Science - Energy latest news

The British Columbia (BC) Sustainable energy Association has rolled out a project called Clean Energy Classrooms. The project features a two-part directory to all of Canada's currently available training and education options in renewable energy. It is run by Renewable Recruits, a green energy promotions and recruiting firm.

SunRun announced that it has raised US $12 million in a financing led by Foundation Capital. SunRun Solar Service reduces homeowners' energy costs by offering rooftop solar electricity as a home service. Instead of making a large capital investment in solar panels, the homeowner is billed only for the solar electricity used.

A vote by the ASTM International's D02 Main Committee has approved a trio of ASTM specifications for biodiesel blends. ASTM has voted to approve three sets of biodiesel specifications that should significantly bolster automaker support and consumer demand for biodiesel.

Samsung Heavy Industries is to deliver the world's biggest liquefied natural gas tanker to Exxon Mobil Corp.'s venture in Qatar in August, reported Bloomberg. The 266,000 cubic-metre capacity tanker, Mozah, named after the wife of the Emir of Qatar, can hold almost twice the amount of LNG as conventional tankers.

The Abu Dhabi government-owned International Petroleum Investment company (Ipic) has committed to invest an initial $300m as cornerstone investor to the Middle East and North Africa Associated Gas and Global environment Fund. The fund aims to raise $1.5bn for investment in projects to capture associated gas from crude oil production and to use it to generate electricity and other products.

Spanish clean energy firm Iberdrola Renovables and Bancaja have announced their participation in the wind energy plan for the region of Valencia, under the auspices of the regional government, in a bid to increase power generation in the province of Castellon.

Suez has welcomed the announcement made by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, on the construction of a second European pressurized reactor-type nuclear reactor in France. The board of directors of the GDF-Suez merged group is expected to decide on its options by the beginning of 2009, in line with the timetable set out by Mr Sarkozy.

Metro RTA, the public transit provider for the City of Akron and Summit County in Ohio, has awarded Clean energy Fuels a five-year contract to operate and maintain the fueling station for its fleet of 45 full-sized compressed natural gas buses.

The City of Saco, Maine has been chosen as an Environmental Hero and designated as the Venue for the first annual Maine Going Green energy, Building & Living Expo.

Leading residential and commercial solar installation company REC Solar, Inc. announced it has been selected as a preferred solar electricity provider by the City of Cupertino's "Cool Cities" program. To celebrate, REC Solar is running a special summer program offering Cupertino residents group discounts on solar electric systems for their homes and businesses.