Who has time to read all the news with the holiday weekend upon us? Greenbang does … so here’s your daily review of headlines and developments you might have missed:

• Scottish and Southern Energy and joint venture partner Viking Energy Ltd. have submitted to Scottish Ministers an application for consent to build a 540-megawatt onshore wind farm on Shetland;
• IBM is furthering its participation in the World Wildlife Fund’s Climate Savers programme by committing to a second-generation goal to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by an additional 12 per cent below 2005 levels by 2012;
• Novo Nordisk has bought 99 low-carbon BMW 3-series cars as it moves to expand its green fleet;
• Ethanol producer POET says that research is reinforcing the economic, environmental benefits of corn cobs as source for cellulosic ethanol;
• Russian Railways, one of the largest railway operators in the world, is working with IBM to help optimise its IT infrastructure and is using new technologies to improve its freight and passenger management systems;
• While more than three-quarters of children in the UK live within two miles of their schools, almost two-thirds use cars or buses to get there and back, a study by Kia Motors has found;
• Birds sing more sweetly in colder climates than in the tropics because they have to try harder to attract a mate, according to new research.

• Green technology investors seek safer havens in 2011
• New US consortium plans $1.4bn in cleantech investments
• What does 2011 hold for China, US?
• World Economic Forum: Cleantech rules
• Virtual design speeds green reality
• Opinion: Darling’s green bank idea is laughably small
• Some guys and Holy Grails: 5 rules for spotting ‘cleantech porn’
• Despite some ‘green shoots,’ cleantech VCs see trouble ahead
• Cleantech Connect Awards recognise fast-growing innovators
• Irish cleantech firms seek opportunities in Silicon Valley