GridPoint, Duke Energy Gets positive results from "smart charging" for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) Tests.

ARLINGTON, Va. — GridPoint Inc., a leading clean tech company whose smart grid platform benefits electric utilities, consumers and the environment, and Duke Energy announced positive results from what is believed to be the first commercial test of utility-controlled "smart charging" for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Duke Energy engineers tested GridPoint's smart charging capability by plugging a PHEV into a garage wall outlet controlled by the GridPoint SmartGrid Platform in the late afternoon. Duke began charging the vehicle at 10 p.m. and completed charging prior to the morning peak, leaving the car fully charged for the driver's morning commute. GridPoint's platform successfully controlled, measured and verified the charging of an electric vehicle parked in a residential garage.

"Smart charging is an essential capability for Duke and all electric utilities as PHEVs enter the market," said David Mohler, Chief Technology Officer, Duke Energy. "Through this capability, we're able to reduce stress on the grid during peak periods and keep rates low."

GridPoint's smart charging capability enables utilities to control charging regardless of when consumers plug in their PHEVs, which is anticipated to be in the early evening when peak demand is high. Utilities can limit peak load growth as well as offer customers significantly reduced charging costs by billing lower rates for off-peak charging. Additionally, utilities gain complete control over when and how fast PHEVs are charged, allowing utilities to optimize generating assets.

"This is a major milestone in the evolution of the Smart Grid," said Peter L. Corsell, President and CEO, GridPoint. "We are pleased to have worked with Duke Energy to demonstrate PHEV smart charging, and we look forward to continuing to lay the groundwork for managing PHEVs."

GridPoint is the pioneer of an innovative smart grid platform that aligns the interests of electric utilities, consumers and the environment. The platform applies information technology to the electric grid to provide utilities with an intelligent network of distributed resources (e.g., advanced load control devices, batteries, solar systems) that reside at the point of consumption - the home or business. Additionally, the platform's modular, scaleable and upgradeable architecture enables utilities to create a practical path for integrating new clean technologies (e.g., plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cells).

GridPoint's recent recognition includes being selected as a 2008 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, the overall winner by AlwaysOn GoingGreen 100 Top Private Companies 2007, one of the Red Herring 100 Global, and winner of the 2007 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Green Excellence for its success in pioneering a way to harness load management and distributed generation to achieve environmental sustainability. GridPoint is featured in the new book Earth: The Sequel, a business-centric approach to alleviating climate change by Fred Krupp, President of the Environmental Defense Fund, as well as in the Smart Grid chapter of The Clean Tech Revolution by Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder.

tag: plug-in hybrid, PHEV, GridPoint, Duke Energy, SmartGrid Platform, smart charging, AlwaysOn GoingGreen, AlwaysOn, GoingGreen, Earth: The Sequel,

IBM helps to build state-of-the-art data center for Telecom Egypt that includes the world's most sophisticated energy-efficient "green" technologies.

Project Big Green

Cairo, Egypt - 28 Mar 2008: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Telecom Egypt today announced the construction of an innovative, state-of-the-art data center for Telecom Egypt that includes the world's most sophisticated energy-efficient "green" technologies.

Telecom Egypt (TE) is the leading telecommunications provider in Egypt, and the largest provider of fixed-line services in the Middle East with more than 10.4 million customers. Striving to improve customer satisfaction as a key long term success factor, TE chose IBM in 2007 to design and build the most sophisticated and energy-efficient data center in Egypt. Construction was recently completed.

IBM Global Technology Services (GTS) site and facilities division designed the highly resilient data center environment that will be fully equipped to protect TE's valuable information technology (IT) investments, taking into consideration all factors required for the project such as cabling systems, flooring trenches, switching systems, electromechanical systems and data center layout.

IBM will support TE in managing the operation of the data center that runs mission critical business and operational support systems, in addition to the maintenance of a variety of telecommunications equipment.

Egypt's economy has been steadily growing over the past several years and Telecom Egypt needed to expand beyond its existing office space. To manage the increased demand on its telecommunications network and other mission-critical operations, TE found it imperative to ensure extremely high levels of reliability and availability. To address the challenge, it required a new state-of-the-art data center capable of housing its current IT solutions, yet flexible enough to support future growth.

"Telecom Egypt was convinced that IBM was the best choice because of IBM's standards and methodologies and the experience of the IBM team who worked as a trusted consultant," said Eng. Khaled Marmoush, CIO of Telecom Egypt. "IBM provided not only the information about data centers that Telecom Egypt was looking for, but also the technologies and services that are used in today's data centers."

"IBM's long history and expertise with data center implementations enabled us to create a solution to save energy and ensure efficient server performance for Telecom Egypt," said Steven Sams, vice president of IBM Global Site and Facilities Services. "IBM's solution is part of 'Project Big Green' and provides an efficient, reliable and secure data center that will support Telecom Egypt in achieving their goals in maintaining and improving customer satisfaction, as well as helping them be more energy efficient."

Announced in May 2007, IBM's "Project Big Green" is a $1 billion initiative to dramatically reduce energy use by IBM and its clients. The initiative includes new energy efficient IBM products and services and a five step approach to energy efficiency in the data center. If followed, this approach can sharply reduce data center energy consumption, transforming clients' technology infrastructure into "green" data centers and provide energy savings of up to 42 percent for an average data center. More information about IBM Project Big Green is available at www.ibm.com/press/projectbiggreen

tag: Green News, Telecom Egypt, IBM, IBM Global Technology Services, Project Big Green,

Portugal To Become Inaugural Sustaining Public Member Of MIT Energy Initiative

March 26, 2008 - MIT and the government of Portugal have formed a partnership to address critical energy issues and strengthen transatlantic cooperation in energy research.

Portugal will become the inaugural Sustaining Public Member of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), giving a designated representative of the government of Portugal a seat on the MITEI Governing Board, which provides key input on the direction and success of the Initiative's overall research portfolio. The collaboration enhances the MIT-Portugal Program, a major initiative undertaken by the Portuguese government in 2006 to strengthen the country's knowledge base at an international level.

José Socrates, Prime Minister of Portugal, presided at the March 26 signing of the MITEI agreement between MIT and his country. He emphasized the key role that the MIT-Portugal Program is playing in the modernization of Portuguese universities, including the promotion of new industry research relationships, and the new frontiers for this collaboration through Portugal's engagement in MITEI.

The MITEI agreement was signed in Lisbon during the MIT-Europe Conference by the Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Jose Mariano Gago; the Director in Portugal of the MIT-Portugal Program, Paulo Ferrão; and Professor Ernest Moniz of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Moniz, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems and Director of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), noted that "MIT has a robust relationship with Portugal through the MIT-Portugal Program. This agreement will enhance that relationship and create new opportunities to help meet Portugal's energy and environmental needs through critical analysis and research. We are excited about working with Portugal to address global energy challenges and to develop new technologies to enable a clean, sustainable energy future. As an American of Portuguese ancestry, I cannot help but be especially pleased to have Portugal as the first MITEI public member."

