Steven's Hobe Sound Journal

California’s Green Car Roadmap to 2050

2009-11-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

California’s Green Car Roadmap to 2050:

via hybridcars.com

One hundred percent of car sales will be zero emission vehicles in 2050.

Current hybrid vehicles—currently about 4 percent of the market—need to grow to 40 percent of the market in the next 10 years, and then taper off, completely disappearing in 2040.

Plug-in hybrids—promoted as a solution by Al Gore, ex-CIA director Jim Woolsey, many others—will be introduced next year and will rapidly rise to 40 percent of the market by the mid-2030s.

Zero emission electric and fuel cell vehicles will be introduced over the next five years and rapidly accelerate to become 100 percent of the new vehicle market by 2050.

5 Ways the US Military is Greening Up Its Act - From Solar-Powered Bases to Barnacle-Clearing Robots

2009-11-12T07:38:00.000-05:00

5 Ways the US Military is Greening Up Its Act - From Solar-Powered Bases to Barnacle-Clearing Robots: "
photo: Army.mil via flickr.

Let's leave aside for the moment the fact that military vehicles are some of the most fuel-inefficient out there, and issues with wars and environmental degradation. In light of Veteran's Day, let's take a look at just some of the great ways the US Military i...Read the full story on TreeHugger

LG in Snap-On Fuel Magazine

2009-11-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

LG in Snap-On Fuel Magazine: "

via lusciousgarage.com

Martin may get first certified green, eco-friendly commercial building

2009-11-10T04:50:00.002-05:00

STUART — Stuart city commissioners on Monday initially approved a zoning change that lays the foundation for the first certified green, eco-friendly commercial building in Martin County.

via.tcpalm.com

ISA | Software will bridge plug-in hybrid, grid gap

2009-11-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

ISA | Software will bridge plug-in hybrid, grid gap

via isa.org

Software will bridge plug-in hybrid, grid gap

Google is trying to figure out how to manage the impact of having millions of future electric vehicle owners plugging in their vehicles at the same time.

The company is in the early stages of looking at ways to write software that would fully integrate plug-in hybrid vehicles to the power grid, minimize strain on the grid, and help utilities manage vehicle-charging load.

Voices from Hopenhagen: Ed Begley, Jr.

2009-11-04T05:33:00.000-05:00

Voices from Hopenhagen: Ed Begley, Jr.: "

This guest post is written by author and activist Ed Begley, Jr. as part of our Voices
from Hopenhagen series.

Earlier this month I attended a sustainability conference at the University of South Florida to speak about green technology. I'm a strong proponent of green tech for anyone who can afford it, having spent the last 40 years working toward achieving a smaller and smaller eco-...Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ontario to Introduce Green Licence Plates

2009-11-03T08:17:00.000-05:00

Ontario to Introduce Green Licence Plates: "

Canadian province Ontario is to introduce green-coloured licence plates, available only to drivers of plug-in hybrids and battery-powered electric vehicles.

Gov. Crist to visit Fellmere alternative-fuel algae farm this afternoon

2009-11-03T08:09:00.001-05:00

Gov. Crist to visit Fellmere alternative-fuel algae farm this afternoon.

in reference to: http://www.petroalgae.com/ (view on Google Sidewiki)

Smart grid stimulus is big win for consumers

2009-10-28T10:05:00.000-04:00

Smart grid stimulus is big win for consumers: "Posted by Michael Terrell, Energy Policy Counsel

President Obama today announced $3.4 billion in federal stimulus funding to build a 'smarter' electricity grid. The funds are the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history, according to the Department of Energy, and are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs.

We're excited because the vast majority of the projects will benefit consumers directly by giving them tools and information to save energy and cut utility bills. For example, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District will receive $127 million to install 600,000 smart meters and 50,000 programmable thermostats and home energy management systems. Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company will receive $130 million to provide 771,000 meters to 100% of its customers. These technologies will enable consumers to receive direct feedback on their energy use, which can lead to energy savings of up to 15% on average. Altogether the awards will fund the installation of 18 million smart meters, 1 million in-home energy displays and 170,000 smart thermostats.

With the advent of smart meters and other information technologies, we have the opportunity to rebuild the electricity grid, which still uses century-old technology in places. Most importantly, we can make the grid work better for consumers. Today's announcement is an ambitious step toward that goal.

via Google Public Policy Blog

Ranches in St. Lucie, Okeechobee starting to see the light on solar power

2009-10-27T09:54:00.000-04:00

Ranches in St. Lucie, Okeechobee starting to see the light on solar power: "At first glance, it might be a normal scene on any Florida cattle ranch: tractors and equipment sheltered under a shed roof with green pasture stretching away into the distance. But something is different. On the shed’s roof, rectangular flat panels are baking under a hot blue sky."

Largest solar panel plant in US rises in Fla.

2009-10-24T03:28:00.000-04:00

via sun-sentinel.com

Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title

2009-10-23T10:35:00.000-04:00

Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title: "

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Tokyo Motor Show, Japan

via: green.autoblog.com

Thirty years of the Japan Car of the Year - Click above for high-res image gallery

For the past 30 years, Japan has declared a car of the year, an award given to newly-released or redesigned vehicles released from November 1st of the previous year to October 1st of the current year. More than 60 jurors composed of Japanese journalists receive an allocation of votes, and the car with the most votes comes away with the crown.

