A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The EERE Network News is also available on the Web at: www.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm January 16, 2008News and Events
Energy Connections
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News and EventsInterior Department Finds No Major Impact from Cape Wind Project
The Interior Department's Minerals Management Service (MMS) has issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Cape Wind Energy Project and finds no major environmental impacts from the proposed project. The MMS is the lead federal permitting agency for the Cape Wind project, a 468-megawatt wind power plant proposed for Horseshoe Shoal, a shallow part of Nantucket Sound located about five miles from the shore of Massachusetts. Cape Wind Associates, LLC first filed a permit application for the plant with the Army Corps of Engineers in November 2001, but the Energy Policy Act of 2005 shifted the permitting authority to the MMS. The company plans to begin construction on the project in 2009 and start operating the plant in 2009. The MMS filed the report with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday, January 11. The DEIS labels most impacts of the project as "negligible" or "minor," with only a handful of impacts rising to the level of "moderate," including visual impacts. The report lists the ways these impacts will be minimized, including the elimination of daytime lighting on the wind turbines and the use of only 57 warning lights at night. The DEIS also found the Horseshoe Shoal site preferable to alternative sites that were studied and found that building the facility would be preferable to the likely alternative, a fossil-fuel power plant. The MMS will begin accepting comments on the DEIS on Friday, January 18, at which time a Notice of Availability for the DEIS will be published in the Federal Register. Written comments will be accepted through March 20, and the MMS will hold public hearings on the document at four locations in Massachusetts from March 10-13. See the press releases from Cape Wind Associates and the MMS, or go directly to the full DEIS (PDF 5.48 MB). Download Adobe Reader. The MMS also issued a record of decision on its Offshore Alternative Energy and Alternative Use Program last week. The decision formally establishes the program and, according to MMS, "reinforces the agency's intent" to finalize regulations for the offshore development of renewable energy, including both offshore wind power and ocean energy technologies. See the MMS press release and the record of decision (PDF 50 KB). GM, Toyota, and Fisker to Launch Plug-In Hybrids by 2010Domestic, foreign, and specialty automakers arrived at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, with plans to launch a commercial version of their plug-in hybrid concepts by 2010. The Saturn division of General Motors Corporation (GM) is the latest to join the plug-in hybrid bandwagon and plans to be the first with a full-production product, as the company announced its intent to launch a plug-in version of the Saturn Vue Green Line SUV as early as 2010. The Saturn Vue Green Line Plug-In Hybrid, which made its world debut at the auto show, combines a lithium-ion battery pack with GM's dual-mode hybrid system. The vehicle's battery pack can be recharged in four to five hours by plugging it into any standard 110-volt electrical outlet, and in early testing, the batteries allowed the vehicle to travel for more than 10 miles at low speeds using electric-only propulsion. GM has also suggested that its Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid may be released by 2010. See the GM press release. Toyota Motor Corporation is taking a more conservative approach, with plans to sell plug-in hybrids only to fleet customers in the United States and elsewhere by 2010. Toyota does not say which vehicle will be available as a plug-in hybrid, though most industry observers expect it to be a new version of the Prius. The vehicle will feature a lithium-ion battery pack, and Toyota is currently investigating the feasibility of mass production at a battery plant in central Japan, owned by Panasonic EV Energy Company, Limited, a joint venture of Toyota and the Matsushita Group. Toyota is also providing its plug-in hybrid prototypes for an executive shuttle service at the auto show. See the Toyota press releases on the 2010 plans and the current prototypes.
And last but not least, specialty automaker Fisker Automotive has unveiled the prototype of the car that Earl Hickey would drive: the Fisker Karma. Featuring a lithium-ion battery pack and a plug-in hybrid system developed by Quantum Technologies, the Fisker Karma is designed to travel up to 50 miles using only its electric drive. The luxury sports sedan is currently slated to beat its competitors to market, with initial deliveries starting in late 2009. The vehicle will feature an all-aluminum body, with an optional solar roof. The Fisker Karma will have an annual production of only 15,000 cars, and unfortunately, most of us would need to win the lottery to afford it: the starting price for the vehicle is $80,000. See the Fisker Automotive Web site and press release (PDF 95 KB). Download Adobe Reader. Chrysler Unveils Electric-Drive Concepts and Diesels in DetroitChrysler LLC brought a wide range of green vehicles to the Detroit Auto Show, including three concept vehicles that incorporate electric drive technologies. The Dodge ZEO concept—short for "Zero Emissions Operation"—is an all-electric sport wagon combining a 64-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack with a 200-kilowatt (268 horsepower) electric motor. The rear-wheel-drive vehicle accelerates to 60 miles per hour (mph) in less than six seconds and has a range of at least 250 miles. The Chrysler ecoVoyager concept combines a similar battery pack and motor with a small hydrogen fuel cell to achieve a 300 mile range. The vehicle can travel about 40 miles on battery power alone and can accelerate to 60 mph in less than eight seconds. And the Jeep Renegade concept, a plug-in hybrid, combines a lithium-ion battery pack with dual 200-kilowatt electric motors on each axle. The Jeep can travel 40 miles on battery power alone and can travel 400 miles with the help of its 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder clean diesel engine. The vehicle features a lightweight aluminum architecture. Chrysler intends to pursue these new drive concepts through ENVI, an in-house organization formed late last year with a focus on electric-drive vehicles and related technologies. See the press releases regarding ENVI, and specifically the Chrysler ecoVoyager, Dodge ZEO, and Jeep Renegade concepts. Chrysler also announced that the all-new Dodge Ram 1500 pickup will be available as a hybrid in 2010. The Dodge Ram HEMI Hybrid will combine a two-mode hybrid system with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine. For the 2009 Dodge Ram, Chrysler is launching an improved version of its HEMI V-8 engine featuring variable valve timing and a four-cylinder mode with an expanded operating range. The result is more power and torque, along with a 4% increase in fuel economy. Dodge has also announced that it will introduce a new Cummins turbodiesel engine for its light-duty pickup trucks after 2009. Compared to an equivalent gasoline engine, the new diesel engine will provide a dramatic increase in low-end torque, up to a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency, and