Written by ANDY BESSLERr, Sierra Club, Tribal Partnerships Program
Friday, 02 October 2009 21:48
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – As Hopi and Navajo leaders in the American Southwest evaluate their energy policies, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups remain committed to working with their tribal partners to find clean energy solutions that work for everyone.
"We are proud of our longstanding partnerships with tribal leaders in the Southwest, and we are committed to supporting efforts to transition from dirty coal to clean energy solutions," said Sierra Club President Allison Chin. "Together, we can rekindle our economy, reduce greenhouse gases and support people who have been left in the dust by a dangerous and dirty, coal-based economy."
For decades, Southwestern tribes have suffered from poisoned groundwater, air pollution, and sacred land destruction caused by coal mines and power plants. But the Navajo Nation’s recent unanimous green jobs resolution and the solar power projects in the Hopi village of Hotevilla are strong signs that clean energy solutions are gaining momentum. Dirty coal pollution also threatens nearby Grand Canyon National Park, a treasure for all Americans.
"We, the Hopi/Tewa people, have worked closely for many years with our allies from the environmental community to protect sacred lands from development and to stop uranium mining from poisoning our water," said Alph H. Secakuku, Sipaulovi Council Representative for the Village of Sipaulovi, Second Mesa, Arizona, Hopiland. "We will continue to work together—tribal communities and other clean energy jobs advocates—to bring green economic development to our lands that respects our air and water."
A report soon to be released by Natural Capitalism Solutions (NCS) shows in stark detail how a combination of renewable energy development deployed with aggressive energy efficiency measures provides far more, long term, sustainable job creation, along with overall economic benefits, than traditional sources such as coal.
"Black Mesa Water Coalition appreciates the non-native individuals and environmental organizations that have supported our leadership as a Navajo grassroots organization," said Black Mesa Water Coalition Co-director Enei Begaye. "Native grassroots people are and should be in the lead on these issues in and around tribal lands."
"We were quite amazed," said report author Paul Sheldon, Senior Economist of NCS. "In some cases the models show ten times the number of jobs created from certain solar technologies verses coal-based generation." Sheldon said the lands of the Southwest hold some of the country's greatest solar and wind potential, resources that will still be there centuries after the last ounce of coal has been mined and burned.
To address climate change and to support communities, Southwest tribes and environmental groups have worked in partnership for years to promote clean energy, health and water issues by cleaning up dirty coal plants and promoting solar and wind projects on the reservations.
"NRDC is proud to have longstanding relationships with Tribal Nations across the country," said Phil Gutis, communications director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "We are committed to continuing our work with Tribal Nations, including local Navajo allies, to find productive, clean and sustainable economic development opportunities that power and protect their communities."
"It is truly heartening to see that the indigenous grassroots organizations have become highly proficient in working with their governments from the local to the central levels," said Tony Skrelunas, Native America program director for Grand Canyon Trust and former Navajo Nation executive. "This is something that should be welcomed by all Navajo and Hopi communities since many members of these organizations will be our future leaders."
"Global warming is a threat on and off Navajo and Hopi lands," said Hertha Woody, a member of the Navajo Nation and a Sierra Club volunteer leader in Flagstaff. "There is great potential for solar and wind projects to help reduce the emissions that contribute to global warming, and we are proud to continue to support a transition from coal to clean energy that will create a more sustainable economy."
Sierra Club is honored to work with our tribal partners in transitioning to a clean energy future, including the Black Mesa Water Coalition, Dooda Desert Rock, Hopis Organized for Political Initiatives (H.O.P.I.), the Navajo Green Economy Coalition, To’ Nizhoni Ani, C-Aquifer for the Diné, and other community organizations.
http://nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2460:environmental-groups-sw-tribes-stand-together-to-promote-clean-renewable-energy&catid=56&Itemid=32
Showing posts with label Green Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Energy. Show all posts
Friday, October 2, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Millions for Green Energy Projects at VA State Agencies, Schools
Posted: 3:24 PM Sep 18, 2009
Richmond, Va.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced Friday that the Commonwealth will move forward with almost $25 million of green energy projects for state agencies and universities through the Public-Private Educational Facilities Infrastructure Act.
Funding for the projects will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and some of the projects will result in renewable energy credits.
“These public private partnerships will allow the Commonwealth to promote renewable energy and help our environment, all while saving energy and reducing costs for our state agencies and institutions of higher learning,” says Kaine. “Our private partners have demonstrated that they are capable partners who can fulfill their obligations and help achieve long-term cost savings for the Commonwealth.”
Three companies, Siemens Building Technologies, Johnson Controls Inc. and Trane, submitted PPEA proposals for constructing energy performance projects. Proposals have been reviewed and evaluated by a team of experts, and the best projects have been selected to move forward. The projects will include:
- Installation of photovoltaic solar panels at several parking decks and buildings at Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Department of General Services.
- Solar hot water generation, green roof and general energy efficiency upgrades at selected Virginia Commonwealth University facilities.
- Incorporation of photovoltaic panels, solar thermal for hot water and other green practices at selected facilities at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
- Upgrade of boilers to provide for efficiency and allow utilization of biomass to augment coal at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women.
- Installation of a wind turbine at the Wallens Ridge State Prison.
The projects offer the potential of significant savings of energy and state resources. For example, one proposed project will install approximately 17 solar trees and retrofit the lighting in a DGS parking deck, meeting 80 percent of the electrical needs of the facility and reducing electrical consumption by 400,000kWh.
The next steps in the process are executing interim and final agreements as well as the opportunity for review by the Virginia General Assembly.