The path established under this agreement will enable the government of Portugal to leverage the talent and expertise of its universities and key energy industry sectors with the expertise and capabilities of MIT researchers and faculty. More specifically, this agreement establishes a framework for the government of Portugal and MIT, through MITEI, to enhance the understanding of key energy systems and associated technology development and deployment in Portugal, including:

• the development and demonstration of innovative technologies for sustainable energy systems and transportation systems;
• decentralized energy;
• urban metabolism and green mobility;
• and advanced energy technologies and analysis.

Manuel Heitor, Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education of the Portuguese government, emphasized that "the involvement of Portugal in the MIT Energy Initiative will strengthen transatlantic cooperation in energy research, attract new talents for science and technology and foster new developments in the complex interactions between emerging energy technologies and the social and economic fabric. It will be a unique opportunity to promote Portuguese research teams and institutions at an international level, together with the energy industry."

Over the five-year term of this new agreement, Portugal will also support either 10 graduate energy fellows, or multiple Postdoctoral Fellows from Portugal, at MIT. The Portugal-MIT Postdoctoral Fellows would be assigned to research programs supported by MITEI industrial members in close cooperation with the MIT-Portugal Program. The designation of support for either graduate or postdoctoral fellows will be at the discretion of Portugal.

The partnership will also support MITEI's energy research "seed fund" to promote the development of a broad range of novel, innovative energy technologies and concepts from innovators across the Institute. The Governing Board reviews all seed fund proposals and, with MITEI's Energy Council, advises on awards.

MITEI has attracted more than $100 million from industry partners in the last year; this will fund critical energy research to enhance the environmental performance of conventional energy and to enable a sustainable energy future through transformational technologies. The MITEI program will also support more than 200 graduate energy fellows over the next five years to help develop the next generation of energy scientists, technologists and social scientists. Industry members of MITEI include Founding Members BP and EniSpA and Sustaining Members Ford, Chevron, Schlumberger, ABB, Bosch and ENEL.

MITEI was established to mobilize the capabilities of the Institute to help meet the world's pressing energy challenges and builds on MIT's outstanding capabilities and lengthy history of providing real-world solutions to difficult societal problems. The Initiative is designed to accelerate innovation in energy science, technology and policy through the integrated application of the Institute's cutting-edge capabilities in science, engineering, management, planning and policy.

tag: MITEI, MIT Energy Initiative, energy research, MIT-Europe Conference, sustainable energy systems, decentralized energy, green mobility

Thin Film Solar Cells Nears Silicon Based Solar Cell Efficiency

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have moved closer to creating a thin-film solar cell that can compete with the efficiency of the more common silicon-based solar cell.

The copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cell recently reached 19.9 percent efficiency, setting a new world record for this type of cell. Multicrystalline silicon-based solar cells have shown efficiencies as high as 20.3 percent. The energy conversion efficiency of a solar cell is the percentage of sunlight converted by the cell into electricity.
“This is an important milestone,” said NREL Senior Scientist Miguel Contreras. “The thin film people have always looked for matching silicon in performance, and we are reaching that goal.”
CIGS cells use extremely thin layers of semiconductor material applied to a low-cost backing such as glass, flexible metallic foils, high-temperature polymers or stainless steel sheets. Thin-film cells require less energy to make and can be fabricated by a variety of processes. Because of this, they provide a promising path for providing more affordable solar cells for residential and other uses. The CIGS cells are of interest for space applications and the portable electronics market because of their light weight. They are also suitable in special architectural uses, such as photovoltaic roof shingles, windows, siding and others.
Researchers were able to set the world record because of improvements in the quality of the material applied during the manufacturing process, boosting the power output from the cell, Contreras said.
Members of the record-setting team at the National Center for Photovoltaics include Contreras, Ingrid Repins, Brian Egaas, John Scharf, Clay DeHart and Raghu Bhattacharya.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle.

For further information contact NREL Public Relations at (303) 275-4090.

tag: solar cell, thin-film solar cell, copper indium gallium diselenide, Multicrystalline silicon-based solar cells, NREL, U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Antarctic Ice Shelf, the Wilkins Ice Shelf Disintegrates

This series of satellite images shows the Wilkins Ice Shelf as it began to break up. The large image is from March 6; the images at right, from top to bottom, are from February 28, February 29, and March 8. NSIDC processed these images from the NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor, which flies on NASA's Earth Observing System Aqua and Terra satellites. High-resolution version

—Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center/NASA

Satellite imagery from the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder reveals that a 13,680 square kilometer (5,282 square mile) ice shelf has begun to collapse because of rapid climate change in a fast-warming region of Antarctica.

The Wilkins Ice Shelf is a broad plate of permanent floating ice on the southwest Antarctic Peninsula, about 1,000 miles south of South America. In the past 50 years, the western Antarctic Peninsula has experienced the biggest temperature increase on Earth, rising by 0.5 degree Celsius (0.9 degree Fahrenheit) per decade. NSIDC Lead Scientist Ted Scambos, who first spotted the disintegration in March, said, "We believe the Wilkins has been in place for at least a few hundred years. But warm air and exposure to ocean waves are causing a break-up."

Satellite images indicate that the Wilkins began its collapse on February 28; data revealed that a large iceberg, 41 by 2.5 kilometers (25.5 by 1.5 miles), fell away from the ice shelf's southwestern front, triggering a runaway disintegration of 405 square kilometers (160 square miles) of the shelf interior (Figure 1). The edge of the shelf crumbled into the sky-blue pattern of exposed deep glacial ice that has become characteristic of climate-induced ice shelf break-ups such as the Larsen B in 2002. A narrow beam of intact ice, just 6 kilometers wide (3.7 miles) was protecting the remaining shelf from further breakup as of March 23 (Figure 2).

Scientists track ice shelves and study collapses carefully because some of them hold back glaciers, which if unleashed, can accelerate and raise sea level. Scambos said, "The Wilkins disintegration won't raise sea level because it already floats in the ocean, and few glaciers flow into it. However, the collapse underscores that the Wilkins region has experienced an intense melt season. Regional sea ice has all but vanished, leaving the ice shelf exposed to the action of waves."

With Antarctica's summer melt season drawing to a close, scientists do not expect the Wilkins to further disintegrate in the next several months. "This unusual show is over for this season," Scambos said. "But come January, we'll be watching to see if the Wilkins continues to fall apart."

Read more at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)

tag: global warming, NSIDC, Antarctica, Wilkins Ice Shelf, MODIS, The Wilkins disintegration

Earth Hour Is On Saturday, March 29 at 8p.m. Local Time.

The first International Earth Hour falls on March 29th 2008. I was held last year in Sydney, Australia and was a very successful event.
This year it is going to be a grand event such the Sears Tower and Golden Gate Bridge, as well as sports teams and corporations, including the Phoenix Suns, Hewlett Packard, Esurance and National Geographic Channel, join the climate change movement sweeping the world. On Saturday, March 29 at 8p.m. local time, millions of people around the world will turn off their lights to show how by working together we can make a difference in the fight against climate change. Starting in Christchurch, New Zealand; Earth Hour will roll through 14 time zones, wrapping up in the Pacific Time zone representative San Francisco, CA. Traversing more than 25 cities in 10 countries, Earth Hour will be the largest voluntary power down in history.

