LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2008 – With more California businesses focusing on making their operations environmentally friendly, Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) is showing companies how “going green” can be good for their bottom line.
On April 29, The Gas Company will host its third annual Energy Efficiency Expo, where commercial and industrial natural gas customers can learn about the latest energy-saving technologies and financial incentives available to accelerate the return on investment from energy efficiency.
“California leads the nation in energy efficiency,” said Debra L. Reed, president and chief executive officer of Southern California Gas Co. “How to use energy more wisely to both reduce costs and lessen the impact on the environment is frequently cited by our customers as one of their top priorities, and we’re committed to helping them accomplish this.”
This year’s Expo promises to be the most informative yet, with California Public Utilities Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon delivering the keynote address, titled, “Energy Efficiency in California: Why It Makes Sense for Business.”
Economist Jack Kyser, senior vice president of the Los Angeles County Economic
Development Corp., will lead a breakout session on energy and the region’s economy.
Other breakout sessions include energy efficiency in the food-service industry, compliance with AB 32 (California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) and energy efficiency in the public sector.
The Gas Company also will honor the biggest energy-saving projects of 2007, including that of a South Gate, Calif., oil refinery that received a $195,000 incentive for equipment upgrades that have reduced the refinery’s annual energy costs by more than $1 million.
Customers attending the Expo, which will be held from 8 a.m. to noon April 29 at The Gas Company’s Energy Resource Center in Downey, Calif., will learn how to take advantage of the $18 million in incentives available to commercial and industrial natural gas customers this year. Business customers can register for the Energy Efficiency Expo by contacting their account representatives, by calling (800) 427-6584, or by visiting www.socalgas.com/erc.
Media Contact: Rachel Laing The Gas Company (877) 866-2066 www.socalgas.com
tag: Going Green, Going Green EXPO, environmentally friendly Business, Southern California Gas Co, Energy Efficiency Expo, natural gas,
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
American Samoa Honored At 10th annual Environmental Awards
(04/14/08) SAN FRANCISCO -- During the agency's 10th annual Environmental Awards Ceremony in San Francisco today, U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri presented plaques to over two dozen organizations and individuals throughout the Pacific Southwest including one from American Samoa in recognition of their efforts to protect and preserve the environment in 2007.
“The EPA is pleased and honored to acknowledge the innovative and far-reaching environmental work achieved by this impressive group of organizations and individuals. They set an example for all of us to follow,” Nastri said. “All of this year's winners -- in fact, all of this year's nominees -- have made commendable efforts to protect and preserve our air, water and land or increased our awareness of the environmental challenges we face.”
The Region 9 Environmental Awards program acknowledges commitment and significant contributions to the environment in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands and tribal lands. Twenty nine groups and individuals were selected from over 130 nominees received this year from businesses, local, government officials, tribes, media, environmental organizations and citizen activists.
The Pacific Islands winner:
American Samoa EPA
Piggery Compliance Program, Pago Pago, AS
A significant percentage of American Samoan families raise pigs for, among other things, use in family and village celebrations, which often feature a roasted pig as a central part of the feast. As the population has grown, so have the number of pigs and the concern that pig waste contributes to pollution and disease. The common practice of locating a pig pen above or adjacent to a stream and washing pig waste into the stream has led to many cases of leptospirosis, a disease associated with the urine of pigs and other animals, which can infect people in contact with contaminated water. The American Samoa EPA created the Piggery Compliance Team to take action to reduce the piggery problem. Identifying over 1,000 families that owned piggeries, the team conducted outreach, educating families on how to comply with regulations, followed up with inspections, and where needed, compliance actions. By the end of 2007, its efforts resulted in the closure of 69 non-compliant piggeries, and helped 57 other pig owners comply. Nutrient loads to nearby waters were reduced by over 11,000 pounds of nitrogen and 4,000 pounds of phosphorous. One watershed saw a reduction in bacterial contamination by over 90 percent.
For the complete list of winners.
tag: EPA, Environmental Awards Ceremony, American Samoa EPA, Piggery Compliance Program, Pago Pago,
“The EPA is pleased and honored to acknowledge the innovative and far-reaching environmental work achieved by this impressive group of organizations and individuals. They set an example for all of us to follow,” Nastri said. “All of this year's winners -- in fact, all of this year's nominees -- have made commendable efforts to protect and preserve our air, water and land or increased our awareness of the environmental challenges we face.”
The Region 9 Environmental Awards program acknowledges commitment and significant contributions to the environment in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands and tribal lands. Twenty nine groups and individuals were selected from over 130 nominees received this year from businesses, local, government officials, tribes, media, environmental organizations and citizen activists.
The Pacific Islands winner:
American Samoa EPA
Piggery Compliance Program, Pago Pago, AS
A significant percentage of American Samoan families raise pigs for, among other things, use in family and village celebrations, which often feature a roasted pig as a central part of the feast. As the population has grown, so have the number of pigs and the concern that pig waste contributes to pollution and disease. The common practice of locating a pig pen above or adjacent to a stream and washing pig waste into the stream has led to many cases of leptospirosis, a disease associated with the urine of pigs and other animals, which can infect people in contact with contaminated water. The American Samoa EPA created the Piggery Compliance Team to take action to reduce the piggery problem. Identifying over 1,000 families that owned piggeries, the team conducted outreach, educating families on how to comply with regulations, followed up with inspections, and where needed, compliance actions. By the end of 2007, its efforts resulted in the closure of 69 non-compliant piggeries, and helped 57 other pig owners comply. Nutrient loads to nearby waters were reduced by over 11,000 pounds of nitrogen and 4,000 pounds of phosphorous. One watershed saw a reduction in bacterial contamination by over 90 percent.
For the complete list of winners.
tag: EPA, Environmental Awards Ceremony, American Samoa EPA, Piggery Compliance Program, Pago Pago,
Friday, April 11, 2008
Basho's Trail, ( Oku no Hosomichi, ) A Journey We All Should Take.
Photograph by Michael YamashitaInstead of my ugly lecture (I am better at lecturing Physics! ;)) here is the story;
The splash of a frog, a cricket chirping from beneath an empty samurai helmet, "the cool fragrance of snow": Such closely observed moments in nature, often marrying unlikely elements, distinguish Bashos poetry. Haiku (a three-line verse) originated as the first verse of longer poems. Using plain language in the service of spiritual insight, Basho raised the form to literature, each poem like a polished stone that, when dropped in water, creates an infinity of ripples.
