A movie production goes carbon neutral!

The producer of the movie Evan Almighty is working with the conservation fund to go carbon neutral! Heres more about the organization and their plans: ABOUT GO ZERO WE CAN ALL START SOMEWHERE BECAUSE ITS WHAT WE DO TOGETHER THAT MATTERS

As part of its Climate Change Program, The Conservation Fund launched Go ZeroSM to engage people around the world -- companies, communities, and individuals -- in the effort to combat climate change. Go Zero measures the specific carbon dioxide emissions of virtually any slice of life, from travel-related emissions to corporate headquarters, high profile events to single individuals. The Conservation Fund then offsets that impact by planting native trees, which absorb carbon dioxide as they grow.

Since 2000, The Conservation Fund has restored nearly 30,000 acres and planted nine million trees through its carbon sequestration program. Over the next 100 years, these new forests will capture an estimated 13 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere.

The Go Zero program was created to calculate and offset the annual carbon dioxide emitted by a specific activity, business, organization or individual. Therefore, all "carbon credits" are retired and cannot be banked for future offset purposes or sold.

GO ZERO PRINCIPLES

ALL GO ZERO PROJECTS ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES:

• NATIVE SPECIES: All Go Zero reforestation uses tree species native to the region in which they are planted and chosen to restore fully functioning natural systems.
• PERMANENCE: The Conservation Fund works with the nation's leading public natural resource agencies to ensure that trees are planted in permanently protected areas that have long-term management plans to ensure accuracy and reliability of carbon sequestration.
• ADDITIONALITY: All Go Zero projects result in the capture of additional carbon dioxide compared to that which would otherwise have occurred without native tree planting.
• ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS: Go Zero reforestation projects provide additional environmental benefits including restored wildlife habitat, improved air and water quality and enhanced recreation areas.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Native trees and forests help fight climate change as part of a natural process called photosynthesis. As they grow, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (C0₂ is one of the most potent greenhouse gases) and convert it into oxygen. In addition to trapping the dangerous gases that cause climate change, these new forests help to protect water quality, restore wildlife habitat and enhance public recreation areas.

The process of trapping carbon in forests, soils, geological formations and other carbon “sinks” is called carbon sequestration. Through its pioneering Carbon Sequestration Program, The Conservation Fund has become the nation's leading environmental nonprofit working to implement on-the-ground solutions that address climate change. Since 2000, The Conservation Fund has restored 30,000 acres and planted more than 9 million trees through its carbon sequestration program.

Over the next 100 years, these new forests will capture an estimated 13.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere. The majority of these trees are planted and monitored by Environmental-Synergy, Inc. a group of leading scientists that specializes in reforestation and carbon sequestration monitoring. Reforestation efforts are currently focused on the Lower Mississippi River Valley – an area that has lost more than 20 million acres of bottomland hardwood forest in the last century.

Google, Intel in 'green' initiative

Partnering with other tech giants, companies will push for 90% efficient computers and server systems.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Reuters) -- Web search leader Google Inc. and semiconductor maker Intel Corp. launched a broad-based program Tuesday to introduce more energy-efficient personal computers and server systems to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Called the "Climate Savers Computing Initiative," the new program has signed on computer makers Dell Inc. (Charts, Fortune 500), Hewlett-Packard Co. (Charts, Fortune 500), IBM (Charts, Fortune 500), Lenovo Group Ltd. , software maker Microsoft Corp. (Charts, Fortune 500), the Environmental Protection Agency and more than 25 environmental groups, companies and universities for the energy savings campaign.

The program will set new efficiency goals for computers and software tools that manage power consumption.

It comes at a time when Silicon Valley has made clean technology a priority as it seeks to play a greater role in reducing the harmful effects of climate change attributed to global warming.

Google (Charts, Fortune 500) co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have thrown capital behind numerous environmentally friendly ventures, including the installation of one of the largest solar energy systems to power their sprawling headquarters.

The program requires a 90 percent efficiency standard for power supplies, said Urs Holzle, senior vice president of operations at Google.

More efficient computing could trim the use of electricity that now is being wasted as heat, which in turn, especially in large server centers, requires more power for air conditioning.

"Today, the average desktop PC wastes nearly half of its power and the average server wastes one-third of its power," Holzle said.

A 90 percent standard would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 54 million tons a year and save more than $5.5 billion in energy costs, he said at a meeting at Google's headquarters in Mountain View.

Google aims to go carbon-neutral by year-end!

The Web search giant plans to cut or offset all of its greenhouse emissions by the end of 2007 by investing in efficiency, renewable energy and carbon offsets.

