It’s World Environmental Day; Toyota can’t keep up with demand for its Prius hybrids; and another big European windpower company sets up shop in the United States. Start your Thursday with the latest clean and green tech news from The Daily Five.

World Environment Day calls for end to carbon addiction: Today is World Environment Day, the primary occasion set aside by the United Nations to highlight international ecological issues. An international delegation has gathered in New Zealand — this year’s host country — to discuss 2008’s theme, “Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.” A hot-button topic: deforestation, which the The U.N. Environment Program estimates is responsible for 20 percent of worldwide carbon emissions. The World Environmental Day website has a full list of programs and events related to today’s observance. (Reuters)

Prius sales down 40% in May, tight supplies blamed: Sales of Toyota’s popular Prius hybrid declined sharply last month. But it’s not that people don’t want hybrids. While demand is at an all-time high, the same can’t be said for part inventories. Toyota simply can’t get its hands on enough batteries to keep cars in the pipeline. More plants are being contracted to meet demand, but it’s unlikely that supplies will improve until Toyota debuts its next-generation Prius in early 2009. There are some supplies of hybid Camrys available, but Nissan’s hybrid Altima and Ford’s Escape crossover are likely to benefit from a glut of would-be Prius buyers. (Autoblog Green)

Cost of Solar Panels Expected To Plummet: While Toyota wrestles with slim battery supplies, solar panel manufacturers are encountering similar problems with silicon wafers. But a report by the Prometheus Institute says supply issues should ease over the next few years, dramatically lowering the expense of solar photovoltaic power. Travis Bradford, president of the Institute, estimates thin-film solar costs could drop from the current $2.96 to $1.81 per watt by 2010. With the cost of coal power now hovering around $2.10, it seems increasingly likely that utility grade solar will play an important part in the new energy economy. (EcoGeek)

Alico Abandons Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Plans: There are plenty of companies racing to pioneer cellulosic ethanol technology, but a major player is stepping out of the game. Alico, which was just recently selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to construct a pilot cellulosic conversion plant, announced this week in a rather vaguely worded statement that they’re no longer interested in moving ahead. A partner company, New Planet Energy LLC, is likely to pick up the $33 million dollars in government money earmarked for the project. The DOE plans to invest $385 million over the next four years to seed cellulosic research, which aims to create biofuel from non-food organic materials. (Earth2Tech)

WINDPOWER 2008: Nordex to Build US Production Facility: More good news for the windpower industry. German turbine manufacturer Nordex says they begin producing components at new U.S. facilities beginning in 2009. The United States now represents the world’s largest market for wind turbines and technology. Wind is now the second largest source of American power, with up to 20% of U.S. energy needs expected to be generated by turbines no later than 2020. (CleanTechnica)

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