Sumesh Arora, Director of Strategic Biomass Solutions (SBS) at Mississippi Technology Alliance received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the College of Business at the University of Southern Mississippi on July 30, 2010.  Sumesh completed his PhD in International Development with research focused on the business strategy of early stage biotechnology companies in India.  His advisor for this research was Dr. Ken Malone who is currently the CEO of Ablitech, a biotechnology research company based in Hattiesburg.  Arora's research on Indian companies was funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation.  His other research interest is to understand how new technologies are adopted by different market segments which may lead to quicker commercialization of new renewable energy technologies.  Arora also developed the "butterfly-model of inter-organizational collaboration" during his doctoral studies and these elements will be included in the Renewable Energy Venture Development (REVD) Academy course that SBS will be launching on December 8, 2010.  For more information on REVD, please contact Dr. Arora at 601-960-3659 or sarora@mta.ms

Swiss company ABB has selected the city of Huntersville, North Carolina as the site for a new manufacturing facility for high-voltage power cables for use in AC and DC transmission lines. ABB is investing approximately $90 million in the new manufacturing facility, which will employ more than 100 people.

BlueFire Renewables Inc. has signed a contract with Mobile, Ala.-based Cooper Marine & Timberlands to provide feedstock for BlueFire's planned cellulosic ethanol facility in Fulton, MS for a period of up to 15 years.

GE's Ecomagination Challenge is a $200 million call to action for businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators, and students to share their best ideas and come together to take on one of the world's toughest challenges - building the next-generation power grid to meet the needs of the 21st century.

After registering, you may enter as many ideas as you wish in the three categories: Renewables, Grid Efficiency and Eco Homes/Eco Buildings between July 13 and September 30, 2010. Your entry should include a detailed proposal describing a smart grid technology that is both innovative and proprietary.
Click here for more information.

A new alliance of California business, labor, environmental and community leaders have formed the California Apollo Program  to help create clean energy jobs in the state. According to the organization, the program is a "blueprint for moving California toward broadly shared economic prosperity, energy security and climate stability, while reinforcing the state's commitment to a new clean energy future."
Read the entire article here.

Please mark you calendars for the upcoming major "all-things" biomass event in Memphis, TN.  You won't want to miss the Keynote Debate on the effect of the bioenergy industry on Southern forests. Will the industry creating thriving forests or diminish them? Does bioenergy encourage forest owners to manage more or less sustainably? Which types of forest biomass should be used in energy production? The Debate will take place on October 14th during the last session of the day. Participants from various viewpoints will present their positions and respond to your questions.  Sumesh Arora, director of Strategic Biomass Solutions at the Mississippi Technology Alliance will moderate a panel focusing on innovations in the biomass industry that could be game changers for the industry including algae biofuels.  Strategic Biomass Solutions is proud to serve as supporting sponsor for this event.  For more information, please contact Joseph Linton at 601-960-3623 or jlinton@mta.ms  or visit www.mta.ms  and click on the Biomass South 2010 banner.