Ford announces tripling electrified vehicle production/Weekend Edition

Great News from Ford:  "Ford announced yesterday it would raise its annual U.S. production capacity for “electrified” vehicles from 35,000 to over 100,000 by 2013."


This is exactly what we need in our fight to move to EV's and off of imported oils.  Here's a link to the story:  http://gm-volt.com/2011/06/10/ford-announces-new-hybrids-triple-u-s-electrified-vehicle-production/.

This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest challenges, but greatest potential, in the business side of green.  Our ability to move away from fossil fuel, with so much of coming from overseas, and use domestically produced, much cleaner energy to power our cars will dramatically, as in the new industrial revolution, bring money, jobs and prosperity back home.  Read the book, Jolt, before you buy your next car.

Here's some of the story:  "Citing increased demand this year for energy efficient vehicles precipitated by rising fuel prices, and its ability to respond quickly, Ford announced yesterday it would raise its annual U.S. production capacity for “electrified” vehicles from 35,000 to over 100,000 by 2013.

While the Focus EV is due later this year, the spotlight was also on four other hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Central among these will be Ford’s five-passenger C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid which for the first time were announced that they would be offered in North America. A seven-passenger ICE version slated for the U.S. however will not be offered.

The car has proven a hot seller overseas, and in a separate statement, Ford said it will increase C-Max production in Valencia, Spain to continue to fill strong European demand. Since its late 2010 launch, Ford said it has sold 70,000 units in Europe, and taken orders for 30,000 more."

We are going to continue to focus many shows and blogs on this live-changing, world-changing economic transformation.  Please be part of it.  

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Green jobs growing fast, Wisconsin falling behind

From a blog entry by Sam Weis, media specialist for Clean Wisconsin:

Green jobs represent some of the nation’s fastest growing industries with no reason to believe they will slow down anytime soon, according to a recent report released by Ibisworld.

The report, “Top ten fastest growing industries,” lists the fastest growing sectors in the United States by percentage of revenue and includes wind power (#3), environmental consulting (#7) and solar power (#10). These industries are growing fast and will likely continue to grow for years: the solar industry can expect to grow another 7.9 percent by 2016, and wind can expect to grow 11.2 percent, according to the report.

Green jobs represent a bright spot in today’s troubled economic times. With forecasts of solid growth on the horizon, it would only make sense to invest in clean energy and harness its job-creating potential.

Unfortunately, we seem to be moving in the opposite direction as a state. Early this year, the legislature made it more difficult to construct safe wind farms in Wisconsin, killing proposed wind projects and hundreds of jobs they were set to create.

In May, the Joint Finance Committee voted to cut funding for Focus on Energy, our statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program. Unless undone by the legislature as a whole, or vetoed by Gov. Walker, this move promises to result in higher energy bills and lost jobs.

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Green Manufacturing Practices help profits and planet.

This is a great article: 

Green Manufacturing Practices in America can Help Profits, will Help Planet:

It is very long, I will not copy and paste it all, but there's some fantastic information here;  http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/Green-Manufacturing-Practices-help-profits-and-planet-597279.

"Here's a couple of excerpts:  More U.S. Firms Going Green, Yet Effort Must Grow
By Gerald Shankel, President and CEO
Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International

It's a perfect storm - but a positive one. Two strong forces today are converging in the U.S. manufacturing sector that can deliver a whirlwind of benefits for those companies - and the environment. First, at long last, American industrial executives are recognizing the importance of preserving and enhancing the use of our precious natural resources through green energy practices in a vast array of manufacturing applications. Second, it's now apparent to most manufacturers that this altruistic perspective, unlike many, can positively impact bottom lines and deliver cost-saving benefits short term and long term"

And how about this for the business side of green:  "The school's program, launched in early 2010, already has produced numerous real-life results. One example: Two students reviewed a local company's overhead doors and the efficiency of door heaters. They provided design solutions that involved differential steam control valves and proximity sensors to automatically operate the doors. An initial investment of $5,100 now generates annual energy savings of $28,400."

 

Is that a fantastic return on investment? 

If you have a similar story of green--investment in sustainability with good ROI--we want to hear it and profile the story.

Look for Renewable Now to start getting launched on radio (audio), TV and very big Internet TV sites.

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The grand tour: How bike tourism helps local economies/Part 2

I will finish this today, but I'd like to hear from an expert in the bike tourism side of the economy, and look at doing a show together.  I do know bike sales are booming, and it is an increasing part of the health/recreation industries.  However, I'd like to explore more of the financial side of the business.  Please contact us.

Part 2:  "Then there's unsupported touring. It's the same thing you might do with a car -- strap some basics to your rear rack and take off down the road to meet people, see sights, and gaze contemplatively at the road ahead.

You can take a bike trip for next to no money by camping and picnicking your way down scenic country roads, picking up supplies and souvenirs at the same places locals shop, finding your focus in grueling mountain climbs and your joy in the long descents. At the other end of the spectrum is what a friend calls "credit card bike camping": short hops between charming bed and breakfasts, stopping at every tucked-away restaurant and winery.

Either way, you're expanding your horizons under your own power and putting your money directly into small, local businesses rather than into your gas tank or the chain hotels off the freeway.