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Google aims to voluntarily cut or offset all of its greenhouse emissions by the end of the year, the Web search leader said Tuesday.

Google (Charts, Fortune 500) is one of a number of companies - including News Corp. (Charts, Fortune 500) and Yahoo! (Charts, Fortune 500) - that are attempting to cut emissions of gases scientists link to global warming.

To make the cuts, Google is investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy like solar and will purchase carbon offsets for emissions it cannot reduce directly, the company said.

"On their own, carbon offsets are not capable of creating the kinds of fundamental changes to our energy infrastructure that will be necessary to stabilize global greenhouse gas emissions to safe levels," Google said on its Web site.

"But we believe that offsets can offer real, measurable and additional emissions reductions that allow us to take full responsibility for our footprint today."

European companies can invest in carbon offsets through a Kyoto Protocol U.N. program that allows rich countries to invest in clean projects in developing nations. The United States did not ratify the Kyoto pact, but some U.S. companies have begun to offset emissions on a voluntary, unregulated basis.

Google said it would invest in projects like capturing and burning methane, a greenhouse gas with about 20 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, from animal waste at Mexican and Brazilian farms.

"Our funding makes it possible for anaerobic digesters to be installed, which capture and flare the bio gas produced while simultaneously improving local air quality and reducing land and water contamination," Google said.

Separately, Google is planning to spend $600 million to build a data center in western Iowa that will receive power from a MidAmerican Energy plant fired by coal, the fuel that emits the most carbon dioxide. A Google spokesman told Reuters all emissions from its Iowa project were accounted for in its carbon neutral plan.

Nonprofit emissions advisers, The Climate Group, said they will partner with Google to support its offset plans.

Google last week launched a program with semiconductor-maker Intel (Charts, Fortune 500) to introduce more energy-efficient personal computers and server systems.

News Corp. pledged in May to become carbon-neutral by 2010.

U.S. electric vehicle research funded

WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy has selected five next-generation vehicle research projects to share in $19 million in government funding.

The projects are designed to further development of hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. Combined with industry cost sharing, the selected projects will receive total funding of nearly $34 million, officials said.

The projects will focus on reducing the cost, weight and size of electric drive and power conversion devices, while increasing vehicle efficiency.

The winning projects were submitted by Delphi Automotive Systems in Troy, Mich.; Virginia Polytechnic Institute of Blacksburg, Va.; General Electric Global Research of Niskayuna, N.Y.; the General Motors Corp. in Torrance, Calif.; and the U.S. Hybrid Corp. of Torrance, Calif.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

U.S. solar energy research projects funded

WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy has released $22.7 million for basic research projects aimed at improving the capture, conversion and use of solar energy.

Officials said the research involving 27 projects at 23 universities and national laboratories will help increase the amount of solar power in the nation's energy supply.

"These projects are part of our aggressive basic research in the physical sciences -- what I call 'transformational science' -- aimed at achieving a new generation of breakthrough technologies that will push the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy sources to levels comparable to petroleum and natural gas sources," said U.S. Energy Undersecretary for Science Raymond Orbach.

The research will address two priority technical areas: the conversion of solar energy to electricity (14 projects, $9.9 million over three years) and conversion of solar energy to chemical fuels (13 projects, $12.8 million over three years).

Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

Deforestation impacts climate change

CAMPBELL, Australia, May 15 (UPI) -- An Australian study has determined tropical deforestation releases 1.6 billion tons of carbon into the Earth's atmosphere each year.

Pep Canadell and colleagues from the Global Carbon Project and the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization found deforestation in the tropics accounts for nearly 20 percent of carbon emissions due to human activities.

"This will release an estimated 87 (billion) to 130 billion tons of carbon by 2100, which is greater than the amount of carbon that would be released by 13 years of global fossil fuel combustion," said Canadell, "so maintaining forests as carbon sinks will make a significant contribution to stabilizing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations."

He said his team's findings suggest considerable value in preserving tropical forests such as those in Indonesia and the Amazon as carbon sinks.

The research, called the first study of its kind, involved scientists from the United States, Britain, Brazil and France who compared data from 11 climate-carbon computer models. The results are detailed in the journal Science.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

Using Microalgae To Try To Eliminate Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Science Daily — Scientists of the University of Almeria, led by Gabriel Acién, are carrying out a research project on the development of new systems to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions using microalgae photosynthetic activity. This project, called CENIT CO₂, is being developed by Spanish electricity company Endesa on the initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Industry.

