Justmeans's blogshttp://www.justmeans.com/editorials/energyemissions/1747.htmlSat, 18 May 2013 07:41:27 GMThttp://www.justmeans.com en hourly 1http://www.justmeans.com/New-York-Senate-Passes-Sweeping-Solar-Legislation-in-Unanimous-Vote/59018.htmlThu, 25 Apr 2013 13:16:16 GMTHarry Stevens The New York State Senate this week passed legislation that solidifies the state's long-term commitment to solar energy. The New York Solar Bill, which received unanimous senatorial support, extends for ten years the NY-Sun Initiative, a public-private partnership designed to encourage growth in New York's solar industry by investing in solar technology and reducing the cost of installing solar panels.Announced during Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2012 State of the State Address, the NY-Sun Initiative Read Full Article ]]> The New York State Senate this week passed legislation that solidifies the state's long-term commitment to solar energy. The New York Solar Bill, which received unanimous senatorial support, extends for ten years the NY-Sun Initiative, a public-private partnership designed to encourage growth in New York's solar industry by investing in solar technology and reducing the cost of installing solar panels.Announced during Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2012 State of the State Address, the NY-Sun Initiative was established to quadruple the amount of customer-sited solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity added between 2011 and 2013. To support the program, the New York Power Authority authorized $30 million over five years for solar PV research in an effort to reduce the cost of the renewable energy resource.The New York Solar Bill, passed with great fanfare to mark the 43rd annual Earth Day, extends the NY-Sun Initiative until 2023 and is expected to encourage the construction of 2,200 megawatts of solar energy, enough to power 400,000 New York homes. The bill should also create thousands of jobs in New York while helping to wean the state off of fossil fuels.The unanimous Senate vote received widespread commendation from solar industry trade associations and environmental groups."The New York Solar Bill will help create new local jobs, modernize our power infrastructure, protect our environment, and put New York at the forefront of our growing clean energy economy," said Carrie Cullen Hitt, senior vice president for state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). "It will drive the kind of private investment that it takes to build a world-class solar market."The Senate's commitment to solar energy also signals a shift towards renewable energy in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the storm that wreaked havoc across the state last year and which many leaders, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, attributed to climate change."In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, New Yorkers understand all too well the urgent need to combat climate change and better prepare for its impacts," said Pierre Bull, policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council, a leading U.S. environmental nonprofit."Solar power is helping to tackle those challenges head-on," he continued. "This bill-together with reductions in power plant pollution and increased energy efficiency and support for other renewable energy sources, like offshore wind-can help New York build a cleaner, safer and more secure energy future."Solar power is on the upswing countrywide. Installations of solar PV modules in the United States grew by 76 percent in 2012, making solar the country's fastest growing energy source."We've brought more new solar online in 2012 than in the three prior years combined," remarked Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. "This sustained growth is enabling the solar industry to create thousands of good jobs and to provide clean, affordable energy for more families, businesses, utilities, and the military than ever before."Resch attributed the growth to legislation such as the New York Solar Bill. "This growth simply would not have occurred without consistent, long-term policies that have helped to ensure a stable business environment for this country's 5,600 solar companies - many of them small businesses," he said.Several of those businesses, including EDF Renewable Energy, E.ON Climate & Renewables North America, Mainstream Energy Corp., Nexamp, REC Solar, SolarCity, Solar One, SunEdison, Sungevity, SunPower Corp., Sunrun and Trinity Solar, publicly supported the bill.New York currently produces enough solar energy to power 27,000 homes, placing it 12th in the country for total installed solar capacity. In 2012, $257 million was invested in New York to install solar on homes and businesses, representing a 91% increase over the previous year. Investment is expected to further increase this year.Image credit: Alan Wu, Flickr]]>http://www.justmeans.com/With-New-Commitments--Walmart-Shines-as-Renewable-Energy-Leader/58901.htmlTue, 16 Apr 2013 15:05:00 GMTHarry Stevens As the world's largest retailer with operations that span the globe, Walmart's sustainability efforts have shown companies that going green and raking in the green are far from mutually exclusive."Walmart's new sustainability goals are not only a sign of strong leadership for the company, they can spur others around the world to take action," said Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, a nonprofit that has consulted Walmart on its renewable energy strategy."Walmart's c Read Full Article ]]> As the world's largest retailer with operations that span the globe, Walmart's sustainability efforts have shown companies that going green and raking in the green are far from mutually exclusive."Walmart's new sustainability goals are not only a sign of strong leadership for the company, they can spur others around the world to take action," said Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, a nonprofit that has consulted Walmart on its renewable energy strategy."Walmart's commitments show that it understands the urgency of embracing renewable energy to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases, while driving business growth that is cleaner and more efficient," Steer added.While emphasizing the environmental benefits of Walmart's renewable energy goals, Duke, the company CEO, was careful to couch the effort in business terms."The math adds up pretty quickly -- when we use less energy that's less energy we have to buy, and that means less waste and more savings," he said."When I look at the future, energy costs may grow as much as twice as fast as our anticipated store and club growth," Duke added. "Finding cleaner and more affordable energy is important to our every day low cost business model and that makes it important to our customers' pocketbooks."Thus far, the plan seems to be working. Since 2005, when the company announced its goals to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy and to create zero waste, Walmart's share price has increased by around 70 percent.Image credit: Sustainability Meeting and Wind Farm by Walmart Corporate, Flickr]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Electric-Vehicles-to-Help-Reduce-Air-Pollution-in-Hong-Kong/58571.htmlTue, 26 Mar 2013 14:35:08 GMTHarry Stevens FedEx Express, the world's largest transportation company, has introduced ten all-new zero-emissions electric vehicles to its Hong Kong fleet. The vehicles are the company's first fleet of zero-emissions electric delivery trucks in Asia Pacific, joining the more than 650 alternative-energy delivery vehicles already in the FedEx global vehicle fleet.Hong Kong suffers from some of the worst urban pollution in the world. Smog settles heavily on this coastal city of seven million, choking its citize Read Full Article ]]> FedEx Express, the world's largest transportation company, has introduced ten all-new zero-emissions electric vehicles to its Hong Kong fleet. The vehicles are the company's first fleet of zero-emissions electric delivery trucks in Asia Pacific, joining the more than 650 alternative-energy delivery vehicles already in the FedEx global vehicle fleet.Hong Kong suffers from some of the worst urban pollution in the world. Smog settles heavily on this coastal city of seven million, choking its citizens and obscuring its iconic Victoria Harbor from view.The Hong Kong government has instituted some measures to reduce emissions. In January of last year, the government updated its woefully inadequate air quality objectives to encourage pollution reductions. Established in 1987, the air quality objectives did not reflect any objective assessment of how much pollution can be harmful to human health."When you set your own standard, and then say you passed by one or two percent, then you are deceiving yourself," said Professor Wong Tze-wai, of the Department of Community and Family Medicine at the Chinese University, in a 2005 interview with the Standard. "It's meaningless."In 2011, Hong Kong instituted a comprehensive program to reduce street-level pollution, which has lowered roadside levels of smog and nitrogen oxides by up to one-third compared with 1999. Hong Kong is also working with neighboring Guangdong province to reduce regional emissions.While governmental measures have begun to mitigate the problem - Hong Kong's carbon emissions per unit of economic output has actually been on the decline since 1999 - voluntary actions from the private sector can prove effective as well.Since 2010, FedEx has operated two hybrid vehicles in Hong Kong, and the introduction of the new zero-emission all-electric vehicles will further decrease the company's environmental impact in the city."This is a milestone for FedEx in Asia Pacific. The deployment of the new zero emission all-electric vehicles demonstrates FedEx commitment to delivering industry-leading innovation, while reducing our environmental impact," said David L. Cunningham Jr., president of FedEx Asia Pacific.FedEx has set a goal of improving the global fuel efficiency of its vehicle fleet by 30 percent by 2020."These electric trucks are not only aimed at improving FedEx fleet efficiency in Asia Pacific, but also promoting the development of all-electric trucks among all vehicle users for a more sustainable future," added Cunningham.FedEx has launched other corporate responsibility initiatives in Hong Kong. Its "FedEx We Deliver Green! Classroom" program, a partnership between the company and the Jane Goodall Institute, has helped educate 200 students from several schools about the origins of food, global trade, and the impact of modernization on the environment."The FedEx collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute is an effective platform for us to enlighten the next generation to become successful, responsible individuals in their communities," said Anthony Leung, managing director, FedEx Express Hong Kong and Macau.FedEx also recently sponsored the Junior Achievement 2012 International Trade Challenge, an educational competition that includes students from Hong Kong and other parts of the Asia Pacific region.