New Urban Farming Laws In The Big Apple

Posted on August 18, 2011 by quest

While the latest poll numbers show popular support for Mayor Mike Bloomberg cooling off, the Mayor took action today on one the hottest issues in New York City – local food. Earlier today at City Hall, Bloomberg signed a package of laws that will help increase the amount of fresh, local food available in the city. This package of legislation is a key component of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn‘s highly praised “FoodWorks” plan, which is designed to significantly overhaul our regional food system. One bill requires the city to collect and publish “metrics” on how food is produced, processed, distributed, and consumed in the region. These metrics include everything from counting the number of restaurants in the city, to tracking the number of vendors at greenmarkets, to recording how much food is transported by truck or by rail. Having this baseline information can help officials make better decisions about how we get our food and how to improve its impact on public health and the environment.
Another bill calls for the creation of procurement guidelines to encourage city agencies to buy food grown or processed in New York State. (Without a change of state procurement law, which the City Council is also calling for in an official Resolution, NYC is currently hindered in encouraging the purchase of food from farmers in neighboring states.) Two other bills in the package promote urban agriculture and rooftop farming. By helping urban farming to flourish, New York may someday serve as a model for the benefits of truly sustainable, local agriculture.

I had the opportunity to testify on these food bills this past Spring, and now that they’ve passed, the sentiment is the same: New York has enormous potential to become a national leader in providing sustainable, local food, and these bills are a good first step in reforming our food system. At the same time, as we testified, ultimately the city will need to put in place concrete purchasing targets for buying regional food and define what constitutes “sustainable” food (just because it is local doesn’t necessarily mean it is healthy or better for the environment). Mark Izeman-Natural Resources Defense Council

SunPower and Ford Offer ‘Drive Green for Life’

New Solar And Clean Energy Bill Set For Japan

Posted on August 18, 2011 by quest

By Chisaki Watanabe and Sachiko Sakamaki - Japan’s lower house of parliament is set to pass legislation to subsidize renewable energy amid a push to reduce dependence on nuclear power, paving the way for Prime Minister Naoto Kan to quit as early as next week. The bill requires utilities to buy electricity generated by geothermal, solar and wind sources at above-market rates in order to stimulate investment in renewable energy, which accounts for 9 percent of Japan’s power supply. Kan last month called for phasing out atomic power after the March earthquake and tsunami caused the worst nuclear disaster in 25 years.

Passage of the bill marks the last of three legislative goals Kan set down before fulfilling a pledge to resign. His popularity has dropped over his handling of the quake and the crippling of Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima atomic power plant. An opposition politician yesterday said the lower house vote, originally scheduled for today, may be delayed. Introducing the subsidies, known as feed-in tariffs, may help companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., which makes wind turbines and develops geothermal plants, and solar panels makers Panasonic Corp. and Sharp Corp. Japan aims to increase the size of the renewable energy market to 10 trillion yen ($130 billion) by 2020, from about 1 trillion yen in 2009, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said

Consumers Willing to Pay More for Sustainable Apparel

Cadillac Electric Vehicle ELR Comes To Life

Posted on August 18, 2011 by quest

The innovative Cadillac Converj Concept, a dramatic luxury coupe with extended-range electric vehicle technology, is moving forward as a production car that will be called the Cadillac ELR. Development of the ELR is just underway, so details on performance, price and timing will be announced later. The Cadillac ELR will feature an electric propulsion system made up of a T-shaped lithium ion battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the battery’s energy is low, the ELR seamlessly switches to extended-range mode to enable driving for hundreds of additional miles.

“The concept generated instant enthusiasm,” said Don Butler, vice president-Cadillac Marketing. “Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present – the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving.” Cadillac selected the name ELR to indicate the car’s electric propulsion technology, in keeping with the brand’s 3-letter international model naming convention.
The Converj Concept sparked the idea of combining the desirability of a grand touring coupe with electrification, said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design.“There’s no mistaking it for anything but a Cadillac, an aggressive, forward-leaning profile and proportion showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal luxury 2+2,” Welburn said.

Life Changing Solar

Jerry Brown Commits to Lake Tahoe Environment

Posted on August 16, 2011 by quest

In an historic joint appearance at the 2011 Tahoe Summit, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval announced a renewed commitment to updating the Regional Plan for Lake Tahoe and enhancing the role of the two states in cooperating with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).“Lake Tahoe is a world treasure, and it is our duty to ensure that its natural splendor is protected for future generations of Californians and Nevadans,” said Brown. “The best way to do that is by working cooperatively with the State of Nevada to promote policies that ensure both the environment and the economy of Lake Tahoe are protected in perpetuity.”

