WRAL Tech Wire

Toyota goes social with 'Toyota Friend' network

Salesforce.com is helping the Japanese automaker link its vehicle owners through a private network that includes Twitter feed and Facebook.

Toyota goes social with Salesforce.com

Raleigh hosts nation's largest solar energy conference

An estimated crowd of 2,000 is expected each day with 2,500 or more expected for "Public Day" on Saturday when citizens can learn more how to utilize alternative energy themselves. Some 170 companies are participating.

Bill Gates to 'keep the pressure up' for clean energy

However, he says the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will focus on other initiatives.

Bill Gates

US ranks 17th in clean tech, report says

Denmark is No. 1 in share of national GDP produced by clean tech, but China paces the world in growth.

RTI International opens 127,000 square foot energy efficient building

The new four-story structure at RTI's Triangle campus is designed to meet LEED standards.

RTI's new building

Lenovo hosts Earth Day recycling event - Bring your electronics

The world's No. 4 PC maker recycled more than 6.5 tons of material at its 2010 Earth Day event. Only a small portion went to a landfill.

Fowl power: Progress Energy to produce power from poultry waste

The state's first poultry-to-biogas facility will be built in Biscoe. Progress will work with a Florida firm on the project.

Power company ABB gives $1.2M to NCSU for engineering research

Last fall, ABB said it would launch a Smart Grid Center of Excellence and expand its NCSU presence.

Week in review: WRAL Tech Wire headlines

March Madness online; best in 'clean tech'; Apple apps pay $$$; check out Placekitten; DailyWorth cashes in; Parkinson's preventative?

'March Madness' still free online; Georgia firm cracks WSJ's top 10 'clean tech' firms; Apple pays developers $2B; Placekitten launches - meow; finance site for women raises $850K; Ibuprofen may reduce Parkinson's risk.

Smart grid, solar panels could drive up energy bills, VC investor warns

Speaking at VentureBeat ‘GreenBeat’ conference, a Claremont Creek Ventures investor says more homes going off the power grid means higher costs for those left behind.

S.C. Research Foundation lands $5M grant for CO2 storage project

RTI lands $168.8M federal grant for carbon capture project

The Department of Energy awards nearly one-third of its $565 million for energy projects to Triangle research group. The experimental technique involves storing carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants and other sources underground, in an attempt to reduce pollution blamed for contributing to global warming.

RTI project to target power plant emissions

Cisco to acquire smart-grid applications developer

On Wednesday, Cisco sealed a partnership for smart grid development with a smart meter manufacturer.

Pine tree power? Duke Energy’s plan worries some environmentalists

The Charlotte-based utility eyes the Carolinas’ pine forests as a source for biomass-based power plant fuel. Legislation requires more power based on renewable sources. Southern Environmental Law Center opposes use of trees rather than wood waste. The group also opposes offshore drilling.

Pine tree power?