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Australia to Sign Kyoto if Labor Wins

Australia’s Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd announced yesterday he intends to sign the Kyoto pact and attend next month’s climate summit in Bali, if his party wins power in the parliamentary elections this weekend. Rudd said combating global warming would be his top priority should he become prime minister as a result of the November 24 voting. Currently he has a strong lead in the polls over conservative prime minister John Howard. Should Rudd win and attend the Bali conference, it will send a strong message that Australia has joined the international movement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses. He would be one of the only state leaders in attendance, as the conference will mainly be attended by environmental ministers. “There is no better way to reinforce that than prime ministerial attendance. It would be a way of indicating … that we intend to be globally, diplomatically active,” Rudd said in an interview with the Australian Financial Review. Australia and the U.S. were the only industrialized nations not to sign on to the Kyoto Protocol. Rudd’s leadership would put greater pressure on the U.S. to join whatever international agreement is negotiated as a successor to Kyoto. Australia is the world’s […]

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New Entity Takes Over LEED AP Program

Next year green building professionals will no longer apply to the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED credentials. The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) will begin independent administration of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) program in January. GBCI will manage all aspects of the LEED AP program including exam development, registration and delivery. GBCI will also oversee the development of the maintenance program for LEED AP credential holders. “Credentialing programs support the application of proven strategies for increasing and measuring the performance of buildings and communities as defined by industry systems such as the LEED Green Building Rating Systems,” said Peter Templeton, vice president of education and research at USGBC. The USGBC will continue to manage and develop the actual LEED green building rating system. Website: http://www.gbci.org     

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ZAP Xebra Gets UK Approval

Electric Vehicle makers are making lots of headlines these days and ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB) in particular. SustainableBusiness.com recently reported on the California-based company’s new partnership with Dubai-based Al Yousuf Group, as well as its sales to UPS. Now a four-door version of the vehicle UPS is using to deliver small parcels in Washington state–the Xebra®–is certified for driving on roads in the United Kingdom after passing Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) inspection. “With its congestion toll zone, London has become the world’s great proving ground for the electric car,” said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. “Here is a unique electric vehicle that will help drivers save significantly on fuel costs as well as free passes for the daily congestion tolls and parking. We believe the Xebra is the first four-door electric vehicle to pass the VOSA test.” Schneider noted the Xebra is also available in a truck configuration, and says ZAP designed the Xebra to quickly and affordably fill the demand for cars that don’t use conventional fossil fuels. ZAP calls the Xebra a “city-car,” with speeds of up to 40 MPH (64.4 KPH). The sedan and pickup truck versions can recharge at any normal household outlet. Based in Santa […]

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Hybrid Technologies to Create All-Electric Toyota Yaris

Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB:HYBT.OB) will produce a beta version of battery powered Toyota Yaris beginning in 2008. Hybrid, which develops lithium-powered products worldwide, is gearing up to produce an all-lithium powered version of the Toyota-produced compact sedan. “An all-lithium version of the Yaris seemed like a natural fit,” stated Richard Griffiths, Strategic Development Consultant for Hybrid Technologies. The company says the low entry level cost of less than $15,000, was a primary reason the Yaris was selected for production. Hybrid Technologies originally developed a complete lithium system for the PT Cruiser as part of a Space Act Agreement with NASA; it’s now one of the world’s only production models of high-speed electric vehicles. Website: [sorry this link is no longer available]     

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Phoenix Motorcars to Build EVs in Mexico

Electric vehicle company Phoenix Motorcars plans to build electric cars in Mexico for shipment throughout Latin American and Indian sub-continent markets. The California-based company inked an agreement with Pristine International SAdeSV for a joint-venture manufacturing plant in Puebla, Mexico on 18 acres of land provided through the efforts of Puebla’s governor, Mario Marin Torres. Phoenix announced that Volkswagen of Mexico will also be a participant in the venture. Phoenix Motorcars says it has taken orders for more than 500 fleet-ready vehicles for 2008 delivery and continues to target United States premier fleet operators with an all-electric mid-size Sport Utility Truck and SUV. Phoenix claims its battery-electric, Sports Utility Truck can travel at freeway-speeds while carrying five passengers and a full payload, with a driving range of over 100 miles on its lithium-titinate battery. The company says the battery can be recharged in less than 10 minutes and has a life of greater than 250,000 miles. ABOUT PHOENIX MOTORCARS, INC. Phoenix Motorcars Inc., is headquartered in Ontario, Calif. The mission of Phoenix Motorcars is to manufacture zero-emission vehicles including Sport Utility Trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles. Website: http://www.PhoenixMotorcars.com     

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Innergex Prepares for IPO

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. is preparing for an initial public offering of its common shares. The company has filed a preliminary prospectus for the offering, which will be underwritten by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and CIBC World Markets Inc. The two will act as joint bookrunners for the offering. About Innergex Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. develops and operates renewable power generating facilities and is active in the Canadian renewable power industry with a focus on hydroelectric and wind projects. Following the closing of the proposed initial public offering, Innergex Renewable Energy will own 16.1% and remain the Manager of the Innergex Power Income Fund, a publicly traded income fund listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In addition, the Corporation will own a portfolio of projects which consists of one operating facility (8 MW), interests in nine development projects with power purchase agreements (gross expected capacity of 565 MW) under construction or to be constructed between 2008 and 2012 and 21 prospective projects (gross expected capacity of 1,638 MW). Website: http://www.sedar.com     

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