Green Forward

5 Infrastructure Gains Under President Obama

2013-04-12T09:39:00.001-07:00

President Obama didn’t have to read the American Society of Civil Engineers‘ (ASCE) new report card on the nation’s infrastructure to understand why America was given a near failing grade yet again. All he had to to do was ride in the presidential limousine on Washington, DC’s bumpy roads, of which 99 percent are poor or mediocre quality, and then cross one of the capital’s 30 structurally deficient bridges.

Click here to read my full story on The National Memo.

Is Sarah Palin Jealous of Electric Car Maker Tesla’s Success?

2013-04-09T08:23:00.001-07:00

Why is failed vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin attacking a winner like zero emissions electric car maker Tesla Motors?

Click here for the story.

Exxon Oil Spill In Arkansas Raises Concerns About Keystone XL Pipeline

2013-04-02T08:52:00.001-07:00

Environmentalists and Nebraska farmers are upping the pressure on President Obama to reject the controversial Keystone XL pipeline following an oil spill that took place over the weekend.

The rupture occurred in central Arkansas, about 20 miles north of Little Rock, as Exxon’s Pegasus pipeline spilled thousands of barrels of Canadian tar sands oil — the same Alberta crude the Keystone pipeline would carry. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is calling it a “major spill” as officials from the EPA and Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) are currently conducting an onsite investigation while ExxonMobil continues its cleanup efforts.

Click here to read the rest of the story at The National Memo.

America’s High-Speed Rail Future

2013-04-01T22:19:00.001-07:00

Making high-speed rail a reality in America — something Western Europe and Japan have been enjoying for decades, with China and other developing nations rapidly getting into the fast train game — is the focus of the book "Fast Trains: America’s High Speed Future," by Emy Louie and Nancy Bolts.

Click here to read the rest of my story on The National Memo.

Documentary Hits Fossil Fuel Industry-Funded Climate Change Deniers

2013-03-30T07:48:00.001-07:00

"Greedy Lying Bastards" is as timely a movie as you will ever see. The global warming documentary — directed, produced and narrated by Craig Rosebraugh — pulls no punches in a damning indictment of the fossil fuel industry-funded climate change deniers who have successfully deceived the public and prevented climate change action in Congress at a time when Americans are feeling the damaging effects of a changing climate — from Hurricane Sandy to western wildfires to devastating droughts.

Click here to read the rest of the story on The National Memo.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Climate Action Hero

2013-02-20T17:16:00.002-08:00

Click here for my latest National Memo story on Arnold Schwarzenegger's call for bipartisan solutions to climate change and other issues.

National Memo: ‘Forward On Climate’ Rally Biggest In U.S. History

2013-02-18T09:11:00.001-08:00

Click here for my National Memo story on the biggest climate change rally in U.S. history that took place on Sunday in Washington, D.C. Check out video, photos and audio from the "Forward on Climate" rally and march to the White House that drew an estimated 50,000 climate activists to the nation's capital.

Obama: If Congress Doesn’t Act on Climate Change, ‘I Will’

2013-02-13T14:16:00.001-08:00

Click here for my latest National Memo story on President Obama's statement during the State of the Union that if Congress fails to act on climate change, he will take executive actions:

“I urge this Congress to pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago. But if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.”

Terry McAuliffe Calls For Clean Energy Jobs In Virginia

2013-02-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on Saturday said he will fight for clean energy jobs in the Old Dominion, telling the energized crowd at the campaign's first state-wide field office opening in Arlington that "I've been involved in a lot of businesses, including renewable energy. We need jobs for the 21st century. I've met some folks here doing wind and solar and I congratulate you. I promise you as governor we are going to do something about making our renewable energy standard mandatory. Because it's about job creation. We ought to have wind turbines. But we ought to build the blades and the rotors here in Virginia."

In Virginia, the 2007 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is voluntary, meaning the state is losing business to the 29 states and the District of Columbia that have mandatory renewable energy standards. Not a single solar, wind or other clean energy project has broken ground in Virginia since the law was passed.

