Google Inc.

Online search engine giant Google Inc. recently announced it is ending its renewable energy research program.

The United States Department of Energy has committed US$50 million to fund the Scaling Up Nascent PV At Home (SUNPATH) program which represents the second phase of its Photovoltaic Manufacturing Initiative (PVMI).

A partnership between Internet guru Google Inc. (NASDAQ.GOOG) and Solar City, a private company leading the nation in single-source solar photovoltaic power installations for homes and businesses, will see $280 million dedicated to funding residential solar installations, thus making it the largest such fund in the U.S.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) said Tuesday they are each providing $55 million to help finance Terra-Gen Power LLC’s 102 megawatt (MW) Alta IV wind power project in the Mojave Desert at Tehachapi, California.

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today granted conditional approval to the 250-mile Atlantic Wind Connection project that plans to interconnect up to 6,000 MW of offshore wind power. Subject to the project being included in regional grid manager PJM Interconnection’s regional transmission expansion plan, FERC granted an overall return on equity (ROE) of 12.59%, which includes 250 basis points in incentive ROE adders. Atlantic Wind had requested 300 basis points.

Secretary Steven Chu noted that over 1,800 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations have been installed under the Recovery Act to date -- a statistic designed to address growing concerns over rising fuel costs and dependency on foreign oil. 

BrightSource Energy, Inc. a utility-scale solar developer, has filed a US$250 million initial public offering (IPO).The California-based solar thermal developer has several intriguing qualities; however, these are saddled along with a few areas of concern. 

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) said Monday that Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG) and two Japanese partners -- Sumitomo Corporation and Itochu Corporation -- will pay about $500 million for a majority equity stake in the world's largest wind farm, under construction near Arlington, Oregon. Google’s share will be about $100 million. 

Biofuels continue to make headlines as Google Ventures announced it is investing in CoolPlanetBiofuels. Google’s investment follows that of GE Energy Financial Services, which participated in the last round of investment.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) recently announced the company has invested US$38.8 million in two wind farms in the United States.