Is India Really Serious About Its Carbon Intensity Target?
India’s sudden proposal of carbon intensity target raises questions about it commitment to reduce carbon emissions as the target is weak and not open to international monitoring.
Fossil Fuels
Progress Energy Joins Stampede Away from Coal
The trickle has turned into a torrent: following close on the news that a Michigan utility has converted a power plant from coal to sustainable biomass, Progress Energy Carolinas just announced that within the next seven years it plans to retire 11 coal-burning power units at four sites. [social_buttons] Progress … [continued]
Kyoto Accord to Hydrogen-Power California
In a move that can be seen as indication of the far-reaching global effects of European cap and trade legislation, California has been selected by a British subsidiary of BP; to host one of the first hydrogen plants in the US. Hydrogen Energy International Limited will pioneer groundbreaking carbon-capture and … [continued]
Transit Use Boom, but in Some Surprising Cities
Transit use boomed from 2006-2008, but not in traditionally transit-friendly areas. This shows hope for more transit use in traditionally car-oriented places in the US in the future. An analysis of the most recent transit use data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that transit use grew by up to … [continued]
EU Paper Industry Has Cut Carbon Pollution by 42% – Exceeded Kyoto Goals
The US paper industry is one of the three non-fossil-energy industries that will be affected under the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act; the climate bill being attempted in the Senate; to regulate the industries that emit over 25,000 tons/yr of carbon dioxide. Cement-making and steel production are the … [continued]
New Report Forecasts Solar Boom in NC — "Growing Solar in North Carolina"
A new report by Environment North Carolina’s Research and Policy Center, “Growing Solar in North Carolina,” found that North Carolina (home of my UNC Tar Heels) could be a solar power giant soon. The new report found that North Carolina has a lot of solar energy potential due to its … [continued]
How Nike Considered Uses Innovation and Collaboration to Close the Loop
This impressive footprint is Nike’s Considered Air Jordan XX3, their first basketball shoe designed using the Considered Ethos. Lorrie Vogel is the general manager of Nike Considered, Nike’s in-house sustainability think tank. She holds a degree in Industrial Design from Syracuse, and numerous patents. Her work in innovating around sustainability … [continued]
U.S. Military Veterans Call for Sustainable Fuels
On this Veterans Day, set aside to honor the sacrifices and contributions of U.S. military veterans, another contribution can be added to the rolls: veterans are playing a strong part in America’s transition away from fossil fuels into a more sustainable, healthful environment and a more secure energy future. [social_buttons] … [continued]
$4 Million Goes to MIT from French Oil Company for Solar Energy Battery Project
Total, a French oil company, recently agreed to give the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) $4 million for a 5-year research project to develop stationary batteries that can more efficiently store solar energy. More efficient energy storage has been a difficult issue for scientists to crack. It is a major … [continued]
Hawaii Follows California with a Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff
Earlier this month, Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation to buy solar power from relatively small private generators for rates above market value. Hawaii is next in line with this European-style tariff — the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and Governor Lingle just recently set a similar initiative for Hawaii. Hawaii’s initiative will … [continued]