McAuliffe, who founded and owns an electric car company, wants a plan that requires a certain amount of renewable energy projects in Virginia.

His opponent, right-wing Republican attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, supports legislation that would repeal Virginia's Renewable Portfolio Standard. In addition to blocking clean energy jobs in Virginia, Cuccinelli is a climate denier who unsuccessfully sued climate scientist Michael Mann and sued the EPA to prevent regulation of greenhouse gases.

Read more about McAuliffe's campaign event on The National Memo.

Here is video of McAuliffe's speech.

Photo and video credits: Josh Marks

Q&A: USC Schwarzenegger Institute Global Director Bonnie Reiss

2013-02-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

Bonnie Reiss, Global Director of the Schwarzenegger Institute, introduces Arnold Schwarzenegger at the R20 Conference student event in Vienna, Austria on January 21, 2013.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is turning into a climate action hero.

The Hollywood actor and former California governor recently launched the University of Southern California Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, whose stated mission is "advancing post-partisanship, where leaders put people over political parties and work together to find the best ideas and solutions to benefit the people they serve."

One of the five policy areas the Institute focuses on is energy and the environment and since one of their guiding principles is that "science and evidence have an important role to play in finding solutions," it makes sense that addressing climate change is high on the agenda.

In that spirit, Schwarzenegger recently returned to his native Austria for a conference on how subnational governments around the globe aren't waiting for climate action at the federal level when it comes to implementing the sustainable energy future. The former governor is founding chair of Regions of Climate Action (R20) and hosted the R20 conference in Vienna. He was joined by two prominent cabinet members in his administration who are now helping Schwarzenegger take climate action -- former California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Terry Tamminen, who is the R20 founding chair’s strategic advisor, and former Senior Advisor and California Secretary of Education Bonnie Reiss, who is currently the global director at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Green Forward had the opportunity to interview Reiss about the R20 conference, why California is a leader in clean energy and climate action, how it is possible to break through today's political polarization to achieve common sense solutions to global warming, and more.

Green Forward: How did R20 go? What was accomplished? What were the takeaways?

Bonnie Reiss: The conference generally went really well on a lot of levels. We expanded membership in R20. The president of the European Union, the president of Romania, the United Nations and powerful energy CEOs participated, including the CEOs of Duke Energy, Philips and Renault-Nissan Alliance. Rennault-Nissan showcased their 100 percent electric Nissan (Leaf) and 100 percent electric Renault (Fluence Z.E.) and drove Schwarzenegger and myself during the event.

Schwarzenegger is continuing his legacy of leadership on the environment with R20. While he was governor, he took California to new levels with the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program and the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Program. Showing leadership as governor, he collaborated on hosting three global climate summits.

When it became clear that (climate legislation) wasn't going to happen on a national level right after Obama became president and had a majority in Congress, the EU and UN asked Schwarzenegger for his help because the best way to collaborate is on a subnational, state and city level. China gave the greenlight on its three largest provinces to participate in the Global Climate Summit. The UN realized that climate action wasn't going to happen on a national level in the two most important nations -- China and the U.S. Now over 39 states have climate change action plans.

GF: Why has California been so successful in taking climate and clean energy action and how can the California model be scaled up to the national level given the dysfunction and gridlock in Congress?

BR: One reason California has been so successful is because of the culture -- a majority of voters treasure its natural resources. There is a connection, a commitment to environmentalism. The other thing is that we had one of the worst air qualities that had serious health consequences, so the passage of the Clean Air Act had a tremendously positive impact and furthered the commitment by California voters to protecting the air.

Currently more members of elected Democrats find this a priority issue than elected Republicans. Schwarzenegger considers himself a Teddy Roosevelt type Republican. Growing up in Austria he is different than many other elected Republicans. In California, because we have a Democratic-controlled legislature, Arnold, who cares about championing the environment and addressing climate issues, was able as governor to work very well across the aisle with Democrats.

