Congress Manages to Pass a Small Energy Bill That Pleases Nearly Everyone

This is a good way to start off the year.  Not a lot of  positive news has come out of Washington of late, and we teeter, still, on a fiscal cliff, but good small energy legislation getting passed is Dec is good news, worth celebrating.What is noteworthy about this bill is the expansion of language to encourage the development of all new technologies relating to clean energy.  In RI we need updates to promote lots of good alternative sources of energy and commerce, such as EV's and their ability to not only drive clean, but deliver KW's back into the grid while sitting.Here's part of the story...the link is:  http://news.thomasnet.com/green_clean/2012/12/28/congress-manages-to-pass-a-small-energy-bill-that-pleases-nearly-everyone/"While no one has been able to accuse Congress...

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Enjoy the show and tour/2012

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New shows added to our show site

We promoted, and were part of, the sustainable school summit at RIC this year.  As you will see from the two TV shows we produced from the event, the speakers, vendors, exhibitors and overflowing room of professionals and students enjoyed a fantastic day and came away inspired with new ideas and hope.Sustainable changes start with conditioning youth in terms of protecting resources and minimizing their ecological footprint.  We followed this, and you'll see our promotion for this weekend's premier of a new show on ABC and Live Well Network, with a great five-part series on all aspects of sustainable changes in education.Here's the link; come back often and watch us on TV today:  http://www.arpinbroadcastnetwork.com/http___handylawllc.com_.h...

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15 Green New Year's Resolutions that Really Make a Difference (part 2)

Continued from yesterday...thanks to The Daily Green:Stop Receiving Unwanted CatalogsCost: $0Each year, 19 billion catalogs are mailed to American consumers. All those catalogs require more than 53 million trees and 56 billion gallons of wastewater to produce -- and many of us don't even know how we got on so many mailing lists! So grab that stack of catalogs piling up on your coffee table and clear out the clutter. Visit CatalogChoice.org to put a stop to unwanted catalogs. Within 10 weeks, your mailbox will be empty of unwanted catalogs. A less cluttered mailbox means less pollution, less waste and less of the pollution that causes global warming.Give Up Conventional DetergentsCost: $10.25 for one 112-oz boxMany natural detergents today are made to clean clothes just...

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15 Green New Year's Resolutions that Really Make a Difference

Some good ideas from The Daily Green.  We'll run a couple a day:Have you started to think about positive changes for next year?  Please send us your ideas as we work together in 2013 for a better, healthier world:Avoid Waste: RecycleCost: $0For every trash can of waste you put outside for the trash collector, about 70 trash cans of waste are used in order to create that trash. To reduce the amount of waste you produce, buy products in returnable and recyclable containers and recycle as much as you can. The energy saved from recycling a single aluminum can will operate a television for three hours! If your community doesn’t provide containers for recycling, designate a bin in your garage for recyclables to make it easy for you and your family to recycle things like the newspaper...

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Good Christmas gift...our best to you

Happy Holidays!There is still time to clear the air for someone you love. Carbon offsets make a great waste-free, last minute gift, that is meaningful for the environmentalist in your life.We'll email you a customized gift message until 6pm PT on Christmas Eve. Just check "is a gift" at checkout, and enter your message and the email address of the recipient.Now is a great time to give our newest products, made especially for the treehugger or jetsetter in your life, which include a year's worth of flying, driving, home energy use offsets, and more.As always, if you have any questions, you can get in touch with us at support@terrapass.com.  Stay connected. Like us on facebook and follow...

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The outlook for nuclear energy in France

Despite the fact that nuclear energy has lost much of its appeal in the last ten years or so, and especially after the Fukushima accident in Japan, France still gets approximately 77% of its electricity from nuclear energy, which is around 47% of nuclear electricity generated in the entire EU.France has the very long nuclear energy tradition, and the key event that played the most important...

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Update from Sierra Club

We love seeing positive news on EV's.  Are you shopping for electric cars yet?This past year has been an exciting one for cleaner vehicles. The President announced new historic vehicle fuel economy and emissions standards that will arguably do more to protect the planet than any other policy yet.  Also, according to NRDC's Luke Tonachel's recent blog, in the past year "hybrid sales grew by 55 percent and plug-in electric vehicle sales jumped 228 percent." And in 2013, we'll see about eight new plug-in models on the market. We have much work to do to boost plug-in vehicle sales, but we're heading in the right direction.Sea Change Radio recently posted an interview with me on why the Sierra Club has been promoting a switch to electric vehicles as one of many...

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Enjoy the show and tour 2012

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RENEW Plans Honor for SC Johnson

Award Will Recognize Company’s Investment in Wind Energy SC Johnson, the Racine-based consumer products manufacturer, will be one of several Wisconsin companies and organizations receiving awards from RENEW Wisconsin for their renewable energy investments in 2012. The award will recognize SC Johnson’s two utility-scale wind turbines that are now supplying electricity to its Waxdale production facility. The two turbines were formally commissioned at the plant in a ceremony this morning.In recognition of forward-looking customer generators, like SC Johnson, and the businesses that serve them, RENEW will present awards at its January 11, 2013, Energy Policy Summit. The event will be held at the University of Wisconsin’s Pyle Center. Called Powering Positive Action, RENEW’s summit will focus...