a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. It will also meet 2010 emission standards in all 50 states. Dodge currently offers a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel in its Ram Heavy Duty trucks, and that engine meets the 2010 emission standards. See the Chrysler press releases regarding the Dodge Ram HEMI Hybrid and the new HEMI and diesel engines. The Detroit Auto Show, officially called the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), opens to the public on Saturday, January 19, and runs through Sunday, January 27. The NAIAS Web site features photos, videos, and press releases from the auto show. See the NAIAS Web site. Ford Vehicles to Employ the Fuel-Saving "EcoBoost" EngineFord unveiled a new fuel-efficient gasoline engine at the Detroit Auto Show. Called the "EcoBoost," the new engine combines direct injection and turbocharging to achieve a 20% improvement in fuel economy, 15% lower carbon dioxide emissions, and superior driving performance. The engine injects gasoline directly into each cylinder, and because the fuel charge is cooler and denser than in current gasoline engines, its combustion is more efficient. Turbocharged direct injection is already used in a variety of diesel engines, but is harder to employ in a gasoline engine. The new EcoBoost engine will first appear commercially in the Lincoln MKS Sedan in 2009, and within the next five years, it will be available in half a million vehicles carrying the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands. The engine will be available in both four-cylinder and six-cylinder models. See the Ford press release and the EcoBoost Web page. For now, though, the engine is featured in the Ford Explorer America and the Lincoln MKT concepts, which are both on display at the Detroit Auto Show. The conceptual reworking of the Ford Explorer SUV uses unibody construction (as opposed to a heavier truck frame), lightweight materials, and the smaller EcoBoost engine to cut its weight by 150 pounds, while a six-speed transmission and electric power assist steering helps the vehicle to achieve a fuel economy improvement of up to 30%, compared to today's V-6 Explorer. The Lincoln MKT concept features a flex-fuel EcoBoost engine that is capable of running on E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. See the Ford press releases for the Ford Explorer America and the Lincoln MKT concepts. Ford's Land Rover division also arrived at the auto show with a green concept vehicle: the Land Rover LRX hybrid concept. The vehicle combines a two-liter turbodiesel engine with an electric motor integrated into the vehicle's rear axle. The motor would allow the vehicle to run under electric power up to 20 miles per hour, and would also provide additional torque when needed. In combination with other Land Rover technologies, the hybrid system is expected to cut fuel consumption by 30%, compared to similar-sized SUVs. See the Ford press release. Detroit Goes Small with Ford Verve, Daimler Smart Car
Automakers continued an emphasis on smaller cars at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Ford Motor Company unveiled the Ford Verve concept vehicle, a four-door small car slated for production in 2010. Ford also displayed a three-door version of the Ford Verve, which was first introduced at last year's Frankfurt Auto Show. According to Ford, small cars and crossovers are the only vehicle types with projected near-term growth in the United States. See the Ford press release and Verve Web page. If Ford is right, Daimler has the jump on it, as the company is now selling its smart fortwo in the United States. The diminutive two-door car, also on display in Detroit, achieves 33 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 41 mpg on the highway under the new fuel economy regulations developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to Daimler, more than 30,000 Americans have placed a $99 deposit on the smart fortwo, which is available through 70 carefully selected dealerships located in major U.S. cities. The smart fortwo is available in three trim levels, with the least expensive starting at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $11,590. See the smart USA Web site and Daimler's smart press kit. Fuel-Cell-Powered Cadillac Provoq Unveiled at Electronics ShowGM's latest incarnation of its "E-Flex" propulsion system—the one initially designed for the Chevrolet Volt—is a fuel-cell-powered crossover vehicle carrying the Cadillac badge. The Cadillac Provoq concept vehicle was unveiled last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is also on display at the Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle achieves a 300-mile range by packing two high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks beneath its rear cargo floor. It combines an 88-kilowatt fuel cell with a 60-kilowatt lithium-ion battery pack that can store up to 9 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy. It features a 70-kilowatt coaxial motor drive system for the front wheels and a 40-kilowatt motor in each of the rear wheel hubs, providing enough kick to boost the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in about 8.5 seconds. The vehicle has a top speed of 100 miles per hour. Additional features built into the Cadillac Provoq include a solar panel integrated into its roof, brake-by-wire technology, and front grill louvers that close at highway speeds to enhance the vehicle's aerodynamics. See the GM press release, and a selection of photos of the Cadillac Provoq. | ||||||
Energy ConnectionsReport: Electric Utilities Investing Billions in TransmissionThe U.S. electric utility industry invested $6.9 billion in transmission projects in 2006, and members of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) plan to invest another $38.1 billion from 2007 to 2010, according to a new EEI report. This represents a 60% increase above the amount invested from 2003 to 2006. EEI is the association of shareholder-owned U.S. electric companies and represents about 70% of the U.S. electric power industry. The EEI report notes that transmission lines are being added for a variety of reasons, and one is to connect remote renewable energy resources to the electrical grid. The report specifically notes that EEI members are building the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, which includes more than 250 miles of new and upgraded high-voltage transmission lines to support renewable generation development in California. They are also building the Southwest Minnesota Wind Expansion Project, which involves installing about 220 miles of new transmission lines and upgrading 300 miles of existing transmission lines to deliver more than 800 megawatts of wind resources to the electrical grid. The EEI report includes detailed descriptions of each transmission project. See the EEI press release and the full report. | ||||||
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A personal quest to promote the use of wind energy and hydrogen technology in the Great Lakes area of the United States. The Great Lakes area is in a unique position to become an energy exporting region through these and other renewable energy technologies. *Update 2014: Just do it everywhere - Dan*
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
By Dan Stafford 01/15/2008
Dear Readers,
I want to state clearly that I believe a healthy environment is strongly influenced by governmental policies in myriad ways. It is for these reasons that I at times will speak of political issues.
