CA Public Utilities Commission to vote on Sunrise Powerlink
The future of the contentious Sunrise Powerlink project could be decided today (Thursday) by the California Public Utilities Commission. The proposal by utility company, SDG&E would run a 100 mile $1.9 billion high-voltage transmission line to San Diego from the eastern deserts of neighboring Imperial County.
Proponents, which include Gov. Schwarzenegger and the PUC president, argue that this is exactly the type of project that is necessary to grow our nation’s renewable energy production. Since most large-scale renewable resources lie away from urban centers, the electricity generated in these locations must use a new generation of transmission lines to bring the power to cities. This is the purpose of the Sunrise Powerlink project, according to SDG&E and other supporters. READ MORE
New ‘Very High Speed’ Train Goes 220 mph and Has No Centralized Engine
This month, the French company Alstom Transport is testing its brand new “very high speed” train, the AGV (or Automotrice à Grande Vitesse), on live tracks in Eastern France. Unlike most trains, which have a single engine car in the front or back, the AGV has a series of distributed motors underneath the passenger carriages, which saves space and allows the train to carry 20% more passengers. (Notice in the photo below how little space there is from the nose of the train to the first passenger seats.)
The AGV is being tested over 12 nights this month on the Eastern high-speed line, between the Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine stations, at its ideal speed of 224 mph. In comparison, the American high speed Acela train travels at a top speed of 150 mph.
The test train is outfitted with 4,000 sensors that will look at both the train’s overall mechanical capabilities, as well as the interior passenger compartment. Although significant testing has already been done with computer models and on closed course test tracks, it is impossible to perfectly replicate the environment a train will face on live tracks. READ MORE
EU agrees to another cut in greenhouse gas emissions
The European Union has agreed to tighten already aggressive emission caps, as of 2013. As the world slowly works to build a consensus on a replacement to the Kyoto Protocol, the EU is taking the lead by announcing increased caps on energy and manufacturing industries.
The annual CO2 allowances in the EU will be reduced by 11% from 2008-2012 levels on average between 2013 and 2020. The EU also endorsed adding the aluminum and chemical industries to the existing cap-and-trade system. Additionally, fewer free allowances will be available to polluters starting 2013.
The increased caps aim to help the EU meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020.
Ethanol stations coming online as gas prices sit well below E85
By the end of February, there will be 29 new E85 ethanol stations open near Sacramento, CA. These stations are part of a $3.5 million project by the state to make the relatively scarce alternative fuel more available to drivers. The intent of the plan was to create an “ethanol island” where enough E85 would be regionally available to encourage drivers to use flex-fuel cars and fill up with E85.
However, now that these E85 pumps are opening, the price of gas has plummeted below ethanol and station owners are concerned that drivers will opt for the less expensive choice. With ethanol nearly twice as expensive as gas right now, it is unlikely drivers will choose to fill their flex-fuel cars with E85.
The original intent of the government program was to help reduce greenhouse gases and dependency on foreign oil. Of course, even under ideal price conditions, the former is debatable and the latter is unrealistic– since it is unclear whether ethanol is actually good for the environment, and without advancements in cellulosic techniques, we’re replacing one unsustainable situation with another.
New company Boston-Power on cutting edge of U.S. battery technology
With the generally sad state of American battery technology being a hot topic lately, it was good to read a post at Green Inc. about the first American based company to have their batteries sold inside a top tier laptop computer: READ MORE
Annoying ads with music
Just want to quickly apologize to anyone who has been subjected to the annoying advertisement on our website today that automatically plays music. We’re trying to block it and figure out how to stop the ads from playing music, in general. Please feel free to let us know if this happens again in the future. Thanks, ForceChange
Oil and gas drilling in the U.S. falls 12% from peak
A recent report from oil services company, Baker Hughes Inc., shows that the number of oil and gas drilling rigs in the U.S. that are online has fallen by 12% from this September’s peak and is down 2% from this time last year. The total number of working drilling rigs currently sits at 1,790.
This slowdown in domestic oil and gas production (sub req) is being attributed to falling energy prices and tight credit. Higher cost wells and fields are being taken offline and less cash is available to pursue general operations. READ MORE
Obama picks a ‘conservationist’ to head Interior Department
Obama has added to his already impressive list of energy and environmentally minded cabinet members by picking Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Col.) to head the Department of the Interior.
