On Your 40th Anniversary Thank You EPA

Posted on December 2, 2010 by quest

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins , Green For All - Forty years ago today, the Environmental Protection Agency was created. It’s fitting that the anniversary falls just one week after Thanksgiving, because every American from every state should be grateful for the Agency’s work.

Consider that by 1990, the EPA’s actions had prevented 205,000 premature American deaths, 189,000 cardiovascular hospitalizations and 18 million child respiratory illnesses. The EPA has reduced 60% of dangerous air pollutants in the air we breathe. They have transformed 67% of contaminated Superfund Brownfield sites nationwide into livable neighborhoods and active business centers. In the four decades of its existence, millions of lives have been impacted by the EPA.

Including my own. As I relayed in my introductory post here, I grew up in a community where “affordability” was a code word for low income and high pollution. The industries responsible for earning the region the dubious distinction as the worst place to live in the Bay area weren’t likely to prioritize public health – nor was a local government desperate to keep any and all employers. That’s where the EPA comes in

GO MOBILE

Solar and eco friendly marine technology benefit environment

Posted on December 2, 2010 by quest

San Francisco based Hornblower Cruises & Events has signed off on a multi-million dollar project with Statue Cruises for Derecktor Shipyards in Bridgeport, CT to complete the world’s first Hybrid Ferry using Hydrogen fuel by April 2011. Hornblower Cruises & Events is the concessioner authorized by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior to serve the public at the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

The New York Hornblower Hybrid follows the 2008 launch of the San Francisco Hornblower Hybrid, the United States’ first hybrid ferry. San Francisco-based Hornblower Cruises & Events created both vessels. The new 1,400-horsepower Hornblower Hybrid will run on a combination of energy generated by clean Tier 2 diesel engines, hydrogen fuel cells, solar panels and wind turbines. Power will come from a proton exchange membrane fuel cell that turns hydrogen into electricity. In addition, solar panels and wind turbines will help power the vessel. Efficient Tier 2 diesel engines kick in to cover additional energy needs.

Terry MacRae, CEO of Statue Cruises and Hornblower Cruises & Events said “We expect this pioneering project to inspire continued industry innovations. By combining hydrogen, solar and wind power, Hornblower will minimize its environmental impact as we transport guests to popular national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Our goal is to reduce emissions to the greatest extent possible, with a goal in the future to eliminate them entirely during a cruising day. “We expect this pioneering project to inspire continued industry innovations. The technology on the Hornblower Hybrid is now scalable for other hybrid ferries, hybrid yachts and even hybrid tugs. Some may say we are at the turning point in modernizing marine technology and Hornblower plans to be leading the way.”

GREEN VIDEOS

Moon Palace charged by Solar for UN climate meeting

Posted on November 30, 2010 by quest

Moon Palace Hotel in Cancun, Mexico today announced the completion and operation of a solar power project. The 130 kWp pilot project is capable of generating 220 MWh of electricity per year and reducing 110 tons of CO2 emissions annually. Moon Palace Hotel is hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference. This global event has attracted about 20,000 participants from nations around the world. It runs through December 10, 2010, with the objective of discussing future commitments to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

The photovoltaic project team for the Moon Palace Hotel was led by Enel Green Power, one of the leading renewable energy operators worldwide, with support also from the Italian Ministry of the Environment and SEMARNAT, the Mexican Environment Ministry. “Being selected as the solar power provider of choice for this high-level and important global conference location is a testament to the quality and unique characteristics of UNI-SOLAR(TM) modules,” said Mark Morelli, President and CEO of United Solar’s parent company, Energy Conversion Devices. “We believe that solar power will continue to play an important role in addressing global climate change.”

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

SunPower Shining on California Valley Solar Ranch

Posted on November 30, 2010 by quest

SunPower Corp. and NRG Energy, Inc. today announced groundbreaking agreements to begin construction next year of the 250-megawatt (MW) California Valley Solar Ranch in San Luis Obispo County. The solar power plant is expected to create approximately 350 jobs during construction, will power about 100,000 homes and will be one of the largest photovoltaic solar power plants in the world, when complete. Under the agreement announced today, NRG will, subject to certain conditions, assume all ownership and financing responsibilities for the California Valley Solar Ranch. SunPower will continue to develop the project, and will design, build, operate and maintain the solar power plant. Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2011, with a portion of the project expected to begin operating by the end of 2011 and the balance coming on line in 2012 and 2013. When fully operational, the solar power plant will help California achieve its 33% renewable portfolio standard.

Howard Wenger, President of the utility and power plants business group at SunPower said “This partnership with NRG Solar and the DOE represents a major milestone in delivering 250 megawatts of clean, renewable solar power to California’s electricity customers. For two years, SunPower has been working to develop this project responsibly, with respect for the environment and the community. We are delighted to have found in NRG a partner that shares our vision to build a solar power plant in San Luis Obispo County that enhances the local economy, protects local habitat and generates emission-free solar power for California. The DOE is playing a critical leadership role in supporting renewable energy that provides economic and environmental benefits, as well as a secure, stable energy supply in the U.S.”

California Valley Solar Ranch has executed 25-year power purchase agreements with Pacific Gas & Electric for delivery of 250 megawatts. The power purchase agreements have been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.

ONLINE GREEN WEBINARS

Biofuels take flight

Posted on November 29, 2010 by quest

Global airline leader Lufthansa is set to begin a six-month trial using biofuel on commercial flights. is set to begin a six-month trial using biofuel on commercial flights. Starting in April 2011 with an Airbus A321 the test program is scheduled on commercial flights of the Hamburg-Frankfurt-Hamburg route. The primary purpose of the project is to conduct a long-term trial to study the effect of biofuel on engine maintenance and engine life. “Lufthansa will be the world’s first airline to utilize biofuel in flight operations within the framework of a long-term trial. This is a further consistent step in a proven sustainability strategy, which Lufthansa has for many years successfully pursued and implemented,” said CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber.

At a joint press conference today, Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, with Peter Hinze, Parliamentary State Secretary and Government Aerospace Coordinator, and Professor Dr. Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), presented a biofuel project planned by Lufthansa. The project is backed by the government within the framework of its aviation research program aimed at underpinning the sustainability of air traffic.

About 77 per cent of German aviation research funding (LUFO) is directly or indirectly related to the environment and sustainability. The Germans believe an integrated research approach offers the best chance of achieving the ambitious climate protection objectives by 2020 and, simultaneously, safeguarding the technological competitiveness of the German aviation industry.

ECO FRIENDS SHOP

Hydropower runs through it

Posted on November 27, 2010 by quest

RainPower a Norwegian technology company has set up a new subsidiary company in Sweden and has also entered into a cooperation agreement with engineering firm KTAB to become a fully integrated provider of hydropower technology and services in the Swedish market. Since it was set up in 2007, RainPower has developed proprietary turbine technology at its hydropower laboratory in Trondheim.

CEO Svein Ole Strømmen of RainPower said “Establishing Rainpower in Norway has been very successful, and we feel that the time is right to take a look at the exciting hydropower market in Sweden.” “KTAB is an engineering company that has developed hydropower expertise in Kristinehamn. This expertise combined with a highly qualified technical team in Kristinehamn and innovative research environment in Norway will create a competitive total supplier of hydropower services in Sweden for planning, production, maintenance and service.

RainPower has employees at Kjeller, Sørumsand in Trondheim, Oslo and Hangzhou in China. The company, which is based on Kvaerner’s and General Electric’s hydropower expertise, supplies, hydroelectric turbines and all associated equipment for the production of clean electricity.