Greentech Media Weekly – January 23, 2009

Ethical MarketsGreentech

The nation watched this week as history was made and Barack Obama took his presidential oath. Tony Blair gave Obama some advice regarding greentech while in Abu Dhabi. The middle eastern city has been embracing solar energy initiatives, another signal of the hopefully optimistic world shift to greentech, keeping VC investments high in the area despite the downturn. Policies are starting to adjust to incorporate more solar tax credits, and Nanosolar’s Martin Roscheisen talks about what kind of additional policies are needed. Is this part of the coming “Era of Cleantech?” Meanwhile, experts discuss the need for clean water solutions and Think Tank raises the ante on plug-in cars. Finally, looking for a good read?

Tony Blair on Fighting Climate Change: Do It Now!
The former U.K. prime minister gives a shout out to President Obama and argues for a more inclusive, global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reporter’s Notebook: From Fishing Village to Energy Mecca
Rich oil deposits have put Abu Dhabi on the world stage, and they are driving changes at breakneck speed.

Abu Dhabi Picks Suntech, First Solar for 10MW Solar Farm in Masdar City
Masdar, a government-funded project, is set to rise from 6.5 square kilometers of desert land and powered mostly by solar.

Greentech Investments to Drive Through Slowdown
While the economic downturn has challenged VC investment in the green sector, innovation will continue to be driven by corporate, public and political emphasis on green technologies as a way to solve the world’s energy and environmental problems.

Tax Credit Fix for Solar in the Works
A plan to turn renewable energy investment tax credits into direct payments from the federal government is part of the stimulus bill being drafted by Congress, observers say. That’s a key policy wish for solar and wind power developers.

Feeding In Renewable Energy Breakthroughs
Renewable energy really needs is a shift to permanent, effective policies to pursue and develop its potential, write REPP’s George Sterzinger and Nanosolar’s Martin Roscheisen.

The Coming of the Cleantech Era
Despite the credit crunch, falling solar module prices and the like, cleantech is still on track to be the next big thing, writes Steven Milunovich, Cleantech Strategist, Merrill Lynch.

‘Peak Water’ Requires Low-Cost Solutions
The world’s poorest and richest nations alike need to find ways to conserve and use water more efficiently if they hope to avoid shortages and conflict, says noted water expert Peter Gleick.

Think Tank’s Plug-In Car: Aerodynamics Are Key
Bright Automotive says it soon release an electric car with a 100 mile per gallon plus plug-in – and the company says it will keep the car economically priced.

Electronomics, or How the Smart Grid Will Power Wealth, Pt. I
Author Jesse Berst, the head of GlobalSmartEnergy, will soon publish a book, tentatively titled “Electronomics: How the Smart Grid Will Power American Prosperity,” where he argues that updating the grid will rebound the economy. We’re publishing advance excerpts here.

For more of the latest greentech news, please visit Greentech Media.

The latest from Green Light:
Can 100M ZigBee Fans Be Wrong? InStat Says No
ZigBee is going to take off, thanks to smart metering, according to research firm InStat. Shipments of chips based around the 802.15.4 standard will rise to 292 million…

GE Funds a Wind Turbine Blade Supplier
Wind turbine blade maker TPI Composites has landed $20 million in a second round of funding — and one of the leading investors, GE, is also a customer. The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company announced the funding…

Upcoming Greentech Media Events:
Surviving the Shakeout: Greentech Media’s 2009 Solar Industry Summit
April 14–15, 2009 | Phoenix, AZ

Is the solar market overheating? The last three years have witnessed phenomenal growth and record levels of investment, but the conditions to support that growth are rapidly changing. Uneven policies, disruptive technologies, ebbing demand and global recession are changing the industry in ways that many players have yet to understand.

Join us at the beautiful Kierland Resort & Spa to hear how Travis Bradford and Greentech Media’s analyst team, have rebuilt their models and revised their forecasts to accurately capture the industry’s evolution and provide guidance on how to survive the coming solar market shakeout.

See the agenda.
Register Now!

Free Webinar: Green Technology and the Building Industry Opportunity
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 | 2:00pm EST, 11:00am PST

Greentech Media and Autodesk present a free Webinar moderated by Greentech Media’s Editor in Chief Michael Kanellos. The Webinar’s presenter, Pat Bailey, the Product Manager of AEC Sustainable Design Initiatives at Autodesk Inc. will focus on how analytical software can improve overall building-energy performance. Don’t miss this free opportunity to learn about critical green building strategies.

Industry Events
Carbon Trade Ex America
April 7–8, 2009 | Washington D.C.

Carbon TradeEx America is 2009’s Premiere National Carbon Market Event with focus on Carbon Marketplace, Policy and Technology. The event will be held in Washington DC, the center stage for the quickly emerging carbon industry.