Hope against the climate job killers

Posted on September 11, 2010 by quest

Defenders of dirty energy like to pretend that having smarter climate policies (and more support for clean energy) would cost Americans jobs. Not only are they wrong, but – according to prominent business leaders this week [and a new study] – their “deny and delay” tactics are now turning out to be the true job killers.

Business leaders appearing in a town hall style panel this week at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada said that they don’t fear new rules to better control carbon pollution. What they fear is uncertainty about what those rules will be President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donohue, was joined by billionaire investor T. Boone Pickens, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and John Podesta, the President and CEO of the Center for American Progress. One word was repeated the most throughout the entire afternoon session: certainty.

“We’ve got to get certainty,” Donohue said. “People want to invest and make money. Tell us what the deal is, and let’s get on with it!” Every panelist agreed that certainty was the name of the game for businesses and business owners who are struggling in a most uncertain time of national recession. Investors want certainty as well, so they know what businesses and industries to pour their private capital into, and what kinds of prices they can expect in the medium and long-term. Unfortunately, America is getting the opposite of certainty – even in places where issues related to climate and clean energy were thought long-settled.

Take California, for example. Read On

Justin Timberlake re-opens top green gulf course

Posted on September 10, 2010 by quest

It’s not always about glitz and glamour with Justin Timberlake, this time it is about going green. Justin Timberlake has recently made a hit which does not revolve around recording studios at all. This time Timberlake has launched his golf course; the talented singer- performer has re-launched his Eco friendly golf course in his hometown Memphis.

The club has been able to win the award for being the first green golf course in the whole of America. The award was given by the prestigious Gold Environment Organization to Mirimichi Performance Centre situated in the Worlds famous Singer’s hometown.

The Mirimichi was given the award for being the most eco-friendly golf club in U.S.A. The golf club has undergone renovations that have expanded its irrigation and drainage system. The system has maximized the use of rainwater and the wetlands have been expanded along with the wildflowers and the native grasses. Mirimichi is labelled as a club with a world class experience without the need of memberships, monthly dues or minimums.
A total of $16million so far and there are plans to make the club more eco friendly in near future. According to sources, Justin Timberlake will soon be adding golf carts that are solar-powered. Furthermore, he will ensure that the operation for the food and beverage use materials which are bio degradable and recyclable. This Golf Club is the only club ever made that is able to calculate its own carbon footprints.

Justin Timberlake

Timberlake has managed to stand out from the crowd since he has always had strong opinions regarding environmental issues. He is now marked as an individual who walks his walk giving the ‘sexy back’ singer a well deserved relaxed time which he can spend on the world’s greenest greens.

A solar panel mission

Posted on September 10, 2010 by quest

Last week author and activist Bill McKibben was on David Letterman talking about the environmental challenges facing America. This week 350.org the grassroots organization he founded began their round trip from Maine to Washington DC. The trip is called ” Put Solar on The White House.” In 1979, President Jimmy Carter put solar panels on the White House. In 1986, President Reagan removed them and they were never replaced. Years later, Unity College in Maine adopted the panels where they have lived ever since. Until now.

Bill McKibben and a group of Unity students are driving one of the original Carter panels from Maine down to Washington, DC. They’re asking President Obama to put solar back on the White House. Thus far, however, we have not gotten a firm response from the administration, even though other world leaders have pledged to join a Global Work Party on Oct. 10 (10-10-10). Mohamed Nasheed, president of the Maldive Islands, for instance, will be on the roof of his official residence bolting down panels donated by Berkeley, CA based solar company Sungevity.

The taste of organic strawberries

Posted on September 10, 2010 by quest

Organic Strawberries Beat Conventionally Grown In Test Plots

In side-by-side plots of strawberries grown organically or conventionally, the organic berries had more vitamin C and the soil was more biologically active. Molly Webster reports.
Some consumers buy organically grown foods because they believe the products are healthier, tastier and better for the environment. But is this assessment true?  To find out, a group of U.S.-based scientists looked at strawberries. For the study, the researchers analyzed 13 plots of organic strawberries and conventional strawberries grown side-by-side. They found that the organic strawberries contained 10 percent more Vitamin C and antioxidants than their conventional counterparts. The organic strawberries were smaller on average than conventional berries, but each piece of organic fruit actually contained more dry matter—the meat, if you will, of the berry. The organic berries also had a longer shelf-life.
And finally, a soil analysis showed that the organic plots contained more microorganisms than conventional acreage. So, the study adds some scientific evidence to the belief that organic berries are healthier, tastier and more environmentally sound. Source: Scientific American - Hear the report

Update A Green Renaissance

Posted on September 9, 2010 by quest

QuestPoint n the Mix, QuestPoints’ companion podcast site recently introduced, A Green Renaissance a new series offering audio updates on the green movement and consciousness.

As interest in environmental matters continues to go mainstream people throughout our society and around the world are seeking new ways to enrich their lives. “In fact I think we are entering a new green renaissance not unlike that of the Renaissance that spread through out Europe in the 16th century. Then as now… there was a cultural movement that profoundly influenced education, religion, science, literature, philosophy, art, politics, and other aspects of life.” We are seeing all those factors and others come into play now. Listen: A Green Renaissance III

SunPower awarded solar research grant

Posted on September 9, 2010 by quest

In a second round of funding by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), SunPower Corp. , will receive a grant of approximately $1.8 million from the California Solar Initiative Research, Development, Deployment and Demonstration (CSI RD&D) Program. This grant will enable SunPower to research photovoltaic (PV) energy storage for large commercial applications.
SunPower will partner with three energy storage companies, Ice Energy, Xtreme Power and ZBB Energy (NYSE Amex: ZBB), to establish a pilot program for demonstrating the integration of advanced energy storage systems in combination with existing PV systems for commercial customers. Working with a major retailer, SunPower plans to demonstrate the economic and operational benefits of combining PV with each of the partners’ storage devices.
“Rooftop solar is affordable today and growing rapidly in cities all across America,” said Jim Pape, SunPower president, residential and commercial. “SunPower is excited to work with PG&E, KEMA, Sandia National Laboratories, and our storage partners to evaluate how to make solar power even more valuable during peak energy periods.”

The CPUC California Solar Initiative (CSI) has a goal to create 1,940 megawatts of new, solar-produced electricity by 2016, moving the state toward a cleaner energy future and helping to lower the cost of solar systems for consumers. The CSI budget is $2.2 billion over 10 years, and has five distinct program components. The RD&D program, one component of the CSI Program, has an overall budget of $50 million and aims to achieve California’s goal of creating a vibrant solar industry. This program provides grants to fund solar research and demonstration projects that will measurably reduce the cost and accelerate the installation of solar and other distributed technologies that could employ solar for generation, storage, or that could reduce the use of natural gas.