News: Author Archive
‘LOS ANGELES Reuters – California said it had approved the most aggressive energy efficiency plan among U.S. states on Thursday, earmarking $3.1 billion to retrofit homes and other programs that will cut power needs equivalent to three medium-sized power plants.’
via California sets biggest energy efficiency plan | Green Business | Reuters.
Reuters video of climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, describing possible outcomes of Copenhagen CO2 reduction targets for 2020 and 2050 as “commensurate with the scale of the problem we face”.
‘NAIROBI Reuters – Kenya launched a $400 million appeal with the U.N. Environment Programme UNEP on Wednesday to save the Mau Forests Complex, the country’s biggest closed-canopy forest and a vital water catchment area.’
via Kenya launches $400 million appeal to save Mau Forest | Green Business | Reuters.
‘WUXI, China, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world’s leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) modules, today announced that it has achieved a new world record conversion efficiency of 15.6% on a commercial grade multi-crystalline silicon PV module. This conversion efficiency surpasses the previous record of 15.5% (aperture area only) set by Sandia National Labs 15 years ago. The multi-crystalline module conversion efficiency was independently tested by Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Germany.’
via Press Releases.
‘China is tightening grip on its rare earth metals, which may derail production of hybrid and electric cars, according to The New York Times and Bloomberg. Hybrid cars use rare metals, especially neodymium for magnets in electric motors, and lanthanum in nickel metal hydride batteries.’
‘…The road to Copenhagen also is paved with gold: money being spent by the wealthy oil, gas and coal industries to derail or weaken any outcome. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has launched an “AstroTurf” (not to be confused with grass roots) campaign in the U.S., paying for and organizing rallies, largely attended by oil, gas and coal company employees, under the banner of “Energy Citizens.” Employees are bused in to the staged rallies with signs proclaiming “I’ll pass on $4 gas” and “Congress, don’t take away my job!” Similarities to the organized mobs at health care reform town-hall-style meetings are not merely coincidental; former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey’s group FreedomWorks, funded by, among others, oil and pharmaceutical corporations, is listed as a consultant to each industry campaign.’
via Truthdig – Reports – New Light on Copenhagen Climate Talks.
‘In a striking example of ingenuity, Australian inventor Tom Chalko has converted a deep freezer into an incredibly efficient refrigerator.’
via Dan Gould: Hyper-Efficient Refrigerator Uses Less Electricity than a Light Bulb.
‘UNIONTOWN, Ala. — Almost every day, a train pulls into a rail yard in rural Alabama, hauling 8,500 tons of a disaster that occurred 350 miles away to a final resting place, the Arrowhead Landfill here in Perry County, which is very poor and almost 70 percent black.’
‘NEW YORK (Reuters) – Chemical maker DuPont said on Thursday that it would invest $120 million to boost production of a popular solar cell product.’
DuPont to invest $120 million in solar projects | Green Business | Reuters.
‘SYDNEY Reuters – Australia’s government said on Sunday it would split planned legislation to promote renewable energy from its controversial proposal for carbon trading, giving in to a key demand by the conservative opposition.’
via Australia to split green energy from carbon laws | Green Business | Reuters.