Los Angeles The New Mecca For Electric Vehicles

Posted on November 13, 2011 by quest

It seems LA is to electric vehicle companies as San Francisco is to solar companies. “We are proud to welcome CODA to Los Angeles — the city that creates and innovates,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “We see CODA’s move as a boost to our growing clean technology industry in LA and we are thrilled they chose to locate in our City.”CODA Holdings, a leading developer of all-electric vehicles and advanced battery systems, just recently held the grand opening celebration of its 100,000 square foot global headquarters, R&D Division and Processing Center in the heart of Los Angeles. In addition, the City has named the road adjoining joining CODA’s headquarters “Electric Drive” to honor of CODA’s core technology. “We chose to place the global headquarters in Los Angeles not only because it is one of the most significant early markets for the deployment of electric vehicles, but because elected officials and business leaders have demonstrated their commitment to fostering a successful local cleantech industry,” said Phil Murtaugh, CEO, CODA Holdings. “We are excited about the many jobs we’ve already created for the area and look forward to many more as we expand and bring to market our all-electric sedan and energy storage products.” Just recently Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa welcomed BYD who opened their North American headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

You Got A Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

CODA’s Executive Chairman, Mac Heller and CEO, Phil Murtaugh, Governor Jerry Brown, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa,Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-47), Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilman Herb Wesson and California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols were on hand to mark the occasion. Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-50), and representatives for Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and State Senator Curren Price (D-26) were in attendance. “Dynamic innovation is a key building block of California’s 21st century economy,” said California Governor Jerry Brown. “Car companies like CODA are investing in California because our laws encourage electric cars and recognize the paramount importance of reducing oil dependency.”

CODA is currently the fastest-growing company in Los Angeles, with a 275% job increase year to date and an expected 300% growth by the end of this year. With 220 engineers, technicians and corporate staff at its global headquarters, CODA is located on South Fairfax Avenue, adjacent to Interstate 10. Over the next year, CODA anticipates adding an additional 100 employees at the location, growing to 650 in the following years. The company supports further jobs at a facility in Benicia, CA where its vehicles undergo final assembly.

Eco-Friendly Meets Economy

Los Poblanos Inn & Organic Farm Fodor Winner

Posted on November 12, 2011 by quest

Among the most experienced and discerning international travelers, they say it’s the little things that count the most when it comes to accommodations. For some that could translate into massive reception areas, 24-hour concierge service and liveried valet parking but for the nearly 1,000 hyper-critical and seasoned travelers who took part in voting for the 2011 Fodor’s Top 100 Hotels in the World, it had more to do with organic produce grown mere yards from the kitchen, the intoxicating scent of freshly distilled lavender oil and even the antics of a goat named Periwinkle.

Los Poblanos Inn & Organic Farm is pleased to announce its having been named one of “Fodor’s 100 Hotels,” for 2011, a designation given to the top 100 “best in category” hotels in the world. Los Poblanos was the only New Mexico property to win an award and was, in fact, one of only twenty-nine properties in the United States, in any category, to be so honored by Fodor‘s. Privately owned by the Rembe family, the 25-acre inn and organic farm also boasts a cultural center and conference facilities that marry state-of-the art technology with historic architecture, antiques and exquisite examples of colonial and legendary New Mexico craftsmanship by the likes of architect John Gaw Meem, wood carver Gustave Baumann, painter Peter Hurd, tin artist Robert Woodman and photographer Laura Gilpin.

Designed in 1932 and built in 1934, the property has hosted and, for 77 years, served as the “home away from home” for some of the country’s leading thinkers, movers and shakers. Today, politicians, celebrities, foodies, authors and philosophers find their way to Los Poblanos for an environment that includes wide open space, an unparalleled view of the Sandias, superlative food and, inevitably, a sense of having exhaled. “While we certainly strive hard to meet and exceed the expectations of all of our guests, we’re also aware that many of them are seasoned world travelers, accustomed to luxury properties all over the globe. While some travelers tend to prefer – and even stick to – luxury chain hotels as a means of ‘regulating’ their accommodation experience regardless of locale, we’re that anti-brand, intimate and authentic experience that chains simply can’t offer. With more than fifty percent of our guests repeat customers, we take pride in offering the one-of-a-kind, ‘local flavor’ experience that Fodor’s saw as unique. We’re humbled to be on the same list with such legendary properties as the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles and Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.”

