We are pleased to present this month's edition of Energy and Clean Tech Connections. This month we have two additions to our newsletter. Our new section called "Spotlight On . . . " will highlight the work of individuals who are making a real difference in the field of clean technology and renewable energy. We've also added links to grant opportunities at the Department of Energy. We hope you will find the new sections useful.

In The News

Fast Tracking Technology Transfer to be a Focal Point of Silicon Valley Venture Forum 2006: Entrepreneurs, Venture Capital Firms and Academics to Tackle Issue of Lag Between University Research and Commercialization
The Venture Forum - June 6, 2006
More info...

Renault Shows a Clean Set of Wheels
Transport News Network - June 16, 2006
More info...

Varian Semiconductor Receives Grant From Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust
Market Wire - June 15, 2006
More info...

Perseus, L.L.C. Completes $22.1 Million Strategic Investment in Westport Innovations
Yahoo Finance - June 12, 2006
More info...

$22 Million Commitment by Cornell Capital Partners - GREENSHIFT CORP for New AgriFuels Division
GreenShift - June 8, 2006
More info...

Tesla Motors Secures $40 Million Investment Round
Clean Edge News - June 2, 2006
More info...

First-Ever Biofuels Index Launched by UBS and Diapason
Clean Edge News - June 1, 2006
More info...

Federal Happenings

Western Governors Adopt Clean Energy Resolutions
EERE News - June 14, 2006
More info..

Minnesota and South Carolina Promote Plug-in Hybrids, Alt Fuels
EERE News - June 14, 2006
More info...

USDA Loan Program to Encourage Energy Efficient Homes
EERE News - June 14, 2006
More info...

REP. LATHAM ANNOUNCES CO-SPONSORSHIP OF BOLD NEW '25x'25' U.S. ENERGY GOAL
News from Iowa Congressman Tom Latham - June 7, 2006
More info...

Grant: Commercial Demonstration of an Integrated Biorefinery System for Production of Liquid Transportation Biofuels, Bio-Based Chemicals, Substitutes for Petroleum-Based Feedstocks and Products, and Biomass-Based Heat/Power
Funding: $53 million
This announcement requests applications to design, construct, build, and operate an integrated biorefinery that employs lignocellulosic feedstocks for the production of combinations of: Liquid transportation fuels; Bio-based chemicals; Substitutes for petroleum-based feedstocks and products; Energy in the form of electricity or useful heat.
More info...

Grant: Solid-State Lighting Core Technologies
Funding: $3.75 million
The focus of this funding opportunity announcement is to support applied research in key technical areas by fostering a collaborative atmosphere favorable to overcoming the significant technical challenges that restrict the application of SSL today to only relatively low-luminous-output products.
More info...

Spotlight On . . . Chuck Samuels

As a member in the Federal Section of the Washington office, Chuck Samuels has been involved in environmental and energy issues since he joined the firm in the 1980’s. Through his position as General Counsel of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, he has worked on the Montreal Protocol on ozone protection and the Kyoto Protocol on climate change as well as federal, state, Canadian and European Union regulation of these areas. Chuck is an architect of and one of the major participants in the federal energy laws which govern the energy efficiency and labeling of appliances and other consumer products. He also has worked in various aspects of the regulatory and legislative issues surrounding the biodiesel and other alternative fuel industry. More recently, Chuck has been working on the Asian-Pacific Partnership which is a technology-oriented alternative to Kyoto pursued by the United States, Australia, Korea, China and Japan and for which the Administration is seeking up to $50 million in funding for technology demonstration projects. Chuck is interested in using his regulatory and legislative expertise (along with the experience and expertise of our ML Strategies colleague David Leiter) to assist our clients in understanding the applicable regulations in the United States and internationally, as well as assisting them in obtaining funding and advantages for their technologies.

Legal News

Mintz Levin Opens San Diego Office - June 9, 2006
More info...

Mintz Levin Represents Alphatec Holdings, Inc. in Initial Public Offering - June 8, 2006
More info...

Chambers USA Names 15 Mintz Levin Attorneys Leaders in Their Fields for 2006 - June 2, 2006
More info...

Upcoming Events

Renewable Energy Finance Forum Wall Street
June 21-22, 2006
The Waldorf Astoria
New York City, New York
More info...

Third Annual Energy Tech Investor Conference
July 18 -19, 2006
JW Marriott Hotel San Francisco
San Francisco, California
More info...

Cleantech Venture Forum XI
September 20-22, 2006
Marriott Marquis
New York City, New York
More info...

Bio-Fuels Finance & Investment Seminar
October 24 -25, 2006
3 West Club
New York City, New York
More info...