Barrie Leay, a long-time advocate for renewable energy and director of several entrepreneurial New Zealand businesses, was presenting at an alternative fuels conference in Sydney last week when he became ill and died later in hospital.

Windflow has obtained more funding support as it faces a cashflow crisis.

The money is required to keep the company solvent until June 2012, by which time it expects to have raised new capital.

A Windflow shareholder is putting in more money than his allocation under a last ditch share offer and is encouraging others to do likewise

Windflow Technology - the darling of Helen Clark and the Greens -  seeks more capital, ceases manufacturing and looks offshore.

Christchurch-based wind turbine manufacturer Windflow Technology has signed a deal with Dutch Energy Corporation (DEC) to produce electricity in California.

Windflow and DEC have signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow the installation of two Windflow 500 wind turbines on sites at Palm Springs.

DEC has power purchase agreements and consents to operate 33 500kW 2-bladed turbines and so far has 31 installed.