One hour, America. Earth Hour.

Earth Hour en Español

So what are you going to do during the Earth Hour? Here are ten things from Earth Hour;

Host a Green Party

Get your friends together for an Earth Hour eco-party. Fire up the flashlights and battery lanterns, serve organic food, avoid the disposable utensils, use natural décor (like flowers and hanging plants) and have a friend provide acoustic music. Talk to your guests about how you’re each reducing your environmental footprint and share ideas and solutions for saving more energy, money and carbon dioxide.

Give Yourself an Energy Makeover

Use Earth Hour to make your home more energy efficient: Replace your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs; install power strips (so you can turn computers and electronics on and off more easily); and change your air conditioner filters. Or go one step farther and install one new energy-efficient item, like an EnergyStar qualified DVD player. And on Monday, call your local utility and sign up for green power—like wind, hydro or solar.

Go Green with Your Kids

Earth Hour is a perfect time to talk to your kids about the environment and why we need to protect our planet from the dangers of climate change. Check out books on the environment from the library and read by flashlight, or head into the yard and have a night picnic. Or how about a night of board games? There are even Earth Hour kids’ activities you can download at www.earthhour.org.

Do a Recyclables Scavenger Hunt

Get your flashlights and scour your cabinets and shelves for cans, bottles and cardboard (like cereal boxes) that you don't normally recycle. Make a list of all the non-recyclable containers you’re using now (like plastic shopping bags and butter tubs), and figure out ways to reduce your consumption of items that end up in landfills. One easy tip: get reusable grocery bags...and reuse them!

Green That Workspace!

Working the night shift? Even if you can’t turn off all the lights at work, look around and see what you can unplug, turn down or use less of (like consuming less paper by printing double-sided). Every day millions of computer screens and speakers are left on overnight—shut ‘em off! And talk to your coworkers about what they can do to help make a difference too.

Involve Your Local Leaders

If your city or town isn't already hosting an Earth Hour event, ask your local government to set up a community "green" discussion in a public building from 8 to 9 p.m. on March 29. Help organize attendance by reaching out to local environmental and community groups, and come prepared to ask your leaders what they’re doing to make your city greener.

Clean Up Your Neighborhood

Grab a flashlight and take a long walk through your neighborhood, picking up trash and recyclables as you go. It's a great chance to do some stargazing too!

Unplug and Chill Out

Most of our daily activities—like watching TV, shopping online and texting friends—require loads of electricity, but do we really need to do so much stuff all the time? Take one hour for yourself to just chill...turn off the screens, put down the handheld devices and just take some "you" time to reflect, read or talk to your family. After all, why do more when you can do less?

Take Your Temperature

Your thermostat and your refrigerator are responsible for a huge portion of your carbon footprint. If you lower your thermostat by just 2 degrees and set your fridge to 37° F. and the freezer at 0° F., you'll make a big difference.

Make a Pledge for the Planet

Earth Hour shouldn't end at 9:01 pm—it's a chance to take a first step toward lowering your overall impact on the environment. So use part of that hour to make a personal pledge to do more—recycle, drive less often, remember to turn off or unplug electronics, and beyond. The only way we're going to stabilize our climate is if we make real changes in our everyday lives. That change begins with Earth Hour, and ends with a healthy planet.

Download a PDF of this document.

tag: Earth Hour, EH, eco-party, EnergyStar,

Mobile Hydrogen Fueling Technology In Service For A Hydrogen Fuel Demonstration Project

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (March 24, 2008) – Air Products (NYSE: APD) mobile hydrogen fueling technology has been placed into service for a hydrogen fuel demonstration project in Aiken County, South Carolina. The fueler is providing hydrogen for a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine pick-up truck which is being used as a development, demonstration and educational tool in coordination with a program involving the Aiken County Economic Development Partnership.

“We commend the Economic Development Partnership and Aiken County for its commitment to demonstrate the viability of hydrogen and alternative fuels. Air Products has been involved in demonstration projects around the world to show how hydrogen can be used effectively as an energy carrier for fuel cell and internal combustion engine cars, trucks, buses, fork lifts and even submarines. We are pleased to be part of this project team,” said Tom Joseph, business development manager for Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products. Joseph said the fueling station will provide hydrogen at 5,000 psi (350 bar) to the truck, which will be used daily to conduct routine business.

“Aiken County is committed to supporting the development, demonstration and early deployment of technologies and products which use clean hydrogen as a replacement for increasingly expensive, foreign-based and polluting petroleum-based fuels,” said Fred E. Humes, director of the Economic Development Partnership. “By working with Air Products, we have access to the latest in vehicle fueling equipment and a reliable supply of hydrogen. The project team will provide tangible and visible proof that the use of hydrogen as a replacement for gasoline is feasible, safe and reliable. It is important we start laying the ground work today.” Humes added that the hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle is the first hydrogen vehicle registered in South Carolina and appropriately carries the license plate SCH2 1.

Air Products’ mobile fueler technology is in operation today in over 20 United States and worldwide locations. The versatile Air Products mobile hydrogen fueler comes complete with fuel storage and dispensing, and can be transported from location to location to provide hydrogen fueling for promotional demonstrations or remote endurance testing. The fueler can be remotely monitored and is designed to ensure daily, around-the-clock hydrogen vehicle fueling availability. Last year, the mobile fueler was part of a separate demonstration program for fuel cell fork lifts at six different industrial customers in Columbia, South Carolina.

Air Products has more than 50 years of hydrogen experience and is on the forefront of hydrogen energy technology development. Air Products has placed over 75 fueling stations on-stream in 12 countries, including for mass transit fueling in Beijing, China for buses to be used to shuttle athletes and visitors for the 2008 Olympic Games. Over 45,000 vehicle fuelings have already taken place using Air Products’ technology. As the world’s largest supplier of merchant hydrogen, Air Products is a leader in the development of the hydrogen infrastructure necessary to fuel hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen internal combustion engine automobiles, HCNG (hydrogen/compressed natural gas) vehicles, and hydrogen powered forklifts, lift trucks and automated guided vehicles in the developing materials handling market. Air Products has an extensive patent portfolio with over 50 patents in hydrogen dispensing technology.