California is the eighth largest economy in the world and has the power to impact markets. So when California enacts a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, big utilities start ratcheting up, allowing huge industrial scale producers of wind and solar and private equity to do business in California. For example, when California created infrastructure for a Hydrogen Highway, it allowed car companies like Honda to create hydrogen cars.

GF: With many political leaders and members of the American public denying the basic science behind climate change and being skeptical of clean energy, how important a role does education play in the transition to a low-carbon economy?

BR: Education and research play a very important role in this. I take issue that a lot of people deny the science of climate change. There is a small minority that rejects science. I think that number is growing smaller. The same people or leaders that were deniers of climate change, I find their arguments shifting to "we can't afford to deal with that, we have to deal with jobs." This is also not accurate; California, the EU and other regions are proving you do not have to choose between protecting the environment and supporting jobs. Putting policies in place to put us on a path to renewable energy is good for business, jobs and the economy.

The president of the EU said at the Vienna conference that it is a false debate that you have to choose one or the other. In the EU, because of their policies to put them on a pathway to renewable energy, they have created 400,000 jobs in renewable energy in Europe. The debate is shifting. The argument from a handful of deniers doesn't hold up anymore. And those who are saying you have to choose one or the other, their side is not prevailing.

In terms of education, a year before Schwarzenegger became governor, State Senator Fran Pavley, who was the original author of AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act), authored and passed an environmental education initiative. Right now, any school in America K through 12 can bring in environmental materials as supplemental resources. Most states have bureaucratic standards in place; textbooks have to be aligned with world standards. Pavley said that textbooks must incorporate all world-aligned information relevant to the environment. If you are teaching science, shouldn't a chapter on climate or clean air be included? The more you grow up with this, the more all little kids grow up with more educational awareness, the better.

I'm on the Board of Regents of the University of California. California's educational universities and research universities are the number one public universities in the world. There are researchers in alternative transportation, battery technology, and renewable energy across the board. If policy makers want to pass laws requiring utilities ramp up renewables or other laws dependent on technology, there has to be the ability for there to be that level of renewable energy available and technology has to keep up with policy. Much of that happens at research universities.

There is so much exciting research going on with this. Not just in California, but at research universities around the world. There are mountains and mountains of research in this area. The USC Schwarzenegger Institute plans to further this work with the R20. USC is not a member yet, but will become an official member of R20.

What is the cutting edge research going on in the world? There is currently no comprehensive catalogue of research activities connected to climate and energy at all 10 UC campuses let alone other research universities in the U.S. so we think of the useful things we can do is to create a survey to pull together in one place a resource base of what research projects are going on at all the research universities in the world that deal with clean energy and climate in general.

Before you can say where we need more research dollars, let's see what the research is, what projects are being done, and what areas are being covered. Once we have thoroughly catalogued all of the great research that has been done, and is going on, this can be helpful to both policy makers and the private sector. For example, will electronic or hydrogen car manufacturers benefit from research in areas that exceed what their own R&D can deliver?

GF: How is California helping the U.S. stay on track to reach the international target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 (below 2005 levels)?

BR: Schwarzenegger's philosophy is that the only way the U.S. achieves its goals is by states and cities taking action. Because of California's size, population and GDP -- our Renewable Portfolio Standard, our transportation alternatives and our leadership in energy efficiency is how we are going to stay on track.

GF: Tell me about Arnold Schwarzenegger's commitment to climate action and also about his views on being "post-partisan." Is post-partisan even possible in our politically polarized society?

BR: At a national level, Congress does seem more polarized than it was decades ago. One of our political leaders on the board of advisors tells us when her dad was in Congress there were social friendships, when Ted Kennedy and Orin Hatch, Tip O'Neil and Ronald Reagan were friends. This lack of basic friendships and civility contribute to this polarization. But we are hopeful. We are putting together an immigration forum in the spring because that is one of the few areas we are seeing inspiring progress. A group of Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate announced the principles for immigration reform. Their working together on this is very inspiring to us, and gives us hope that our congressional leaders can work together.