See all the photographs at National geographic
The feature article.
tag: Nature, Basho's Trail, Oku no Hosomichi, Matsuo Basho,
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
World Health Day: Global Warming And Human Health
7 APRIL 2008 | GENEVA -- Scientists tell us that the evidence the Earth is warming is "unequivocal." Increases in global average air and sea temperature, ice melting and rising global sea levels all help us understand and prepare for the coming challenges. In addition to these observed changes, climate-sensitive impacts on human health are occurring today. They are attacking the pillars of public health. And they are providing a glimpse of the challenges public health will have to confront on a large scale, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan warned today on the occasion of World Health Day.
tag: global warming, healthy living, World Health Day, UN Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, UN World Meteorological Organization,
"The core concern is succinctly stated: climate change endangers human health," said Dr Chan. "The warming of the planet will be gradual, but the effects of extreme weather events -- more storms, floods, droughts and heat waves -- will be abrupt and acutely felt. Both trends can affect some of the most fundamental determinants of health: air, water, food, shelter and freedom from disease."
Human beings are already exposed to the effects of climate-sensitive diseases and these diseases today kill millions. They include malnutrition, which causes over 3.5 million deaths per year, diarrhoeal diseases, which kill over 1.8 million, and malaria, which kills almost 1 million.
Examples already provide us with images of the future:
- European heat wave, 2003: Estimates suggest that approximately 70 000 more people died in that summer than would have been expected.
- Rift Valley fever in Africa: Major outbreaks are usually associated with rains, which are expected to become more frequent as the climate changes.
- Hurricane Katrina, 2005: More than 1 800 people died and thousands more were displaced. Additionally, health facilities throughout the region were destroyed critically affecting health infrastructure.
- Malaria in the East African highlands: In the last 30 years, warmer temperatures have also created more favourable conditions for mosquito populations in the region and therefore for transmission of malaria.
- Epidemics of cholera in Bangladesh: They are closely linked to flooding and unsafe water.
These trends and events cannot be attributed solely to climate change but they are the types of challenges we expect to become more frequent and intense with climate changes. They will further strain health resources that, in many regions, are already under severe stress.
"Although climate change is a global phenomenon, its consequences will not be evenly distributed," said Dr Chan. "In short, climate change can affect problems that are already huge, largely concentrated in the developing world, and difficult to control."
To address the health effects of climate change, WHO is coordinating and supporting research and assessment on the most effective measures to protect health from climate change, particularly for vulnerable populations such as women and children in developing countries, and is advising Member States on the necessary adaptive changes to their health systems to protect their populations.
WHO and its partners -- including the UN Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the UN World Meteorological Organization -- are devising a workplan and research agenda to get better estimates of the scale and nature of health vulnerability and to identify strategies and tools for health protection. WHO recognizes the urgent need to support countries in devising ways to cope. Better systems for surveillance and forecasting, and stronger basic health services, can offer health protection. WHO will be working closely with its Member States in coming years to develop effective means of adapting to a changing climate and reducing its effects on human health.
"Through its own actions and its support to Member States," said Dr Chan, "WHO is committed to do everything it can to ensure all is done to protect human health from climate change."
For further information contact:
Sari Setiogi
Telephone: +4122 791 3576
Mobile +4179 701 9467
Email: setiogis@who.int
John Rainford
Telephone: +41 22 791 3982
Mobile +41 79 516 3709
Email: rainfordj@who.int
Nada Osseiran
Telephone: +41 22 791 4475
Mobile +41 79 445 1624
Email: osseirann@who.int
tag: global warming, healthy living, World Health Day, UN Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, UN World Meteorological Organization,
NanoPower Solar Window to Address the Energy Crisis .
Octillion Corp.’s NanoPower Solar Window to Address the Energy Crisis
The rapid growth of population as well as economic development in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America is driving a rapid expansion of world energy use … The scarcity and non-renewable status of the most important energy sources are making the high energy price environment to become a permanent feature of current reality.
In addressing the energy price challenges, energy technology innovation must play the leading role. Technology advancements can offer a solution to the world energy crisis by offering environmentally friendly and reliable energy source alternatives that meet the world’s basic energy needs and provide sustainable basis for economic development.
Octillion Corp. is a technology incubator currently developing a patent-pending technology that could adapt existing home and office glass windows into ones capable of generating electricity from solar energy without losing significant transparency or requiring major changes in manufacturing infrastructure.
Octillion reported that the process of producing silicon nanoparticles is supported by 10 issued U.S. patents, seven pending U.S. patents, two issued foreign counterpart patents and 19 pending foreign counterpart patents. The company’s current research efforts target refining the process of the deposition of silicon nanoparticles onto glass, quality control and consistent replication of lab-scale samples.
In March 2008, Octillion announced that it succeeded in replacing previously established protocols for producing lab-scale prototypes; a traditionally time-consuming and cumbersome process for depositing nanoparticles onto glass has been successfully replaced with a faster, cost-effective and commercially available deposition technology. This advancement will allow the company to accelerate the NanoPower Window technology development and move from the laboratory to larger-scale testing and production.
Octillion
tag: Solar Energy Research, Solar Energy, NanoPower Solar Window, Energy Crisis, silicon nanoparticles, Octillion,
The rapid growth of population as well as economic development in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America is driving a rapid expansion of world energy use … The scarcity and non-renewable status of the most important energy sources are making the high energy price environment to become a permanent feature of current reality.
In addressing the energy price challenges, energy technology innovation must play the leading role. Technology advancements can offer a solution to the world energy crisis by offering environmentally friendly and reliable energy source alternatives that meet the world’s basic energy needs and provide sustainable basis for economic development.
Octillion Corp. is a technology incubator currently developing a patent-pending technology that could adapt existing home and office glass windows into ones capable of generating electricity from solar energy without losing significant transparency or requiring major changes in manufacturing infrastructure.
Octillion reported that the process of producing silicon nanoparticles is supported by 10 issued U.S. patents, seven pending U.S. patents, two issued foreign counterpart patents and 19 pending foreign counterpart patents. The company’s current research efforts target refining the process of the deposition of silicon nanoparticles onto glass, quality control and consistent replication of lab-scale samples.
