Jul 4
Wyoming threatens to sell land in national park
Wyoming is trying to force the Interior Department to trade land, minerals or mineral royalties for 1,366 acres it owns within the majestic Grand Teton National Park.
Grand Teton National Park – Wyoming – United States – United States Department of the Interior – Travel and Tourism
Visit the original post at: MSNBC.com: Environment
Jul 4
India Goes Prefab (PHOTOS)
All images courtesy of Design Flute
“Plug-in living” is coming to India, in the guise of what design blog Design Flute is calling India’s first prefab green villa. Designer Pinakin Patel calls it the Hara Villa- Hara being Hindi for “green.” … Read the full story on TreeHugger
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger
Jul 4
India Goes Prefab (PHOTOS)
All images courtesy of Design Flute
“Plug-in living” is coming to India, in the guise of what design blog Design Flute is calling India’s first prefab green villa. Designer Pinakin Patel calls it the Hara Villa- Hara being Hindi for “green.” … Read the full story on TreeHugger
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger
Jul 4
Sinking oil threatens historic Gulf shipwrecks
Not just flora and fauna are getting caked in oil. So is the Gulf of Mexico’s barnacled history of pirates, sea battles and World War II shipwrecks.
World War II – Shipwreck – Gulf of Mexico – History – Twentieth Century
Visit the original post at: MSNBC.com: Environment
Jul 4
Reuse and Regreen Theme at Dwell on Design
Gregg Fleishman humanizes prefab homes with visibly joined rhombicubes. Photos by RCruger
At last weekend’s Dwell on Design 2010, the conference showcased design-forward products and projects from prefab homes to green roofs, delivering three days of practical eco-ideas and dream green homes. Speakers included Ed Begley Jr. pushing the SRO audi… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger
Jul 4
Reuse and Regreen Theme at Dwell on Design
Gregg Fleishman humanizes prefab homes with visibly joined rhombicubes. Photos by RCruger
At last weekend’s Dwell on Design 2010, the conference showcased design-forward products and projects from prefab homes to green roofs, delivering three days of practical eco-ideas and dream green homes. Speakers included Ed Begley Jr. pushing the SRO audi… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger
Jul 4
WOW Gets Real – 3D Role Playing Game Models Water Crisis (Video)
Image via Intel Video
Water Wars uses a gaming platform to conduct a study on how people respond to water shortages. Intel Labs developers have ventured into combining 3D gaming with scientific research. In Water Wars, they’ve modeled an area of the Rio Grande in New Mexico and have created a role playing game that allows residents of that area to participate in different water scenarios. As the game creates new situations and water problems, the residents respond. Those responses tell us a little bit about what we can expect to see socially as the water crisis in the US and worldwide grows.
… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger
Jul 4
Tibetan Environmentalist Jailed for Five Years
Brothers Rinchen Samdrup, Jigme Namgyal, and Karma Samdrup (clockwise from top left) are now all in jail. Photos via the International Campaign for Tibet
Picking up trash and planting trees sounds about as uncontroversial as activism can get, but an internationally recognized Tibetan environmentalist who had been organizing local villagers to do just tha…
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger
Jul 4
Tibetan Environmentalist Jailed for Five Years
Brothers Rinchen Samdrup, Jigme Namgyal, and Karma Samdrup (clockwise from top left) are now all in jail. Photos via the International Campaign for Tibet
Picking up trash and planting trees sounds about as uncontroversial as activism can get, but an internationally recognized Tibetan environmentalist who had been organizing local villagers to do just tha…
Visit the original post at: TreeHugger
Jul 4
Largest Concentrating Solar Plant Gets Green Light With Loan Guarantee
WASHINGTON, D.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–President Obama announced today in his weekly video address that DOE has offered a conditional commitment for a $1.45 billion loan guarantee to Abengoa Solar, Inc. The loan will support the construction and start-up of Solana, a 250 net megawatt (MW) concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in Arizona.
“After years of watching companies build things and create jobs overseas, it’s good news that we’ve attracted a company to our shores to build a plant and create jobs here in America,” said President Obama.
