Just north and west of Seoul, South Korea, a company called Foster and Partners has won the right to develop a green master plan community on the islands of KangHwa and OnJin-gun. The sustainable master plan is supposed to be an extension of the Incheon Free Economic Zone.

One of the islands, KangHwa, will be used as a developmental center creating solar panels and wind turbines. The buildings in this center will use biomass energy, hydrogen fuel cells and even have hydroponic roofs.

The other island, OnJin-gun, will become a sustainable resort surrounded by agricultural landscape. Light rail will be used along with smaller roads and pedestrian avenues. The two islands are to be connected with the world’s longest bridge.

Now, within the past 2 years South Korean companies have unveiled their newest hydrogen cars, the Hyundai i-Blue and the Kia Borrego FCEV which one can imagine providing transportation to and from this green master plan community along with the light rail.

The 180 square mile community is expected to balloon in population from 35,000 now to 320,000 residents in the next 10 to 15 years as this master plan is phased in. By that time, there may be many more hydrogen cars on the roads not only around the master community and Seoul but through the entire country as well.

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Interested in getting a little insight into how the country will shift from a petroleum-based economy to a bio-based economy? Then look no further than DomesticFuel, or to be more exact, Dyadic International CEO, Mark Emalfarb. Emalfarb was interviewed during the Sixth Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing which took place in Canada this past July.

The interview was conducted as part of the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) I am Biotech campaign. Emalfarb was asked several questions including the importance of biotechnology and biofuels, how biotechnology is helping to heal, fuel and feed the world, how do you demonstrate biotech is the way of the future, and more.

You can watch the first part of  Mark Emalfarb’s interview here and the second part by clicking here.

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A Missouri plant that turns agricultural waste products into fuel pellets is the first to receive a payment from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s new Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).

This USDA press release says the Show Me Energy Cooperative of Missouri conversion facility will get the funds aimed at paying producers for biomass materials for collection, harvest, storage and transportation:

“As the Obama Administration continues laying the foundation for a stronger, revitalized economy, biomass has great potential to create new, green jobs for American workers,” said Vilsack. “Biomass also has important environmental benefits to produce cleaner energy and reduce greenhouse gases.”

“Show Me Energy completed an agreement soon after our July 29th announcement and had biomass producers waiting,” said FSA Administrator Jonathan Coppess. “Agriculture Secretary Vilsack had a chance to see first hand the company’s successful operation during a recent visit to Missouri. He was impressed and excited about the opportunities that BCAP presents for agriculture, the
environment and the nation.”

According to Show Me Energy Cooperative CEO Kurt Herman, “Our plant produces fuel pellets from agricultural waste products, but could expand to produce cellulosic liquid fuels.”

The pellets, made from switchgrass, straw, corn stover, sawdust, woodchips and other biomass materials from more than 500 producers, will be used to heat homes and livestock facilities. It’s being tested at a power plant to see if it could supplement coal for electrical production.

FSA is urging other biomass conversion facility operators are encourage to sign agreements to get the same funds themeselves. MOre information is available at www.fsa.usda.gov.

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Illustration by Studio Formwork

This lightweight, inflatable solar panel concept brings renewable energy access to any building and without that pesky renovation.

Each eye-shaped piece has a white foam shell that measures 4 feet by 2.5 feet. Inside the foam housing is an inflatable polymer lined with Read the full story on TreeHugger

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photo: Anna Pearson via flickr

The focus keeps getting placed on the impact of global climate change on world water supplies: Oxfam highlights the effect of water shortages and declining crop yields in Nepal; IPCC chairman Dr Rajendra Pachauri comments on how thirsty Africa could become; and, Reuters writes from Yemen on a gro… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Photo via autan

As if honey bees don’t have enough to worry about right now, it seems that cell phone towers may be problematic for the insects. According to a new study, a rapid drop in the bee population in Kerala, India is the result of recently installed cell phone towers, and could cause a complete collapse of bee populations within 10 years. … Read the full story on TreeHugger

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photo: Yovany Alas via flickr

Despite a steady trickle of new wind power projects coming in over the past year since the recession set in, things haven’t exactly been going gangbusters in terms of financing. But as the Wall Street Journal points out today, that’s starting to change… and (gasp) it’s at least partly because of government inves… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Massachusetts solar PV maker looks to ramp its wafer production at new facility with SunPower contract manufacturing partner.

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CIGS-based paintable solar cell technology could help to increase efficiencies and decrease manufacturing costs.

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Take part in the “weight loss” challenge from Native Energy and you can lose 30 pounds while helping to build the greenest town in America.

“Our ‘weight‐loss’ challenge is a simple, fun way to get people thinking about how they can easily join in the
fight against global warming.” Regina Farrell, Native Energy

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