Mars Opens Solar Garden At Chocolate Factory

Posted on February 24, 2012 by quest

Mars Chocolate North America, makers of Las Vegas’ own Ethel M Chocolates, announced today the grand opening of a new solar garden at its Henderson chocolate factory. The state-of-the-art solar installation provides 100 percent of the electrical energy to the Ethel Ms plant during peak operating hours.The project’s completion was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting event attended by state and local government officials, executives from NV Energy, juwi solar Inc. (JSI), and Mars Chocolate North America leaders. “At Mars Chocolate North America, we have the opportunity to make a difference in the world,” said Mike Wittman, vice president of supply. “We are proud of the investments we are making to ensure we are using the earth’s resources responsibly. This newest solar garden moves us closer to our goals of eliminating our carbon footprint at our sites by 2040 and using 100 percent renewable energy.”

Mack Phillips site director of the Henderson plant said, “Turning one of the desert’s greatest assets into energy is in complete alignment with Mars’ Principles in Action, our core business values.Two years ago we unveiled a similar solar project at our North American headquarters in Hackettstown, NJ, and its impact on our operations has been substantial.””This is the second solar PV project built by juwi solar on Mars-owned property,” said Michael Martin, CEO of JSI. “We are proud to play a role in advancing environmental and sustainability goals by replacing the grid’s brown power with green power generated onsite.” The solar garden is adjacent to the chocolate factory and Ethel M’s Botanical Cactus Garden. A vista point located within the Botanical Cactus Garden will allow the more than 700,000 annual visitors to view the new solar facility.”We are fortunate to have been a part of the Henderson and Las Vegas community for more than 30 years,” said Phillips. “We hope the completion of our solar garden demonstrates our continuing commitment to be an environmentally friendly citizen. Our goal is that every business decision we make will have a positive effect on people and the planet through our performance. This project achieves all three.”

The new Ethel M factory solar garden features 2,112 ground-mounted solar panels on 4.4 acres, and is the largest solar installation by a food manufacturer in Nevada. The installation generates 1,258 megawatt hours of zero-emission electricity each year, offsetting 867 metric tons of greenhouse gas – the equivalent of removing approximately 170 vehicles from the road. The project will generate as much energy as 115 Nevada households use annually. Mars will purchase all of the energy generated by the solar garden and JSI will own the project and its associated energy credits. Mars worked closely with NV Energy to ensure that the new installation met net metering requirements, enabling Mars to receive energy offsets from the utility based on the amount of energy their solar panels will produce.

Right To Know Genetically Modified Organisms

Posted on February 19, 2012 by quest

By Susan Rigali - Today I went to Starbucks to pick up ballot initiatives to collect signatures for the labeling of GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) also known as GE (genetically engineered). The same location that I was passing out leaflets against GMO’s 10 years ago with my daughter when security and police arrived and asked us to leave. We complied. But our efforts have persisted. As Americans we felt it our right to have this information, so do a vast majority of our fellow citizens.

The fact that biotech foods have remained unlabeled for nearly 20 years in the US reveals a deliberate refusal by regulatory agencies to serve the will of the people and instead occupy federal agencies in government to further corporate interests globally. An attempt by the biotech industry to OWN the worlds food through intellectual property has wrought the biggest global food fight against consumer, farmer, conventional and organic systems of farming while the cases are reeling in courts worldwide. Reluctantly allowing labeling in most of the developed world where activism in government is recognized, yet scuttling any attempts of groups and organizations for 20 years in this country speaks volumes about our so called democratic principles.

The lack of labeling is a concession to the U.S., it also declared that it “is not intended to suggest or imply that foods derived from modern biotechnology are necessarily different from other foods.” This is a legal contradiction! Either foods produced through mutation are substantially equivalent and therefore cannot be deemed intellectual property, or they are novel invention in which case are different due to constructs and should be labeled accordingly. We will work hard to insure consumers the right to vote on this matter. Not only with their pockets as organic industries soar, but with our voices and votes. Help reach the 850,000 signatures needed to get this on the ballot in California. Visit Label GMO or Label Genetically Engineered Food.

SunPower profit beats Wall St view, shares jump

Watts Seed Lady And Beatrice Foods Go Organic

Posted on January 28, 2012 by quest

Beatrice Foods recently announced a Joint Marketing and Manufacturing Agreement with Anna Marie Carter, famously known as “The Seed Lady of Watts.” Best known for her use of Organic Coconut Oil and use of Chia Seeds in her cooking; Ms Carter and Beatrice Foods will co – create a line of organic foods. The food line will be marketed initially in the west and then sold nationally. The new line of products will be marketed under the Premier Foods Division of Beatrice.

Anna Carter has a history of breaking new ground, in a 2003 Yes Magazine article she said, “I had an organic vegetables, seeds, and plants store many years ago on Crenshaw Boulevard. The first day I went to open the front door and I looked behind me and there stood three little boys, lined up in a row, like they were in the army. I opened the door and they came in, after saying “Good morning,” and proceeded to take all my plants outside and set up the organic vegetable and flowers stands for the day. They were sent to me by a higher source. I taught them many things. We planted tomatoes out back that grew over seven feet tall. The boys sold the tomatoes and used the money for school clothes and supplies. One even paid his mother’s utility bills. They are grown now, but when I see them they kiss and hug and thank me. “After receiving dozen of awards; Anna received the Justie Award in 2011 from Eco Farm California. Top honors for her field in Environmental and Social Justice.

