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Perhaps in response to the popular, but all to limited 2008 FCX Clarity, Mercedes is showing their commitment to Hydrogen Fuel Cell driven vehicles. In the International Auto Show happening in Frankfurt the head of Mercedes-Benz explained that the automaker is about to enter a "low volume" production phase of the F-Cell.

Destined for mass production the Hydrogen powered Mercedes F-Cell

This limited production is eerily similar of Honda's limited production and leasing of the FCX Clarity in Southern California last year. Only 200 cars were made available. It seems that Mercedes also wants to wait for an expansion of hydrogen filling stations before really cranking out the F-Cell. Hopefully they'll begin building Home Energy Stations like Honda and Toyota as well.

He's turned the DOE's oil friendly policies of administrations past on its head. No longer focused only on fossil fuels the DOE now seems to be acting according to the will of the people. Tapping America's vast renewable resources like wind and solar is what we want, not spiralling energy costs due to dependence on fossil fuels.

12th United States Secretary of Energy Under Attack

Steven Chu's been doing a great job revamping the DOE. Quite frankly, we're surprised he's gotten as far as he has without having his likeness pasted on townhall bilboards with a Hitler moustache.
It's no wonder that FreedomWorks and Americans For Prosperity are foaming at the mouth to see him go, he's doing something right. After the firing of Van Jones they must feel bold enough to go after an officially appointed official. Check out this document uncovered by Enviroknow to derail Cap and Trade legislation through "grassroots" activists in relevant districts.

While the United States is still considering feed in tariffs, First Solar has signed a contract with Chinese government officials to build a staggering 2 GIGAwatt photovoltaic farm in the Mongolian desert.

The plant will operate under China's feed-in tariff. Power companies are required to purchase electricity from the installation for a certain number of years. Since the projected costs for the massive installation are about 6 billion USD. A guarantee of return on investment in the form of the feed in tariff legislation is very likely the single most important factor that makes this degree of clean energy generating project possible.
More about this solar megaproject and China's feed in tariff program here.

This is about to become my favourite biofuel types for its name alone. Woody Biomass, despite it's funny name is getting a chance to both reduce forest fires and fuel rural economies with a 4.2 million dollar grant from the USDA.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has awarded  grants to 17 small businesses and community groups to develop biofuel uses for the woody biomass that is pulled out of forests each year to reduce forest fire hazards. The smaller diameter wood and trees not usually sold for lumber and paper are perfect for biodiesel. Read the press release from the USDA for a full list of the 2009 woody biomass utilization grant recipients.

I suppose I should be grateful to see the DOE dole out 10 million dollars to Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp. to build a new truck manufacturing plant in Kansas City, but my blood pressure is still rising. GM received billions and the Chevy Volt is still not in production. Smith Electric on the other hand is very likely going to take this Department of Energy grant and effectively.

Coca-Cola and other large companies are already using Smith's all elictric delivery vehicles, however they're currently built in Europe. It's very likely this investment will pay off for the local economy, I just wish I could say the same for the rest of the Recovery funds.

Nearly a decade ago Germany passed a Renewable Energy Sources Act that basically gave smaller renewable energy projects priority access to power grids. At the same time smaller scale energy producers were able to sign extended contracts to provide energy at a higher rate than standard fossil fuel burning energy production. The imposed rate is subsidized by tax dollars and reduced each year to encourage increased efficiency.

This gives alternative energy start-ups a fighting chance and their investors some breathing room. And while I'm no fan of protecting industry, even to save the world, it's hard to ignore the runaway success its had in Germany. They've not only met their carbon emissions reduction targets years ahead of schedule, but they outproduce the United States in solar 6 to 1!

While the Senate makes huge waves trying enforce caps and trades whatever they are, Reps. Jay Inslee of Washington and Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts are preparing a feed-in tariffs bill that's much easier to understand, and enforce.

Unfortunately it's worked in Europe, and you know what that means. I can't wait to hear the 24 hour news nitwits hollar "Socialism!"

I normally shrug my shoulders or at least roll my eyes whenever I happen across a warning that oil has peaked and we're all going to become road warriors and be forced to sell our children into slavery. But today I noticed this post from their science editor and, well, it's just a lot more terrifying than most other "Sky Is Falling" oil supply warnings.

By the way, I'm trying this Zemanta plugin for Firefox so if things seem a little odd with regard to links and images don't sweat it. The previous link to a wikipedia article about different countries' oil supplies was courtesy of the plugin and, that's kind of cool.

Anyway, Dr. Faith Birol is the chief economist at the IEA in Paris and has been assessing future energy supplies in OECD countries. He's not full of optimism for global oil production, or the fragile economic recovery.

If you want to ruin your day go a head and read the full article at The Independent.

I'm not making this up. The U.S. wind energy industry has installed exactly 1,210 megawatts of new power generating capicity in the second quarter according to the American Wind Energy Association.

Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) would have s&#^ a gold brick!

Here's the best thing I've seen today. Obviously we're big fans of algae derived biofuels. Wether you ferment it or milk it, algae's got a very good looking future as a source of energy.

The rather large trucking company J.B. Hunt has announced it's commitment to filling its fleet with a blend including SunEco Energy's biodiesel comprised of 100% natural algae oil and old fashioned petroleum diesel.

They tested the blend and found an 82% reduction in particulate emissions and no loss of power, and no loss of profits. In fact currently it's less expensive to use the greener fuel combination.

Score one for algae!

This one just stinks to high heaven. Although it's great to hear anyone in the Senate praise Electric Vehicles like the Smith Newton, when I saw Kit Bond from Missouri at a podium in front of a Coca-Cola delivery truck manufactured by Smith Electric Vehicles.

Sen. Kit Bond Loves the Electric Vehicles Except When Voting

Kit Bond, who has voted against numerous bills to curb greenhouse emissions and promote alternative fuel sources actually said, "we must have a comprehensive solution including investment in alternative energy technology if America is ever to be in control of its own energy future."

This is a Senator that voted to block legislation that would of given companies a tax break when upgrading their fleets to more efficient vehicles, now he's standing in front of one praising it.

Is he changing his game? It hardly matters now that he's announced that he will not be seeking re-election in 2010.