Recently in the Events Category
Mar 19 2010
Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:
Climate change critics are gaining momentum in the press and recently released Gallup polling results show the public is becoming more skeptical of man-made global warming. But the scientific consensus on the credibility and danger of the issue remains steadfast. Volumes of evidence compiled by America’s leading research agencies – including NOAA, NASA, the Pentagon and the National Science Foundation – asserts global warming over the past 50 years is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases. Their research claims “the warming of the climate is unequivocal.”
Australian researchers claim science proves man-made global warming is changing an animal’s life-cycle. A recent University of Melbourne study found that because of a rise in temperature attributed to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions by humans, the common brown butterfly now emerges from its cocoon 10 days earlier than it did 65 years ago. Scientists have previously observed that biological events are happening progressively earlier in spring over the past few decades but this study is the first time the actions man can be scientifically linked as a contributing cause.
The buzz of the neon lights may hum a little softer next weekend as Las Vegas joins many other cities around the globe in preparing for the event dubbed “Earth Hour.” The event's organizers say the goal is for “hundreds of millions of people” to turn off the lights for one hour – at the same time – to call for action on climate change. This year will mark the third consecutive campaign and events are set to take place in succession at 8:30 p.m. local time all over the world. As for the energy saved by turning off the lights of the Vegas strip, the local utility NV Energy, claims last year’s event saved 65 megawatts, roughly as much as the yearly energy consumption of 10 average homes in the PG&E service territory.
Feb 12 2010
Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:
Recent polls show public support for global warming is declining but British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is denouncing warming deniers calling them “anti-science, flat-earth climate skeptics.” Brown will co-chair the United Nations High Level Advisory group on Climate Change Financing. The group aims to raise cash to halt deforestation, encourage low-carbon development and adapt to rising sea levels, extreme weather events and higher temperatures.
President Obama wants to develop a new government agency that would focus specifically on Climate Change. During his campaign, he promised the American people he would devote a good portion of his administration’s time to fighting global warming. Obama announced that in an effort to live up to that promise, he was ordering the creation of a new organization. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Service will actually be a branch of the existing NOAA but will have its own director and specific agenda.
For the next couple weeks, Olympic hopefuls will adorn their colors and put their boots into bindings in the mountains overlooking Vancouver. And they’ll be racing and jumping towards medals in mostly man-made snow. January of 2010 was the warmest January on record in Vancouver, with temperatures averaging 44.8 degrees. This is in stark contrast to recent snow storms on the east coast of the United States, which have fueled the fire for global warming skeptics. Scholars of climate science argue that neither example is proof of anything. Instead they would point to longer term trends showing a gradual warming of the whole earth over the last thirty years.
Feb 05 2010
Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:
A white roof may look like a painted masterpiece to those who want to reduce urban heat. The National Center for Atmospheric Research recently completed a study demonstrating that white roofs can be an effective method for cooling. The study’s simulations provide an idealized view of different types of cities around the world and indicate that, if every roof were entirely painted white, the urban heat island effect could be reduced by 33 percent.
According to a new report released by a leading Canadian environmental group, the city of Vancouver, which will host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, would earn a bronze medal if fighting climate change were an Olympic sport. The report claims the event’s organizers have done a good job building energy efficient venues, but have fallen a tad short when it comes to offsetting carbon emissions surrounding the Winter Games. Environment is one of the three “official pillars” of the Olympic movement.
Just before athletes from around the world will have a chance to earn their gold, silver and bronze medals, athletes from Indianapolis and New Orleans will go after the Vince Lombardi trophy. And it is estimated that this year’s Super Bowl – which the NFL says is more environmentally responsible than in the past – will produce 310,000 pounds of carbon emissions. In addition, researchers claim the stadium in Miami will use 187,000 KW of electricity and the television sets of home viewers will consume roughly 10,004,603 KW of energy. And speaking of green, it is estimated that close to 54 million pounds of avocados will be consumed by guacamole loving fans.
Jan 29 2010
Several items relating to the business and technology of clean energy and the environment caught our attention this week:
Solar energy companies and relief organizations are helping Haiti to recover from the devastating earthquake, supplying solar panels to power lighting, water purification systems, ovens, mobile phones, laptop computers and other devices. Sun Ovens International is sending stand-alone and commercial solar ovens to Port-au-Prince. Solar panel maker Sol Inc. is providing solar lighting at an orphanage, relief camps and hospitals, while SolarWorld is powering 10 water purification systems. Faith Comes by Hearing, a provider of audio Bibles, is partnering with a relief organization to distribute 600 sun-powered Bibles.
