High Speed Rail Last Thursday, the House of Representatives voted in favor of another $4 billion for high-speed rail projects, on top of the $8 billion that was part of the stimulus package. The Government Accountability Office’s summary of building costs in Europe range from $37 million to $53 million a mile. The Japanese lines [...]
Archive for July, 2009
Five Friday Facts
July 31st, 2009 
Eric Wilson 
Posted in 2nd Green, Five Friday Facts, Japan, Transportation 
Tags: High Speed Rail, Trains 
No Comments »U.S. and China Sign Climate MOU
July 31st, 2009 Justin Manger At the U.S. – China Strategic and Economic Dialogue here in Washington DC this week, the newsworthy event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase cooperation between the two countries on energy and climate change. Areas of cooperation have been divided into 10 main categories: Energy conservation and energy efficiency Renewable [...]
Posted in China, Clean Technology, Energy Efficiency, Green Economy, Justin Manger, Policy Tags: Carbon Dioxide, Clean Energy No Comments »Book Review: Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food
July 30th, 2009 Eric Wilson Michael Pollan has written extensively on food and food systems. In 2005 he published The Omnivore’s Dilemma, which looked at the industrial food chain and alternative routes to food production. As an instructor of journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, Pollan brings a readable style and thorough research to his latest book, In Defense [...]
New York Recycling Law Challenged in Court
July 29th, 2009 Justin Manger In a clear example of how difficult and contentious it is to implement recycling regulations, New York City has been sued over a law that is to take effect at the end of this month that “mandates free, door-to-door electronics collection, paid for by manufacturers.” According to Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) president Gary Shapiro: “CEA [...]
Posted in Business, Green Products, Justin Manger, Policy, Recylcing Tags: Green Gadget, Lifecycle No Comments »Smart Grid Projects Blossom Around the Country
July 28th, 2009 Justin Manger Backed by more than $47 million in stimulus funds, the Department of Energy announced funding for eight projects in seven states to “help accelerate the development and implementation of a modernized and secure electrical grid, a critical piece in delivering renewable energy to American consumers and ensuring an effective, reliable and efficient electricity system across [...]
Climate Change on Agenda of First High Level China – U.S. Meeting of Obama Administration
July 27th, 2009 Justin Manger The U.S-China “Strategic and Economic Dialogue” that began in 2006 under then Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson- mainly to address currency issues- begins its first Obama era discussions today. While the economy and financial crisis will lead the agenda, high on the list of main issues is climate change and all its related themes. Climate change [...]
Posted in China, Clean Technology, Green Economy, Justin Manger, Policy, President Obama Tags: Carbon Dioxide No Comments »America’s Energy Future: What do you think?
July 27th, 2009 Justin Manger In order to get a better idea of what the public thinks on certain issues, we are holding our first (and very unscientific) poll. Select an answer from the options below in regards to where you think America should focus its clean energy efforts. If there are any topics or questions you’d like to see [...]
Farmer’s Markets and CSAs Proliferate Throughout The Country
July 25th, 2009 Eric Wilson Over the past decade, the number of Farmer’s Markets have nearly doubled in number across the country. According to Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, “farmer’s markets have blossomed in recent years, their numbers increasing from 1,755 a decade ago to 3,137 at last count.” Food scares, an increased interest in locally grown food (locavores), consumer [...]
Posted in Eric Wilson, Local Energy/Food Tags: Agriculture, California, Colorado, Farmer's Market, Food, Michael Pollan, Photovoltaic No Comments »
