, president of Fiberwood said. “It’s absolutely natural and healthy.” The company is currently testing recycled paper animal bedding.

Hydromulch, manufactured by Fiberwood LLC at the former McClellan AFB, is sprayed after a fire in Santa Barbara, CA for reseeding and erosion control. The mulch, made of recycled newspaper, can be applied as soon as a fire is out. (Courtesy photo)

McClellan is also the headquarters of Renewable Energy Institute International, which recently received a $20 million stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a biorefinery in Port of Toledo, Ohio. There, crop waste such as rice hulls will be converted into diesel fuel.

Ternion Bio-Industries, based in San Jose, established a research and development facility at McClellan, where the company recently built what’s believed to be the first commercial-scale bioreactor designed to use algae to reduce carbon emissions. The three-story tall reactor can grow the amount of algae produced in almost three acres of open ponds in less than 300 square feet. Future customers such as power plants and refineries will feed their CO2 emissions to the algae, which – like all plants – needs CO2 to live.

SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy provider, has its Renewable Operations Center in a former airplane hangar at McClellan. SunEdison has about 80 megawatts of generation capacity under management across some 300 solar power plants. At the center, SunEdison’s photovoltaic power systems are monitored, remote diagnostics are analyzed, and service fleets dispatched as necessary.

Beutler Heating and Air Conditioning, based at McClellan, is selling and installing Yes! Solar products made by Solar Power Inc. for residential and commercial use. Beutler advertises turnkey solutions for clients interested in switching to solar power. And, at press time, McClellan Business Park had signed a lease with N Solar Inc. of South Korea, which plans to manufacture solar modules beginning in September, eventually employing 150 people at the site. N Solar’s headquarters will also be housed at the 128,000-square-foot McClellan site. The company, based in Seoul, is a subsidiary of Millinet, an information technology company.

Across town at Mather Commerce Center, American River College is holding classes in a former Air Force diesel equipment repair shop to teach students about clean-diesel technology. In the wake of tougher state and federal emission control standards, the certificate program trains students to repair and retrofit trucks and buses. Craig Weckman, chair of the clean-diesel technology department at ARC, said the class is so popular it has students wait-listed for admission.

Todd Stretars (rear) and Martin Peck make adjustments to a diesel engine. Both students are enrolled in American River College's clean diesel technology program at the former Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif. (Photo by Wojciech Betlej)

Also at Mather, California Electronic Asset Recovery, Inc. (CEAR) recycles electronics such as televisions, computers, VCRs, DVDs, phones, copiers, printers, microwaves, and small appliances. Some electronic devices are refurbished and sold. Those categorized as “end of life” are disassembled at CEAR, where hazardous materials such batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and mercury switches are removed and sent to other recyclers. The business prevents lead, mercury and other toxics used in electronics from entering landfills.

Employees at California Electronic Asset Recovery dismantle monitors at the former Mather AFB. CEAR recycled over 15 million pounds of e-waste last year.

Piles of used computer parts are waiting to be recycled at California Electronic Asset Recovery at the former Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento

In Victorville, at the former George Air Force Base now known as Southern California Logistics Airport, another kind of recycling is taking place on a massive scale. The Aircraft Recycling Corporation is involved in the demolition, dismantling, salvage, and scrapping of outdated or accident-damaged aircraft. “About 80-85% of an aircraft is recyclable material,” said Doug Scroggins, managing director of ARC. Aircraft aluminum cannot be used to make aluminum cans or another aircraft, he said. But it can be used for auto parts, furniture, and other items. Airplane seat cushions are shredded and used as packing material. Carpeting and passenger windows are also recycled. From time to time, a cockpit is donated to a museum.

