Matt Raker's Blog – January 2011 Archive (25)

Article in NY Times Dealbook covers clean energy discussions from Day 3 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  A couple highlights...

In a Davos appearance, Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations…

Using detailed land analysis, Illinois researchers have found that biofuel crops cultivated on available land could produce up to half of the world's current fuel consumption – without affecting food crops or pastureland.

Published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, the study led by civil and environmental engineering professor Ximing Cai identified land around the globe available to produce grass crops for biofuels, with minimal impact on agriculture or the…

A Business Plan Competition for Women Sponsored by AdvantageWest & VERVE Magazine

Are you an established business that wants to expand? A would-be entrepreneur with a great idea for a startup? We want to hear your big idea! Enter the VERVE-aciously BIG Idea Business Plan Competition for a chance at $10,000 in cash, prizes, business support services and expert advice

ELIGIBILITY

To participate in the VERVE-aciously BIG Idea…

On Jan. 18, Acme-McCrary Corp. in Asheboro, a century-old national leader in the manufacture of legwear and other garments, announced the development of one of the nation's largest solar thermal energy projects. The project is supported in part by a grant from the N.C. Department of Commerce's Energy Office under its Renewable Energy Grant program, funded through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

North Carolina's U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, along with the N.C.…

Looking for capital for your green business?  Here are a few snippets from a good overview of 2010 venture deal flow from Local Tech Wire...

Venture capital investing rebounded strongly in North Carolina last year, returning to pre-recession levels.  The data shows:

1. The number of investments rose

2. The spread of deals by company category was…

Proposals are due by March 18, 2011.  The NC Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach (DEAO) would like to announce the opening of the 2011 Community Waste Reduction and Recycling Grant Round!

Applicants may request any amount of funding up to a maximum of $30,000.  Applicants must provide at least a 20 percent cash match to the requested grant amount. DEAO has committed $700,000 for this grant cycle.

Counties, municipalities, councils of governments…

We just received an update from Duke that they've extended the deadline for companies to apply for fully funded clean energy interns to February 4th.  Companies with project ideas would select from graduate-level students at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, Fuqua School of Business and Pratt School of Engineering.  Here are more details about the program and where to apply...

Oftentimes companies find themselves with more projects than…

RALEIGH, N.C., – The North Carolina Solar Center, already firmly established in renewable energy circles, is now positioning itself to capture more solar-testing business with a new lab that would be one of only five of its kind in the country.

The Solar Center aims to get the lab accredited by the Solar Rating and Certification Corp., or SRCC, a standards body for the…

An interesting business model that could have great potential in WNC...

SunRun, based in San Francisco, installs solar panels on residences at nominal or no cost. Homeowners sign 20-year contracts to buy power at a fixed price, around 15 percent less than their current electric bills. The contract is linked to the house; when the homeowner sells, the next resident inherits the panels and the arrangement. Houses that generate more power than they use receive credits.

"To unlock…

A new study released today by America 2050 identifies the high-speed rail corridors with the greatest potential to attract ridership in each of the nation's megaregions.  Corridors connecting populous regions with large job centers, rail transit…

Application Due: March 10, 2011. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) helps distressed communities establish a foundation for durable regional economies throughout the United States. EDA generally allocates funds for the Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund (GCCMIF) to support projects that foster economic competitiveness while enhancing environmental quality. EDA anticipates that these funds will be used to advance the green economy by supporting projects that create…

Application Due: February 4, 2011. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development request proposals for the Transformation Initiative: Sustainable Communities Research Grant Program. Through this RFP, HUD is primarily interested in sponsoring cutting edge research in affordable housing development and preservation, transportation-related issues, economic development and job creation, land use planning and urban design, green and sustainable energy practices, and a range of issues…

From Scott Mouw, NC State Recycling Program Director

North Carolinians can do something simple every day to help get the state’s economy on track – recycle.

A recently completed study by the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach (found online at http://www.p2pays.org/ref/53/52107.pdf) shows that recycling continues to be a driver of economic activity and job growth in North Carolina. Successive studies from…

The North Carolina Energy Office intends to post a solicitation for a second round of proposals from owners of commercial facilities, industrial facilities and incorporated large nonprofit organizations for energy efficiency upgrades using commercially available technologies to reduce energy and petroleum consumption, cut costs and emissions.

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a large nonprofit organization is one whose proposed project contains at least one…

InnoVenture Southeast 2011 is accepting applications to present from champions in industry, academia and entrepreneurial firms who have game changing opportunities and seeking customers, capital, talent, or technology from influential, connected…

This request for proposals from the NC Division of Air Quality, totaling about $350,000, is funded by a federal grant which allows for funding diesel projects only. Local governments, private and public schools, non-profits, for profit businesses, etc are all eligible to apply.

Examples On-Road Projects:

• Replacement or alternative fuel truck projects.
• Biodiesel buy-down projects.
• School bus projects.
• All other projects…

The US Department of Energy recently launched The Home Energy Score, a new web-based tool for homeowners to compare the energy performance of their home to similar homes. The Home Energy Score will offer homeowners straightforward, reliable information about their homes' energy efficiency. A report provides consumers with a home energy score between 1 and 10, and shows them how their home compares to others…

GE and its venture capital and strategic partners are launching the next phase of its $200 million ecomagination Challenge, "Powering Your Home", which calls for innovations in harnessing and managing energy at home. We will be accepting ideas from January 18 through March 1, 2011 at www.ecomagination.com/challenge. In…