With the failure of green energy poster child Solyndra – after the California-based company that received a $528 million taxpayer investment — the question being asked in many circles is whether the green industry is a smart investment for either the public or private sector.

Scottsdale-based reNature, which recently received a grant from Arizona State University’s Edson Entrepreneurship Initiative, believes its venture and green industry as a whole is a worthy investment for multiple reasons. reNature has a founding team made up of seven Arizona State University students who are studying in a wide variety of disciplines. They came together based on common interests of sustainability and business and applied fore the Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative in April. They were accepted into the initiative and subsequently given a grant, office space for one year in the SkySong building in Scottsdale, and mentoring from the initiative and from members of the community that are connected to the university. Like many in the “green industry” CEO David Metoyer, a finance and sustainability major, and his team at reNature want to take something traditionally seen as a liability – like trash – and through natural processes turn it into an asset. “We want to work with nature’s systems and add value to something that is usually worthless,” said Metoyer. “We want to commercialize nature.”

In recent years there have been numerous companies that have had a similar creed to that of reNature. However, like Solyndra, a large number of them have not been able to make it through the hurdles that every start-up business faces. At a hearing last week, Jonathan Silver, director of the Department of Energy’s energy loan office, said that factors such as China flooding the market with cheap solar panels and a tough European buying market have caused solar-cell prices to drop sharply, significantly hurting companies such as Solyndra. The loan office has given $35.9 billion dollars in loans and created 64,776 jobs according to its website. When Solyndra filed for bankruptcy earlier this month the company was forced to lay off more than 1,000 employees.

So, the question that remains to be answered is, how can green companies stay out of the red? Metoyer and his team at reNature believe that they have a green model that is truly sustainable: economically and environmentally. First of all, reNature is “going for the low-hanging fruits now,” Metoyer said. In other words, the venture is entering the industry carefully, fully aware that there are some “green” business models that can survive now, and some that cannot, said Metoyer. “We need to make sure that any new green company makes business sense,” said Will Heasley, director of business development for reNature. “It has to be economically viable – you have to find a method that makes sense financially,” said Metoyer. “This type of cautious entry into the market is something that other companies should mimic,” he continued. He believes that the American consumer may not be ready for all of the green products that are being introduced. “They (consumers) say, ‘as much as I want to be environmentally conscious, I have to make sure I have enough money to simply keep living,’” said Metoyer. And as for companies that “go green” as a way to look good in the public eye, Metoyer says, “It has to be more than doing something green to get good press – It has to be more than PR.” Another question that green ventures need to ask themselves is “the technology may exist, but does it exist at the right scale?” said Metoyer. “Many times the answer is no, it doesn’t.” The failure of Solyndra and other companies like it shows that even with massive help from the federal government, being green does not guarantee profitability. Nevertheless, many believe there is a market for clean and sustainable industry, but like any other market it’s one that must be entered cautiously, said Metoyer. “Every new company has to look at the triple bottom line,” said Metoyer. “What effects will it have economically, socially, and environmentally.”

Sources
David Metoyer: 425-765-8489
Will Heasley: 602-518-8912
Jonathan Silver: https://lpo.energy.gov/?page_id=19

Over the past few decades eco-friendliness has become ever more important as devastating effects of climate change have been emerging globally. Almost everyone is aware of global warming to some degree and measures have been implicated so that proprietors and business owners have to adhere to certain rules regarding waste and recycling. With the constant increase in awareness and attempts to prevent climate change, eco-friendly jobs have been increasing in popularity and new roles have been emerging.

When considering a new career path, eco-friendly jobs can not only be interesting they also help local communities and the future wellbeing of the planet. Moreover, there’s likely to be future demand for green jobs as we continually aim to look after our planet. Green jobs can be found on many online recruitment websites, here are some of the top positions and industries to look out for when green job seeking.

Green Car Manufacturing
CO2 emissions are renowned for being huge contributors to global warming. Road traffic emissions are heavily responsible for carbon emissions and many manufacturers are trying to combat the issue by producing cars which are more eco-friendly and fuel efficient. More hybrid and electric car models are emerging, showing a bright future for the green car manufacturing industry.

Renewable Energy Installation
What’s better to homeowners than free electricity that they’re paid to produce? Renewable energy resources are incredibly popular as an investment option and free solar panels are now available for homeowners who lack financial backing. Renewable energy installation is a rather sound industry as there’s a lot of governmental support and funding, in order to increase their popularity.

Climatologists
Climatology is the practice of assessing weather conditions over a period of time. Climatologists play a vital part in evaluating the extent of climate change and predict future climate. Climatologists help forecast future weather which is essential for human survival. They also predict how human activity is affecting the earth, providing us with a guide on how we can reduce our emissions.