“It doesn’t matter where the aircraft is,” Scroggins explained, noting that the company will travel wherever there’s an unwanted plane to dismantle it, pick up the material and transport it to a processor. He and his associates have gone as far as Guam to recycle aircraft. He said planes arriving in Victorville for recycling have already been stripped of hazardous materials. A two-minute video produced by Honeywell shows ARC at work demolishing an aircraft:

At the former Norton Air Force Base, now the San Bernardino International Airport, tenant Kelly Space & Technology has invented a WiseLight technology that remotely controls outdoor lighting, saving both energy and money. The City of Los Alamitos is using WiseLight on its tennis courts, softball and soccer fields, according to Jason Lee, Kelly’s Director of Operations.

In some cases, it’s the buildings and corporate business practices that are attracting the attention of green advocates. Also at San Bernardino International Airport, Kohl’s Department Stores, headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, built an enormous solar array on the rooftop of its San Bernardino Distribution Center. There, 6,208 solar panels generate 1 megawatt of power, enough to power 400 homes for a year. Kohl’s also uses solar energy for partial power at nearly half of its California retail outlets. Since October, 2008, all trucks transporting Kohl’s goods from the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are fuelled by Liquefied Natural Gas, the cleanest burning fossil fuel.

Tesco, an enormous British corporation which operates about 200 Fresh and Easy neighborhood grocery stores in the Western U.S., built its main distribution center at the former March Air Force Base in Riverside. In 2007, Tesco installed a $13 million solar roof on its five-building, 820,400-square-foot facility. The chain also uses hybrid refrigeration trucks which can be plugged in while they’re at the center, minimizing CO2 emissions and noise. Each Fresh and Easy store returns all display and shipping materials to the distribution center, where they are recycled or re-used.

And Mark Hendrickson, director of the Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation and Economic Development, is trying to establish a Merced County Green/Solar Technology Innovation Hub (iHub) at the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Commerce Center. The idea is to create jobs capitalizing on new green technologies being researched and developed through UC Merced. UC Merced’s non-imaging optics laboratory at Castle engages in design, development and testing of solar concentrators for photovoltaic and solar thermal system applications. A two-acre solar test center is proposed for adjacent land at Castle.

The iHUB proposal involves a partnership between the cities of Atwater, Los Banos, and Livingston, Merced Community College, UC Merced, Merced County, the Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, the UC Merced Small Business Development Center, and others “to create a culture for inventions and patents that produce marketable and sustainable applications targeting the field of energy and solar research, and to prepare a workforce for the renewable energy industry,” according to a recent proposal. The area has chronic high unemployment and a poverty rate of 19.3 percent, compared to the statewide average of 12.4 percent in 2008, according to Census Bureau estimates.

In conclusion, as closed Air Force bases around California continue transforming into vibrant corporate complexes, their ability to attract tenants exploring green technologies is unlocking tremendous potential for jobs and growth. At least one of them, McClellan Business Park – coincidentally the green giant of the group – has more people working there now than it did when McClellan Air Force Base closed in 2001.

Large Solar Panel Array - flickr photo by laurenatclemson

The future will be brighter for many businesses in Ontario as more than 500 new green energy projects, most of them solar power installations, were recently approved. Of those projects, two are solar projects in Thunder Bay-Superior North, one in Dorion Township and the other Terrace Bay.

These 510 projects are the first larger power generators to obtain contracts through Ontario’s landmark Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program, the most comprehensive of its kind in North America. FIT encourages the development of renewable energy projects from a diverse range of producers, including homeowners, schools, farmers, large retailers and small businesses, by offering long-term, stable prices for the electricity generated.

“Everybody is participating, from everywhere in Ontario, from farmers, schools and hospitals to large scale retail and commercial operations,” said Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “These projects will create a new source of income while providing new clean and green electricity in Ontario particularly on hot, sunny summer days when demand soars. With our new domestic content rules, these projects will also help create new ‘green collar’ jobs here in Ontario, as well as major economic investments in equipment and services here at home.”

Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North – “These projects bring the benefits of Ontario’s Feed-in Tariff program to northwestern Ontario. Our province’s electricity future will be spurred by initiatives like these that capture the rays of the sun, the force of wind, water and of renewable gases to light our homes and power our businesses. Everyone in the northwestern Ontario should take pride in these developments and look forward to those still to come.”