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Radio show yesterday is now on Blog Talk Radio 24/7

We hope you listened yesterday but, if not, here's the link:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/renewable-now/2012/12/19/topic-coming-soonWe think you will be stunned by what you hear on the first part of the show.Here's some info on the guest who appeared:  We  covered gas safety with special guest Bob Ackley of Gas Safety, Inc. He’ll explain how there are natural gas leaks in many places and the  environmental  impacts this hazard brings .We’ll also take a look at Rhode Island’s Goodwill Industries and learn about their job training program which involves recycling and rebuilding electronics.Also, take a look at this grid from Terra Pass on Scope 3 emissio...

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Resistant MRSA “Super bug” Wound Possibly healed with Honey

We had a great talk today on our radio show--which we pre-recorded and will run over WARL and Blog Talk Radio next Weds, the day after Christmas, and this article is one of the remarkable things we discovered during our interview with Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, PhDProfessor Emerita of Anthropology & Joint Doctoral Program in Education,Rhode Island CollegeAdjunct Professor of African Studies at Naval War College, NewportEditor, Sudan Studies Association BulletinSecretary and Newsletter Editor, RI Beekeepers' Associationcfluehr@ric.eduMake sure you listen next Weds and any day thereafter to my interview with Carolyn and my co-host today, Jim Murphy.In the meantime we are happy to share this story and pretty amazing side of honey:  "Anecdotal reports of honey healing anti-bacterial...

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Today's radio show on WARL 1320 and Blog Talk Radio

Is going to cover a lot of ground.  The first part of the show--which runs live, 12-1p, EST, every Weds, will feature Jack Gregg, my co-host from Boston and this is what we are talking about:"My guest for Renewable Now on Wednesday, Dec. 19 will be Bob Ackley of Gas Safety Inc. (www.gassafetyusa.com).  He is committed to the safe transmission and use of natural gas and propane. Natural gas leaks can be an explosion hazard as well as an environmental hazard that can threaten your health and environment. He has studies that show Natural gas leaks emanating from distribution piping systems are causing millions of dollars of damage to lawns, shrubs and trees. He has instruments that have the ability to detect as little as 10 parts per million of...

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Banning wind...are you in favor?

Eco RI News had a good story this week on Newport RI's recent ban on turbines (Ironically, we filmed some great shows there last week, studying tourism there and in RI, ocean management and the city's efforts to keep the local economy throttled up while implementing changes that they hope will take the burden off their water, air and infrastructure.  Those shows will start to air in Jan).  Local ordinances, like this one, are getting more common and more restrictive.  Wind can be a very efficient source of clean energy but, soon, there will be no where left to place turbines.We believe strongly in preservation.  Newport has done a very good job of building much of their economy around its great history, architecture, historic neighborhoods and sites.  However, we don't...

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World Food Day: Co-Operatives Feed People Around Globe

This story, from Voice of America, fits very well with what we've been finding as we've traveled, talked to guests and done shows on location.  Food co-ops are, in fact, growing, as is locally-grown food, many times raised organically, farmer's markets and local and state support for growth in farms.We see, too, a push for diversity on farms...some back East, as an example, not only tend fields and raise crops, but have outreach for education, sell baked goods and prepared foods and become tourist meccas.  We know a wonderful farm on the East Coast that shows movies to kid and families in the summer while feeding them fresh, local food.Here's the story from VOA:  You'll see significant economic impact coming out of this trend:...

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Energy history facts

From ancient times people use various energy sources. Geothermal energy were used for springs and heating, hydro and wind energy were used for mills, sailing, water pumps and other mechanical devices, solar energy was used for heating, biomass and coal were used for heating, illumination, cooking, and so on.  For example, nearly 2000 years ago the Greeks used water wheels to grind wheat into...

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Italy - One of renewable energy leaders

Current situation with renewable energy in EU is looking exceptionally good, and Italy is no exception, in fact the Apennine peninsula country has in the last couple of years become one of the European clean energy leaders. According to the official government figures Italy is well on the track to meet its EU target of generating 26 percent of energy from renewable energy sources by 2020 since...

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Part Two: Good piece from World Watch Institute

We had run part one of this report from WWI a while ago, but felt it important to finish up as we've been focusing some great radio shows of late on producing food locally, organically and the potential health benefits.  You'll find more on this on their site: "Food for Health:The global food system also affects issues of human health, including incidences of disease, malnutrition, obesity, and diabetes. The report notes several unhealthy changes in dietary and lifestyle patterns, including an increase in calories consumed, a lack of balance and diversity in diets, a lack of education about health and nutrition early in life, and a significant reduction in the amount of time dedicated to physical activity.Food for Culture:The report emphasizes the need to reconnect people with producing,...