Friday’s announcement comes as Kaine continues to advance his “Renew Virginia” initiative, an effort to promote renewable energy, create green jobs, and encourage preservation of the environment.
During his administration, Kaine has incentivized the production of cleaner energy, surveyed the emissions of facilities previously grandfathered out of the Clean Air act, dedicated more than a billion dollars to Chesapeake Bay cleanup, protected nearly 350,000 acres of open space, and led the effort to promote regional cooperation to combat climate change.
http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/59752717.html
Richmond, Va.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced Friday that the Commonwealth will move forward with almost $25 million of green energy projects for state agencies and universities through the Public-Private Educational Facilities Infrastructure Act.
Funding for the projects will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and some of the projects will result in renewable energy credits.
“These public private partnerships will allow the Commonwealth to promote renewable energy and help our environment, all while saving energy and reducing costs for our state agencies and institutions of higher learning,” says Kaine. “Our private partners have demonstrated that they are capable partners who can fulfill their obligations and help achieve long-term cost savings for the Commonwealth.”
Three companies, Siemens Building Technologies, Johnson Controls Inc. and Trane, submitted PPEA proposals for constructing energy performance projects. Proposals have been reviewed and evaluated by a team of experts, and the best projects have been selected to move forward. The projects will include:
- Installation of photovoltaic solar panels at several parking decks and buildings at Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Department of General Services.
- Solar hot water generation, green roof and general energy efficiency upgrades at selected Virginia Commonwealth University facilities.
- Incorporation of photovoltaic panels, solar thermal for hot water and other green practices at selected facilities at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
- Upgrade of boilers to provide for efficiency and allow utilization of biomass to augment coal at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women.
- Installation of a wind turbine at the Wallens Ridge State Prison.
The projects offer the potential of significant savings of energy and state resources. For example, one proposed project will install approximately 17 solar trees and retrofit the lighting in a DGS parking deck, meeting 80 percent of the electrical needs of the facility and reducing electrical consumption by 400,000kWh.
The next steps in the process are executing interim and final agreements as well as the opportunity for review by the Virginia General Assembly.
Friday’s announcement comes as Kaine continues to advance his “Renew Virginia” initiative, an effort to promote renewable energy, create green jobs, and encourage preservation of the environment.
During his administration, Kaine has incentivized the production of cleaner energy, surveyed the emissions of facilities previously grandfathered out of the Clean Air act, dedicated more than a billion dollars to Chesapeake Bay cleanup, protected nearly 350,000 acres of open space, and led the effort to promote regional cooperation to combat climate change.
http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/59752717.html
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Clean Energy Works launches: New grassroots effort
Climate Progress - http://climateprogress.org -
Clean Energy Works launches: New grassroots effort unites faith, labor, veterans, environmental, sportsmen, business, youth, farm, and community groups to fight for for clean air, clean water, clean energy job bill
Posted By Joe On September 10, 2009 @ 8:18 am In Politics 2 Comments
The progressive and clean energy has finished putting together a major effort to fight for clean air, clean water, and clean energy jobs. I had first reported the first green shoots of this effort at the end of July [1]. As the Washington Post now reports [2]:
A coalition of environmental, labor, veterans and religious groups formally launched a national lobbying campaign Tuesday aimed at mobilizing grass-roots support for passage of a Senate climate bill this fall.
The group — dubbed Clean Energy Works — marks perhaps the most ambitious effort yet to enact legislation that would cap greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. The coalition has enlisted organizers in 28 key states to help build support for a cap-and-trade bill, and is scheduled to launch paid television ads this week. It also plans to bring 100 veterans to Washington this week to lobby, and has held town halls and rallies in several states.
“Public support for clean energy legislation is overwhelming,” said David Di Martino, the group’s spokesman. “Unfortunately, an army of special interests are doing everything they can to block comprehensive energy reform. This campaign will mobilize the voices of those millions of Americans who want to put us back in control of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet.”
Many in the status quo media remain eager to spin even positive stories negatively. Here is the Politico [3]:
Unions, environmentalists, hunters, farmers, veterans, and religious groups launched a major new campaign on Tuesday to push for congressional action on global warming this year.
The powerful coalition forms as prospects for passing a climate bill have dimmed. The contentious health care debate is expected to take center stage in the Senate through the fall. And the Obama administration has signaled that passing health care reform should take precedence over a climate and energy bill.
Again, I don’t see any evidence that prospects for passing a climate bill have dimmed. Still the same tough job it always was given the massive disinformation and lobbying campaign from Big Oil and the big corporate polluters.
But now the side of clean air, clean water and clean energy jobs has a major champion to compete with those who don’t want clean air, clean water, and clean energy jobs. Here is the press release:
The Clean Energy Works campaign launched today, signaling a major new push for a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan that delivers more clean energy jobs, less pollution, and greater national security. The new coordinated campaign builds on the effort that passed the American Clean Energy & Security Act through the House of Representatives by assembling a broad array of organizations representing more than 12 million Americans. This unprecedented grassroots coalition includes faith, labor, veterans, environmental, sportsmen, farm, business, youth, and community groups.
“Millions of Americans want more clean energy jobs, less pollution, and greater national security,” said David Di Martino, Clean Energy Works Communications Director. “We send a billion dollars a day overseas to pay for our oil. It’s time to invest that money here – in secure, renewable energy sources that are made in America, provide jobs for Americans and work for America.”
The Clean Energy Works campaign has deployed grassroots organizers in 28 key states to mobilize the tens of millions of Americans calling for urgent Congressional action on a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan. The campaign’s many activities at the state and national level include paid television, radio, print, and online advertising; contacting concerned citizens; grassroots organizing online and on the ground; an aggressive earned media campaign; public events; and bringing concerned citizens to Washington to speak to legislators.