The 510 projects are to be built in 120 communities across Ontario by farmers, municipalities, local distribution companies, commercial businesses, industrial customers, public institutions such as schools and hospitals, a winery and even a church. The projects range from 10 kilowatts to 500 kilowatts and have a total generating capacity of 112 megawatts, enough energy to power more than 13,000 homes. About 95 percent of the projects are for solar generation. The remaining projects are biogas (20), water (4), onshore wind (3) and biomass (1). A detailed list of the projects is available on the Ontario Power Authority’s website at www.fit.powerauthority.on.ca

The successful applicants from northwestern Ontario were, Cyntech Corporation of Dorion Township, for a 250 kilowatts solar project and TNT Properties of Terrace Bay, for a 40 kilowatts solar project.

The Feed-in Tariff program’s domestic content requirements ensure that a key portion of the technology used for renewable energy generation comes from Ontario. Developers must meet a certain percentage of made-in Ontario goods and labour at the time the project reach commercial operation. For solar photovoltaic projects larger than 10 kilowatts, the requirement is 50 per cent today, which will increase to 60 per cent on Jan. 1, 2011.

“The Ontario Power Authority is very excited about this announcement. Over the last year, we consulted, developed and launched the program. These first FIT contracts really bring the program to life and highlight its success,” said Colin Andersen, CEO of the Ontario Power Authority.

The Ontario Power Authority began accepting FIT applications on Oct. 1, 2009 and received 956 eligible applications for the first round of FIT contracts, including the 510 projects announced recently. Due to their size (up to 500 kilowatts), these projects can be connected to Ontario’s electricity grid without detailed impact assessments necessary for larger projects.

The FIT program, one of the cornerstones of Ontario’s Green Energy Act, provides stable, guaranteed pricing to renewable energy producers. It supports the province’s commitment to eliminate dirty coal-fired generation by the end of 2014 — the single largest climate change initiative in Canada. FIT and other initiatives under the Green Energy Act will support the creation of 50,000 “green collar” jobs.

The OPA is responsible for ensuring a reliable, sustainable supply of electricity for Ontario. Its four key areas of focus are: planning the power system for the long term, leading and co-ordinating conservation initiatives across the province, ensuring development of needed generation resources, and supporting the continued evolution of the electricity sector.

MILWAUKEE – Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tenn. has signed an $89 million energy savings performance contract with Johnson Controls, Inc. to apply advanced energy conservation solutions, including a biomass gasification system, to the campus.

This project is the first signed initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) Initiative, which is an action plan to dramatically transform the DOE’s energy, environmental and transportation management. TEAM aims to meet or exceed the aggressive energy efficiency goals set forth by the federal government laid out by President Bush, fundamentally transforming the way the DOE manages energy use in its facilities.

“By working with Johnson Controls, Oak Ridge National Laboratory will achieve its long-term energy reduction goals far earlier than expected while saving millions of taxpayer dollars,” said ORNL Director Thom Mason. “We are dedicated to alternative energy sources. Being able to tap renewable energy for our facility is a great way to see our purpose realized.”

As the project’s cornerstone, a wood gasification biomass system will take the place of the existing natural gas steam plant and steam distribution system. By using woody biomass from the region as the main energy source for the facilities, ORNL will reduce fossil fuel consumption by 80 percent. Furthermore, the biomass plant significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to planting 32 million trees.

Overall, ORNL will benefit from an innovative suite of energy efficiency solutions including the installation of a “super boiler,” advanced electric metering, energy efficient lighting, water conservation measures, compressed air cooling, comprehensive HVAC improvements and a building management system to ensure the mission critical standards are maintained.

By eliminating more than 1.5 miles of steam piping and using enhanced technology, the “super boiler” will be up to 94 percent efficient. This is a significant improvement when compared to traditional boilers which operate 50 to 60 percent efficiently. The water conservation measures will also reduce water usage by more than 115 million gallons annually, resulting in a long-term reduction of 16 percent. As a whole, the entire project will reduce energy intensity in the labs and office buildings by 30 percent, meeting ORNL’s long-term energy reduction goal and significantly contributing to the goals of the Team initiative.

