WRAL Tech Wire

 iContact CEO No. 6 on tech exec list; water systems embracing 'smart' meters; Red Hat lands HP award

 Raleigh biogas energy firm lands contract in Rhode Island

Orbit Energy will sell electricity produced from decomposing food to a utility under terms of a 15-year contract. Orbit already operates a testing plant in Clinton, NC

Orbit's pilot plant in Clinton

 Just north of NC, a Va. center targets clean energy

The newly opened Riverstone Energy Center in South Boston aims to help entrepreneurs grow new clean energy products and industry in the region.

3-D simulator at Riverstone

 Smartgrid startup PlotWatt lands $1M in funding, GE Challenge

The three-year-old venture in Durham helps turn smartgrid and smart meter information into data consumers can use to cut their energy bills.

 Progress Energy wants more solar power providers

The utility company is looking to add new sources for its electrical grid in order to meet law requiring more power from renewable sources.

 NC 'clean energy' firms jump by 700 to 1,800 in less than year

According to a new report from the NC Sustainable Energy Association, the state also is the site of more than 1,800 renewable energy system projects with nearly 3 megawatts of generating capacity. That's enough for more than 561,000 homes.

Clean energy

 Raleigh-based smartgrid firm bolts for San Antonio

Consert, a developer of energy management software, is recruited to move to Texas by a big utility firm. Four other companies are also part of the recruitment coup.

Hooking up meter to Consert

 RTI wins $1.7M federal grant for lighting research

Scientists will look for ways to improve the light fixture and components for solid-state lighting such as light-emitting diodes.

 Wind farm secures approval in northeastern NC

The 20,000-acre project will provide power for 75,000 homes,

 Google invests $280M in solar power firm

The money will allow installer SolarCity to offer solar systems to homeowners for no money up front. In exchange, customers agree to pay a set price for the power produced by the systems.

 Obama jobs council picks McKinney, American Tobacco for meeting

The president is visiting the Triangle on Monday, and his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness will have a series of meetings during the day. One is set at Durham. American Tobacco also plans a reception for council members and staff Sunday night.

 Obama to visit Cree on Monday

President Obama plans to meet with his Jobs and Competitiveness Council during the trip. He also will tour Cree's manufacturing site, officials said.

 RTI, Cree land $1.6 million federal grants for lighting research

The Energy Department picks the two Triangle firms for development of energy-saving light solutions, such as LEDs. In all, the new round of grants totals nearly $15 million.

 Mitsubishi Nuclear picks Charlotte for 135 $100,000-a-year jobs

The company picks the Queen City to serve as its engineering hub and a $4.1 million capital investment. North Carolina offers up to $2.8 million in tax rebates as incentive.

 SC nuclear power plant is going digital

The Oconee Nuclear Station reactor will be the first of the 104 reactors in the United States not controlled with the same analog technology that brought the world cassette tapes.

 RTP development exec: Region's 'emerging cluster' is cleantech

Charles Hayes, chief executive officer of the Research Triangle Regional Economic Partnership, puts emphasis on growth in the clean energy sector in his annual state-of-the-region report.

Hayes

 Cree shares sag after GE, Cree deny lightbulb deal

A Wall Street Analyst says the Durham-based LED manufacturer has won a contract to provide 60-watt equivalent LED-based bulbs for GE. However, Canaccord Genuity's Jed Dorsheimer warns Cree's troubles aren't over.

Cree's LED prototype 60-watt bulb replacement

 Sensus launches remote, wireless service cutoff device for gas utilities

The Remote Gas Shutoff device enables utility firms to turn off gas service either from an office or from a wireless transmission through a walk-by or drive-by system.

 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.