The Truth about – Solar Storms

Bill Clinton says wind, solar are already cheaper than nuclear energy

United Steelworkers Stand With U.S. Solar Companies

Solar Power Wars

Posted on November 10, 2011 by quest

Gordon Brinser, president of SolarWorld and a leader for the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) said.“We are pleased that the facts have begun to speak for themselves. China’s plans for the U.S. market have been clear from its excessive and illegal subsidization of its export-heavy industry, its ever-escalating drive to dump product at artificially low prices on the U.S. marketplace and its contrived public-affairs tactics, including a new coalition for Chinese importers that purports to serve the interests of American consumers.” His comments came in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce‘s decision to initiate an intensive, year-long investigation into Chinese solar export practices. “The anti-competitive tactics of Chinese exporters have threatened to wipe out U.S. producers and jobs,” Brinser said. “Domestic producers look forward to returning to steady increases in efficiency and sustainable decreases in pricing that directly result from legal international competition – and to advances in America’s renewable-energy future.”

A recently published survey by the Solar Energy Industries Association is clear that the U.S. public cares deeply about the vitality of domestic manufacturing as it stands in China’s crosshairs. The survey shows overwhelming bipartisan support – 82 percent – for U.S. solar manufacturing. Chinese companies have almost no production on U.S. soil. CASM alleges that China’s state-sponsored industry has mounted an onslaught of dumping that has included a surge of imports in recent months. Chinese exports into the United States in July alone exceeded those of all of 2010, according to federal trade data. To counter this alleged surge ahead of the U.S. investigation, the SolarWorld-led coalition is seeking a federal determination of “critical circumstances,” requiring that any import duties required to offset alleged improper trade tactics be applied retroactively for three months.

In discussing China’s market share accomplishments Jifin Gao, President of China based Trina Solar said he, “attributed that success to better operational management that creates a “huge cost advantage” to competitors from Japan, Europe or the U.S., he said. “We have a faster reaction to the market because it’s being managed properly. This gives us a competitive advantage.”Assuming the International Trade Commission finds on Dec. 5 that Chinese exports have harmed the domestic industry, the first possible determination on “critical circumstances” could come as soon as Jan. 12, meaning importers of record could later be required to deposit estimated duties on imports back to this past Oct. 14, according to CASM.

Solar Powered Education On the Move In South Africa

Urban Farmers Grow New Green Acres

Posted on November 9, 2011 by quest

“Green Acres is the place for me. Farm living is the life for me. Land spreading out so far and wide. Keep Manhattan just give me that countryside.” With that Mr. Douglas (Eddie Albert) and wife Lisa Douglas(Eva Gabor) left New York City for Hooterville. Well it turns start out things have changed since the 1965 TV sitcom hit the airwaves. As new solar solutions are being implemented to address how we heat, electricfy our homes – and transport ourselves; so too are some very basic assumptions about how and where we get our food.

Global population analyst have just announced the world population is now 7 billion people. How can we know for sure what the real current world population is?That’s a whole lot of mouths to feed in world that’s already struggling with stone age energy, political, transportation and economic systems. Urban farming is taking on unique characteristics such as what we’re seeing in Chicago and Atlanta.

Urban farms provide healthy food

In his recent Ted Talk Urban Farmer Roman Gaus frames out some of the big issues we face as a world society and how urban farming can provide solutions to challenges we’ll have no choice in facing.

But while the idea of community gardens, rooftop farming and vertical farming may seem new: Victory Farms was in full effect in America over 70 years ago.

