Green Daily

Al Gore Invites us All to Say it on 'The Wall'

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

Greenius Al Gore/Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images

Alpha Green Al Gore has invited those of us who want clean energy technology (yes, personally -- get on the mailing list and he'll write to you, too) to participate in a new communication channel called The Wall.

It's a pretty amazing display of the passion behind the grassroots RePower America campaign. People post a comment, photo or even a video to The Wall, explaining why they believe clean energy is the way to save the environment and the economy. And the whole world can see and hear the public consensuse -- this is what we want, and we want it now!

One great thing about this collection of voices is that it uses the internet to amplify the message of people who have deep convictions, but perhaps prefer not to participate in a naked formation of the number 350 on the side of a mountain. Sure, those in-person, occasionally naked, demonstrations are fun and meaningful, but way too cold for some of us!

It seems like people were dying for a chance to get their feelings off their chests and on The Wall. In the first week 15,000 people posted messages on The Wall, and the number keeps growing every day.

Do you have a message for global political leaders? Do you want them to hear your opinion about clean energy before the Copenhagen Climate Conference, which is just around the corner? Then take a click over to The Wall and tell everyone what you think!

Al Gore Invites us All to Say it on 'The Wall' originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Solar Decathlon

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Home, Alternative Energy

University of Kentucky Uses Innovative Recycled Plastic Decking at the Solar Decathlon from Plastics Make it Possible on Vimeo.

Last month students from around the world gathered on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to compete in the Solar Decathlon, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Twenty teams designed, built and operated solar-powered homes, which were then opened to the public, both to get votes, and to educate people about the latest uses of energy-efficient building practices and materials.

The first, and hardest, part of the competition actually happens before they get to D.C., when the teams design their structures, raise money to build them, and supervise contractors to actually raise them. Then they take them apart -- very carefully! -- and transport them to the National Mall, where they are reassembled on site. The final phase includes the judging, where they are evaluated on 10 different areas:

Architecture - 100 points
Market Viability - 100 points
Engineering - 100 points
Lighting Design - 75 points
Communications - 75 points
Comfort Zone - 100 points
Hot Water - 100 points
Appliances - 100 points
Home Entertainment - 100 points
Net Metering - 150 points

The D.O.E. has several goals for the competition, including educating students about alternative energy solutions, raising public awareness, and stimulating R&D of innovative new technologies.

This year the winners included 2007 champions Team Germany (Technische Universität Darmstadt) in first place, with a home that had photovoltaic panels on every available surface.

In second place was the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a home that combined traditional building techniques with energy efficient technologies.

Third place was awarded to Team California (Santa Clara University, California College of the Arts), with a house that won first place in the Architecture and Communications contests.

All of the entries are pretty inspiring, and offer a great example for anyone considering some home improvements of their own!

The Solar Decathlon originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nuclear Energy, the New Green Hope?

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:07:00 EST

Filed under: News, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

Exelon Byron Nuclear Generating Stations, IL. Photo: JEFF HAYNES, Getty Images

Back in the 70s, I remember nuclear energy being discussed in the same breath as geothermal and solar power. But then the partial core meltdown happened at Three Mile Island in 1979, giving the American public a huge scare about the safety of nuclear reactors.

It didn't help matters when the film "Silkwood", starring Meryl Streep, came out in 1983, showing how workers who were exposed to plutonium had to be literally scrubbed raw -- those decontamination showers are burned into the brains of a generation!

But the climate crisis has created the urgent need for a power source that doesn't produce CO2. There are already several nuclear power-plants online in the U.S. In 31 states there are 104 reactors, which provide about 20% of our energy -- and 70% of our emission-free energy.
As Josh discussed earlier this month, now that the climate bill is making its way through the Senate, thanks to a group of mainly Republican -- but some Democrat -- champions, nuclear power is taking center stage in the debate.

On one side you have the argument that the danger of toxic waste contamination far out-weighs the benefits. There is also the ongoing threat of terrorists targeting a nuclear reactor. The other side of the debate maintains that nuclear is safe, sustainable and abundantly available.

