Governor's Council on Climate Change Seeks Leaders for Recognition

January 29, Hartford – The Governor's Steering Committee on Climate Change is pleased to announce the 2nd annual Climate Change Leadership Awards Program. The program recognizes CT individuals and organizations that have taken exemplary actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nominations for 2007 awards are being accepted now through March 2, 2007.

The Governor's Steering Committee seeks nominations from the following: students, educators, businesses, municipalities and government entities, institutions (colleges, universities, hospitals, schools) NGOs and individuals. The awards ceremony will take place in April 2007 in conjunction with Earth Day activities.

If you would like to find out more about the Council and the Climate Change Leadership Awards Program, click here.

Source: Governor's Council on Climate Change.

Contact:
David Goldberg
(860) 827-2886
c4info@ctclimatechange.com

Connecticut College On Short List Of Green Innovators

January 22, New London – Connecticut College is one of 10 finalists in the “Ecomagination Challenge” sponsored by GE Corp. and the mtvU television network, which challenged college students to “develop new, creative ways to green their campus.”

The college's entry, “Community, Conservation, Compost: A Holistic Approach,” proposes using commercial-sized compost units to reduce the amount of food waste generated by the college. More than 100 schools applied to the contest. Visitors to mtvU's “Ecomagination Challenge” Web site are being asked to vote for their favorites before March 2.

The winning team, which will be chosen March 20, will receive a $25,000 grant to “bring their green dream to life” and will be featured on mtvU. The winning school will also receive an mtvU Earth Day Concert with a performance by Angels and Airwaves.

Junior Misha Johnson and sophomores Tyler Dunham and Leia Crosby came up with the idea for the college's entry. Students Ben Pedley, Cara Donovan and Mike Seager also assisted with the application process.

Currently, the college pays a local pig farmer to haul away the college's food waste. The student's proposal would reduce the amount of waste generated by the college by nearly 35,000 pounds a year. That waste would be turned into compost, then given to local farmers in exchange for produce to be used in campus dining halls. The Conn proposal and film can be found at: ecocollegechallenge.com.

By Day Staff Writer, published on 1/21/2007

Staples Unveils Largest Solar Power Installation in New England

January 16, Rocky Hill – The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), Staples and SunEdison will host a dedication ceremony today to unveil the largest solar power installation in New England at Staples’ 300,000-square-foot retail distribution center in Killingly, Conn. The solar power installation, built at no capital cost to Staples, was made possible through the collaborative effort of CCEF, which provided a $1.7 million grant for the project, and SunEdison, which financed the remaining costs of the project and designed and installed the system. Connecticut State Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) will speak at today’s event, as well as representatives from CCEF, Staples and SunEdison.

The Killingly-based solar power installation, a 433-kilowatt DC commercial solar photovoltaic system, is 1 ½ times the size of a football field, covering nearly 74,000 square feet of roof space. The solar power system will have a measurable environmental impact and reduce annual carbon emissions equivalent to the amount produced by the average car driving 420,000 miles. The solar power system has the capacity to produce enough energy to cleanly power 14 percent of the distribution center or 36 homes per year.

“The solar power system installed at our Killingly distribution center is part of Staples’ integrated strategy for a seven percent reduction in the company’s U.S. carbon emissions by 2010 on an absolute basis, starting from a base year of 2001,” said Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs, Staples, Inc. Buckley added, “The solar power system is a win-win proposition for Staples and Connecticut. Through our relationship with solar services provider SunEdison, we’re able to purchase solar energy off our rooftop at a rate below or equal to the cost of electricity off the grid. This reduces our operating costs while freeing up more electricity during peak times for use by local homes and businesses.”

For more information on Staples’ environmental initiatives, please visit www.staples.com/environment.

Source: CT Clean Energy Fund

FuelCell Energy Signs Agreement with Global Leader The Linde Group

January 12 , Danbury - FuelCell Energy, Inc. a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean and efficient electric power generation plants for commercial and industrial customers, today announced the formation of a marketing and distribution agreement with The Linde Group, a EUR 12 billion worldwide market leader in industrial gases and engineering with business in over 70 countries around the globe.

Under terms of the agreement, which goes into effect immediately, Linde gains the non-exclusive right to sell and market Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) power plants worldwide except where FuelCell Energy already has granted exclusive distribution agreements. Linde will focus initially on DFC opportunities in North America that fit into its overall strategy of developing sustainable energy solutions and providing low-carbon distributed generation solutions to industrial, commercial and governmental customers, with longer term plans to leverage this relationship into other geographies where Linde has market leadership.

Linde has established a strong presence developing sustainable energy solutions through technological innovation and participation in collaborative demonstration projects and alliances. Its initiatives include:

Alternative fuels - hydrogen and other sustainable replacements for gasoline, diesel and fuel oil.

Green power - sustainable distributed generation solutions for industrial and commercial customers.

Packaged energy - delivered hydrogen, LPG and other fuels to meet small-scale sustainable energy needs.

In the United States, Linde expects to market fuel cell power plants that operate on biogas, which qualify as renewable energy sources. DFC units can run on any hydrocarbon fuel source, including renewables like ethanol, anaerobic digester gas (generated in wastewater treatment) and other biofuels, as well as propane and methane. A third of FuelCell Energy's currently installed or backlog units rely on biofuels or renewables like anaerobic digester gas.

CONTACT: Investors
FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Lisa Lettieri, 203-830-7494
llettieri@fce.com

or

Linde AG
Stefan Metz, +49.89.35757.1322
stefan.metz@linde.com

SOURCE: FuelCell Energy, Inc.

Natural Resource Products Firm Acquires New Milford Farms

January 3, 2007 - Garick, a nationwide distributor and processor of sustainable natural resource products based in Cleveland Ohio, has announced the acquisition of New Milford Farms, in New Milford, Connecticut. The acquisition became final in December 2006. New Milford Farms was a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestlé USA, Inc. that processed byproducts from Nestlé operations in the Northeast into saleable compost and soil products.

With this acquisition, Garick plans to attract food and organic green waste generators in the Northeast United States. Instead of sending waste to landfills, companies can send any organic waste to New Milford Farms. Garick will recycle the waste into reusable compost.

Gary Trinetti, President and CEO of Garick, says, “With the addition of New Milford Farms, Garick now has the capabilities to supply the entire Northeast market with our outstanding line of branded products, including Black Satin®, Designated Dryer®, HydRocks®, Kids Karpet®, Moo-Nure™, and Nature’s Helper®. We are excited to continue on our mission of being nature’s helper and ‘enhancing people’s lives and the environment’.”

Garick, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading distributor and processor of natural resource products in the United States and Canada, servicing the landscape, recreation, lawn, garden, and construction industries. Garick’s additional composting facilities are Paygro® in South Charleston, Ohio and Smith Garden Products in Cumming, Georgia. These facilities make nationally branded products Black Satin® Mulch, Designated Dryer™ sports turf conditioner, Hydrocks® soil enhancer, Kids Karpet® recreational surfacing, Moo-Nure™ organic compost, and Nature’s Helper® soil amendment. With these composting facilities and other terminals and ports located throughout the United States, Garick has the capability to supply a complete range of products in bags, bales, or bulk.

Source: www.garick.com
The Hartford Business Journal's January 3 - HBJ Daily Update