
In spite of some headwinds from natural gas, there remain some opportunities for green-energy investors.

The Energy Department will make up to $9 million available this year to fund approximately 50 small businesses working on innovative energy-efficiency and renewable-energy technologies. The program is aimed at accelerating advanced manufacturing, energy-efficient buildings, biomass, hydrogen and fuel cells, solar energy, and wind and water power technologies. Selected small businesses will get one-year awards [...]
Low-priced domestic gas will roil the solar thermal technology markets.

The tower will use molten-salt thermal storage to provide baseload power.