“Public support for clean energy legislation is overwhelming,” said Di Martino. “Unfortunately, an army of special interests and their Washington lobbyists are doing everything they can block comprehensive energy reform. This campaign will mobilize the voices of those millions of Americans who want to put us back in control of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet.”
The organizations coming together to coordinate under the common campaign have committed to getting comprehensive clean energy legislation passed this Congress and will work with Clean Energy Works to galvanize public and political support for action in Congress.
Alliance for Climate Protection * American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) * American Federation of Teachers, American Hunters and Shooters * American Values Network * Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) * Audubon * Blue Green Alliance * Business Forward * Campus Progress * Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good * Catholics United * Center for American Progress Action Fund * CERES * Chesapeake Climate Action Network * Clean Economy Network * Communications Workers of America * Defenders of Wildlife * Earth Ministry * Earthjustice * Economics for Equity and the Environment * Environment America * Environmental Defense Fund * Faithful America * Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund * Green Faith * Green for All * Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) * League of Conservation Voters * League of Rural Voters * Live Earth * Marianist Environmental Education Center * My Rural America * NAACP * National Security Network * National Wildlife Federation * Natural Resources Defense Council * Ohio Interfaith Power and Light * Progressive Future * Restoring Eden * Service Employees International Union * Sierra Club * Sierra Student Coalition * Southern Energy Network * SustainUS * The Regeneration Project * The Wilderness Society * Truman National Security Project * Union of Concerned Scientists * United Steel Workers of America * Utility Workers Union of America * Veterans and Military Families for Progress * Veterans Green Jobs * VETPAC * Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy * Virginia Interfaith Power and Light * Virginia Organizing Project * VoteVets * Working America * World Wildlife Fund
Yes, CEW includes CAPAF, which supports my work. So I do have first hand knowledge that this is already a first-rate organization that will make a key contribution to the effort to pass the clean energy jobs bill that will clean the air, protect clean water, and preserve a livable climate while starting to take back control of this country from the greedy corporate polluters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article printed from Climate Progress: http://climateprogress.org
URL to article: http://climateprogress.org/2009/09/10/clean-energy-works-launches-new-grassroots-effort-unites-faith-labor-veterans-environmental-sportsmen-business-youth-farm-and-community-groups-to-fight-for-for-clean-air-clean-water-clean/
URLs in this post:
[1] end of July: http://climateprogress.org/2009/07/27/senate-vote-on-climate-and-clean-energy-bill-until-november/
[2] reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/08/AR2009090802295.html
[3] Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26873.html#ixzz0QhmSuYWH
http://climateprogress.org/2009/09/10/clean-energy-works-launches-new-grassroots-effort-unites-faith-labor-veterans-environmental-sportsmen-business-youth-farm-and-community-groups-to-fight-for-for-clean-air-clean-water-clean/
Clean Energy Works launches: New grassroots effort unites faith, labor, veterans, environmental, sportsmen, business, youth, farm, and community groups to fight for for clean air, clean water, clean energy job bill
Posted By Joe On September 10, 2009 @ 8:18 am In Politics 2 Comments
The progressive and clean energy has finished putting together a major effort to fight for clean air, clean water, and clean energy jobs. I had first reported the first green shoots of this effort at the end of July [1]. As the Washington Post now reports [2]:
A coalition of environmental, labor, veterans and religious groups formally launched a national lobbying campaign Tuesday aimed at mobilizing grass-roots support for passage of a Senate climate bill this fall.
The group — dubbed Clean Energy Works — marks perhaps the most ambitious effort yet to enact legislation that would cap greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. The coalition has enlisted organizers in 28 key states to help build support for a cap-and-trade bill, and is scheduled to launch paid television ads this week. It also plans to bring 100 veterans to Washington this week to lobby, and has held town halls and rallies in several states.
“Public support for clean energy legislation is overwhelming,” said David Di Martino, the group’s spokesman. “Unfortunately, an army of special interests are doing everything they can to block comprehensive energy reform. This campaign will mobilize the voices of those millions of Americans who want to put us back in control of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet.”
Many in the status quo media remain eager to spin even positive stories negatively. Here is the Politico [3]:
Unions, environmentalists, hunters, farmers, veterans, and religious groups launched a major new campaign on Tuesday to push for congressional action on global warming this year.
The powerful coalition forms as prospects for passing a climate bill have dimmed. The contentious health care debate is expected to take center stage in the Senate through the fall. And the Obama administration has signaled that passing health care reform should take precedence over a climate and energy bill.
Again, I don’t see any evidence that prospects for passing a climate bill have dimmed. Still the same tough job it always was given the massive disinformation and lobbying campaign from Big Oil and the big corporate polluters.
But now the side of clean air, clean water and clean energy jobs has a major champion to compete with those who don’t want clean air, clean water, and clean energy jobs. Here is the press release:
The Clean Energy Works campaign launched today, signaling a major new push for a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan that delivers more clean energy jobs, less pollution, and greater national security. The new coordinated campaign builds on the effort that passed the American Clean Energy & Security Act through the House of Representatives by assembling a broad array of organizations representing more than 12 million Americans. This unprecedented grassroots coalition includes faith, labor, veterans, environmental, sportsmen, farm, business, youth, and community groups.
“Millions of Americans want more clean energy jobs, less pollution, and greater national security,” said David Di Martino, Clean Energy Works Communications Director. “We send a billion dollars a day overseas to pay for our oil. It’s time to invest that money here – in secure, renewable energy sources that are made in America, provide jobs for Americans and work for America.”