Hydrologists
Hydrologists are responsible for the efficient flow of water to homes. Waste water treatment and sewers are covered by hydrologists to ensure all homes have a constant supply of clean water to their homes in a cost effective manner. They not only help the environment, they also play a crucial role in human life.

Forester
Many trees are felled each year for everyday human needs such as furniture, paper and toilet roll. This deforestation is affecting wildlife and endangering vulnerable species of animals whose habitat is a forest. Foresters help to manage and care for forests and trees by measuring biodiversity and air quality.

There are many green jobs available for those who want to care for the environment whilst in employment. Many of these jobs can be extremely rewarding both financially and personally. Protecting wildlife, humans and the Earth can be an extremely rewarding responsibility and many green jobs have exciting future prospects.

Partnership Will Bring Jobs, Green Energy to Canada-

MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. and SunEdison have signed an agreement that will lead to large-scale production of solar panels in Ontario, Canada. The green investment is thanks to Ontario’s progressive clean energy strategy, through which the city intends “to become North America’s leading manufacturing centre of excellence in solar energy production,” says Sandra Pupatello, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Manufacturing solar panels on this large a scale will help lower the cost of installations throughout the city, and will (more importantly) develop a more reliable electricity system to meet tomorrow’s needs. “SunEdison is pleased to be part of building a long-term and sustainable solar market in Ontario. We believe that solar and other renewable energy solutions are key components of the province’s supply mix as they create jobs and cleaner energy solutions,” said Jason Gray, VP and Country Manager of SunEdison.

Here are just a few ways that the city has brought green energy investment to the mainstream:

• Ontario’s clean energy economy has attracted more than $20 billion of investment.
• Since 2009, more than 30 businesses have announced they are setting up or expanding plants in Ontario to manufacture parts for the solar and wind industry.
• Ontario has the most solar energy of any jurisdiction in Canada, and Ontario is home to the 10 largest solar farms in Canada.
• Ontario forecasts that by 2018, 10,700 megawatts of renewable power from wind, solar and bio-energy will have been brought online – enough electricity each year to power more than 2 million homes.
• Coal-fired generation was down 90 per cent in the first three months of 2011 compared to the same timeframe in 2003.
• Ontario has conserved more than 1,700 megawatts of electricity over the past five years – the equivalent of taking more than half a million homes off the electricity grid.

Breakthrough Discovery by DOE Allows Biofuel to be Used in Conventional Automobiles-

Steven Chu of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a development in biofuel production that could forever end America’s dependence on oil. Chu, along with his team of researchers at the DOE’s BioEnergy Science Center, have discovered a cheap and simple technique that converts woody plants into isobutanol, which can be used in any gas-powered automobile. For years now, researchers have been working to find an inexpensive way to break down the cellulose in non-edible, woody plant materials and have finally hit the jackpot with a microbe called the Clostridium celluloyticum. Apparently, they are a superhero of sorts in the microbe world, as they clean up pollution, power fuel cells and can even convert wastewater into bioplastic. While this is an extremely promising breakthrough to help greatly reduce America’s oil consumption, it will also create a wave of much needed jobs throughout the nation from biofuel refinery operators to fuel transporters.

“World’s Most Famous Office Building” Purchases RECs to Offset Entire Annual Energy Consumption-

In order to entirely offset its massive energy consumption, the Empire State Building owners will purchase over 50 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually. In a two year deal with carbon offset company, Green Mountain Energy, the renewable energy contract will provide the towering 2.85 million square foot building with clean wind power and prevent 100 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. According to the company, that’s the equivalent of :

-Nearly every house in New York State turning off all their lights for a week;
-Taking approximately 40 million fewer cab rides; or
-Planting nearly 150,000 trees–more than 6 times the number of trees in Central Park.

“We are extremely pleased that an icon like the world-famous Empire State Building made this important commitment to support renewable energy,” said Paul Thomas, CEO of Green Mountain Energy Company. “This announcement is historic for many reasons. In addition to being the largest commercial consumer of green power in New York City, the Empire State Building’s renewable power purchase is now the largest purchase in our company’s 13-year history. This demonstrates that Green Mountain can serve all sizes of commercial customers with renewable energy at a price they can afford, and that going green doesn’t have to be a tradeoff.”

This Fast Growing, Carbon Capturing Grass Could Help Prevent Drastic Climactic Changes-

Bamboo, a sustainable grass that grows wild in various parts of the world, can potentially curb global warming and offer revenue for local communities. The grass can capture carbon more quickly than any other fast-growing tree species, such as eucalyptus, according to Coosje Hoogendoorn, director of China-based International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR). Hoogendoorn recently spoke at the opening of Bamboo and Climate Change Mitigation, an advocacy campaign supporting bamboo for its potential to curb climate change and grow sustainable communities. As the fastest growing plant on earth, boasting a growth rate of up to 1.2 metres a day, it is stronger than steel and can reduce soil erosion by up to 75 percent. “Although botanically bamboo is a woody grass and not a tree, bamboo forests have comparable features to other types of forest regarding their role in the carbon cycle,” a recently published report said. “They sequester carbon through photosynthesis, and lock carbon in the fibre of the bamboo and in the soil where it grows.” Home builders and community planners should really begin using this sustainable grass in construction projects — not only to support climate change mitigation, but to promote strong, sturdy properties using an environmentally-friendly alternative that has proven to hold up just as well as the standard.