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Three-Paths-to-Canadian-Clean-Energy-Competitiveness/58390.htmlThu, 14 Mar 2013 11:25:52 GMTRobyn Hall While growing and vibrant, Canada's clean energy industry currently holds 1% of the $1 trillion global clean tech marketan industry that will triple in size by 20201. With clean tech already a driver of innovation and employment, and over 700 companies at work, what can Canada do to fully capture the opportunity of the 21st century?There are three public policy paths the Canadian federal government can take to move our clean technology industries forward, according to a new report by the Pembina Read Full Article ]]> While growing and vibrant, Canada's clean energy industry currently holds 1% of the $1 trillion global clean tech marketan industry that will triple in size by 20201. With clean tech already a driver of innovation and employment, and over 700 companies at work, what can Canada do to fully capture the opportunity of the 21st century?There are three public policy paths the Canadian federal government can take to move our clean technology industries forward, according to a new report by the Pembina Institute, discussed via webinar this week. A number of entrepreneurs, academics and executives were interviewed for the report, and they relayed the challenges Canadian clean tech firms have in accessing capitalas well as dealing with "among the worst clean energy policies in the industrial world," according to interviewee Dan Balaban of wind producer Greengate Power. They are:1) Develop a toolkit of financial supportsExperts recommend green bonds as among the tools to inject more capital into Canadian clean tech. Interviewee Tom Rand, Managing Partner, MaRS Cleantech Fund, MaRS Discovery District, favours a public/private partnership model where government lends money at low rates for projects managed by the private sector, so "capital can play offense." The good work of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) was also discussed, with the report recommending a new injection of government funds into that clean energy investment foundation.2) Create a national energy strategyWith provincial action taking place, a national strategy could be the overall carrot for the shift to renewables. A stable policy structure that clearly favours clean energy could leverage the value of traditional energy to support clean energy innovation for deployment at home and sale abroad.And 3) but number one according to many:Set national carbon pricing for Canada (and remove fossil fuel subsidies):Price on carbon pollution + removal of fossil fuel subsidies = a playing field where clean tech can thrive. There was major agreement in the report that a federally set price on carbon that monetizes what is now an externality is the number one lever for change: "The single most meaningful thing that could be done very quickly in this country that would make a material difference in the performance of this country from an environmental point of view and immediately get the attention and the commitment of the citizens of this country is a carbon tax," said John Coyne, VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Unilever Canada in the report. The complementary removal of government fossil fuel subsidies would free up an estimated $1B for clean tech investment, report author Penelope Comette noted in the webinar this week.As a sidebar, several energy companies operating in Canada are already using a shadow carbon price, as discussed in another new report from Sustainable Prosperity. The report concludes that many companies, both oil and gas and in other industries, are already prepared for the introduction of a carbon price when it does arrive.The Pembina report makes clear that it is not about a choice between traditional and clean energy. Presenters suggested that clean tech leadership would gain Canada the social license to see the Keystone XL pipeline proposal move forward. We will see what happens in the coming months.Full report and webinar are available at http://www.pembina.org/pub/24061 Comette, P., Whittingham, E., & Woynillowicz, D. (2013). Pembina Institute Report. Competing in Clean Energy. Retrieved from http://www.pembina.org/pub/2406]]>http://www.justmeans.com/New-49ers-Stadium-to-be-Solar-Powered-and-Ultra-Green/58111.htmlTue, 26 Feb 2013 15:01:35 GMTHarry Stevens After an unexpectedly "bright" NFL season in which they played in the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers have announced that solar panels on their new $1.2 billion stadium will generate enough electricity over the course of the year to offset the power consumed during home games.The new Santa Clara Stadium, which will replace the aging Candlestick Park in 2014, will incorporate photovoltaic panels from Sunpower Corp. The San Jose, Calif.-based solar company will supply 400 kilowatts of its high Read Full Article ]]> After an unexpectedly "bright" NFL season in which they played in the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers have announced that solar panels on their new $1.2 billion stadium will generate enough electricity over the course of the year to offset the power consumed during home games.The new Santa Clara Stadium, which will replace the aging Candlestick Park in 2014, will incorporate photovoltaic panels from Sunpower Corp. The San Jose, Calif.-based solar company will supply 400 kilowatts of its high efficiency solar panels, to be produced at the company's Silicon Valley manufacturing facility."We are pleased that SunPower's industry-leading solar technology will be an integral part of our innovative and sustainable vision for the stadium," said Jed York, the 49ers' young CEO whose parents own the team."As we strive to create a sports and entertainment venue that embodies all that is special about the Bay Area and Silicon Valley," he continued, "it is fitting that SunPower, with its global headquarters less than two miles from the new stadium, will be providing us with its high-efficiency solar panels."Founded in 1985, SunPower has long been on the cutting edge of solar technology. In 1997, for example, the company's solar cells were used in NASA's Pathfinder high altitude aircraft. In 2011, the company's solar cell technology powered a prototype solar airplane that set an aviation record for flying 26 hours powered only by solar energy.SunPower has been active in greening California's power grid. This week, SunPower completed installing 3.3 megawatts of high efficiency solar power systems at six schools in the San Diego area. The SunPower systems will generate around 80 percent of the electricity demand at the campuses where they were installed.The agreement with the 49ers and Santa Clara Stadium Authority is only the latest in a string of important contracts secured by the almost 30-year-old solar company."SunPower is excited to have the opportunity to help power the new stadium with clean, reliable solar power, and to join the 49ers in a commitment to top performance, whether it is on the football field or in the solar market," said Tom Werner, president and CEO of SunPower."This is an ideal partnership for SunPower, as we deliver the world's highest-efficiency solar panels for the new iconic, state-of-the-art facility," he added.The new Santa Clara Stadium incorporates more than solar power into its sustainability vision. Topped by a 27,000-square-foot green roof that will reduce cooling and heating costs, the stadium features convenient bicycle parking, water-conserving plumbing features, recycled materials, and other sustainable design systems that will make it the first professional football stadium to open with LEED certification.The 49ers join a growing group of NFL teams that have made commitments to environmental sustainability. The Philadelphia Eagles' Go Green Initiative, which the SportsBusiness Journal called "the most comprehensive greening effort of any major sports team," has included the recycling of thousands of tons of waste and the greening of the team's supply chain. In November 2010 the Eagles announced an ambitious plan to power the team's stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, entirely from renewable energy.