In March 2008, Octillion announced that it succeeded in replacing previously established protocols for producing lab-scale prototypes; a traditionally time-consuming and cumbersome process for depositing nanoparticles onto glass has been successfully replaced with a faster, cost-effective and commercially available deposition technology. This advancement will allow the company to accelerate the NanoPower Window technology development and move from the laboratory to larger-scale testing and production.
Octillion
tag: Solar Energy Research, Solar Energy, NanoPower Solar Window, Energy Crisis, silicon nanoparticles, Octillion,
The University of Colorado And Agilent Technologies Team Up To Detect Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, And Other Organic Contaminants In Water
I was very licy to have my father as my father. When I was little and he was detecting DDT in everything, human tissues, breast milk and chasing behind the companies that was using third world as dumping grounds for then illegal chemical DDT. I learned how to use LC/MS instruments at tender age. But I did not like Chemistry and I choose Physics to be my path to the future, much to my fathers disbelief. But I still can run the instruments when called for.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., and BOULDER, Colo., April 7, 2008
The University of Colorado's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering today announced the opening of the Center for Environmental Mass Spectrometry (CEMS), a laboratory focusing on the detection of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic contaminants in water and evaluating the effectiveness of methods for removing these compounds. Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is providing the core liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer (LC/MS) instrumentation for the lab.
The topic of pharmaceuticals in drinking water recently gained increased visibility when an Associated Press survey revealed that an assortment of drugs including antidepressants, antibiotics and birth control prescriptions were detected in the municipal drinking water of 24 major metropolitan areas serving 41 million Americans.
CEMS was established at the University of Colorado by Imma Ferrer, research Ph.D.; Karl Linden, Ph.D.; and E. Michael Thurman, research Ph.D. Thurman, a 30-year veteran of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in water testing, also spent five years in Spain, where Ferrer and he worked at the first LC/MS accurate mass facility in Spain for the analysis of pesticides in food. Ferrer is the chief analyst of CEMS and is responsible for the highest quality accuracy measurements and operation of the laboratory. Professor Linden directs research on the treatment of pharmaceuticals in water and plays a key role in laboratory development and design. Furthermore, CEMS has a collaborative agreement with Larry Barber, Ph.D., of the USGS for the sampling and analysis of pharmaceuticals in the environment.
"Pharmaceuticals are biologically active compounds designed specifically to affect the human body," said Thurman. "Low concentrations of parts-per-billion or parts-per-trillion generally aren't considered dangerous over the short term, but no one knows about the long-term human and ecological effects. There are also troubling effects on wildlife, such as male fathead minnows that are becoming 'feminized' from traces of the human birth-control compound EE2 in streams at concentrations of parts-per-trillion. This is noteworthy on a number of levels."
"Agilent is proud to support this innovative lab because few things are as fundamental to quality of life as clean drinking water," said Mike McMullen, vice president and general manager, Agilent Chemical Analysis Solutions Unit. "Over the years, global markets have demanded greater and greater analytical power in the quest for a cleaner environment with safer food, water and air. This is an excellent example of how our technology is being used for the greater good."
Barber and Thurman, co-authors of a 2002 USGS white paper titled "Water-Quality Data for Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams, 1999-2000." have worked closely together on this topic and will continue their collaboration through CEMS. The paper captured the imagination of the scientific community, becoming the most-cited article in the history of the journal Environmental Science & Technology. It described the first nationwide reconnaissance of pharmaceuticals, hormones and other organic wastewater contaminants (OWC) in 135 streams in 30 states. Samples were tested for 95 compounds, and at least one OWC was detected in 80 percent of the streams sampled.
"Traditionally, the topics that scientists were working on didn't enter the public consciousness for about 10 years," Thurman observed. "Now, people are much more educated and sensitive about health and environmental matters, because they recognize how factors like pollution, diet and lifestyle affect them personally."
Accurate Mass Spectrometry.
To measure trace amounts of compounds and detect unknowns in complex water samples, CEMS requires an LC/MS system with very high mass accuracy, mass resolution, sensitivity and speed. Through their previous work in food testing with Agilent applications scientist Jerry Zweigenbaum, Ph.D., Ferrer and Thurman became aware of the Agilent 6220 Accurate Mass Time-of-Flight LC/MS system, and Agilent agreed to loan a complete system to the lab at no charge. The system's list price is approximately $270,000.
"The mass accuracy of the Agilent TOF rivals much more expensive FTMS and orbital trapping instruments," said Ferrer, chief analyst of CEMS. Ferrer and Thurman showed the power of accurate mass in Spain by measuring the mass of an electron by LC/TOF-MS on several pharmaceuticals, publishing this paper in 2005 in Analytical Chemistry.
The new Agilent LC/MS system with resolving power of approximately 20,000 was introduced last November, and it contains a number of design features that are well-suited for environmental analysis where scientists must detect very small quantities of chemicals in complex mixtures.
The Agilent instrument is sensitive down to the attomole (one quintillionth, or 10 to the negative 18 power of a mole) range, and offers better than two parts-per-million mass accuracy, which gives scientists high confidence in their data and helps them easily identify the compounds they find. The 32 Gbit/second high-speed data acquisition electronics provide very high mass resolution to 20,000. The system incorporates proprietary dual-gain analog to digital (ADC) time-of-flight electronics for a tenfold improvement of dynamic range -- now approaching up to five orders of magnitude. MassHunter Workstation software is included with the Agilent 6220 system, providing advanced data mining functions.
Linden agrees with the Associated Press study that pharmaceuticals enter the water supply because drugs are only partially absorbed by people; metabolites and some parent compound are being excreted into sewage systems that are not designed to specifically remove these compounds. Animals are another source of drug contamination. Commercial chicken-raising operations, for example, frequently include antibiotics with the chicken feed, and residues can enter groundwater.
"Basic water-treatment technology, both for wastewater and for drinking water, has changed in recent years, now including treatment by ozone, UV and carbon," Linden observes as the lead scientist on water treatment at CEMS. "We're looking at the problem from a number of angles. First, to help define this growing problem and to underscore the need for more testing and treatment at the municipal level. We also intend to work with people around the world to help find solutions such as evaluating various water-treatment options."
