Alternative Energy Weekend News - 2/25/07

• Executives from some of the world's leading alternative energy companies argued their case to big investors this past Wednesday at Piper Jaffray's second annual conference on investor opportunities in alternative energy.

• A new pump system designed to turn salt water into fresh water when combined with desalination systems -- and produce clean renewable energy when combined with hydroelectric systems -- is currently being tested in the Gulf of Mexico, off the Texas coast.

• The Austin Technology Incubator's Clean Energy Incubator and Austin Energy have agreed to create the first test-bed environment in the United States for alternative energy companies to prepare their technologies for commercialization.

• A coalition of private companies and government agencies is launching a grassroots marketing campaign to persuade more Americans to help combat global warming by using energy-efficient light bulbs.

• The leaders of several worldwide corporations — including General Electric, Volvo and Air France — called last week for prompt, decisive action on climate change created by the emission of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide.

• A proposed law requiring new cars to comply with stricter emissions standards starting in 2011 won overwhelming approval last Tuesday from Maryland's House of Delegates. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to also find strong support.