Bringing together Boston's CleanTech news and events

Construction on the Cape Wind offshore wind power project could start as early as the fall, according to an announcement Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Natick energy management technology firm OutSmart Power Systems LLC has bumped its planned debt round from $1 million to $4.5 million, and brought in a new tranche that boosts the debt financing in the round to $2.6 million, according to federal documents.

Newton’s GMZ Energy Inc., a maker of thermoelectric materials based on nanotechnology developed at MIT, has raised $7 million from a planned $13 million investment round, the first institutional round for the company.

Solectria Renewables LLC, a maker of solar power inverters based in Lawrence, said that it will be supplying inverters to 5.3 megawatts worth of Massachusetts solar projects.

A pair of Maine companies, one developing floating wind turbines and one enabling convenience store marketing campaigns, have received development awards from the Maine Technology Institute.

New England Clean Energy Council's Mitch Tyson blogs: This is the launch of the Energy Leaders Forum – a collaboration between the New England Clean Energy Council and Mass High Tech. We have brought together approximately 20 leaders from the clean energy cluster in New England to start a dialogue on the energy issues of the day.

Satcon Technology Corp. has been chosen to supply solar power inverter equipment for a 15-megawatt solar project for utility Pacific Gas and Electric in Fresno, Calif., the company said Thursday.

Getting into MIT is hard enough, but for energy startups, getting into the MIT Energy Conference showcase is no easy task either. Always well attended — and by the right types of people — the showcase is a prime chance for New England energy startups to make a number of key connections in a short time.

Richard K. Sullivan Jr., Secretary, Mass. Exec. Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs: The measures of the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020 — along with pace-setting programs set in motion during Gov. Patrick's first term — will reduce energy waste, save money and stimulate the adoption of clean technologies, creating jobs across the Commonwealth.

China expanded its global lead in clean energy investments last year, and Germany surged ahead of the United States to take the No. 2 position. And in other policy news, the financial industry's dizzying growth prior to 2008's credit crisis may have stifled entrepreneurship by stealing talent that otherwise would have gone to innovative new companies.