Dewitt Hoopes, CEO of Beatrice said,”Ms. Carter initially reached out to us about her product concept and how the general public needed something that was truly different. Anna has a compelling concept and a deep passion for producing organic foods that are nutritionally healthy and affordable – and that fits into our vision here at Beatrice.”

Solar Energy Use Up

Green Jobs Forecast

Posted on December 4, 2011 by quest

By Kellé Lynch McMahon – Green Jobs, Green Jobs, Where are all the jobs?…In looking at the news one would believe that the world is coming to an end with all the talk of unemployment and the export of jobs to overseas competition. But if we scratch below the surface we will see that there is a huge trend surfacing that is creating an enormous amount of opportunity for retooling and growth in technological innovation and the re-birth of a manufacturing in the United States.

According to the US Department of Labor there are 1.2 million jobs that are unfilled right now in the marketplace. These jobs are unfilled because there are too few skilled applicants that apply for them. There are foreign companies, American companies, small companies, large companies, startups and mid-size companies all of which contribute to the growth and development of a new established emergent industry coined “the green economy”. The green economy encompasses many different aspects of the energy market sector. The United States has seen the largest growth in the solar market sector over the past two years. The industry has seen growth over 120% since 2006 (Engineering Magazine July 2010) and is experiencing a explosion of growth in the commercial residential sectors.

Next we have watched the growth of the slow food movement, which has the cropping up of small local family farms and urban farms that are supporting sustainable organic farming methods that yield a variety of foods that are in high demand in local markets. The growth, process, and distribution of these foods has created a cottage industry that has become boutique in nature.Third, we have the automotive industry that has seen a growth spurt in the development, manufacturing and innovation of a new breed of cars that will revolutionize the way we commute, transport merchandise and travel in the world. Electric cars will become the norm within the next five (5) years, and all major automobile manufacturers have at least one auto that is either electric or hydrogen fuel cell powered on the market today. Read the full article by Kellé Lynch McMahon

Solar Energy To Power UN Climate Conference

Eco-Friendly Marley ‘One Love’ Sponsors Jingle Ball

Posted on December 3, 2011 by quest

With its expanding line of eco friendly products, The House of Marley is sponsoring two of the biggest concerts of the year and the most anticipated music events of the holiday season. The KIIS-FM’s Jingle Ball will be held on Dec. 3 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live and Z100′s Jingle Ball will take place on Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden in NYC. The House of Marley also carries its message of peace, love, and unity to Ski Dazzle 2011: The Los Angeles Ski Show and Snowboard Expo, December 1 – 4, 2011, helping to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the world’s largest consumer ski & snowboard show and sale. The House of Marley delivers premium quality, eco-friendly products that embody the Marley family’s values of equality, unity, authenticity, sustainability, and charity. MARLEY is comprised of three collections – Jammin’, Freedom, and Destiny – and features noise isolating in-ear and on-ear headphones, active noise canceling over-ear headphones, docking stations, and portable audio systems. The MARLEY headphones are currently available at Becker Surf, Karmaloop, CCS, Beachworks and many other snow, surf and skate shops nationwide. Docking stations and speakers will be available in early 2012.

One Love

Working together for a better world, The House of Marley was created from the belief in Bob Marley’s vision of “One Love,” offering a range of eco-friendly, innovative audio electronics products that adhere to the Marley family core values: equality, unity, authenticity, sustainability and charity. The House of Marley donates five percent (5%) of its annual profits to 1Love.org. The epicenter of a global movement, 1Love.org is dedicated to spreading Bob Marley’s message of unity and peace by lifting up a new generation of “young gongs” to strike the hammer for charities, causes and ideas that can change the world.

“Action sports has always been important to us, because that’s where the roots people hang out,” said Rohan Marley, Bob Marley’s son, on behalf of the family. “Through his music, my father spread messages of love, hope, unity, and peace, and it is our family’s responsibility and mission to bring his vision to a new generation. MARLEY audio products make perfect sense and are created with a focus on using sustainable products and providing exceptional sound that our family is proud to call our own.”

World’s Tallest Solar Tower Set To Rise In Arizona

Honey Do’s May Include Solar House Painting

Posted on November 28, 2011 by quest

I can see it now…”Honey don’t you think it’s time to paint the house? Why don’t we try some of that spray on solar or solar paint? The Jones’ have those solar panels on their roof and Pat tells me their electric bill have gone from $175 a month to $20 and they didn’t even have to pay for it upfront. Some kind of lease or PPA purchase or something like that? Sweetie come on the house is starting to look at little tired and these electric bills are out of control.With more money each month we could that take that vacation you promised me we would take to Tahiti someday. You know I mean?”

Look up for Solar Power

We’ll we see how it plays out. But in the world of solar solutions, innovation won’t only include just improvements in silicon and thin film efficiency. As reported here a Florida company; New Energy Technologies, Inc. is working on spray on solar and solar windows. If the idea of spray on solar seemed like a novel little cute idea, check it out and think again. And low and behold Mitsubishi Chemical also researching this alternative to silicon panels. And then there’s Pythagoras Solar Window which won the GE ecomagination challenge earlier this year for their work as a provider of Photovoltaic Glass. Their solar window technology is an industry first that simultaneously delivers energy efficiency, high power density and transparency. The GE ecomagination Challenge, recognized the most promising building energy innovations.

To the north Canadian researcher Ted Sargent, has been talking up, paint-on solar cells for years. Seems in solar energy innovation, the imagination is the workshop of the mind.