Thank you

To everyone who has posted a positive comment on our blog. So much of finding a better future is embodied in positive energy and optimism. It is always about seeing past the clouds to the next sunny horizon. You help us do that, and we hope we help you do the same.Also, we shot five new shows this week, and we are excited, in New England, about moving to ABC 6 on Saturdays at 3p, EST (this week, because of network commitments, 1:30p, EST). Watch for us as we add many new media outlets, and keep listening each Weds, from 12-1p, EST, to our show on WARL 1320 and their related, worldwide stream.Nice piece on Ebay: How eBay Uses its Website to Drive Sustainability and InnovationBy Annie LescroartPublished January 26, 2012Here's the link: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/01/26/how-ebay...

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Thanks to Mark Learn

For the good news out of CA: California air board to vote on landmark electric-car rulesBy Paul Rogersprogers@mercurynews.comPosted: 01/25/2012 04:48:58 PM PSTUpdated: 01/26/2012 09:39:09 AM PSTLink to the news story: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=8519707Part of the story: "In a move that could reshape the American automobile industry, California regulators Thursday are expected to approve sweeping new rules requiring that 15 percent of new cars sold in California by 2025 run on electricity, hydrogen or other systems producing little or no smog.The regulations by the California Air Resources Board, dubbed the "advanced clean car rules," would start in 2018, ramping up each year and ultimately resulting in 1.4 million "zero emission" vehicles on California roads by 2025. Today there...

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Just a reminder of what we are fighting for

As we search for the very best reasons why we should invest in a brighter, cleaner future, as we contemplate investments and ROI's in sustainability, as we seek to balance ecological prudence with economic gain, it is important to stand back and remember, on a much larger scale, why there is no choice, no dispute, no other road to go down.Here's a beautiful new picture of our incredible planet from one of our newest satellites:Beautiful.Enjoy the weekend....

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Get Ready for a Great Conference

Renewable Now is honored to be the media partner to the RI Compost Conference, being held next month at the Hope Artist Village in RI. Take a look below:This is a very important conference and they've brought some terrific experts together to tackle the hurdles but benefits of getting this State to separate out food scraps and get the compo-stables out of the landfill.Other states and cities, including San Francisco, have done a great job of single-stream recycling with pick up of compost. RI needs to do the same.Get in touch if you have ideas, information on other states or want to be a part of the conference.We'll have a weekend edition....

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Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index

Congratulations to Novo Nordisk for grabbing the number one slot in the World rankings of sustainable companies.Have you thought about what it takes to get to that level? Have you thought about the positive impact on profits, operations and company image such a sustainable level brings? We have and we hope to be in that same list and, eventually, garner that same top spot.How about you and your company?Here's the story. Our best wishes, again, to Novo and everyone else on this very prestigious list: (3BL Media / theCSRfeed) January 25, 2012 - Today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Novo Nordisk was ranked number one in the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index. The index is published annually since 2005 by Corporate Knights – a Canadian and North American...

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Some interesting updates from The Better World Club

BP Axes Solar Power Business by Terry Macalister, guardian.co.uk BP has taken the axe to its solar power business, saying it "can't make any money" from selling panels at a time when it continues to spend $20bn annually on oil and gas developments. The energy group, which once promised to move "beyond petroleum", was an important player in solar but has over the last three years gradually closed its panel factories and made around 1,750 workers redundant. At the same time, the company has gradually retreated from other areas such as carbon capture and storage and shut down its separate London headquarters for BP Alternative Energy. Ford C-MAX Hybrid by Larry E. Hall, hybridcars.com In a move to chip away at Toyota's market dominance of hybrid cars, Ford will roll out two new hybrid models...

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Aquaponics Could Signal Future of Food/From Voice of America

Technique combines fish farming, soil-less plants"Imagine growing vegetables and fish in the same space. That’s the idea behind aquaponics, a marriage of fish farming and soil-less plant cultivation in a single, sustainable closed system.Supporters believe aquaponics can play a key role in alleviating food insecurity, addressing the problems of climate change, ground water pollution and overfishing.Recirculating wetlands systemAquaponics is really as old as nature itself.“Aquaponics is really a recirculating wetlands system, so it’s happening right on the banks of our lakes," says Sylvia Bernstein.Bernstein was a hydroponic gardener for years - growing plants without soil using a water-soluble chemical fertilizer - before discovering she could...

