BioDiesel.org
Today, General Motors told biodiesel supporters at the National Biodiesel Conference that the company's 2011 model year Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel engines will be fully compatible with a 20 percent blend of biodiesel (B20). The company made the announcement, which covers all 2011 GM heavy-duty products including Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana, after extensive evaluation of B20.
GM joins Ford and Chrysler in formalizing its support for B20, providing a big boost to the biodiesel industry. These three companies produce more than 80 percent of the diesel light vehicles sold in North America.
"B20 capability in our new heavy-duty trucks is the latest addition to a growing number of alternate fuel options offered by General Motors," said Mike Robinson, vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. "We are seeking different paths to fuel solutions in order to maximize efficiency, reduce emissions and minimize the dependence on petroleum.
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Wall Street Journal
By Keith Johnson
Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a clean-energy consulting firm based in London, figures world-wide investment in clean energy could reach $200 billion this year, easily topping the record of $155 billion set in 2008.
The U.S. is at the forefront. The Department of Energy still has almost $30 billion in stimulus grants left to spend this year.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration's budget calls for a jump in federal loan guarantees for new energy projects. And Congress is considering, as a means to create jobs, legislation to establish renewable-energy targets decades into the future.
That has renewable firms champing at the bit. Energias de Portugal SA's Horizon plans to invest $4 billion in the U.S. through 2012. GE, which dominates the U.S. market for wind turbines, expects revenue in its clean-energy division to rise to $25 billion this year, up from $17 billion in 2008.
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Los Angeles Times
Marla Dickerson
The renewable-energy sector got a lift from the economic stimulus package signed Tuesday, with a fix to a crucial tax issue that had stalled projects nationwide.
Solar and wind companies said it could take several months for the legislation to get portions of the industry moving again. But some players are already gearing up for growth.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will invest nearly $79 billion in renewable energy, energy efficiency and green transportation, according to a final tally of the legislation by the nonprofit Environment California.
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RenewableEnergyWorld.com
President Barack Obama signed more than US $70 billion in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures into law on Tuesday as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill passed both houses of Congress at the end of last week by votes of 246-183 and 60-38 respectively.
Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said the bill, which the Administration says will create or save more than 4 million total jobs, will create a host of jobs in the solar industry.
“The solar industry is poised to lead the new, clean energy economy and the strong solar provisions in this legislation will help give hundreds of thousands of out-of-work Americans a job that they can be proud of. The solar energy provisions in this bill will help create 60,000 jobs in the solar industry in 2009 alone and a total of 110,000 over the next two years,” Resch said.
Both Applied Materials and Oerlikon Solar reacted positively to the new 30% tax credit for facilities and equipment engaged in the manufacture of renewable energy-generating property, such as solar panels, containted in the bill.
“This bill does a lot for solar, and will create thousands of ‘green’ jobs just when we need them most,” said Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials. “The manufacturing credit is a huge step forward to put Americans to work making solar panels so we all can benefit from clean, affordable renewable energy. I want to particularly thank Senator Jeff Bingaman for his leadership on this issue, as well Rep. Mike Thompson, Chairmen Baucus and Rangel, and the House and Senate leaders.”
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