Knowledge Center
Sustainability News
July 2010
Honda to join plug-in car market, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, July 21, 2010
Tokyo—Honda said Tuesday it will start selling a battery-powered car in 2012, retreating from skepticism about such vehicles that made it the last of Japan's largest automakers to enter the market.
Rep. Tim Ryan's bill would offer tax credits for Myers Motors electric vehicles, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 20, 2010
Tallmadge, Ohio—A bill introduced in Congress by Rep. Tim Ryan would extend a federal tax credit for electric cars to three-wheeled vehicles such as the upcoming DuO from Myers Motors in Tallmadge.
Wind conference focuses on potential for growth in the Great Lakes, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 19, 2010
Cleveland—The three-day "Freshwater Wind 2010" conference at the Wyndham downtown that began Monday has drawn about 100 participants and 60 to 70 speakers, said Gretchen Luchisinger, managing director of Infocast, a national conference organizer headquartered in California.
Homemade hydrogen could power vehicles, by Susan Carpenter, LA Times via Akron Beacon Journal, July 19, 2010
Los Angeles—The system uses solar panels — a 6-kilowatt array of thin-film cells — to power a machine the size of a small refrigerator that sips H2O and breaks it apart into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The hydrogen is then pumped directly into the car, which uses the gas to generate electricity for the car's electric motor.
B&W, Bechtel to build nuclear reactors, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, July 15, 2010
Akron—The two companies call the alliance Generation mPower, named for B&W's mPower light reactor that it unveiled in June 2009. Each reactor will produce 125 megawatts of power, capable of supplying upward of 100,000 homes.
Chevy Volt will carry 8-year battery warranty, AP via Toledo Blade, July 15, 2010
Detroit—General Motors Co. is guaranteeing the battery in its Chevrolet Volt electric car for eight years or 100,000 miles in an effort to inspire confidence in the new technology.
Automakers boost fuel economy, AP via Toledo Blade, July 15, 2010
Detroit—To improve gas mileage, automakers are tweaking cars, especially midsize sedans, and trucks between model years.
Cap and trade can't pass, so Sen. George Voinovich recommends developing affordable clean coal, by Stephen Koff, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 14, 2010
Washington—two coal-state senators, George Voinovich of Ohio and John Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, propose the government offer $20 billion over the next decade for continued development of affordable carbon capture-and-sequestration technology. And offer tax credits to utilities that use that technology.
Korea's LG Chem wins Ford Focus battery pack deal, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
—Ford Motor Co. has picked a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based subsidiary of Korean battery maker LG Chem to supply battery packs for an electric version of the Ford Focus that will hit showrooms sometime next year.
GE to make faster electric-vehicle battery charger, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
San Francisco—The GE WattStation will be sold in 2011, and GE said a home version will be introduced later this year.
White House to highlight electric car developments, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
Washington—President Barack Obama will travel to Holland, Mich., on Thursday for the groundbreaking of a Compact Power Inc. factory, which received $151 million from a federal stimulus program to open the $303 million plant. The factory is expected to manufacture lithium ion cells and employ about 450 people by 2013.
GE offers $200 million fund for power projects, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 13, 2010
San Francisco—GE and four venture capital firms will solicit ideas from entrepreneurs, researchers and startups over the next 10 weeks. Awards from the competition will be announced in November.
Shelby solar business nearly ready, by Jami Kinton, Mansfield News Journal, July 10, 2010
Shelby, Ohio—The Ohio Energy Office approved the grant for a solar energy production facility in Richland County. Ebeling Engineering will produce solar energy equipment for installation at client businesses.
Delphi center in the Valley emerges as world leader in hybrid-car technology, by Grace Wyler, Youngstown Vindicator, July 6, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—Less than a year after Delphi exited a prolonged Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Champion Technical Center, world headquarters of the company’s electrical/electronic architecture division, has emerged as an international leader in electric-vehicle innovation and a critical component of the reorganized Delphi.
Obama commits to clean energy jobs, by Shayndi Raice, Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2010 (Subscription)
Washington—President Barack Obama announced Saturday a $2 billion commitment to solar energy companies with the hope of creating new jobs, in light of lackluster employment figures released Friday that bodes poorly for a swift economic recovery.
GM adds four states to electric car rollout list, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 1, 2010
Austin, Texas—Texas, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut will join the states where General Motors will roll out its electric car, the Chevrolet Volt, GM CEO Ed Whitacre announced Thursday.
Babcock & Wilcox unit receives federal funding for solar power project, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 1, 2010
Barberton, Ohio—Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group Inc. in Barberton and eSolar Inc. of Pasadena, Calif., said they have been selected to receive up to $10.8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to design, build and test a molten salt power plant using concentrated solar power.
'Tech belt' officials aim for $130M in federal funds, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 1, 2010
Cleveland—A group trying to spur the creation of a “tech belt” from Cleveland to Pittsburgh is swinging for the fences with one of its first initiatives: a $130 million grant application aimed at turning the region into a hub for green building technologies. (Subscription)
June 2010 Sustainable Manufacturing News Briefs