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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thanks to Jack Gregg
For making us aware of a growing environmental and economic issue: Gas leaks escaping from old pipes running under our cities. The environmental hazards are clear; the economic are less defined as they span the costs of fixing the problem versus the ultimate costs of ignoring the leaks and dealing with the catastrophic damage that is sure to follow some day.Intriguing issue, one that is worthy of our attention here and on a future show.This from Jack: Here is the link:http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/08/17/thousands_of_small_leaks_found_in_natural_gas_lines_in_boston_area/ Similar news for small towns. Some are filing law suitshttp://gassafetyusa.com/newton-tree-survey-progress-4252010/And this: Thousands of gas leaks...
Monday, August 29, 2011
Nice, green profile on a leading convenience store
Great to find companies that are distinguishing themselves on sustainable business. Our thanks to WisBusiness for sharing this story with us. We will profile Kwik Trip stores on a future show. In the meantime, if you see one of the stores, stop in and let them know you saw them, and support them, through Renewable Now. Here's the link: http://bizopinion.wisbusiness.com/2011/08/greenbiz-kwik-trip-becoming-leader-in.htmlPart of the story: " If you stop to gas up and get something to eat at a Kwik Trip store, pause to look around for a moment.The signs might be somewhat inconspicuous, but you very likely could be standing in one of the “green” stores that is making La Crosse-based Kwik Trip a national leader in sustainable...
Saturday, August 27, 2011
GM and LG to Design Electric Vehicles Together
Our changing technology, and our new emphasis on electrifying transportation, opens many doors to new, innovative partnerships. Here's a great example: GM and LG coming together to design electric cars. A new, unique collaborative that would never have happened without our move towards sustainability.Great reading. Here's the link: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/08/26/gm-and-lg-to-design-electric-vehicles-together/."Part of the story: GM and electronics manufacturer LG are to design and engineer electric vehicles together.The automaker say that the agreement will help it expand the variety of EVs it makes, by using LG’s proven expertise in batteries and other systems. For LG, the arrangement...
Thursday, August 25, 2011
We are happy to help...
We are happy to share this helping opportunity with you:You are our voice -- and we need you now more than ever. On September 14, starting at 7 p.m. Central Time, we will broadcast the reality of the climate crisis from around the globe for 24 hours straight. And to make sure this event gets the attention of the world, we need you to lend your voice to the cause.Specifically, we would like to share your Twitter and Facebook influence. We have created an innovative tool that allows you to donate your accounts to the cause. If you choose to donate, we'll be able to access your account to help you post information about the event to your friends and followers. Your donation starts on Sept. 13 and ends on Sept. 15 when the event is over.Click below...
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The business side of green
Here is a great story that gets to the heart of the economics of green. From Brazil:Brazilian wind power cheaper than natural gasCost competitiveness of renewables underlined as wind energy projects win 78 of 92 energy auctionsBy BusinessGreen staff24 Aug 2011More from this authorComments: 6Print Send Save Share Digg Tweet "The Brazilian authorities have this week confirmed that wind power in the country currently costs less than natural gas, after a series of energy auctions saw wind farm operators undercut other forms of energy generation.Seventy-eight wind power projects won contracts in last week's energy auctions held by Brazil's National Electric Power Agency, totalling 1,928MW and priced at approximately 99.5 reals (£37.4) per MWh.FURTHER READINGOffshore wind tsar to lead cost...
Plan for Milwaukee Port Authority wind turbine stalls
From an article by Tom Held and Thomas Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Board seeks female or minority contractor participationPlans to build a 154-foot wind turbine to generate power for the Milwaukee Port Authority stalled Thursday over the lack of minority and female business participation in the lowest bid on the construction contract.The Milwaukee Board of Harbor Commissioners tabled action on the contract with the low bidder, Kettle View Renewable Energy LLC of Random Lake. The firm's bid of $522,900 included roughly $2,000 of work by subcontractors, which would meet the emerging business enterprise designation.That's not nearly enough, according to Ald. Robert Bauman, who led the commission's criticism of the contract.The alderman said he would not support a contract for city...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
RENEW asks PSC to stop We Energies' termination of renewable program
From the testimony of RENEW presented by Michael Vickerman, who draws attention to the fact that We Energies is trying to defund its $6 million/year renewable energy development program without any justification. In fact We Energies doesn't say anything about their actions. RENEW asks the PSC not to sanction this sleight of hand maneuver:Q. What is the purpose of your testimony?A. The purpose of my testimony is to discuss the May 2011 decision by We Energies to cancel a 10-year, $60 million commitment to support renewable energy development in its service territory. . . . My testimony includes a recommendation to the Commission that it not allow We Energies to reallocate in 2012 the $6 million per year it had committed to spend on renewable energy development activities for other purposes....
We thought you should know that as of today over 150 people, including 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben, have been arrested at the White House.