About The University of Colorado's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
The University of Colorado at Boulder is ranked 19th of all environmental engineering graduate programs in the U.S. The program has eight faculty members specifically focused on environmental engineering and is engaged in nationally funded research relating to wastewater, drinking water, water reuse, emerging contaminants, metals, natural organic matter, pathogens in aerosols and water, natural systems, and bioremediation. Project sponsors include the NSF, AwwaRF, WateReuse Foundation, USEPA, CDC, NIH, and several utilities. Current research expenditures are over $1 million/year and a new research center on water reuse is planned. Approximately six new Ph.D. students are graduated from the environmental engineering program each year. CEMS researchers will be a significant component of a planned new center to develop water-reuse technologies and evaluate environmental and health impacts.
tag: environmental engineering, University of Colorado, NSF, AwwaRF, WateReuse Foundation, USEPA, Environmental Mass Spectrometry, CDC, NIH, Agilent instrument, attomole, LC/MS system, USGS, Mass Spectrometry,Monday, April 07, 2008
Forklifts Become "Vehicles" To Texas' Efforts For Clean Air.
Release date: 04/04/2008
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov
(Dallas, Texas – April 4, 2008) They have been the muscle behind manufacturing and warehousing for decades, and now forklifts are putting power into North Texas efforts for clean air.
Deford Lumber, Ltd., of Dallas is one of several companies helping forklifts become the newest “vehicles” for clean air as part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Program (TERP). The company received more than $130,000 from the state-run program to replace the aging diesel engines in four of its forklifts and two haul trucks with cleaner, less-polluting models. In doing so, Deford will prevent more than 13 tons of nitrogen oxide from polluting North Texas air.
Other grant recipients from the Dallas-Fort Worth area include Land Lumber Co., Inc.; Mitchell and Bourland; Pam Heart; Neal Gay; James O. Worley; Robert Boyer; Bret Sapp; and Wayne Carroll. Together, their individual grants total more than $718,000 towards new engines for haul, cement, and dump trucks. They will also prevent the release of more than 71 tons of nitrogen oxide, which is one of the key contributors to ground-level ozone, or smog.
Businesses interested in greening their fleets still have time to apply for TERP grants by the April 11, 2008, deadline. Individual application assistance is available at Community Help Desks in Arlington, Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth until April 10 to help applicants with questions. For more information, interested applicants can visit www.terpgrants.org or for immediate assistance call (800) 919-8377.
TERP is managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and serves as a national model for replacing and retrofitting older diesel engines. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports local efforts to encourage participation in TERP as a way to improve air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
More about activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6
EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/audio.htm#audio040408_forklifts. tag: Clean Air, Texas Emissions Reduction Program, TERP, nitrogen oxide, ground-level ozone, r smog, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Sunday, April 06, 2008
DELL Goes Completely Green At Global Headquarters.
Round Rock, Texas, April 2, 2008* Green Power Supplied by Waste Management’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant and TXU Energy Wind Power
* Company Ahead of Schedule to Meet Carbon-Neutrality Commitment
Dell is now powering 100 percent of its 2.1 million square-foot global headquarters campus, home to more than 10,000 employees, with 100 percent green power, the latest step in meeting the company’s 2008 carbon neutral commitment.
“It’s time for our industry to take a lead role in creating a clean energy future,” said Paul Bell, president, Dell Americas. “Today, we are challenging every technology company to work with their suppliers and partners in integrating green power and energy-efficient strategies into their operations.”
“Powering an entire campus with green power, in partnership with these two leading companies, is an important step in becoming the greenest technology company on the planet and the right thing to do for our shared earth,” said Mr. Bell. “At the same time we’re using green technology to drive operating expense down.”
Dell is using all of the power generated from Waste Management’s Austin Community Landfill gas-to-energy plant, meeting 40 percent of Dell headquarters’ campus power needs. The remaining 60 percent comes from existing wind farms and is provided by TXU Energy.
Dell also announced today it is increasing green power use for its Austin Parmer Campus, provided by Austin Energy, from eight to 17 percent. The company is a leading participant in Austin Energy’s GreenChoice® power program. Dell also is powering its Twin Falls, Idaho, facility with 100 percent green power, 97 percent of which is wind power and three percent solar.
In September 2007, Dell announced it would make company owned and leased facilities “carbon neutral” in 2008 through a strategy of improving energy-efficiency in its operations and maximizing the purchase of renewable power. This commitment is part of the company’s climate strategy which also seeks to minimize carbon impact of supplier operations and customer product use.
Operational initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce electricity use already implemented on Dell’s central Texas campuses are expected to save the company nearly $2 million annually in operating costs and cutting CO2 equivalent emissions by nearly 12,000 tons per year. The purchase of green power gives Dell price certainty on its operational costs for power, and the company expects it may see cost benefits to using green power in the future.
Dell’s green technology solutions include the OptiPlex 755 and Inspiron 531 desktops, Latitude D630 laptop, PowerEdge M-Series blades and PowerEdge Energy Smart servers. The company’s desktop systems alone have helped customers save more than $2.2 billion and avoid approximately 22.4 million tons of CO2.
“We’re very pleased that our Austin Community Landfill’s gas to energy project will play a key role in Dell’s commitment to using renewable energy. This project is part of our company’s environmental initiative to increase the production of waste based energy. Today, we create enough energy for the equivalent of 1 million homes each year and by 2020 we expect to double that output, producing enough energy for the equivalent of more than 2 million homes,” said David Steiner, chief executive officer of Waste Management, Inc.
“This is yet another example of TXU Energy’s commitment to offering renewable power choices that are good for business and the environment,” said Jim Burke, chief executive officer for TXU Energy “TXU Energy is dedicated to improving our use of renewable power and encouraging greater energy efficiency, both of which help preserve our environment.”
“For Dell to partner with Waste Management and TXU to source renewable energy on this scale is great news,” said Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group. “Greening the company’s Texas operations not only underpins Dell’s bold carbon neutral commitment but helps drive clean energy investment and tackles climate change.”
tag: Green News, Climate Group, Waste Management’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant, Energy Smart servers, OptiPlex 755, TXU Energy Wind Power, Inspiron 531, green power, Landfill gas-to-energy plant, Austin Energy, GreenChoice®, carbon neutral,
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Near-Zero Emission BMW Hydrogen 7
Argonne tests find near-zero emissions for BMW Hydrogen 7 (Download printer-friendly, PDF version.)