A sound environment comes from a collective result of choices; what consumers purchase, how they use the technology purchases after the sales are completed, how they power technological devices, how they use chemical products, what kinds of jobs consumers hold.
The bottom line goal in all of this is for everyone on the planet to have safe, healthy, and stable lives. Of necessity, this requires that we provide the same for all life on the planet to the best of our ability.
If political candidates' policy decisions once they are elected will result in more oil and coal being used, meaning Joe Consumer has to work in a tar sand oil recovery unit or coal mine, we add to the problems we face.
If a different candidate's policies would result in Joe Consumer repairing wind turbines in Kansas or wave power generators in South Carolina, we not only subtract from the problem, we keep more money in the local economy.
I could go on and on with this and hammer the point from seventy different angles, but this is the bottom line. I am reasonably certain that the majority of people reading this blog are able to think out the logical consequences of both scenarios presented above if they wish to.
Fair, transparent, verifiable elections are the absolute bedrock of our collective choice to either care for or desecrate this Earth, this cradle of life. If elections are easily manipulated by those with a financial interest in the status quo, history asserts that the attempt will very likely be made.
Personally, I do not wish to see elections world wide devolve into a competition for political computer hackers or worse. Therefore I will occasionally present pieces like that below in order to illuminate issues I think deserve a closer look, more focused attention, and greater vigilance on all our part.
Personally, I could care less for labels. Give me a Republican who cares about the lives of his/her constituents, and the viability of the world we all live in, and will work to enact policies that directly benefit both, and I would vote for them.
I think such people are rare in this day and age, and so I haven't found any to advocate as of yet - but I do believe there are many Greens and a few democrats who fit what I believe is that description.
So, be prepared in coming here, I do this for free, no monetary benefit have I derived, in fact it costs me both monies out of pocket and time invested. I will say what I honestly believe is truth and to the benefit of all, without remorse or regret. If I am wrong occasionally, so be it. If I am correct, the same. Each reader must look in their hearts and use their logical intelligence to decide that for themselves.
I will also say that I believe ALL of us, each in our own way, really want life to be the best it can be for everyone - we just often disagree on how to get there.
With regards and hope for a new year and a fresh start, thank you for reading.
Dan Stafford
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Great Lakes Daily News: 15 January 2008
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and The Environment Report.
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/
Botulism takes fatal toll on thousands of Great Lakes birds
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The mounting toll on migrating birds has stoked fears among researchers and ecologists that blame for the deaths lies with invasive populations of zebra mussels and round gobies -- which arrived in ballast tanks in the 1980s and 1990s -- spreading over the Great Lakes and effectively creating a new food chain. Source: Chicago Tribune (1/15)
Ontario to approve Great Lakes wind power
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Ontario is preparing to lift a controversial moratorium on the development of offshore wind projects in the Great Lakes that has been in place for nearly 14 months. Source: The Toronto Star (1/15)
Hamlin turbines could affect flying wildlife
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On Monday night, the Hamlin town board voted to extend a moratorium on wind development until June, unless leaders adopt a wind turbine law sooner.
Source: WHAM Rochester, NY (1/15)
Voters focus on water in Great Lakes state
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Unlike the parched states in the west, where the battle over water can make or break cities, Michigan is surrounded by the largest source of fresh water in the world. Voters want to keep it that way. Source: Reuters (1/15)
We wonder: Is it winter?
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Both the bay and all of Lake Erie have remained ice-free this season, at least so far. And last season, it took a chilly blast of late-season air to freeze over the entire lake in early February 2007, the National Weather Service said. Source: Erie Times-News (1/15)
Charter captains will need digital-age credential
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If the law doesn't change by September, charter boat captains already feeling the pinch of rising fuel costs, a customer base that is spending less on entertainment and uncertainty about Lake Michigan's fishery will have one more thing to worry about. Source: The Ludington Daily News (1/15)
Keeping a closer eye on intrusion
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An ambitious homeland security plan to build 18 watchtowers along the Buffalo Niagara region waterfront has been scrapped. But a number of other programs - from radar to boats to aircraft - are being put in place, and officials insist the border is more secure than ever. Source: The Buffalo News (1/15)
Bills seeking to regulate diversion of Great Lakes water advance
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Bills seeking to restrict the diversion of Great Lakes water to other regions are moving forward quickly with bi-partisan support in the Indiana Legislature. Source: The Chesterton Tribune (1/14)
Phosphorus debate goes to Lansing
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A Congresswoman is calling for statewide restrictions on phosphorus fertilizers, a group of bay area leaders plan to lobby for one in Lansing, and Democrats in the state House are readying legislation, officials say.
Source: The Bay City Times (1/14)
U.S. ferry to Canada proposal still has support
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Although a proposed cross-Erie ferry between Port Burwell and Fairport Harbor, Ohio has experienced some rough seas on this side of the lake, the ride has been smoother in Ohio. Source: The Tillsonburg News (1/14)
EDITORIAL: Protect Great Lakes water
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The Great Lakes Basin Water Resource Compact must be ratified by all eight Great Lakes states before it can be approved by Congress, and it's important to finish the job before the 2010 Census starts draining congressional seats and power to the South and West. Source: The Buffalo News (1/13)
Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html
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- The BRAD BLOG - http://www.bradblog.com -
'Send Lawyers, Peace and Money': New Hampshire Election Contests Get Technical, Testy Before They Even Begin
Election Integrity Experts Converge and Join Both Republican and Democratic Candidates in Quest for Transparency
New Hampshire Secretary of State Questioned About Documentation, Poll Records and Diebold Memory Cards...
