Ze-gen Appoints George McMillan As CFO and COO

BOSTON--Ze-gen, Inc., a clean energy company providing advanced gasification technology to convert waste streams into synthesis gas and low emissions electrical energy, announced the addition of George McMillan to the Ze-gen team. Mr. McMillan is joining Ze-gen as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Link.

SkyFuel Secures $17 Million in Funding

Albuquerque, New Mexico - SkyFuel, Inc. is pleased to announce the closing of a $17 million Series B equity financing from investors led by Leaf Clean Energy Company [LSE: LEAF.L], a publicly traded $400 million clean energy company advised by Energy & Climate Advisors, a joint venture between Shaw Capital, Inc. and EEA Group. SkyFuel is a technology leader for next-generation utility-scale concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) systems and is revolutionizing the industry with advanced materials and components. Link

ReliOn Secures "C" Round Financing

Spokane, Wash.: ReliOn, the leading provider of high-reliability fuel cell solutions for backup power applications, announced today that it has secured an additional U.S. $23 million in equity financing as a result of Series C funding activities. ReliOn welcomed two new investors into the C round: the PCG Clean Energy & Technology Fund, LLC of La Jolla, California, and Robeco Clean Tech Private Equity II (“Robeco”) of Rotterdam, Netherlands. Link.

Xunlight Appoints Two Vice Presidents

Toledo, Ohio – Xunlight Corporation, a leader in the development of low cost and flexible thin-film silicon solar modules, announced it has strengthened its senior management team with the appointments of Dr. Masat Izu as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Mr. Matthew Longthorne as Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategies. Link.

Xunlight Raises $22 million in Series B Financing

Toledo, Ohio – Xunlight Corporation, a leader in the development of low cost and flexible thin-film silicon solar modules, announced it has raised $22 million in a Series B financing. The investment was led by Trident Capital, a leading private equity and venture capital firm that has over $1.6 billion under management. Existing investors, Emerald Technology Ventures and NGP Energy Technology Partners, participated in the round. The proceeds will be used to build commercial manufacturing capacity for the production of lightweight and flexible thin film silicon solar modules. Link.

Verdiem Appoints Steve Gordon as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations

SEATTLE, -- Verdiem, the leading developer of power management software for PC networks, announced the addition of Steve Gordon as chief financial officer and vice president of operations. Gordon brings to Verdiem 25 years of experience in general, operational, administrative and financial business management. While his primary role at Verdiem focuses on driving financial performance, he will also be responsible for human resources, administration, operations, infrastructure development and legal affairs. Link.

Ambient Secures $3.0 Million in Funding

Boston, MA, -- Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) announced that it has raised an additional investment of $3 million from Vicis Capital Master Fund (Vicis). In return for the investment, Vicis received warrants for 135 million shares of Ambient common stock and other consideration. Link. Chart.

SunOpta Announces Appointment of Tony Tavares as Chief Operating Officer

TORONTO, -- SunOpta Inc. (Nasdaq:STKL) (TSX:SOY) today announced the appointment of Tony Tavares to the position of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, SunOpta Inc., effective June 1, 2008. In this role, Mr. Tavares will report to Steve Bromley, President and Chief Executive Officer, SunOpta Inc., and assume operational and strategic responsibility for the Company's SunOpta Food Group operations and global supply chain initiatives. Link. Chart.

Ze-gen Appoints Jason Hardebeck Vice President of Business Development

BOSTON--Ze-gen, Inc., a clean energy company providing advanced gasification technology to convert waste streams into synthesis gas and low emissions electrical energy, today announced the addition of Jason Hardebeck to their expanding team. Mr. Hardebeck is joining Ze-gen as the Vice President of Business Development and will spearhead project development efforts along the east coast. Link.

HelioVolt Hires Former DuPont Executive as CTO

AUSTIN, Texas--HelioVolt Corporation, a producer of highly-efficient thin film solar energy products, announced that Louay Eldada, Ph.D., has joined as chief technical officer. A technical leader with proven track record at both small and large companies, Dr. Eldada joins HelioVolt from E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (DuPont) where he served as CTO, vice president of technology, vice president of engineering and board director for DuPont Photonics Technologies. In the new position at HelioVolt, Dr. Eldada will direct strategic technology planning and development for the company’s advanced thin film solar energy products. Link.