On the pilot plant developed at the experimental station of Las Palmerillas, which depends on Spanish bank Cajamar, Almeria-based researchers try to prove the validity of this new method for eliminating CO₂ emissions. It seems that in one year time, the system will be fully operative and therefore tests can be started at an industrial level. Researchers say that ENDESA, which is promoting this research line, may test its application in some of the facilities which, a priori, could show better results- the small gas plants.

The mechanism developed is simple on paper. By the gas emission points a water tank would be installed in order to retain the pollutant gases resulting from a specific industrial process. This polluted water would go through a system of bioreactors with a microalgae culture system, which would then transform the CO₂ emissions into vegetal matter and oxygen through the photosynthesis process’, researchers say.

This system also offers the added value of the resulting materials, as in addition to purified air, the organic matter obtained could be reused as fuel for biomass plants, transforming it into biofuel through fermentation or using it in agriculture.

Today, the single technology available with similar applications is based on the use of etanolamines, which do not have the added value microalgae have and also their applicability and profitability in industrial processes shows is not very satisfactory, the resulting gases being used for geological storage.

McCain's stand on environmental issues

Taken from McCain's campaign website: Stewards of Our Nation's Rich Natural Heritage John McCain has a proud record of common sense stewardship. Along with his commitment to clean air and water, and to conserving open space, he has been a leader on the issue of global warming with the courage to call the nation to action on an issue we can no longer afford to ignore.

America has been blessed with a rich and diverse natural heritage. In the tradition of his hero, Theodore Roosevelt, John McCain believes that we are vested with a sacred duty to be proper stewards of the resources upon which the quality of American life depends. Ensuring clean air, safe and healthy water, sustainable land use, ample greenspace - and the faithful care and management of our natural treasures, including our proud National Park System - is a patriotic responsibility. One that must be met not only for the benefit of our generation, but for our children and those to whom we will pass the American legacy.

John McCain believes that America's economic and environmental interests are not mutually exclusive, but rather inextricably linked. Our economic prospects depend greatly upon the sustainable use of ample and unspoiled natural resources. A clean and healthy environment is well served by a strong economy. History shows that poverty is a poor steward.

As John McCain said, "Americans solve problems. We don't run from them." He believes that ignoring the problem reflects a "liberal live for today" attitude unworthy of our great country, and poses a serious and unacceptable threat to our environment, our economy, and U.S. national security. He has offered common sense approaches to limit carbon emissions by harnessing market forces that will bring advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, to the market faster, reduce our dependence on foreign supplies of energy, and see to it that America leads in a way that ensures all nations do their rightful share.

By addressing this problem responsibly, John McCain believes we can meet our obligation to be proper caretakers of creation, in a manner of which we can be proud - by protecting our country, strengthening our economy, and addressing the challenges of our time, rather than leaving a much worse problem for our children.

Mitt Romney's stand on energy independence

Taken from Romney's campaign website:

We must become independent from foreign sources of oil. This will mean a combination of efforts related to conservation and efficiency measures, developing alternative sources of energy like biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear, and coal gasification, and finding more domestic sources of oil such as in ANWR or the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Governor Romney: "We're using too much oil," Romney said. "We have an answer. We can use alternative sources of energy -- biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear power -- and we can drill for more oil here. We can be more energy independent and we can be far more efficient in the use of that energy."

^{(Waterloo Courier, September 29, 2006)}

Giuliani's Environmental Standing

Taken from an article in the San Fransico Chronicle:

"I do believe there's global warming, yes,'' said Giuliani, in response to reporters' questions following his talk to the Churchill Club. "The big question has always been how much of it is happening because of natural climate changes and how much of it is happening because of human intervention.''

But "the overwhelming number of scientists now believe that there is significant human cause,'' he said, adding the debate on the existence of global warming "is almost unnecessary ... because we should be dealing with pollution anyway.''

He also delivered a sharp jab at former Vice President Al Gore, saying his Academy Award-nominated documentary about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth,'' serves to "frighten people ... but it doesn't really recommend solutions,'' such as nuclear power.

GIULIANI HAS NO MENTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT OR GLOBAL WARMING ON HIS CAMPAIGN WEBSITE OR IN HIS PLATFORM ( Fiscal Discipline, Cutting Taxes, Winning the War on Terror, Iraq, Public Safety, Judges, Education, Abortion, Second Amendment, Marriage).