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Legislature should restore funding to Focus on Energy

From a guest commentary by Keith Reopelle and Charlie Higley in the Janseville Gazette: In spring 2011, Gov. Scott Walker and legislative leaders significantly cut funding to Focus on Energy, the energy efficiency program that helps residents and businesses lower energy bills. A recent legislative audit demonstrates that the benefits of Focus on Energy more than double the program’s costs, and legislators should quickly restore lost funding in order to maximize the program’s cost-saving potential. Focus on Energy was created in 2001 to help homeowners and businesses reduce energy costs. More than 2 million Wisconsin residents and businesses have participated in the program. The statewide program helps keep energy bills affordable for all Wisconsinites by reducing energy use and preventing...

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Good news on the Chevy Volt

We've been following the government's safety investigation into the Chevy Volt after a fire had broken out three weeks after it had crashed in a safety test. Here's the good news from the Washington Post: Government closes investigation into Chevy Volt, says car is safeBy Associated Press, Published: January 20DETROIT — The government ended its safety investigation into the Chevrolet Volt on Friday after concluding that the Volt and other electric cars don’t pose a greater fire risk than gasoline-powered cars.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began studying the Volt last June after a fire broke out in one of the cars three weeks after it was crashed as part of safety testing. Two other fires occurred later related to separate safety tests, and NHTSA opened an official investigation...

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Story from ProJo/Weekend Edition

This is an interesting story as you watch two states share a resource, in this case, the Blackstone River, but very much disagree on how to control the level of discharge and pollution going into that very historic, very important, to both tourism, river."R.I. A.G. criticizes Mass. environmental officials over river sewage; Mass. respondsPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Attorney General Peter Kilmartin is criticizing Massachusetts environmental officials for supporting a wastewater-treatment plant seeking less stringent limits on phosphorous and nitrogen discharge to the Blackstone River.Kilmartin said in a letter released Friday that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has taken an "anti-environmental position" by supporting a push by the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement...

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Which States Added the Most LEED-Certified Buildings in 2011?

Very nice article from Sustainable Business.com that gives some insight into the changing landscape of commercial buildings. We've had real state guests on the shows who have confirmed that efficient commercial buildings are the hot market in leasing.Take a look: "SustainableBusiness.com NewsWhich states added the most LEED-certified square footage in 2011? The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its 2011 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information. If you're looking at the amount of LEED-certified space added per person, the District of Columbia (not really a state) comes first, followed by Colorado, Illinois and the State of Washington. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with...

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Enjoy the show Sunday morning

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Citizen and business action groups help leaders form energy policy

From a report by Alex Brasch on RENEW's Energy Policy Summit:MADISON, Wis. - Can local governments work together with citizen action groups to effectively transition America away from reliance on fossil fuels? The answer in Wisconsin and Colorado seems to be yes. Members of Wisconsin's renewable energy industry convened in Madison for the RENEW Wisconsin Energy Policy Summit last week. The diverse crowd of renewable energy manufacturers, installers, state utilities, environmental advocacy groups, university representatives, and government officials, including Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, came together to focus their efforts on retaking the initiative in the fight for a more sustainable energy future for Wisconsin....

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Tell the FDA to Label Genetically Engineered Food!

We just did an interesting TV show with Pat Beck who talked about grass-fed beef and the proper way to raise cattle and other livestock.Co-incidentally, we found this effort, being shepherded by Green America, to bring proper labeling to food. Take a look and either jump in and participate or sends us your comments on why this would be a bad idea (such as, possibly, the fallout from too much government regulation):"Unlike many countries, in the United States, we don’t know if the food we’re eating has been genetically engineered. The vast majority of Americans would like to know what’s in their food, but so far the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to require labeling.Green America and its allies are working to change that. A legal petition (Docket # FDA-2011-P-0723-0001/CP)...

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EarthSky on WARL 1320 AM

We get some great reports from EarthSky on our radio partner, WARL 1320 AM.Here's a recent story on ocean acidification and how it will continue to deplete one of our great natural resources, one that pumps billions into the economy, ocean waters.Here's the link: http://earthsky.org/water/joan-kleypas-on-ocean-acidificationPart of the story: "...Dr. Kleypas told us that excess CO2 from the atmosphere makes the oceans more acid – and reduces the amount of carbonate available for some ocean creatures to form their shells. She said:When we think about a lot of marine organisms – things like corals, clams, oysters, things like hard shells, those shells are made of calcium carbonate. If you reduce the amount of carbonate in the ocean, you reduce...

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Enjoy the show tomorrow morning 9a, EST

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Misc items this weekend/Weekend Edition

We will be reporting on various updates this weekend as we get closer to going on tour in 2012. We also have a new TV premiering tomorrow at 9.First, USA Today reported this week that 72% of our greenhouse gases in the US come from coal-fired power plants. EPA also cataloged, in this report, more than 6700 of the largest sources of greenhouse gases, making up 80% of the US total emissions.Just more evidence that many of the environmental groups have it right when they call for switching all power plants away from coal. We will do a story on this soon.Also, a great report this week from the American Cancer Society, which you can read on their site, on the health costs to any and all towns, cities and countries on living in a decaying environment. There is no doubt, of course, that our investments...