Like the rest of the climate debate, opinions on this topic are strong and convictions are deeply held. What do you think? Should we invest in expanding our nuclear capabilities, or put those resources toward growing alternative energy sources like wind and solar power?

Nuclear Energy, the New Green Hope? originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Green Challenge: Car Racing Gone Green in Australia

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Alternative Energy

If you're into cars that run on alternative fuels, then this is your lucky week. The Global Green Challenge is a 3,000 kilometer race through the center of Australia that starts in Darwin in the north, finishes in Adelaide in the south, and takes the participants through desert, rainforest and coastal plains.

The race, which began as the World Solar Challenge in 1987, is held every two years. Teams come from around the world to race their kooky looking solar-powered cars that resemble space ships. Most of the teams are made up of engineering students, and the competition is quite earnest.

This year, in addition to the solar concept car competition, there will be a second race called The Eco Challenge, which will include alternative fuel cars that are actually in production around the world.

The 17 entries include electric, hydrogen, ethanol, diesel and hybrids from major car makers like Ford, Toyota, and BMW. The Tesla will also be there, and we all know it's going to win, because it's fast, pretty and is representing for NorCal!

You can track the progress of the race this week on the Real Time Map on the Global Green Challenge site, which includes live updates on the weather. As you can imagine, the status of sun vs. rain is of huge interest when you have a bunch of solar powered cars racing each other across a continent!

Global Green Challenge: Car Racing Gone Green in Australia originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will Nuclear Power Thaw the Icy Climate Bill Deadlock?

Josh Loposer — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Alternative Energy

Photo by Alex Wong, Getty Images

Will the inclusion of nuclear energy in the climate bill score it enough votes to actually pass?

In the debate over the current "cap and trade" legislation (or 'Cap'n Trade' as Jon Stewart calls it) that's currently getting kicked around in the Senate chambers, one particular compromise just keeps rearing its controversial little head: Nuclear Energy.

In fact, reports are coming in that Republicans like Lindsay Graham are angling to add language to the climate bill that puts nuclear energy on par with wind or solar power. So, the question now becomes: Are lobbyists, lawmakers and their constituents really ready to play "Let's Make a Deal?"

Up until this point in the debate, it's been easy to avoid that critical nuclear gut check. Now, environmentally aware readers, is the time to decide whether Cap and Trade legislation is worth the compromises it might require to pass.

According to the bill's primary sponsor, John Kerry, all ideas are still on the table. Says Kerry:

"We're going to work in a bona fide way with everybody to see how to bridge a gap here. We've got to get a 60-vote margin. That means you've got to legislate, which means you have to compromise."

We're pretty much all aware of the downsides associated with nuclear energy: contamination, risk of accidents, waste disposal ... need I go on? Aside from the obvious reasons for opposing nuclear energy (Chernobyl), one of the strongest cases against it is logistics. Nuclear power plants are mucho expensive and the don't exactly pop up overnight.

Still, there are some potential benefits that could make the issue a little more palatable for weekend eco-warriors. First off, we already have it. Nuclear energy makes up about 20% of our current energy production. Second, nuclear energy creates substantially lower greenhouse emissions per KWh.

Third, there's a conservationist angle a here as well in the form of a concept known as "energy sprawl." If you've ever driven by a wind farm, you've probably had the same reaction that I did the first time I saw one: 'Whoa, that's freakin' big.'

According to a study by the Nature Conservancy, the areas affected by biofuel and renewable energy production (especially wind) in 2030 could make up a landmass larger than the state of Nebraska. So, that's not exactly ideal either.

How comfortable are you with the idea of a nuclear-powered future? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below.