“One year ago, Secretary Bodman challenged the entire U.S. Department of Energy to meet or exceed the President’s goals for increasing energy efficiency, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing the use of renewable energy in the Federal Government,” DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary David Rodgers said. “I’m proud to announce DOE is delivering with alternative financing methods that reduce the need for federal spending.”

It is estimated that the biomass gasification system, “super boiler” and energy efficiency improvements will generate $8 million annually in energy and operational savings. As a result, ORNL expects to save more than $144 million over the 18 year term of the contract.

“This project is a great example of what can happen when strong leadership combines with innovative solutions,” said Iain Campbell, vice president/general manager, North America Service and Global Workplace Solutions, Johnson Controls. “Together, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Johnson Controls have developed a long-term plan for success.”

Hundreds of projects across North America, including the ORNL project, are financed through a performance guarantee with Johnson Controls. Performance guarantees are a feature of performance-based contracting, which allows a customer to make system improvements that are self-funding via cost savings. Under such a contract, the cost of facility and infrastructure upgrades is paid for over a specified number of years by the energy, water and operational cost savings the project generates. Johnson Controls guarantees all or a portion of these savings under the terms of the contract, which range in length from three to 25 years, depending on the customer’s preference.

No definitive date has been set for breaking ground on the project; however, completion is scheduled for sometime 2011.

CleanTech is excited to begin this testing and about the potential impact of our technologies for the reduction of garbage being disposed of in landfills worldwide. It is estimated that Americans produce 4.4 pounds of waste per day, or 229 million tons of trash annually nationwide. This waste represents a virtually endless source of cellulosic feedstock for the production of biofuels that potentially will be available to CleanTech at almost no cost, and in some locations at a profit.

The waste disposal crisis in this Country, coupled with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 which dictates that production of ethanol in the United States reach 36 billion gallons per year by the year 2022, of which 20 billion gallons per year is required to be produced from feedstock sources other than corn, positions CleanTech Biofuels to be a leader in the cellulosic ethanol industry.

CleanTech Biofuels, Inc.

CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. is a development stage company that is developing cutting edge waste to clean fuel technologies. We have licensed and are developing our core patented technologies which, when combined, can be used to convert the cellulosic material in municipal solid waste, green waste, and other cellulosic waste materials into fermentable sugars for the production of ethanol.

Our unique technology package positions us to be the industry leader in using municipal solid waste (MSW) as the primary feedstock for energy production. Municipal biorefineries developed using our technology have the potential to:

* Reduce the costs of transporting waste long distances for disposal.
* Dramatically reduce pollution released into the environment by the disposal of municipal solid waste.
* Reduce the amount of material going into landfills by as much as eighty five percent.
* Increase the amount of recyclable materials that can be recovered from municipal solid waste.
* Generate biofuels and other usable energy products at competitive prices.

We believe that our combined technologies will enable the production of ethanol from cellulosic waste streams at a lower cost than from grain or other agricultural feedstocks. Our combined technologies will avoid the immense consumption of water and farmland that plague grain ethanol producers, with the added benefit of recycling garbage and reducing the amount of waste disposed of in landfills by as much as ninety percent.

By focusing on cellulosic biomass produced from curbside garbage where an existing collection and disposal infrastructure has existed for many years, our business model presents substantial economic advantages relative to other models dependant on agriculturally derived feedstocks or wood waste for the production of cellulosic ethanol.

For more information, please email CleanTech Biofuels at info@cleantechbiofuels.net

www.cleantechbiofuels.net

Note: Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results or timelines to differ materially are risks associated with research and clinical development, regulatory approvals, supply capabilities and reliance on third-party manufacturers, product commercialization, competition, litigation, and the other risk factors listed from time to time in reports filed by CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent judgments of the management of CleanTech Biofuels, Inc. as of the date of this release.