Posted By Brad Friedman On 15th January 2008 @ 04:27 In Diebold/Premier, Election Irregularities, Election 2008, BlackBoxVoting.org, New Hampshire, Dennis Kucinich, Harri Hursti, Albert Howard | 13 Comments
By Brad Friedman from Sacramento...
Election Integrity experts from around the country have been converging on the Granite State over the last several days, in preparation for "historic" state-wide hand counts of New Hampshire's Primary Election ballots, The BRAD BLOG [1] has learned. Counts of votes in both the Democratic and Republican side will begin in earnest this Wednesday, as long as the two contesting candidates deliver certified checks by 3pm on Tuesday, in an amount determined on Monday by Secretary of State William M. Gardner.
The battle for transparency and accountability on the ground, where some 80% of the state's ballots were tallied only by error-prone, hackable Diebold optical-scan voting machines, without human audit or spot-check of any kind, in last week's first-in-the-nation Primary, is already growing heated on both sides of the aisle, and even inside the statehouse as of Monday.
While representatives from each of the contestants have reportedly been working together on several aspects of the two separate counts --- each claiming to have requested the hand-counts in order to help answer questions about anomalous reported results --- what has become immediately clear, during our interviews with several members involved in the challgenges, as well as Election Integrity advocates now in New Hampshire and elsewhere, is that these election challenges may not likely mirror the partial recount in 2004, held at the request of then-Presidential candidate Ralph Nader.
As a two-page request for a detailed list of ballot and voting machine-related public documents and records, obtained by The BRAD BLOG [1], as submitted on Monday to Gardner by the previously obscure Republican candidate Albert Howard made clear, the battle for integrity and transparency in post-election challenges, may have finally caught up with the technical sea-changes in voting equipment that have overtaken the American election system over the last several years.
Due to extraordinary complexities in the ever more complicated computer systems, scanners, tabulators, record sets, databases and proprietary programming that have now been employed by election administrators across the country, the once simple task of examining and recounting paper ballots --- where they still exist, as they do in New Hampshire --- has grown exponentially more technical and confusing.
Early word on the ground in New Hampshire's capitol city of Concord, along with concerns from candidates, surrogates and election experts alike, suggests that these "recounts" could be like no other, in the history of the country...
General Motors Corp. is planning on making biofuel with garbage at a cost of less than a dollar a gallon, the company's chief has said.
The US automaker has entered into a partnership with Illinois-based Coskata Inc. which has developed a way to make ethanol from practically any renewable source, including old tires and plant waste.
FULL STORY
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sheets Melting in an Area Once Thought to Be Unaffected by Global Warming
By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 14, 2008; A01
FULL STORY
News of Note JOHNSTON, Iowa (Reuters)- Outside the headquarters of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc, the pavement is iced over and workers arriving for the day are bundled up against the cold. Top Stories This Christmas marked the third anniversary of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004. While reconstruction has inched forward in the affected countries, in Sri Lanka, one of the hardest-hit areas, progress remains challenging. Unlike Indonesia’s Aceh province, which in the disaster’s aftermath was able to overcome a decades-long armed conflict, Sri Lanka actually lapsed back into internal fighting a little more than a year after the waves struck. Widespread development and use of organic standards began in the 1980's to safeguard and systematize an alternative way (organic) of agriculture and handling food. Among a detailed list of prohibited substances in organic systems are chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. Because the organic system recognized from the start that it would likely remain a small component of agriculture, and that contamination would inevitably happen through background pollution such as polluted water, air and drift, it proposed a system based on a "practice standard," rather than on measuring the purity of an end product. Increasing amounts of ice mass have been lost from West Antarctica and the Antarctic peninsula over the past ten years, according to research from the University of Bristol and published online this week in Nature Geoscience. Meanwhile the ice mass in East Antarctica has been roughly stable, with neither loss nor accumulation over the past decade.WWF and the government of Abu Dhabi today launched a Sustainability Strategy to deliver the world’s greenest city. Masdar City will be the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city, meeting or exceeding a set of stringent sustainability goals established under the "One Planet Living" program established by WWF and environmental consultancy BioRegional. | ENN Spotlight
More Top Stories
At the December Council, EU Fisheries Ministers determine quotas for fishing in EU waters for the following year.