Department of the Interior has Approved Construction on Blythe CSP Plant-

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced last Tuesday that construction will begin on the world’s largest solar power plant, which is to be built in Blythe, California. The facility will use Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology to deliver 1,000 megawatts of generating capacity — enough renewable energy to power 300,000 homes annually — and will span 7,025 acres of federal property in the Mojave Desert. Since the plant will be “dry-cooled”, it will use 90 percent less water than a standard “wet-cooled” solar thermal system of this kind. Solar Trust, the project’s developer, plans to use water from the Palo Verde Mesa Groundwater Basin which is replenished via the Colorado River. Communications Manager for Solar Trust, Andrea Elliot, says that the project is not likely to affect the river, as the Palo Verde Mesa Basin is “very remotely connected” to it. “After construction, there will be a review,” Elliott said. “If withdrawals affect surface flows, then we will take steps to mitigate, though it is uncertain what those will be at this point.” The Colorado River is shared between several states, so any exorbitant use by the plant would need to be offset. Five other solar power projects also received federal authorization last month and, with the new Blythe approval, will have combined 2,800 megawatts in generating capacity — enough to power close to 2 million homes. The project will offer roughly 2,500 jobs during the construction period and create more than 200 permanent jobs once the facility is fully operational.

New Goal Places the Country Head and Shoulders Above Current Global Targets-

First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, recently announced that, with new goals set into motion, the country may be running off “at least” 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2025. “Scotland has unrivalled green energy resources and our new national target to generate 80 percent of electricity needs from renewables by 2020 will be exceeded by delivering current plans for wind, wave and tidal generation,” Salmond said last month at the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference in Edinburgh. “I’m confident that by 2025 we will produce at least 100 percent of our electricity needs from renewables alone, and together with other sources it will enable us to become a net exporter of clean, green energy.” He said that the plan will focus on strategies such as investment in infrastructure; appropriate supply chain; continuing advancements in renewable technologies and procedures; finance; careful monitoring and regulation of the electricity grid; as well as management of the marine environment. Scotland is planning to generate most of its power from offshore as well as onshore wind farms. With a recent launch of what continues to be the world’s largest tidal power plant, the country is also a leader in wave hydropower – generating enough power for roughly 1,000 homes.

Program Provides Solar Installations for Needy Families in CA-

MASH, or Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing, is a program using $108 million from the California Solar Initiative to help provide solar panels to lower income families. MASH has recently finished its first solar installation on Hacienda Townhomes, an inexpensive housing complex owned by the San Diego Community Housing Corporation. Several tenants living there only bring in around $27,000 annually for a family of four. This installation of 96 solar photovoltaic panels will produce 34,726 kWh of energy, lower electricity bills, and will reduce carbon emissions by 595 tons over the course of 25 years. To boot, the project created 5 temporary jobs and 3 permanent jobs. One of the Hacienda Townhomes residents, Omega Hatch, said that she has seen her August electricity bill drop from an average of $90 to $56. “Thank God,” she told Greenwire, “because I could use the money elsewhere. I have a 7-year-old, he’s about to go back to school. Any penny helps me get what I need to do for him.” To help programs like MASH grow throughout the United States, please sign this Change.org Petition and urge your government representatives to support affordable solar.

California Aims to Boost Green Energy Production Statewide-

The California Air Resources Board has unanimously decided to raise the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to 33 percent by 2020. “The Renewable Electricity Standard means cleaner energy for California’s households and businesses,” said Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols. “It will help clean our air and bring new solar and wind energy facilities to California with thousands of jobs in construction, operation and spin off industries.” Using a “phased” approach, the new standard will ultimately require that one-third of the electricity sold in California be harvested from clean, renewable energy sources. Nichols went on to say that the standard aims to “further diversify and secure our energy supply while also growing California’s leading green technology market” and will “lead to cost savings for consumers.” Among the many supporting the development, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said “With this long-term energy policy, California will continue to lead the transition to a clean-energy future and away from being so dependent on the volatile prices and harmful emissions of dirty oil and coal.” According to the governor, “We are already seeing increased investment in renewable energy projects in California,” the governor said. “There are currently over 200 renewable energy projects looking to build and do business here.” The ARB regulation mandates a phased-in approach with interim targets for renewable energy of 20 percent for 2012 – 2014; 24 percent for 2015 – 2017; 28 percent for 2018 – 2019; and 33 percent for 2020 and beyond.