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Legislators set to speak at Powering Positive Action

Neither encouraged nor discouraged by state legislative election results, RENEW Wisconsin will hold its second annual energy policy summit to shape policy initiatives that will increase customer-driven renewable installations in 2013 and beyond.  Register now!Set for Friday, January 11, 2013 in Madison, RENEW Wisconsin’s  summit, called Powering Positive Action, will synthesize the ideas and aspirations of business leaders, elected officials, and clean energy advocates into an achievable policy agenda.This year a bipartisan legislative panel will outline their energy policy goals and identify specific initiatives that can move forward in the upcoming session.Senators Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) and Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse),...

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Enjjoy the show and tour/2012

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How Cool is this

We saw this in the newsletter from the Better World Club:FROM THE ARCHIVES163 BC: Jews Claim to Set New Record for Energy Efficiency No Longer Have to Depend on Persians for Eternal Oil? It's a Miracle! "The Jews of Jerusalem claimed a new record for energy efficiency today as their temple's eternal light burned for eight days despite having only one day's supply of oil.Does this mean an answer to the Eternal Oil Crisis?As the eternal flame is based on olive oil, this could be a challenge to OPEC--the Olive Petroleum Exporting Countries.However, doubts were generated as word of the oil miracle was contained within an epistle stating that the Jews defeated the Greeks in a battle over the Temple of Jerusalem. A spokesman for pro-roadway lobbying group Alpha Alpha Alpha put it...

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Thanks to Seth Handy, Handy Law, for sending us today's blog

Seth is also one of my co-host on the radio side (in fact, you can listen to us live today, 12-1p, EST, on WARL 1320 AM, over-the-air and on their stream, and Blog Talk Radio, Renewable Now channel) and is one of the true energy and environmental experts in the State.  He fully understands, as does his clients, the economics of green.Here's an article he sent that puts in perspective the changing costs of natural gas.  Given our goal of using domestically produced gas as our primary, and cleanest, large-scale energy source, as we wait for renewables to grow, we should be aware of the unpredictability of that energy source, what impacts pricing, and the risks involved.Here's part of the story:   You can find the rest at:  http://www.rbnenergy.com/the-mighty-algonquin-supplying-new-england-the-eskimosThe...

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Algae-derived biodiesel blend hits San Francisco-area gas stations

This story comes from Auto Week and opened our eyes to alternatives in biofuels and new ways of reducing the negative impact of fossil fuels.Obviously, San Francisco, and CA in general, are in the lead of our fight towards a cleaner future.  We applaud their efforts in being first to market in so many areas of using clean energy.  I was in CA this Fall and had the pleasure of seeing some fabulous sites for wind and witnessed lots of solar panels on roof tops.We have a great audience in CA.  Let's us know if you use algea-derived diesel fuel and the results.The story:   By: Graham Kozak on 11/15/2012Related ArticlesWhy the 2014 Mazda 6 diesel matters GM's green future: EVs, plug-in hybrids Honda introduces dual-clutch hybrid transmissions Ford software maximizes...

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The business side of green

We love this focus for our show and our blog, and we love finding just the right articles that highlight this aspect of green.Here's one as we look at a significant fine for a bus co that idled their buses more than allowed by law.  Arpin Group, with other partners, this year launched a new company, e-Now, that brings solar solutions and products to the transportation industry, including, of course, buses and trucks, and helps these companies not only save money on burning fuel, but help them avoid huge fines like this one.Each co has to evaluate their investment and ROI on each energy and operational change.  In order to give a full evaluation, though, they need to consider all the risks and possible costs.  Clearly, governments of all types are ramping up their scrutiny of...

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Listen in to this week's radio show

Here's the link and some promo material on Wed's show.  Don't forget to tune in live on WARL 1320 and Blog Talk Radio, Renewable Now channel.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/renewable-now/2012/12/05/stay-tuned-for-what-wed-dec-5-show-is-aboutOn Renewable Now This Week! We  met Bill Battles. Mr .Battles is a Local Plumber who owns Village Plumbing and Heating in nearby Massachusetts. He has been recognized for his work in Solar water heating and green plumbing.Learn about this awesome cutting-edge technology and how it can save you some Money in your home.Renewable Now is on Every Wednesday at noon here on 1320 WARL AM  and 1320warlradio....

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Commentary: How Wisconsin regulators ‘tax’ renewable energy

Michael Vickerman's commentary in Midwest Energy News on the recent changes in WI renewable energy. Find the original post here.Commentary: How Wisconsin regulators ‘tax’ renewable energyRENEW Wisconsin's Michael VickermanStarting next January, the price of purchasing renewable energy voluntarily through monthly utility bills will spike to all-time highs, thanks to recent decisions rendered by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) on two popular “green pricing” programs.The thousands of Madison Gas & Electric (MGE) customers participating in the utility’s Green Power Tomorrow program will see their premiums jump from 2.5 cents/kWh to 4 cents/kWh. That’s an increase of 60 percent. To translate this into dollars and cents, an...

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