Piles of trash have lined the streets of Naples since waste collection stopped before Christmas after dumps in the region were declared full. The crisis has led to protests. |  |        | ||
| Explore ENN.COM Animals | Agriculture | Ecosystems | Energy | Business | Climate | Pollution | Green Building | Sci/Tech | Lifestyle | Health | |||||
| Member Press Releases By: the International Fund for Animal Welfare The International Fund of Animal Welfare (IFAW) held a landmark "Lobster Gear Summit" today in conjunction with the Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association (AOLA), connecting regional lobstermen groups with fishing gear manufacturers, federal and state fisheries officials and rope-recycling specialists for a day of information sharing, fact-gathering and strategic planning. The meeting was held in order to discuss what is needed for industry-wide compliance toward recent equipment mandates issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). By: the Globe Foundation of Canada A report by the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE), states Canada can achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets of 20 percent by 2020 and 65 percent by 2050 by implementing a clear, consistent and certain emission price signal across the Canadian economy as soon as possible. The report, Getting to 2050: Canada's Transition to a Low-emission Future, argues the immediate introduction of market-based policy in the form of an emission tax or a cap-and-trade system or a combination of the two is economically feasible and quite likely only way of achieving the government's stated emission reduction targets. By: the Center for Biological Diversity The federal government Friday proposed protecting the black abalone as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act. The action comes in response to a formal administrative petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity in December 2006 that sought protection of the species. The black abalone, an intertidal mollusk historically ranging from near the California-Oregon border to Cape San Lucas, Baja California, has declined by as much as 99 percent in most of its range. By: World Land Trust On the 17th January the World Land Trust and their Patron, Sir David Attenborough, will launch Webcam in the Forest at the Linnaean Society of London, as part of its ongoing program of showing to the world at large, conservation in action. By: Earth Policy Institute "With the record for 2007 now complete, it is clear that temperatures around the world are continuing their upward climb", writes Frances Moore in a recent Earth Policy Institute release, "2007 Second Warmest Year on Record". "The global average in 2007 was 14.73 degrees Celsius (58.5 degrees Fahrenheit)-the second warmest year on record, only 0.03 degrees Celsius behind the 2005 maximum. Looking at the northern hemisphere alone, 2007 temperatures averaged 15.04 degrees Celsius (59.1 degrees Fahrenheit)-easily the hottest year in the northern half of the globe since the record began in 1880." By: the Center for Biological Diversity In response to an April 2006 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday that the Amargosa River population of the Mojave fringe-toed lizard, Uma scoparia, warrants consideration for protection as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. The agency will now begin a one-year status review of the species. By: the Center for Biological Diversity On behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, the Western Environmental Law Center today filed suit in federal court in the central district of California to challenge the Department of Energy's October 2007 designation of the Southwest National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor - a sweeping, 45-million-acre area that includes seven southern California and three Arizona counties - for failing to analyze the environmental impacts of the corridor. By: Network for New Energy Choices The Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) is delighted about Governor Eliot Spitzer's support of clean energy technologies and policies in his State of the State speech. Specifically, NNEC is pleased with his mention of net metering. The Governor spoke encouragingly about New Yorker's ability to run their meters backwards with clean technologies, like solar and wind. Net metering is the billing arrangement by which customers realize savings from their renewable energy systems, where 1-kWh (kilowatt-hour) generated by the customer has the exact same value (in cents/kWh) as 1-kWh consumed by the customer. Editor's Note : 'Network News' features press releases submitted directly by organizations in ENN's member network. This content is not specifically endorsed or supported by ENN and is not subject to ENN's editorial process. | |||||
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Earthen flooring is nothing more than what it sounds like — humble, natural earth compacted with straw or other fibers and stabilized with various natural oils to form eco-friendly high-quality flooring. These floors are easy to clean, comes in a variety of textures, colors, and materials. It can be installed over nearly any subflooring, it integrates well with radiant heat systems and it’s one of the cheapest flooring methods either conventional or green.
Brussels - EU Fisheries Ministers have gambled on the future of Europe’s fish stocks, said WWF at the conclusion of the EU Fisheries Council yesterday night in Brussels.
The recent price rally in farm commodities such as grains, oilseeds and sugar beet can be attributed partly to higher biofuel demand but their share of the blame has been exaggerated, a top official of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
An Italian couple from Naples have applied for asylum in Switzerland, saying toxic waste dumped around the city poses a health risk to their unborn child.The New York Times | The Candidates Discover the Economy
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011408L.shtml
The editors of The New York Times write, "The presidential candidates are only beginning to recognize what many voters have already figured out through painful, personal experience: the economy is in trouble and unlikely to improve without some sensible government response." Meanwhile, Michael Barbaro and Louis Uchitelle, of The New York Times, report, "Strong evidence is emerging that consumer spending, a bulwark against recession over the last year even as energy prices surged and the housing market sputtered, has begun to slow sharply at every level of the American economy, from the working class to the wealthy."
Paul Krugman | Responding to Recession
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011408M.shtml
Paul Krugman writes for The New York Times: "Since this is an election year, the debate over how to stimulate the economy is inevitably tied up with politics. And here's a modest suggestion for political reporters. Instead of trying to divine the candidates' characters by scrutinizing their tone of voice and facial expressions, why not pay attention to what they say about economic policy?" William Greider, writing for The Nation, also weighs in on the Democratic candidates' economic plans.
Eco-Economy Indicator -- GLOBAL TEMPERATURE
January 10, 2008
Eco-Economy Indicators are the twelve trends the Earth Policy Institute tracks to measure progress in building an eco-economy. Taking the earth's temperature tells us about the relative health of the planet.
2007 SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD
Northern Hemisphere Temperature Highest Ever
Frances C. Moore
With the record for 2007 now complete, it is clear that temperatures around the world are continuing their upward climb. The global average in 2007 was 14.73 degrees Celsius (58.5 degrees Fahrenheit) -- the second warmest year on record, only 0.03 degrees Celsius behind the 2005 maximum. January 2007 was the hottest January ever measured, a full 0.23 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous record. August was also a record for that month, and September was the second warmest September recorded.
Looking at the northern hemisphere alone, 2007 temperatures averaged 15.04 degrees Celsius (59.1 degrees Fahrenheit) -- easily the hottest year in the northern half of the globe since the record began in 1880, and more than a degree warmer than the 1951–80 average...
For entire text see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Temp/2008.htm
For data see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Temp/2008_data.htm
For an index of Earth Policy Institute resources related to Temperature and Climate see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Temp/index.htm
And for more on the effects of rising temperature and how to stabilize climate, you may be interested in Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization by Lester R. Brown (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2008). Information about this book is on-line at http://www.earthpolicy.org/Books/PB3/index.htm.
Taking Care of Business
There's no stopping the greening of business. Two thousand eight seems to be off to a roaring start. Today, for examples, bring three significant announcements from six major companies (two of which, GM and IBM, are GreenBiz.com sponsors). The three demonstrate a range of sectors, partnerships, and approaches to the new green economy. To wit:
- General Motors this weekend announced an investment in a start-up company, Coskata, to commercialize the process of turning biomass, municipal trash, waste tires, wood chips, and other low-grade waste into ethanol -- at a price of under $1 per gallon. The plan is to build facilities that could produce 100 million gallons a year each by 2010.
- IBM, Nokia, Pitney-Bowes, and Sony today are releasing 31 patents into the public domain, aimed at addressing a range of environmental challenges. The companies hope this Eco-Patent Commons will spur innovation and create new business opportunities.
