New sources of energy
(Business Standard) The Delhi government's reported move to make it mandatory for commercial establishments to use solar power for heating, and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) for lighting, may have been triggered by the public outcry against the power shortage, but it has an obvious message for the managers of the country's energy sector. Dependence on fossil fuels for energy, estimated at 65 per cent of the total at present, is unlikely to be viable for long. In fact, it is becoming unsustainable even today due to depleting sources of fossil fuels and rising costs.

Science and Technology: Albanian scientists discuss alternative ...
(Southeast European Times) Albanian scientists gathered at a conference in Tirana to consider the prospects for use of alternative energy resources such as wind, hydrogen, solar, water and biomass. The forum was organised by the Economy, Trade and Energy Ministry and the Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat development. The goal was to draw up policies supporting the use of renewable energy. Participants agreed that if the country efficiently uses its renewable energy resources it would no longer be dependent on electricity imports.

New Energy Practices Provide Alternative Income for Law Firms
(New York Law Journal) It's getting easier to be green. And more profitable. Just ask Edward Zaelke. The Morgan, Lewis & Bockius partner graduated from law school in 1983 with an eye on starting a renewable energy practice. In the late 1970s, the government had been keen to push legislation to curb the country's dependence on foreign oil. But "as soon as I started practicing, the oil market crashed," Zaelke recalled. And so instead of working on renewable-energy projects, Zaelke ended up working for big oil and energy companies. Today, it's a different story. Zaelke, like most energy attorneys, is benefiting from a renaissance in the renewable-energy sector as high oil prices and new state and federal legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil-fuel power plants spur interest in alternative fuel sources.

Safer batteries still a long wait
(The Brunei Times) Coverns over exploding computer batteries may be heating up, but alternative power sources for portable devices like laptops, music players and cellphones could still be up to 10 years away. Sony, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Hitachi, Toshiba and MTI Micro Fuel Cells are among those racing to develop fuel cells, which produce electricity from an external supply of fuel.

Group seeks $40 million to seed innovative businesses
(OregonLive.com) A statewide advisory council wants the 2007 Legislature to carve out almost $40 million in the 2007-09 budget for an economic-development strategy aimed at helping what the council dubs "innovation-driven industries." The group, made up of company executives, university provosts, venture capitalists and legislators, is expected to adopt the economic plan today at a gathering at Gunderson, a railroad car and barge maker in Northwest Portland.