Top Stories
European Legislation Creates 62 MPG Gas
Cars… From Ford.—reliability medium.
"Imagine a gas-fueled car that gets 62 miles to the gallon: 'With
start-stop, regenerative brakes and an Eco Mode system, the new Focus
gets 62 MPG (U.S.) on the European scale and emits just 99 grams of CO2
per kilometer' Available in Europe next Spring." European regulation,
driven by European public opinion, call forth serious efforts to
improve
mileage and cut emissions. Not so in the U.S. "Europe’s Ford buyers are
offered a Ford Focus Econetic that is capable of (US) 62 MPG: available
next month. Americans are offered a Fiesta getting just 40 MPG, that
won’t even be available till 2011." From
Green Options Media Gas 2.0. [European
methods of estimating fuel economy are different from those used in the
U.S., and drivers don't actually get the mileage estimated in such
tests, but between 55 and 70 MPG isn't too shabby. See next item.]
EU, US citizens split over climate change.—reliability
high.
"The overwhelming majority of EU citizens consider climate change as a
serious problem and call for more action against global warming. More
than one third of Americans say instead that climate change is not an
issue, and only a minor percentage think that it is the consequence of
human activity, international polls reveal." Quotes figures from recent
polls. See
EurActive. [Not
really news, but see previous item. We will not be speaking the same
language in Copenhagen.]
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
Best Buy: An Emerging Green Giant.—reliability
medium.
"Best Buy has become America's biggest collector of electronic trash."
"The company would like to help customers make their homes smarter and
greener -- part of a shift away from just selling boxes to providing
services." From
GreenBiz blog. See related Fortune piece by same author here.
Kohl's Department Stores Announces Carbon
Neutral Goal.—reliability high.
"To achieve this goal of being carbon neutral, Kohl's will continue to
invest in projects to reduce the same amount of greenhouse gas
emissions that the company emits into the atmosphere." "The goal
accounts for U.S. emissions at all Kohl's facilities, including stores,
distribution centers and corporate offices, as well as emissions
resulting from business travel." The program also includes purchase of
green power (number 1 U.S. retailer), solar energy (world's largest
retail host of solar power), energy management, improved energy
efficiency, etc. See
CSRwire.
GM Details Volt Rollout Plan.—reliability
high.
The Volt "rollout will begin in California (other early adopter
markets will be announced later), where utilities will test more than
100 Volts in their fleets over the course of two years and install some
500 charging stations, according to GM’s press release today. GM will
load the vehicles with its OnStar telematics system and 'collect
vehicle performance data and driver feedback that will be reported to
the DOE and used to improve customers’ experiences with the new
technology.' " From
earth2tech. GM press release here.
Government and
Regulation
Europe's biofuels policy is costly and
protectionist says report.—reliability high.
"In a new study of the European Union’s biofuels policy, economist
Fredrik Erixon shows how biofuels policy, once motivated by
environmental concerns and the desire to shift away from fossil fuels,
has become an industrial policy using various measures to protect
domestic producers from foreign competition. If the Renewable Energy
Directive is implemented in the way the legislation has proposed, the
EU is likely to run afoul of its obligations in the World Trade
Organisation (WTO)." From
Biofuel Review. Access study here.
[Of course the
same is true of U.S. biofuels policy.]
India to reduce carbon intensity by 24% by
2020.—reliability high.
"India could reduce its carbon intensity by 24% by 2020 compared with
2005 levels, government sources revealed today." "Sources told the
Indian media that the reduction in carbon intensity could go up to 37%
by 2030, compared to 2005. India's environment minister, Jairam Ramesh,
is expected to make a statement in parliament tomorrow to announce the
targets". See
The Guardian.
UK Government unveils smart meter master
plan.—reliability high.
"The government today unveiled its long-awaited plans for smart meters
and smart grids, pledging to ensure real-time energy meters are
installed in every home and business by 2020 and releasing a report
detailing the case for a nationwide smart grid." "In addition, the
Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced the launch of
a new £6m fund designed to support businesses developing smart meters
and smart grid technologies such as energy storage systems." See
Business Green. More details of plan here.
Report on smart metering opportunity here.
Massachusetts Creates One-Stop Resource for
Renewables Development.—reliability high.
"Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick this week signed legislation
that transfers the state’s Renewable Energy Trust to the Massachusetts
Clean Energy Center, streamlining support for the Commonwealth’s green
economy by making a single agency responsible for fostering the
development and installation of clean energy technologies." See
Sustainable Business.
[Crossposted from HaraBara.com courtesy of HaraBara, Inc. Copyright © 2009 HaraBara, Inc.]
