If you’re not watching the Tour de France, you’re missing an exciting duel between Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, you’re missing the beautiful French countryside and incredible mountain climbs, and you’re missing this new commercial from Nissan and Lance Armstrong.  Although Armstrong is not in the competition for the yellow jersey this year (his final year), the most famous U.S. cyclist makes an effective spokesman for the new Leaf.

In Mr. Obama’s weekly radio address at the beginning of July (that was Day 75 of the BP oil well disaster), he touted the country’s transition to a “clean energy economy” and announced the Department of Energy’s “award of nearly $2 billion in conditional commitments to two solar companies.”
One government beneficiary is Abengoa Solar, a Spanish engineering company, that has agreed to build a solar power plant in Arizona. The other beneficiary is Abound Solar, a Colorado company, which will use $400 million in loan guarantees to expand solar-panel …

Every time some new information comes out about clean energy technologies, it can be very exciting - seeing lower costs for solar panels - or depressing- realizing that clean coal is probably a pipe dream.  Popular Mechanics takes a look at clean energy technologies and sets about “Debunking the Top 10 Energy Myths” here.

Byron York at the Washington Examiner reports that a staffer working for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R. Iowa) found this little tidbit in a Bureau of Labor Statistics notice dated March 16 - there is “no widely accepted standard definition of ‘green jobs.’” The staffer then looked back at some of the Labor Dept. announcements:
“U.S. Department of Labor Announces $100 Million in Green Jobs Training through Recovery Act
U.S. Department of Labor Announces $150 Million in “Pathways Out of Poverty” Training Grants for Green Jobs
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Nearly $190 Million …

While we all want to rush to aid the birds soaking in BP oil, cleaning them, however, may not be the best answer. A German animal biologist says that the most humane course of action is to euthanize the birds.

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Tom Keane, a Boston Globe columnist, wrote an opinion piece in the Globe’s Sunday magazine telling Cape Wind’s opponents “enough already.”  Mr Keane admonishes the Cape Wind opponents for fighting against the offshore wind farm for almost a decade based on their so-called concerns birds, fish, Indian tribes and the environment. According Keane, the reason the opponents have been so tenacious is —and always has been — the views from their houses.

Kevin Costner is a Hollywood star who puts his money where is mouth is - $26 million to be precise. After the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, Kostner, his brother and scientist, Dan Kostner, and a group of investors and developers created a machine that cleans oil from seawater.
Mr. Costner’s machine, named “Ocean Therapy” is a high-speed centrifuge oil separator . When placed on a barge, the Ocean Therapy will draw in oil-polluted water and discharge 97% clean water.  Costner’s team obtained a license from the Department of Energy …

Richard Branson’s Virgin Green Fund, invests in clean tech, but it doesn’t look at the shiny, brand new start-ups; it’s looking at more “grown-up” clean tech.
The New York Times reports today:
“The founders and early investors of these clean-tech companies have already weathered the riskiest period - figuring out if the technology works - and are bringing in several millions of dollars in revenue. Now, the companies need capital to become $100 million companies, and experienced advisers to refine their business model or marketing strategy.”

This week has been a good week for Cape Wind.
On Wednesday, Ken Salazar, U. S. Secretary of the Interior, announced that the Interior Department has given its final approval of the Cape Wind project. At the same time, a Massachusetts Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit against Cape Wind brought by the Town of Barnstable and the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, among others, seeking to stop the off-shore wind farm.
The plaintiffs in state action argued that the state Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs limited its review of the …

GreenBiz published an interview with Waste Management CEO, David Steiner Monday.
Steiner admits that Waste Management’s industrial customers are driving changes at his company.  The goal now is, not only the efficient disposal of waste, but getting value out of waste.
“Our larger industrial customers have been driving the change [toward zero waste]. They are motivated for environmental and for business reasons. Walmart was one of the first. They put out 450,000 pounds of trash a day. They are looking for innovative ways to reduce costs and recognized the potential value in their …