Obama's Standing on Energy and the Environment

Taken from Obamas campaign website:

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Our Fuels

The oil used in the U.S. transportation sector accounts for one-third of our nation's emissions of greenhouse gases. Barack Obama's plan will reduce carbon in our fuel supply by establishing a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The standard would require that all transportation fuels sold in the U.S.contain 5 percent less carbon by 2015 and 10 percent less carbon by 2020. The legislation would let market forces decide the most efficient way to reduce emissions and would spur significant investment in renewable fuels, such as corn and cellulosic ethanol, and biodiesel made from plant oils such as soybeans. According to one estimate, Obama's legislation would reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 180 million metric tons in 2020. This is the equivalent of taking over 30 million cars off the road in 2020.

Breaking the Fuel Efficiency Logjam

Senator Obama led a bipartisan effort to raise CAFE fuel economy standards, which have remained frozen for 20 years because of congressional gridlock. He developed an innovative approach to gradually increase CAFE standards while protecting the financial future of American automakers. The resulting Obama-Lugar-Biden bill would establish concrete targets for annual CAFE increases while giving industry the flexibility to meet those targets. The Obama-Lugar-Biden Fuel Economy Reform Act has gained the support of Senators who had never supported CAFE increases before, and the basic concept of the legislation was endorsed by President Bush in his 2007 State of the Union address.

Making a Deal With Detroit: Health for Hybrids

Senator Obama introduced legislation encouraging automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by helping the companies shoulder the health care costs of their retirees. Domestic automakers would get health care assistance in exchange for their investing 50 percent of the savings into technology to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Expanding the Use of E85 and Other Renewable Fuels

While there are more than 180,000 gas stations all over America, there are only about 1200 that offer E85 -- a blend of 85 percent clean-burning, domestically grown ethanol and 15 percent petroleum gasoline. Gas stations will now be eligible for tax credits for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps, thanks to a law advocated by Barack Obama and Senator Jim Talent (R-MO). The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85. Obama's legislation will help create the infrastructure to support more flexible-fuel vehicles (cars that run on both E85 and regular gasoline). Senator Obama also sponsored an amendment that became law providing $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within five years.

Senator Obama introduced legislation with Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) to require 2 billion gallons of alternative diesels, such as biodiesel, to be produced domestically by 2015. Obama also sponsored legislation requiring oil companies, that made at least $1 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2006 to invest at least 1 percent of the their total reported first quarter 2006 profits into installing E85 pumps.

Senator Obama worked with Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) to introduce the American Fuels Act that would increase the domestic production, distribution, and use of biofuels, including expanded manufacture of flexible fuel vehicles, tax credits for biofuels, and a nationwide distribution infrastructure.

Senator Obama and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), launched a Government Accountability Office investigation of large oil companies to see if they are fighting the installation of alternative fuel pumps. That investigation will be completed in April 2007.

Global Climate Change

We need to take steps to stop catastrophic, manmade climate change. If we do not act, the consequences will be devastating for future generations, especially for the poorest global populations. Barack Obama believes the U.S. must act decisively and creatively to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Obama is an original cosponsor of legislation to establish limits on greenhouse gas emissions. To remain below these limits, the bill encourages the market to determine how best to reduce greenhouse gases, rewarding cost-effective approaches through a system of tradeable allowances. Revenues generated from this program will be directed to helping industries and individuals most affected by the limits, and also to fund research and development of new, more efficient, energy technologies.

Edwards's plan to address global warming

All taken from Edwards's campaign site: "Our generation must be the one that says, 'we must halt global warming.' Our generation must be the one that says 'yes' to renewable fuels and ends forever our dependence on foreign oil. And our generation must be the one that builds the new energy economy. It won't be easy, but it is time to ask the American people to be patriotic about something other than war." – John Edwards

Halting Global Warming by Capping Carbon Emissions

The Edwards Plan:

• Cap and Reduce Global Warming Pollution: Edwards will set an economy-wide limit on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. He will build on the precedent of the Clean Air Act of 1990 -- which limited pollution causing acid rain through a sulfur dioxide cap-and-trade system -- to reduce pollution in a cost-effective and flexible manner.
  • Use Science to Set the Caps: Edwards will cap greenhouse gases at levels that the latest climate science has determined to be necessary to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. He will reduce greenhouse pollution by 20 percent by 2020, and reduce it by 80 percent by 2050.
  • Make Polluters Pay: Edwards will auction off a portion of the pollution permits to raise $10 billion a year for a New Energy Economy Fund to jumpstart clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies and create 1 million jobs. Other permits will be sold or given away.
• Lead the World toward a New Global Climate Change Treaty: Climate change is an international problem and the U.S. can never solve it alone. China is building the equivalent of one large coal-fired power plant a week and is expected to pass the U.S. as the world's largest polluter of carbon dioxide in 2009. [NYT, 3/17/2007; WSJ, 3/3/2007] To lead the world toward a new, effective climate change treaty, Edwards will:

• Make Our Own Commitments to Restore Our Moral Leadership: The U.S. has 4 percent of the world's population but produces a quarter of its carbon dioxide emissions. It is one of only three developed nations that has refused to limit its greenhouse gas pollution. By adopting caps, Edwards will help the U.S. regain credibility in the world without sacrificing American competitiveness. [Irish Times, 2/14/2007; Greenwire, 10/31/2006]
• Involve Developing Economies: Any climate change treaty must include developing countries, which emit significant amounts of carbon and could otherwise serve as a haven for polluters. However, these nations are poorer than the U.S. and emit far less carbon per capita. To bring them to the table, Edwards will share America's clean energy technology in exchange for binding greenhouse reduction commitments. If necessary, he will insist that strong labor and environmental standards in our trade deals include commitments on climate change. This new deal will require global participation, promote shared responsibility, and let American workers and businesses compete on a level playing field.

Creating the New Energy Economy and 1 Million Jobs

The Edwards Plan:

• Create the New Energy Economy Fund: To jumpstart our investment in the future, Edwards will create the $13 billion-a-year New Energy Economy Fund. The fund will be financed by greenhouse gas polluters through the sale of emission permits and by ending taxpayer giveaways for big oil companies, including special tax subsidies and sweetheart terms in offshore drilling leases. The resources will double the Department of Energy's budget for efficiency and renewable energy, accelerate new energy technologies to market and help new businesses get started, encourage consumers to buy efficient products, and provide transition assistance to workers in carbon-intensive industries.
• Invest in Renewable Sources of Electricity: Renewable energy has been seen as socially desirable but costly. However, wind is already competitive with conventional sources in many markets. Solar could be competitive within three to eight years. [RAND, 2006; Economist, 3/10/2007]
  • Make 25 Percent of Our Energy Renewable: Edwards will require power companies to generate 25 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025. A large expansion of renewable energy can reduce costs under current trends, according to a 2006 RAND study. In Texas, a similar requirement achieved its goals quickly with negligible costs through the accelerated development of wind power. [RAND, 2006]
  • Dedicate Resources to Renewable Energy: Edwards will double the Department of Energy research budget, allowing it to reduce the cost and accelerate the marketability of current technologies to put clean solar, wind, and biomass into more communities. He will also encourage private investment by making permanent tax credits for the production of renewable energy; they currently expire at the end of 2008.
  • Maximize the Potential of Cleaner, Safer Coal: Coal will be an important source of U.S. and global electricity for decades, but it is responsible for more than 30 percent of America's carbon dioxide emissions. Edwards will invest $1 billion a year to research ways to burn coal cleanly and recycle its carbon underground permanently. He will also strengthen mine safety laws to ensure it is mined safely. Two large power companies, TXU and American Electric Power, recently announced plans to build experimental plants to capture carbon. [NYT, 3/15/2007 and 3/17/2007; McFarland, Herzog, and Jacoby, 2007]
• Transform the Auto Industry to Lead the World in Cars of the Future: Edwards believes that everyone should be able to drive the car, truck or SUV of their choice and still enjoy high fuel economy. American automakers have the ingenuity to lead the world in building the clean, safe, economical cars of the future.

• Reduce Oil Imports by 7.5 Million Barrels a Day by 2025: America's need for imported oil forces it to rely on unstable and even hostile countries. Edwards called for a national goal to reduce oil imports by 7.5 million barrels a day by 2025 – nearly a third of the oil projected to be used in 2025 -- and get us on the path toward energy independence. [DOE, 2007]
• Help U.S. Automakers Modernize: Edwards will provide $1 billion a year to help U.S. automakers advance and apply the latest technology, including biofuels, hybrid and electric cars, hydrogen fuel cells, ultra-light materials, and drive train improvements. These resources will be financed from the New Energy Economy Fund and also help manufacturers meet higher fuel economy requirements. With a strong ethanol industry that includes cellulosic ethanol and hybrid and electric technology, American cars and trucks can be virtually petroleum-free within a generation.
• Produce 65 Billion Gallons of Ethanol a Year by 2025: However, although millions of ethanol-ready cars are on the roads, only about 600 of the 169,000 gas stations have pumps for E85, a blend of ethanol and gasoline. Edwards will require oil companies to install ethanol pumps at 25 percent of their gas stations and require all new cars sold after 2010 to be "flex fuel" cars running on either gasoline or biofuel. The New Economy Energy Fund will develop new methods of producing and using ethanol, including cellulosic ethanol, and offer loan guarantees to new refineries. [RAND, 2006; DOE, 2005; USDA, 2005]
• Raise Fuel Economy Standards: American cars and trucks are less efficient than they were two decades ago, despite the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. Standards in China, Japan, and the European Union are between 40 and 100 percent higher. Edwards will raise standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2016, a step that could single-handedly reduce oil demand by 4 million barrels per day. [Pew Center on Global Climate Change, 2004; Reicher, 2007]