- Clorox is announcing a partnership today with the Sierra Club, as part of its launch of a new line of environmentally friendly cleaning products, the company's first new brand in 20 years. Sierra Club will help promote the cleaners, which are 99 percent derived from coconuts and lemon oil.
All three of these announcements, while different in form and substance, demonstrate the power of partnerships and innovation in the green business arena -- a topic underscored by Worldwatch Institute in the latest edition of its annual tome, State of the World. This year's edition is dedicated to highlighting new economic opportunities and actions by governments and businesses to better the world.
Not bad, for a single week in the greening of business. Two thousand eight: So far, so good.
FEATURED BOOK
True Green at Work: 100 Ways You Can Make the Environment Your Business
by Kim Mckay and Jenny Bonnin
True Green at Work is a definitive DIY manual for the working world, covering businesses, workers and day-to-day life at the office. Its variety of tips tell everyone who holds a job, from top executives on down the ladder, how to help minimize their company's carbon footprint. Each page contains a single tip for reducing waste, making it easy for anyone in any job to take small steps toward a healthier planet.
FEATURED EVENT
Host: Plum Communications Date: April 7 - 9, 2008
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada
IT360- Conference & Expo 2008 is an interactive experience for IT professionals and business executives. Faced with the challenge of shrinking budgets and limited time to test or evaluate, IT360- provides a conference of 80+ educational sessions and an informative exposition where professionals can compare applications and solutions while learning first-hand from leading companies and their experts in this immersive arena.
New on GreenBiz Radio:
The Presidential Climate Action Project aims to give the next resident of the White House a running start on addressing the climate crisis. Longtime corporate sustainability leader Ray Anderson talks to GreenBiz Radio about what the president -- and U.S. businesses -- can accomplish.
You can listen to GreenBiz Radio online, download programs to your desktop, or subscribe to the GreenBiz Radio RSS feed.
Headlines
The Latest News on Business and the Environment
IBM Leads Program to Share Clean Technologies
IBM, Nokia, Pitney-Bowes and Sony are the first companies to join the newly launched Eco-Patents Commons, a coalition spearheaded by IBM to offer environmental technologies, processes and ideas to spur innovation around the globe.
Clorox and Sierra Club Announce Branding Partnership
The Clorox Company has formed a partnership with the Sierra Club as part of the company's launch of Green Works, a new line of natural cleaning products made from plant-based ingredients.
GM Launches Partnership with Start-up to Commercialize Biofuels
At the Detroit Motor Show, General Motors announced a partnership with Coskata to commercialize its process for creating low-cost ethanol from a wide range of feedstocks, including biomass, municipal solid waste, wood chips, even used car tires.
Banks Take Steps Addressing Climate Change but Long Road Ahead: Report
HSBC and ABN led the pack of 40 banks and financial institutions examined by Ceres on the steps undertaken to address climate change.
Scholastic Embraces FSC-Certified Paper
Children's publisher Scholastic made a commitment to boost the amount of recycled paper it uses and help educate kids about the environment through a new website.
Report: Green Investments Creating First Sustainable Economy
Worldwide Institute's latest report looks at the growth of investments in sustainable efforts while encouraging further efforts for the betterment of the world.
F.T.C. Kicks Off Green Marketing Hearings
The Federal Trade Commission is updating its green advertising guidelines a year before schedule because of the growing wave of environmental marketing claims. Its first target: carbon offsets.
GM, Ford Introducing Greener Cars, Engines
GM and Ford are using two premiere events this month to unveil their latest energy- and fuel-efficient auto technologies and concepts.
Aurora Organic Dairy Takes Aim at its Emissions
The milk and butter producer will join forces with the University of Michigan to measure and reduce its carbon footprint across the lifecycle of its product line.
Plan Aimed at Spurring E.U. Eco-Innovation
The European Commission plans to promote innovative, environmentally-focused markets with a new initiative targeting eHealth, sustainable construction, technical textiles, bio-based products, recycling and renewable energy.
China Bans Plastic Bags, Sets Tougher Fuel Standards
China banned the production of thin plastic bags Tuesday and outlawed their use in supermarkets and shops beginning June 1. Worries about pollution has also sparked the introduction of tougher fuel standards to improve air quality before the Olympics.
Archer Daniels Midland to Bury Carbon From Ethanol Plant
One million tons of carbon will be buried and monitored from 2009-2012 to test effectiveness of carbon sequestration.
Put GreenBiz news on your site for free! Learn more...
Featured Resource
A Wealth of Hands-On Help
The Eco-Patent Commons
This project, launched by IBM with the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, is a first-of-its-kind effort to make patents relating to environmental processes and technologies open to innovators around the globe.
The Master ROI Table for Office and Building Products
This comprehensive chart lists the added costs, annual savings, 10 year savings, payback time and total return on investment for dozens of office and building products.
Columns and Features
Insight and Inspiration from the Experts
Pioneering a Sustainable Paper Industry
By Frank Marquardt
By adopting cutting-edge technologies and seeking to eliminate waste and increasing efficiency, Grays Harbor Paper has created a path to not only revive a struggling paper town, but one that also points the way forward for an industry that has only just begun to address its environmental impact.
Asia and The Age of Sustainability: Where The East Has an Edge
By Rick Seireeni
The Western world is in the throes of a green revolution that is slowly spreading around the globe. When the powerhouse Asian economies pick up speed, expect them to grow ever more powerful, and dramatically speed up the process of innovation to boot.
Renewable Energy Firms Strike Gold with Green Employee Benefits
By Dawn E. Dzurilla, RenewableEnergyAccess.com
Leaders of companies across industries -- but most noticeably in the clean energy field -- are providing eco-perks as a way of developing an environmentally sustainable company culture, and makes employees happier, healthier and more productive.
GreenBiz Blogs
Joel Makower's Two Steps Forward:
News Flash: 110% of Consumers Shop Green!