More information on Air Products’ hydrogen fueling station technologies and activities can be found at www.airproducts.com/h2energy.

tag: Hydrogen Fuel, Air Products, HCNG, hydrogen fueling Station, first hydrogen vehicle, SCH2 1,

Go Green With Payitgreen.org

If you are getting 10 account statements in the paper format over the mail and also if you are paying those with checks. You are using up a lot of resources. Here is a sample calculated for 10 statement a month and to payments a month;

By switching to electronic bills, statements, and payments, you can conserve the following resources in 1 year:

Paper	3.7	pounds of paper saved
Water	36	gallons of wastewater prevented from discharging into lakes, streams and rivers
Gasoline	4.8	gallons of gas saved by not mailing your bills, statements, and payments
Greenhouse Gases	148	pounds of greenhouse gases avoided
This amount of greenhouse gas is the equivalent of:	146	miles not driven in your car
	2	trees planted (and grown for 10 years)
	20	square feet of forest preserved from deforestation

The Payitgreen is an organization of financial institutes that stand to gain more by you switching to electronic payments. I did not find anywhere about any rewards from them regarding this. The only reward I know at the moment is that you would be helping to make this a better place. By switching to electronic payments, one can save a lot green resources.
There is a country I know that uses very little paper bills, Japan. Yet we hear very little about stolen data and identities from Japan. If this Payitgreen is capable of providing proper security I do not see any reason not to change.
You can learn more at Payitgreen website.

tag: Payitgreen, Greenhouse Gases, environmentaly friendly,

Emission Free Music Concerts With The Orion solar powered generator

The Orion solar powered generator - the first of its kind - now powers an entire events stage without contributing to climate change. The Music, Concerts as such events need a lot of power and has been known to break walls with such power, 'The Wall, Pink Floyd". We all enjoy concerts and public events. But now you can do with knowledge that you are not adding to, or widening your carbon foot print, Thanks to Brighton-based Firefly.
The Orion uses a PA system to produce all the sound and Light Emiting Diodes (LED) lighting to give all the lights and glitter of a normal music festival with zero emissions. System has a battery backup system in the event the sun does not show up at your concert. The system is capable of providing 15KW electricl power.
Firefly tested the generator at last year's Loop festival in Brighton. Many have shown interest since then Firefly has collected National Outdoor Events Association Green Award.
The Firefly Stage is available as a fully self contained indoor live music venue for 700 people or an open air covered stage catering for up to 2000. The Firefly Stage can also be toured without a structure so that you can use all the technical equipment in your own chosen venue.

Going even further, the company does more than giving you emission free music.
"Firefly Solar Community Interest Company was set up to help the events sector reduce its carbon footprint. Firefly is a carbon neutral company operating all of its own transport using UK produced Bio fuels from recycled cooking oil. Offices are powered using renewable energy. All office supplies are sourced locally and ethically. Carbon emissions are monitored and offset. Any surplus funds generated through business directly subsidise provision of our services at community and free to attend events. Any surplus thereafter is used to develop new renewable energy products."
Way to fly Firefly!

tag: Solar Power, Firefly Solar Community Interest Company, carbon neutral, emissions free, carbon foot print, Orion solar powered generator

Solar Powered Beer In Hawaii.

KAPOLEI, HI, Mar 24, 2008 Hoku Solar, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hoku Scientific, Inc., established to design, engineer and install photovoltaic (PV) power systems, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Paradise Beverages, Inc. to install a PV power system at its Oahu facility. Hoku Solar had previously completed the installation of two turnkey PV power systems for Paradise Beverages at its Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, and Lihue, Kauai, facilities.

Paradise Beverages is the Hawaii distributor for Heineken, Coors and Miller products, and it consumes a significant amount of electricity to operate its refrigerated and temperature-controlled warehouses. Upon completion of the Oahu facility installation, the aggregate of all three PV power systems for Paradise Beverages includes 350 kilowatts of PV panels, which are expected to produce over 525,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

"The benefits of our PV power system installations on our Kailua-Kona and Lihue facilities were immediate. This made our decision for an installation on our Oahu facility with Hoku Solar an easy one," said Gordon Usui, Chief Financial Officer for Paradise Beverages.

PV systems are a sensible way to utilize unused roof space to reduce energy costs and environmental impact. Hoku Solar offers turnkey PV solutions in Hawaii, providing design, engineering, financing, and installation services.

For more information visit www.hokuscientific.com.

tag: solar power, Solar Powered Beer, Hoku Solar, Paradise Beverages, photovoltaic (PV) power systems, turnkey photovoltaic systems

$10 million Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, To Build A Better Car With 100MPGe

On March 20th at the New York International Auto Show, the X PRIZE Foundation and Progressive Insurance jointly announced the $10 million dollar Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. "Let the race begin!" said X PRIZE Chairman and CEO Dr. Peter Diamandis.
NEW YORK (March 20, 2008) – Today at the New York International Auto Show, the X PRIZE Foundation and Progressive (NYSE:PGR) jointly announced the company’s Title Sponsorship of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition and its funding of the $10 million prize purse.

The newly renamed Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is an international competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles. The independent and technology-neutral competition is open to teams from around the world that can design, build and bring to market 100 MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent) vehicles that people want to buy, and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance.

To date, more than 60 teams from nine countries have signed a Letter of Intent to compete for a share of the prize purse and global publicity.

“The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is a call to action to promote and inspire innovation,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. “The environmentally friendly cars created as a result of this competition will affect everyone who drives in ways we can’t even imagine today. Let the race begin!”

“We’ve been working hard to make a difference in car insurance for 70 years,” said Progressive’s CEO, Glenn Renwick. “Now we have a chance to make a difference by supporting the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. This competition will result in more choices of more fuel-efficient vehicles for drivers and will be a catalyst for moving this technology forward, faster.”

“This competition represents what we’re all about in name and spirit—new ideas, competition and always working to do better,” added Renwick. “Being a part of this gives us a chance to make a real difference.”

At today’s New York International Auto Show, four teams and their vehicles joined representatives of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was also on hand in support of the initiative.

“The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is an excellent example of how the private sector can spur solutions to our most complex challenges,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Here in New York City, we are also stepping up to the plate on energy conservation, by transforming our taxi fleet into hybrids and cutting the City’s energy use by 30% over the next ten years. It’s all part of PlaNYC, our plan to create a greener, greater New York.”

The Mayor added, “Development of a super-efficient car would be a major step forward in the fight against global warming – and it would help us reach our goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in New York City by 30% by 2030. To maximize national and international awareness of the X PRIZE, I am pleased to announce that New York will be the starting point for the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE race next year.”

The X PRIZE Foundation, best known for the successful $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for private suborbital spaceflight, is an educational nonprofit whose mission is to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity by holding $10 million dollar (or larger) competitions to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.

Several teams in the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE’s Letter of Intent program will be on hand to speak with the media throughout the show. A complete list of teams that have already signed a Letter of Intent to compete is included below.

The window for applications will be open until mid 2008, when a thorough qualification process will assess safety, cost, features and business plans to ensure that only production-capable, consumer-friendly cars compete. Those that qualify will race their vehicles in rigorous cross-country stage races in 2009 and 2010 that combine speed, distance, urban driving and overall performance. The winners will be the vehicles that exceed 100 MPGe, meet strict emissions standards and finish in the fastest time. Host cities involved in the competition route are to be announced shortly.

About the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE Competition:

The goal of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPGe.

The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on affordability, safety, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today’s oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change.

About the Competition:

Draft Guidelines that specify vehicle requirements and other aspects of the competition are available at http://auto.xprize.org/auto/automotive-x-prize/draft-guidelines. A summary of the current guidelines follows:

The competition will comprise two vehicle classes: Mainstream and Alternative. Mainstream vehicles will be required to carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels, and allow for a 200-mile range. Alternative-class vehicles will be required to carry two or more passengers, have no constraints on the number of wheels, and allow for a 100-mile range. All vehicles will need to meet requirements for performance and features to make the cars attractive to consumers. The competition will culminate with two dramatic, long-distance stage races in 2009-2010 – a Qualifying Race and the Grand Prize Final Race. Race courses will reflect typical consumer driving patterns during numerous stages, in varied terrain, communities, and weather conditions. To win, vehicles must complete both races with the lowest overall time averaged over all scoring stages while still meeting the requirements for 100 MPGe fuel economy and low emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The $10 million prize purse will be split 3:1 between the winners of the Mainstream and Alternative classes.
Final guidelines will be published shortly.

