Environmental Media Awards Honor Justin Timberlake

Posted on October 15, 2011 by quest

Toyota and Lexus are once again celebrating the entertainment industry’s environmental efforts as the presenting sponsors of the Environmental Media Awards today Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6:00 PM. In its 21st year, the annual event honors film and television productions that communicate environmental messages in the most creative and influential ways. This year’s honorees are actor and musician Justin Timberlake (In Time Movie), communications executive Marc Nathanson, Southern California Edison, and the Producer’s Guild of America’s environmental initiative – PGA Green. The nominees include films such as Yogi Bear, Disneynature African Cats and The Other Guys, and TV programs such as The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Biggest Loser and Futurama. This year marks Lexus and Toyota‘s 11th year as the presenting sponsors. The ceremony will be held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA.

“More than a decade ago, Toyota and Lexus joined forces with the Environmental Media Association to help communicate the benefits of hybrid technology. It’s inspiring to see how EMA links the power of celebrity and the influence of entertainment to environmental awareness,” said Dian Ogilvie, senior vice president and secretary of Toyota Motor North America. “We congratulate the nominees and special honorees, and we thank you for continuing to convey environmental messages and actions in creative and influential ways.”

The Environmental Media Association doesn’t just recognize sustainable productions throughout the entertainment industry, but keeps productions environmentally responsible as well. Some of things the EMA does to green up the event include; using dinnerware that is compostable, use of local, seasonal, organic food and the event is completely water bottle free. The 21st Annual Environmental Media Awards, honoring film and television personalities, productions, musicians and musical tours that convey environmental messages in the most creative and influential ways, will be our most eco-friendly show to date. You can watch the Environmental Media Awards Saturday, October 15 6pm PT LIVE at www.Facebook.com/EMAOnline.

Justin Timberlake’s eco friendly gulf course

IN TIME

Solar Energy Revolution Star Trek and The Wizard of Oz

Posted on October 13, 2011 by quest

Remember that Orwellian scene? A new female prototype…running from convention, past the drones of conformity on the sideline…and than tossing the hammer of change – shattering what appeared to be an invincible bigger than life, fire breathing and all knowing figure to bits. And with that the personal computer movement was off and running. Steve Jobs and the talented people within the service of that enterprise captured something that drew us and continues to draw us closer. Empowering us with technology that was once only available to the few…but is now available to the many. Like Star Trek, Apple projects a world where the question remains: Do the needs of the few out way the needs of the many? And look at the new IPhone. What’s next…Beam me up Scotty?

Technological advancements always seem to outpace human ability to adapt to change. The solar, renewable energy and green movement is set to usher in incredible developments in the economy, people and the environment. It is not without some irony that we find ourselves as a nation struggling with outdated political philosophies and business practices that simply are not as effective as they once were. The impact of the Occupy Wall Street and XL Pipeline protests are spelling out many of the broad political, business and environmental issues that America needs to address. Is it not apparent that solar and renewable energy is a solution?

Apple 1984 Ad

The legacy of Steve Jobs and the times we’re in now offer great possibilities. In simple terms look what they did, and continue to do they do extremely well. Apple constantly innovates, redesigns and reduces the size of its devices; while improving efficiency. Who knows one day the size of a rooftop solar panel system could be the size of IPhone or laptop. Could a solar energy system be portable enough to power your car?

One of Apple’s successful ad campaigns pronounced….“Think Different.” Yet in practice it appears Apple actually just doesn’t think different…they do different. Now as a new chapter in the life of America unfolds; we can all come to some understanding that in order to change the world, we must first change ourselves. By Richard Andrews

Electric Vehicle Home Solar Charging On The Move

Hawaii Going Solar With SunPower Solar Farm

Posted on October 13, 2011 by quest

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a contract for SunPower to sell energy to Hawaiian Electric Company from a 5-megawatt solar photovoltaic farm planned for Kalaeloa in West Oahu. SunPower Corp. will design, build and operate the facility. Subject to receipt of applicable permits, SunPower plans to begin construction this year and complete the solar farm within five months. It will be located on land leased from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands at Roosevelt Avenue and Boxer Road. “We welcome this approval of our continuing effort to add as much renewable energy as possible to our island grid,” said Robbie Alm, Hawaiian Electric executive vice president. “Hawaii is a national leader in adding solar watts per person to our grids and this project will help reduce our use of imported oil and increase our solar leadership.”

The SunPower agreement represents the first utility-scale solar project on Oahu approved by the PUC. The contract is the outcome of Hawaiian Electric’s request for proposals for renewable energy projects for Oahu issued under the PUC’s competitive bidding framework in 2008. “With SunPower’s high-efficiency technology, Hawaiian Electric will benefit from reliable, cost-effective, guaranteed performance,” said Jim Pape, president of SunPower’s residential and commercial business group. “The solar farm will contribute clean, renewable solar power to Oahu while generating revenue for the important work of the Hawaiian Homelands department on behalf of native Hawaiians.”

