The Gulf oil spill is the latest in a series of warnings that we must reduce our dependency on petroleum with an eye toward moving away from oil entirely. While "getting off oil" remains a distant goal, we can choose to halt oil expansion today. Technologies exist to improve the efficacy of biofuels and to stretch the availability of existing petroleum supplies through increased efficiency. Rather than choosing more offshore drilling, we can choose demand-side innovation to meet our current energy needs without the risks associated with further oil expansion.

In just one year, the story line for the renewable energy industry has been flipped on its head. Last summer, as investors tried to figure out the stimulus package, there was a lack of capital and a pent up demand for projects. This summer, there are far fewer projects being developed, but more willingness to lend from financiers.

State renewable portfolio standards (RPS) will be the most critical driver determining the pace of U.S. renewables growth going forward, according to a new IHS Emerging Energy Research market study: US RPS Markets and Utility Strategies: 2010-2025.

Wal-Mart’s ambitious plan to green its supply chain has trickled down to startup Hara. Is it just the beginning?

A resurgence for solar investment and the Roadster 2.5 maker’s high profile IPO, among 33 deals we spotted in the last seven days.

Honeywell, Boeing, GE and others win $125M FAA contract for cleaner, greener aviation, and DFJ Mercury closes its second fund with $70M.

The largest VC deal of the week goes to a hydrogen storage company, while Siemens makes an acquisition in offshore wind.

New funds representing more than $5B in capital are earmarked for China's cleantech sector, whilst three Chinese cleantech companies receive VC funding this week.

Poet announced the purchase of a 90 million gallon-per-year ethanol plant located just outside Cloverdale, Indiana and previously operated by Altra Biofuels.

POET announced today the purchase of a 90 million gallon-per-year ethanol plant located just outside Cloverdale, Ind. and previously operated by Altra Biofuels.

Over a 100 energy leaders have already confirmed they will address TIREC (Turkish International Renewable Energy Congress) September 28th –October 1st in Istanbul at the Grand Cevahir Convention Centre & Hotel.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the investment of up to US $24 million for three research groups to tackle key hurdles in the commercialization of algae-based biofuels. The selections will support the development of a clean, sustainable transportation sector - a goal of the Department's continued effort to spur the creation of the domestic bio-industry while creating jobs.

Orion Group has launched an iPhone application that allows jobseekers to search all their available jobs from around the world and across a variety of industry sectors from Renewables...

New Generation Biofuels Holdings Inc. (NGBF) announced that the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners has approved a long term boiler test and evaluation of the company's proprietary biofuel in two of Baltimore City's public schools over a one year period. The maximum volume for the program is capped at 1,000,000 gallons, but can be increased up to 2,000,000 gallons if both parties agree.

If you don't work for a public company, then chances are you aren't paying much attention to additional new corporate governance rules that went into effect at the start of this year. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) further amended proxy disclosure rules to compel companies to report how pay relates to risk, how the board oversees risk and the qualifications and diversity of their directors.