“Water covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. Using environmentally responsible technologies, we have a tremendous opportunity to harness energy produced from ocean waves, tides or ocean currents, free flowing water in rivers, and other water resources to advance the Administration’s comprehensive energy strategy and provide clean and reliable power in the United States,” Andy Karsner, DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said.  “The U.S. Department of Energy is aggressively pursuing the development of next-generation technologies that are capable of increasing the use of clean, renewable energy to further our energy security and help meet the President’s goal to stop greenhouse gas emissions growth by 2025.”

Through public-private partnerships, the FOA seeks to advance water research and development projects in support of water power technology.  DOE plans to award industry-led partnerships to research, develop and/or field test advanced water power technologies to further the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative, which dramatically increases clean-energy research funding to develop cleaner, lower cost, and more reliable alternative energy sources. Successful applicants will be required to develop collaborative project teams involving at least one other industry, university or national laboratory partner and a minimum 50 percent non-federal cost share is required.

The FOA provides industry-led partnerships with the opportunity to conduct research on engineering standards and codes, utility grid interconnection issues associated with water technologies, technical sitting requirements, and wave and tidal resources assessments.

DOE also plans to award grants to university-led groups to conduct advanced research on marine renewable energy.  These groups will serve as an information clearinghouse for the marine renewable energy industry, collecting and disseminating information on best practices research.  Research will include technology testing, experimental and numerical modeling, wave forecasting, environmental impacts, and corrosion-resistant materials research.

Completed applications for this FOA are due June 16, 2008.  All grant applications will be merit reviewed and competitively awarded.  DOE anticipates selecting up to 17 awards, and projects are expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2008.  The continuation of projects beyond FY 2008 is subject to Congressional appropriations.

In working to develop technologies that harness the power of our water resources, DOE is furthering the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative, which aims to dramatically increase clean energy research investments to develop cleaner, lower cost, and more reliable alternative energy sources.  The Energy Independence and Security Act signed by President Bush in December 2007, authorizes DOE to establish a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to expand marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy production.

“Our goal is to complement current environmental efforts and initiatives being pursued by USGBC’s LEED, EPA’s Green Partnership and the Energy Star program,” states John Hemeon-McMahon, GGEC – New England Chapter Chief Executive Officer. “We intend to help public utilities, oil and gas companies raise awareness of their commitment to Sustainability and Green Energy.”

In addition to providing GGEC Carbon Credit Aggregation and Trading, Green and Sustainability Solution Certification and Incubation services, the GGEC – New England Chapter will be very active in supporting and promoting GGEC Greening & Cleaning America℠ Initiative in all New England States.

“We will actively promote Globally Green Hospitality Consortium (GGHC) services for the hospitality industry in New England,” said Robert Cardone, GGEC – New England Chapter Chief Financial Officer. “GGHC New England will provide to the hospitality industry in New England the resources needed to implement sustainable standards and practices offered by various green associations, State, and federal programs such as EPA Green Partnership, Energy Star and US Green Building Council’s LEED certification.”

“GGEC is committed to establishing chapter presences everywhere in the United States and the rest of the world.” said Mr. Mondel. “We will be announcing the opening of several chapters over the next few weeks. We are very pleased with the support afforded to GGEC by our members, partners as well as several Federal, State and Local agencies.”

About Global Green Energy Consortium (GGEC):

GGEC is a non-profit organization registered in the State of Delaware. The Consortium’s mission is to provide businesses and communities with the education and tools to effectively and efficiently implement sustainable and green energy initiatives. A primary objective is to align the offerings of the energy market segment with the needs of the business world to effectively reduce our energy usage and promote renewable energy technologies.

GGEC’s unique portfolio of services demonstrates the commitment to serve as a comprehensive source of energy conservation standards, certification and resources to facilitate implementation of sustainability initiatives across market segments.

GGEC recognizes the host of information and standards offered by numerous organizations and strives to consolidate, not duplicate current standards. A key message of the Consortium is that the implementation of energy and resource conservation initiatives can be profitable for all businesses.

