Business

37,400 clean energy jobs announced in second quarter, but PTC threat already slowing wind industry

Aug 17th, 2012 | By

As many as 37,409 jobs could be created from the more than 70 major clean energy projects announced across the United States during the second quarter of 2012, according to the latest quarterly Clean Energy Jobs Roundup from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), the national group of business leaders who advocate for sound economic and environmental policies.



Housatonic Valley Association Receives $25,000 Donation from Aquarion Water Co. and Five Area Companies

Aug 14th, 2012 | By

Aquarion Water Company recently donated $12,500 to the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA). The donation was a matching grant to five participating companies that each donated $2,500 in support of HVA’s mission to conserve the natural character and environmental health of the Housatonic River watershed.



Company tapped for Plainfield sewer survey

Aug 5th, 2012 | By

Plainfield officials hope to be ready to bring plans for a significant upgrade of the town’s sewage treatment facilities before townspeople late this year. First Selectman Paul Sweet said he will recommend at the August meeting of the Sewer Authority that it hire the firm of Fuss and O’Neill, of Manchester, to conduct the survey

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FuelCell Energy of Danbury Awarded $3.8M Navy Contract

Jul 27th, 2012 | By

FuelCell Energy Inc. has announced a $3.8 million contract award from the U.S. Navy to develop and test a Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC)-Battery power system for large displacement undersea vehicle propulsion. This 18 month phase-I award will fund development and laboratory testing of the SOFC propulsion system. Successful performance results may lead to a phase II award that would involve the delivery of a full scale system for testing in an unmanned undersea vehicle.



$4.4M in Federal Funds Going to UTC for Development of Natural Gas Vehicle

Jul 17th, 2012 | By

Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman, Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. John B. Larson have announced that the United Technologies Company of East Hartford has been awarded a $4.4 million federal grant for natural gas technology research. UTC will use the federal funding to engineer a low-cost natural gas tank for passenger vehicles (and aircraft) replacing the bulkier tanks currently in use that have limited the viability of natural gas for everyday use.



GE to Provide 10 Turbines for Wind Project in Sweden

Jul 7th, 2012 | By

General Electric Co. (GE) will supply 10 of its 2.75-megawatt turbines for a wind farm Triventus AB is developing on Sweden’s west coast.



GE wins wind-turbine patent case brought by Mitsubishi Heavy

Jul 7th, 2012 | By

General Electric Co. didn’t infringe a patent owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. over a way to control the angle of wind-turbine blades to reduce wear and tear, a federal judge said.



Connecticut’s fuel cell industry braces for potential change

Jul 2nd, 2012 | By

Before the clean energy world knew about fuel cells, United Technologies knew about them. UTC pioneered the modern fuel cell for NASA beginning with the Apollo space program in the 1960s through the end of the shuttle program last year.



MowGreen Augmenting Push Reels with Cordless Electric Rotary

Jun 29th, 2012 | By

Reel mowers are like many little scissors snipping the grass, which is why they are healthier for the grass than rotary power mowers which rip the grass rather than clip it. However, sometimes the cut is smoother with rotaries, especially when grass gets too long for reel mowers to be effective. Click on this environmental headline for more from one of our favorite supporters!



Greenleaf Biofuels ready for September biodiesel opening in Connecticut

Jun 29th, 2012 | By

The plant, which will utilize waste cooking oil and other recycled fats and oils, intends to focus on in-state distribution, with some added offtake to New York, and will hire up to 20 local employees.



United Technologies to sell more businesses

Jun 21st, 2012 | By

Chief Financial Officer Greg Hayes, speaking at an investor analysts conference in Chicago, said United Technologies is now looking at “strategic alternatives” for UTC Power, the company’s fuel cell business, and a “couple other” subsidiaries.



EBay Plans Data Center That Will Use Alternative Energy

Jun 21st, 2012 | By

EBay plans to build a data center to handle its billions of dollars in retail transactions that will draw its power from alternative energy fuel cells rather than the national power grid, which is heavily dependent on coal plants.



GreenTowns launches enhanced local pages

Jun 20th, 2012 | By

GreenTowns.com, the national network for local sustainability, has announced new products and services to connect and support green efforts in 15,000 communities across America.



Renewable Resources establishing U.S. HQ in Connecticut

Jun 14th, 2012 | By

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has announced that Renewable Resources Inc, a Scottish solar development company, will open its United States headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The company plans to hire 50 employees by the end of this year, with the potential for future expansion.



Sikorsky Honored for Energy Efficiency

Jun 7th, 2012 | By

The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships chose Sikorsky, and other 13 other companies, as business leaders for energy efficiency. Click on this environmental headline for more on this story.



State lures chemical firm mired In pollution disputes with $3M

Jun 6th, 2012 | By

When Tronox Inc. emerged from bankruptcy in February 2011, it said it would keep its headquarters in Oklahoma City, though with half as many employees as it had there when the company was spun off from Kerr-McGee Corp. in 2005, according to story in the Oklahoman.



Esty supports CT natural gas expansion

Jun 6th, 2012 | By

At the CBIA Environmental & Energy Conference in Waterbury Esty said he favors using more natural gas to heat Connecticut homes and businesses.



CT Offers 33 ‘Eco-Friendly’ Hotels

Jun 5th, 2012 | By

Residents and visitors to the Nutmeg State looking to take advantage of nearby eco-friendly lodging options are in luck–CTVisit.com has posted a list of Connecticut’s green hotels. Click on this environmental headline for more of this story.



The Farmer’s Cow Wins Pineapple Award at 2012 Connecticut Conference on Tourism

Jun 5th, 2012 | By

What does a pineapple have to do with a farm in Connecticut? If it’s an award from the Connecticut Conference on Tourism, it means you’re a Tourism Ambassador. Earlier this month, Fort Hill Farms and The Farmer’s Cow, a group of six Connecticut family dairy farms that produces fresh, local milk and other locally-sourced products,

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Wind farm controversy buffets tiny Block Island

May 30th, 2012 | By

The company is competing with Cape Wind in Massachusetts to be the nation’s first offshore wind project. Cape Wind’s project, having withstood a decade of high-profile opposition, is the subject of hearings by Massachusetts utility regulators this month.