General Motors has invested in an electric car company Bright Automotive, on the occasion of the first venture capital arm automatically giant.

Companies said Tuesday that the investment in the newly created MM Ventures for an undisclosed amount will give GM a minority stake in Anderson, Indiana-based Bright and accelerate plans for striking at the production of hybrid van that can get up to 100 kilometers per gallon.

Prototype Bright Idea hybrid utility van.

(Photo: Martin Lamonica / CNET)

Bright developed a hybrid gas-electric utility van, called the idea, especially for fleet operators. The company was separated from the Rocky Mountain Institute think tank and co-founder John Waters, vice-chairman of Bright, who worked for GM in 1990 to help produce its EV1 electric car .

The idea of the van is designed to work almost exclusively on batteries for the first 40 miles, and then run in the standard hybrid mode, where it gets about 36 miles per gallon. Fuel efficiency is also improved thanks to lightweight materials and aerodynamic body.

The company plans to begin production of his van at the end of 2012 and to increase mass production in 2013. To finance the shift from product development to production, the company seeks a loan, which she had not received so far, from the Department on improving energy technology production vehicles.

With investments from GM, a light begins to build up production program for the ideas in the third quarter of this year, according to the company.

M. said that his venture capital arm will accelerate the adoption of a number of auto technology. "Our funding of bright car will accelerate introduction of advanced engines and light technologies on the market of commercial vehicle", M. Ventures President John Lauckner said in a statement.

The sound quality is an important factor when choosing from the headphones, but it is not the only thing you should consider when you invest in top-quality pair. If you are the person who likes to listen to music for a long time - and if you're plunking down a decent piece of change on the quality set headphoes, you're probably - it is important to make sure they're not going to snag on your hair and Leisure inconvenient for cartilage ear.

So, I went on a trip to find some of the most comfortable headphones that CNET has reviewed over the years. A good rule is to pick from a full size - but relatively easy - a couple of upholstered and in large numbers, including on the headband, as well as the ear pads.

Headphones are generally not very comfortable for most people - they get caught on things and pull out easily, and they may irritate some people's ear canals, - but I dropped one set in for good measure in case of need ultraportability. Our reviewer found them to be more than enough, in the comfort department. There is one pair of Bluetooth for those who find the wires to be a serious obstacle to their comfort.

Check out CNET most comfortable headphones

Entered into a deal with the Attorney General of the State, the developers of Cape Wind agreed to reduce the price of electricity from a proposed offshore wind farm in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Attorney General Coakley in March on Friday said that her office has negotiated 10 per cent reduction in prices of Cape Wind would levy a utility National Grid for electricity. During the proposed 15-year contract, the reduction will save $ 456 million, according to the Bureau of Coakley.

Offshore wind farm in Sweden.

(Photo: GE)

The deal highlights how cost remains a major obstacle to construction of offshore wind farms in the U.S. added construction costs mean that offshore wind is approximately two times the cost of onshore wind, according to analysts. Proposal for a pilot offshore wind farm in the deep waters of Rhode Island was rejected earlier this year as too expensive by state regulators.

State utility regulators in Massachusetts are currently considering the approval of Cape Wind, which claims to be the first offshore wind farm in the U.S. Supporters of Cape Wind say that it will bring more renewable energy in the U.S. and will help to create a springboard for the nascent industry.

Opponents of the controversial project claim that it will hurt property values, as the turbines, which will be five miles from the coast of Cape Cod, will be seen from the shore. Critics now seem increasingly capture of the project cost.

In May, Cape Wind signed a power purchase agreement with National Grid, which has agreed to pay 20.7 cents per kilowatt-hour for half the electricity generated by Cape Wind, which is much higher than wholesale prices for electricity.

The agreement with the Attorney General urges Cape Wind to charge 18.7 cents per kilowatt-hour, which will increase by 3.5 percent per year. Other provisions aim at regulating the prices down, if the Cape Wind save money by reducing the cost of construction or receives federal loan guarantee.