Support for the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE:
Support and encouragement has been received from government agencies that will help the privately funded organization conduct the competition and test vehicle compliance, including the U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory; the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway, Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ); and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

In addition, non-governmental organizations supporting the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE include the National Resources Defense Council, The Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, Union of Concerned Scientists, the Apollo Alliance, the Consumer Federation of America, Global Green USA and CALSTART, among others.

Sponsors and Donors of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE:

• The prize’s Title Sponsor is Progressive Insurance

• The U.S. Department of Energy is the Sponsor of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE Education Program, and Adobe® and Idealab® are Supporting Sponsors

• Auto Research Center (ARC) is the Official Performance Simulation Provider

• Ray Sidney of Big George Ventures is a prize benefactor, and the following people are patron donors: Gil & Elyssa Elbaz, Jack Hidary, Jeffery Shames, and Nadine Weil

Teams in the Letter of Intent Program:

As of March 20, the following teams have signed a Letter of Intent to compete:


° AirShip Technologies Group (Lake Oswego, OR, USA)

° Alpha-Core/Poulsen Hybrid (Bridgeport, CT, USA)

° Aptera Motors (Carlsbad, CA, USA)

° Arkas Automotive (Istanbul, Turkey)

° Avion Car Company (Bellingham, WA, USA)

° Brilliant Automotive, (Fairfield, IA, USA)

° Belloso Motor Company (Salisbury, MD, USA)

° Brilliant Automotive (Southfield, IA, USA)

° Commuter Cars Corp (Spokane, WA, USA)

° Cornell University (Ithaca, NY, USA)

° DEHyds (Tenino, WA, USA)

° Delta Motorsport (Northamptonshire, UK)

° Desert Fuel (Phoenix, AZ, USA)

° Disruptech (Newhall, CA, USA)

° Team Dragonfly (Northampton, UK)

° Electric Truck Inc (Greenwich, CT, USA)

° Energy Highway (Pleasanton, CA, USA)

° Esterer Engineering Ltd. (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

° FuelVapor Technologies BC, (Maple Ridge, BC, Canada)

° Global-E (Mandeville, LA, USA)

° Goodwin-Young “Linc Volt” (Wichita, KS, USA)

° Greenhouse 2000 (Orlando, FL, USA)

° Gunn Team (San Jose, CA, USA)

° HerfDuo (Berlin, Germany)

° Hybrid Technologies (Mooresville, NC, USA)

° HyKinesys (Rolling Hills Estate, CA, USA)

° ICEwave (Terre Haute, IN, USA)

° Illuminati (Virden, IL, USA)

° Kinetic Vehicles (Creswell, OR, USA)

° Kuttner Doran Innovations (Charlottesville, VA, USA)

° laeN’O (Marshall, NC, USA)

° Loremo (Munich, Germany)

° Lydell Industries (Frewsburg, NY, USA)

° Maine Automotive X (Camden, ME, USA)

° Mann Research & Development, (Benton, KY, USA)

° laeN’O (Marshall, NC, USA)

° Loremo (Munich, Germany)

° Lydell Industries (Frewsburg, NY, USA)

° Maine Automotive X (Camden, ME, USA)

° Mann Research & Development, (Benton, KY, USA)

° MDI and Zero Pollution Motors,, (Nice, France and New Paltz, NY, USA)

° Michigan Vision (Ann Arbor, MI, USA)

° Miles Electric Vehicles (Santa Monica, CA, USA)

° Motive Industries, Inc. (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

° MotoTron Disrupt (Oshkosh, WI, USA)

° Northwest Energy Research Association (Arlington, WA, USA)

° Phoenix Motorcars (Ontario, CA, USA)

° Physics Lab of Lake Havasu (Lake Havasu, AZ, USA)

° Porteon Electric Vehicles, Inc. (Portland, OR, USA)

° Prometheus Systems (Flagstaff, AZ, USA)

° Psycho-Active (Moore, SC, USA)

° RaceAbout Association (Helsinki Finland)

° Red Light Racing (RLR) (Callaway, MD, USA)

° Revolución Motors (Lawrence, KS, USA)

° Society for Sustainable Mobility (Beverly Hills, CA, USA)

° Spirit One (Alberta, CA, USA)

° T3 Motion (Costa Mesa, CA, USA)

° Team TWIKE IV (Germany)

° Tesla Motors (San Carlos, CA, USA)

° Tilting Vehicle Australia (Kilburn, Australia)

° TriTrack (Georgetown, TX, USA)

° USA Electric Cars, LLC (Cortland, NY, USA)

° Valentin Technologies (Elm Grove, WI, USA)

° Velozzi (Beverly Hills, CA, USA)

° Venture Vehicles (Beverly Hills, CA, USA)

° Visionary Vehicles (New York, NY, USA)

° West Philly Hybrid X Team (Philadelphia, PA, USA)

° Western Washington University/Vikings (Bellingham, WA, USA)

° X Tracer Team Switzerland (Winterthur, Switzerland)

° ZAP (Santa Rosa, CA, USA)

About the X PRIZE Foundation:

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating prizes in five areas: Exploration (Space and Underwater), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leading model for fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org or email us.
tag: Automotive X PRIZE, super fuel-efficient vehicles, 100 MPGe, Google Lunar X PRIZE, miles per gallon energy equivalent, Burt Rutan, Paul Allen, Ansari X PRIZE, New York International Auto Show, hybrid taxi fleet, NHTSA, FHWA, OTAQ, CARB

Southern California Edison Requests to enhance renewable energy operations.

ROSEMEAD, Calif., March 19, 2008 Southern California Edison (SCE) has filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission to enhance renewable energy operations.

If approved, the Renewable Integration and Advancement (RIA) Program would fund and develop innovative systems and technologies to enhance safe and reliable energy deliveries as more intermittent renewable resources come on line to meet the states renewable energy goals. The program would focus on better integrating existing renewable resource technologies, such as wind and solar, with a view toward optimizing the operations of existing transmission and distribution capacity. SCE is seeking authorization of funding over two years for this program.

Although no specific projects yet have been identified, examples of the type of projects the RIA program may consider and enable include:

* Testing and installing energy storage devices to capture surplus energy at night and releasing to the grid during the peak-demand hours of the day when the value of the energy is greater.
* Studying the joint production of solar and wind resources to make the most of renewable transmission lines, such as those in the Tehachapi region of Kern County.
* Testing hardware (such as capacitors, batteries, forecasting and monitoring devices) to improve system communications as new renewables are connected to the system.
* Researching best practices and system designs to improve the growth of California's renewable resource portfolio.

This project is an important part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change. It presents an opportunity to leverage existing infrastructure and proven generating technologies to increase the contribution of renewable resources while enhancing safety and system reliability, said SCE Vice President Stuart Hemphill, who is in charge of renewable and alternative power.