Salazar is a first-term senator who has a reputation as being a “staunch conservationist.” He has opposed developing oil shale projects on public lands, and supports the goal of getting 25% of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2025.
It is also speculated that Salazar could be more supportive of the Cape Wind offshore wind farm, which has run into some delays recently. The project requires approval from the Minerals Management Service, which is a part of the Department of the Interior.
New York to Washington D.C. high speed rail takes a step forward
The U.S. Department of Transportation and Congressional leaders in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced today that the department would be seeking proposals from contractors to build a high speed rail line between Washington D.C. and New York City.
That route is currently served by the higher speed Acela and standard Amtrak trains, which currently take three and four hours for the trip, respectively. A true high speed train would take under two hours. Currently, both Acela and standard Amtrak trains share the Northeast Corridor line with freight trains. The high speed proposal would create a new dedicated commuter-only line. READ MORE
Report: Ski areas could be snowless by end of century
A study released on Monday analyzes the potential effects of climate change on ski areas. The predictions do not look good for skiers, who are a group that will see the effects of climate change up close.
The study, which was presented to the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco, looks at Aspen, CO and Park City, UT, in particular. The results are pretty grim. The study surmises that winter snowpack in Aspen will be 2,400 vertical feet higher by the end of the century, while Park City could see a complete loss of snowpack in that time. READ MORE
Australia announces target emissions cuts
Coming out of the Poznan Conference, Australian Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has announced that her country will aim to reduce carbon emissions by 5% to 15% from 2000 levels by 2020. This would be a move forward for that country’s goal of reducing emissions by 60% by 2050.
However, Australia’s planned cuts are relatively smaller in comparison to the EU, which targets cuts of 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, as well as California which aims to hit 1990 levels by 2020, and Obama’s proposal, which aims for the same as California.
However, unlike the U.S., Australia has (albeit belatedly) ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which was done the first day Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took office last November.
Conflict over Sunrise Powerlink transmission line project could be decided this week
The conflict between the need to develop renewable energy resources and the environmental impact of these projects will come to a head this Thursday when the California Public Utilities Commission will decide on a major transmission line project in San Diego County.
Proponents of the project, termed the Sunrise Powerlink, argue that this massive 1000 MW transmission line from Imperial County in the east, through the Anza-Borrego Desert, and into northern San Diego County is essential to adding solar, wind, and geothermal energy to the region’s electricity mix. Opponents argue that the renewable energy slated to be generated in the deserts east of the city is unproven and that the Sunrise Powerlink should take a more environmentally friendly route, if at all.
We will be exploring this issue in more depth as it develops.
[Note: clicking on the above map will expand the graphic.]
Friedman on ‘making cars the people want’
“Over the years, Detroit bosses kept repeating: ‘We have to make the cars people want.’ That’s why they’re in trouble. Their job is to make the cars people don’t know they want but will buy like crazy when they see them. I would have been happy with my Sony Walkman had Apple not invented the iPod. Now I can’t live without my iPod. I didn’t know I wanted it, but Apple did. Same with my Toyota hybrid.”
NYC’s recent population boom saw only an increase in public transit, not vehicle traffic
NYT reports that between 2003 and 2007, as New York City’s population and economy boomed, there was virtually no increase in street and highway traffic. Instead, all of the increased mobility went to the city’s public transit system.
While traffic held steady over this period of time, public transit ridership soared, increasing about 9%, according to a study to be released by the city on Monday.
Bruce Schaller, the city’s deputy transportation commissioner for planning an sustainability, who wrote the report said: READ MORE
California passes toughest diesel emissions standards in U.S.
The California Air Resources Board did pass the diesel emissions standards on Friday. The standards will be the toughest in the nation and will require extensive retrofitting of heavy diesel trucks and buses. Some older models will have to be phased out entirely.
Around a million trucks and buses will be retrofitted or replaced. Retrofits will require smog filters or cleaner engine technology beginning in 2011. By 2014, all trucks and buses must have soot filters. By 2023, no truck or bus will be allowed to be more than 13 years old unless it has special equipment to cut nitrogen oxide emissions.
This approval comes in the same week that California also passed the most stringent greenhouse gas emissions laws in the nation. Reducing diesel soot emissions will improve human health, air quality, and also fight climate change.
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