Small Business Clean Energy Research; Volt vs. Prius; Norway tries osmotic power; Smart Grid; Boston Common goes LED

DOE Invests $18M into Small Business Clean Energy Research The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $18 million in funding from the stimulus act to small businesses for the development and deployment of clean energy technologies and to help create new jobs.

Chevy Volt Versus the Veteran Toyota Prius The Volt is slated to receive a 230 mpg rating (through a bit of creative math), which is impressive, but we wanted to know how it stacks up against the current hybrid front runner, the Toyota Prius.

Harnessing the power of salt, Norway tries osmotic power After wind, sun, currents and tides, a company is preparing to make clean electricity by harnessing another natural phenomenon, the energy-unleashing encounter of freshwater and seawater.

Smart Grid Riding On The Information Superhighway If Internet companies and some utilities have their way, the smart grid will rely on the existing infrastructure of the information superhighway in order to function.

Boston Common goes LED Truly, there ain’t much better than walking around Boston Common at night in the winter. Today, Mayor Thomas M. Menino continued to “green” city operations, this time looking to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions by upgrading streetlights with new LED (light-emitting diode) technology on Boston Common.