"This agreement accomplishes two important tasks - work to develop renewable energy, particularly offshore wind in Massachusetts, as well as ensuring customers benefit from this project for a much fairer price than what was originally proposed," Coakley said in a statement.

Enemy of the projects are still not satisfied, including the business lobbying group in the state, Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

"AIM stands for" smart "development of renewable sources, which is more competitive, cheaper and less impressive on the business climate, than the proposed Cape Wind / Grid National Agreement," said the Boston Globe .

Home Star - a program nicknamed money for caulkers designed for quick launch home energy efficiency services market - has a chance of passage in the offshore drilling oriented energy.

But most of all driving the demand for efficient hot water heaters and insulation, the bill requires that contractors provide data on home performance for consumers to qualify for major discounts.

The Senate next week is expected to debate a reduced energy bill, which is largely a response to oil spills from the Gulf, but also includes Home Star and incentives for electric and gas engines.

Although the place is not sure $ 5 billion in the bill will be shot in the arm for the flood of business at home and introduce more accountability of contractors, said Matt Golden, policy director for the advocacy group of first and President Recurve, efficient services.

"We are very bullish that this is a good car, but with politics in the Senate, nothing is easy," he said, adding that in previous years, Home Star would be a separate bill and face easier route of passage.

There are three components of the Home Star. (See Senate bill, starting on page 305 to seize control.

Silver Star of Internal Star offers discounts are available throughout the year, up to $ 3000 towards the equipment, which increases the efficiency of energy and water resources. To get money, consumers should work with accredited professionals. (Department of Energy task of creating a website to list the right contractors, but this time the construction of the effectiveness of the Institute accredits.)

"We are trying to raise the bar, because we know that many plants today are not done correctly, and we are trying to advance industry," said Gold.

Gold Star 2-year program, which offers up to $ 8000 in rebates, and contractors and homeowners must demonstrate efficiency.

After the energy audit and using simulation software to model energy and water, the house is entitled to a $ 3,000 discount on a 20-percent improvement. Each 5 percent increase in efficiency offers a $ 1000 limit, which is half the total cost of installation, depending on the version of the Senate bill.

Chasing the effectiveness of the green house (photo)

After quantifying the results mean to add more rigor in the field of home performance, said Gold.

"There's no chance that we have the money to subsidize our way to our goal," he said, adding that homes account for 20 percent of energy consumption in the U.S. "To reach our goal and economically sustainable, we must create an industry where we can predict efficiency gains, which are accurate.

The long-term vision is that the enhanced efficiency of data for planning the required capacity of the mains, Golden said. With more data, forecasts for the reduction of energy consumption has become more accurate and useful for network planning.

At the same time, though, the passage of Home Star would simply be to help raise the productivity of domestic industry on the map Golden said. And educated consumers who already know about this program can stop holding off on any home energy-related purchases.

The technology goes a long way to make our personal and professional life easier and more enjoyable. But what many people may not realize that it may also be an essential tool in making the lives of others better. With the web of volunteers in the device donation, there are many ways you can do well with those. Here are some tips to get you started.

With a busy schedule that many of us struggle with every day, it's easy to make an excuse not to volunteer your limited free time. But do not. With the variety of online volunteering options available today, you do not even have to leave from home to help the person or organization in need.

Moreover, some companies have capabilities that only a few minutes and can be done when you have a free moment, so you do not have to stress about the installation of yet another commitment to an already crammed schedule. DO check organizations like Extraordinaries , which provides a platform that allows those with a range of skills to participate in micro-volunteers.

There is little time, but there are a lot of real currency freely? DO visit the websites of the causes close to his heart, to learn about the fastest and easiest ways to make a donation. A huge number of non-profit organizations such as the Audubon Society , your regional partnership PBS , of all aid , and much more are now accepting donations from the text that are automatically added to your mobile phone bill in an easily digestible increments from $ 5 to $ 10 (in most cases).

