This week, Greentown Labs board member Alicia Barton accepted an exciting new opportunity in New York! London made key strides to promoting cleantech innovation, while researchers in The U.S. began working on the largest wind turbine produced to date. Clean energy prices across the globe continued to drop and are now close to becoming cheaper than coal. Finally, renewable energy is generating more power than nuclear for the first time ever in The U.S.

What news did you been reading last week? Share with us @GreentownLabs!

Boston Business Journal– New York snags ex-Massachusetts cleantech leader

• Greentown Labs board member & leader in the Massachusetts cleantech industry Alicia Barton, is headed to New York to advance the sector. Barton will serve as the CEO of the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority. We are thrilled she will be staying on as a board member!

“New York and Massachusetts are part of a small group of states that are out in front of this issue.”

Bloomberg– London Mayor, Ford, Open Cleantech Hubs in U.K. Capital

• Recently, the mayor of London announced Better Futures, a clean-tech incubator. Additionally, Ford Motor Company launched a facility focusing on autonomous vehicles in the city. Mayor Khan is looking to further establish London as a cleantech hub. Ford is inspired by the developments in the city and believes it is a great place to focus on innovation.

“Basing our rapidly growing team here in the heart of mobility innovation in London is critical to accelerating our learning and development of new technologies.”

EconoTimes– Nexamp Powers Up First Community Solar Array to Serve Unitil Customers in Massachusetts

• Nexamp, Inc. is celebrating its newest community solar project, a 700 kW facility in Fitchburg, Mass. The project will provide homes and business in the area with solar power for the first time. Due to the agreement with Nexamp, residents are also seeing lower electricity prices.

“Fitchburg Solar demonstrates the impact solar energy has on the community, the environment, and the economy.”

Scientific American– World’s Largest Wind Turbine Would Be Taller Than the Empire State Building

• In the past nine years, wind energy capacity has nearly tripled in the United States. Experts believe growth will continue to skyrocket, especially as technology advances. Researches at the University of Virginia are currently building the world’s largest wind turbine, which will be taller than the empire state building. The development of larger turbines could create more power while lowering prices.

“One reason giant turbines are more cost-effective is that wind blows stronger and more steadily at greater altitudes.”

MIT Technology Review– Clean Energy Is About to Become Cheaper Than Coal

• New reports show that the price for clean energy will fall below coal faster than anticipated. The analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that solar will become cheaper than coal in the United States by 2021. The milestones will have a tremendous impact on national adoption of clean energy.

“The report predicts that of the $10.2 trillion expected to be invested into power generation between now and 2040, 72 percent will be channeled into renewables.”

Greentech Media– Solar Costs Are Hitting Jaw-Dropping Lows in Every Region of the World

• It’s no secret, solar energy costs are falling and making renewable energy more readily available. Greentech Media Research expects prices to keep falling, possibly by more than 25 percent before 2022. Experts believe this is a global trend and will make solar power more popular around the world.

“Those improvements are not limited to the U.S. They are occurring globally, and in some cases resulting in even sharper price declines than those America is experiencing.”

Cleantechnia- Renewable Energy Provides More Electricity Than Nuclear Power In US

• For the first time ever, renewable sources are generating more power than nuclear in The United States.  While natural gas and coal are still the leading providers, the prominent growth of renewable energy is threatening their standing. Surpassing nuclear power represents a transformation in the energy sector and continued promise for clean energy.

“Renewable energy is now surpassing nuclear power, a major milestone in the transformation of the U.S. energy sector.”