Posts tagged bp oil spill

The DOE Launched New Green Car Engineering Contest

The Department of Energy launched its EcoCar2 competition between 16 universities Wednesday at the SAE International 2011 World Congress in Detroit, Michigan.  The challenge is an educational cooperation between General Motors and the DOE to prep future engineers in clean energy technologies. The EcoCAR 2 is a three-year collegiate engineering competition in which rival teams work to reduce the “environmental impact” of an existing car without compromising standards of performance and safety. Some participating universities include California State, Pennsylvania State, University of Ontario Institute of Technology and University of Victoria. Online PhD is a resource for people who are ready for advanced education in the fields of science, engineering, and more. The leaders in the fields of energy and environmental studies often have advanced training and skills.

Hawaiian Solar Project Complete

Hawaii’s largest solar parking canopy is complete. The 856-kW system was an undertaking by Chevron Energy, Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Tioga Energy. Solar PV panels span across two buildings and parking canopies. As per the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, the state aims to generate 70 percent of its power from clean energy by 2030. The panels will also help Mililani Tech Park achieve LEED Gold certification.

Pickens Represents Natural Gas at NGVAmerica Event

Oil-turned-clean energy advocate T. Boone Pickens encouraged Congressmen to adopt clean energy and natural gas through energy legislation. “Every month I report on how much money our country is spending on imported oil,” said Pickens. “March tipped the scale as we spent nearly $40 billion—$922,912 per minute—on imported oil, representing a staggering 72% of our oil needs.” The event was sponsored by NGVAmerica, a representative of the gas vehicle industry. The newly proposed NAT GAS Act was supported by President Obama as a solution that undermines partisan lines and has recruited 160 cosponsors from both parties.

BP Horizon Spill Still Effecting the Gulf

It has been a year since the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and experts still report findings of oil in gulf marshes and beaches that are habitats for at-risk bird species. Thousands of gallons of oil spilled into the gulf until it was capped in July. Audubon, an organization dedicated to bird conservation, reports that there is still oil seeping through grasslands on important bird breeding and feeding grounds. Several species are more vulnerable such as the Black Skimmer, Clapper Rail, Least Tern and Seaside Sparrow among others.

SDG&E Signs 30MW of Solar Energy Contracts

San Diego Gas & Electric have signed three contracts with a 30-MW combined capacity of solar energy. The concentrator PV modules will produce enough renewable energy to provide electricity to over 11,000 households. The San Diego operations will also create up to 450 direct jobs for the area. The factory is expected to be completed by 2014, within 18 months of construction.