Akeena Solar Promotes Steve Daniel to Executive V.P. of Sales and Marketing

LOS GATOS, Calif.--Akeena Solar, Inc., (NASDAQ:AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, today announced the promotion of Steve Daniel to executive vice president of sales and marketing. Daniel joined Akeena in January 2007 as vice president of sales. In one year, Daniel added new regional managers, built a commercial sales team and helped increase revenue from $13 million to $32 million. Link. Chart.

eSolar Raises $130 Million from Idealab, Oak, Google

Pasadena, Calif. – Today, eSolar™, a producer of scalable solar thermal power plants, announced that is has closed $130 million in funding from Idealab, Google.org, Oak Investment Partners, and other investors for the construction and deployment of pre-fabricated power plants. Designed to address the complex issues surrounding large or utility-scale power projects, eSolar’s distributed solar thermal plants achieve economies of scale at 33 MW, and are modularly scaled to fit the needs of large and small utilities. Link.

International Rectifier Names Peter Knepper Acting Chief Financial Officer

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--International Rectifier Corporation (NYSE:IRF) today announced that Peter B. Knepper will serve as Acting Chief Financial Officer, assuming the responsibility for all finance and accounting functions. Mr. Knepper has been assisting International Rectifier since January 2008 and will focus on managing the functions as the Company transitions to a new Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Knepper will report to Oleg Khaykin, International Rectifier’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Linda J. Pahl, who has been serving as the Company’s Acting Chief Financial Officer, will remain with the Company as a consultant to focus on the completion of the reconstruction and restatement of financial statements described in the Company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Link. Chart.

Solicore Appoints Matthew Kendall as VP Marketing

LAKELAND, Fla.--Solicore, leading producer of ultra-thin flexible lithium polymer batteries, names Matthew Kendall as vice president marketing and product management. The executive appointment supports Solicore’s initiative to drive Flexion battery adoption throughout global markets for powered smart cards, RFID applications and micro medical devices. This addition also marks Solicore’s commitment to expansion and industry leadership. Link.

LDK Solar Closes Offering of US$400 Million Convertible Senior Notes

XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., – LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE:LDK), announced today the closing of the offering of $400 million of 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 pursuant to Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The offering closed on April 15, 2008. Link. Chart.

Malcolm Unsworth Promoted to President of Itron

LIBERTY LAKE, WA — Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced the promotion of Malcolm Unsworth to President and Chief Operating Officer of Itron, Inc. effective immediately. In this position, Unsworth will oversee the Company’s two operating segments, Itron North America and Actaris, and will focus on evaluating synergies and opportunities between the two segments. Itron is the world’s leading provider of metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on its technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Link. Chart.

RecycleBank Secures $30 Million in Series B Funding

NEW YORK---RecycleBank, a rewards program that motivates households to recycle, announced that it has secured $30 million in Series B funding from leading venture capital firms, Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield and Byers (KPCB), RRE Ventures, Sigma Partners and The Westly Group. RecycleBank will be using this funding to rapidly scale in the United States and continue expansion into Europe in the next 24 months. Link.

Altira Funds Evolutionary Genomics

DENVER, -- Altira Group LLC -- the pioneer and leader in venture capital and private equity funding for energy technology companies -- announced today an investment in Evolutionary Genomics (EG), of Louisville, Colorado. EG applies patented genetic technology toward developing strains of biofuel feedstocks with greatly improved yields. Link.

JA Solar Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

HEBEI, China, -- JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq:JASO) announced today that it has appointed Mr. Daniel Lui as the new Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Lui will assume the role of CFO effective May 10, 2008. JA Solar's current CFO, Mr. Herman Zhao, will retire from the Company and relocate back to the United States. Link. Chart.

Renewable Energy Corporation ASA Makes a $40M Investment in Mainstream Energy Corp

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, - Mainstream Energy Corporation (MSE), a renewable energy company headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, announced today it completed an equity transaction worth $40 million with Oslo, Norway- based Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, the world's largest producer of silicon materials for photovoltaic (PV) applications and multicrystalline wafers. As a result of the transaction Renewable Energy Corporation will have a 20% shareholding in MSE. Link.