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/MIT-Honors--quot-Disruptive-quot--Energy-Companies/58046.htmlFri, 22 Feb 2013 13:34:17 GMTHarry Stevens Tony Fadell, the former Apple executive who created the iPod and was a leading figure on the team the developed the iPhone, came up with the idea for Nest when he was designing his energy-efficient dream home near Lake Tahoe. When Fadell tried to find a programmable web-enabled thermostat that could control his eco-friendly heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, he hit a wall."They were 500 bucks a pop, and they were horrible and doing nothing and brain-dead," Fadell told MIT Technol Read Full Article ]]> Tony Fadell, the former Apple executive who created the iPod and was a leading figure on the team the developed the iPhone, came up with the idea for Nest when he was designing his energy-efficient dream home near Lake Tahoe. When Fadell tried to find a programmable web-enabled thermostat that could control his eco-friendly heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, he hit a wall."They were 500 bucks a pop, and they were horrible and doing nothing and brain-dead," Fadell told MIT Technology Review. "And I was like, 'Wait a second, I'll design my own.'?"Nest, founded in 2010 and headquartered at the heart of Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, Calif., manufactures a thermostat that learns users' temperature preferences and maximizes efficiency as it implements them."Think of a normal thermostat. Everyone turns it up, turns it down, a couple of times a day-that's a pattern we can infer from," said Fadell. "Instead of changing it fifteen hundred times a year, do it 10 or 20 times and the Nest thermostat can learn from that."With 10 million thermostats sold in the United States every year, Nest has a lucrative market to disrupt. Because thermostats typically control around half the energy in used in U.S. homes, Nest's energy-efficient design could also make a huge dent in U.S. energy consumption.Nest's $250 thermostat has already saved owners an estimated 225 million kilowatt-hours of energy, the equivalent of around $29 million at average U.S. prices."A very unique solar company."MIT Technology Review has also recognized Alta Devices as a disruptive energy company. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based firm manufactures the world's thinnest solar cells that can be embedded into any other material, offering the potential to significantly extend the battery life of all kinds of mobile devices.Founded in 2008 by professors Harry Atwater from Cal Tech and Eli Yablonovitch from Berkeley, Alta Devices has also been honored as one of the Global Cleantech 100 by cleantech.com and as one of CTSI's Top 17 Defense Energy Technology Solutions, among other awards."Alta Devices is a very unique solar company," said Chris Norris, president and CEO of Alta Devices. "Our goal is to free mobile devices from the grid and to empower the developing world with abundant clean energy."In many cases, mobile devices that incorporate Alta Devices' solar cells never need to plug in.A full list of MIT Technology Review's 50 Disruptive Companies will be available on newsstands worldwide on March 5, and has been available online since February 20.Image credit: LeWEB12, Flickr]]>http://www.justmeans.com/AT-amp-T-Recognizes-Cisco-for-Sustainably-Meeting-Skyrocketing-Data-Demand/58019.htmlWed, 20 Feb 2013 16:43:33 GMTHarry Stevens Cisco has become more environmentally responsible across its own operations. The company recently announced it had met its commitment to reduce all of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including those associated with business travel, by 25 percent by 2012. The company has set a new target of cutting GHG emissions worldwide by 40 percent by 2017."Cisco's corporate social responsibility vision is to build environmental sustainability into each business function and process," said Panditi, "as we Read Full Article ]]> Cisco has become more environmentally responsible across its own operations. The company recently announced it had met its commitment to reduce all of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including those associated with business travel, by 25 percent by 2012. The company has set a new target of cutting GHG emissions worldwide by 40 percent by 2017."Cisco's corporate social responsibility vision is to build environmental sustainability into each business function and process," said Panditi, "as well as to multiply the impact of our technologies to help customers, suppliers and key partners, such as AT&T, mitigate their environmental footprint."AT&T also recognized Quest Resource Management Group, Schneider Electric - Professional Services, and Water & Energy Systems Technology, Inc. with Supplier Sustainability Awards. Those companies helped AT&T manage its waste collection and recycling, measure its greenhouse gas emissions, and increase its water efficiency in drought-prone regions, respectively.Harden said that AT&T and its suppliers "are improving performance in the areas of energy efficiency, waste management, greenhouse gas emissions and water use. We're very pleased to recognize their contributions to sustainability at AT&T and around the world."Image credit: Darla Mack, Flickr]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Five-Exemplary-Water-and-Energy-Saving-Programs-Awarded/57767.htmlTue, 05 Feb 2013 11:42:19 GMTVikas Vij Five exemplary programs have received awards from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE). In addition to the five award winners, another seven programs have earned honorable mentions from the selectors. These are the first-ever awards to recognize programs showing exceptional efficiency to save both water and energy.The top five awardees include the Leak Detection Pilot Program of Southern California Edison, Darden Sustainability Read Full Article ]]> Five exemplary programs have received awards from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE). In addition to the five award winners, another seven programs have earned honorable mentions from the selectors. These are the first-ever awards to recognize programs showing exceptional efficiency to save both water and energy.The top five awardees include the Leak Detection Pilot Program of Southern California Edison, Darden Sustainability program of Darden Restaurants, Energy Performance Contracting Program of the City of Boulder, Long Term Sustainability Program of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), and 2015 Sustainability Program of the United Technologies Corporation (UTC).Mary Ann Dickinson, President and CEO of AWE, said: "The program award winners and honorable mentions demonstrate the innovative ways governments, utilities, businesses, and nonprofits are cost-effectively saving water and energy. These programs represent a promising start that needs to be nurtured and expanded."The programs were recognized for their marketability and innovation to help their respective consumers or stakeholders achieve both energy and water savings through improved efficiencies. ACEEE and AWE have released a report entitled "Tackling the Nexus: Exemplary Programs that Save Both Energy and Water" that includes the lessons that can be drawn from these exemplary programs. All the five award winners come from different parts of the U.S. and each one of them presents a unique model of joint water and energy efficiency.Steven Nadel, Executive Director of ACEEE, said: "Historically, water and energy efficiency programs have generally not worked together but the natural relationship between saving water and saving energy has recently spurred some efforts to collaborate. These awards highlight the huge potential for savings when you combine water and energy efficiency together."The nominations for these awards are accepted from programs across the U.S., Canada and Australia. They represent a broad range of economic sectors to identify the most comprehensive and innovative programs.Photo Credit: Claudmey]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Chinese-Solar-Company-Makes-Big-Commitments-to-Fight-Climate-Change/57705.htmlTue, 29 Jan 2013 15:07:25 GMTHarry Stevens Yingli Green Energy has become the first Chinese company and the first photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer to join Climate Savers, a program created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to encourage corporations to make major contributions to addressing climate change."We look forward to working more broadly with WWF and joining hands with other Climate Savers to lead the world's transition to a low carbon economy," said Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy.Corporate participants in th Read Full Article ]]> Yingli Green Energy has become the first Chinese company and the first photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer to join Climate Savers, a program created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to encourage corporations to make major contributions to addressing climate change."We look forward to working more broadly with WWF and joining hands with other Climate Savers to lead the world's transition to a low carbon economy," said Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy.Corporate participants in the Climate Savers program must set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across their operations."The Climate Savers program is a very exclusive club," said Peter Beaudoin, CEO of WWF-China.Initiated by WWF in 1999, Climate Savers now includes 30 members companies including Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, Novo Nordisk and Sony."Only companies agreeing to be industry leaders in cutting CO2 emissions and supporting growth of clean, renewable energy are accepted as members," added Beaudoin.To join the