(Smoky Mountain News)

Asheville-based Carolina Bison is planning an expansion into Clyde, a move that would let it grow its buffalo herd in Western North Carolina by 300 to 500.

Frank King is on a mission to find the perfect meat. King, the owner of King Bio Natural Medicine, holistic pharmaceutical company based in Asheville, is testing and researching different types of animals that will prosper in the Western North Carolina climate while at…

New for 2012-2013: The Regional Development Grant Program will have three funding cycles. See preproposal deadlines below.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Regional Development Grant (RDG) supports economic development initiatives in the life sciences. The goal of the program is to build capacity through collaborative projects and to provide a foundational resource for economic growth that the community could not have achieved without NCBIOTECH…

Some of you might be interested in this new report on solar accounting.  

Today's release Solar Accounting: Measuring the Costs and Benefits of Going Solar of introduces local…

The USDA has approved a  $99 million loan guarantee for Wilmington, NC based Chemtex International that will back a bank loan of $170 million to build an ethanol plant in Sampson County, NC. using non-food cellulosic grasses.  The plant that is scheduled to begin production in 2014 with a planned capacity of 20 million gallons/year of ethanol.

The press release is available at:  …

Managing Your Business: Adding Green to Your Marketing Strategy

Small Solar PV Agreements

Sponsored by Blue Ridge Food Ventures and Mountain BizWorks with support from the NC Tobacco Trust…

"In a surprising turnaround, the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere in the U.S. has fallen dramatically to its lowest level in 20 years, and government officials say the biggest reason is that cheap and plentiful natural gas has led many power plant operators to switch from dirtier-burning coal."

See the article at:  …

Discussions regarding the development of shale gas resources in the United States generate many conflicting viewpoints from environmentalists, economic developers, natural gas producers, manufacturers of products that use natural gas and those that use natural gas in their homes, vehicles and industrial applications.  Additionally, use of natural gas to displace coal for power generation may offer significant reductions in oxides of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen.   Jim Pierobon's article…

For Immediate Release: August 16, 2012

The WNC Green Building Council (WNCGBC) is now the administrator of the Green Built North Carolina Certification Program, which replaces the N.C. HealthyBuilt Homes Certification Program statewide.

From 2006-2012, the WNCGBC certified 85% of the HealthyBuilt Homes in the state (over 600 homes in Western N.C.). As a result of that effort, the WNC Green Building Council will continue the work certifying homes, but under a…

From the Avery Journal:

The ordinance describes definitions of solar and wind forms of alternate energy, as well as terms related to the field, and lists application and collection system requirements for each form. The ordinance also details a timetable for completion or decommission of alternative energy conversion projects.

Full article…

"Sierra Nevada Brewing Company has moved its opening date up from November 2013 to July, a co-manager of the brewery said Thursday."  See article at:  http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20120814/ARTICLES/120819909/1151?p=1&tc=pg 

Ellington cheese made by Looking Glass Creamery of Fairview, North Carolina (just outside of Asheville) has placed second in the American Cheese Society’s annual competition in the soft-ripened goat cheese category. The American Cheese Society was started in 1983 to support the North American Artisan and Specialty Cheese Industry. This year’s competition saw 1,711 entries from the U.S. and Canada competing for top honors in a variety of categories. “Ellington is a great cheese. It is a very…

Now the proud owner of a Nissan Leaf

The Triangle J Council of Governments seeks a Waste Reduction Partners Program Administrator to

join a dynamic team of professionals dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life for the

region. The position reports to the Director of Waste Reduction Partners at Land of Sky Regional

Council and to the Energy and Environment Program Manager at Triangle J Council of Governments.

Deadline for applications extended August 24, 2012 at 5:00 pm.  Details…

"Schletter Inc. has picked Cleveland County for a 305-job U.S. headquarters and production facility for making solar-power mounting systems."  This is an example of a solar supply chain "link" that has selected Shelby, NC for its $27 million United States corporate headquarters, manufacturing and distribution operations.  See the Charlotte Business Journal article at:…

Self-Help Credit Union, through Carolina Mountains Credit Union (its new, full-service retail division), now offers a wide range of fair and equitable financial services in Western North Carolina. The existence of our branch at 1911 Hendersonville Road, Asheville means that there is a local credit union that is also a CDFI (community development financial institution), where making a deposit or opening an account of any kind can have significant impact and value in your…