Will Nuclear Power Thaw the Icy Climate Bill Deadlock? originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kid Rock Unveils Biodiesel-Powered Badass Beer

Josh Loposer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Food, Alternative Energy

(Photo by Geoff Burke, Getty Images)

There's a new eco-friendly beer on tap in The Great Lakes State, and the brewmeister is none other than terminally shirtless rap/rock/country crooner Kid Rock. Apparently, Mr. Rock has been carefully perfecting this beer's flavor for the past year and now it's ready for mass consumption. Here's how Kid Rock describes the beer to the Detroit Free Press:

""American-style lager ... easy to drink without an aftertaste... I'm American, that's what I like to drink, and from looking around the parking lot before my shows, I know that's what my fans drink,"

Thoughtfully dubbed "American Badass Beer," the brew was unveiled at two of Kid Rock's concerts in Detroit last week and is now available statewide in Michigan. American Badass Beer (I'm already getting really annoyed with that title) will be available nationwide over the next year.

If you were getting excited about the prospect that Kid Rock might hang up the microphone and work full time at the brewery, sorry, no such luck. The Michigan Brewing Company is undertaking the production duties, which is also the reason it qualifies as a green beer. The Michigan Brewing Company, like a few other major green breweries, produces its own power from biodiesel generators.

In fact, nearby MSU students are unwittingly aiding Kid Rock's efforts to market his poorly-named green brew. Fryer grease from their cafeterias is powering the aforementioned generators. If the food at Michigan State's cafeterias is anything like the ones at my school, there should be grease aplenty. There was probably enough grease pumping out of our cafeterias to power the entire campus.

I'd warn other green brewers like New Belgium and Sierra Nevada to watch out, but I don't think American Badass Beer is really targeting their demographic. Something about the name and the beer's celebrity spokesman leads me to think that ABB will not be a favorite among the Prius-driving public.

Kid Rock Unveils Biodiesel-Powered Badass Beer originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Legislators Hope to Initiate Solar Bonanza

Josh Loposer — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Polit-eco, Alternative Energy

If you've ever spent time in the Lone Star State, it quickly becomes obvious -- sometimes painfully so -- that Texas enjoys an abundance of burning, scorching sunshine. While not everyone views these rays as a resource yet, lobbyists, policymakers and politicians (the three most dreaded groups in the state) are working on an incentive package to make Texas a leader in solar energy.

Thus far, 69 renewable energy bills have been introduce in this Texas legislative session, and 50 of them focus on boosting the state's solar resources. Some representatives have even taken to calling this the "solar session." According to representative Mark Strama:

"There are senators and representatives that are talking about solar that have never mentioned the word probably in their lives. We've actually heard the term 'global warming,' and two years ago that was called 'the G word' - you didn't talk about it."

Considering the state's success with promoting wind energy, it's easy to imagine that much of the momentum will start to spill over into becoming the preeminent force solar energy as well. Austin Energy just gave the green light to the largest solar farm in the nation, so that's a start.

[via Earth2Tech]

Texas Legislators Hope to Initiate Solar Bonanza originally appeared on Green Daily on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbine Collapse Causes Town to Scrap Wind Project

Josh Loposer — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Local, News, Alternative Energy

Like any other piece of machinery, every so often, a wind turbine will fail and pieces will break off. The problem: the pieces are freakin big ... and that's freakin scary. Earlier this month, a wind turbine mysteriously collapsed in the northern New York community of Altona and the shock waves are still being felt.

A 13 turbine windfarm in neighboring Beekmantown fell prey to safety concerns this week, as it was killed by the city council by a vote of 3-2. Unsurprisingly, the March 17th town hall meeting to discuss the Beekmantown wind farm was dominated by talk about the collapse at Altona -- and council members were among those leading the charge. Says councilman Samuel Dyer: "Excuse my language, but that thing in Altona scared the s-- out of me."

Unfortunately, this is a pretty clear example of how costly mishaps like this one can be for an emerging energy technology. With the collapse in Altona, and the mysterious falling blade in England, there's got to be some concern that turbines could earn the stigma of being unsafe -- a tough thing to get over.