ranks of Climate Savers member companies, Yingli Green Energy made a number of major environmental commitments. For instance, the company has pledged to significantly reduce GHG emissions across its supply chain, production, and transportation by 2015."We have been constantly reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions in our production and operation in order to provide greener and cleaner PV products to our customers," said Jingfeng Xiong , Vice President and Chief Climate Officer of Yingli Green Energy.By 2015, the company plans to launch a Global Green Solar PV Manufacturing Standard that will aim to promote energy efficiency and encourage the adoption of renewable energy technologies.In becoming the first Chinese company to join Climate Savers, Yingli Green Energy has positioned itself as a leader in China's uphill battle to reduce its carbon emissions."China has global manufacturing leaders, is beginning to have global innovation leaders, and now is beginning to have global leaders in the fight against climate change as well," said Beaudoin.With a steadily growing economy and the world's largest appetite for coal power, China's contribution to global warming is significant. In 2007, China passed the United States in its annual contribution to atmospheric carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change.China has ratified the Kyoto Protocol, an international accord to control climate change, but the agreement does not force China to limit GHG emissions because of it is still a developing economy.Headquartered in Baoding, China, a city of over 1 million residents that lies less than 100 miles southwest of Beijing, Yingli Green Energy sells PV modules in Europe, North America, and Asia.The company, which markets its products under the brand "Yingli Solar," has sold nearly 6,000 megawatts (MW) of PV modules to customers worldwide, the equivalent of powering around 800,000 homes with green electricity annually.With an annual production capacity of 2,450 megawatts, Yingli Green Energy is one of the world's largest vertically integrated PV manufacturers. The company, which is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has a market capitalization of over $400 million.Image credit: phogel, Flickr]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Solar-Power-Primed-for-Popularity-Surge-in-Middle-East-and-North-Africa/57477.htmlThu, 10 Jan 2013 15:18:08 GMTHarry Stevens Demand for solar energy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will skyrocket in the next five years, according to a new report from GTM Research and the Emirates Solar Industry Association (EISA)."In terms of solar energy, it is clear that the MENA region is set to experience significant change over the next five years," said Scott Burger, the analyst at GTM Research who authored the report.Solar demand in MENA energy markets will approach 10 gigawatts by 2017, nearly 70 percent of w Read Full Article ]]> Demand for solar energy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will skyrocket in the next five years, according to a new report from GTM Research and the Emirates Solar Industry Association (EISA)."In terms of solar energy, it is clear that the MENA region is set to experience significant change over the next five years," said Scott Burger, the analyst at GTM Research who authored the report.Solar demand in MENA energy markets will approach 10 gigawatts by 2017, nearly 70 percent of which will come from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Saudi Arabia, which has announced a renewable energy strategy that will include 31 gigawatts of solar production by 2030, should become the region's first gigawatt-scale market by 2015, but Turkey will be close behind because of its favorable renewable energy policies and previous experience with wind power installation.While increased awareness of climate change and the development of high-capacity photovoltaic and concentrated solar plants have contributed to steady increased in solar power demand worldwide, solar power accounted for just one-third of one percent of global energy production in 2011.Still, solar power installations are increasing exponentially worldwide. Thus far, adoption of the clean energy technology has been most pronounced in Europe, but this latest report suggests that the MENA region is ripe for growth."The MENA region possesses some of the greatest potential for solar energy in the world," said Dr. Steven Griffiths, Research Director at ESIA. "This potential is now starting to be more seriously considered."Although Saudi Arabia is best positioned for widespread solar adoption, Dr. Griffiths noted that Qatar plans to install nearly 2 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity 2014 and Dubai has set a goal of source 5 percent of its power supply from solar by 2030. Moreover, Abu Dhabi is in the process of commissioning a 100-megawatt concentrating solar plant."While Saudi Arabia will likely be the largest market in the long-term, there will be significant opportunities throughout the region," said Burger. "With strategic planning and a solid development of local partners and supply chains, savvy companies will be able to capitalize on all of the opportunities in the region."One such company is First Solar, the global leader in thin-film photovoltaic systems, which opened its first office in Dubai last year. In October, the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority selected First Solar to construct a 13 megawatt solar plant, the first stage in a planned 1 gigawatt project that will cover 48 square kilometers.First Solar CEO Jim Hughes commended Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's leader, "for his vision in promoting a path toward a sustainable future for Dubai that preserves natural resources, reduces pollution and serves the Emirate's rapidly growing power needs."First Solar, which is seeking for new markets after cooling demand for solar power in Europe forced the company to cut jobs last year, is also heavily invested in Saudi Arabia.GTM Research and ESIA will present their report at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 16.Image credit: Edward Musiak, Flickr]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Kyocera-Solar-Reaches-Major-Production-Milestone-in-North-America/57116.htmlFri, 14 Dec 2012 17:28:02 GMTHarry Stevens Kyocera Solar Inc. has reached a major milestone at its solar panel manufacturing facilities in North America. This week, the company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation, announced that it has turned out 2 million photovoltaic (PV) solar modules at its facilities in San Diego, Calif. and Tijuana, Mexico."This milestone demonstrates Kyocera's ongoing leadership in growing the solar industry worldwide," said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-b Read Full Article ]]> Kyocera Solar Inc. has reached a major milestone at its solar panel manufacturing facilities in North America. This week, the company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation, announced that it has turned out 2 million photovoltaic (PV) solar modules at its facilities in San Diego, Calif. and Tijuana, Mexico."This milestone demonstrates Kyocera's ongoing leadership in growing the solar industry worldwide," said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based Kyocera Corporation.While Kyocera Corporation has been producing PV modules since the 1970s, Kyocera Solar only began production in North America in 2004, when it opened its first production facility in Tijuana. In 2010, Kyocera Solar opened a facility in San Diego to meet increased demand in the United States."It took more than five years for Kyocera to reach the one million module mark at our North American operations and only two years to double it," said Mr. Hill.The company's cells are currently powering several notable locations in the San Diego area, including San Diego State University, UC San Diego, the University of San Diego, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.In early December, the company announced that its PV solar panels are powering a brand new 90-kilowatt canopy that charges electric vehicles at the San Diego Zoo. In addition to powering electric vehicles in the zoo's parking lot, Kyocera Solar's PV panels provide renewable energy to the electrical grid while storing solar power for future use.The charging station project is part of the Smart City San Diego initiative, a collaboration combining the resources of government, business, education and nonprofit organizations in the San Diego area."This high-profile and innovative collaborative project combines two major sustainability initiatives - solar energy and electric vehicles - showcasing to the millions of Zoo visitors that the future of energy is in San Diego today," said Jim Waring, a partner in the Smart City San Diego program who serves as executive chair of CleanTECH San Diego.All the panels used at the charging station were manufactured at the company's San Diego facility."Kyocera is a recognized solar industry leader and its commitment to quality and local manufacturing is important to Smart City San Diego's mission as well," added Mr. Waring.With 1.9 percent market share, Kyocera ranks 14th among solar PV module manufacturers worldwide. The world's leading manufacturer is China-based Suntech Power, with 5.1 percent market share.The total global capacity of PV solar power has enjoyed exponential growth in recent decades. In 1995, total PV capacity amounted to a paltry 0.6 gigawatts (GW) and only increased to 5.4 GW by 2005. In 2011, total PV capacity ballooned to 70 GW."We're seeing many regions increasingly embrace high-quality solar energy solutions, and ongoing