The Clean Energy Works campaign has deployed grassroots organizers in 28 key states to mobilize the tens of millions of Americans calling for urgent Congressional action on a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan. The campaign’s many activities at the state and national level include paid television, radio, print, and online advertising; contacting concerned citizens; grassroots organizing online and on the ground; an aggressive earned media campaign; public events; and bringing concerned citizens to Washington to speak to legislators.
“Public support for clean energy legislation is overwhelming,” said Di Martino. “Unfortunately, an army of special interests and their Washington lobbyists are doing everything they can block comprehensive energy reform. This campaign will mobilize the voices of those millions of Americans who want to put us back in control of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet.”
The organizations coming together to coordinate under the common campaign have committed to getting comprehensive clean energy legislation passed this Congress and will work with Clean Energy Works to galvanize public and political support for action in Congress.
Alliance for Climate Protection * American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) * American Federation of Teachers, American Hunters and Shooters * American Values Network * Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) * Audubon * Blue Green Alliance * Business Forward * Campus Progress * Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good * Catholics United * Center for American Progress Action Fund * CERES * Chesapeake Climate Action Network * Clean Economy Network * Communications Workers of America * Defenders of Wildlife * Earth Ministry * Earthjustice * Economics for Equity and the Environment * Environment America * Environmental Defense Fund * Faithful America * Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund * Green Faith * Green for All * Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) * League of Conservation Voters * League of Rural Voters * Live Earth * Marianist Environmental Education Center * My Rural America * NAACP * National Security Network * National Wildlife Federation * Natural Resources Defense Council * Ohio Interfaith Power and Light * Progressive Future * Restoring Eden * Service Employees International Union * Sierra Club * Sierra Student Coalition * Southern Energy Network * SustainUS * The Regeneration Project * The Wilderness Society * Truman National Security Project * Union of Concerned Scientists * United Steel Workers of America * Utility Workers Union of America * Veterans and Military Families for Progress * Veterans Green Jobs * VETPAC * Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy * Virginia Interfaith Power and Light * Virginia Organizing Project * VoteVets * Working America * World Wildlife Fund
Yes, CEW includes CAPAF, which supports my work. So I do have first hand knowledge that this is already a first-rate organization that will make a key contribution to the effort to pass the clean energy jobs bill that will clean the air, protect clean water, and preserve a livable climate while starting to take back control of this country from the greedy corporate polluters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article printed from Climate Progress: http://climateprogress.org
URL to article: http://climateprogress.org/2009/09/10/clean-energy-works-launches-new-grassroots-effort-unites-faith-labor-veterans-environmental-sportsmen-business-youth-farm-and-community-groups-to-fight-for-for-clean-air-clean-water-clean/
URLs in this post:
[1] end of July: http://climateprogress.org/2009/07/27/senate-vote-on-climate-and-clean-energy-bill-until-november/
[2] reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/08/AR2009090802295.html
[3] Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26873.html#ixzz0QhmSuYWH
http://climateprogress.org/2009/09/10/clean-energy-works-launches-new-grassroots-effort-unites-faith-labor-veterans-environmental-sportsmen-business-youth-farm-and-community-groups-to-fight-for-for-clean-air-clean-water-clean/
Thursday, August 27, 2009
New business focuses on green energy
Workers prepare the tower for a wind turbine just south of Safford on Power Line Road. Photo by Brian Wright
Comment: People want clean and green power, like wind or solar! People do not want Nuke plants and No to uranium mining!
By Brian Wright
Staff Writer
Electric bills are skyrocketing across the country, but one Gila Valley resident has opened a business that could help.
Cory Hoopes started Environmental Friendly Electric in May after working as an electrician for 23 years. Hoopes runs the business with three other employees, two of whom are full-time.
“We started (the company) up because of growing demand for greener energy,” Hoopes said.
EFE uses wind and solar technologies. Hoopes said he had the idea for the business a long time before he finally went about receiving his state electric license.
He also does residential, commercial and industrial electrical work in addition to green energy.
On Friday, Hoopes and his crew finished installation of EFE’s first wind turbine in the Gila Valley. It’s an 80-foot wind generator on Power Line Road, which is just south of Safford.
Hoopes said the Gila Valley is conducive to wind turbines because of strong average wind speeds in the area. Winds in the Valley average more than five meters per second.
Customers can potentially see a drastic reduction in their monthly electric bills, which is especially helpful in today’s economic climate.
“It should put a pretty good dent in (a customer’s) bill,” Hoopes said.
Hoopes did a lot of research on wind studies and said the average Gila Valley residents would save $200 a month on their electric bill with a 10-kilowatt wind generator. He also said a lot of factors determine how much one will save, including how much power the household uses and the amount of wind.
“It’s an investment that pays for itself,” Hoopes said.
EFE is putting up two more wind generators in Central and another in between Central and Pima. The company is also installing several more in Willcox.
EFE’s physical location isn’t open for business yet, but Hoopes expects to be open by mid-September. It will be located at 604 S. Central Avenue in Safford.
“I make sure my customers are satisfied with what they get,” Hoopes said. “We’re not just in it for the money.”
For information or estimates contact Hoopes at 928-792-8898.
http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2009/08/26/news/doc4a948bcf39a9c562027732.txt
By Brian Wright
Staff Writer
Electric bills are skyrocketing across the country, but one Gila Valley resident has opened a business that could help.
Cory Hoopes started Environmental Friendly Electric in May after working as an electrician for 23 years. Hoopes runs the business with three other employees, two of whom are full-time.
“We started (the company) up because of growing demand for greener energy,” Hoopes said.