[via CleanTechnica]

Turbine Collapse Causes Town to Scrap Wind Project originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California HOA vs. Cheap Blue Panels - Solar Snobbery

Josh Loposer — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:30:00 EST

Filed under: Home, Local, Alternative Energy

Sure, homeowner's associations can be a good vehicle for enforcing neatness and keeping property values up -- in theory anyway. You won't find me paying a group of amateur lawn police a monthly fee to tell me what color solar panels I can put up on my own house. No thanks.

That's what happened to three homeowners in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, when the HOA's illustrious Art Jury (no joke) denied their plans to put up photovoltaic solar panels based on their appearance. The US-made panels cost 30% less than the dark black panels preferred by the HOA, but they have a dreadful blue tint. Oh no! How will they possible match the neighborhood's uniform appearance?

Fighting back against the HOA, residents went to City Hall, to see if any of its occupants had a lick of common sense. Surprisingly enough, they did. Citing California's 1978 Solar Rights Act, the City of Palos Verdes declared a city override of the Art Jury's ruling. Oddly enough, it was the same Solar Rights Act that allowed one neighbor to force another to chop down his 10 year old redwoods because they were blocking his rays.

[via Treehugger]

California HOA vs. Cheap Blue Panels - Solar Snobbery originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Jellyfish Plug and Play Wind Turbine

Josh Loposer — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home, Alternative Energy

There are so many good things going on with small-scale wind turbines -- they're a beacon of good intentions, affordable, and now super easy to install -- it's a shame that in practice, micro wind's benefits are infamously dubious. Potential counter-productiveness aside, the Jellyfish Wind Appliance is bar none the coolest and weirdest-looking micro turbine to draw major league attention -- and that's saying something.

The Jellyfish's odd design and plug-and-play installation has taken it all the way to the semi finals in Google's Project 10 to the 100th contest. What's so special about this thing? Well, it's mostly two things: it's only going to cost $400 and it plugs directly into a standard wall outlet -- dumping power back onto the grid.

If the prospect of hooking up a vertical axis wind turbine for $400 ($199 with tax rebates) has you salivating, you might want to consider the bigger picture. The Jellyfish will net you all of 40kWh a month -- supposedly enough to power the lights in a home with energy efficient LED lighting. At that rate, you would break even in 7 years.

Would the turbine ever offset its own carbon footprint? I hope so, but I'm a little bit skeptical. You could see the Jellyfish in stores in as soon as 12 months.

[via Treehugger]

The Jellyfish Plug and Play Wind Turbine originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solar Power Gets Brighter in 2008

Eugene Sandhu — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Alternative Energy

2008 may have been the year that solar power started popping up in more places than your calculator.

The Solar Energy Industries Association announced in a report today that solar energy capacity increased by 17 percent last year. Government stimulus programs have helped get that growth rate and this year's stimulus package has a bunch of provisions for getting solar power closer to the main stream.

And the not-so-good news? While the survey said that 2008 was a great year, 2009 may be a different story. The global meltdown hit the industry pretty hard in the first quarter. The financial crisis has dried up a lot of financing for an industry that requires a lot of cash (getting power from photovoltaic panels costs three times as much as wind-generated energy).

So, what's going to boost the solar industry? The solar folks are looking for federal policies that would mandate a percentage of US energy come from renewable power. They also want a "solar carve-out" policy that would ensure a certain percentage of renewable energy come from sun power. Similar requirements have already been implemented in a dozen individual states but the industry is looking for federal policies to really get solar going.

Solar Power Gets Brighter in 2008 originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Requests for Nuclear Permits are up, Way up

Josh Loposer — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polit-eco, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

Will the green glow of America's carbon-conscious energy future be tinted with a radioactive overtones? The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is currently sitting on requests to build 26 new reactors, and they expects to receive applications for seven more by the year's end. With public sentiment for nuclear energy in relatively positive territory, you and a nuclear reactor could soon be neighbors.