We are not a political blog or show, but we do support, and give you a chance to support, the effort to stop the building of the Keystone Sands pipeline, which we feel is a terrible idea, fraught with incredible environmental risk. We prefer to push for reductions in energy use, and a concurrent expansion of renewable energy of all kinds.Also, we encourage dialogue on both sides, and try not to promote a narrow view. We understand there is possible economic gain, a new source of energy coming down from Canada, possibly replacing some of our imported oil. Let us know if you support the pipeline. We will give you a platform to articulate your position.We will carefully follow the story.Here's the petition as sent to us:"There...
Monday, August 22, 2011
BMW Factory to Use 100% On-Site Wind
Have you ever wondered what wind or solar was really capable of in terms of power production? I know we've been told that they both have significant limitations yet, here's BMW announcing they will power an entire factory, one making 200,000 cars per year, with wind. Not so insignificant, in my view.Here's the link to the article on Environmental Leader: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/08/22/bmw-factory-to-use-100-on-site-wind/And the article: " Automaker BMW is to power its Leipzig, Germany, factory using wind power alone.The company plans to build four turbines at the Leipzig facility that should provide the necessary energy by 2013, the AFP reports. BMW said that it hopes the plant can become an example of green best practice for its other factories.In...
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Questions for the Governor on Monday/Weekend Edition
As posted, we are doing 4 shows tomorrow, including what will be a great interview with Governor Chafee of RI.There's two interesting stories going on right now we will touch on. First, this headline yesterday:Ken Salazar: Offshore Wind Farms Will Rise In Rhode Island Get Green Alerts Sign Up Submit this story digg reddit stumble WASHINGTON -- U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Wednesday announced the federal government will move forward with plans to accept applications to develop wind facilities off the coast of Rhode Island.By 2012, Salazar predicted, "the first offshore leases for wind power in the federal waters off Rhode Island will in fact be signed by the United States of America and those developers...
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Come to Arpin on Monday for our latest, live filming of shows
On Monday, August 22, between 10-2, we will be shooting our next four shows, including our show with Governor Chaffee which will be an interesting retrospective on his dad and his dad's influence on the environment, and how that is shaping his view and will shape his administration's work on the environment.Here's our invite: This will be a great morning and production of four great shows. Please send us an RSVP on your attendance for any and all the shows.The shows will be shot at Arpin's Corporate offices in the W. Warwick Industrial Park, right off RT.2, which makes it easy for everyone to get in and out.Come be part of a live audience and, maybe, even get to ask some questions and be on the sh...
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Thank you to Mark Learn
Mark just sent us a great guide to EV/plug in vehicles that will get anyone excited about all the models coming and what is possible. To really get a good feel for this guide, use this link and go to the original page: http://www.pluginamerica.org/vehicles.Here is part of it to wet your appetite: What's Coming, WhenVirtually every major auto manufacturer in the world, along with numerous smaller outfits, is developing a plug-in vehicle and Plug In America is tracking their progress. Our list below represents highway-capable cars and trucks, 2- and 3-wheeled, and commercial vehicles. To be included on this list, legitimate companies must have completed a concept, demonstration, or mule vehicle, and we list these at our discretion. Low-speed...
Monday, August 15, 2011
EcoRI News
We are lucky enough to have a new partnership with EcoRI News, a great organization and environmental news reporting group--http://www.ecori.org--and are using one of their stories today.Unfortunately, it is not a positive one. This is the environment getting scarred/sacrificed for potential economic growth. Here's the link: http://www.ecori.org/front-page-journal/2011/8/10/clear-cutting-of-native-habitat-at-quonset.html.The Headline: Clear-Cutting of Native Habitat at QuonsetBy TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News stafNORTH KINGSTOWN — "It's reminiscent of the mass chopping of Truffula trees in Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax." Four hundred acres of mostly undisturbed public land in the Quonset Business Park is being clear-cut...
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Obama unveils first fuel efficiency standards for heavy trucks/Weekend Edition
The Arpin Group, and our green business show, welcome this news: President Obama met with industry officials yesterday to discuss new first-of-their-kind fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution standards for work trucks, buses, and other heavy duty vehicles.Here's the story's link: http://www.brighterenergy.org/25776/news/transport/obama-unveils-first-fuel-efficiency-standards-for-heavy-trucks/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BrighterEnergy%2FNews+%28BrighterEnergy.org+%C2%BBSome of the article: "The White House said the standards will save American businesses that operate and own these commercial vehicles approximately $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the program.The U.S....
Friday, August 12, 2011
Sorry for the delay
We hope you tuned in live to our newest show on Weds but, if not, it is now available on demand. Enj...
Great News from Project Get Ready
Our thanks to Al Dahlberg of Project Get Ready, who did one of our early shows and has been a regular contributor, for a great update on EV's that we wanted to share with you:"I recently attended the Plug-In 2011 conference in Raleigh, NC and I wanted to give you an update and highlights.Short takes:1) Plug in electric vehicles are here and they are terrific cars! A test drive in the Leaf or the Volt will dispel any doubts about the quality of these cars. The vehicles are pulling well ahead of EV planning.2) There is a wide discrepancy between utilities in EV planning and preparation: some of which are key players/leaders in this area and others which seem oblivious to the gradual electrification of the automobile.3) The charging equipment market is the Wild West! Dozens...
