Daily Archives: January 10, 2013

10
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.10.13

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

CLIMATE 

UN climate official wants “strong” US response to record heat (via The Hill)

Arab Spring spawns Middle East youth climate change movement (via Sustainable Business)

Five charts help illustrate 2012 as warmest year on record (via Climate Central)

By the numbers: the hottest year on record (via WRI Insights)

Local governments answer America’s climate change wake-up call (via CleanTechnica)

Climate change and the shrinking Mississippi River (via Huffington Post)

Since 2009, Sunday TV shows haven’t quoted a single scientist on climate change (via Treehugger)

RENEWABLES 

Solar shakeout expected to slash solar equipment makers by 70% (via GigaOm)

MENA solar markets to exceed 3GW annually by 2015 (via Greentech Media)

China’s plan to double solar capacity in 2013 boosts industry (via Reuters)

China and renewables: the outlook for growth (via CleanTechnica)

Nearly 12% of UK electricity now produced by renewables (via Energy Collective)

In India, solar ambitions are suddenly outsized (via New York Times)

Wind power to provide 5% of America’s electricity by 2015 (via Facts of the Day)

Answers about tax credit specifics are still blowin’ in the wind (via Houston Chronicle)

New York Gov. Cuomo announces $1 billion green bank, new energy czar (via Greentech Media)

BP cuts ribbon on 600MW worth of US wind farms (via BusinessGreen)

Google invests $200 million in Texas wind farm, has now backed 2GW of clean power (via GigaOm)

Chinese firm buys US solar start-up MiaSole (via New York Times)

OIL 

Arctic standards urged for oil drilling in forbidding region (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil imports are falling to their lowest level since 1987 (via Washington Post)

Shale oil output anchors a record growth in US production (via EnergyWire)

Interior Department, Coast Guard launch separate probes of Shell Arctic operations (via EnergyWire)

BP’s oil and dispersant toxic to baby corals (via Mother Jones)

Phillips makes $1 billion commitment to ship Bakken shale oil (via Reuters)

Big Oil lobby claims the industry “gets no subsidies, zero, nothing” (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Smart meter opponents turn to Maryland state legislature (via Capital Gazette)

California awards $1.8 million to UCSD microgrid project (via Green Car Congress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volkswagen wants to be “the leader in electrification” (via Autoblog Green)

China to offer electric car incentives soon, says official (via Bloomberg)

2013 Nissan Leaf now more efficient, charges in half the time (via Inhabitat)

Virginia Gov. McDonnell proposes eliminating state’s gas tax (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

California ratepayers to receive 85% of cap-and-trade revenue as climate dividend (via AOL Energy)

COAL 

EIA projects slight bump up for coal this year, but long-term projections show decline (via Charleston Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Utilities can save big with next-generation energy efficiency programs (via Energy Manager Today)

Back from the brink: home energy efficiency tax credits (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US Chamber’s fracking jobs boom: behind the numbers (via Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS 

Obama’s first term: assessing progress on top energy and climate priorities (via Climate Progress)

Former White House aide defends “green” stimulus, says created 720,000 jobs (via The Hill)

Sen. Sanders floats new climate bill after US hits heat record (via The Hill)

MIT to Obama: get serious about climate change (via Triple Pundit)

Treasury Secretary nominee Jack Lew has ties to energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

Tom Steyer might be the next big name in US energy politics (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

China’s solar PV goal masks a fallacy (via Recharge)

Solyndra stunk. The green stimulus didn’t. (via Washington Post)

Climate-proofing cities: not something conservatives will be good at (via Grist)

Heat: Hell on poor countries, no biggie for the rich (via Grist)

Clarifying public investments in clean energy innovation (via Innovation Files)

Innovation should be central to next Energy Secretary’s agenda (via Innovation Files)

The science of why comment trolls suck (via Mother Jones)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, Arab Spring, arctic, arra, Bakken Shale, barack obama, bernie sanders, Bob McDonnell, BP, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate dividend, coal, drought, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, ev, fracking, Gas tax, google, grid, india, interior department, Jack Kew, maryland, MENA, MiaSole, Microgrid, middle east, Mississippi River, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Phillips, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, Shale oil, smart meter, solar, solyndra, stimulus, Subsidies, Tax credit, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, united kingdom, US Coast Guard, virginia, Volkswagen, wind
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10
Jan

Bonnaroo Installs Permanent Solar Array

Roo Solar Banner

After twelve years of promoting eco-conscious living and valiant efforts at keeping their carbon footprint low, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has once again raised the green bar.

This week, Bonnaroo and it's partners announced the installation of its first permanent solar array. Although the use of PV panels and solar-powered stages is not new to the festival circuit, Bonnaroo is once again pioneering the way for eco-minded music festivals. Generating more than 61,000 kWh per year, this system will mark the first of it’s kind for any US musical festival.

Roo Recycling

To read more details about Bonnaroo's environmental programs and the new solar array check out our sister site, Green Up Music.

Posted:   |   Categories: 2013, Architecture, bonnaroo, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, clean energy, green energy, green festival, manchester, music festival, News+Opinion, photovoltaics, pv, PV panels, renewable energy, solar, solar array, solar power, solar stage, superfly
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10
Jan

From Fungi to Fish: A New Aquaponics Kit

Aquaponics-self-cleaning-fish-tank-gardenBack To The Roots, who revolutionized growing mushrooms at home, has just released another user-friendly green product. Raising twice their goal on Kickstarter, Back To The Roots' Home Aquaponics Self-Cleaning Fish Tank combines growing herbs with an aquatic pet. Five small plants are nestled on top of the fish tank while the fish's waste naturally fertilizes the plants above. Minimal maintenance is required, but the fish does need to be fed!

aquagarden7

How it works: 

  • The fish, poop and pee, and all that waste-water gets broken down by beneficial bacteria into nutrients.
  • The waste-water from the fish is then pumped up & upcycled as fertilizer for the plants. The plants take up the nutrients and, at the same time, clean the water which then falls back down for the fish.
  • There is no soil - the plants are growing hydroponically.
  • There is no need to clean the water because the plants naturally filter the water

What can you grow: Choose from a variety of fresh produce, including spinach, baby greens, oregano, beans, basil, mint, parsley & thyme.

A useful learning tool for the classroom, this aquaponic kit is also great for any family or urban dweller's kitchen. To learn more or purchase this Home Aquaponics Garden please visit the Back To The Roots website here.

aquagarden3

Posted:   |   Categories: aquaponic kit, aquaponics, Back to the Roots, fish, Food + Drink, fresh herbs, Gadgets, Gardening, indoor farming, indoor gardening, News, urban ag
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10
Jan

Bonnaroo Announces Permanent Solar Array

Roo Solar Banner

Celebrating 12 years of good tunes and maintaining its position as the leader of environmentally conscious concert events, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has once again raised the green bar. This week, Bonnaroo and it's partners announced the installation of its first permanent solar array. Although the use of PV panels and solar-powered stages is not new to the festival circuit, Bonnaroo is treading on new ground with a permanent installation. Generating more than 61,000 kWh per year, this system will mark the first of it’s kind for any US musical festival.

To read more details about Bonnaroo's environmental programs and the new solar array please visit our sister site, Green Up Music.

Posted:   |   Categories: 2013, Architecture, bonnaroo, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, clean energy, energy, green energy, green festival, manchester, music festival, Offbeat, photovoltaics, pv, PV panels, renewable energy, solar, solar array, solar power, solar stage, superfly
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