Evergreen Solar to Build $150M Facility in Mass.

Last week, Evergreen Solar (Marboro, Mass.) announced that its Board of Directors has approved construction of a new $150 million facility. The new operation will increase the firm’s production capacity in Massachusetts by 70 MW and double its employee base in the state to more than 600 employees.

Evergreen Solar is known for its proprietary String Ribbon™ wafer technology for solar power. According to the company, annual sales have increased fourfold to approximately $100 million through a joint venture in Europe.

The company also announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. Total worldwide sales of String Ribbon product were $40.2 million in the first quarter, including $27.6 million of sales from EverQ, Evergreen Solar’s joint venture with Q-Cells A.G. and Renewable Energy Corporation ASA.

Just yesterday, the company announced a new corporate re-branding program, a new logo and a new tag line: “Think Beyond." The new logo seems to suggest a string ribbon look, playing on the company's trademarked technology descriptor. It replaced Evergreen's original identity, featuring an evergreen tree and the sun.

Toro Workman Powered by Nuvera Fuel Cells

Last week, Cambridge-based Nuvera announced that Toro (NYSE: TTC), the $1.8 billion vendor of "outdoor beautification products," has selected Nuvera's PowerFlow™ PFV-5 fuel cell system for integration into a Toro® Workman® utility vehicle. (Think golf courses, professional landscaping or consumers who are way too obsessed about their really big yards.)

The Nuvera-powered Workman is being developed under a contract between Toro and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to create the next generation of turf maintenance equipment powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The vehicle will be demonstrated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) as part of their “Green Parks Program.” You might catch a glimpse of these vehicles if your vacation travels take you to Niagara Falls State Park or Beaver Island State Park and Golf Course -- two parks where they are slated for use.

An aside: Toro's "About Us" descriptor presents its products in a green light: "From water-conserving irrigation products and Earth-friendly tools to convenient ways to preserve and enhance your surroundings, we're committed to you and your environment."