• Open the Electricity Grids to Distributed and Renewable Generation: Traditionally, electricity has been produced at large, central power plants and transmitted through miles of power lines. Distributed generation of electricity promises reliable, clean, cost-effective production that is less vulnerable to natural disasters and attacks. Farms, factories, schools, and communities ought to be able to establish their own power sources and compete with traditional plants to sell wholesale capacity, as New England has pioneered. [DOE, 2000; New England ISO, 2006] To open up the grid to innovation, Edwards will:

• Create Millions of Local Sources of Renewable Energy: Edwards will provide up to a $5,000 tax credit for homes and small businesses that invest in onsite generation of renewable energy like solar, wind, and geothermal power. He will also encourage local generation of renewable energy through "net metering," which allows families to sell extra power back to utilities for credits against their electricity bills.
• Encourage Distributed Generation: Edwards will cut the red tape that hinders new energy producers from selling their power to the grid. He will require utilities to consider distributed generation as a means of lowering costs compared to new investments in centralized production and transmission.
• Research the Next Generation of Small Scale Renewable Energy: Edwards will invest in researching more profitable sources of renewable energy generation. For example, biomass engines producing both heat and power that can be three times more efficient than traditional distribution. [Hill, 2001]

Meet the Demand for More Electricity through Efficiency

The Edwards Plan:

• Meet New Demand for Electricity through Efficiency for the Next Decade: Electricity demand is projected to increase by 1.5 percent a year between 2008 and 2018, on average. Edwards called for a national goal of meeting this demand by getting more power out of the electricity we use now, instead of producing more electricity. As a result, electricity use would be 15 lower by 2018 and renewable energy would have a better opportunity to gain market share. Increased efficiency includes managing peaks in demand and modernizing the electric grid and is largely achievable with current technology. [DOE, 2007; EPA Energy Star, 2006]
• Make Efficiency Profitable for Utilities: Most utilities profit from selling electricity, even when it would be cheaper to help their customers use less energy. Edwards will call on states to decouple utilities' energy profits from sales, as California and nine other states have done, so they can focus on serving customer needs. States can also reward utilities for meeting green energy targets. [National Regulatory Research Institute, 2006]
• Expand Smart Meters and Smart Grids to Use Energy More Wisely: By simultaneously displaying energy use and price, smart meters encourage consumers to use less energy and to use energy when it can be generated less expensively. Utilities can also use information technology to monitor electricity demand, allowing them to plan their production more efficiently. [Nemtzow, 2007; Regulatory Assistance Project, 2006]
• Invest in Weatherized Homes and More Efficient Buildings and Appliances: Upgrading home furnaces, ducts, windows, and insulation can cut energy bills by 20 to 40 percent, year after year. However, the existing Department of Energy weatherization program reaches only 100,000 homes a year while more than 28 million remain eligible. Similarly, appliance efficiency standards have greatly reduced the energy use of refrigerators and air conditioners, but better use of the Energy Star program could save even more. Edwards will reverse the Bush budget cuts to the weatherization program and instead expand it to $500 million a year. He will call on states to create updated energy building codes. Finally, he will raise federal efficiency standards for appliances and maximize the potential of the Energy Star program by working to get more efficient appliances in stores and educating buyers and builders. [Reicher, 2007; ACEEE 2005]
• Reduce the U.S. Government's Energy Use by 20 Percent and Make the White House Carbon Neutral. The U.S. government is the nation's single largest energy consumer, with a $15 billion energy bill in 2005. However, its investments in energy efficiency have been cut in half since 2001. Edwards will overhaul federal buildings and vehicles to emphasize efficiency, reducing the use of energy by 20 percent, and expand the government's use of renewable sources. After taking energy efficiency steps at the White House, he will purchase carbon offsets to make it carbon-neutral. [DOE, 2006; Alliance to Save Energy, 2007]
• Create GreenCorps: Idealistic young Americans can help fight climate change by conducting volunteer energy audits, weatherizing homes, installing home solar panels, and training neighborhood groups to do the same. Edwards will create a GreenCorps within AmeriCorps to create opportunities for them to serve.