In addition, if to ignore the idea simply to give money, not lose sight of the organization, which allows to allocate resources to enable people to develop themselves, and not. Kiwa , for example, micro-financing site features profiles of entrepreneurs in need. You can give money to the various steps of your choice, and when the loan is repaid, at its option to either save it in the system, to help others or just cash out (a good option to have in case your financial situation changes). Heifer International takes a different path, which allows cattle to sacrifice specific - or even a gift in the name of someone.

Finally, it should be remembered that many NGOs are caught in the social networking trend, so that contact with you the reasons seem particularly important. Everything from room to read a draft Mahi can always use more followers and admirers.

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Wind turbines already exist in Tehachapi, California

3000 megawatts of wind energy Alta Center at the end will actually be a series of several massive wind farms located near Tehachapi, Calif., a city in Kern County about 116 miles north of Los Angeles.

Terra-Gen is a renewable energy company that develops wind, solar and geothermal projects for power generation. Its first phase of the Alta Wind Energy Center, called Alta Project I, already funding. Its construction began in March and consists of 150 megawatts worth of turbines of General Electric.

Funding announced Wednesday, will support the remaining four phases of 3000 MW wind project: Alta Project II, through Alta Project B. The transaction includes $ 499 million loan for the construction of the bridge and $ 580 million in pass certificates, which come due in 2035 and consist of several banks, including Citi, Barclays and Credit Suisse. Terra-Gen said in a statement that he believes that this first draft of the wind and the structure of debt-lease. Citibank is buying Alta Projects II to V once they are in operation, and lease them back to Terra-Gen, which will operate and maintain equipment.

Southern California Edison has signed long-term power purchase agreement for 1,550 megawatts, the cost of power generated annually from the company in 2006. This project will go towards the execution of this transaction.

Stage 2 570 MW of wind will use 190 3 megawatt wind turbines Vestas-American Wind Technology. When the 720 megawatts of completed and running, it will increase the total wind power in California by 25 percent, according to Terra-Gen.

Completion of 3000 MW wind project would displace Texas and Oregon, in informal places, as the state with the largest wind farms in the U.S.

Oregon is home to a massive 845 megawatt wind farm under development called the Shepherds Flat, which will cover about 30 square kilometers in area of Arlington. Turbin now supplied General Electric.

In October, Texas, completed the 781.5 MW wind project carried out over 100,00 hectares spread across four counties. Rather than stay in one particular place, wind turbines scattered across the farmland and ranches, in other places, leased more than 300 participating landowners. It employs a total of 627 turbines made by different companies, including Mitsubishi, GE and Siemens.

If all commercial buildings in the U.S., which exist as in 2010 were built more energy efficient, the whole country would save more than $ 41.1 billion a year on electricity bills.

This, according to the report "Energy Efficiency Upgrade for commercial and public buildings" released on Thursday Pike investigations.

Of course, in order to get to that 41.1 billion dollars per year, saving the owners of commercial real estate will have to invest in the initial retrofit adaptation and construction updates. So much that would cost? Well, as it happens, we as a country, there are a lot of room for improvement.

The energy retrofit all 79 billion square meters of commercial real estate that Pike assessment studies exist in the U.S. as of 2010, the owners collectively will spend about $ 22.5 billion a year on upgrading within the next 10 years.

This is a lot of money for caulkers a commercial scale. Why, then, is not it a boom in this new industry that could potentially put a lot of people at work? As in the residential upgrading, the main problem is financing.

"The current financial crisis had a significant negative impact on investment property owners in their properties. Funding for such projects is not enough, and limited investment in construction efficiency is not keeping pace with the growing national demand for energy," according to Pike investigations.

The federal government contributes to the promotion of energy modernization as their homes are concerned. There is a policy for federal mandates energy efficiency of buildings and availability of financial resources to bring these buildings up to code through the American recovery and reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In fact, in addition to the various loans and grants for energy efficiency programs, $ 4.5 billion ARRA has been specifically designed to make federal buildings more energy efficient.