ARGONNE, Ill. (March 28, 2008) – Independent tests conducted by engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory on the mono-fueled version of the BMW Hydrogen 7 prototype have found that the car's hydrogen-powered engine surpasses the super-ultra low-emission vehicle (SULEV) level, the most stringent emissions performance standard to date.
"The BMW Hydrogen 7's emissions were only a fraction of SULEV level, making it one of the lowest emitting combustion engine vehicles that have been manufactured," said Thomas Wallner, a mechanical engineer who leads Argonne's hydrogen vehicle testing activities. "Moreover, the car's engine actively cleans the air. Argonne's testing shows that the Hydrogen 7's 12-cylinder engine actually shows emissions levels that, for certain components, are cleaner than the ambient air that comes into the car's engine."
It was not an easy task to measure the Hydrogen 7's emissions. "A gross polluter is easy to measure, but the cleaner the car the harder it is to test," said Don Hillebrand, director of Argonne's Center for Transportation Research. "Most labs test at the SULEV level. Argonne's vehicle testing facilities are unique in that they are able to detect even trace levels of emissions. In this case, it was near-zero emissions."
After an extensive evaluation by BMW, "Argonne's Advanced Powertrain Research Facility was found to be the only public test facility in North America capable of testing hydrogen vehicles at these low emissions levels," said BMW's Wolfgang Thiel, manager, operating support emissions analysis. "Zero is a very small precise number – we are pushing the boundaries of emissions testing."
Technical and program information about the Hydrogen 7 tests will be presented by Wallner and BMW North America's Jason P. Perron Wednesday, April 2, during the National Hydrogen Association Annual Hydrogen Conference, March 30-April 3, in Sacramento, Calif. Argonne will join BMW's Christoph Huss, senior vice president, science, traffic and vehicles regulations, in a press conference to present the test results during the Society of Automotive Engineers 2008 World Congress, April 14-17, in Detroit.
BMW has put the bi-fueled hydrogen model into limited series production. Although the vehicle is not yet available for sale to the general public, it is being made available to "influential public figures," whose use demonstrate a new era in clean energy, BMW has said. In the meantime, the greatest challenge to widespread use of hydrogen cars is the limited number of hydrogen refueling stations.
Argonne has conducted cutting-edge transportation research for more than 30 years and employs a multidisciplinary staff of engineers and scientists involved in engine, battery, fuel cell, vehicle systems and applied materials research.
Argonne's transportation research program and facilities are primarily funded by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which supports the development of vehicle technologies and alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on foreign oil and enables the U.S. transportation industry to sustain a strong, competitive position in domestic and world markets.
Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
For more information, please contact Angela Hardin (630/252-5501 or ahardin@anl.gov) at Argonne.
tag: super-ultra low-emission vehicle, SULEV, BMW Hydrogen 7, bi-fueled hydrogen BMW, mono-fueled hydrogen BMW, Argonne National Laboratory, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy,Hydrogen From Photosynthesis As A Renewable Fuel
Algae could one day be major hydrogen fuel source
(Download printer-friendly, PDF version.)
ARGONNE, Ill. (April 1, 2008) — As gas prices continue to soar to record highs, motorists are crying out for an alternative that won't cramp their pocketbooks.
Scientists at U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory are answering that call by working to chemically manipulate algae for production of the next generation of renewable fuels – hydrogen gas.
"We believe there is a fundamental advantage in looking at the production of hydrogen by photosynthesis as a renewable fuel," senior chemist David Tiede said. "Right now, ethanol is being produced from corn, but generating ethanol from corn is a thermodynamically much more inefficient process."
Some varieties of algae, a kind of unicellular plant, contain an enzyme called hydrogenase that can create small amounts of hydrogen gas. Tiede said many believe this is used by nature as a way to get rid of excess reducing equivalents that are produced under high light conditions, but there is little benefit to the plant.
Tiede and his group are trying to find a way to take the part of the enzyme that creates the gas and introduce it into the photosynthesis process.
The result would be a large amount of hydrogen gas, possibly on par with the amount of oxygen created.
"Biology can do it, but it's making it do it at 5-10 percent yield that's the problem," Tiede said. "What we would like to do is take that catalyst out of hydrogenase and put it into the photosynthetic protein framework. We are fortunate to have Professor Thomas Rauchfuss as a collaborator from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana who is an expert on the synthesis of hydrogenase active site mimics."
Algae has several benefits over corn in fuel production. It can be grown in a closed system almost anywhere, including deserts or even rooftops, and there is no competition for food or fertile soil. Algae is also easier to harvest because it has no roots or fruit and grows dispersed in water.
"If you have terrestrial plants like corn, you are restricted to where you could grow them," Tiede said. "There is a problem now with biofuel crops competing with food crops because they are both using the same space. Algae provide an alternative, which can be grown in a closed photobioreactor analogous to a microbial fermentor that you could move any place."
Tiede admitted the research is its beginning phases, but he is confident in his team and their research goals. The next step is to create a way to attach the catalytic enzyme to the molecule.
Funding for the research was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
For more information, please contact Brock Cooper (630/252-5565 or bcooper@anl.gov) at Argonne.
tag: renewable energy, Renewable Fuel, DOE, hydrogen gas, hydrogen by photosynthesis, hydrogenase enzyme, Algae, biofuel crops, photobioreactor, microbial fermentor, Argonne National Laboratory,MARS, A Wind Power Anywhere™ Solution
We all are good at innovation when the need arises. We develop thin film photo voltaic cells that are printed and we create inflatable solar collectors, all in the name of efficiency and ease of renewable energy generation. But all these companies and technologies are relatively new. Then I found a company that has been perfecting wind energy conversion for last 28 years. I like the concept and the implementation of MARS.Magenn Power's MARS is a Wind Power Anywhere™ solution with distinct advantages over existing Conventional Wind Turbines and Diesel Generating Systems including: global deployment, lower costs, better operational performance, and greater environmental advantages.