EFE uses wind and solar technologies. Hoopes said he had the idea for the business a long time before he finally went about receiving his state electric license.
He also does residential, commercial and industrial electrical work in addition to green energy.
On Friday, Hoopes and his crew finished installation of EFE’s first wind turbine in the Gila Valley. It’s an 80-foot wind generator on Power Line Road, which is just south of Safford.
Hoopes said the Gila Valley is conducive to wind turbines because of strong average wind speeds in the area. Winds in the Valley average more than five meters per second.
Customers can potentially see a drastic reduction in their monthly electric bills, which is especially helpful in today’s economic climate.
“It should put a pretty good dent in (a customer’s) bill,” Hoopes said.
Hoopes did a lot of research on wind studies and said the average Gila Valley residents would save $200 a month on their electric bill with a 10-kilowatt wind generator. He also said a lot of factors determine how much one will save, including how much power the household uses and the amount of wind.
“It’s an investment that pays for itself,” Hoopes said.
EFE is putting up two more wind generators in Central and another in between Central and Pima. The company is also installing several more in Willcox.
EFE’s physical location isn’t open for business yet, but Hoopes expects to be open by mid-September. It will be located at 604 S. Central Avenue in Safford.
“I make sure my customers are satisfied with what they get,” Hoopes said. “We’re not just in it for the money.”
For information or estimates contact Hoopes at 928-792-8898.
http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2009/08/26/news/doc4a948bcf39a9c562027732.txt
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Deeds takes a look at Richmond’s green economy
August 19, 2009 by Al Harris
With the sun beating down, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds rode a crane to get a closer look at a new solar panel installation at the Virginia Commonwealth University physical plant.
Deeds visited the site at the invitation of Cityspace Solar owners Blue Crump and Justin French. Cityspace was hired to install the 6 kilowatt system at the VCU physical plant as the university advances its plan to go green.
“This is the main power hub for VCU and MCV, so our intention wasn’t necessarily to generate a portion of that power,” said Crump.
Crump describes the 30-panel array installed on the side of the plant’s steam stack as an exhibition piece that shows VCU’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The plant itself uses natural gas to generate steam that powers turbines to create electricity for use by the university.
The solar installation, which cost around $60,000, will contribute a small portion of the plant’s electricity needs. A device connected with the panels will relay real-time information to the web so anyone can see exactly how much power is being generated at any given time.
The solar panels will offset about 7,000 metric tons of carbon gases a year. By comparison, a mid-sized 30 mpg car driving 12,000 miles/year will create about 3.55 tons of CO2 per year.
“This system will generate renewable energy credits, which will create a positive cash flow for the university,” said Crump.
After getting an up close look of the system, Deeds returned to the ground and gave a pep talk to the Cityspace and physical plant employees on the scene.
“Alternative energy,” Deeds said, “It’s going to happen and the people that are ahead of the curve are going to make the money.”
One of Deeds’ key campaign issues is building the clean energy economy in Virginia.
“This is a great example of the leadership Virginia is going to have to show,” Deeds said, “We can be the capital of alternative energy sources.”
The new solar installation marks a major step for the university as it embarks on a mission to become “carbon neutral” by 2050, meaning the goal is to have a net zero carbon footprint.
“So if you go climate neutral by 2050, for a place like us you have to start getting your renewables on site,” said Jacek Ghosh, the university’s director of sustainability.
“This is a small demonstration project,” said Ghosh, “Over the next 40 years we’ll start chipping away at all of this stuff.”
Ghosh said a comprehensive plan to achieve carbon neutrality would be released next May.
Because VCU is a state school, the big challenge facing the initiative is getting the state government to lend its support.
“Our issue for payback is when you see the coal train go by and we pay 68 cents a kilowatt, to compete with that this [solar] never does it, with three years return on investment it get a little different. If you use mitigation of greenhouse gas there is no question that it is worth the investment,” said Ghosh.
Ghosh said the state legislature has to come up with different ways in which the school is allowed to finance similar projects as a state institution.
“There the ones that say, ‘Payback, if it is more than four years, forget it,’” said Ghosh, “If you say that we are always using coal.”
Al Harris covers green business for BizSense. Please send news tips to Al@richmondbizsense.com.
http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2009/08/19/deeds-takes-a-look-at-richmond%E2%80%99s-green-economy/
With the sun beating down, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds rode a crane to get a closer look at a new solar panel installation at the Virginia Commonwealth University physical plant.
Deeds visited the site at the invitation of Cityspace Solar owners Blue Crump and Justin French. Cityspace was hired to install the 6 kilowatt system at the VCU physical plant as the university advances its plan to go green.
“This is the main power hub for VCU and MCV, so our intention wasn’t necessarily to generate a portion of that power,” said Crump.
Crump describes the 30-panel array installed on the side of the plant’s steam stack as an exhibition piece that shows VCU’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The plant itself uses natural gas to generate steam that powers turbines to create electricity for use by the university.
The solar installation, which cost around $60,000, will contribute a small portion of the plant’s electricity needs. A device connected with the panels will relay real-time information to the web so anyone can see exactly how much power is being generated at any given time.
The solar panels will offset about 7,000 metric tons of carbon gases a year. By comparison, a mid-sized 30 mpg car driving 12,000 miles/year will create about 3.55 tons of CO2 per year.
“This system will generate renewable energy credits, which will create a positive cash flow for the university,” said Crump.
After getting an up close look of the system, Deeds returned to the ground and gave a pep talk to the Cityspace and physical plant employees on the scene.
“Alternative energy,” Deeds said, “It’s going to happen and the people that are ahead of the curve are going to make the money.”