Altair Nanotechnologies Names Robert van Schoonenberg to Board

Reno, Nevada -- Altair Nanotechnolgies Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTI), a leading provider of advanced nanomaterials technology for use in energy, pharmaceutical, life sciences and industrial applications, today announced that Robert G. van Schoonenberg has been named a director of the Board. The addition expands the Board to seven members. Link. Chart.

SynapSense Names Ray Pfeifer Vice President of Business Development

Folsom, CA -- SynapSense has named Data Center Energy-Efficiency Expert, Ray Pfeifer, Vice President of Business Development. Prior to joining SynapSense, Pfeifer led the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s data center initiatives. In his previous role, Pfeifer served as chair of the Energy Efficient Data Center demonstration project and as a research consultant for Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, leading its California Energy Commission-funded Data Centers 21 Environmental Performance Criteria project. Link.

Standard Renewable Energy Announces $15 Million in Funding; Adds Three Members to Board

HOUSTON -- Standard Renewable Energy, a Houston-based provider of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, today announced it has received $7 million in Series B funding, adding to the $8 million it received less than 12 months ago in its Series A round. The Series B funding was led by The Quercus Trust of California, a private trust that has established itself as a leading strategic investor in both the renewable energy and clean energy technology sectors. In conjunction with its capital raise, Standard Renewable Energy is adding three new members to its Board of Directors: David Gelbaum, co-trustee of The Quercus Trust; Peter L.Corsell, President and CEO of GridPoint, Inc.; and J. Roderick Heller III, Chairman of GridPoint, Inc. and Chairman and CEO of Carnton Capital Associates, LP. Link.

Altair Nanotechnologies Names New CFO

Reno, Nevada -- Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (Nasdaq: ALTI), a leading provider of advanced nanomaterials technology for use in energy, pharmaceutical, life sciences and industrial applications, today named John C. Fallini as its chief financial officer. Mr. Fallini replaces Edward C. Dickinson, who will remain with the company in the newly created position of Senior Director Programs and Contracts. Mr. Dickinson will also retain the position of Corporate Secretary. Link. Chart.

Despatch Industries Names Matthew J. Abbott Director of Global Sales Operations

MINNEAPOLIS -- Despatch Industries, a 106-year-old global provider of thermal processing equipment to the energy, healthcare, electronics and materials markets, has hired Matthew J. Abbott as director of global sales operations, effective April 7. In this newly created position, Abbott will develop the processes for and oversee the growth of the company’s rapidly expanding international sales organization, including direct offices in Asia and Europe, as well as new offices worldwide. Link.

Greenline Industries, Inc., Raises $20 Million

SAN FRANCISCO, -- Greenline Industries, Inc. the EPA Award winning leader in the design and construction of biodiesel production facilities, today announced the successful completion of a $20
million Series A preferred stock financing round with Leaf Clean Energy Company (LSE: LEAF.L), a publicly traded London -based $400 million clean energy fund focused primarily on investment opportunities in North America. This initial investment will allow Greenline to accelerate research and development to improve upon its existing technology and add new products to reduce the costs to produce biodiesel. Link.

Plug Power Names Andrew Marsh CEO

LATHAM, N.Y. –– Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), announced today that Andy Marsh has been appointed President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective April 8, 2008. Mr. Marsh will replace current Plug Power CEO, Roger Saillant, who will retire on April 7, 2008, as previously announced. Link. Chart.

eMeter Announces $12 Million Funding

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — eMeter Corporation announced it has completed a $12.5 million funding round led by Siemens Corporation (NYSE:SI) and joined by existing investors, Foundation Capital, and DBL Investors. With 20 million meters under contract, eMeter Corporation of San Mateo, California, provides Meter Data Management (MDM) software that enables electric, gas, and water utilities to realize the full benefits of their Advanced Metering and Smart Grid initiatives. Link.