> More from Joel Makower
Marc Gunther on Corporate America:
Michael Jordan's "green" Sneaker
> More from Marc Gunther
David Wigder's Green Marketing Strategies:
Investing in Green Innovation
> More from David Wigder
Andy Savitz's Triple Bottom Line Blog:
The Sins of Greenwashing -- A Good Idea Pushed Too Far
> More from Andy Savitz
Wanna write for GreenBiz? GreenBiz is looking for guest and regular columnists and feature writers. We're seeking contributions from business leaders as well as the journalists who write about them. If you're interested, send a brief query to managing editor Matthew Wheeland, at editor@greenbiz.com | Read our editorial guidelines
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Super Soaker Inventor Aims to Cut Solar Costs in Half
The Atlanta-based independent inventor of the Super Soaker squirt gun (a true technological milestone) says he can achieve a conversion efficiency rate that tops 60 percent with a new solid-state heat engine.
Green Living
PM's Ultimate Guide to Sustainability
From trends in alternative energy to products for environmental efficiency to tons of tips you can use, the best of what's right—right now.Drive Green
Solving the Fuel Crunch
From plug-in cars to biofuels, MPG legislation to far-out test drives, check out all our coverage on the gas-saving future of cars.PLUS: 5 Electric Cars Making History Around the Globe
Alaska Opens Its First Geothermal Power Plant
Chena Hot Springs, just outside Fairbanks, is the first geothermal power plant to come online in Alaska. Announced by Chena Hot Springs/Chena Power and ...www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=45789 - 34k -
PR112906 PureCycle at Chena Hot Springs
The Chena Hot Springs Resort in Alaska has the first geothermal power plant ... geothermal resource (165°F) ever used for commercial power generation in the ...www.utcpower.com/fs/com/
Around the world, scientists are risking their lives to retrieve seeds destined for a massive vault near the North Pole. Their work just might save mankind
PopSci's Best of What's New 2007
The company produces its PowerSheet solar cells with printing-press-style machines that set down a layer of solar-absorbing nano-ink onto metal sheets as ...www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/green/item_59.html
Popular Science Blog - Innovation of the Year Winner Nanosolar ...
After years of development, Nanosolar has announced today that they have shipped their first batch of inexpensive solar panels to the site of their first ...popsci.typepad.com/popsci/2007/12/innovation-of-t.html
Step 5: Switch on the Sun Lamp - Popular Science
Once the world’s largest solar-energy farm is completed, some 20000 dishes ... Stirling solar dishes can convert about 30 percent of the sun’s energy into ...www.popsci.com/popsci/energy/
How to make one of our most ubiquitous gadgets—every part of it—environmentally sound.
Energy Saving Program in Seattle Puts Consumer in Control January 11, 2008 08:57 AM - , Environmental Graffiti
Today, the New York Times reports on such a pilot experiment involving 112 homes in the Seattle area. The project by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of the Energy Department, showed that ”˜if households have digital tools to set temperature and price preferences, the peak loads on utility grids could be trimmed by up to 15 percent a year. Over a 20-year period, this could save $70 billion on spending for power plants and infrastructure, and avoid the need to build the equivalent of 30 large coal-fired plants.’
Ames Lab "Beefing" Up Magnets for Electric-Drive Cars January 10, 2008 08:55 AM - Ames Laboratory
The Ames Lab senior metallurgist and Iowa State University adjunct professor of materials science and engineering is playing a major role in advancing electric drive motor technology to meet the enormous swell in consumer demand expected over the next five years. He and his Ames Lab colleagues, Bill McCallum and Matthew Kramer, have designed a high-performance permanent magnet alloy that operates with good magnetic strength at 200 degrees Celsius, or 392 degrees Fahrenheit, to help make electric drive motors more efficient and cost-effective. The work is part of the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program to develop more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly highway transportation technologies that will enable America to use less petroleum.
Australia to end plastic bags in supermarkets January 9, 2008 10:37 PM - Reuters
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia has followed China in announcing it plans to end plastic bag use in supermarkets, with its new environment minister saying on Thursday he wants a phase-out to start by the end of 2008. "There are some 4 billion of these plastic bags floating around the place, getting into landfill, ending up affecting our wildlife, and showing up on our beaches while we are on holidays," Environment Minister Peter Garrett said on Thursday.
'Green' Energy Efficient Mobile Home Designed January 9, 2008 09:45 AM - Wiley-Blackwell
But "green" is exactly what Michael Berk, F.L. Crane Endowed Professor of Architecture at Mississippi State, wants mobile homes to be. He hopes to toss traditional thinking about the structures into the recycling bin, salvaging the traditional "mobile home" perception one national award at a time. Working in the Carl Small Town Center--a part of MSU's College of Architecture, Art and Design--Berk created an award-winning, next-generation factory-built unit he calls the GreenMobile. Unlike other lower-end housing, Berk's applies sound construction methods, as well as energy-saving concepts for lower utility costs.
LED Lights may light homes in less than 3 years January 9, 2008 09:29 AM - University of Glasgow
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), already used in electrical equipment such as computers and mobile phones, are several times more energy efficient than standard light-bulbs. However, because of their structure and material, much of the light in standard LEDs becomes trapped, reducing the brightness of the light and making them unsuitable as the main lighting source in the home.
Switchgrass fuel yields bountiful energy: study January 8, 2008 05:45 PM - Reuters
Switchgrass, a crop touted by venture capitalists and environmentalists alike as a next-generation ethanol feedstock, yields about five times more energy than it takes to grow it, making the plant a far more efficient fuel source than corn, a new study said. In addition, the life cycle of the switchgrass ethanol -- which includes growing the crop, making the fuel, and burning it in vehicles -- emits about 94 percent less of planet-warming carbon dioxide than the life cycle of gasoline, said the study, published on Tuesday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Beijing Introduces Strictest Fuel Standard Yet January 7, 2008 03:26 PM - , Organic Consumers Association
On January 1, China’s capital city of Beijing introduced its toughest vehicle fuel standard yet. The rule requires that gasoline and diesel sold in the city must comply with the new China IV emission standards, equivalent to the European Union’s Euro IV standards. Under the elevated standard, motor fuels are permitted to contain only 50 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur, compared with the previous China III level of 150 ppm.