innovations from Kyocera will continue to improve efficiencies," said Mr. Hill.Kyocera Solar's PV cells boast the world's highest conversion efficiency of any cell in mass production, with a 17.8 percent conversion rate.Kyocera is also vigilant about ensuring sustainability across its own operations. The company recycles around 95 percent of all standard waste materials, operates a rooftop solar array that offsets 415 tons of carbon dioxide each year, and uses recycled water for landscape irrigation."Consumers who use Kyocera products can rest assured that they are purchasing high-quality, reliable products manufactured with a strong environmental consciousness," said David Hester, president of Kyocera Mexicana, the conglomerate's Mexican branch. "We are committed to continuous improvement in all phases of manufacturing, including environmental impact."Image credit: Living Off Grid, Flickr]]>http://www.justmeans.com/World-Not-Ready-to-Transition-to-Renewable-Energy-Systems--Says-New-Report/57008.htmlTue, 04 Dec 2012 15:10:14 GMTHarry Stevens The world is still a long way away from being able to meet its energy needs sustainably, says a new report released this week at the COP 18 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar.While most climate experts believe that carbon emissions must be cut drastically to avoid the most catastrophic effects of global warming, the new report shows that most countries do not have the energy systems in place to transition away from the carbon-intensive energy production methods in use today. Read Full Article ]]> The world is still a long way away from being able to meet its energy needs sustainably, says a new report released this week at the COP 18 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar.While most climate experts believe that carbon emissions must be cut drastically to avoid the most catastrophic effects of global warming, the new report shows that most countries do not have the energy systems in place to transition away from the carbon-intensive energy production methods in use today."There is a huge shortfall of private investment into low-carbon and energy infrastructure projects," said Mark Robson, a partner at Oliver Wyman, the management consulting firm that co-authored the study. "Our report makes it clear that industry looks to policymakers for the assurance that their investments won't become uneconomic due to policy changes. Therefore policymakers must create policies that remain stable over time and are joined up with other policies."Intergovernmental efforts to create a meaningful global climate policy have largely failed. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions, was rendered toothless when the United States refused to ratify it. More recently, the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen was largely panned for failing to produce a binding emissions treaty.The new report, entitled "Time to get real - the case for sustainable energy policy," makes three broad recommendations for policy makers, based on interviews with dozens of CEOs and senior energy executives from around the world.First, policy makers need to design coherent, regionally coordinated energy policies that combine industrial, environmental, and transportation goals. Next, leaders must support market conditions that would attract long-term investments in renewable energy. Finally, policy makers need to get behind more research and development in all areas of energy technology."All countries face challenges in their transition towards more secure, environmentally friendly, and equitable energy systems," said Pierre Gadonneix, chairman of the World Energy Council, the UN-accredited global energy body that also co-authored the report. "If we are to have any chance of delivering sustainable energy for all, we need to get real."Among the report's more surprising findings is that the Middle East, a region that relies heavily on the perpetuations of the global carbon economy, may be particularly well positioned to lead the world in developing renewable energy. While the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait currently trail nearly half the world's nations in terms of their ability to provide sustainable energy, the region is moving faster than many nations to achieve sustainable energy systems."The Middle East is well-positioned to take the lead in the global sustainable energy race that is about to reshape the world's energy landscape," said Robson. "Most governments in the Middle East have set out aggressive plans for reaching sustainable energy goals over the next eight to 18 years and they have the political leadership and financial resources to achieve them."The new report conflicts with research from Stanford's Mark Jacobson and the University of California's Mark Delucchi that found that most of the technology required to shift from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy already exists. Jacobson and Delucchi did note, however, that achieving such a shift would require a total commitment from both the public and private sectors.Image credit: Patrick Finnegan, Flickr]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Dan-Probst-of-Jones-Lang-LaSalle-Honored-for-Leadership-in-Next-Gen-Buildings/56813.htmlFri, 16 Nov 2012 11:56:12 GMTHarry Stevens Dan Probst of Jones Lang LaSalle has won the inaugural VERGE 25 Award in the category of Next-Gen Buildings. Probst, who is Chairman of Energy and Sustainability Services, received the award for harnessing building automation systems to drive sustainability and for advocating for greater data transparency.Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a $3.24 billion firm that provides financial and professional services for over 2 billion square feet of real estate worldwide.Among Probst's major achievements Read Full Article ]]> Dan Probst of Jones Lang LaSalle has won the inaugural VERGE 25 Award in the category of Next-Gen Buildings. Probst, who is Chairman of Energy and Sustainability Services, received the award for harnessing building automation systems to drive sustainability and for advocating for greater data transparency.Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a $3.24 billion firm that provides financial and professional services for over 2 billion square feet of real estate worldwide.Among Probst's major achievements is the development of Jones Lang LaSalle's IntelliCommand integrated facilities management platform. Launched in fall 2011, IntelliCommand uses cloud computing and a remote command center operation to enable 24/7, real-time remote monitoring and control of facilities and energy portfolios worldwide.The platform has been proven to achieve 15-20 percent energy reduction across corporate portfolios while collecting carbon data. In June, IntelliCommand won a Realcomm "Digie" award for Best Use of Automation in Facilities Management."The commercial real estate industry is beginning to recognize that cloud computing and smart-building technology can enable the goals of corporate occupiers in the areas of sustainability, efficiency and workplace productivity," said Chris Browne, Jones Lang LaSalle's International Director of Integrated Facilities Management, upon receiving the award.Probst, who earned his MBA at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and has spent 21 years at Jones Lang LaSalle, also leads the company's efforts to monitor, measure, and improve performance in energy and sustainability at clients' buildings. Under Probst's leadership, the company has documented annual energy savings in excess of $100 million and more than 2 million tons of carbon reduction over the past four years."We manage a lot of property on behalf of our clients and we're in a position-just because of size and scale and the number of buildings that we touch-to be leaders in the industry and help solve these problems and find ways to make buildings more efficient and have less of an impact," Probst told Commercial Property Executive.Probst has also been a leading advocate for greater transparency and data sharing in the buildings industry."The idea behind mandatory measurement and disclosure laws is to give tenants and investors access to comparative information, on the idea that they will place greater value on high performing buildings," wrote Probst in a recent article. "Cities and states that reduce energy cost, create jobs and address climate change concerns are gaining an advantage when it comes to attracting residents and businesses."The VERGE 25 Awards celebrate executives, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and others who have made contributions toward the development of smarter supply chains, next-generation buildings and campuses, connected vehicles, and smart energy systems. The 25 winners were selected by readers and editors of GreenBiz.com, which announced the awards this week at the VERGE San Francisco Conference.Data collection and transparency was a major theme of the VERGE 25 Awards. Winners also included Gavin Starks, founder of AMEE, and Todd Park, Chief Technology Officer of the United States.Starks, recently named CEO of the Open Data Initiative, founded AMEE to map, track, and connect all the carbon-data on earth. Similarly, Park, who made TechCrunch's list of the "20 Most Innovative People In Democracy 2012," has been a champion of the movement to make energy and emissions data more standardized, available and digestible to the general public.