According to a recent survey, 73% of Americans say that it would be "acceptable to build a new reactor within 100 miles of their home." Of course, build it closer, and support erodes rather quickly. Still, with a pro-nuke Energy Secretary, and a growing realization that renewable energy is going to struggle in today's energy market. "Aspirations for lower-carbon, or zero-carbon electricity, are unattainable without nuclear in the mix," says global generation expert Daniel Kruger. Right now, there are 104 nuclear power plants in the US, which pump out about 20% of the nation's electricity. Obviously, adding another 33 could make huge gains in terms of greenhouse emissions, but are we really ready to confront the disposal of radioactive waste?

Requests for Nuclear Permits are up, Way up originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Cheap Gas Killing the Hybrid Market?

Josh Loposer — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Alternative Energy, Green by the Numbers

If you're in the market for a new car, you've probably noticed that the number of hybrids parked on dealer lots higher than ever -- even as the market for cars in general has collapsed. Much of the reason for this is the intense tongue-lashing the auto industry has received for focusing on SUVs and not the smaller, fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow. The trouble is, now that a glut of hybrids are being pumped into the market, the demand for hybrids seems to be vanishing like a mirage.

This month, Toyota celebrated the sale of its 1,000,000th hybrid -- and while execs were reveling in their hybrid domination, they were also digesting the news that Prius sales were down 33% since last February. Hybrid sales across the board are down almost 2/3rds since last April. "When gas prices came down, the priority of buying a hybrid fell off quite quickly," says Wes Brown of LA-based Iceology. In some places, car buyers are trending back towards SUVs and trucks. Still, the slate for most automakers, especially the ones who took bailout money (ahem, GM and Chrysler), is loaded to the brim with hybrids and fuel-sippers. Has the demand for hybrids really collapsed, or is it just the ailing economy? Is our fuel consciousness truly only engaged when energy prices rise?

[via AutoblogGreen]

Is Cheap Gas Killing the Hybrid Market? originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shell Making Zero Wind or Solar Investments in 2009

Josh Loposer — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, Alternative Energy

Big Oil haters, you're not going to like this news. At a press conference Tuesday, the head of Royal Dutch Shell's gas and power unit announced that they will be making a grand total of zero major investments into renewable energy in the forseable future. According to Shell's Linda Cook,

"We do not expect material amounts of investment in those areas going forward... They continue to struggle to compete with the other investment opportunities we have in our portfolio."

Wow, how quickly things can change. Last year, Big Oil was busy describing their mind-blowing plans for a clean energy future, and this year ... nothing? Well, technically it's not nothing -- Shell plans to pursue some involvement with biofuels, many of which have been called out as 'worse than gasoline.' Sure, I expected some of the enthusiasm over solar and wind to die down as oil prices plummeted $100 per barrel, but I can't say I expected a total 180. Sheesh. To be fair, Shell never did go into full greenwashing mode, but they do own 550MW of wind capacity. Guess it just can't compete with $47/barrel oil.

Shell Making Zero Wind or Solar Investments in 2009 originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Veranda Solar Unveils Plug and Play Panels for Urban Types

Josh Loposer — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Home, GreenTech, Alternative Energy

Have a screwdriver and an electrical outlet? Then you can become a solar panel installation expert. Solar Start-up Veranda Solar has been showing off new photovoltaic designs that are making condo-dwelling DIY solar enthusiasts lick their chops. Aside from looking kinda cool, Veranda's panels are super easy to install and are designed to live in all types of cramped spaces like windowsill, gutters, or balconies. All you've got to do is bolt them on and plug them in.

Oh yeah, did I mention that they're also fairly cheap? Though they're not available just yet, a 70 watt system -- inverter and all -- would cost about $600. That, along with the fact that they're about as easy to install as a small satellite dish makes me think these things are going to be hugely popular. The prototype -- developed in conjunction with Stanford University and SunPower Corp. -- won Veranda a €100,000 prize in the PICNIC Green Challenge, which is helping speed up the marketing process. They're also developing smaller add-on panels that snap on if 70W isn't enough for you.

[via Treehugger]

Veranda Solar Unveils Plug and Play Panels for Urban Types originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Green Motor Oil No Longer an Oxymoron?