SunPower will install high-efficiency SunPower solar panels on a SunPower T0 Tracker system which moves the solar panels to follow the sun during the day. According to SunPower this increases sunlight capture by up to 25 percent over fixed-tilt systems, while significantly reducing land requirements. Based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates, the solar farm will produce enough renewable power to avoid almost 11,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to removing 37,600 cars from Hawaii’s roads over the 20-year term of the power purchase agreement.

Bill McKibben - Keystone Pipeline & Occupy Wall Street

Solar Energy Has Massive Potential In The Himalayas

Posted on October 12, 2011 by quest

Mention prime geography for generation of solar energy, and people tend to think of hot deserts. But a new study concludes that some of the world’s coldest landscapes — including the Himalaya Mountains, the Andes, and even Antarctica – could become Saudi Arabias of solar. The research appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Kotaro Kawajiri and colleagues explain that the potential for generating electricity with renewable solar energy depends heavily on geographic location. Arid and semi-arid areas with plenty of sunshine long have been recognized as good solar sites. However, the scientists point out that, as a result of the limited data available for critical weather-related conditions on a global scale, gaps still exist in knowledge about the best geographical locations for producing solar energy. To expand that knowledge, they used one established technique to estimate global solar energy potential using the data that are available. The technique takes into account the effects of temperature on the output of solar cells. Future work will consider other variables, such as transmission losses and snow fall.

The Himalaya

As expected, they found that many hot regions such as the U.S. desert southwest are ideal locations for solar arrays. However, they also found that many cold regions at high elevations receive a lot of sunlight — so much so that their potential for producing power from the sun is even higher than in some desert areas. Kawajiri and colleagues found, for instance, that the Himalayas, which include Mt. Everest, could be an ideal locale for solar fields that generate electricity for the fast-expanding economy of the People’s Republic of China.

Green Economy Losing Steam?! I’m Seeing Red!

UN Secretary Calls For ‘Clean Energy Revolution’

Posted on October 11, 2011 by quest

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a “clean energy revolution” to help the estimated three billion people that lack modern power and urged countries to recognize the impact that energy security has on all aspects of development. “Three billion people rely on charcoal or wood for cooking and heating. They are energy-poor. And energy poverty translates into grinding, dehumanizing poverty,” he told participants at an energy conference in Oslo, Norway. “We need energy not only to be universal, [we] need it to be clean – to be sustainable as well. We cannot continue to burn our way to prosperity. The only way to minimize the risks of dangerous climate change is by ensuring that energy is sustainable.” The Secretary-General stressed that sustainable energy is critical for all aspects of human progress and said a departure from existing practices is needed to achieve the goal of universal energy access by 2030.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), financing universal access to modern energy services would cost only about three per cent of total global investments in energy.“Energy poverty is a threat to the achievement all of the MDGs. It holds back economic growth and job creation. We require a radical departure from current practices and existing realities.

That is why we are calling for practical and large-scale action,” he said. To achieve the universal energy access goal, Mr. Ban launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative last month, which has three global targets: providing universal access to modern energy services, doubling energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the world’s energy supply. The initiative will have input from the private, government and civil society sectors to develop its agenda for the next two decades. Participants at the “Energy for all – financing access for the poor” conference explored innovative financing mechanisms that can help countries and regions implement their energy plans. In addition to organizing the conference, Norway launched its Energy+ Initiative, which aims to help mobilize private capital and public resources in support of Sustainable Energy for All.

Electric Drive Transportation Association

Governor Welcomes Solar Maker SunEdison To Cali

Posted on October 10, 2011 by quest

California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today visited the new headquarters of SunEdison in Belmont to mark the company’s decision to establish their world headquarters in California. The company, currently headquartered in Maryland, decided to make the move following actions by Governor Brown and the Legislature to create a friendlier business environment in California.

“SunEdison’s decision to relocate to California is proof that, working together, state government and business can find ways to cut red tape, tackle our environmental problems and create jobs,” said Governor Brown. “Locating the SunEdison headquarters in California, the largest energy market in North America with a longstanding commitment to renewable energy, positions us to support better our customers,” said Carlos Domenech, president of SunEdison. “Being in Silicon Valley gives us access to a wider talent and companies that are motivated to solve the supply and demand challenges that electric power faces. California has long been a trendsetter in technology, business innovation and caring for the environment. Being here will help us to make solar a viable and meaningful source of energy.”

Video Governor Brown in Belmont California

SunEdison globally it produces more than 260 MW of solar energy capacity, has 450 operational sites, and has delivered 730,529 MW onto the grid. In California, SunEdison currently has 278 solar project sites. As a result of the move, SunEdison will bring approximately 200 employees from Maryland, adding to the existing 100 employees they currently have in California. They plan to create approximately 300 new jobs over the next five years.