Dow Chemical

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), under Energy Secretary Steven Chu, recently announced the awarding of more than $145 million to 69 projects in 49 states aimed at increasing efficiency, bringing down costs and shaping the future of solar energy technologies. This is in addition to the $170 million awarded in April.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) will play an active role in the newly established Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP).

Solazyme Inc. (Nasdaq:SYZM), the South San Francisco-based developer of oils and alternative fuels from genetically modified algae, sold more than 11 million shares, raising $198 million in its long-awaited IPO late last week.  According to a regulatory filing, Company shares surged 15% in their first day of trading on increasing demand for renewable fuel sources and industrial chemicals.

The DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, part of The Dow Chemical Company's (NYSE:DOW) extensive foray into solar energy, should be available in the coming year. 

In the environmental sphere, Michigan is a place of contradictions, at once it is both an offender, belching plumes of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and also an up-and-coming leader in clean energy technologies.

Dow Chemical and Algenol Biofuels have partnered together in an attempt to produce algae-based biofuel.