California Clean Tech Update 02.25.10

Balance Energy quietly building a web of microgrids (earth2tech)

Balance Energy -- a San Diego-based offshoot of British military contractor BAE Systems -- sees the bigger promise of microgrids in the private sector, not as islands of power unto themselves, but as trading partners, making and sharing electricity with each other and the grid at large.

Lease it: Tesla Roadster for (a minimum) $1658 per month (earth2tech)

Here's one way to help unprofitable electric vehicle startup Tesla move into the black: take its electric sports cars the Roadster and the Roadster Sport, which both cost over $100,000, and offer a leasing option. The company, which last month filed to raise up to $100 million in an IPO, now says it will offer the Roadster and the Roadster Sport with a three year, 30,000 mile contract and with monthly payments as low as $1,658.

Cleantech Group nabs $3.2 million to grow green empire (GreenBeat)

The Cleantech Group, the green technology event, research, reporting and consulting company, is having a big week. The first of five annual Cleantech Forums is taking place right now in San Francisco, drawing green investors and entrepreneurs from around the world. And today, the Bay Area company took the stage to announce its own news: a $3.2 million third round of funding that will be used to expand its reach and portfolio of services.

GM brain drain: Chevy Volt leader jumps to California battery start-up (GreenBeat)

General Motors is losing one of the key players on the team developing the Chevrolet Volt -- the hotly-anticipated plug-in vehicle that is supposed to forever change the green vehicle market. And where is Denise Gray, director of global battery systems, going? Where else? A battery startup in California.

Bloom Energy by the numbers (earth2tech)

With the official launch of fuel cell maker Bloom Energy on Wednesday I'm not any more sure if the company can actually deliver on some of its claims, though it has a lot of well-known customers like Google and eBay saying it's delivered on its promises. But the 8-year-old company, which has raised close to $400 million to get it where it is today, put out some new numbers at the event this morning that can help naysers and fans alike figure out what Bloom hopes to achieve.