Clinton's ideas to address global warming

Taken from Hillary's campaign website: The choices we make about energy touch nearly every aspect of our lives. Our economy, our national security, our health, and the future of our planet are all at stake as we make a choice between energy independence and dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Hillary has championed policies that encourage development of alternative energy technologies and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. She has proposed an Apollo Project-like program dedicated to achieving energy independence.

Hillary recognizes that global climate change is one of the most pressing moral issues of our time. She supports policies to reduce carbon emissions and other pollution that contribute to global warming.

In the White House, Hillary will lead the charge to stop global warming by investing in clean energy technologies, establishing a national market-based program to reduce global warming pollution, increasing our fuel efficiency, and restoring the United States' rightful place as a leader in international efforts to address the problem of climate change.

Hillary introduced a plan to Congress to create a Strategic Energy Fund that would inject $50 billion into research, development, and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal technology, ethanol and other homegrown biofuels, and more.

We can create the fund without raising taxes by giving oil companies a choice: invest in renewable energy themselves or pay into the fund. She would also eliminate oil companies' tax breaks and make sure they pay their fair share for drilling on public lands.

Pets and Pesticides Don't Mix

Pets and pesticides just don't go together. More and more studies show that pesticides cause serious damage to the health of pets. A couple of filmmakers are setting the story straight with a compelling and interactive film about the dangers of lawn care chemicals.

Google pushes 100-mpg car!

Offers millions to advance plug-in hybrid vehicles and other technologies that link nation's transport system to the electric grid.

http://www.google.org/recharge/

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Google said Tuesday it is getting in on the development of electric vehicles, awarding $1 million in grants and inviting applicants to bid for another $10 million in funding to develop plug-in hybrid electric vehicles capable of getting 70 to 100 miles per gallon.

The project, called the RechargeIT initiative and run from Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, aims to further the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles - cars or trucks that have both a gasoline engine and advanced batteries that recharge by plugging into the nation's electric grid.

"Since most Americans drive less than 35 miles per day, you easily could drive mostly on electricity with the gas tank as a safety net," Dan Reicher, director of Climate and Energy Initiatives for Google.org, wrote on the organization's Web site. "In preliminary results from our test fleet, on average the plug-in hybrid gas mileage was 30-plus mpg higher than that of the regular hybrids."

The project also aims to develop vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, allowing cars to sell their stored power back to the nation's electricity grid during times of peak demand.

"Linking the U.S. transportation system to the electricity grid maximizes the efficiency of our energy system," said Reicher. "Our goal is to demonstrate the plug-in hybrid and V2G technology, get people excited about having their own plug-in hybrid, and encourage car companies to start building them soon."

General Motors (Charts, Fortune 500) has promised to sell a plug-in hybrid version of its redesigned Saturn Vue SUV but has not set a specific date for production. The company has contracted with two battery suppliers to work on an improved battery technology for the vehicle. The company is also working toward a production version of its Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid concept car shown at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. That vehicle would be driven entirely by electricity with an on-board engine used only as a back-up generator.

Ford Motor Co. (Charts, Fortune 500) also has a drivable plug-in hybrid demonstration vehicle based on the Ford Edge SUV. Similar to GM's Chevrolet Volt in its basic engineering, that vehicle uses a hydrogen fuel cell as a back-up generator but could use a gasoline engine or some other type of motor to charge the batteries.

Because they have to store up and release large amounts of electricity, plug-in hybrids require more advanced batteries than hybrid vehicles currently on the market. The batteries in non-plug-in hybrid vehicles continuously store and release small amounts of electricity, a work cycle that puts little strain on the batteries.

Renewable energy, unlike coal or nuclear, will likely come from thousands or tens of thousands of different locations. Analysts have long said that one of the big challenges will be managing that flow into and out of the nation's electric grid, and that companies that manage the flow of information are well placed to handle that task.

The $1 million in Google grants went to Brookings Institution to run a conference on plug-ins, CalCars and Plug-In America to educate the public about plug-ins, and the Electrical Power Research Institute, the Rocky Mountain Institute and Dr. Willett Kempton from the University of Delaware for plug-in R&D.

Google (Charts, Fortune 500) also said it has turned on its massive solar panel installation at the company's Mountain View, Calif. headquarters.