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Campbell-Facility-to-Be-Powered-by-Its-Own-Organic-Waste/56701.htmlWed, 07 Nov 2012 13:57:50 GMTHarry Stevens Ohio has been making headlines as the pivotal swing state in the Presidential election, overshadowing a groundbreaking clean-tech partnership announced in the Buckeye State this week.Campbell and CH4 Biogas have closed a deal to create Ohio's first commercial biogas power plant. Incredibly, the plant will generate renewable electricity out of waste from Campbell's soup, sauce and beverage production facility in Napoleon, Ohio. The plant will then channel energy back to the Napoleon facility.In s Read Full Article ]]> Ohio has been making headlines as the pivotal swing state in the Presidential election, overshadowing a groundbreaking clean-tech partnership announced in the Buckeye State this week.Campbell and CH4 Biogas have closed a deal to create Ohio's first commercial biogas power plant. Incredibly, the plant will generate renewable electricity out of waste from Campbell's soup, sauce and beverage production facility in Napoleon, Ohio. The plant will then channel energy back to the Napoleon facility.In short, Campbell's factory will be powered, at least partially, by waste from its own soup.The biogas technology will improve the facility's recycling rate to about 95 percent, said David Stangis, Campbell's Vice President of Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility. "The use of biogas energy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of electricity in this facility by approximately 16,000 metric tons per year, or the equivalent of 3,000 cars," he added.The power plant employs an "anaerobic digester" that processes organic material from the Campbell facility as well as local food processors, waste recyclers and dairy farms. The organic material is converted to methane gas, fueling turbines that will produce energy for Campbell's beverage production and offset fossil fuel use by 25 percent.Construction for the $10 million biogas power plant, Napoleon Biogas, is underway and should be completed by mid-2013. The plant will be located on more than seven acres of land directly across the street from the Campbell facility.CH4 Biogas, based in Atlantic Beach, Fla., designed the plant and will own and operate the seven-acre facility. Campbell signed an agreement with CH4 to purchase 100 percent of the electricity the plant produces for the next 15 years."CH4 is proud to partner with Campbell to bring Ohio its first commercial biogas-based renewable energy facility," said Lauren Toretta, Vice President at CH4. "The conversion of waste to energy brings broad reaching benefits to the region and is a progressive step towards sustainable renewable energy solutions."Forty percent of the organic waste processed will come from Campbell, allowing local industry and farming operations to send an additional 270 tons of mixed waste to Napoleon Biogas daily. The biogas plant is located next to a 9.8 MW solar power plant built for Campbell in 2011. The solar plant already powers 15 percent of Campbell's Napoleon facility.Campbell will also derive financial benefit from the facility. The company said it expects to save around $4 million in energy costs over the next 20 years."We have a long-standing commitment to social responsibility, to help deliver both sustainability and business results," said Carla Burigatto, Director of Corporate External Communications for Campbell. "As a company, we are looking to cut our environmental footprint in half,"Campbell, a member of the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, has set a goal of sourcing 40 percent of the energy it uses from renewable or alternative energy sources by 2020. The company has also built or is building renewable energy systems at facilities in Sacramento, Calif., Paris, Texas, and Puurs, Belgium.Image credit: Antonio Bonanno]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Google-Successfully-Tests-Breakthrough-Biofuel/56575.htmlFri, 26 Oct 2012 09:02:57 GMTHarry Stevens Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has been successfully testing a breakthrough biofuel at its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. The biofuel, made by California-based Cool Planet Energy Systems, is produced using a "carbon negative" process that actually removes carbon from the atmosphere during the course of production."Innovations in alternative fuels will be key in addressing growing climate change concerns," said Brendon Harrington, Google's Transportation Operations Manager. "We are thrilled to Read Full Article ]]> Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has been successfully testing a breakthrough biofuel at its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. The biofuel, made by California-based Cool Planet Energy Systems, is produced using a "carbon negative" process that actually removes carbon from the atmosphere during the course of production."Innovations in alternative fuels will be key in addressing growing climate change concerns," said Brendon Harrington, Google's Transportation Operations Manager. "We are thrilled to be a part of Cool Planet's field testing and believe that this product has the potential to make a significant impact on our future energy needs."Google's test car, known as GRide, drove 2,400 miles around Google's campus using a blend of Cool Planet carbon negative biofuel and regular gasoline. The test car blend met California's 2020 Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which mandates a 10% reduction in carbon intensity versus today's gasoline by 2020.Cool Planet is performing further field tests and does not yet know when the biofuel will be available to consumers. The company will likely achieve first fuel in its developing facility in Southern Californian in mid-December.When it goes to market, Cool Planet will offer a high-octane gasoline that is fully compatible with today's automobiles as well as conventional fuel distribution systems. Cool Planet projects that it will produce a billion gallons by 2015 and "significantly higher volumes" by 2018.Cool Planet can currently produce the fuel at just $1.50 per gallon, without relying on government subsidies, lending it the potential to compete commercially with gasoline and food-based biofuels."Unlike many other biofuel companies, Cool Planet's carbon negative gasoline is price competitive because of the ingenuity behind our innovation," said Cool Planet's CEO Howard Janzen. "By mass producing mobile, pre-fabricated micro-refineries that are easily transportable to the biomass source, we significantly reduce costs of feedstock transportation, which maximizes our overall capital efficiency."Janzen noted that each "micro-refinery" can produce 10 million gallons of fuel per year, allowing the company to "compete with oil at $50 a barrel without any government mandates or subsidies."Cool Planet's production process is considered "carbon negative" because it produces a byproduct called biochar that can be used as a soil enhancer, increasing land fertility while isolating the carbon captured from the atmosphere. The production process results in up to a 150% carbon footprint reduction.The biofuel is produced from non-food biomass such as wood chips, agricultural waste like corn stover, and energy crops like giant miscanthus and switch grass. Food-based fuels such as ethanol have been criticized for failing to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while driving up prices for staple foods like corn.Launched in 2008, Cool Planet has received venture backing from a number of major firms, including BP (NYSE:BP), Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), General Electric (NYSE:GE), Google Ventures, and NRG (NYSE:NRG).In May, the company announced the hire of Michael Bukowski as VP of Fuel Production. Bukowski spent 14 years at Sunoco (NYSE:SUN), rising through the ranks to become Vice President of the Chemical and Manufacturing Division.Image credit: Fotinakis (Flickr)]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Coalition-of-Leading-U-S--Businesses-Supports-Michigan-s-Renewable-Energy-Amendment/56452.htmlMon, 15 Oct 2012 21:41:05 GMTHarry Stevens A coalition of major U.S. companies announced its support today for Michigan's Prop 3, which seeks to amend Michigan's constitution to require at least 25 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2025.Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP), a coalition of businesses that includes eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY), Gap (NYSE:GPS), Levi's, Nike (NYSE:NKE), the North Face, Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX), and Timberland, has decided to publically support the amendment Read Full Article ]]> A coalition of major U.S. companies announced its support today for Michigan's Prop 3, which seeks to amend Michigan's constitution to require at least 25 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2025.Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP), a coalition of businesses that includes eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY), Gap (NYSE:GPS), Levi's, Nike (NYSE:NKE), the North Face, Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX), and Timberland, has decided to publically support the amendment with just three weeks to go until the November 6 election.BICEP member companies together employ over 4,000 people in the Great Lakes State, although the organization does not currently include any major Michigan-based companies.In addition to requiring that electric utilities provide at least 25% of their annual retail sales of electricity from renewable energy sources - wind, solar, biomass (including ethanol), and hydropower - by 2025, the amendment requires the Michigan legislature to enact additional laws to encourage utilities to use Michigan-made equipment and hire Michigan residents.The amendment also protects Michigan consumers by preventing utility companies from increasing their rates by more than 1% per year. In a nod to the needs of utility companies, the amendment also allows extensions of the 2025 deadline to meet the 25% standard in order to prevent rate increases over the 1% limit."Proposal 3 is a major step in the right direction for clean energy policy, and that's why business leaders are encouraging voters to support it on Election Day," said BICEP director Anne Kelly.Not everyone supports the measure, however. The state's two largest electric utilities - Jackson-based CMS Energy and Detroit-based DTE Energy - have each donated over $3 million to Clean Affordable Renewable Energy for Michigan Coalition, a group that opposes Prop 3.Governor Rick Snyder is also in opposition, pointing out that Michigan already has a law on the books that sets a goal of generating 10 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2015. "This is a standard that's already difficult to meet," said Snyder. "Proposal Three would set the bar even higher."Opponents also argue that a constitutional amendment would eliminate flexibility and cost taxpayers money.But those in favor of the amendment argue that Prop 3 would actually decrease utility costs for Michigan, citing a Michigan Public Service Commission report that estimates renewable energy costs at $91 per megawatt hour compared to the $107 per megawatt hour charged for new coal.Those in favor of the amendment also cite an August study by Michigan State University economists that concluded that Prop 3 would be a huge boon to the state's economy, creating 94,000 in-state jobs and generating $10.3 billion in investments."Strong, clear policies like Proposal 3 encourage utilities to invest in renewable energy, which will create jobs and stimulate the local economy," said Kelly, who also serves as co-director of public policy for Ceres, an association of investors, companies and public interest groups supporting the adoption of sustainable business practices.Ceres recently issued a report that found that wind and solar power pose a lower long-term risk to utility companies than carbon-intensive methods power generation. Unlike coal and natural gas, renewable power sources are not subject to the same risks of shifting fuel costs, extensive construction delays and access to water supplies, among other potential problems.Image credit: Patricia Drury]]>http://www.justmeans.com/EPA-Grant-Reduces-Dangerous-Emissions-from-Diesel-Engines/56173.htmlFri, 28 Sep 2012 19:32:44 GMTHarry Stevens A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Farmland Management Services (FMS) has helped reduce diesel emissions across six of the company's Wisconsin cranberry farms.The grant, awarded under the EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, has curbed the amount of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides emitted by diesel engines on farms which can cause adverse health effects. There are currently between 9,000 and 11,000 stationary diesel agricultural engines opera Read Full Article ]]> A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Farmland Management Services (FMS) has helped reduce diesel emissions across six of the company's Wisconsin cranberry farms.The grant, awarded under the EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, has curbed the amount of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides emitted by diesel engines on farms which can cause adverse health effects. There are currently between 9,000 and 11,000 stationary diesel agricultural engines operating throughout central Wisconsin. Older diesel engines are more likely to emit particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.Particle pollution created by diesel engines contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are small enough to infiltrate the lungs and bloodstream. Smaller particles tend to cause more serious health problems. Particles 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller, which are regulated by the EPA, pose the greatest health risks.Nitrogen oxides are covered under the EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which were first set in 1971 under the Nixon administration. Even very short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide, a highly reactive nitrogen oxide that forms quickly from engine emissions, has been shown to cause adverse respiratory effects including airway inflammation in healthy people and increased respiratory symptoms in people with asthma.The FMS emission reduction projects were just part of a range of projects that benefitted from the $900,000 EPA grant. Each project reduced dangerous emissions from diesel engines through idle reduction technologies or engine repowers on ferries, long haul trucks, school buses, and stationary irrigation pumps.Leonardo Academy, a nonprofit organization that provides consulting and solutions across a wide range of sustainability-related issues, prepared and submitted the grant application to the EPA on behalf of FMS and several other organizations. Upon receipt of the EPA funds, Leonardo Academy acted as the administrator and fiscal agent for the grant funds."Leonardo Academy is dedicated to developing sustainability strategies for people, companies and organizations that engage progress in environmental and social equity achievements in driving economic success," said Leonardo Academy President, Michael Arny." Part of Leonardo Academy's goal in advocating the EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign is to improve air quality by reducing emissions from all types of diesel-fueled engines throughout Wisconsin. "FMS manages about 48,800 acres of tree and vine crops in Wisconsin, Washington and California, and has taken an aggressive approach to reducing diesel emissions across its operations."We are privileged to receive this award from the EPA," said Steve Hahn, Area Manager for FMS. "FMS is committed to improving the communities and environments in which we operate. This project is one example of the many steps we take to reduce emissions and achieve better fuel efficiency from diesel engines in our operations throughout the country."FMS has also made efforts to eliminate the burning of orchard residues, estimated at between 40,000 and 100,000 tons per year. Nearly all tree limbs from pruning or tree removal are now pulverized in the field and returned to the soil or used as a dust suppressant on farm roads.Image credit: Les Chatfield]]>http://www.justmeans.com/House-Approves--Stop-the-War-on-Coal--Act/56131.htmlMon, 24 Sep 2012 17:44:39 GMTHarry Stevens The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill last Friday morning that would significantly deregulate the coal industry.In its last legislative act before the November election, the House approved the Stop the War on Coal Act (H.R. 3409). The bill, introduced by Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH), would prevent the EPA from using the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to impose environmental regulations on the coal industry.House Republicans argue that federal regulation of the coal industry Read Full Article ]]> The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill last Friday morning that would significantly deregulate the coal industry.In its last legislative act before the November election, the House approved the Stop the War on Coal Act (H.R. 3409). The bill, introduced by Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH), would prevent the EPA from using the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to impose environmental regulations on the coal industry.House Republicans argue that federal regulation of the coal industry has cost Americans jobs and hurt the economy. As evidence, Republicans cite last week's announcement from mining giant Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE:ANR) that it will cut 1,200 jobs and idle eight mines in three states.A new report from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) reveals that nine of the top ten congressional beneficiaries of oil, gas and coal money are Republicans. Topping the list is Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH), who received $814,606 from the fossil fuel industry. "Oil, gas, and coal companies want to make the odds seem too overwhelming for the rest of us to affect change in the fight to combat climate change," said NWF president and CEO Larry Schweiger.In contrast to Republicans, House Democrats argue that competition from other energy sources, rather than federal regulation, is hurting the coal industry."When the Republicans say there is a war on coal, in a market sense, yes, there is a war," said Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA). "In the same sense that when we started carrying BlackBerrys, it was a war on the black rotary-dial phone; in the same sense that when we started using Macs and PCs, it was a war on typewriters; in the same sense that the horseless carriage was a war on horses; in the same sense that refrigerators were a war on salted meats; in the same sense that the telegraph was a war on carrier pigeons."If the Obama administration has declared "war on coal," as Republicans claim, then the outcome of the war is still very much in doubt. While U.S. coal consumption fell by about 10.5 percent from 2005 to 2011, coal production only fell by about 3.3 percent in the same time period. Such steady production despite a decrease in consumption can be attributed to an increase in exports of U.S. coal, which increased by about 115 percent from 2005 to 2011.The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts that U.S. coal consumption will actually increase in 2013 as a result of a projected increase in natural gas prices relative to coal.The White House's