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Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Have Tried Organic Foods and Beverages

Just after the third anniversary in late October of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) implementation of the National Organic Program, which mandates a national standard for the production of organic foods, an annual survey released today reveals nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of Americans have tried organic foods and beverages, jumping from just over half (54 percent) in both 2003 and 2004. The market for organic foods continues to grow, with 27 percent of respondents indicating they consume more organic foods and beverages than they did one year ago. Ten percent consume organic foods several times per week, up from just seven percent last year. According to the 2005 Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI) Organic Trend Tracker, Americans are buying organic foods and beverages for a variety of reasons. The top three are: avoidance of pesticides (70.3 percent), freshness (68.3 percent), and health and nutrition (67.1 percent). More than half (55 percent) buy organic to avoid genetically modified foods. Also, more than half of all respondents agree that organic foods and beverages are “better for my health” (52.8 percent) and better for the environment (52.4 percent). The survey shows significantly higher taste and quality ratings from Americans who regularly consume […]

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:November 17, 2005

News and Events Ford Launches Hybrid Taxis in New York City Massachusetts and Illinois Support Large Renewable Energy Projects Wal-Mart Launches Second Energy-Saving Store in Colorado Idaho School District to Switch to Biomass FuelSite NewsDOE Launches Web Site for “Easy Ways to Save Energy” Campaign Energy ConnectionsDOE Report Projects Huge Growth in Coal-Fired Power Plants Ford Launches Hybrid Taxis in New York CitySix Ford Escape Hybrids took to the streets of New York City last week to serve as the city’s first hybrid electric taxicabs. The hybrid taxis are the first to serve the city since the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission approved eight hybrid models in mid-October. Although the commission was spurred to action by an act passed by the New York City Council in July, the commission is now encouraging taxicab owners to switch to hybrids. According to the commission, the average New York taxi travels nearly 100,000 miles each year, and of the 13,000 taxis in the city, about 2,000 are due for retirement next year. See the press release from the Ford Motor Company.Meanwhile, Japanese automakers have been rolling out their 2006 hybrid models. In early November, Lexus introduced a front-wheel-drive version of its […]

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Congress to Terminate National Bioenergy Center

Congress is getting ready this week to terminate the National Bioenergy Research Center and gut the Wind Research Program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). NREL researchers who are CRES members sounded the alarm over the weekend after finding out on Friday that many of them may be out of work next month. On Tuesday the House of Representatives passed the House and Senate Conference Committee markup of the Energy Water and Development Appropriation Bill for 2006. The bill keeps federal funding for renewable energy research level with last year’s spending. Unfortunately, it more than doubled the earmarks that take money out of the Wind Energy and Bioenergy Research Programs and direct it elsewhere. Earmarks are when individual representatives direct funding to particular projects in their districts. With passage of the Energy Bill earlier this year, these earmarks have been in the forefront of the news. In fact, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) said the Energy Bill was so full of pork barrel spending that ASES did not endorse it. Congressional leaders usually wait until the conference committee is meeting behind closed doors to introduce earmarks. They emerge as part of a much larger bill that is hundreds […]

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