California Moves to Protect Solar Systems During Fires
After a solar system was implicated in a massive New Jersey fire, simple steps are being taken to protect solar systems and buildings in the event of a fire.
Green Technology Spotlight: Fuel Cells That Power Buildings
Redox Power Systems plans to start selling a fuel cell next year that's a tenth the size and price of fuel cells today.
40 Biogas Fuel Stations Open in California
Fleets can now fuel their natural gas vehicles with methane from landfills, dairies and wastewater treatment plants.
Credit Unions Across US Finance Residential Solar
Homeowners in every state can get a SunPower solar system financed through a credit union.
Judge Rules in Favor of Whales, Dolphins Deafened by Navy Sonar
Deafening, constant noise from Navy sonar causes mass strandings of marine animals around the world.
Indonesia Signs Historic Accord With EU to Stop Ilegal Logging
Only certified legal timber can be exported from Indonesia to the EU.
Aviation Industry Could Be First Worldwide Cap-And-Trade
Negotators are struggling to agree on an international program that goes into effect in 2020.
eBay Adds Waste Heat to Fuel Cells, Biogas That Power Its Data Center
eBay is the first company to power its biggest data center with renewable energy as the primary source.
US, Japan Sign Organic Products Trade Agreement
Japan is the latest country to sign an organic trade agreement with the US, and the first in Asia. As of January 1, 2014 certified organic products can move freely between the US and Japan, growing markets, organic jobs across the supply chain and organic farming acreage in both countries. It makes it much easier and cheaper for organic producers to export – it relieves them from having to get organic certification separately in both countries while ensuring the organic integrity of products. The result is higher profits for producers and lower retail prices. Green tea, sake and mushrooms are currently the most popular organic exports from Japan to the US, according to the USDA. The US exports $80 million worth of organic products to Japan each year – much more than it imports. US organic exports to Japan include soybeans, cauliflower, nuts and processed products such as frozen meals. USDA estimates this agreement could more than triple those sales to $250 million a year over the next 10 years, reports Associated Press. Equivalency agreements are signed after assessments conclude that both countries have “equivalent” programs for organic certification in terms of what it takes to get certified, managed and enforced. Although programs may not be identical, they achieve the same objectives and maintain the high-quality standards important to the integrity of both programs. Under the agreement, Japan’s Ministry […]
Fuel Cell Vehicles Get Big Push in California, Germany
While the average person has yet to embrace hybrids, much less electric cars, some policy makers and car manufacturers are planning for their biggest bet of all – fuel cell cars that run on hydrogen. Last month, California’s legislature passed a bill (AB 8) that appropriates $2 billion to continue incentives for purchases of low-carbon vehicles through 2023 for cars, trucks, buses and construction equipment. Included in the bill is $20 million a year to build a state-wide network of hydrogen fueling stations, following through on former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s vision of a Hydrogen Highway. The goal is to install at least 100 hydrogen stations in the next few years. Currently, just 10 hydrogen stations in the US are open to the public, nine of which are in California(the other is in South Carolina). The legislation will create tens of thousands of jobs in California’s clean transportation tech industry and set us on a course to meet our clean air and climate goals,” says John Boesel, CEO of CALSTART. Two other recently passed pieces of legislation make electric cars much easier to charge. It requires most new buildings to have charging stations and makes it possible for people to charge their cars at any of them. Germany Too Meanwhile in Germany, Daimler is joining with five oil companies and industrial gas […]
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