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

10 Cool iPhone Apps for Environmentalists

2009-10-22T17:56:00.000-04:00

10 Cool iPhone Apps for Environmentalists

via practicalenvironmentalist.com

Mandatory Composting Law Already a Success in San Francisco

2009-10-22T10:38:00.000-04:00

Mandatory Composting Law Already a Success in San Francisco:

"
Photo via Green Inc

10 Prius Plug-In Test Cars Going to SmartCityGrid Project

2009-10-21T13:07:00.000-04:00

10 Prius Plug-In Test Cars Going to SmartCityGrid Project: "This is the first public announcement we've seen on who will be getting a look at the factory-equipped Prius Plug-In early next year. Xcel Energy is getting 10 of the PHEVs to put into service with their SmartCityGrid Project in Boulder, CO. Press release below.

Toyota is First Automotive Manufacturer to Participate in SmartGridCity(TM) Project

Electric Car Doubles As a Solar Panel To Power the Energy Grid

2009-10-21T07:35:00.000-04:00

Electric Car Doubles As a Solar Panel To Power the Energy Grid: "

The MINILUX Solar Car can actually return energy back to the grid.

Electric promise

2009-10-20T08:03:00.000-04:00

Electric promise: "A battery operated car from China makes big claims"

Toyota Prius Plug-in

2009-10-19T04:25:00.000-04:00

Toyota Prius Plug-in: "

via hybridcars.com

Toyota is targeting 2012 for the release of a plug-in version of the Toyota Prius.

Toyota is currently running a national print ad promoting the company’s future eco-friendly technologies. As you would expect, it pictures a Toyota Prius glistening by a tree-lined lake, and brags about the fuel and CO2 saved by hybrid technology. The ad copy says that Toyota’s current hybrids are “paving the way for the next generation of environmental vehicles.” And then these five words: “Like cars charged at home.”

Coskata Opens Semi-Production Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

2009-10-18T12:26:00.000-04:00

Coskata Opens Semi-Production Cellulosic Ethanol Plant: "

Coskata, Inc. is a pioneering cellulosic ethanol production company. It was announced in January 2008, that GM had invested and taken an ownership stake in the company.

Coskata has developed a proprietary high temperature plasma gasification process that turns any carbon-containing waste or biological product into ethanol. In the first step the carbon containing material is gassified into CO and hydrogen. Proprietary microorganisms then combine both gases directly into ethanol. In the final step the ethanol is separated from the water.

The technique does not rely on expensive enzymes, as the microorganisms can reproduce themselves.

A great value of the technology is that ethanol can be made from many sources including numerous feedstocks, wood biomass, agricultural waste, sustainable energy crops, and garbage, old tires, and construction waste. It yields a 7 to 1 energy ratio and uses half the water it takes to produce gasoline.

Source (Coskata)

Congress Approves DOE Funding for Three-Wheeled Vehicles

2009-10-17T12:46:00.000-04:00

Congress Approves DOE Funding for Three-Wheeled Vehicles: "
Photo via Gas2

Three wheeled vehicles may have just gotten the boost they need to get off of the drawing board and onto US roads: Congress just approved a bill that will allow three wheelers to get funding from the Dept. of Energy. Which means we might be sharing the commuter lane with three-wheelers like the XR3, or the Aptera 2e a lot sooner than anyone thought. More pics of some of the three-wheelers you could soon be seeing on the 1...Read the full story on TreeHugger

SunPods make solar electric vehicle charging quick and easy (to install)

2009-10-16T07:57:00.000-04:00

SunPods make solar electric vehicle charging quick and easy (to install): "

via: green.autoblog.com

While solar panels are not yet efficient enough to plop down on an electric vehicle's roof and charge as you go, the idea of powering an EV with the sun is tremendously appealing.

A new system called SP-300 EV Plug-N-Go by SunPods is currently being used in San Jose to collect the sun's rays for use in plug-in vehicles.

6 Ways Google Has Greened Its Main Campus

2009-10-16T07:20:00.000-04:00

6 Ways Google Has Greened Its Main Campus: ""

PEAK OIL !!

2009-10-15T06:47:00.000-04:00

Environmental officials want to make the Florida should ban throwaway grocery bags, environmental officials say

2009-10-15T06:02:00.000-04:00

Environmental officials want to make the
Florida should ban throwaway grocery bags, environmental officials say: "State would be first in U.S. to prohibit throwaway plastic and paper bags.

Paper or plastic?

California to Ban Power-Sucking Big Screen TVs Next Month

2009-10-14T18:37:00.000-04:00

California to Ban Power-Sucking Big Screen TVs Next Month: "
Photo via Plasma Big Screen TV

In what's sure to be a contentious issue, California is moving to ban on energy-hogging big screen TVs. The idea first picked up steam earlier this year, but now it's looking more and more like a sure thing: the Golden State will be the first in the nation to enact such a ban....Read the full story on TreeHugger