Top Stories
Nonprofit Group Will Prod Companies to Report
Their Water Use.—reliability high.
"The Carbon Disclosure Project, an investor-backed nonprofit
organization that has persuaded some of the world’s largest
corporations to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, will announce
on Wednesday that it is asking 302 global companies to begin issuing
detailed reports on their water use. The move begins a campaign to put
water consumption on par with carbon emissions as a concern of company
shareholders. ... 'The particularly challenging area will be company
supply chains,' he said. 'Many companies will have good data on water
use in their own operations but not in their suppliers.'" Story in The
New York Times.
Climate bill sets oil 'rack' transport tax:
source.—reliability high.
"Details of an oil industry tax are being filled in Congress as part of
an upcoming U.S. climate control bill, sparking a spirited lobbying
campaign this week over how the revenues from that tax would be used. A
Senate source familiar with the draft legislation told Reuters that the
new fee "will be assessed at the terminal rack," -- where refined oil
products await shipment to retail gasoline stations and other end
points. ... The new oil industry tax, aimed at encouraging better fuel
efficiency in the transportation sector, would be part of a compromise
global warming bill being written in the Senate that could be unveiled
by the end of April." "no final decisions had yet been made on whether
revenues from the tax would be deposited into the Highway Trust Fund
and whether they would be earmarked for specific "green" projects or
road and bridge repairs that the highway fund normally handles." See Reuters
story. [Because
of increased fuel efficiency the old 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal
gasoline tax (last increased in 1993) no longer covers the costs of
maintaining the vast federal highway system (partly because some of
this revenue goes into the general fund "for deficit reduction" and
other purposes).]
Americans Prioritize Energy Over Environment
for First Time.—reliability high.
"Americans are more likely to say the U.S. should prioritize
development of energy supplies than to say it should prioritize
protecting the environment, the first time more have favored energy
production over environmental protection in this question's 10-year
history. ... At the same time, Americans continue to advocate greater
energy conservation by consumers (52%) over greater production of oil,
gas, and coal supplies (36%) as a means of solving the nation's energy
problems." More details of poll. From Gallup
site.
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
GM Partners with U.S. Department of Energy to
Develop Jatropha-to-Biodiesel Project in India.—reliability
high.
"General Motors Co. (GM) today announced a five-year partnership with
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop the potential of
the jatropha plant as a sustainable biofuel energy crop. ... The joint
DOE-GM funding will enable the Central Salt & Marine Chemicals
Research Institute (CSMCRI)—an India-based research facility falling
under Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of
Science & Technology, Government of India—to manage all of the 84
hectares (840,000 m2). A complete lifecycle analysis will be conducted
to evaluate the environmental impacts, starting with fertilizer
production from raw materials and ending with the harvesting of
jatropha fruits." "Two jatropha farms will be established in India: a
16-hectare (39.5 acre) plot in Bhavngar and a 38 hectare (93.9 acre)
plot in Kalol, near GM's India Car Manufacturing plant. An existing 30
hectare (74.1 acre) jatropha farm in Bhavnagar also will be managed
under this project." See PR
Newswire.
Mitsubishi to start building Ark. plant this
fall.—reliability high.
"Mitsubishi said Tuesday it is aiming to produce wind turbines in
Arkansas by next year at a new $100 million plant, a facility that
signals the company is seeking to regain its U.S. customers. ...
Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas is to start construction in the fall,
produce its first turbine next year and reach full production in 2012,
said Ichiro Fukue, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries. About 200 construction jobs will be created as the plant is
built. The plant's work force could expand to 500, Fukue said, if the
market grows. ... Mitsubishi will receive $3.75 million from the
governor's Quick Action Closing Fund. It will also get a 15-year state
income tax abatement, sales tax refunds for construction materials and
equipment and other incentives." Story at CNBC from AP.
BJ’s Wholesale Adding Four More Solar Arrays
with No Upfront Cost.—reliability high.
"BJ’s Wholesale Club is adding solar photovoltaic installations to four
more of its big-box wholesale outlets at no cost, through a power
purchase agreement (PPA). ... BJ’s Wholesale is working with Tioga
Energy to install the solar arrays with no upfront cost under a PPA.
With the deal, the solar PPA will provide up to 22 percent of the
locations’ annual electricity needs, at a negotiated rate that is lower
than standard utility rates. “With their large, flat roofs, big box
stores lend themselves to solar power,” said Ian Bowles, Secretary of
Energy and Environmental Affairs for Massachusetts." From Environmental
Leader.
Mintel Expects Rapid Growth in Natural,
Organic Food and Beverage Category.—reliability medium.
"More than one-third (35 percent) of Americans are willing to pay more
for 'environmentally friendly' products, according to new survey
results from Mintel. ... Greenwashing and consumer uncertainty continue
to be problematic. 37 percent of survey respondents said they are
confused or skeptical about the claims made by natural and organic
personal care products." See 2Sustain.
Daimler, Renault Team Up On Electric Car Tech.—reliability
medium.
"Executives from Daimler and Renault-Nissan Alliance this morning in
Brussels announced a comprehensive partnership to share powertrains and
architecture for compact cars and light commercial vehicles. Among
other projects, the companies plan to cooperate on electric versions of
Daimler’s Smart Fortwo and Renault’s Twingo, and explore 'opportunities
to co-develop technologies related to electric vehicles and batteries.'
Jointly developed models, including next-gen versions of the Fortwo and
Twingo as well as a new four-seat Smart car, are slated to start
rolling out in 2013. 'Right from its market launch,' Renault explained
in its release Wednesday, 'the jointly developed future models will
also be available with an electric drive.'" See earth2tech.
Daimler-Renault-Nissan deal puts spotlight on
scale.—reliability high.
"The link-up between Renault-Nissan and Daimler shows the urgent need
for scale in an industry still reeling from a collapse in demand and
gearing up for massive investment in green-car technology." Daimler
"has decided a more limited deal with the Renault-Nissan alliance
headed by Carlos Ghosn will give it the small-car technology and scope
it needs in the face of tighter emissions and fuel economy standards.
... Cole said the deal could be a blueprint for future collaboration in
a high-cost area: developing the engine, transmission and now
battery-drive systems that power vehicles." From Reuters.
[Crossposted from HaraBara.com courtesy of HaraBara, Inc. Copyright © 2010 HaraBara, Inc.]