But this is a small dent, and federal buildings are less than 3 percent of existing U.S. commercial space, according to Pike investigations.

Although some large companies have invested in the green renovation of their properties, this is truly catch on. Pike Research believes that this situation might change and that energy modernization in commercial real estate will be a strong growth market "through 2014 and beyond."

"In addition to cost savings, energy modernization are attractive for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy independence, green branding, property appraisal, and performance," the report said Pike investigations.

Hawaii residents will soon receive 30 megawatts of wind off the north shore of Oahu.

30 megawatts Kahuku Wind developed the first wind will consist of 12 2.5 MW wind turbines manufactured by Clipper Windpower in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Upon completion, expected to generate enough electricity to 7700 homes in Oahu year.

Boston, Massachusetts-based First Wind signed a power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric Company to sell electricity generated from the farm for 20 years at an undisclosed price.

Ceremonial groundbreaking held on Wednesday on a draft Kahuka Wind attended Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle and the first director of the Wind Paul Gaynor.

Although the first wind was the main driver of the project, it became possible to a large measure of $ 117 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy, Gaynor said in a statement.

The project is coordinated in an ambitious long-term objective of Hawaii for 70 percent of all energy, it was used both for electricity and ground transportation with renewable resources by 2030. It also assumes that the project will generate up to 200 jobs during its construction.

"These wind turbines will provide another source of clean energy to power Oahu, further building on the progress of Hawaii did become a world leader in clean energy," Lindle said in a statement.

But this may be what happens when construction is completed, it will be the most interesting aspect of the project.

Wind will use the battery system from Xtreme Power, which will allow First Wind maximize the energy potential of sporadic currents district wind by storing excess electricity generated for use at a later time. In addition to storing energy for the delay in the delivery system will also tie with the smart grid associated with the Hawaiian Electric Company to provide consistent power as needed. System to reduce power variability by more than 95 percent, according to the Xtreme Power.

The first wind and the Xtreme powers previously a partner in another project in Hawaii, which is already up and running. Kaheawa Wind Project consists of 30 megawatts of wind to land in Maui.

If you believe that high-profile investors to replenish its authority, the people on the tiny EcoMotors have a good day.

Vinod Khosla and Bill Gates on Monday said they are the only investors in the Series B round of EcoMotors. Money will Troy, Mich.-based company to complete engineering and testing its effectiveness minded car engine, called Opoc.

The Director-General Don Runkle said the Detroit Free Press , that the value of investments 23.5 million. Khosla Ventures submitted a number of smaller round of 2-year-old company, which has about 3 dozen employees.

Although there are a lot of buzz around electric vehicles, technology EcoMotors' is entrenched in the mechanics of internal combustion engines.

Its engine Opoc breaks with the traditional design with two cylinders and pistons 4, which increases overall efficiency. Former Volkswagen executive Peter Hofbauer, who conceived the design, said that Opoc can improve fuel economy by 30 percent in the promotion of the city and reduce emissions. The company claims 20 percent to 50 percent efficiency in general.

The engine uses electronically controlled clutch and turbo booster, explained Runkle March ARPA-E Summit . In general, the engine is half the weight and size of the internal combustion engine, which reduces the cost by 20 percent. It can be used in conjunction with an electric motor in a hybrid design, as well, "he said.

business plan is to license its technology to automakers and engine manufacturers and to finalize the product in 2012, Runkle said. The engine can be used for various applications, including cars, trucks and generators, as well as in aerospace efforts, as well.

In May, auto supplier Zhongding Holding has invested $ 18 million to accelerate development of technologies Opoc.

EcoMotors seeking Department of Energy loan guarantee for the production of engines in the old factory General Motors.

Energy and climate change has become one of the main areas of Gates' interests. He is an investor in green technology fund Khosla Ventures "and invested in other companies seeking a breakthrough in energy technology.