The race is on to beat expiring renewable energy tax credits; Google buys into a windpower firm; and  BMW pledges to emphasize green technology, not supercars.

Wind, solar projects race to finish before tax credit expires: The clock is ticking on federal tax credits for renewable energy projects — now set to expire at the end of the year. That has suppliers of solar panels and wind turbines working full-tilt to fill orders and complete projects before the money runs out. Alternative energy companies report a huge boom in new installations. In California, new solar panel installations are up 74 percent over 2007, while the American Wind Energy Association reports that utilities are trying to install 8,000 megawatts of wind energy before January. it’s possible that the subsidies — which have wide Congressional support — could be renewed in the final weeks of this year’s session. But with uncertainty looming, projects for 2009 are already being scaled back or canceled. (USA Today)

Google ups investment into wind startup Makani: Google has already invested in solar power for its Mountain View campus and sunk $10 million into the development of geothermal energy. Now Google is entering the United States’ second biggest energy market: windpower. The company will front $5 million in development funds for Makani Power, a startup which promises to deliver wind energy at cheaper rates than current coal prices. Makani’s kite-based technologies, which have so far been kept under wraps, are reportedl;y ten times more efficient than turbine-produced windpower. (CleanTech)

Pics of 2009 Civic Hybrid Released; Car Has Nicer Options, but MPG Stays the Same: Honda has released images and details about its eagerly anticipated 2009 Civic Hybrid. The exterior sports some superficial styling changes, and Honda will be offering the Civic with a substantial upgraded set of convenience features and interior options. Disappointingly, next year’s Civic Hybrid does not improve on this year’s fuel economy. it’s still quite respectable — 40 MPG in the city and 45 MPG on the highway — but Honda has chosen to angle for new customers with luxury items, rather than new efficiency features. (Edmunds)

Minnesota Gasoline Sales Drop 9% in July, E85 Sales Up 16%: It’s simple economics, but high prices capped gasoline demand over the summer. An example: Minnesota, where sales of gasoline slumped 9 percent in July when compared to the previous year. Sales of E85 ethanol-added fuel rose sharply during the same period. Robert Moffitt, communications director for the American Lung Association of Minnesota, says that since automobiles are the chief cause of the state’s air pollution, higher gas prices have contributed to bluer skies during the summer season. (Green Car Congress)

BMW to focus on green tech, not supercars: Despite this year’s steep gasoline prices, several major automobile companies continue to bring fuel-hungry muscle cars to the top of the market. BMW is no exception, producing vehicles such as the V10-powered M5 and M6 for well-heeled horepower addicts. But that’s not the future direction of the Bavarian carmaker. BMW board member Klaus Draeger says that his company’s primary concern is the design of efficient, low-emissions transportation. Drager told the German press last week that BMW will have installed about 850,000 of their EfficientDynamics systems in production vehicles, and will spend the coming years pursuing green technologies. (Autoblog Green)

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