The Magenn Power Air Rotor System (MARS) is an innovative lighter-than-air tethered device that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, efficiently generating clean renewable electrical energy at a lower cost than all competing systems. This electrical energy is transferred down the tether to a transformer at a ground station and then transferred to the electricity power grid. Helium (an inert non-reactive lighter than air gas) sustains the Air Rotor which ascends to an altitude for best winds and its rotation also causes the Magnus effect. This provides additional lift, keeps the device stabilized, keeps it positioned within a very controlled and restricted location, and causes it to pull up overhead rather than drift downwind on its tether.
The distinct advantages of the Magenn Air Rotor System design are as follows:
- Magenn Air Rotor System is less expensive per unit of actual electrical energy output than competing wind power systems.
- Magenn Power Air Rotor System will deliver time-averaged output much closer to its rated capacity than the capacity factor typical with conventional designs. Magenn efficiency will be 40 to 50 percent. This is hugely important, since doubling capacity factor cuts the cost of each delivered watt by half.
- Wind farms can be placed closer to demand centers, reducing transmission line costs and transmission line loses.
- Conventional wind generators are only operable in wind speeds between 3 meters/sec and 28 meters/sec. Magenn Air Rotors are operable between 1 meter/sec and in excess of 28 meters/sec.
- Magenn Air Rotors can be raised to higher altitudes, thus capitalizing on higher winds aloft. Altitudes from 400-ft to 1,000-ft above ground level are possible, without having to build an expensive tower, or use a crane to perform maintenance.
- Magenn Air Rotors are mobile and can be easily moved to different locations to correspond to changing wind patterns. Mobility is also useful in emergency deployment and disaster relief situations.
These points are mutually inclusive. The advantages above combine to make Magenn the most cost-effective wind electrical generation system.
tag: wind energy, wind turbines, lighter than air wind turbines, Wind Power Anywhere, Magenn Power Air Rotor System, MARS, Magnus effect,EDF EN announces the completion of a new solar farm in New Jersey
Escondido, CA. - enXco, an EDF EN Company, announces the completion of development and construction of the 143 kW solar project located on the grounds of the Black River Farm equestrian training facility in Ringoes, New Jersey in Hunterdon County. The project consists of a combination of 63 kW roof mounted and 80 kW ground mounted Evergreen Solar PV panels. Additionally, it features Sunflow Monitor, a web-based monitoring system provided by Noveda Technologies. The solar project will generate electricity for the farm on a net metering basis. enXco serves as the owner, financier, and co-developer. Atlantic Solar Assets, a subsidiary of Clean Energy Holdings co-developed the project with Vanguard Energy Partners, LLC / New Jersey Solar Solutions as installer.
The Black River Farm Solar Project marks the commencement of solar development for enXco in the New Jersey market. David Kirkpatrick, enXco's Director of New Business Development, stated "enXco's solar development team is very pleased with the work done by Vanguard Energy Partners, LLC / NJ Solar Solutions and Atlantic Solar Assets. We look forward to future opportunities to help New Jersey meet their renewable portfolio standards."
Amy Jorgenson, President of Black River Farm, said "When planning construction of the new barn at our training center we wanted to look at the economic feasibility of renewable energy. We quickly became satisfied that this was a good way to protect us against the uncertainty of rising energy costs. It helps with our long-range business planning to know that before too many years this system will pay for itself and provide us with free electricity for many years after that."
New Jersey's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires that 22.5% of the state's electricity will come from renewable sources by 2021. Solar energy represents 2.12% of the total requirement – a goal that represents the nation's largest solar commitment relative to population and electricity consumption.
tag: solar energy, New Jersey's Renewable Portfolio, Vanguard Energy Partners, Evergreen Solar PV panels, Sunflow Monitor, enXco,
EDF Energies Nouvelles, Nanosolar sign a photovoltaic panel supply master agreement.
San Jose, California based Nanosolar that produced the most efficient printed solar cell ever is marching forward with new contracts to supply solar cells worldwide. Following is a press release by EDF Energies Nouvelles,Paris.Paris, 1st April 2008 EDF Energies Nouvelles (Paris:EEN) announces the signing of a photovoltaic panel supply master agreement with Nanosolar and a $50 million investment in the company via EDF Energies Nouvelles Réparties.
Silicon Valley based Nanosolar uses innovative technology to manufacture thin-film photovoltaic cells of Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide (CIGS) using a printing deposition process. Under the master supply agreement, EDF Energies Nouvelles will gain access from 2009 onwards to part of Nanosolar’s production of solar panels.
In a solar market in which cutting production cost represents a major challenge, EDF Energies Nouvelles is thus securing its supply of panels at competitive prices. These panels will in particular also help EDF Energies Nouvelles to expand its solar activities in North America.
In parallel to the signing of the panel supply agreement, the Group, through its EDF Energies Nouvelles Réparties subsidiary, is also participating via a $50 million investment (€31 million) in an equity financing completed by Nanosolar to further accelerate the company’s production ramp.
tag: Solar Business, Nanosolar, thin-film photovoltaic cells, EDF Energies Nouvelles, solar market, most efficient printed solar cell
Friday, April 04, 2008
Disruptive Solar Farms With Inflatable Solar Collectors.
Livermore has always been an interesting place for me. I have been visiting Livermore for researching on disruptive technologies. But today I read about very interesting disruptive product that is actually developed in Livermore for solar faming, or large scale solar energy harnessing. The technology utilized is also disruptive as the methodology is. The solar collectors consist of inflated mirror concentrators which gather sunlight and focus it onto photovoltaic cells. These concentrators increase the energy impacting the solar cells many times over and cost orders of magnitude less per collected area than conventional mirrors or conventional solar panels.The inflatable solar mirrors are much more cost effective to produce and maintain than the conventional polished aluminum mirrors, according to coolearth. The solar cells themselves are far removed from the conventional solar cells, dubbed concentrated photovoltaic cell (CPV), and kept cool using water cooling rather than large scale heat sinks or spreaders used in the conventional solar cells.
