Clean Energy

Green Scene: Wondering how other businesses are using renewable energy? Get a sneak peek
Thu, 09/29/2011
A handful of Chicago-area business owners with renewable-energy systems on their premises are inviting anyone curious enough to stop by on Saturday for a firsthand look at how they work.Fifteen businesses are participating in the Illinois Solar Tour, a daylong event of free, self-guided tours where individuals can get a close-up look at solar...

Green Scene: Celebrating an anniversary, and looking ahead
Thu, 08/18/2011
  This month marks the one-year anniversary of the Green Scene column’s debut, so I thought I’d take a moment for a quick look back and an eager eye ahead.   The local green economy cuts such a wide swath across so many sectors of business, government, non-profits, and various combinations of the above, that there has been no...

Green Scene: 11 wealthy families team up to invest in clean tech
Thu, 07/28/2011
Eleven wealthy families are now scouting for investment opportunities in the clean-energy sector – and the investment syndicate they’ve formed has already inked some deals. The Cleantech Syndicate was created in 2010 but only announced its formation late last month after it accumulated a large enough membership and demonstrated some investment...

Green Scene: Germans eye Chicago for renewable energy expansion
Thu, 07/07/2011
 Chicago and the Midwest could see an uptick in renewable-energy business with a German flavor if goodwill forged at a recent gathering translates into real deals. That optimism was shared by many among the 120 attendees at a recent daylong meeting in Chicago between business executives, policy experts and government officials from...

Clean Power Backers Waiting on Emanuel
Wed, 06/22/2011
A City Council ordinance that could force Chicago’s two coal power plants to shut down or convert to natural gas appeared to gain momentum when a key alderman switched sides to support the measure. Yet nearly two months later, the Clean Power Ordinance has yet to be re-introduced and the firm that owns the plants has retained another prominent...