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Updated TV show schedule

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Welcome to our newest sponsor, Atrion Networking Corporation

Atrion is a great company and now a great sponsor and partner. We are honored to have them as part of the Renewable Now family.Here is a little bit about them: Let’s face it, the world is changing. Fast.Competition is global, business is 24/7 and economic pressure is rising. Traditional business practices – such as productivity, efficiency and customer satisfaction – are more important than ever. But newer challenges – virtual workforces, network security, mobility, quick and Unified Communications - are now demanding our attention. It is no longer acceptable for IT to simply exist within a business environment - IT must drive the business – its process, applications, communications and its success. And it must drive business in a secure,...

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Thanks to Mark Learn

For our most recent story out of Germany. We will move around the world a lot this year profiling similar global investments.Germany Sets Aside $130B for Renewable EnergyFrom WordPressPart of the story: "German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on May 30 that Germany, the world's fourth-largest economy and Europe's biggest, would shutter all of its 17 nuclear power plants between 2015 and 2022, an extraordinary commitment, given that the plants currently produce about 28 percent of the country's electricity.Underlining the government's seriousness in changing the country's energy matrix, Germany's Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (German Development Bank) is to underwrite renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in Germany with...

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Renewable Now on demand 24 X 7

Click on and watch: We can't wait to see everyone on the tour....

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Environmental update on RI College

As you have seen, our next show is with the president of RI College (RIC), Nancy Carriuolo. It is a great show, and she is a terrific guest. As a preview, we want to share with you some of the school's green success stories:"The recycling program at RIC started in 2003 and has experienced continued growth especially the past few years under the Carriuolo administration. Since 2003 there has been a steady increase in the savings from our trash disposal expenses, approximately $40,000 average at the beginning to $60,000 today with this year due to get even more return with the President’s support of equipping each main building with a recycling collection center to enhance collection. These will be further enhanced when anticipated resources...

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Get ready for a great show

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Only 20, not 200, years of coal; we have to move "so fast" to get to 100% renewables

Leslie Glustrom is the featured speaker at RENEW's Energy Policy Summit, January 13, Madison. Read the report that she mentions about 11 minutes into the interview. Register and get details about the Summit at the Summit Web pa...

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A look back and ahead from our partner/EcoRI News/Part 2

Before we get into part 2 of the look behind and ahead from EcoRINews, just a reminder to listen to us today live on the air on WARL 1320AM, 12-1p, EST, as we bring you the business side of green.You can listen on line, of course, from anywhere in the world, at: http://1320warlradio.com. And, feel free to call, email or tweet and Facebook in your comments and questions.Now, Part 2 of a great summary and prediction of some future events:"The Narragansett Bay Watershed. Despite the stress of tourist and lawn-watering season, it seems the health of Narragansett Bay is trending upward. Divers who recently worked to remove a sunken barge from under the Newport Bridge commented that the bay looked good, aside from the sunken barge. The Combined Sewer Overflow project can be credited with a lot...

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See who and what companies are coming to RENEW Energy Policy Summit

It's 2012 and the world of energy is shifting fast. Will you be part of the conversation around the shape that will take in Wisconsin? If you or your business plan to BUILD, BUY, or BE part of Wisconsin's renewable energy future, register NOW for RENEW's Energy Policy SUMMIT on Friday JANUARY 13th in Madison. There are a LIMITED number of SPACES available for the RENEW Energy Policy Summit. REGISTER TODAY to make sure you have a seat in the room. Click here to register for the Summit. Want to know who else will be at the Summit table? You can see which people and what companies are registered to participate in the RENEW Energy Policy Summit at the event home page Click here to see who's coming. Set your clocks for 2012 and get to...

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A look back and ahead from our partner/EcoRI News

Welcome to 2012. We look forward to sharing many great moments and shows with you.Much of this week, we will be sharing an article from EcoNewsRI that offered a great retrospective, and look ahead, for RI that touched on many of the salient points of the business side of green we focus on, and has elements that touch every state and every country (from waste management to restoring farms to renewable energy issues).Here's the first part of the story. We'd appreciate your feedback and comments:2011 in Retrospect, and a Look AheadBy ecoRI News staf"Environmental WinnersFood and Agriculture. It’s no news that agriculture is big news in Rhode Island, and it looks like that trend will continue. There are now five winter farmers’ markets and more than 50 summertime markets in Rhode Island. The...

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