This reduction of material use comes in handy when deployed in large scale solar farms, which the products are aimed at. If you have seen other solar farms, you know that the area is devoted to solar farming and nothing else could take place in these areas. But the coolearth design allows us to use conventional farms that grow wheat or soy beans to be used for solar energy harvesting. The light weight concentrators and high power solar cells are deployed in truss like structure, a series of support and control cables stretched between poles. By suspending the concentrators, vast areas of land can be easily converted for solar energy production, with limited environmental impact. The ground beneath the concentrators remains free for other uses, such as farming or ranching.So do not expect to buy one and put it up on your roof top. The technology and methodology is targeted for large scale solar energy production. But you can follow the progress of the company and the products at the coolearth website. You can also read more about the Solar Power 2006 Presentation in PDF format.
tag: solar electric power plant, solar faming, large scale solar energy, solar collectors, photovoltaic cells, inflatable solar mirror, coolearth, concentrated photovoltaic cell, CPV cell, Solar Power
LDK Solar Co., Ltd Signs 3New Contracts to Supply Solar Wafers, With Silcio S.A. Greek, Arise Corporation of Canada, And India-based Moser Baer.
XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 4, 2008, LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), a leading manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, today announced that it has signed a wafer supply agreement with Silcio S.A. Greek for 6 years commencing in 2008 through 2013.
This agreement includes 50 MW of silicon wafer with a fixed amount of deposit.
An additional sales agreement was signed with Arise Corporation of Canada, which is a 4-year “Take or Pay” contract for 33 MW silicon wafers to be delivered from 2008 through 2011.
LDK Solar also secured an additional critical polysilicon sourcing agreement for 1,450 MT with shipments scheduled for the first half of 2008 through 2011.This agreement will enhance the Company’s polysilicon sourcing position in the near term.
“We are thrilled to continue growing our global presence with the addition of Silcio S.A. Greek and Arise Corporation to our broad customer base,” stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO.
LDK has signed another ten-year contract which is a blend of “Take or Pay” linked with market-based pricing to supply multicrystalline solar wafers to India-based Moser Baer Photo Voltaic Limited (MBPV), a subsidiary of Moser Baer India Limited (MBI).Under the terms of the agreement, LDK Solar will deliver 640 MW of multicrystalline solar wafers to MBPV over a ten-year period commencing in mid 2008 through 2017. MBPV will make a suitable advance payment reflecting the contract value to LDK Solar.
"The supply agreement with Moser Baer reflects the strong interest we continue to encounter for our high quality solar wafers," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO. "We are excited to extend our business into an emerging market such as India, as we continue to diversify our market coverage and grow our customer list."
"We are very pleased to enter into this mutually equitable agreement with LDK Solar to secure quality solar wafers,” commented Ravi Khanna, Chief Executive, Moser Baer Photo Voltaic Limited. “We look forward to a long-term relationship with LDK Solar as we work towards rapidly increasing our scale of operations and capacity to assume leadership position.”
tag: Solar Business, LDK Solar, Arise Corporation, Silcio S.A. Greek, Moser Baer, multicrystalline solar wafers, Take or Pay
This agreement includes 50 MW of silicon wafer with a fixed amount of deposit.
An additional sales agreement was signed with Arise Corporation of Canada, which is a 4-year “Take or Pay” contract for 33 MW silicon wafers to be delivered from 2008 through 2011.
LDK Solar also secured an additional critical polysilicon sourcing agreement for 1,450 MT with shipments scheduled for the first half of 2008 through 2011.This agreement will enhance the Company’s polysilicon sourcing position in the near term.
“We are thrilled to continue growing our global presence with the addition of Silcio S.A. Greek and Arise Corporation to our broad customer base,” stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO.
LDK has signed another ten-year contract which is a blend of “Take or Pay” linked with market-based pricing to supply multicrystalline solar wafers to India-based Moser Baer Photo Voltaic Limited (MBPV), a subsidiary of Moser Baer India Limited (MBI).Under the terms of the agreement, LDK Solar will deliver 640 MW of multicrystalline solar wafers to MBPV over a ten-year period commencing in mid 2008 through 2017. MBPV will make a suitable advance payment reflecting the contract value to LDK Solar.
"The supply agreement with Moser Baer reflects the strong interest we continue to encounter for our high quality solar wafers," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO. "We are excited to extend our business into an emerging market such as India, as we continue to diversify our market coverage and grow our customer list."
"We are very pleased to enter into this mutually equitable agreement with LDK Solar to secure quality solar wafers,” commented Ravi Khanna, Chief Executive, Moser Baer Photo Voltaic Limited. “We look forward to a long-term relationship with LDK Solar as we work towards rapidly increasing our scale of operations and capacity to assume leadership position.”
tag: Solar Business, LDK Solar, Arise Corporation, Silcio S.A. Greek, Moser Baer, multicrystalline solar wafers, Take or Pay
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Fourth International Geothermal Conference in Freiburg Germany on April 24th, 2008
The International Geothermal Conference is the leading European event for geothermal developers, finance providers and policymakers. Since 2004 we put the focus on national and international financing, financial investments and risk management of geothermal projects.
This concept generates wide interests throughout the sector and attracts a high quality audience.
Who will attend?
Up to 200 participants will use the conference as a platform for networking and exchanging information.
Come and meet:
Structure and main topics of the conference:
1st part: Plenary sessions
2nd part: Two parallel Forums with presentations followed
by discussions
Focus on profitability
Focus on technology
Focus on law
Closing lectures by the moderators of the conference will abstract the main topics of the forums and offer an outlook on future prospects.
Opening Lounge
On the eve of the conference on April 23rd, 2008 will be a Opening Lounge. The Opening Lounge guarantees easy networking in a relaxed setting.
First Announcement for download
Program for download
Location:
Freiburg Congress Centre
Konrad-Adenauer Platz 1
79098 Freiburg
Germany
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Global Wind Energy harnessing pass 100 GW, and may rise to 240 GW by 2012
Wind energy is booming worldwide. Following another record year in 2007 with over 20 GW of new wind capacity, and additional installations at the beginning of 2008, the global wind market has now passed 100 GW. On the second day of the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) in Brussels, the opportunities and challenges facing the world’s leading wind energy markets, plus the huge potential for the future, were discussed. Steve Sawyer, Chief Executive of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), opened the session by presenting GWEC’s new publication, Global Wind Energy Report 2007, which provides an overview of the situation worldwide and its impressive recent expansion.“Due above all to the stronger than anticipated growth in the US and China in recent years, and China’s emerging manufacturers, which are helping ease global supply, there has been an unexpectedly strong increase in wind deployment all round the world,” he explained. “As a result, GWEC now foresees the global wind power market growing by over 155% to reach 240 GW of total installed capacity by 2012”.