Josh Loposer — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Alternative Energy, Plants and Wildlife

Outside of a major oil company's heavily greenwashed marketing campaign, you won't hear very many people use the words green and motor oil in the same sentence. Yet, if you walk down the lubricants aisle at your local auto part store, you may soon see both terms on the same bottle. That's because Green Earth Technologies has just become the first bio-oil to get the API seal of approval on their totally biodegradable, fat-based G Oil.

Green Earth Technologies' model is made entirely out of fat from American-bred livestock, and as the company likes to brag: "it takes three barrels of crude oil to make one barrel of motor oil, but it only takes one barrel of animal fat to produce one barrel of G-Oil." Getting the American Petroleum Institute's Service Symbol stamped on a quart of your 5W-30 is pretty much the equivalent of getting the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on an oven or dishwasher." Basically, it's shorthand for telling people 'hey, this stuff actually works.' Now, the real question: does it?

To be fair, traditional motor oil comes from animal fat -- it's just that the animals have been dead for billions of years. Who wants to be the first to test it out in their engine?

[via AutoblogGreen]

Green Motor Oil No Longer an Oxymoron? originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VegaWatt Converts Fast Food Grease into Power

Josh Loposer — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Gadgets and Tech, Alternative Energy

Imagine a world where nobody steals used cooking oil, because there's no grease trap. Instead, every fast food place in town reuses their grease to heat and power their restaurant with a VegaWatt cogeneration system. About the size of a washer/dryer combo, the VegaWatt disposes of used fry oil by running it through a 4-stage cleaning process and burning it in an EPA Tier 4 diesel generator to supplement 10-25% of a restaurant's power, and it's fully automated.

The VegaWatt has the capacity to guzzle the grease of restaurants equipped with 3-5 fryers -- and if you've got more than 5 fryers ... wow, you really must like deep fried food. Unlike putting up a wind turbine, solar panels, etc. the VegaWatt not only provides you with clean power, but it also saves you money in other areas. The VegaWatt's coling system pumps water throught the contraption and then back out to your water heater, lightening the load on your water heater. Even better, you don't have to pay a service to come pump your grease trap. In a lot of ways, it's similar to that trash gobbling dumpster.

[via Inhabitat]

VegaWatt Converts Fast Food Grease into Power originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ag Secretaries Ask Obama to Raise Ethanol Blend Limits

Josh Loposer — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Alternative Energy, Green by the Numbers

What's the ethanol industry to do when both consumers and the scientific community fail to recognize the benefits of corn-based fuel? Like most other industries of scale, the only thing left appears to be to lobby the government to push the product. After a glut of studies have indicated that ethanol might be worse for the environment than gas, the struggling ethanol industry has convinced Ag secretaries from 11 states to send a letter that appeals directly to President Obama.

Current ethanol regulation caps gas-ethanol blends at 10%. Unless of course you're going with E85 (85% ethanol), and most cars aren't built to withstand its corrosive effects. The coalition of Ag secretaries are hoping that the government will boost corn sales by allowing a 15% or even 20% ethanol blend. In the letter to the President, the ethanol enthusiasts contend that ethanol reduces GHG, a claim that has been hotly disputed recently. Another primary justification for expanding ethanol, which garnered 66% of federal renewable energy subsidies in 2007, is that it would help fund research into more efficient means of ethanol production, like cellulosic ethanol.

[via AutoblogGreen]

Read the letter after the break.

Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to thank you for your strong support of renewable energy and respectfully request your continued leadership on this issue by encouraging the acceptance of ethanol blends beyond the current regulatory cap of 10 percent.

For more than 30 years, ethanol has had a positive impact on our economy. Clean, affordable, domestically produced ethanol has enhanced America's economy through job growth, increased domestic production and a larger tax base. In 2007 alone, the ethanol industry created more than 200,000 American jobs that cannot be exported or outsourced, while contributing $47.6 billion to our GDP and generating $4.6 billion in tax revenues.