Even with polarization, I believe, and Schwarzenegger believes, that most people serving as Senators and congresspeople and elected leaders do care about this country, so when we say in our mission statement that we believe our state and nation is better off when our leaders put people over party and rigid ideology, many political leaders believe that. The more we create support groups, collaborative mechanisms to support that the more likely we will see that happen.

I connected on behalf of the USC Institute with the National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona that (former presidents George H.W.) Bush and Clinton co-chair as a result of the Tucson shooting, with the goal of no matter how we may disagree on issues we need civil discourse, and exploring how our two Institutes and Universities can collaborate. We will always seek ways to collaborate..

Photos: Future L.A. Metro Purple Line Wilshire/La Brea Sation

2013-02-10T20:25:00.003-08:00

Here are photos of the future L.A. Metro Purple Line Wilshire/La Brea station. Big, bold signs are up declaring that heavy rail trains will be zipping along underground and picking up passengers by 2020. Click here for L.A. Metro's page on the Westside subway extension of the Metro Purple Line.

Notice the new bus benches. When I lived in L.A. it always bothered me that many of the bus stops were in such disrepair and the bus benches were made of cheap brown plastic that was uncomfortable to sit on and primarily was used to plaster advertising on top of. Well, my recent visit demonstrated that L.A. is at least trying to make the experience of waiting for a bus a bit more humane. Not everyone likes the new benches, as an L.A. Weekly blogger wrote "the new green benches might look like an improvement, but they're actually a step back for Los Angeles. Instead of coming up with an innovative way to generate income, improve our streets, and serve transit riders, the city has simply swapped one vendor for another."

Here are photos:

Green Traveler: Southern California

2013-02-10T20:03:00.001-08:00

Signs in Los Angeles Union Station touting L.A. Metro's progress in building more mass transit.

A recent visit to San Diego and Los Angeles demonstrates how both areas are making progress in going green. Here are some observations along with photos and videos.

Waste Management trash and recycling trucks in Southern California are powered by natural gas. The company also uses landfill gas for energy and converts waste into energy.
Priuses. Lots of Priuses and other hybrids roaming the roads of SoCal. I saw a San Diego solar company driving a Prius fleet, and in both San Diego and Los Angeles many taxis have converted to hybrids. I saw plenty of Prius hybrid cabs cruising Hollywood Boulevard for passengers while in L.A. and when I arrived at San Diego Lindbergh Field I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of Prius V hybrid taxis lining up to pick up passengers.

While visiting a friend in the Silverlake neighborhood of L.A. I saw solar powered LED street lights. The Street Lighting Energy Efficiency Program is a collaboration between the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting, the Department of Water and Power, and the Clinton Foundation.

And as San Diego and Los Angeles invest more in public transit, alternative modes of transportation are becoming more popular in Southern California. I rode on the new Expo Line light rail between Culver City and downtown. And I took the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train from San Diego to Los Angeles.

Here are photos.

Green San Diego:

Green Los Angeles:

Green Traveler: Riding L.A.'s New Expo Line

2013-02-05T21:03:00.001-08:00

Car-crazy Los Angeles is rapidly reinventing itself into a city with a world-class public transportation system. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates the second-largest bus fleet in the United States behind only New York City and the second-busiest light rail system behind only Boston.

While the Westside was getting left behind in the rush to build new rail lines, mass transit is steadily pushing into L.A.'s wealthiest neighborhoods as the dream of riding the rails to the edge of the Pacific Ocean becomes a reality.

During my last visit to the City of Angels I took a ride on the newly opened Expo light rail line from Culver City to downtown. The Expo Line runs along Exposition Boulevard using an old railway right-of-way that first went into operation in 1875. Phase one is 8.6 miles long and includes 10 new stations and 5.9 miles of new bike lanes. Phase two will extend the line to Santa Monica, terminating at 4th and Colorado. Service to Santa Monica is planned to begin in 2015.