SCE, the nations leader in renewable energy with about 16 percent of its total energy portfolio from renewable sources, would serve as the programs administrator. The RIA program would enable studies or other research efforts, environmental assessments or other technology analysis, field-test technologies and equipment, and provide technical expertise and engineering review. The program will also seek co-funding from federal, state and local agencies.

Media Contact: Vanessa McGrady, (626) 302-2255
www.edisonnews.com
tag: renewable energy, Southern California Edison, Renewable Integration and Advancement,

Impacts of wind energy development in the U.S., research initiative By Texas Christian University, FPL Energy and the University of Oxford

FORT WORTH, Texas (March 19, 2008) - Texas Christian University (TCU), FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE: FPL) and the nation's largest wind and solar energy producer, and Oxford University announced today the formation of a groundbreaking partnership and research initiative to better understand the ecological and socio-economic impacts of wind power development.

The five-year research initiative includes three primary focus areas, including wind turbine impact on birds and bats; wind turbine ecological impacts; and socio-economic impacts of wind projects.

• The avian and bat impact assessment is expected to produce a better understanding of the interactions between birds and bats and wind turbines. This research effort will focus on developing and testing statistically robust protocols for pre and post-construction monitoring of avian and bat movement and mortality.

• The ecological and climate research team will conduct a carbon analysis to assess the extent to which wind energy reduces atmospheric carbon that would otherwise be emitted as electricity is generated from fossil fuels. This research effort will also focus on ecological impacts of wind farms such as habitat fragmentation, local species movement, and regional land-based migration.

• Both direct and indirect socio-economic impacts of wind projects will be analyzed on a local and regional basis. Measurements will include land use revenue, taxes, and employment. This study also will explore the impacts on local culture and customs, including a viewshed analysis to assess the aesthetic impact of wind projects. When key aesthetic factors are understood, researchers will suggest ways to minimize the appearance of wind turbines.

The research will be coordinated by TCU’s Institute for Environmental Studies (IES) and Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI), a world leader in analysis of lower carbon futures and climate change and includes subject matter experts from a variety of different disciplines. The five-year research effort will be funded by FPL Energy. All of the field research necessary for the project will be conducted at FPL Energy’s wind farm locations across the U.S.

Dr. Mike Slattery, director of IES and professor of Environmental Science at TCU, said, “The strength of our institute, which involves people from a number of schools and departments, is that our research is directed toward interdisciplinary and integrative approaches to solving problems of the environment. Our goal is to play a leading role in supplying the science base for what will be a major area of societal concern in this century, namely providing both energy and environmental security. This initiative with FPL Energy allows us to put Texas at the forefront of such research.”

“FPL Energy is a world leader in harnessing the power of the wind to generate emission-free electricity,” said Mitch Davidson, president of FPL Energy. “As the need for power increases across the U.S. and the climate change debate intensifies, we believe now is the right time for a comprehensive research program to study the real environmental impacts and benefits of wind power. Although wind power cannot meet all of the energy needs of this country, we believe it can and should play a greater role than it does today.”

“ECI has more than a decade of experience in understanding the role of renewable energy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has drawn useful lessons from European carbon markets and policies,” said Professor Diana Liverman, director of Oxford’s ECI. ECI is a partner in the newly established Smith School for Enterprise and the Environment focused on private sector solutions to environmental problems, an approach that this partnership with FPL Energy embodies.”

In addition to expertise in ecosystem health, TCU is home to the Energy Institute, which promotes cutting-edge knowledge about the energy industry and energy-related technology, with a focus on renewable energy. The Energy Institute integrates the College of the Science and Engineering with the Neeley School of Business, ranked 32^nd among undergraduate business schools by BusinessWeek.

The research partners hope the information generated from this research effort will be used to shape responsible future development of wind generation and transmission of energy. For wind energy to play a major role in mitigating climate change careful science based strategic planning is needed to maximize environmental benefits. This research effort will provide specific guidelines for Texas but also more general guidelines for renewable energy development in a carbon constrained world.

TCU, Fort Worth
Lisa Albert, 817-257-5063

http://www.newsevents.tcu.edu/1080.asp

or
FPL Energy
Steve Stengel, 888-867-3050
or
Environmental Change Institute
Deborah Strickland, +44 (0)1865 275853
or
University of Oxford
Maria Coyle, +44 (0) 1865 280534

tag: Energy Research, Texas Christian University, FPL Energy, wind energy, turbine ecological impacts, wind turbine impact on birds and bats, Environmental Change Institute,

Clinton Global Initiative University Recieves $500,000 From Wal-Mart Foundation.

NEW ORLEANS, March 15, 2008 – The Wal-Mart Foundation today awarded a $500,000 grant to Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) commitment-makers at its inaugural meeting at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Wal-Mart Foundation grant will fund college students’ and universities’ commitments to make a difference within CGI U’s four main focus areas: energy and climate change, global health, human rights and peace, and poverty alleviation. These awards were announced today by President Clinton and Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation.
Through a selection process by CGI U, the Wal-Mart Foundation grant will be awarded to students or universities whose commitments integrate principles of sustainability. A total of $350,000 will go to two universities, and the remaining $150,000 will be granted to thirty-five students and student groups. The awards will be made in August 2008 to students and universities who have made demonstrable progress on their commitments.
"We are thrilled that the Wal-Mart Foundation is generously supporting student and university commitments made through CGI U," said Robert S. Harrison, CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative. "This funding will enable these commitment-makers to take action on some of the grand challenges of the 21st century."
Students, university officials and global leaders will bring innovative ideas and make commitments during the three-day event to tackle global problems facing communities in the U.S. and abroad.
“As a company focused on environmental sustainability at every level, the Wal-Mart Foundation is proud to partner with CGI U to reach hundreds of students and university officials who, like Wal-Mart, are committed to making a change to improve the environment for generations to come,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. “By partnering with organizations like CGI U, we are also able to connect with pioneering experts that will, in turn, help Wal-Mart in our goal to become a more sustainable company.”
In 2005, Wal-Mart committed to three environmental goals that are simple and straightforward: to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy; to create zero waste; and to sell products that sustain our resources and the environment. By minimizing waste and conserving energy, Wal-Mart is becoming a more environmentally-friendly company.

About the Clinton Global Initiative University
CGI U, a new project of Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), will challenge college students and universities to tackle global problems with practical, innovative solutions. At CGI U, young people and universities will do more than simply discuss the world’s challenges - they will take real, concrete steps towards solving them. To learn more, visit www.cgiu.org.
In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartstores.com/community.

tag: Clinton Global Initiative University, Wal-Mart Foundation, CGI U, energy, climate change, global health, human rights and peace, poverty alleviation,

Responses To RFP For For Renewable Energy Projects Elates Dominion Officials

RICHMOND, Va. – Dominion (NYSE: D) officials are pleased by the results of a request for proposals for renewable energy projects to help the company meet renewable electricity sales goals established by Virginia and North Carolina.

"We received numerous requests for information," said Mark F. McGettrick, president and chief executive officer-Dominion Generation. "Those requests led to dozens of proposals, including ones involving wind, biomass, hydro and solar. We are now evaluating them to see if they merit being added to our existing portfolio of cost-effective, renewable generation."