Iceland is the world leader in pollution control and natural resource management, according to the 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) developed by environmental experts at Columbia and Yale. The EPI, presented at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, ranks 163 countries on performance across 25 metrics. Iceland registered high scores on environmental public health, controlling greenhouse gas emissions and reforestation. Other top performers include Switzerland, Costa Rica, Sweden and Norway. The U.S. was ranked 61 "with strong results on some issues, such as provision of safe drinking water and forest sustainability, and weak performance on other issues including greenhouse gas emissions and several aspects of local air pollution."
The Olympics are embracing recycled materials for the eco-friendly 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and London's Summer Games in 2012. Medalists at the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics Winter Games will receive gold, silver and bronze medals containing metal from recycled TVs, computers and keyboards. London's Metropolitan Police Department is melting down confiscated guns and knives with some of the metal going to help construct the Olympic Stadium in East London.
Dec 21 2009
When "Miracle on 34th Street" hit the silver screen in 1947, 8-year-old Susan Walker, played by Natalie Wood, got her holiday wish when Kris Kringle gave her directions to the new home she asked Santa Claus to deliver. If the movie were written today, Susan would probably ask for an energy efficient home with ENERGY STAR appliances and solar panels.
Like Kris Kringle, Habitat for Humanity has been making children's dreams come true since 1976. But unlike Santa, Habitat delivers presents to families year round. To date, the organization has built over 350,000 houses around the world, providing close to 2 million people with safe, affordable and now energy efficient housing.
To make these homes even more environmentally friendly, PG&E created the Solar Habitat Program in 2005. So far, as part of the partnership with Habitat for Humanity, PG&E has funded solar installations on 260 homes for hard-working families. The average solar system produces 300 kWh of clean, renewable energy each month, saving participants about $500 a year. In addition, PG&E employees have donated more than 7,000 hours of their time working on Habitat for Humanity job sites.
Just last week, PG&E volunteers, including corporate officers and CEO Peter Darbee, spent the day at a Hunters Point construction site, working on one of seven four-bedroom homes. In addition to other duties, the crews worked to install and hook up eight solar panels on one of the homes.
"It's impressive to see first hand how Habitat for Humanity constructs these quality homes with the help of volunteers from the community," said Darbee. "This is an extremely organized operation that allows those of us who are volunteering to make a real contribution to the construction of these homes."
Thanks to Habitat for Humanity and its many contributors, the spirit of 34th Street lives on as families get their 21st century, energy-efficient miracles year round.
Dec 11 2009
If Jimmy Buffett were writing a theme song for PG&E's renewable energy department, his lyrics might read, "Mother, Mother Ocean: I have heard you call. I wanted to pull the power from your waters since I was three feet tall."
Looking to add to its diverse power mix, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has just signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force that will let the utility investigate the feasibility of a wave energy project off the coast of northern Santa Barbara County near Vandenberg Air Force Base. The project is part of the PG&E WaveConnect™ program, which includes a pilot study underway in Humboldt County.
PG&E has filed a preliminary permit application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to study the southern site for three years. If findings are favorable, the utility could seek a license to install wave energy conversion devices capable of producing as much as 100 megawatts of electricity. The clean power would feed into the existing electrical grid at Vandenberg Air Force Base, which in turn is connected to the PG&E grid.
Experts believe that wave energy off the 745 mile California coastline could produce more than a fifth of the state's energy needs. The Santa Barbara County Community Environmental Council's renewable energy blueprint calls for more than eight percent of the county's future energy mix to come from the ocean. But there are many hurdles to jump before arriving at those targets, including environmental and land use concerns, grid connections and design evolution.
"You can't develop a technology unless you can test it," said Roger Bedard, ocean energy leader with Electric Power Research Institute. "In this country, we are challenged with inferior infrastructure in testing ocean energy devices. PG&E's WaveConnect™ projects will provide the infrastructure needed to test and refine emerging technologies."
Throughout the process, PG&E will continue to work closely with local communities and elected officials to understand and address their interests and concerns. The project is expected to have no significant impact on existing coastal activities such as surfing, hiking or whale watching. Development will only move forward if technical studies support its feasibility and if environmental studies show that the project will not have significant negative environmental and economical effects.
Currently, the Earth's oceans produce roughly 300 megawatts of electricity from various devices that convert energy from water movement or the natural temperature and salinity changes into usable power. Next year that number is expected to skyrocket when a 250 megawatt seawall dam comes online in South Korea. But wave power will continue to lag other renewable technologies without development assistance.
Ultimately, PG&E's WaveConnect™ projects will help emerging technology companies develop reliable and cost-effective wave energy devices, find funding and help PG&E and other utilities bring this innovative new source of clean energy to customers.
"If a utility is going to make it happen in this country, it's going to be PG&E," Bedard said.
Oct 28 2009
All solar, all the time - or at least for the better part of this week at the Anaheim Convention Center - where Solar Power International (SPI) '09 brought nearly 1,000 solar exhibits from every part of the solar energy industry.