Pucker Up: Industry Sees Rise in Organic Makeup January 7, 2008 03:23 PM - , Organic Consumers Association
Animal byproducts weren't something Holly Tashian wanted to smear on her face. But it was hard to get away from lanolin, a fatty substance secreted by sheep, which was in many of the cosmetics in her makeup bag. "I began to realize what I was putting on my face, and it's pretty bad stuff," says Tashian, a Nashville, Tenn., musician and a feng shui consultant. "I've just gotten turned off about what is going on in the cosmetics industry."
Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems Growing in Importance January 7, 2008 10:29 AM - , Green Lodging News
PALO ALTO, CALIF.—Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems are becoming increasingly important in North America in light of the current drive to conserve energy, make buildings “green,” and enhance indoor air quality (IAQ). New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, “North American Energy Recovery Ventilation Market,” found that this market earned revenues of $324.6 million in 2006 and it is expected to reach $778.7 million in 2012. “ERV is a growing segment within the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) market, particularly in northern tier winter heating zones and areas with warmer and high humidity climatic conditions,” says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Jorge Moreno. “The focus on IAQ is another key trend benefiting ERV, as people become increasingly conscious of the importance to maintain air quality through properly designed and managed HVAC systems.”
21 Things You Didn't Know You Can Recycle January 6, 2008 09:35 AM - www.coopamerica.org
Garbage. Americans produce more and more of it every year, when we need to be producing less. Even the most waste-conscious among us can feel overwhelmed by the amount of household waste that goes beyond what municipal recyclers and compost bins can handle. That’s why our editors spent the summer of 2007 investigating the state of waste management in our country, putting this list togther for you, explaining how we can get serious about the three R’s — reducing, reusing, and recycling — and divert more waste away from landfills.
Welcome to the Solar Century January 4, 2008 08:42 AM - , Environmental Graffiti
New technology means solar power could one day provide all the world’s energy needs — but governments must do their bit. Until a few years ago the suggestion that solar power might provide the answer to the intertwined problems of long term energy security and climate change would have been dismissed as a pipedream. The high cost of solar cells, their inefficiency in converting the sun’s rays into electricity and the lack of state investment or assistance for renewable energy start-ups meant there was little hope.
India to provide subsidy for solar power plants January 2, 2008 04:24 AM - Reuters
India will subsidize the running of solar power plants to help develop a renewable energy infrastructure, where high costs can be prohibitive, the minister for renewable energy said on Wednesday. Renewable energy accounts for about 7.5 percent of India's installed generation capacity of 127,673 MW, a rate that compares favorably with much of the rest of the world.
China responds to global wind turbine shortage
Private company in Guangdong agrees to supply 900 MW to United States
Opening doors to the US tax credit for wind power
Innovative financing structure opens up wind market to publicly owned utilities too
Galapagos Island clean energy evolution
Three wind turbines reduce reliance on risky imports of diesel oil
Quarterly update of wind market indicators
Data and commentary on the wind sector's share price performance over the past three months, plus country-by-country wind power capacity totals. Whether looked at in terms of share price performance, new issuance of company stock, or positive news flow, the past quarter was a beauty. Some would call it "the greatest ever." ... More
Virginia Commission Approves First Wind Farm in State
December 31, 2007
Google Aims to Make Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal Power
December 5, 2007
Largest Wind Farm in Minnesota, Associated Transmission Line Completed
December 3, 2007
NREL Report Sees Near-Term Supply Shortage for Renewable Power
To help meet America's increasing energy needs while protecting our Nation's energy security and environment, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working with wind industry partners to develop clean, domestic, innovative wind energy technologies that can compete with conventional fuel sources. DOE's Wind Energy Program efforts have culminated in some of industry's leading products today and have contributed to record-breaking industry growth.
In 2005, the United States installed more new wind energy capacity than any other country in the world. The new capacity, totaling 2,431 megawatts (MW), was worth more than $3 billion in generating equipment, and it brought the total national wind energy capacity to 9,149 MW. That's enough electricity to power 2.3 million average American households. In 2006, an additional 2,454 MW were installed, bringing the Nation's total installed capacity to 11,603 MW.
The following links will provide you with more information about wind energy and the Wind Energy Program's research and development efforts. Some of the documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
Selected Wind Energy Topics
- Wind Energy Basics
- Low Wind Speed Turbine Technology
- Distributed Wind Energy Technology
- Wind Powering America
- Federal Wind Siting Information Center
- Systems Integration
- Wind Energy Program Multiyear Program Plan 2007 - 2012
(PDF 2.3 MB) - Wind Power Today (PDF 2.1 MB)
- Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006 (PDF 2.4 MB)
- Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006 (A presentation from Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (PDF 2.9 MB)
- Wind Energy Program 2006 Peer Review Report
(PDF 535 KB)
Regulations to Increase Energy Efficiency in New Federal Buildings by 30%
December 21, 2007
U.S. and China to Cooperate on Biomass Research and Development
December 13, 2007
DOE Invests $7.7 Million in Biomass Gasification for Biofuels
The Cheapest Way to Power Your Car
If you had the right ride, hydropower could lop 2/3 off your gas bills. 12.18.2007
Green House vs. Greenhouse
To save the environment, imitate mobile homes and go pre-fab. 11.29.2007
Solar Power, At Last?
The long-sought mechanism for a superior solar cell may now be at hand. 11.16.2007
Wave Energy
Can a mechanical snake that surfs the ocean squeeze enough watts from water? 12.02.2005
Energy
Who needs oil or coal or gas when the world is full of plain old algae? 10.24.2005