One of Deeds’ key campaign issues is building the clean energy economy in Virginia.
“This is a great example of the leadership Virginia is going to have to show,” Deeds said, “We can be the capital of alternative energy sources.”
The new solar installation marks a major step for the university as it embarks on a mission to become “carbon neutral” by 2050, meaning the goal is to have a net zero carbon footprint.
“So if you go climate neutral by 2050, for a place like us you have to start getting your renewables on site,” said Jacek Ghosh, the university’s director of sustainability.
“This is a small demonstration project,” said Ghosh, “Over the next 40 years we’ll start chipping away at all of this stuff.”
Ghosh said a comprehensive plan to achieve carbon neutrality would be released next May.
Because VCU is a state school, the big challenge facing the initiative is getting the state government to lend its support.
“Our issue for payback is when you see the coal train go by and we pay 68 cents a kilowatt, to compete with that this [solar] never does it, with three years return on investment it get a little different. If you use mitigation of greenhouse gas there is no question that it is worth the investment,” said Ghosh.
Ghosh said the state legislature has to come up with different ways in which the school is allowed to finance similar projects as a state institution.
“There the ones that say, ‘Payback, if it is more than four years, forget it,’” said Ghosh, “If you say that we are always using coal.”
Al Harris covers green business for BizSense. Please send news tips to Al@richmondbizsense.com.
http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2009/08/19/deeds-takes-a-look-at-richmond%E2%80%99s-green-economy/
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Scientists Explore How the Humble Leaf Could Power the Planet
Published on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 by The Guardian/UK
Scientists Explore How the Humble Leaf Could Power the Planet
Researchers at Imperial College London embark on 'artificial leaf' project to produce power by mimicking photosynthesis
by Alok Jha
It is one of evolution's crowning achievements - a mini green power station and organic factory combined and the source of almost all of the energy [1] that fuels every living thing on the planet.
Scientists hope to be able to mimic one of evolution's crowning achievements: leaves. (Photograph: Graeme Robertson)
Now scientists developing the next generation of clean power sources are working out how to copy, and ultimately improve upon, the humble leaf. The intricate chemistry involved in photosynthesis, the process where plants [2] use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugar, is the most effective solar energy conversion process on Earth. And researchers believe that mimicking parts of it could be the ticket to a limitless supply of clean power.
The untapped potential for using the sun's rays is huge. All human activity for a whole year could be powered by the energy contained in the sunlight hitting the Earth in just one hour. Harnessing even a small amount of this to make electricity or useful fuels could satisfy the world's increasing need for energy, predicted to double by 2050, without further endangering the climate.
Most solar power [3] systems use silicon wafers to generate electricity directly. But although costs are coming down, these are still too expensive in many cases when compared with fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Scientists are keen to develop more efficient and cheaper alternatives sources of energy.
At Imperial College London, researchers have embarked on a £1m project to study, and eventually mimic, photosynthesis. Part of a project called the "artificial leaf", involves working out exactly how leaves use sunlight to make useful molecules. The team then plans to build artificial systems that can do the same to generate clean fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. These would then be used in fuel cells to make electricity or directly to power super-clean vehicles.
Similar projects are gathering pace around the world: the US is poised to approve a federal research budget of around $35m a year for ideas that could create fuels from sunlight and the Dutch government has allocated €40m for similar research.
According to James Barber, a biologist at Imperial College London and leader of the artificial leaf project, if artificial photosynthesis systems could use around 10% of the sunlight falling on them, they would only need to cover 0.16% of the Earth's surface to satisfy a global energy consumption rate of 20 terawatts, the amount it is predicted that the world will need in 2030. And unlike a biological leaf, the artificial equivalent could be placed in the arid desert areas of the world, where it would not compete for space agricultural land.
Ultimately, Barber hopes to improve on nature's own solar cell. "If the leaf can do it, we can do it but even better," he said. "[But] it doesn't mean that you try to build exactly what the leaf has. Leonardo da Vinci tried to design flying machines with feathers that flapped up and down. But in the end we built 747s and Airbus 380s, completely different to a bird and, in fact, even better than a bird."
Photosynthesis starts with a chemical reaction where sunlight is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is released into the atmosphere while the hydrogen is used to create sugars and other organic molecules for the plant. The aim of Barber's artificial leaf project is to find an efficient way of mimicking that water-splitting reaction to create a clean and limitless source hydrogen. Unlike normal leaves, the new devices would not suck CO2 out of the atmosphere.
Hydrogen is a clean, energy-rich fuel that could be used in fuel cells to make electricity or else combined with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (or from the exhaust of fossil-fuel power stations) to make methanol, a fuel that could be dropped into vehicles without the need for any engine modifications. "The challenge is to get hydrogen out of water using a ready supply of energy," said Barber.
For domestic purposes, Dan Nocera, a chemist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has calculated that using artificial leaf to split a few litres of water a day into hydrogen and oxygen would be enough to supply all a home's energy needs.
Scientists can already produce hydrogen by splitting water but current techniques are expensive, use harsh chemicals and need carefully controlled environments in which to operate. The critical part of the artificial leaf project is developing catalysts made from cheap materials that can be used to split water in everyday conditions.
John Loughhead, executive director of the UK Energy Research Centre, described the artificial leaf idea as very promising because "we know that plants have already evolved to do it and we know that, fundamentally, it's a workable process on a large scale."
He added: "Ultimately, the only sustainable form of energy we've got is the sun. From a strategic viewpoint, you have to think this looks really interesting because we know we're starting from a base of feasibility."