Solana will include six hours of molten salt thermal energy storage capability, which will allow energy to be dispatched as needed during cloudy periods and after sunset. With this capability, Solana will be able to generate electricity well into the evening to help meet the summer peak demand. The plant will be located 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, near Gila Bend, Arizona. Solana will produce enough energy to serve 70,000 households and will prevent the emission of 475,000 tons of CO2 per year compared to a natural gas burning power plant.
DOE’s Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program was created to support the deployment of innovative clean energy technologies pursuant to Section 1703 of Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Title XVII). Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was amended by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to create Section 1705, a new program for the deployment of renewable energy and electric power transmission projects. Solana is eligible for a loan guarantee under both sections of Title XVII.
Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar, said that “this conditional guarantee could allow us to start construction of Solana this year. I want to recognize the leadership and effort of the DOE in making Solana possible through this guarantee.” Mr. Seage also added that Solana is in a very advanced stage of development and permitting, having received most of its authorizations from local, county, and state authorities. Recently, DOE conducted an Environmental Assessment study and issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the project. “What the project needs now is for Maricopa County and the state to continue their support and work expeditiously on the last remaining permits needed for construction to begin,” said Abengoa Solar’s Seage.
The construction and operation of Solana will bring many economic and environmental benefits to Arizona and will support the nation’s goals for energy independence through a “green” economy. The plant will create significant tax income for local communities and the state over the life of the project. Abengoa Solar’s Arizona Vice President Kate Maracas stated that “the building of Solana will also create between 1,600-1,700 new construction jobs, and operation of the plant will add another 85 permanent jobs. These construction and operating jobs will create a few thousand additional indirect jobs. Taken together, 98% of the jobs created by Solana will be American jobs – primarily from Arizona, and a smaller portion from neighboring states.”
Abengoa Solar signed a power purchase agreement with APS, the state’s largest electric utility, to sell the energy produced by Solana for a period of 30 years. “APS has demonstrated a strong commitment to solar energy and has shown leadership in moving solar energy toward the mainstream,” said Maracas.
Abengoa Solar has made it a priority to utilize U.S.-made components wherever possible for the Solana plant. More than 75% of the equipment and supplies required to build Solana will be manufactured in the U.S. These include steam generators, heat exchangers, power equipment, glass, steel, concrete and other construction materials.
As a direct consequence of the construction of Solana, a mirror manufacturing factory will be built in Surprise, Arizona. The mirror factory will employ almost 180 people, adding to the number of direct jobs created by Solana. This new facility will provide Arizona with the foundation upon which to expand its solar energy technology manufacturing capabilities and to support future CSP projects.
From an environmental perspective, Solana will provide Arizonans with clean, pollution-free and greenhouse gas free energy while, at the same time reducing Arizona’s need for fossil fuel based generation facilities, eliminating the emission of nearly a half-million tons of carbon dioxide per year. These reductions will contribute to state goals for renewable energy deployment as well as national targets for climate change abatement.
In late 2009 Abengoa Solar signed a power purchase agreement in California to supply electricity generated by a 250 MW CSP trough plant located in the Mojave Desert, 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The company also has several projects under development in the Southwest. Abengoa Solar is currently building 350 MW of solar plants worldwide, and with an additional 142 MW already operating, it is the only company worldwide building and operating both trough and power tower CSP plants. The Solana plant will be Abengoa Solar’s tenth CSP plant worldwide.
Jul 4
Indiana Gains 850 New Green Collar Jobs
TIPTON, Ind. (July 3, 2010) – Abound Solar, Inc. announced today that it will locate a solar module manufacturing operation in the facility previously constructed in partnership with Chrysler for the German transmission maker, Getrag. Abound Solar projects to add up to 850 workers by 2013 at the Tipton site.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has worked alongside the Tipton County Commissioners, Senator Richard Lugar and the Indiana congressional delegation, the Indiana Secretary of State’s office and the U.S. Department of Energy to assist Abound Solar in finalizing its purchase of the more than 800,000 square-foot facility. This move represents a more than $500 million investment in machinery, equipment and building improvements.
