Deere & Company today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell John Deere Renewables, LLC, its wind energy business, to Exelon Generation Company, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exelon Corporation.

Deere said the $900 million sale, including earn-out provisions, will result in an after-tax charge of approximately $25 million in its fourth quarter results. The charge was not reflected in Deere’s fourth quarter earnings forecast of approximately $375 million that was announced August 18th.

John Deere Renewables includes 36 completed projects in eight states with an operational capacity of 735 megawatts. The definitive agreement announced today includes the completed projects plus numerous others in development.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the company said it anticipates the transaction to close within the 2010 calendar year.

Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that it has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification for the studio’s Lot and Office Transformation Project by the U.S. Green Building Council. The project included the construction of two new 100,000 square foot office buildings, named after Jack Cohn and Harry Cohn, and a parking structure located at the heart of the studio’s historic lot based in Culver City, Calif.

The Jack Cohn and Harry Cohn buildings, which were designed for Sony Pictures by Gensler Architecture with developer Georgetown Company and general contractor CW Driver, were recognized by USGBC for environmental features such as:

• the use of local and recycled building materials as well as diverting over 93 percent (16,128 tons) of construction waste material from landfills
• incorporation of onsite filtration system for storm water runoff and low-flow toilets and urinals
• use of low-emitting carpeting, paint, sealants, adhesives and wall coverings
• installation of motion detector lights and energy efficient light bulbs
• implementation of “Green Housekeeping” building maintenance standards
• availability of preferred parking for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles as well as car pools and van pools

In addition, the LOT Project included the construction of a state of the art, highly efficient central cooling plant.

Sony said it is the first and only studio to achieve ISO14001 certification (the international standard for managing an organizations impact on the environment), as part of its sustainability practice that went studio wide in 2001.

CER prices soared to hit a four-month high on Thursday on news that European companies could be banned from using carbon credits from controversial offset projects, according to ICIS Heren data.

“If the EU bans all industrial carbon credits, the supply of credits would drop by around 75%,” Isabel Save, carbon editor at ICIS Heren, said.

Late on Wednesday, the EU issued a statement saying it had taken a first step to restrict the use of carbon credits from large-scale industrial projects.

These mammoth offset schemes have come under fire from green groups, which say they actually raise emissions instead of cutting them. The argument is that companies can make money from inflating their output and selling carbon credits, even when demand for their products is falling.

ICIS Heren data shows prices in the over-the-counter market rising to EUR13.55 per tonne of CO2 on Thursday for UN-backed carbon credits. European companies active in the carbon market – mainly power generators and banks – are covering an expected shortfall, having sold credit forward.

The UN has already launched a probe into carbon projects destroying the greenhouse gas hydrofluorocarbon (HFC-23), due to suspicions these projects have gamed the system and operated purely to get carbon cash.
The EU restrictions would come into place at any point after 2013. Project lead times mean that investors need to know at least three years in advance what type of credit will be allowed in the EU emissions trading system, before committing any money.

Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn (File photo)

From Green Right Now Reports

Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn yesterday announced an over $4 million stimulus grant award for the Rockford Solar Project, the largest photovoltaic solar development in the Midwest and one of the largest in the United States. Gov. Quinn appeared at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Wanxiang America Corporation’s newly built solar panel manufacturing plant in Rockford.

“The state’s investment will help ensure Illinois remains a leader in renewable energy development, while continuing to build on the state’s energy independence goals,” Gov. Quinn said in a statement. “With partnerships with companies like Wanxiang and New Generation Power, we’re creating hundreds of sustainable, green-collar jobs and providing an economic boost to the entire state.”

Earlier in the day, Governor Quinn was in Chicago to sign House Bill 6202 into law, which establishes interim solar targets to help Illinois successfully scale up to reach the state’s solar renewable portfolio standard of 6 percent by 2015. The new law is expected to create more than 5,000 solar panel installation, manufacturing, and maintenance jobs and significantly reduce Illinois’ carbon footprint.

The up to 62 megawatt Rockford Solar Project will generate enough electricity to power over 10,000 homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at a rate of 113,000 tons annually, equivalent to the emissions from nearly 20,000 cars. The Project will significantly help electricity suppliers achieve the required 0.5% solar target by 2012.