I boarded at the Expo/La Brea station and took the train two stops to the current terminus in Culver City. I walked around the Culver City stop snapping photos before boarding again for the ride all the way to 7th Street/Metro Center downtown. While Angelenos are crawling at a snail's pace along the 10 Freeway during rush hour, Expo Line riders can zip along from Culver City to downtown in less than 30 minutes.

With two stops at the University of Southern California, the Expo Line provides thousands of USC students easy access to public transit destinations throughout L.A. The Expo line also stops at the Expo Park museums and the L.A. Live entertainment complex.

Here are photos and video of the Expo Line from Culver City to downtown L.A.

Photos: Green Cars at 2013 Washington Auto Show

2013-02-02T20:25:00.002-08:00

Green cars have gone mainstream.

Only a few years ago, green cars were a novelty relegated to the back corner of the convention hall. But in 2013 car companies are putting their green cars front and center because of new federal fuel economy standards put into place because of concerns about greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, high gas prices, and reducing America's dependence on foreign oil.

Hybrids, electric vehicles, clean diesel, compressed natural gas, and fuel efficient vehicles are being showcased at the 2013 Washington Auto Show like never before.

Here are photos of green cars at the auto show currently taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center downtown.

Green Traveler: Merrifield Mosaic District

2013-01-30T22:15:00.001-08:00

Global warming is turning Northern Virginia into Southern California. On a recent sunny 70 degree January day I decided to bicycle over to the new Mosaic District in Merrifield. Growing up in Falls Church City, I remember seeing movies at the Multiplex Cinemas when Merrifield was a run-down industrial district.

All I can say is wow! Merrifield doesn't suck anymore! The old movie theater was torn down years ago to make way for the transit oriented development called Mosaic. And it's not just Mosaic, there are new hotels, condos and apartments and construction cranes rising up within walking distance of the Dunn Loring-Merrifield station on Metro's Orange Line. The bicycling infrastructure isn't quite there yet, but with the Silver Line coming to Tysons, Fairfax County has big plans to make the car-crazy county more bicycle-friendly.

And it isn't just climate change turning NoVa into SoCal, Mosaic is a Cali-style outdoor mall with boutique shops and restaurants anchored by a Target and an arthouse movie theatre. With the introduction of the Angelika Film Center & Cafe, Merrifield has come a long way since the Multiplex Cinemas days. The original Angelika opened in New York City's Soho district in 1989. The Merrifield location features a huge screen on the exterior wall that will be used for outdoor screenings on the grass during the summer time.

The urban shopping district is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified as well so not only did Merrifield go upscale with Mosaic, but green too.

February 4th is the grand opening of D.C.'s favorite Philly-style sandwich shop Taylor Gourmet (it's first Virginia location).

Here are photos of Mosaic District:

Green Traveler: Obama Inauguration 2013

2013-01-28T13:29:00.001-08:00

Washington, D.C. -- President Obama's climate change-themed second inaugural address wasn't the only environmentally friendly part of inauguration weekend in Washington, D.C. Here are a few green observations from the historic event in the nation's capital.

These recycling bins were spread around the National Mall area, making it easy to do the right thing.

While hundreds of thousands of people arrived in D.C. via Metro, a very green thing to do, many others hopped on a bicycle -- the most carbon free transportation option besides walking. The District Department of Transportation set up a bicycle corral for those arriving with their own bikes. Capital Bikeshare set up a bike corral for those choosing the bike sharing option.

And for the first time in history, bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue greeted inaugural parade participants, including the First Couple, who got out of the presidential limo to walk along the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes.

Here is President Obama addressing climate change in his speech:

We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.

Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition. We must lead it.

We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries. We must claim its promise. That’s how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure, our forests and waterways, our crop lands and snow capped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared

Here's to an even greener 2017 inauguration!

National Memo: Majority of Voters Want Climate Action

2013-01-28T11:50:00.002-08:00

A new report that finds that a majority of American voters are concerned about climate change and want their elected leaders to take action. Click here to read my story at The National Memo.