For more information about the consortium and its objectives, please contact Rob Cardone, at 866-505-6869 or at rcardone@ggec.org.

FONTANA, Calif. – CenterStone Communities and Petersen-Dean Roofing Systems celebrated Earth Day with the official opening of Harmony at CenterStone Estates where, for the first time in San Bernardino County, solar power is included as a standard feature in homes designed for families as well as for singles and couples.

Each of the 56 single-family detached homes to be built at this new Fontana community will be topped by a 2.3-kW integrated solar roof tile system, designed and installed by PD Solar, a division of Petersen-Dean Roofing Systems. The rooftop solar system and other energy efficiency and green features built into the homes are expected to lower utility costs by 40 to 50 percent.

”By going solar and adopting a broad array of energy and green features, we are able to significantly reduce utility costs, conserve natural resources and protect our environment, all while improving the quality of life to be enjoyed by those who live in our homes,” said Hal Woods, the president of CenterStone Communities.

“Solar is a proven technology and with decades of experience, we know the benefits and savings are real,” said Jim Petersen, president of Petersen-Dean Roofing Systems. Based in Northern California, where the company has been installing integrated solar roof systems for the past 30 years, Petersen-Dean is particularly pleased to be bringing its expertise to Southern California and into the largest county in the state – San Bernardino County.

Unlike other new home communities where solar is offered as an extra-cost option, the PD Solar Roofing System is a standard, fully warranted feature in every home at Harmony at CenterStone Estates. Depending on usage, the 2.3 kW solar systems are estimated to provide 30 percent or more of a family of four’s power needs.

For more on this solar home community, visit: http://www.needaroof.com/pr15.php

About CenterStone Communities

Dedicated to innovation, superior design and the sustainability of the neighborhoods that it creates, CenterStone Communities has built more than 700 homes throughout Southern California and Nevada.

About Petersen-Dean Roofing Systems

Petersen-Dean, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiaries provide roofing, solar energy and waterproofing services to commercial, residential and public-sector clients in California, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. For more information, please go to www.needaroof.com.

LOS GATOS, Calif. – Akeena Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, today announced the Star Quality Concrete project. This installation will be the largest commercial solar power system in San Jose.

The 410 KW Akeena Solar power system will house 1,890 Akeena solar panels on the roof of Star Quality Concrete in downtown San Jose.

“At Akeena Solar, we are excited about the opportunity to help existing manufacturing businesses operate in a renewable and lower cost way,” said Jim Curran, Akeena Solar COO. “At the same time that we assist companies make the transition, we’re also proud to move San Jose closer to achieving Mayor Reed’s vision for a greener San Jose.”

Star Quality Concrete, a family-owned, independent concrete mixing plant has received global recognition for its innovative technology and its recent foray into sustainability. The company’s newest technology manufactures sand and rock for concrete aggregate by crushing demolition concrete.

“The desire to use clean power to support a facility like ours first drove us to look at installing a solar system,” said Jerry Blatt, owner of Star Quality Concrete. “Recycling old concrete relied heavily on fossil fuels, which also significantly drove up operating costs. Akeena Solar is building a renewable power system that will help us lower our operating costs and improve our efficiency in a way that is both economically and environmentally beneficial.”

“I am delighted that one of our long-time San Jose companies, Star Quality Concrete, is going green by installing the city’s largest commercial solar system,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “From residents to businesses, San Joseans are working hard to increase our use of clean energy and decrease our reliance on foreign fossil fuels.”

About Akeena Solar, Inc.

Founded in 2001, Akeena Solar’s philosophy is simple: We believe producing clean electricity directly from the sun is the right thing to do for our environment and economy. Akeena Solar has grown to become one of the largest national installers of residential and commercial solar power systems in the United States. The company’s new integrated solar panel system, Andalay, is the only solar panel system with integrated racking, wiring and grounding. Andalay panels offer unprecedented reliability, performance and aesthetics. For more information, visit Akeena Solar’s website at www.akeena.com.