Louisiana

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) administrator in the South and Southwest region (Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas), Al Armendariz, has resigned after Republicans took aim at comments he made two years ago regarding how the EPA would "crucify" corporations that broke environmental laws.

Shares jumped nearly 9% in mid-afternoon trading Monday after Syntroleum Corporation announced that its renewable fuel joint-venture Dynamic Fuels, in partnership with Solazyme Inc., has been awarded a major renewable fuel contract with the U.S Navy.

Biofuel developer Sundrop Fuels Inc. said it has selected Louisiana to host its first production facility. The Colorado-based company will spend $450-$500 million to build the plant on 1,200 acres of land it has agreed to purchase in Rapides Parish.

As part of the RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which manages the Superfund reclamation initiative, and the U.S. Department of Energy, or DOE, are considering using brownfields and closed landfills to develop renewable energy projects.

This week, Los Angeles, a member of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, announced a new program that will help the city’s commercial building owners cut energy use and thus reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are contributing to global warming and climate change.

Nothing like good timing. In the midst of continuous political discourse about clean energy and job creation, the winners of the i6 Challenge have been announced - along with $12 Million in funding from the Obama Administration. 

After steadily breaking news from its wind development division, Pattern Energy Group LP spoke with EnergyBoom about the recent progress it has made on its proposed Southern Cross transmission project.

Massachusetts-based biotechnology company Myriant Technologies has filed a US$125 million initial public offering (IPO).  Myriant represents the eighth biotechnology company to file an IPO in the last 18 months.

Calpine Corporatation (NYSE: CPN) said today its subsidiary Calpine Energy Services, L.P., has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to provide 485 megawatts (MW) of power from its Carville Energy Center to Entergy Services, Inc., as agent for Entergy Texas, Inc., beginning in June 2012. The new PPA extends an existing PPA between the two companies. No pricing or other terms were announced.

The U.S. government on Friday issued the first-ever approval for the export of liquified natural gas (LNG) from the lower 48 states to all U.S. trading partners. The approval went to Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, a subsidiary of Houston-based Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (AMEX: CQP). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said the approval will stimulate thousands of new construction and domestic natural gas production jobs in Louisiana, Texas, and several other states.