There's a resurgence of interest in this kind of touring, though few are embracing it as completely as Russ Roca and Laura Crawford, who a year and a half ago decided to sell all their possessions and take off across the country by bike without a set destination or plan. They financed the trip in part with speaking engagements at local bike shops, which have proven unexpectedly popular.

Roca and Crawford seem to be onto something. The rising price of gas and a growing disenchantment with cars, traffic, and the sedentary life mean have resulted in new interest in different types of vacations and adventures.

The hurdle, for local decision makers and business leaders who want to encourage bike tourism, is to avoid the pitfall of classifying bikes as purely recreational, a luxury alternative to the classic Sunday drive.

Welcoming bicycle tourists should go beyond a friendly attitude and amenities from business owners, though those two things certainly make a big difference.

The benefits of bike tourism aren't just for rural communities. In Portland, with its well-established bikeway network, a survey found that 78 percent of visitors said that the city's bicycle-friendly reputation played a role in their decision to travel here. Bikeshare systems can change a visitor's experience of a city.

Bike touring, when it's embraced at a policy level, breaks down the dichotomy between recreation and transportation. After all, bike-minded improvements in infrastructure and enforcement create healthier, more economically sound places not just to visit but to live.

Streets and roads where it feels comfortable to ride a bike are good for residents, tourists, and the economy."

We are filming 4 new shows on Monday.   Stay tuned at Arpin Broadcast Network (arpin.tv.com).

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The grand tour: How bike tourism helps local economies

Great article I found through the Better World Club (which is a terrific alternative, by the way, to AAA, or a supplement.  Here's the link:  http://www.grist.org/biking/2011-06-06-the-grand-tour-how-bike-tourism-helps-local-economies.

I will run part of it today, the rest tomorrow, but feel free to use the above link to read it fully:

"This is the eighth column in a series focusing on the economics of bicycling.

Bike-friendly cities, off-road paths, and scenic country roads where cyclists can spin along in comfort aren't just good for the people who live in those places. They also attract tourists. And tourists mean money for the local economy.

Tourism is one of the U.S.'s largest industries and biggest employers, creating millions of jobs and bringing in hundreds of billions of dollars each year (not to mention the tax benefits).

Bicycle touring has long had an honored place in the tourism economy and culture. This doesn't go unrecognized: In Wisconsin, bike tourism is estimated to contribute $1.5 billion to the state's economy every year.

It's not just about paths or trails, though the measurable impacts these facilities have on local economies are a big deal. Bicycle transportation may not yet be mainstream in the U.S., but recreational bicycling is. More people ride bikes than ski, and more bikes than cars are bought here every year -- presumably for the purpose of family rides along the riverside trail and the like.

For communities looking to up the ante, in adventure or economic development, there are many enticing opportunities for bicycle touring beyond a short jaunt on the rail trail.

Take, as an example, RAGBRAI (that's the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), which calls itself "the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world." Now in its 39th year, the seven-day event follows a different route every year. Participants and spectators drop plenty of cash into small-town economies along the way -- buying pancakes, beer, massages, and souvenirs. The ride also has a longer-term economic impact that's harder to quantify -- in marketing the state's attractions and even in job creation.

Rides like RAGBRAI -- few are nearly as large, but every state boasts smaller supported tours --  introduce participants to the satisfaction and camaraderie of bicycle touring. And they are ambassadors of mutual goodwill, paving the way for acceptance in communities where a person on a bike on a rural road might otherwise be seen as an inconvenience.

Note this is the 8th in a series of articles that make you think seriously about the economics of biking.  Be a good show.

Did you watch today's world premier of our show with Al Cerrone talking about the Chevy Volt and other GM products?  Great show.  Will stream live again at 4p, EST. 

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Bedford Heights, OH, gains wind industry jobs needed to rebuild the Midwestern economy

Wisconsin might pick up more manufacturing if the governor and legislature welcomed, instead of devastated, the wind industry:

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Engaging employees in sustainability: Corp Green, a web-based green team tool

Very nice piece from Green Impact.com on "Are your employees engaged in thinking and acting in a manner that reflects your commitment to sustainability? "

Great question.  I think we all know we need buy in on every level to reshape our companies.  Conversely, companies can be incubators and educators of their employees on sustainable living.  Chicken and egg:  What comes first?

Here's an on line tool for starting the process.  More of the article: 

"Corp Green helps companies with a top-down commitment to sustainability educate, inspire and engage employees in strategic and positive ways. The new web-based tool harnesses the power of grassroots green teams and helps companies live their commitment to sustainability by embedding green champions throughout the organization.

Inspire new behaviors, save money and reduce your footprint!

Our solution:

• Gives your green team new life
• Increases employee participation and inspires action
• Supports strategic goals with visible, tangible campaigns
• Identifies the most promising ideas for going greener
• Builds a more authentic green brand

Easily Launch New Green CampaignsCorp Green is a customized web-based tool that will easily allow you to grow your green team, launch targeted, branded initiatives that are visible and tangible, capture pledges and ideas, and report progress by location"

Here's the link:  http://greenimpact.com/blog/2010/11/23/corp-green-a-new-tool-for-engaging-employees-in-sustainability/.

Go try the tool and let us know how you like it.  Begin the sustainable process today.

Also, our newest show will be released later this week.  Go to Arpin Broadcast Network, arpin.tv.com. to watch and send us your comments.

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