In nation’s forests, push to develop bio-energy raises fears of wood demand exceeding supply

Bio-fuel growth raises concerns about forests

Poll: People embrace protecting the environment, but don’t always walk the walk

Poll: Sometimes it isn’t easy being green

WASHINGTON — Sometimes it’s easier to think green than be green. A survey released Tuesday suggests people have largely embraced recycling bottles and cans, and are inclined to turn down thermostats to save energy. But it also indicated that some paths toward a greener Earth aren’t as easily taken — or turned into action.

Nissan, FedEx, others form group to develop course for $124B investment in electric cars

Group urges gov’t to invest in electric cars

2010 Golf already “World Car” and tops in fuel mileage

Iconic VW Golf revised for sixth generation

Consumer Reports: Asian cars and trucks dominate in reliability but some Fords score well

Asians top auto reliability; Ford cars score well

Honda raises full year profit forecast, avoids loss for first half despite industry slump

Honda raises forecast, avoids loss for first half

Honda raises full year profit forecast despite quarterly earnings drop, strong yen

Honda raises forecast, quarterly earnings drop

Biden to discuss plans for former GM plant in Delaware to manufacture plug-in hybrids

Biden to discuss future of former GM plant in Del.

New NY company to roll out electric cars in 2010, employ 250 workers

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A new New York company hopes to complete financing of a Syracuse plant to make electric cars by the end of this year and start rolling out plug-in hatchbacks in late 2010.

Sources: Fisker Automotive to build plug-in electric luxury cars at abandoned GM plant in Del.

DOVER, Del. — Fisker Automotive, a California-based startup manufacturer of luxury electric vehicles, plans to build plug-in electric cars at a former General Motors assembly plant in Delaware, people with knowledge of the situation said Friday.

AP sources: Electric car maker to build plug-in vehicles at former GM plant in Delaware

DOVER, Del. — People with knowledge of talks between Fisker Automotive and Delaware officials say the company plans to build vehicles at a former General Motors plant in Wilmington.

State official: India’s Reva to build Syracuse, NY, plant to make plug-in car

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — An Indian car company has chosen upstate New York for a factory to build a new generation of electric cars for North America, a state official said Thursday.

Oklahoma State University experts discuss potential of sweet sorghum use in ethanol production

CHICKASHA, Okla. — With demand growing for ethanol produced from sources other than corn, researchers at Oklahoma State University said Wednesday that state agriculture producers could someday grow sweet sorghum or switchgrass as cash crops.

Fisker Automotive to announce location of new US facility to make electric vehicles, CEO says

WASHINGTON — Fisker Automotive, a California-based startup manufacturer of luxury electric vehicles, plans to announce shortly the location of a U.S. manufacturing facility where it will build plug-in electric vehicles, its top executive said Tuesday.

Nissan to launch joint venture with Sumitomo Corp. for recycling of electric car batteries

TOKYO — Nissan Motor Co. said it will set up a joint venture with a Japanese trading house for recycling of electric car batteries.

Fast-growing willows promise cheap biomass fuel; may allay concerns over VT forest depletion

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Middlebury College used to heat its buildings with oil, then switched to wood chips. Now it has planted a sustainable and relatively cheap fuel source — willow shrubs —that could help cut demand on the state’s forests.

UN agency: investment in agriculture must increase more than 5-fold to feed the world in 2050

ROME — Agricultural investment in developing countries will have to increase more than fivefold to ensure that by 2050 the world has enough to eat, a U.N. food agency said Monday.

After fleeing China, auto tycoon resurfaces in US with glowing green ambitions

HONG KONG — Yang Rong was once celebrated as a pioneering automobile entrepreneur who founded the first Chinese company to be listed on Wall Street.

Electric carmaker Tesla Motors to begin offering house calls for service and repairs

NEW YORK — Taking a cue from house-call services like Best Buy’s Geek Squad, electric carmaker Tesla Motors is launching a maintenance plan where mechanics travel to owners’ homes or offices to perform repairs and tuneups.

Norfolk Southern unveils prototype battery-powered switching locomotive

ALTOONA, Pa. — Rail hauler Norfolk Southern Corp. on Monday unveiled a battery-powered prototype locomotive for use in its Pennsylvania rail yard, and the company said it has its eye on hybrid long-haul trains next.

Battery maker A123 Systems goes public and shares jump nearly 50 percent

Investors snapped up shares of A123 Systems in their debut Thursday, showing a willingness to overlook millions of dollars in losses and make a bet that next-generation battery technology will propel the cars and trucks of the future.

Power companies Duke and FPL Group to switch to hybrid, electric vehicles

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two of the nation’s largest power generators said Thursday that they plan to begin switching their company cars and trucks to plug-in hybrid vehicles or all-electric vehicles starting Jan. 1 to help cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Govt awards Fisker Automotive $528.7 million loan to develop plug-in hybrid cars

WASHINGTON — Fisker Automotive, a California manufacturer of luxury electric vehicles, will receive more than $500 million in federal loans to develop a plug-in hybrid sports car with a sticker price of nearly $90,000 and a new plug-in hybrid vehicle to be built in the United States.

Co-founders of electric car company end legal fight with confidential settlement

SAN FRANCISCO — The co-founders of the electric car company Tesla Motors Inc. have settled their legal battle with laudatory statements of each other’s accomplishments.

Brazil proposes ban for sugarcane-ethanol plantations in Amazon

BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil will prohibit sugarcane-ethanol plantations in the Amazon and other ecologically sensitive areas of Latin America’s largest nation under a plan unveiled Thursday by the administration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

New federal program provides subsidy to suppliers of Upper Peninsula biomass electric plant

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Suppliers of wood fuel for a biomass electric plant in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will get a federal subsidy under an agreement signed Wednesday.

House votes to expand government research on advanced technology vehicles

WASHINGTON — Targeting more federal money to support the auto industry, the House on Wednesday approved an expansion of government-led research into making cars and trucks more fuel-efficient.

House to vote on expanding government research on advanced technology vehicles

WASHINGTON — Targeting more spending toward the auto industry, the House on Wednesday considered expanding government-led research into how to make cars more fuel-efficient.

Automakers want to energize electric-car business by extending range, adding charging stations

FRANKFURT — The race is on among the world’s auto companies to make electric cars go farther on a single charge, bring the price down to compete with gas-powered vehicles, and give drivers more places to recharge them than just the family garage.

VW plans new electric car at Frankfurt Auto Show; will continue to focus on efficiency

FRANKFURT — German carmaker Volkswagen AG said it would unveil several new models at this week’s Frankfurt Auto Show, including an electric car called the E-Up.