News

Nano-engineering can produce substances with unique properties that will give renewable energy a boost

By KEITH BRADSHER
DUNHUANG, China

As the United States takes its first steps toward mandating that power companies generate more electricity from renewable sources, China already has a similar requirement and is investing billions to remake itself into a green energy superpower.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday said it was extending the comment period on a draft rule that aims to cut greenhouse gases emitted by biofuels.

The proposed changes to the 2007 U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard attempt to make production of corn-based ethanol more efficient and increase output of advanced biofuels.

Los Angeles will eliminate the use of electricity made from coal by 2020, replacing it with power from cleaner renewable energy sources, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

- A project linking solar power from the Sahara to energy users in Europe and North Africa could create 240,000 German jobs and generate 2 trillion euros ($2,822 billion) worth of power by 2050, a study published on Thursday found.

The U.S. Energy Department on Thursday offered loan guarantees worth $59 million to two renewable energy companies as the agency tries to quickly boost green energy production with a windfall of funding from the economic stimulus package.

Chandigarh: The Haryana government has launched a new scheme to encourage energy conservation in villages of the state. Under the scheme, the deserving panchayats would be awarded cash prizes ranging between Rs 20,000 and Rs 4 lakh for popularising the applications of various non-conventional and renewable sources of energy in their respective villages.

M.J. PRABU

Necessity, invention: Subramaniam and his windmill on the rooftop of his house in Rasipuram, Tamil Nadu.

Good growth of a crop depends mainly on timely irrigation. For irrigation, electricity supply is required (though some use diesel pumps).

A group of farmers in Rasipuram taluk, Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, who do not want to be identified say:

The Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that the government has set a target to electrify 7,000 villages within next five years through solar energy which cannot be electrified through grid. The minister said that Pakistan is facing the same issues in developing and utilising its renewable as many other countries in similar situation.