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Google Unveils Faster, Cheaper Mechanism To Track Worldwide Deforestation Online; Support for Land Use Change Measurement, Verification and Reporting

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Landsat images via Google Earth. Through its philanthropic arm, Google.org, Google introduced an online suite of beta software that leverages cloud computing to track worldwide land-use changes such as deforestation. Google Earth, as analyzed by Carnegie Landsat Analysis System. Sources: USGS. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge.

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OnStar and Google demonstrate concept service for managing charging Chevrolet Volts with renewable energy

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OnStar and Google are working together to demonstrate a new OnStar service for managing the charging of Chevrolet Volts with renewable energy, using the 17 Chevrolet Volts in Google’s “Gfleet” based at the company’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. Concept of the service and mobile app for renewable charging. Click to enlarge.

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Cool Planet projects production of carbon-negative high-octane biogasoline for $1.50 per gallon

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The fast thermal processing of the biomass typically produces a large quantity of activated carbon, or bio-char; when the excess process carbon is used for fuel such as a coal substitute, the entire process is carbon neutral and, thus, produces both carbon neutral petrochemical compatible components and a carbon neutral coal substitute.

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Envidity launches $1B UCG-GTL project in Mongolia

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announced the commitment of funds to launch a US$1-billion underground coal gasification gas-to-liquids (UCG-GTL) project in Mongolia. The project will transform low-quality deeply-embedded, underground coal into synthetic diesel. Google Maps. km) over the largest Mongolian Shivee-Ovoo brown coal deposit. mi, 774 sq.

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Transphorm closes $25 Million in Series D funding

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a private investment fund managed by Soros Fund Management LLC, and existing investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Google Ventures, Foundation Capital and Lux Capital. Inefficient electric power conversion results in lost energy that costs the United States economy $40 billion a year and is equivalent to the output of 300 coal plants.

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New $20M XPRIZE tackles conversion of CO2 into products

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Co-sponsored by NRG and COSIA (Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance), the 4-½ year competition will include two tracks, with the new technologies tested at either a coal power plant or a natural gas facility.

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Europe/US team: transitioning to a low-carbon world will create new rivalries, winners and losers

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For example, rich countries such as Germany can throw billions of dollars at their coal sector to ease their transition pain, offering generous financial aid to lignite-producing regions. This drives the development of fossil fuels, including coal and shale production, as well as renewables. But competition between nations also spikes.

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