National Memo: 5 Ways Obama Can Address Climate Change in Second Term

2013-01-23T12:44:00.002-08:00

Photo credit: Rob Carr via Associated Press

Click here to ready my latest National Memo story on five ways President Obama can address climate change in his second term.

Guest Post: Gas v. Electric: Choosing the Right Water Heater for You

2013-01-16T15:42:00.000-08:00

Hot water heaters consume a substantial portion of the electricity bill of a household. It is believed that water heating consumes roughly 15 percent of the overall energy used by a family. A water heater that is energy-efficient and economical should be preferred when you go buy a new hot water heater. The two types of storage tank or tankless water heaters available today are gas water heaters and electric water heaters. A few things to keep in mind when deciding which type of water heater is best for your household include the supply outlet or pipeline you have in your home, the space designated for your water heater, the amount of usage, and the energy source with which it has to be operated.

Gas Water Heaters

Gas hot water heaters primarily run on natural gas to heat your water. A small chamber filled with water is heated with the help of burning natural gas. These heaters were used before the invention of electrical appliances. Today, many natural gas water heaters are being used by households of various sizes. Natural gas is a cheaper source of fuel, and the cost is quite low when compared to electric hot water heater options. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a gas water heater.

Advantages of Gas

• Gas heaters are convenient for a large family. • Heating is gradual and supports energy conservation. If you use the hot water immediately, you are successful in saving a large amount of heat energy. • The user is able to control the rate of heating, as well as the extent of heating. • No electricity required to run a gas water heater. • Easier to repair than electric water heaters.

Disadvantages of Gas

• Gas water heaters result in a reasonable amount of carbon monoxide released into the air while burning natural gas. • The operational cost rises every day, as the energy crisis and increasing gas prices prevail. • Gas heaters are typically bulky, and take up a decent amount of space in your garage or closet. • If your house has multiple bathrooms, the piping and related mechanism also adds to your installation costs.

Electric Water Heaters

Electric water heaters have become extremely popular due to the level of convenience they offer. A copper coil is used to transform electricity into heat energy for the purpose of heating your water. While there have been several modification made to the design of electric hot water heaters, the basic principle has remained the same. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of purchasing an electric water heater.

Advantages of Electric

• An electric water heater can be installed almost anywhere. • Easier to handle than gas water heaters. • No need for ventilation. With no combustion, there is no emission of carbon monoxide. • The speed of heating is extremely fast. • Electric water heaters have a longer average life expectancy than gas water heaters.

Disadvantages of Electric

• You must have power in order to operate your electric water heater. Power outages result in no hot water for your household. • The operating costs of an electric water heater are higher than that of a gas water heater. • There is a potential danger of a blown fuse or a short circuit.
Both of these types of water heaters have been set up to consume significantly less energy than previous models. New technological developments are carried out, and there have been many other water heaters introduced to the market. Comparing both of your water heater options is an absolute must to meet your household’s needs. While both options are productive and have a long life, being prepared will make your decision far less complicated.

Rachael Jones is a Staff Writer at DIYMother.

National Memo: Big Oil Lobbyist Jack Gerard Lies About Industry Not Getting Subsidies

2013-01-11T08:08:00.005-08:00

My latest National Memo story is published online about how American Petroleum Institute CEO Jack Gerard wrongly claims Big Oil doesn't get government subsidies and tax breaks.

Click here to read the story.

National Memo: The 5 Hottest U.S. States — And Their Legislators Who Deny Climate Change

2013-01-10T07:51:00.003-08:00

‎2012 was officially the hottest year on record in the United States. Click here for my latest National Memo story on five states that broke high temperature records and their legislators who deny climate change.

National Memo: Renewable Energy Wins Big in ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal

2013-01-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

My latest story on progressive political news site The National Memo has been published. I write about how renewable energy was the big winner in the "fiscal cliff" deal. Not only was the wind power production tax credit extended for one year, but biofuels got a boost with the reinstatement of the biodiesel tax incentive.

Click here for the story.

Green Energy: Australia's Answer to High Energy Costs

2012-12-18T19:48:00.002-08:00

Guest post by Australian energy retailer Lumo Energy.

