At the Joseph Farms dairy in Atwater, CA, farmers aren't just transforming milk into cheese. They've also figured out how to turn manure into fuel - and a paycheck. By storing waste from the dairy's 5,000 cows in a covered 7-acre lagoon and removing methane from it using sophisticated equipment, the farm is generating power that keeps refrigerators, lights and pumps running at its cheese plant. The project keeps the heat-trapping greenhouse gas methane out of the atmosphere, thereby netting the farm another payback in the form of carbon credits traded on the 6-year-old Chicago Climate Exchange and the voluntary California Climate Action Registry, a nonprofit organization formed by the state.

By Jennifer A. Dlouhy - The San Francisco Chronicle , June, 22 2009

WePOWER LLC, manufacturers of vertical axis wind turbines and developers of clean energy solutions around the world, announced today the introduction of the first hybrid power system combining wind energy, solar power and batteries. The computer controlled hybrid power system will generate uninterrupted clean power using renewable sources and energy from the grid.

PRNewswire | Torrance, CA , May 21, 2009

Efforts to encourage companies to develop tidal energy schemes in the firth between the Scottish mainland and Orkney are being led in part by the Scottish Government. Opponents to wind turbines say they kill birds and bats that fly into the blades. Prof Bellamy told the BBC Scotland news website that for environmental reasons and during a recession wind power was too expensive and wrong. “I could never understand why years ago the rig yards and ship yards were not reopened and used for developing tidal power ”

BBC NEWS , May 21, 2009

The South Korean city of Ulsan lets water generated from processing food waste run off into the ocean, which can generate methane gas harmful to the environment. Now, with the help of a Swedish company, it is going to start converting that waste water into biogas, a type of clean fuel that can be used as power to heat buildings and even power vehicles. South Korea is looking for ways to increase the use of biogas and other clean energy alternatives amid a push by the government of President Lee Myung-bak to embark on a new development model that emphasizes so-called green growth.

By Kelly Olsen - Associated Press | Seoul, South Korea , May 21, 2009

Ethanol supporters sharply criticised what they perceive to be unfair treatment of biofuels in California’s controversial, new low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) adopted last week. After a long, contentious debate, the California Air Resources Board on Thursday adopted the first US LCFS, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels by 10% by 2020, starting on 1 January, 2011. When fully implemented, the regulation will reduce emissions by about 16m tonnes/year of carbon dioxide equivalent, according to the ARB.

BioEnergy-Business.com , April 29, 2009

Thousands of Massachusetts electric utility customers could be using cutting-edge technology next year that will let them monitor electricity use, increase efficiency, and make it easier to access renewable energy. Four utilities this week are expected to file proposals with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, outlining "smart grid" pilot programs, which are required under the Green Communities Act signed last year by Governor Deval Patrick. The proposals must be filed by tomorrow and be approved by the state.

By Erin Ailworth - The Boston Globe , March 31, 2009

The Montana House Saturday narrowly endorsed a bill allowing homeowners and businesses to finance solar-power systems or other energy projects through their property taxes. House Bill 361 lets cities or counties create "energy improvement districts" within their boundaries. Once the district is created, property owners can apply for loans from the district to install "off-grid" power systems, such as solar panels, or energy-conservation measures, such as insulation and double-paned windows. The loans would be paid off through a long-term assessment on the owner's property taxes.

By Mike Dennison - The Montana Standard | Butte, Montana , March 29, 2009

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week advocated increasing the ethanol content of the country's petroleum fuel from the current 10% maximum, adding to the momentum for an increase to avoid ethanol production outstripping demand. The Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to increase the blending limit to 12% or 13%, but a review may be required for an increase to 15% or higher, Vilsack said on Monday. “We'd love to see 15%,” he said. “Right now my focus is on 12% to 13% because I think it's doable more quickly and it sends, I think, the right set of signals to the industry that we are with them.”

Bioenergy-Business.com , March 11, 2009

In the coming weeks, the Obama administration is expected to release its plans to address the dual problems of global climate disruption and excessive dependence on foreign oil. Meanwhile, in the background, the debate among environmentalists over biofuels and their contribution to future energy needs continues to intensify. Many mainstream greens actively support biofuels as a central element in an anticipated future mix of energy sources, but voices from the global South are often far more critical. They insist that fuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol and proposed "second generation" fuels be termed "agrofuels," viewing their widespread use as a potential boon for global agribusiness corporations, with potentially devastating consequences for land-based peoples. This view is now gaining widespread support from groups in the US and Europe.

By Rachel Smolker and Brian Tokar - Counterpunch.org , February 24, 2009

W2 Energy Inc. a developer of green energy, is pleased to announce it has successfully built and test-operated its rotary steam engine. The engine runs on low pressure steam. W2 Energy will be using this engine, which W2 Energy called the Steam Ray, to generate electricity from steam derived from its biomass to energy machines, and other green energy technologies which W2 Energy will be bringing online.

Marketwire - CNN Money , February 23, 2009