The project is the effort of Rockford Solar Partners, LLC, a joint venture between Wanxiang America, the U.S. subsidiary of one of the largest non-state owned companies in China with $8 billion in revenues worldwide, and Chicago-based renewable energy developer New Generation Power to develop and operate the photovoltaic solar generation facility.

Production has already begun on Wanxiang’s solar panels in the newly constructed flagship manufacturing facility located in the Rockford Global Trade Park adjacent to the Rockford International Airport. Rockford officials have indicated the facility is designed for expansion on the 10-acre Wanxiang campus.

“Solar energy is becoming more and more popular in America, and in the world as well. We believe the market is poised for rapid growth,” Pin Ni, President of Wanxiang America, said in a statement. “We appreciate the state and city governments to support the solar business. Our goal is to expand the plant threefold to meet the demand of Illinois’s new solar energy mandate.”

In March 2010, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded a grant of $4,025,000 to Rockford Solar Partners, equivalent to 1.26 percent of the project’s total cost. 68 percent will be financed by nongovernmental sources. The federal funding was awarded pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Community Renewable Energy Program to create and retain jobs.

The coffins are available in eight different colors.

From Green Right Now Reports

Three Gloucestershire companies have joined forces to produce a “green” coffin made from recycled newspapers, according to a report in the BBC. The idea originated with undertaker Jeremy Clutterbuck, who said he spent years searching for a “truly eco-friendly” casket.

He partnered with a local paper mill and a firm that makes timber items to create a new company, Sunset Coffins. It takes 70 recycled tabloid newspapers or 120 broadsheets to make one biodegradable coffin, the company said.

The coffins, which are available in eight different colors, use biodegradable pigments and binders. The company says there are no plastics or metals used in its construction, thereby reducing any potential environmental issues.

Environmentally friendly burials have become increasingly popular in England.  Actress Lynn Redgrave, chef Keith Floyd and Body Shop founder Anita Roddick were all buried in “eco-friendly” coffins.

Houston’s popular Ruggles Green, launched a year ago off West Alabama street in the Upper Kirby District, has added a second location in the new CITYCENTRE development in the Memorial area of West Houston.

The new Ruggles Green also is a Certified Green Restaurant that conforms to guidelines set by the Green Restaurant Association. Guidelines include an extensive recycling program, no use of styrofoam, energy reduction steps, water conservation steps, use of sustainable materials, public education/outreach, and use of local and organic ingredients in food.

Green Cafe Management and GJR Partners said the new Ruggles Green location will continue with the same style menu as its original location in River Oaks. Ruggles Green offers a diverse collection of comfort foods like Spicy Fish Tacos, Warm Goat Cheese Salads, Lean Buffalo Burgers, and Wood-fired Pizzas, with an emphasis on all natural and organic ingredients.

Green Cafe officials said they are planning a multi-store expansion in the Houston area during the next two years. The restaurant management company was founded by chef Bruce Molzan, Federico Marques, and Robert Guillerman.

Consumers cited recycling as the most important environmental concern for packaged beverages.

From Green Right Now Reports

A new beverage industry study found that 94 percent of Americans are concerned about the long-term effects that their packaged beverage purchases and consumption have on the environment. The study also shows that environmental concerns are driving down the consumption of bottled water.

In the BeveragePulse.com study, performed by Concept Catalysts and iModerate Research Technologies, found recycling was cited frequently (45 percent) as the most important environmental concern for packaged beverages. Health concerns and economic issues also contribute to recent category declines in packaged beverage purchases.

The report, “Environmental Concerns: The impact on beverage and package decisions,” also shows that although 56 percent of consumers cite recycling as a critical issue, many are not recycling at work or away from home. And concern for environmental issues among consumers has heightened as a result of the Gulf oil spill. Half of the respondents are confused about the meaning of sustainability, some citing it as a negative environmental attribute.

“Our research shows that consumers think about the environment when they are making beverage purchases; specifically, the findings indicate that consumers relate positively to packages that are easy to recycle,” Bob Falkenberg, founder of BeveragePulse.com and president of Concept Catalyst, said in a statement. “Beverage companies should start a full court press on recycling.”