"Australians are most concerned about electricity costs of all the major household expenses", according to Tim Wilson, Policy Director of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA).

Perhaps an article by ABC News posted earlier this year stating that “Australian households are paying among the highest electricity prices in the developed world,” has heightened that concern considerably.

The article stated that the Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA) released a report that showed that average electricity prices have increased by as much as 40 percent in the past five years – well above prices paid in the United States, Canada, Japan and the European Union.

At about the same time The Australian came out with an article that stated that energy prices will continue to rise because of higher fuel costs and the impact of climate change policies.

There are 9.5 million electricity customers throughout Australia and over 87 percent are households. Most of the residential electricity connections are along the east coast, in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland where most Australians live.

Fortunately, both electricity and gas industries have been deregulated for residential and business consumers.

Deregulation has enabled consumers to compare energy prices and to choose from several electricity retailers in Australia.

Unfortunately, more than 90 percent of the country's electricity comes from the burning of non-renewable fossil fuels – 80 percent of which comes from coal.

Black coal is extremely efficient in producing energy but it is also one of the leading causes of global warming.

While Australia has fossil fuels like coal, the country also has abundant access to renewable fuels such as the sun and wind. In addition, falling (rain) water can be used to make hydro electricity and biomass is now being used increasingly in some States.

Renewable energy or green energy is Australia's solution to high electricity costs.

Green energy which is derived from renewable sources such as the sun, wind, biomass, wave power or hydro power not only helps in preserving our natural environment, it is also a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels.

Solar power is one type of green energy that is now gaining popularity in many countries around the world. Fortunately, the Australian Government reports that “the Australian continent has the highest solar radiation per square meter of any continent and consequently some of the best solar energy resource in the world.”

The report states further that, Australia receives an average of 58 million PJ (petajoule = 1015 joules) of solar radiation per year, which is approximately 10,000 times larger than its total energy consumption. But the current use of solar energy in Australia is still quite low. Solar energy accounts for only about 0.1 percent of Australia's total energy consumption.

However, the government's Clean Energy Initiative Solar Flagships Program managed by the Department of Resources Energy and Tourism has committed $1.5 billion to support the construction and demonstration of up to four large-scale solar power plants in Australia. These plants will use solar thermal and PV (photovoltaic) technologies. The government's goal is to establish up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power generation capacity.

According to the Clean Energy Council, it is evident from poll after poll that Australians understand that a strong renewable energy industry will secure a sustainable future for the nation. Each survey conducted in recent years has shown that more than 80 percent of Australians support renewables.

The Council states that "Australia's Renewable Energy Target has driven large amounts of investment in clean energy over the last decade." Additionally, renewable energy will also secure tens of thousands of jobs. If this goes on, it will continue to drive investments that will transform Australia's energy sector over the next decade and beyond.

Green energy is the way to go – if you want to save on energy costs and if you want to secure a sustainable future.

Guest Post: How to Make Locker Rooms more Eco-Friendly

2012-12-13T08:02:00.000-08:00

As more people become aware of the state of the environment, they are looking for ways to decrease their impact on the planet. Even educational institutions and businesses are seeking ways to incorporate green practices into everyday operations. Some simple changes in the locker room can not only help the environment but can also potentially save cash-strapped school districts, universities and businesses money on operating expenses.

Installing low-flow shower heads and toilets is one way in which locker rooms can be made more eco-friendly. Since about one quarter of all water use in America is from toilet flushing, low-flow toilets can contribute significantly to the sustainability of a locker room. Modern low-flow shower heads reduce water use at least 50 percent over traditional models. Innovations in design assure a high pressure shower while still cutting waste.

Furnishings and fixtures can also be part of an environmentally-friendly locker room. Dividers, benches and even lockers made from post-consumer plastic waste are widely available. By recycling milk jugs and other plastic containers into new lockers, less material is sent to the landfill. Less oil is used, since most new plastic is still made from petroleum.