threat to veto the bill is moot, as the Democratic-led Senate will not consider the bill before it leaves for the November election. Congress will return after the election for a lame-duck session in which major year-end budget and tax decisions will rule the agenda.Image credit: Gage Skidmore]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Report-Reveals-Unsustainable-Water-Requirements-for-U-S--Energy-Policy/56096.htmlThu, 20 Sep 2012 12:41:55 GMTHarry Stevens A new report reveals that traditional electricity generation technologies require huge demands on increasingly scarce water resources, while solar and wind power plants require relatively little water.The report, "The Hidden Costs of Electricity: Comparing the Hidden Costs of Power Generation Fuels," analyzes the indirect and externalized costs of six fuels used to generate electricity: biomass, coal, nuclear, natural gas, solar (photovoltaic and concentrating solar power), and wind (both onshor Read Full Article ]]> A new report reveals that traditional electricity generation technologies require huge demands on increasingly scarce water resources, while solar and wind power plants require relatively little water.The report, "The Hidden Costs of Electricity: Comparing the Hidden Costs of Power Generation Fuels," analyzes the indirect and externalized costs of six fuels used to generate electricity: biomass, coal, nuclear, natural gas, solar (photovoltaic and concentrating solar power), and wind (both onshore and offshore). The report finds that of these technologies, only solar and wind power promise to produce power without relying on unsustainable amounts of water.Nuclear power plants have critical cooling requirements that necessitate huge amounts of water. Almost 40 percent of U.S. nuclear plants use open-loop cooling systems, which need between 25,000 and 60,000 gallons per megawatt hour (MWh). Nuclear reactors with closed-loop cooling systems withdraw between 700-1,100 gallons of water per megawatt hour (MWh), most of which is lost to evaporation.Coal plants also have open- and closed-loop cooling systems. Open-loop systems require between 20,000 and 50,000 gallons of water per MWh, while closed-loop systems withdraw between 500 and 600 gallons per MWh. Coal power plants have also been known to pollute streams and drinking water through mining and coal-ash dump sites.Shale fracking for natural gas, a hot-button issue of late, can use anywhere from two to 10 million gallons of water per well. This water is usually taken from on-site surface or groundwater supplies, producing a tremendous strain in areas with stressed water supplies, areas undergoing drought conditions, or locations with sensitive aquatic communities.Biomass generation, which produces fuel like ethanol, requires enormous quantities of water. Crops that have been dedicated to energy production require between 40,000 and 100,000 gallons of water per MWh, although some crops exceed this range.Wind and solar power, the two most promising sources of renewable energy, require negligible amounts of water by comparison. The most water-intensive solar plants are called concentrated solar plants (CSPs) and consume around 800 gallons per MWh for cooling. Some CSP plants use dry cooling and need only 80 gallons per MWh. Photovoltaic plants (PVs) use a negligible amount of water, but PVs cannot store energy like CSPs. Wind plants use a negligible amount of water in the generation process.The report, prepared by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc., a research firm that specializes in the electricity and natural gas industry, adds weight to the argument that a switch to renewable energy has become urgent as the effects of climate change accelerate.Water scarcity, too, has become increasingly alarming. Lake Mead in Arizona, which supplies water to 22 million people, could be dry by 2021. Americans in the Southwest that rely on the Colorado River for drinking and irrigation face serious threats to their future water supply. The Ogallala Aquifer, the vast underground reservoir beneath the Great Plains, is steadily being depleted."The government and energy industries are literally flying blind as they plan for continued reliance on coal, natural gas, nuclear power and industrial biomass to meet our energy needs," said Grant Smith, senior energy analyst at the Civil Society Institute (CSI), a Massachusetts-based think tank. "Each of these is water intensive and leads to pollution of water, which is increasingly scarce and in competition for other uses such as agriculture and other commercial uses. The drought intensifies the urgency and the imperative that political leaders in both parties hit the pause button on the headlong rush to support nuclear power and fossil fuel use."The Republican-led House of Representatives, which has amassed "the worst environmental record of any Congress in history," according to a House Committee on Energy and Commerce minority report, is openly hostile to efforts to protect the environment.The House is currently considering the "Stop the War on Coal Act" (H.R. 3409), introduced by Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH), which would prevent the EPA from using the Clean Air Act to impose greenhouse gas regulations on the coal industry, and from using the Clean Water Act to protect water resources."In 2005 the Congress mandated a federal water/energy roadmap," said Seth Sheldon, lead water/energy analyst at CSI. "Nearly eight years later, that roadmap has not been produced and either through bureaucratic inertia or fear of hard political questions, the questions are not even being asked, much less their solutions explored. At a time of significant water scarcity and increasing threats to water quality, we can ill afford to ignore this central question about the future of our energy choices."Image credit: Michael Betke]]>http://www.justmeans.com/ECOtality-s-EV-Project-to-Help-Expand-Market-for-Electric-Vehicles/55279.htmlWed, 01 Aug 2012 10:59:32 GMTHarry Stevens ECOtality, Inc., a clean electric transportation and storage technologies company, announced today that its Blink smart charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) will now be offered free in the Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia greater metropolitan areas.The offering is part of ECOtality's expansion of the EV Project, a public-private partnership funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With Read Full Article ]]> ECOtality, Inc., a clean electric transportation and storage technologies company, announced today that its Blink smart charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) will now be offered free in the Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia greater metropolitan areas.The offering is part of ECOtality's expansion of the EV Project, a public-private partnership funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With this latest expansion, the EV Project is now operating in nine states and 21 major metropolitan areas."By signing up for a free charger, EV owners can take part in this massive research project that can help reduce our country's dependence on foreign oil," said Don Karner, ECOtality's Chief Innovation Officer.Owners of either the Nissan LEAF or Chevy Volt can receive a free residential Blink wall mount charger along with an installation credit up to $400. Resident and commercial hosts who are interested in participating can sign up at http://www.theevproject.com/sign-up.php. They can also email atlanta@ecotality.com, chicago@ecotality.com, or philadelphia@ecotality.com, depending on their metropolitan area.From a business perspective, the EV Project will help ECOtality expand the market for advanced electric technologies, further grabbing market share from carbon-based fuels.A combination of market forces, including increasing fuel costs, increasing fuel economy standards, and increased vehicle availability, should expand the market for EVs in coming years.According to a recent report from Pike Research, a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) combined will account for 3.1% of worldwide auto sales by 2017. In the United Sates, HEVs and PEVs will account for 5.1% of total U.S. vehicle sales in 2017 as a result of higher penetration rates in the United States.Further, the report predicts that the EV market will grow at a rate of nearly 20% annually for the next six years, compared to fewer than 4% of the worldwide market for all kinds of vehicles.In the U.S., Nissan, General Motors, Ford, Mitsubishi, and Honda, among others, are leading the market expansion for electric vehicles. GM sold over 7,000 Chevy Volts in 2011 and already exceeded that total in the first six months of 2012.Still, a 2011 discussion paper by Harvard's Henry Lee and Grant Lovellette demonstrates that the lifetime gas savings of EVsdo not currently offset their high purchase prices. That said, the cost balance may change as EV prices become more comparable with vehicles powered by internal combustion engines.ECOtality will partner with a number of utility providers, including PECO and PSE&G in Philadelphia, Georgia Power in Atlanta, and ComEd in Chicago."ComEd is pleased to be a utility partner to the EV Project", said Michael McMahan, ComEd's vice president of Smart Grid and Technology. "The Chicago region is quickly becoming nationally recognized as a leader in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. The EV Project complements the extensive work that ComEd has done to date in collaboration with other Illinois stakeholders to prepare the region for consumer adoption of EVs, and we look forward to supporting the EV Project."For more information about The EV Project, visit www.theevproject.com.]]>