“While the loss of Getrag was disappointing after so much work, the region will now add 850 new jobs – what a great way to celebrate Independence Day,” said Governor Mitch Daniels.
Abound Solar’s thin-film photovoltaic module manufacturing technology was born out of Colorado State University in the late 1980′s. The company, which also has production operations in Longmont, Colo., expects that when completed, the Tipton site will be the largest solar panel manufacturing facility in the U.S., producing millions of panels annually.
“State and local representatives from Indiana were particularly instrumental in our efforts to finalize plans for this state-of-the-art facility and create high-paying jobs for Hoosier workers,” said Steve Abely, Abound Solar chief financial officer. “We are excited about the opportunity to make America a global driver of renewable, affordable and abundant solar energy.”
The company intends to hire for positions such as engineers, technicians and production associates once facility renovations begin.
“The addition of solar panel manufacturing builds on Indiana’s strong clean-tech energy sector and provides many new opportunities to the Tipton community,” said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
The IEDC offered Abound Solar, Inc. up to $11.85 million in performance-based tax credits and $250,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans and will also provide workforce and ombudsman assistance. Tipton County has approved additional incentives including tax abatement for the company along with tax increment financing dollars to the land trust which owns the building.
“We are very excited that Abound Solar chose us. The advanced manufacturing process of this new business will bring jobs to Tipton County residents, increase our tax base and allow even more opportunities for additional industrial and commercial development in our county,” said Ken Ziegler, president of Tipton County Commissioners. “State and county officials have worked for over a year with this company. We are grateful that our efforts have paid off, and want to thank all involved that have helped get us to this announcement today. It was a huge team effort and it was worth all the time and energy it took.”
Abound Solar’s announcement to locate in Tipton comes on the heels of Chrysler’s recently announced plans to invest $300 million to produce a new fuel efficient, eight-speed transmission in Kokomo, a decision expected to help retain approximately 1,200 jobs.
Jul 4
Feds Stimulate Solar With $1.85 Billion in Loan Guarantees
Two solar companies are starting the Independence Day weekend in a good mood after President Obama announced nearly $2 billion in conditional commitments in his weekly video address.
Obama said the move was an attempt at “accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy and doubling our use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power – steps that have the potential to create whole new industries and hundreds of thousands of new jobs in America.” See the full remarks here.
The idea is to encourage other investors to cough up capital for the projects. Obama’s announcement comes the day after a new jobs report from the Labor Department suggested that the job market remains sluggish.
Colorado company Abound Solar Inc. got an offer for a $400-million federal loan guarantee to manufacture thin-film photovoltaic solar panels at two new plants.
The effort is suppoed to create more than 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs at its Longmont, Colo. facility and Tipton, Ind., factory, which is moving into an empty Chrysler plant.
Using its cadmium telluride semiconductor technology, Abound is set to produce millions of panels annually.
Spanish company Abengoa Solar Inc. received an offer for a $1.45-billion federal loan guarantee to help construct its net 250-megawatt Solana project. The installation, which the company claims will be the largest concentrating solar power plant in the world, will be 70 miles southwest of Phoenix. Last month, the company announced another large plant in Abu Dhabi…. read more
Copyright 2010 Los Angeles Times
Jul 4
Clean Energy Economy Gets $2 Billion More from President Obama
Obama announced in his weekly address this week that the Department of Energy has awarded two solar companies, Abengoa Solar and Abound Solar Manufacturing, nearly $2 billion as “conditional commitments from the Recovery Act.”
Abengoa Solar is to build one of the largest solar power plants in the world in Arizona with its portion of the money, creating approximately 1,600 construction jobs “with over 70 percent of the construction components and products manufactured here in the USA.” The plant will produce enough energy to power about 70,000 homes when completed.
Jul 4
Should BP nuke its leaking oil well?
As a series of efforts to plug the catastrophic leak have failed, talk of an extreme solution refuses to die.
Originally posted at News – Cutting Edge
