In the October edition of Energy and Clean Tech Connections, we’ve gathered recent information from a wide variety of sources in an effort to keep you abreast of what’s new in the world of clean energy. We draw your attention to the latest industry developments, news from local governments to Capitol Hill, grant opportunities, and upcoming events....

...Internet powerhouse Google, Inc. and New York investment firm Good Energies agreed this month to invest heavily in Trans-Elect’s proposed $5 billion transmission backbone for future offshore wind farms. The 350-mile backbone would remove major obstacles to wind power development and has won praise from investors, politicians, and environmentalists. Google and Good Energies agreed to each take a 37.5% equity portion in the project but are likely to bring on additional investors who would reduce their stake. The system’s backbone cable, with a capacity of 6,000 MW, would run from New Jersey to Norfolk, Virginia and harvest energy from turbines that are barely visible from land. The proposed project could make building offshore windfarms far simpler and cheaper and would help mid-Atlantic states to meet their renewable energy goals.

In government news, while federal climate change legislation is unlikely to pass this year, state governments have increasingly begun to address the issue on their own. Climate action plans have been adopted by 38 states with others pending, and a voluntary Climate Registry for emissions measurement and reporting has drawn participation from 41 states, 10 Canadian provinces, six Mexican provinces, and four native sovereign nations. Additionally, three regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading programs include 33 states as participants or observers. On the executive level, the Obama Administration and the EPA may be preparing to regulate GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act.