Plastic lockers have another advantage over traditional steel units. In the humid conditions of a typical locker room, even treated steel will rust and degrade over time. Regular preventive painting may be carried out to forestall deterioration, but many paints and sealants contain volatile organic compounds. These airborne compounds can cause a host of breathing and other health problems. Since plastic lockers don’t break down when exposed to humidity, they can last far longer than metal models. This saves both money and the energy used to manufacture replacements. Plastic lockers don't require repainting, which lessens VOC exposure.

Installing on-demand water heaters can also increase the sustainability of a locker room. Tank-less, or on-demand, water heaters only heat water as it is being used. Since energy isn’t being constantly used to keep large tanks of water hot, the school or commercial athletic facility will reduce their carbon footprint. Depending on siting and geographic location, the school or business can also install a solar water heating system. By harnessing the free energy of the sun, the locker room can become even greener.

This is a sponsored post from Patterson Pope, an eco-friendly, industry leading supplier of steel lockers, and other storage solutions for athletic facilities and locker rooms.

Guest Post: Organic Job Growth: Environmental Career Paths to Consider

2012-12-12T22:57:00.002-08:00

Guest post by Martin Valdez. A vegan environmentalist who loves crossword puzzles and Tetris, Martin would like to one day create a video game that is both entertaining and educational about how to protect our planet.

If you're looking for a career with stability that also makes you feel good, try looking at the environmental sector. Many environmental jobs have a lasting impact on the world, which that's something you can feel good about. As we work to reclaim the parts of our planet we have damaged and live in better harmony going forward, there are many career options available that feature good compensation, room for growth and long-term stability.

HVAC Engineer

Beyond jobs available for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technicians — which mostly involve installation and maintenance — there are great opportunities available as an HVAC engineer. Engineers in the HVAC field are valuable in both new construction and existing buildings. For new construction, engineers design a system that will ensure good ventilation and climate control while leveraging the appropriate technology to make the system as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. In established buildings, engineers can look for opportunities for cost savings or simply investigate existing systems for deficiencies.

Environmental Remediation

Environmental remediation companies reclaim land that has been rendered useless or dangerous. Landfills, land polluted by manufacturing by-products and otherwise unusable land areas are a valuable asset when safely reclaimed.
"Business opportunities are steady in both the public and private sector," said Sevenson Environmental CEO, Michael Elia in an article on EngineeringNewsRecord.com. The company is a leader in environmental remediation and has handled more than 1,500 contracts. Jobs in this sector range from technicians to scientists and environmental engineers.

Solar Cell Technology

As oil gets increasingly expensive and scarce, the United States is turning more to alternative and sustainable energy sources. The solar cell sector has, perhaps, the most potential for job growth as solar technology is implemented on gadget accessories, single-family homes, corporate complexes and farm operations.
A 2011 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates job growth throughout the solar industry, especially in manufacturing, project development, construction, operation, maintenance and installation.

Water Quality Technician

Beyond jobs in traditional water treatment centers, there are opportunities for creative solutions to new (and existing) problems, as National Geographic reports. For example, in 2008, engineers in California were tasked with overcoming a chemical balance issue in the Ivanhoe Reservoir. They were able to solve the problem by adding 3 million black polyethylene balls (similar to ball-pit balls found on children's playgrounds) to the open-air reservoir to deflect UV rays, which, when combined with the toxic chemicals, became carcinogenic. The balls are non-carcinogenic and are expected to provide coverage for five years, while the engineers devise a more permanent solution.

Green Design

Green design is a big industry with extensive opportunities for designers, engineers and architects. Green design can mean using found and recycled materials to build low-cost and low-impact buildings for underdeveloped areas, like the schools Long Way Home builds in Guatemala. Green design is also important in larger commercial applications. Designing large buildings with minimal impact during construction and long-term sustainability in mind is a valuable skill and very much in demand. Green design can even get literal by introducing green roofs, which insulate a building and control water run off by featuring grass or other vegetation blanketing a roof. Wallaceresearch.net lists architectural schools that offer environmental programs specializing in sustainability.