The company issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) last November for projects in development or early construction that will generate electricity using wind, sunlight, falling water, sustainable biomass, waste, wave motion, tides or geothermal energy. The projects would be located in Virginia, North Carolina or elsewhere in the PJM Interconnection area, which would allow the electricity to be transported to Virginia and North Carolina. The RFP period concluded earlier this month.

Dominion plans to achieve Virginia’s voluntary goal of 12 percent of base year electricity energy sales coming from renewable energy sources by 2022 and North Carolina’s mandatory goal of 12.5 percent from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2021.

The company operates approximately 416 megawatts of renewable generation, which provides enough electricity to power more than 100,000 homes during times of peak demand. This includes the 83-megawatt Pittsylvania Power Station in Hurt, Va., which is one of the largest biomass-fueled generators on the East Coast. The company also has a 50 percent interest in a 264-megawatt wind generation facility in Grant County, W.Va., that will soon begin commercial operation and a 50 percent interest in 650 megawatts of wind-powered generation under development in Benton County, Ind. In addition to its renewable portfolio, Dominion operates the nation’s largest hydroelectric pumped storage facility, the 2,500-megawatt Bath County Power Station in western Virginia.

Along with renewable energy, Dominion’s strategy for meeting the growing energy needs of its customers in an environmentally responsible manner includes cost-effective energy conservation and peak-load management efforts, as well as construction of new generating facilities fueled by a balanced portfolio of energy sources.

Dominion has about 2.3 million electric distribution customers in Virginia and 120,000 electric distribution customers in North Carolina.

More information about Dominion’s renewable energy portfolio and its strategy to meet the growing demands of its customers can be found on the Web at www.poweringvirginia.com.

tag: Renewable Energy, wind energy, biomass energy, hydro energy, solar energy, sustainable biomass, poweringvirginia

"The Sense of Wonder," in "Silent Spring"; Second Annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Intergenerational Poetry, Essay and Photography Contest

Second Annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Intergenerational Poetry, Essay and Photography Contest

Release date: 03/18/2008

Contact Information: Shakeba Carter-Jenkins, (202) 564-4355 / carter-jenkins.shakeba@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - March 18, 2008) The U.S. EPA Aging Initiative, in partnership with Generations United and the Rachel Carson Council Inc., are inviting submissions for its Second Annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Intergenerational Poetry, Essay and Photography Contest.

Carson is considered to be the founder of the contemporary environmental movement through her landmark book, Silent Spring. Its publication is credited with reversing the nation's pesticide policy.

Using the title of another of Carson's books, "The Sense of Wonder," the contest is seeking submissions from intergenerational teams "that best express the "Sense of Wonder" that you feel when observing the sea, the night sky, forests, birds, wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes."

"Through this contest, we are inspiring the youngest and oldest among us to appreciate wonders and beauty of the natural world," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

"We experience a sense of wonder at every point in our lives, whether as children or older adults. The contest's intergenerational message exemplifies a long history of environmental work bridging the generations which goes back to the first Earth Day," said Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United. "We are delighted to again co-sponsor this important contest."

The contest's intergenerational approach reflects Carson's desire to have adults share with children a sense of wonder about nature and help them discover its joys. Entries must be intergenerational involving a team of persons related or unrelated and describe the intergenerational project and how this project brought the team in touch with the natural world.

The deadline for entries is Monday, June 16, 2008. A panel of expert judges will select finalists. The winners in each category will then be determined by the public, who will have an opportunity to vote on-line in July and August for their favorite submission in each category: photography, essay, and poetry. Winners will be announced on the EPA Aging Initiative Web site in October during Children's Health month.

Carson wrote that she would endow every child with "a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life." However, "if a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."

The contest seeks to spur and instill that same sense of wonder among all generations.

For more information, see: epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm

tag: EPA, Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Intergenerational Contest, EPA Aging Initiative, Rachel Carson Council Inc., Generations United, Earth Day,

Detroit Electric, A 100 Year Old Electric Car!

CNET News has a very interesting article about bringing history back with a Electric car, know as Detroit Electric. The moniker is the company name for new venture between ZAP and Youngman Automotive.

To promote itself, Detroit Electric--a new joint venture between Zap and China's Youngman Automotive Group--plan to release a limited number of cars based around the Detroit Electric, an electric car produced by the Anderson Electric Car Co. in the early part of the 20th century.

Anderson produced various models of the Detroit Electric from 1907 to 1939. Customers included Henry Ford and Rockefeller. It was also featured on a stamp. TV host Jay Leno has some of the cars in his collection.

image from; wikipedia.org

UK Government Emits Inaccurate CO2 Emission Data.

According an article on Guardian, UK Government has emitted what accounts to be lies regarding CO2 emissions. According to the report by National Audit Office, UK emitted 733 metric tons in 2005, instead of 656 Metric tons as stated by the government.

"Britain's climate change emissions may be 12% higher than officially stated, according to a National Audit Office investigation which has strongly criticized the government for using two different carbon accounting systems. There is "insufficient consistency and coordination" in the government's approach, the NAO said.

Using one system, which the government presents to the UN and in public, Britain emitted 656m tonnes of CO2 in 2005, and claims an improvement on 1990 figures. However, the lesser-known but more accurate data in the government's national environmental accounts show emissions to be in the region of 733m tonnes in 2005, a NAO report says today.

"There are two different bases on which the government reports emissions: that required for the UN, and the environmental accounts prepared for the Office of National Statistics ... [which are] more comprehensive as they include aviation and shipping emissions. They present UK progress in reducing emissions in a markedly different light", says the report.

The report says there have been "no reductions in UK emissions" if measured by the national accounts method."

Guardian's article.

tag: Climate Change, NAO, CO2 emissions,

Check Out your Digital footprint? and the eWatste that you are generating

WeSeePeople: How big is your Digital footprint? Discuss with your Digital Shadow!

tag: Digital Footprint, digital universe, Digital Shadow, VoIP, eWaste, Personal Digital Footprint Calculator

Green Houses Sell Fast In Saj Jose, California.

Last weekend, the first nine of the new homes at Orchard Heights (3,600-square-foot or larger homes starting at around $1 million) went on sale, and seven were sold. And this in a fragile housing market where sales of new homes fell to a 13-year low nationwide in January and sales in Santa Clara and San Benito counties dropped 45 percent last year.

"We think when a buyer has a choice between a home that isn't energy-efficient and doesn't have solar power and one that does, the choice will be very easy," said Greg Pinn, vice president of his family-owned, San Jose-based home-building company.

The solar systems cost an estimated $20,000 to $25,000 for each home, but Pinn said that cost won't be passed along to consumers. Instead, by using it on all the homes, pushing for savings elsewhere in the construction process and with incentives coming from the state and PG&E, Pinn can price the homes at the same point as non-green certified homes.

He readily admits that the homes' location in San Jose's Evergreen area, and the relative scarcity of new homes going up there, makes Orchard Heights attractive to potential buyers.

The new homes meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, standard for new homes.
Source.

