CleanTech OC Daily - 7/19/12

What Abound Solar’s Bankruptcy Says About the DOE Loan Program
Politicians are blaming the U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee program for the most recent solar company to go bankrupt – Abound Solar. However, according to Abound China is to blame for their demise, stating that when panel prices dropped 50% in one year the company could not keep up with the Chinese competition.

Begich proposes legislation for Renewable Energy Research

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich has re-introduced his Renewable Energy Environmental Research Act, a bill designed to promote renewable energy research. The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Olympia Snowe, (R-ME) and directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to implement a $100 million dollar research program designed to collect, monitor, and distribute environmental data to assist development of renewable energy, particularly related to ocean energy.

ICLEI Releases Green Business Challenge Web App for Cities

The ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA has released the Green Business Challenge App, a web application that allows any city to launch a competition among its business community to save money, energy, water, and waste. The Green Business Challenge is a cost-effective program that helps businesses improve their environmental performance and helps local governments meet their community-wide energy and sustainability goals.