The Solar Electric Power Association teams up with the Solar Energy Industries Association to host the massive conference, which organizers say doubled from 2008 to 2009. And some big names dropped by to share their opinions on the future of both utility-owned and delivered and distributed solar energy, including Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, actor and activist Ed Begley, Jr. and the SPI keynote speaker - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The showroom floor featured solar panel producers and installers, courses for those interested in starting a solar business and even one solar engineering firm whose representative said proudly, "If you have to pave paradise to put up a parking lot, might as well put solar panels over the cars!"
While there were countless impressive solar displays and many different sellers of panels, tracking systems and other varieties of solar infrastructure, one exhibit stood out to me as the only game in Anaheim.
Aimed at serving the need for power during emergencies or in remote locations, Green Tow, a company based out of southern Utah, is trying to take solar panels to the next level when it comes to mobility.
The company's founder Todd Myers admits that there are other trailers with solar panels, but he says "they're not as technologically advanced as his."
The mobile power block on Myers' trailers features Kyocera photovoltaic panels, a single linear actuator, batteries used by the military and a backup diesel generator... just in case. And he offers six different models for different situations - from those wanting to build a home in the wilderness to those who might allow their kids to bring their video games on family camping trips.
Oct 16 2009
Several items relating to the business and technology of clean energy and the environment caught our attention this week:
Looking for a green job? Check out "Clean-Tech Jobs Trends 2009" from research firm Clean Edge. The top five job sectors are solar; biofuel and biomaterials; conservation and efficiency; smart grid; and wind power, says Clean Edge. A listing of median salaries for a range of green jobs is included. Some samples: electric vehicles engineer, $63,000; solar systems designer, $42,600; green building energy auditor, $42,600. Highest salary was $106,000 for a renewable energy project developer and lowest was $36,100 for insulation workers. The report also lists the top 15 U.S. metropolitan areas for clean tech jobs. The top five are: San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA; Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA; New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA; Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, MA-NH; and Washington-Baltimore, D.C.-MD-VA-WV.
How green is your campus? The "America's Greenest Campus" contest found that University of Maryland - College Park and Rio Salado College in Tempe, Ariz., were the schools with the most carbon reductions. More than 460 schools and 20,000 people participated in the contest, reducing nearly 19 million pounds of CO2, saving 28 million gallons of water and conserving 4.5 million kilowatts of electricity. The two schools will win $5,000 each. The competition was sponsored by SmartPower, a nonprofit clean energy marketing company, and Climate Culture, a clean-energy social networking site.
A powerful substation called Tres Amigas is proposed for Clovis, New Mexico, to physically connect the three main U.S. transmission grids -- Eastern, Western and Texas -- and carry renewable power from solar and wind farms in the middle of the country to customers on the coasts. The project is in an early stage and could cost $1 billion or more. It's proposed by a company run by Phil Harris, former CEO of the PJM Interconnection, the largest grid operator in the U.S.
Sep 18 2009
Several items relating to the business and technology of clean energy and the environment caught our attention this week:
Where are the electric cars? Coming soon, say some of the automakers at the Frankfurt car show this week. Renault says an electric sedan will be in showrooms by 2011. Volkswagen is adding an electric model to its Up concept car. BMW will roll out a plug-in diesel-electric concept car. GM says the Chevy Volt is one of its "comeback" cars. Nissan will introduce an electric car in late 2010 in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. "This is not a false dawn. This is the real thing," says Paul Scott, vice president and founder of Plug In America. Skeptics, however, say limited range and high prices will continue to plague electric cars. Stay tuned.
Twenty teams from universities around the world will compete in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon October 8-18 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The teams will compete to design, build and operate energy-efficient, completely solar-powered houses. Winning teams will receive $100,000 over two years to support the competition's goal of reducing the cost of solar-powered homes and advancing solar technology. Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley and California College of the Arts will make up Team California. All the entries will demonstrate smart metering in the decathlon.
Canada's Nova Scotia Province has given the green light for a tidal energy demonstration project to place turbines in the Bay of Fundy to convert the bay's huge tides into electricity. A full-scale project, if viable, would involve hundreds of turbines and generate about 100 megawatts, or 10 percent of the province's energy needs. Utility Nova Scotia Power expects to put a test turbine into the water late in October. Fishermen have expressed concerns about the effects of turbines on catches.
Sep 04 2009
PG&E's presence included a tent on the festival grounds that showcased several ways volunteers can support their communities from opportunities with state and local parks to Habitat for Humanity.
Solar and wind energy powered two large batteries, each weighing 2,000 lbs, to keep festival attendees' and other vendors' cell phones charged.
Check out the video and photos at right to see PG&E at San Francisco's Outside Lands.
Photos, video by Leah Casey and Jack Chang, PG&E Civic Partnership and Community Initiatives.