Urban Farming: Past Present Future

Green Tech Companies in Growth Mode

United Steelworkers Stand With U.S. Solar Companies

Posted on November 8, 2011 by quest

Recently Jifan Gao, Trina Solar President responded to The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing. (CASM), compliant to the World Trade Organization of unfair trade practices. Now a group of seven domestic U.S. solar manufacturers led by SolarWorld Industries America Inc., today welcomed the support of the United Steelworkers (USW) – with 850,000 active members, the nation’s largest union – for the coalition’s petitions for anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese imports.
The solar energy business continues to gather mainstream media attention as New Times writer Paul Krugman reported in his article, “Here comes the sun.” In it he laid out the case for the rapid development of renewable energy in America. Meanwhile Trina CEO, Goa in an interview with Bloomberg said “This is the decade of mergers and acquisitions. From now until 2015 is the first phase, when about two-thirds of the players will be shaken out.”

According to U.S. trade statistics, Chinese exports of solar cells and panels to the United States rose more than 350 percent from 2008 to 2010. In the first eight months of 2011 alone, imports from China totaled $1.6 billion, more than in all of 2010. In fact, exports in the month of July 2011 alone exceeded those from all of 2010. CASM contends that Chinese dumping has played a significant role in causing seven U.S. solar plants to close or downsize during the past 18 months, eliminating thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly, in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania.

In the union’s letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC), Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, said, in part: “Unfortunately, China continues to operate in a manner that is utterly inconsistent with its WTO obligations, which comes at the expense of developing our nation’s clean energy sector and creating and sustaining clean energy jobs for American workers. We urge you to vigorously apply and enforce our trade laws in these solar cases so that American workers and domestic industries can have a fair chance to compete in the U.S. market.” “Manufacturing is the fuel that drives our economic engine,” said Gordon Brinser, U.S. president of SolarWorld, the leader of CASM and the named petitioner in the case. “Members of the Steelworkers Union understand that the key to American economic growth is healthy competition. Their support for U.S. trade actions that keep quality, high-paying jobs in America and allow American companies to compete fairly in the global marketplace is greatly appreciated.”The next step in the case is an ITC staff hearing today Nov. 8, 2011.

Green Jobs Occupy California’s Future

10,000 Surrounded White House Protesting Oil Pipeline

Transforming Solar Sense

Posted on November 7, 2011 by quest

You’ve heard the argument before and no doubt you’ll hear it again and again. Solar is just too expensive. But last week Secretary of Energy Steven Chu highlighted the choice America faces on whether or not to take advantage of the huge economic opportunity and compete with countries like China in the clean energy race. He said, ““Once again, there is a huge opportunity before us – a global clean energy market that is already worth an estimated $240 billion and is growing rapidly. In fact, a very reasonable estimate is that solar photovoltaic systems alone represent a global market worth more than $80 billion this year.”“China – like many countries – has learned from the U.S. how government can support critical emerging industries. Last year, China offered roughly $30 billion in government financing to its solar companies, including $7 billion to Suntech. At least 10 countries have adopted renewable electricity standards, and more than 50 countries offer some type of public financing for clean energy projects. For example, Germany and Canada operate government-backed clean energy lending programs, and in the last several months, the UK, Australia, and India have announced plans to do the same.”

On November 17, Steven Chu, has agreed to testify about the failed solar energy company Solyndra before congressional investigators on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Solyndra received a $535 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy. Chairman of the Committee Rep. Cliff Stearns said in a statement. “We hope he will finally provide answers about why DOE consciously ignored the direct warnings from their own experts that Solyndra was doomed to fail, and granted the loan to Solyndra.” Congress has issued a subpoena to the White House, with the White House refusing to comply stating it has already released over 80,000 pages to Congress.

Now New York Times Columnist Paul Krugman ways in, “We are, or at least we should be, on the cusp of an energy transformation, driven by the rapidly falling cost of solar power. That’s right, solar power. If that surprises you, if you still think of solar power as some kind of hippie fantasy, blame our fossilized political system, in which fossil fuel producers have both powerful political allies and a powerful propaganda machine that denigrates alternatives.” Read the full article: Here comes the sun.

Transforming ourselves transforming our energy

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