Birger T Madsen, from BTM Consult, explained that his company forecasts 140,000 MW of annual installations over the next thirteen years, which will give a cumulative installed capacity of nearly 1 million MW (1,000 GW) by 2020.
“1,000 GW of capacity will enable wind power to provide 7–8% of the world’s electricity demand by 2020,” he added.
There are many markets worldwide whose development will help ensure this wind energy expansion. Senior Energy Specialist from the World Bank, Søren Krohn, looked at some of those with the most potential. Mexico is a “fully developed market for independent power producers”, but has transmission issues and supply bottlenecks to overcome. Turkey has a “feed-in tariff system, which gives access to a wholesale market”. Meanwhile in Morocco “there is a strong government commitment to wind energy, with a target of 1,000 MW of installed capacity by 2012, up from the current total of 124 MW”.
One country which has already started installing significant amounts of wind energy is the US, which in 2007 added a record 5.2 GW of capacity to reach 16.8 GW. This accounted for about 30% of the country’s new power-producing capacity in 2007. In Europe, wind energy made up 40% of new energy installations last year.
Rob Gramlich, from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), presented a new draft report, entitled 20% wind vision – a collaborative technical report. The document shows that it is technically and economically possible for 20% of US electricity to come from wind by 2030, up from just over 1% today.
Rob Gramlich stated that “we need to install over 16 GW annually in order to reach the 300 GW by 2030 that will give us the 20% of electricity from wind. We need to change people’s perceptions so that they see that benefits such as jobs and a stronger economy are closely linked to our choice of power-generating technology.”
While the North American wind industry is booming, South America has been slower taking off. Despite its vast natural resources, there is only 530 MW of wind capacity currently installed there. Christian Grütte from Leonardo Venablers in Spain presented the South American wind market. He outlined the reasons for the continent’s slow start, citing political instability, lack of attractive incentives, limited grid access and restricted turbine supply as the major barriers.
He concluded that “South America has a potential wind energy capacity of more than 300 GW. In the coming years, governments should start introducing the reliable investor incentives and objectives the region’s industry needs, in order to begin to fulfil this potential”.
One of the South American countries with the best wind resources is Chile. Cristobal Garcia-Huidobro from Centinel presented the development of wind energy in Chile. Initially dependent on gas from Argentina, the country was left stranded when its neighbour cut off supplies in 2004. This eventually led to discussions on a renewable energy law, which came into force in March 2007. The law obliges generators with over 200 MW of installed capacity to meet a 10% renewables target.
Chile’s first ever wind farm began operations in December 2007. Currently at just 18 MW, an additional 70 MW should come on line soon, and a second wind farm project is under development.
The chairman of the session, Peter Brun from Vestas, concluded by underlining, as all the speakers had done, the strong worldwide potential of wind energy.
He said, “Globally, we can see strong market trends, but there are still a lot of unclear areas and obstacles. The trends alone are not enough. We need policy stability and transmission planning. In this way, we can show policy-makers that wind is not a niche or ‘alternative’ form of energy, but a mainstream source of power.”
In a later session, various awards were presented. Four Poster Awards went to René Cattin, Florian Bertsch, Simon Watson and Gabriele Michalke for their innovative and interesting designs.
The Scientific Award was presented to Stig Oye for his outstanding work in wind energy technology. The Excellent Young Wind Doctor award, given for the first time at this year’s EWEC, aims to bring recognition to recently graduated PhD students. It was won by Dr. Jason M. Jonkman and Dr. Tonis Sant.
For more information on EWEC, please click here.
tag: wind energy, EU, GWEC, Global Wind Energy Council, European Wind Energy Conference, EWEC, Global Wind Energy Report 2007, American Wind Energy Association, AWEA,
European Energy Commissioner opens European Wind Energy Conference.
European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs took part in a major international conference on wind energy which opened today in Brussels, Belgium. The Commissioner chaired the opening session where together with high-level speakers from the Member States and the European Parliament he discussed the role wind energy will have in achieving the EU's target of reaching its 20% renewable energy (RES) target by 2020.
"In the fight against climate change renewable energy sources are going to play a key role. Reaching the 20% RES target for EU by 2020 will require a substantial contribution from wind energy. It is an area where Europe is in the front worldwide and it should stay that way – wind energy is good for the environment, good for improving energy security and good for the EU economy" declared Commissioner Piebalgs. In his speech he also outlined initial thoughts about an EU Offshore Wind Action Plan planned for adoption by the Commission later in 2008.
The European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC[1]) is organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA[2]) and is among the most important of its kind, bringing together policy-makers, industry representatives, researchers, project developers and other stakeholders from around the world to discuss topics related to wind energy.
The European Commission has recently made a far-reaching package of proposals that will deliver the European Council's commitments of March 2007 (IP/08/80) to fight climate change and promote renewable energy. The EU aims to demonstrate to its global partners that strong action to fight climate change and increasing the use of renewable energy is compatible with continued economic growth and prosperity.
[1] http://www.ewec2008.info/index.php?id=442
[2] http://www.ewea.org
tag: European Energy Commission, wind energy, European Wind Energy Conference, EWEC, European Wind Energy Association, EWEA,Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Earth: The Sequal, Don't Wait For It, Read It Now
I just started reading the book, Earth: The Sequel and I am getting to like it. It is just like the author said and I am not going to spill the beans until I finish the book. So here is an excerpt from what the author had to say and you can read more by following the link at the end!."Earth: The Sequel is about hope, invention, ingenuity, entrepreneurialism, capital markets, commerce, and profit. These are words that most people don't think of when they hear the term "global warming," and they especially don't expect to hear them coming from me. After all, I'm an environmental lawyer running one of the country's most respected and influential environmental groups, advocating for good environmental policy.
I wrote this book because, after 20 years of studying global warming and trying to craft solutions to stop it, I know that government policy alone is not the answer. Enacting a hard cap on carbon will play a key supporting role, but the starring role belongs to American commerce."
tag: global warming, Earth: The Sequel,
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