The study sampled more than 500 respondents, giving it a margin of error of +/-4.29 at the 95 percent confidence level.

U.S Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy will award a total of $188 million to small businesses in 34 states to develop technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and job creation.

Funded through DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research program and Small Business Technology Transfer program, the new selections are for Phase II work, which means that the 201 awards will support the development of prototype or pilot operations for innovative technologies that have successfully passed the proof of concept stage.

The 201 awards fall in 76 targeted technology topics, in areas such as the smart grid, energy efficient buildings, industrial energy use, advanced renewables, cleaner fossil power, carbon cycle measurement, and high performance computing.  A sample of the Phase II SBIR/STTR topic areas and awards is highlighted below:

1. Smart Grid Controllers – The development of a smart grid will reduce energy use, mitigate the need for new power plants, and prevent outages. However, an effective smart grid requires communication among a variety of devices, from utility control systems to household appliances.  One project, led by Infotility in Boulder, Colo., will develop a “Smart Controller” that enables communication among distributed energy systems-such as roof-top solar panels, a plug-in electric vehicle, and demand response devices in the home. (DOE award: $999,655)
2. Advanced Solar Technologies – Solar energy is our largest energy resource and can provide clean, sustainable energy, but innovations are needed to bring down the cost. This topic seeks to develop novel, previously untried but commercially feasible solar concepts and devices.    One project, led by Luminit, LLC, in Torrance, Calif., will develop a unique sun-tracking holographic concentrator that separately uses both visible light for photovoltaic power and infra-red light to provide heat and hot water for a building.  (DOE award: $999,986)
3. Carbon Cycle Measurements – Eighty-five percent of our nation’s energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.  These processes add carbon to the atmosphere, principally in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2).  A project led by Aerodyne Research, Inc, in Billerica, Mass., will develop an extremely accurate CO2 monitor, which will assist in understanding global climate change and will help companies measure carbon capture and sequestration projects.  (DOE award:  $749,787)

The small businesses being announced today will join the ranks of past SBIR and STTR recipients, many of which have successfully brought their innovations to market. For example, past SBIR recipient A123 Systems has grown into a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge lithium ion batteries and is now expanding its manufacturing base in Michigan, and another past SBIR winner, Amonix, is growing its concentrating PV manufacturing capacity in Nevada, which is expected to employ hundreds of workers.

Small businesses play a major role in spurring innovation and creating jobs in the U.S. economy. Between 1993 and 2008, small business created 64% of all net new jobs, totaling 14.5 million new jobs. Small businesses employ nearly 40% of the U.S. science and engineering workforce. The goal of DOE’s SBIR program is to help innovative small businesses succeed. In keeping with the goals of the Recovery Act, the Department’s SBIR efforts have incorporated a fast-track process for applications, increased emphasis on job creation and commercialization potential in the review and selection process, and provided business incubator funding.

Additional information on the SBIR program and today’s funding announcement is available at SBIR/STTR Programs Office.

For more information about the companies announced today visit Phase II funding.

Education To Go offers a six-week online course on “Going Green at the Workplace.” The 12-lesson course covers how to position your business as a responsible environmental leader in a world of green consumers and carbon-conscious regulators. Topics also include how to save energy, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint, all at the same time.

The course covers ways to trim your energy costs without reducing your productivity by making your lighting, HVAC, and building control systems more efficient. Students will learn ways to cut your water bill and will look at waste reduction strategies that can save money while helping move toward a sustainable business model.

Other topics include:

• Transportation and shipping: examining the benefits of alternative fuels, hybrids, and all-electric vehicles
• Renewable energy: how to integrate wind and solar power into your energy use plan, buying green power, carbon offsets, and renewable energy credits
• LEED accreditation: how to measure and manage your carbon emissions in order to comply with any eventual carbon tax or cap-and-trade system

Throughout the course, students examine real-world examples of energy-saving solutions and find out how to calculate the costs, benefits, and paybacks of these projects. They also learn how to communicate the environmental benefits of to customers and business partners, transforming business into a leader in the green economy.

Get details of the course here.