At 1.6 megawatts, Google said it's the biggest solar project on a corporate campus in the United States, and one of the largest in the world. Check out the article @ http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/19/news/economy/google_plugin/index.htm?

Obama takes a new stand on liquid coal

This week, Sen. Obama's staff released this statement :

"Senator Obama supports research into all technologies to help solve our climate change and energy dependence problems, including shifting our energy use to renewable fuels and investing in technology that could make coal a clean-burning source of energy," the e-mail said. "However, unless and until this technology is perfected, Senator Obama will not support the development of any coal-to-liquid fuels unless they emit at least 20% less life-cycle carbon than conventional fuels." http://www.barackobama.com/

6 Solar technologies to power the world

Solar trees The Stirling dish is a 30-year-old technology that's just now becoming cost-effective thanks to big solar-power orders from utilities. In time, 70,000 of these "solar trees" planted in the Mojave Desert by Stirling Energy Systems of Phoenix could power a million homes. Distributed power tower What happens if the sun's not shining? Bright Source Energy has a solution called a distributed power tower: Mirrors focus the sun's rays on a boiler, creating steam which drives a generator. Natural gas can be used to power the plant when the sun isn't shining.

Heliostat concentrator

In southeastern Australia, Solar Systems will build a heliostat concentrator photovoltaic array of mirrors which focuses sunlight on high-efficiency solar cells to produce electricity. Microdishes GreenVolts, a San Francisco startup, is building arrays of microdishes - dinner-plate-sized mirrors that concentrate the the sun on an efficient solar cell. Small clusters of these microdishes are compact enough to be installed near cities, plugging directly into the grid to relieve overloaded substations.

Ground-mounted tracking photovoltaic

Utilty-scale solar refers to any solar installation large enough to replace conventional power plants. This solar station outside the village of Serpa, Portugal, was built by PowerLight of Berkeley, Calif. It covers 150 acres and powers 8,000 homes.

Solar trough

In California's Mojave Desert, parabolic mirrors heat tubes of synthetic oil, which in turn produce steam to drive electricity-generating turbines in an arrangement that's known as a solar trough. Built by Luz in the 1980s, the solar plants continue to power 150,000 homes. Now solar-trough technology is drawing interest again. Acciona Solar Power has built a 64-megawatt plant in Nevada. Full Story @ http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/06/01/100050990/index.htm

Texas brewery to become 'green' research lab

$1.35M project will outfit Pearl Brewery with solar panels to generate about a quarter of power needed for shops, offices.

The landmark Pearl Brewery, where the Texan beer was once made, will soon become a "learning laboratory" for green research, San Antonio's utility and the building's renovator announced Monday.

Solar panels will be able to generate about a quarter of the power needed to serve the 67,000 square foot warehouse being renovated by Silver Ventures into a mix of offices, shops and residences.

The $1.35 million project will allow city-owned utility CPS Energy "to test the viability of a solar energy application in a large, real-world commercial application," according to a statement by CPS and Silver Ventures.

CPS Energy hopes to have 15 percent of all its customers' peak power demand met with renewable sources by 2020. Milton Lee, general manager of CPS, says renewables make 11 percent of the power delivered now to its more than 600,000 customers.

Solar panels will have the capacity to make about 200 kilowatts of electricity at the building to be called the Full Goods Building that is to open in June 2008.

An educational component of the project will advocate the use of solar power and show visitors modern meters that show how much solar energy is being created when they visit.

The Pearl Brewery is a landmark in San Antonio, located north of downtown. Pearl beer was made there from 1883 to 2001. Pearl Beer is now owned by Pabst Brewing Co., which farms out Pearl's production to a brewery in Fort Worth, Texas that Miller Brewing Co. owns.

It once had a wider distribution, but now can only be bought in parts of Texas and Oklahoma.

CPS has more than 600,000 electricity and more than 300,000 natural gas customers. Article can be found at http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/11/news/companies/bc.texas.solar.brewery.reut/index.htm

A new beginning.

Having now created my first blog, I wanted to lay out some of my initial goals of what will come out of this ongoing project.

I hope to:

1. Post the latest news and fun facts about climate change, renewable energy, conservation, and proposed policies on each
2. Post updates on the work that I am personally working on, whether it be during an internship, undergraduate research, or other personal endeavors
3. Post new tips on ways to become more "green" in your personal life

Feel free to add any comments you'd like, and shoot me an email (angelladesoto@gmail.com) if you find something really interesting that you think I should post about. I am really excited to get this going, and I hope you all enjoy it!