News Roundup
‘A strict Chinese limit on ultra-thin plastic bags significantly reduced bag-related pollution nationwide during the past year. The country avoided the use of 40 billion bags, according to government estimates’
via Worldchanging: Bright Green: China Reports 66 Percent Drop in Plastic Bag Use.
‘SAN FRANCISCO Reuters – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on Thursday $3.9 billion in “smart grid” funding aimed at making power transmission around the country more flexible.’
via U.S. to spend $3.9 billion on smart power grid: Chu | Green Business | Reuters.
‘WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to vote on Friday on one of the most significant environmental bills in history — a sprawling measure that aims to wean industry off of carbon-emitting fuels blamed for global warming.’
via House Democrats push for Friday climate vote | Green Business | Reuters.
‘Cap-and-trade? Offsets? Pollution credits? The climate bill under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives tackles global warming with new limits on pollution and a market-based approach to encourage more environmentally friendly business practices. But what exactly do the proposed rules mean, and how would they work?’
‘WASHINGTON AFP – US President Barack Obama urged lawmakers Thursday to pass a historic global warming bill, amid down-to-the-wire campaigning on the eve of a tense vote in the House of Representatives.’
‘WASHINGTON – Concessions to farmers and lawmakers from rural areas erased a major obstacle facing a massive climate bill before the House but divided environmentalists, some of whom now oppose the legislation.’
via Controversial deals behind climate bill – Climate Change- msnbc.com.
‘LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – Europe has started moves to help China develop technology to trap and bury carbon dioxide (CO2) underground in the fight against global warming.’
via EU to help China bury carbon in climate fight | Green Business | Reuters.
‘The AORA formerly EDIG Solar hybrid solar power station will be up and running as of today, with enough capacity to power 70 homes continuously — through the night and cloud cover. Thirty heliostats will track and reflect the sun towards the nearly hundred-foot tall turbine tower, where the concentrated sunlight heats compressed air, which then drives a gas turbine.’
via Hybrid Thermal Plant Provides Constant Power | Green Business | Reuters.
‘A terrific new documentary, “Food, Inc.,” playing in cinemas nationwide, offers a powerful and largely persuasive diagnosis of American agriculture. Go see it, but be warned that you may not want to eat for a week afterward.’
via Op-Ed Columnist – Lettuce From the Garden, With Worms – NYTimes.com.
‘BRUSSELS Reuters – European solar power will start to become economically competitive compared to mainstream electricity from next year, a report by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association EPIA said on Monday.’
via Solar power to challenge in Europe by 2010 | Green Business | Reuters.