California Clean Tech Update 03.01.10

New energy group seeks stimulus millions (OC Register)

To hear Greg Trimarche tell it, Orange County is missing out -- big time. "Orange County is not getting anywhere close to their share of stimulus dollars," Trimarche said. "We're getting about 30 percent of the national average." This week, Trimarche, a partner at the Bryan Cave law offices in Irvine, did something about it. With Brandman University, Trimarche launched CleanTech OC, a new trade group dedicated to getting Orange County's share of billions in federal stimulus dollars for clean-energy projects that remain unclaimed.

SolFocus founder turns up the heat with new solar startup b2u Solar (earth2tech)

Gary Conley, the entrepreneur who founded concentrating solar company SolFocus, is at it again. Last month he launched b2u Solar, a startup which uses the sun's heat for industrial applications like drying, curing and commercial baking, and is one of a crop of startups working to take advantage of the higher efficiency potential of heat compared to electricity.

Metrus Energy lands first contract for PPA-style energy efficiency (earth2tech)

Metrus Energy, a startup seeking to popularize a power purchase agreement-like model for investing in building energy efficiency projects, has landed its first contract. The "efficiency services agreement" announced Friday calls for military contractor BAE Systems to upgrade its Merrimack, N.H. manufacturing facility's energy efficiency with Siemens doing the upgrades and Bank of America doing the financing.

Google develops prototype mirror for solar energy (CNET)

Google has developed a prototype for a new mirror technology that could cut by half the cost of building a solar thermal plant, the company's green energy czar said on Friday.

Villaraigosa considers a carbon surcharge for DWP customers (LA Times)

The extra revenue would be used to move the utility from coal to wind, solar and geothermal sources of energy. The mayor wants 20% of the agency's power to come from renewables by December.

A stink in Central California over converting cow manure to electricity (LA Times)

Air-quality rules in the region leave dairy farmers facing costly changes to generators used to burn methane to produce power. Some have put their renewable-energy plans on hold.