“Governor Brown and I agreed that while much has changed at Lake Tahoe since the Bi-State Compact was created in 1969, our two states’ dedication to the resource remain unwavering,” Sandoval said. “I look forward to working with Governor Brown on updating the Regional Plan.”TRPA was created as a regional agency because the Lake Tahoe watershed crosses a number of state and local political boundaries. The Governing Board contains seven members from California, seven from Nevada and one non-voting Presidential appointee.

The 20-year Regional Plan that the Board is charged with supporting has not been updated since 1987 and is now four years overdue. By personally attending the Tahoe Summit and bringing top officials from both states to the same table, Gov. Brown and Gov. Sandoval are making Lake Tahoe a top priority and seeking a new area of cooperation on issues affecting the lake.

Urban Farms Bloom in Atlanta Freight Containers

Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit Heading To Hawaii

Posted on August 15, 2011 by quest

Leaders and experts at the forefront of the global clean energy movement will be convening at the Hawai’i Convention Center for the 3rd Annual Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo, to be hosted by the State of Hawai’i on September 13-15 in Honolulu. An estimated 1,200 industry and government participants from more than 20 countries will attend the conference, which aims to enable exchanges of ideas and partnership opportunities with global corporations, start-ups, investors, policy makers, and utilities involved in clean energy transformation.
To showcase global best practices and new business opportunities, the Summit program will open with venture capitalist and energy and security expert R. James Woolsey. Woolsey, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, is now chair of a Washington D.C. based private equity fund specializing in energy and security issues. He serves on the National Commission on Energy Policy.

Panel discussions will focus on accelerating the use of various renewable energy resources such as biomass, wind, solar, hydroelectric, ocean thermal, geothermal, and waste-to-energy; financing and incentivizing energy efficiency; and developing public policies, resources, and workforce training programs to build a clean energy industry.

Keiko Matsui

This year’s program is offering a full conference track on the U.S. Department of Defense’s clean energy programs. Representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines will be presenting key military initiatives, technology priorities, and practical guidance on developing partnerships and contracts. CTSI is also coordinating a new technology identification program focused on bringing innovative military-targeted clean energy solutions. The Summit’s Expo will offer exhibits, services and the latest energy technologies. Summit co-sponsors include the University of Hawai’i, Hawaiian Electric Company, Lockheed Martin, AECOM, Phycal, Sempra Generation, Aerovironment, General Atomics, SAIC, ALSTOM, FirstWind, GM, The Gas Company, Pacific Biodiesel, etc.

DiCaprio A Global Green Activist

Ohio SolarVision Taking Solar Mainstream

Posted on August 15, 2011 by quest

Just two years after SolarVision solar arrays began harnessing the sun’s power in Ohio, the company finds itself at the cusp of revolutionizing the way Ohioans—and Americans view and use renewable energy on a daily basis. What began with a couple hundred solar panels on the roof of an elementary school is quickly becoming a collection of tens of thousands of solar panels totaling more than 20 megawatts of power. With $70 million in projects under contract and an additional $15 million pending, SolarVision has experienced astounding growth since its inception. “We’re on the verge of taking this energy model to scale, where electricity made from the sun will be considered mainstream,” Kuss said. “And with the rate SolarVision is progressing now, we plan to be a big part of making than happen.”

“We have been amazed at the amount of demand for solar power we have encountered in the last two years,” said SolarVision president Greg Kuss. “Government and business leaders are realizing that not only is solar power infinitely cleaner and better for the environment than traditional power generation processes, but with today’s technology it can also be more cost-effective.”This summer SolarVision broke ground on its biggest project yet—the first phase of what will become a 5 megawatt solar array in Celina, OH, encompassing more than 12,000 solar panels on city-owned land. According to Celina planning and community development director Kent Bryan, PE, partnering with SolarVision “is an economic and environmental win-win” for cities seeking to make a positive impact in their communities.
“What attracts municipalities and private industry to SolarVision is the fact that they can enjoy all the benefits of solar-generated electricity—clean power at competitive prices—without having to own or maintain the solar equipment,” added Mike Dickman, SolarVision vice president over construction operations and sales. SolarVision™ has partnered with municipalities and other institutions to build solar power systems in Washington Court House, Worthington, Newcomerstown, Athens, OH, with projects in the works in several other locations.