Ethanol has environmental benefits as well. In addition to being completely biodegradable, ethanol has been shown to dramatically reduce tailpipe emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 13 trillion tons of greenhouse gases were avoided in 2007 due to the use of biofuels. Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently announced that ethanol produced from corn can reduce GHG emissions by as much as 62 percent relative to gasoline. As we expand cellulosic ethanol production in the coming years, even greater GHG reductions will be realized.

The EPA's longstanding decision to limit the base blend of ethanol to 10 percent was based on 1970s science, antiquated fuel systems designs, and outdated technology. Conversely, countries like Brazil have successfully utilized blends between E20 and E100 for decades. The EPA implemented the E10 blend limit at a time when ethanol production capacity and conversion efficiency was a fraction of what it is today.

In the 21st century, ethanol offers a sustainable solution to our country's energy needs, while reducing our dependency on foreign oil and addressing the serious challenge of global climate change.

The federal government embraced this concept through passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which among other things, mandated 36 billion gallons of ethanol be blended into our domestic fuel supply by 2022. However, the current EPA regulatory cap of 10 percent ethanol hinders that opportunity. Simply put, there is a government rule contradicting a government law. Now is the time to move forward by increasing the base fuel blend to 15 or 20 percent ethanol.

As you know, the American ethanol industry is under considerable financial stress. Much of this pressure stems from the fact that ethanol, unlike oil, is held to less than 10 percent of the market. By moving beyond the 10 percent cap, we can improve domestic investment, stimulate our economy with green jobs, and enable our country to comply with the existing Renewable Fuels Standard.

Timing is critical. American ethanol production has nearly reached 10 percent saturation. We must move to a base blend of 15 or 20 percent in 2009 in order to continue growing this vital industry. By working together to promote domestic production and improve market access, we can continue to deliver a clean, renewable fuel that has a positive impact on our domestic economy.

Thank you for your leadership and support.

Ag Secretaries Ask Obama to Raise Ethanol Blend Limits originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Coal Projects Get the Axe

Josh Loposer — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Alternative Energy, Climate Change

Coal haters, it appears that your protests have been heard loud and clear. Because of the negative backlash from the public, clashes with green protesters, and -- perhaps most important -- the threat of profit-killing restrictions imposed at the federal level, a steadily growing list of coal power projects are being shelved or tossed out completely. America's growing lust for electricity appears to be colliding head on with widespread concerns about air quality, mountaintop removal, and climate change.

As of now, coal is far and away the largest source of energy in the US -- but the question marks plaguing its future are slowly taking the shine off of investments in the coal power industry. According to Wayne Leonard, CEO of Entegy: "when you look at the risks around the coal plant at this time, it's very hard to justify." The feeling appears to be mutual, as energy companies consider the Obama administration's promises to mandate CO2 restrictions. Since November, no less than nine coal power projects have either been delayed or challenged, even as the demand for electricity grows. If this does spell the end for coal, the next two readily available candidates to fill the gap are natural gas and nuclear.

[via Earth2Tech]

US Coal Projects Get the Axe originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Austin Approves the Nation's Largest Solar Plant

Josh Loposer — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Local, News, Alternative Energy

Proud home of all things supersized, Texas will soon be the home to the largest solar PV farm in the US -- one of the largest in the world. Last week, Austin's tree hugging city council unanimously approved plans to build the solar system, which will cover about 320 acres already owned by the city's utility company Austin Energy. The 30MW plant will provide enough energy to power about 5,000 area homes, and could be up and running by 2010.

Austin Energy has committed to producing 30% of its power through renewable resources by the year 2020, but as of yet, a whopping 99% of it comes from wind farms. In order to strike some sense of balance, Austin was able to hammer out a deal with Gemini Solar, who will own and operate the farm, with Austin Energy paying a flat $10M annually. Amidst major budget upheaval due to the recession, Austin officials have decided to continue on the path towards the 30% goal, hedging their bets that the a piece of the stimulus package might come their way. Mayor Will Wynn also noted that the solar project would put Austin in a better position should Obama's carbon-trading scheme be appoved.

[via Earth2Tech]

Austin Approves the Nation's Largest Solar Plant originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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