The Week in CleanTech, Sunday Edition: Google invests in geothermal power; Bloomberg’s NYC windpower plan draws criticism; and IBM bets on hybrid cars.

Geothermal Energy: Google puts $10 Million Into New Technology: After stepping out early on solar nanotech and windpower, Google is turning its attention to geothermal energy. The company announced Tuesday that it will sink $10 million into Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The technology rests on drilling for subterranian “hot rocks,” then pumping in water to create steam. Google’s main partners in the venture will be AltaRock Energy and Potter Drilling, both California companies. (Celsias)

Climate Costs - California Businesses Campaign Against Green Push: There’s some pushback to California’s draft climate change laws starting to find its way into the mainstream media. The noise is being generated by a group calling itself the AB32 Implementation Group (named for the proposed legislation). Unsurprisingly, it’s a coalition of about 160 business interests who would face higher taxation and more paperwork under the AB32 rules. The Wall Street Journal Environmental Capital blog examines the way questions were parsed in a survey commissioned by the group highlighting consumer fears about the cost of AB32. As with all survey instruments, responses can be guided by the way you ask a question. (WSJ.com)

Critics Dismiss NYC’s Plan for Wind Turbines: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s new proposal to tie the city to windpower is meeting sharp criticism. Engineers say the turbines proposed to dot New York’s skyline are too small to be effective, and skyscrapers may require extensive renovation to accommodate the vibration and wind loading of the new structures. Instead, some are proposing the city put more emphasis on solar panels. Solar introduces fewer engineering challenges and is less likely to raise aesthetic concerns. Rather than invest in offshore windfarms, critics counter that solar thermal may provide a more cost-effective industrial scale alternative energy solution. (Environmental Leader)

New Catalyst Can Produce Hydrogen Efficiently from Biofuels: A new catalyst hold out the promise of even cheaper and more efficient automotive fuel cells. Ohio State University researchers say the new compound can produce hydrogen from ethanol at 90% efficiency at only 350 C. The catalyst contains no expensive precious metals, and is made from ceramic ingredient cerium oxide and calcium. (CleanTechnica)

Automotive 2020: Clarity beyond the chaos: Driving a hybrid yet? You probably will be by 2020, according to IBM. That’s right: IBM, the computer and software giant. The company has just released a whitepaper on the future of the auto industry. Part of the findings, gathered from anonymous auto executive comments: hybrids will be largely ubiquitous by 2020. The report also picks cellulosic ethanol over hydrogen as a market player. The full document is downloadable here (340 KB PDF).

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