Barber's colleagues at Imperial, led by chemist James Durrant, have recently developed a catalyst from rust that carried out part of the water-splitting reaction. So far the process is not very efficient, so Durrant's team is looking at improving this by engineering the surface of the rust. "We're looking at adding small catalytic amounts of cobalt onto the surface of the iron oxide to make it more efficient."
Nocera is also working on a catalyst made from cobalt and phosphorus that can split water at room temperature. Speaking last year, when he published his preliminary results in the journal Science, he said efficient water-splitting technology would be useful as a way of storing solar energy,which is a major problem for anyone who wants to use large amounts of solar power. During the day, an artificial leaf could use sunlight to split water and, at night, the stored hydrogen would be used to make electricity as it was needed. Chemical fuels such as hydrogen can store far more energy per unit mass than even the most advanced batteries.
Both Durrant's and Nocera's catalysts are many years from becoming commercial products.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/08/12-7
Scientists Explore How the Humble Leaf Could Power the Planet
Researchers at Imperial College London embark on 'artificial leaf' project to produce power by mimicking photosynthesis
by Alok Jha
It is one of evolution's crowning achievements - a mini green power station and organic factory combined and the source of almost all of the energy [1] that fuels every living thing on the planet.
Scientists hope to be able to mimic one of evolution's crowning achievements: leaves. (Photograph: Graeme Robertson)
Now scientists developing the next generation of clean power sources are working out how to copy, and ultimately improve upon, the humble leaf. The intricate chemistry involved in photosynthesis, the process where plants [2] use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugar, is the most effective solar energy conversion process on Earth. And researchers believe that mimicking parts of it could be the ticket to a limitless supply of clean power.
The untapped potential for using the sun's rays is huge. All human activity for a whole year could be powered by the energy contained in the sunlight hitting the Earth in just one hour. Harnessing even a small amount of this to make electricity or useful fuels could satisfy the world's increasing need for energy, predicted to double by 2050, without further endangering the climate.
Most solar power [3] systems use silicon wafers to generate electricity directly. But although costs are coming down, these are still too expensive in many cases when compared with fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Scientists are keen to develop more efficient and cheaper alternatives sources of energy.
At Imperial College London, researchers have embarked on a £1m project to study, and eventually mimic, photosynthesis. Part of a project called the "artificial leaf", involves working out exactly how leaves use sunlight to make useful molecules. The team then plans to build artificial systems that can do the same to generate clean fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. These would then be used in fuel cells to make electricity or directly to power super-clean vehicles.
Similar projects are gathering pace around the world: the US is poised to approve a federal research budget of around $35m a year for ideas that could create fuels from sunlight and the Dutch government has allocated €40m for similar research.
According to James Barber, a biologist at Imperial College London and leader of the artificial leaf project, if artificial photosynthesis systems could use around 10% of the sunlight falling on them, they would only need to cover 0.16% of the Earth's surface to satisfy a global energy consumption rate of 20 terawatts, the amount it is predicted that the world will need in 2030. And unlike a biological leaf, the artificial equivalent could be placed in the arid desert areas of the world, where it would not compete for space agricultural land.
Ultimately, Barber hopes to improve on nature's own solar cell. "If the leaf can do it, we can do it but even better," he said. "[But] it doesn't mean that you try to build exactly what the leaf has. Leonardo da Vinci tried to design flying machines with feathers that flapped up and down. But in the end we built 747s and Airbus 380s, completely different to a bird and, in fact, even better than a bird."
Photosynthesis starts with a chemical reaction where sunlight is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is released into the atmosphere while the hydrogen is used to create sugars and other organic molecules for the plant. The aim of Barber's artificial leaf project is to find an efficient way of mimicking that water-splitting reaction to create a clean and limitless source hydrogen. Unlike normal leaves, the new devices would not suck CO2 out of the atmosphere.
Hydrogen is a clean, energy-rich fuel that could be used in fuel cells to make electricity or else combined with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (or from the exhaust of fossil-fuel power stations) to make methanol, a fuel that could be dropped into vehicles without the need for any engine modifications. "The challenge is to get hydrogen out of water using a ready supply of energy," said Barber.
For domestic purposes, Dan Nocera, a chemist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has calculated that using artificial leaf to split a few litres of water a day into hydrogen and oxygen would be enough to supply all a home's energy needs.
Scientists can already produce hydrogen by splitting water but current techniques are expensive, use harsh chemicals and need carefully controlled environments in which to operate. The critical part of the artificial leaf project is developing catalysts made from cheap materials that can be used to split water in everyday conditions.
John Loughhead, executive director of the UK Energy Research Centre, described the artificial leaf idea as very promising because "we know that plants have already evolved to do it and we know that, fundamentally, it's a workable process on a large scale."
He added: "Ultimately, the only sustainable form of energy we've got is the sun. From a strategic viewpoint, you have to think this looks really interesting because we know we're starting from a base of feasibility."
Barber's colleagues at Imperial, led by chemist James Durrant, have recently developed a catalyst from rust that carried out part of the water-splitting reaction. So far the process is not very efficient, so Durrant's team is looking at improving this by engineering the surface of the rust. "We're looking at adding small catalytic amounts of cobalt onto the surface of the iron oxide to make it more efficient."
Nocera is also working on a catalyst made from cobalt and phosphorus that can split water at room temperature. Speaking last year, when he published his preliminary results in the journal Science, he said efficient water-splitting technology would be useful as a way of storing solar energy,which is a major problem for anyone who wants to use large amounts of solar power. During the day, an artificial leaf could use sunlight to split water and, at night, the stored hydrogen would be used to make electricity as it was needed. Chemical fuels such as hydrogen can store far more energy per unit mass than even the most advanced batteries.