2,500 Megawatts of New, Cleaner Power Projects to California Thanks To Southern California Edison Plan

ROSEMEAD, Calif., March 6, 2008—Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed four long-term power purchase contracts with winning bidders in a competitive solicitation program designed to attract new power generation facilities to help serve the region’s growing power needs.

The contracts represent a potential generating capacity of 1,351 megawatts (MW) and bring the results of SCE’s new generation initiative to a total of 2,556 MW, enough power to serve 1.7 million average Southern California households at a point in time. Contracts executed this week are subject to California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approval.

“We thank all who participated in this important process that will significantly increase the reliability of our region’s electricity system in coming years,” said Alan Fohrer, SCE chairman and chief executive officer.

The new contracts are the outcome of a plan recommended by SCE in response to state forecasts of inadequate new power plant construction. The utility proposed offering 10-year power purchase contracts to new generation developers with the benefits and costs of the new resources allocated to all customers within SCE’s service territory who would benefit from the enhanced reliability. The plan was approved by the CPUC on July 20, 2006.

SCE subsequently launched an open, competitive solicitation that has produced a total of seven agreements with five different project developers who have agreed to construct new, state-of-the-art Southern California generating resources. Many of the projects will produce electricity more efficiently and with far fewer pollutants than older power plants. In addition, several of the projects will use new turbine technologies capable of adjusting more rapidly to changes in power supplies and demand.

Power Purchase Agreements Signed This Week

Project Name	Company	Calif. Location	Type of Generation Technology	Online Date	MW
Sentinel	Competitive Power Ventures	Riverside County	3 General Electric LMS 100 gas turbines*	May 1, 2012	273
Walnut Creek	Edison Mission Group	City of Industry	5 General Electric LMS 100 gas turbines	June 1, 2013	479
El Segundo Energy Center	NRG Energy	El Segundo	2 One on One Siemens SGT6-5000F combined-cycle gas turbines featuring dry cooling technology	June 1, 2011	550
Wellhead Power Delano	Wellhead	Delano	1 General Electric LM6000 gas turbine	June 1, 2012	49
Total					1,351

Power Purchase Agreements Signed Previously

Project Name	Company	Calif. Location	Type of Generation Technology	Online Date	MW
Long Beach Generation, track 1 winner, approved by the CPUC	NRG Energy	Long Beach	A “repowered” gas-fired plant retired in January 2005 that was refitted with the latest emissions-control technology	August 1, 2007, in operation	260
Blythe Energy, track 2 winner, awaiting CPUC approval	FPL Energy	Blythe	New transmission link connecting combined-cycle natural gas facility to Cal-ISO grid**	August 1, 2010	490
Competitive Power Ventures, track 2 winner, awaiting CPUC approval	Competitive Power Ventures	Riverside County	5 General Electric LMS 100 gas turbines	August 1, 2010	455
Total					1,205

*Peakers using new, lower-emission technology.
**SCE’s request for offers included the option of bidding a transmission project that would connect an existing generation resource with a remaining design life of at least 30 years to the California Independent System Operator grid serving SCE’s service territory.

“This special procurement process provides a transitional means to attract much-needed new generation while a market framework is put in place that will provide new resources when needed,” said Pedro Pizarro, SCE senior vice president of power procurement.

Background Facts

• Initially, SCE was authorized to issue a request for up to 1,500 MW of new or repowered generating capacity. Subsequently, regulators expanded the authorization to up to a total of 3,200 MW and SCE included the option of bidding into one or more of three different “tracks,” depending on when the bidder’s project would be online. Contracts signed this week were bid into the third phase of the program.
• Aug. 1, 2007 was the online deadline for Track 1 projects. Track 2 projects are expected online by Aug. 1, 2010. Contracts signed this week are for facilities that will be operational by Aug. 1, 2013.

Explanation of SCE’s Competitive Solicitation Process

• SCE power contract solicitations adhere to specific rules established by the CPUC to ensure the utility’s power procurement process is open, fair, and transparent and delivers the greatest value possible to customers.
• As the process begins, a public request for offers is widely distributed and solicitation information is posted on SCE’s public access Web site. Independent power producers are encouraged to propose projects that will meet the future needs of SCE’s customers outlined in the solicitation.
• Bidder briefings are held to answer questions and provide information power producers need as they consider preparing contract proposals.
• Contract bids are received and evaluated by SCE. A short list of the most attractive offers is selected and final negotiations occur. At the same time, a detailed analysis is done of transmission resources available or needed to deliver the new generation to market.
• Winning bidders are chosen and contracts signed and submitted to the CPUC for review and approval.
• During the course of the solicitation, an independent evaluator (IE) oversees the process, verifying that no preferential treatment is provided to any bidder. Additionally, SCE consults frequently with an independent procurement review group comprised of CPUC staff members and representatives of consumer, environmental, and labor groups that are not market participants.

Media Contact: Gil Alexander, (626) 302-2255
www.edisonnews.com

Investor Relations Contact: Scott Cunningham, (626) 302-2540
www.edisoninvestor.com

tag: Clean Power, SCE, CPUC,

the First-of-Its-Kind Electric Drive Track-Type Tractor, Energy And Environmental Friendly, From Caterpillar

PEORIA, IL— In a move that further positions it as the world’s leading manufacturer of earthmoving equipment, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) is unveiling the first innovative AC electric drive track-type tractor in the industry. The revolutionary electric drive system developed for track-type tractors gives the D7E an unmatched balance of power, efficiency, control and maneuverability. The machine will be showcased at CONEXPO/CON-AGG 2008 March 11-15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The D7E offers a quantum leap in customer value through significant productivity increases and reduced owning and operating costs,” said Mark Pflederer, vice president of Caterpillar’s Heavy Construction & Mining Division. “This is another example of Caterpillar’s global technology leadership and commitment to sustainable innovation which is not only good for our customers economics, but the environment as well.”

From a performance standpoint, this new product demonstrates Caterpillar’s commitment to the industry with a machine that does more work and consumes less fuel and parts while providing customers with lower operating costs. Caterpillar plans to commercially introduce the D7E in select markets during 2009.

“From an environmental sustainability perspective, the D7E uses substantially less fuel per hour – dramatically reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions,” said Caterpillar Group President Stu Levenick. “This revolutionary design consumes fewer resources over its working life than any other track-type tractor in its class. All major components are engineered to be rebuilt or reused in the future.”

The D7E is in the 60,000-pound (27 000-kilogram) weight range and is powered by a Cat^® C9 engine producing 235 horsepower (175 kilowatts). A traditional mechanical transmission is not needed, because the variable speed electric motors serve the function of a continuously variable transmission. The electric drive train has 60 percent fewer moving parts compared to previous D7s. The electric system also provides power to auxiliary components so that no engine belts are needed. The C9 engine, complete with ACERT® Technology, meets U.S. Tier 3 emissions standards, and the tractor has been designed with Tier 4 in mind. The new D7E has other innovative new features including an exclusive center-post cab, beltless engine and SystemOne^TM undercarriage.

For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2007 sales and revenues of $44.958 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at http://www.cat.com.
tag: Green Machinary, Caterpillar, D7E, CONEXPO/CON-AGG 2008, Tier 3 emissions standards,