Toyota has received the highest number of clean energy patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the third consecutive quarter. The Office granted a record 798 clean energy patents in the third quarter of 2012, the highest total on record since the Cleantech Group at Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti began tracking the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index. Toyota’s 71 patents were primarily in fuel cells at 45, with an assist from hybrid/electric vehicle patents at 25, and one solar patent. GE recorded 50 wind patents, five solar patents and one patent in each of the following: hybrid/electric vehicles, fuel cells and other clean energy. GM took the third place spot for the second consecutive quarter with fuel cells (29) followed by hybrid/electric vehicles (6). Honda trailed GM with 31 fuel cell patents and one hybrid/electric vehicle patent.

RE-volv, a nonprofit organization promoting renewable energy, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance community-based solar energy projects. The campaign, hosted on Indiegogo and accessible at www.solarseedfund.org, aims to finance the first community-based solar energy project, officially launching the revolving fund. Called the Solar Seed Fund, the fund gives people a way to help finance solar energy projects as part of a community effort to demonstrate the benefits of solar energy. The Fund uses donations to finance solar installations on community-serving organizations such as schools, universities, hospitals, and places of worship. RE-volv recoups the solar installation cost and earns a return on the investment through a 20-year solar lease agreement.

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Video Source: Toyota Receives Highest Number of Clean Energy Patents; RE-volv Sets Up Crowd Funded Solar Project via Indiegogo