Both Durrant's and Nocera's catalysts are many years from becoming commercial products.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/08/12-7
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Our Current Sources of Energy and Why We Need Alternatives
Comment: save energy, turn off your lights, hang your clothes in the wind, turn down hot water tank, simple, will save on your electric bill!
By Joshua Vadney
Do you realize that one of the most common contributors to how much carbon dioxide in our air is the production of the energy we use every day? Everyone uses electricity every day and in fact we take it for granted, just flicking a switch or pushing a button to turn on the lights, watch television, or turn on our computer but have you ever considered where that electricity in your home is coming from? You might not be aware that almost all of our energy needs are provided by fossil fuels such as oil and coal. These energy sources are the blame for most of the toxic carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and scientists are growing increasingly alarmed with the impact these emissions are having on the environment.
Most people don’t realize is how using their normal appliances in their home or at work can affect our climate so strongly so they aren’t worried about finding alternative fuel sources. But the importance of finding renewable clean energy sources has never been so important as it is right now. Besides the fact that our current energy sources are harming our atmosphere, it is a fact that they will eventually run out since they aren’t renewable. This is one of the most important reasons, aside from keeping our environment clean, we need to find alternative sources for our energy needs.
Many energy companies have been exploring the possibilities of using solar panels and windmills (solar and wind energy) on a widespread basis, bringing production costs down and making them more efficient so they can be readily available. Hydro power, using dams to harness the energy from moving water with turbines, is also a good alternative source but it can only be used in area with rivers and large bodies of water. The downside of wind energy is that it can only be used in areas that have consistent wind so it can’t be used in a lot of areas as a stand alone sole energy source.
Researchers all around the world are currently trying to discover sources of alternative energy right now. One of the most common energy sources that doesn’t emit carbon dioxide is nuclear power but it is also one of the most controversial as well. Concerns about the dangers of a meltdown and contamination of the environment have kept nuclear power from being developed large scale in the United States but other countries are using nuclear power to their benefit. It is one of the most widespread uses of clean energy but the biggest downfall of using nuclear energy is the nuclear waste it produces, which can take millions of years to become inert and has to be stored. The main problem with this is that we only have so much space for storage and eventually it could leak into the environment, causing more environmental concerns.
Until we discover a clean source of energy that is more commercially available and solves our current issues with our current power power sources, the best thing we can all do to help is try to limit our our energy usage daily by being consistent. Researchers have shown that if everyone always turned off the lights when not in use in their homes and offices that it would reduce our energy usage by up to twenty percent.
Seems simple, doesn’t it?
Click Here to discover more ways you can help the environment and save money.
Have you ever considered building your own solar panels or a windmill to slash your electric bill in half or even eliminate it altogether? You don’t have to be a construction worker to make your own power! I reviewed the top three do it yourself solar panel/windmill guides on the internet today and you can find out more by going to http://www.diysolarwind.org
http://www.ebioant.com/archives/7421
By Joshua Vadney
Do you realize that one of the most common contributors to how much carbon dioxide in our air is the production of the energy we use every day? Everyone uses electricity every day and in fact we take it for granted, just flicking a switch or pushing a button to turn on the lights, watch television, or turn on our computer but have you ever considered where that electricity in your home is coming from? You might not be aware that almost all of our energy needs are provided by fossil fuels such as oil and coal. These energy sources are the blame for most of the toxic carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and scientists are growing increasingly alarmed with the impact these emissions are having on the environment.
Most people don’t realize is how using their normal appliances in their home or at work can affect our climate so strongly so they aren’t worried about finding alternative fuel sources. But the importance of finding renewable clean energy sources has never been so important as it is right now. Besides the fact that our current energy sources are harming our atmosphere, it is a fact that they will eventually run out since they aren’t renewable. This is one of the most important reasons, aside from keeping our environment clean, we need to find alternative sources for our energy needs.
Many energy companies have been exploring the possibilities of using solar panels and windmills (solar and wind energy) on a widespread basis, bringing production costs down and making them more efficient so they can be readily available. Hydro power, using dams to harness the energy from moving water with turbines, is also a good alternative source but it can only be used in area with rivers and large bodies of water. The downside of wind energy is that it can only be used in areas that have consistent wind so it can’t be used in a lot of areas as a stand alone sole energy source.
Researchers all around the world are currently trying to discover sources of alternative energy right now. One of the most common energy sources that doesn’t emit carbon dioxide is nuclear power but it is also one of the most controversial as well. Concerns about the dangers of a meltdown and contamination of the environment have kept nuclear power from being developed large scale in the United States but other countries are using nuclear power to their benefit. It is one of the most widespread uses of clean energy but the biggest downfall of using nuclear energy is the nuclear waste it produces, which can take millions of years to become inert and has to be stored. The main problem with this is that we only have so much space for storage and eventually it could leak into the environment, causing more environmental concerns.
Until we discover a clean source of energy that is more commercially available and solves our current issues with our current power power sources, the best thing we can all do to help is try to limit our our energy usage daily by being consistent. Researchers have shown that if everyone always turned off the lights when not in use in their homes and offices that it would reduce our energy usage by up to twenty percent.
Seems simple, doesn’t it?
Click Here to discover more ways you can help the environment and save money.
Have you ever considered building your own solar panels or a windmill to slash your electric bill in half or even eliminate it altogether? You don’t have to be a construction worker to make your own power! I reviewed the top three do it yourself solar panel/windmill guides on the internet today and you can find out more by going to http://www.diysolarwind.org
http://www.ebioant.com/archives/7421
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