CMEA Ventures Promotes James Kim to Senior Partner

SAN FRANCISCO---CMEA Ventures today announced it has promoted James Kim to Senior Partner in its preeminent Energy & Materials practice. Kim, 30, joined CMEA in 2007 and has led investments in several transformative energy companies, including A123 Systems, a provider of novel, high-power lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicle and consumer product applications. Link.

International Rectifier Names Michael Barrow Executive Vice President

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- International Rectifier Corporation (NYSE:IRF) today announced the appointment of Michael Barrow as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, effective April 14, 2008. Barrow, 53, will report directly to Oleg Khaykin, President and Chief Executive Officer, and will be responsible for implementing strategies to build a world-class manufacturing organization. Link. Chart.

Solazyme Announces Appointment of Dr. James Barber as Key Advisor

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--Solazyme, Inc., a leading synthetic biology company that harnesses the power of microalgae to renewably produce clean and scalable high performance biofuels, “green” chemicals and health and wellness products, today announced that Dr. James J. Barber has joined its board of advisors. In this role, Dr. Barber will draw on his deep expertise in driving companies from R&D into the commercial arena to help accelerate Solazyme’s progress. Link.

Ze-gen Appoints Scott Fraser as Senior Vice President of Engineering

BOSTON -- Ze-gen, Inc., a Boston-based, privately-held company providing advanced gasification technology to convert industrial and municipal waste streams into synthesis gas and low emissions electrical energy, welcomes Scott Fraser as Senior Vice President of Engineering to their team. Mr. Fraser has been active in the energy field for thirty years. Link.

Tioga Energy Adds Solar Industry Leader as New VP Sales

SAN MATEO, Calif., -- Leading renewable energy services provider Tioga Energy today announced the appointment of a new Vice President of Sales. Marc Roper, a solar industry veteran with 15 years of market experience, will lead client sales opportunities: adding value to Tioga Energy's existing projects base and pursuing new opportunities in a ripe renewable energy market. Link.

Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group Appoints Michael Lasky as Director of Reseller Channel Sales

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., – Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group (SESG), the U.S. solar arm of Sharp Corporation, a world leader in solar electric solutions, has appointed Michael Lasky to the position of director of reseller channel sales. In this capacity, Lasky will report directly to Ron Kenedi, vice president of SESG and lead Sharp’s efforts to enhance its reseller channel network of customers. Link.

EDF Energies Nouvelles Enters Strategic Partnership with California-Based Nanosolar

PARIS -- EDF Energies Nouvelles (Paris:EEN) announces the signing of a photovoltaic panel supply master agreement with Nanosolar and a $50 million investment in the company via EDF Energies Nouvelles Réparties. Silicon Valley based Nanosolar uses innovative technology to manufacture thin-film photovoltaic cells of Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide (CIGS) using a printing deposition process. Under the master supply agreement, EDF Energies Nouvelles will gain access from 2009 onwards to part of Nanosolar’s production of solar panels. In a solar market in which cutting production cost represents a major challenge, EDF Energies Nouvelles is thus securing its supply of panels at competitive prices. These panels will in particular also help EDF Energies Nouvelles to expand its solar activities in North America. In parallel to the signing of the panel supply agreement, the Group, through its EDF Energies Nouvelles Réparties subsidiary, is also participating via a $50 million investment (€31 million) in an equity financing completed by Nanosolar to further accelerate the company’s production ramp. Link.

Comverge Names Bud Vos as Chief Technology Officer

EAST HANOVER, N.J., -- Comverge, Inc. (Nasdaq: COMV), a leading clean capacity provider through demand response and energy efficiency, announced today that Mr. Arthur "Bud" Vos, who currently serves as Comverge's VP of Marketing and Strategy, has been appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Vice President of Strategy effective April 1, 2008. Mr. Vos will drive forward Comverge's technology for Smart Grid applications with a focus on developing enterprise software for electric utilities. Link. Chart.

Greg Schlicht Joins VeraSun Executive Team as Senior Vice President

Brookings, S.D., April 1, 2008 - VeraSun Energy Corp. (NYSE: VSE), one of the nation’s largest ethanol producers, today announced that Greg Schlicht has joined the company’s executive team as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Schlicht comes to VeraSun from US BioEnergy where he held a similar role. Link. Chart.