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Toyota's PV Installation Exceeds Expectations

This time last year, Toyota announced it had achieved a Gold Level LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its North American corporate headquarters. A key green building feature is one the largest commercial solar electric (PV) systems in North America. Designed and installed by PowerLight Corporation, it generates enough electricity during the daytime to power over 500 homes. A year later, Toyota announced the PV system is greatly exceeding energy performance expectations. The system has operated at 100% availability, and has produced over 100% of expected energy. The grid-connected system reduces Toyota's electrical load, especially during peak demand times when the utility grid is the most strained and electricity is most expensive, which benefits all California utility customers. Toyota's South Campus complex, the largest ever to receive a LEED(TM) Gold rating, has 624,000 square feet of office space and houses about 2,500 Toyota associates. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. (TMS) is the sales, marketing, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota and Lexus in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of nearly 1,400 Toyota and Lexus dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries are also involved in distribution logistics, […]

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Senate-Passed Energy-Efficiency Tax Incentives

The Senate passed energy legislation yesterday. "The Senate's passage of energy-efficiency tax incentives is a huge step forward for U.S. consumers, the environment, and national security," said Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan. Included in the energy tax package, which the Senate attached to the foreign sales corporation/extraterritorial income (FSC/ETI) bill, are tax incentives for hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, energy-efficient new homes, energy-efficiency upgrades to existing homes, efficient residential equipment, high-efficiency appliances, efficient commercial buildings, combined heat and power, and advanced meters. The House version of the FSC/ETI bill does not currently contain the energy tax package approved as part of the Senate-passed measure, and it is unclear when the full House might consider the FSC/ETI bill. The House previously adopted a different energy tax package as part of its comprehensive energy bill, H.R. 6. Given the delay in Senate consideration of a comprehensive energy bill, Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM), along with Alliance Vice Chair Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA), supported adding the energy-efficiency tax package to the corporate tax bill, as noted above.

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Monsanto Abandons Transgenic Australian Canola

Two days after announcing a moratorium on its genetically engineered wheat, biotechnology company Monsanto has indicated that it will close its program to introduce genetically modified canola to Australia, according to the Grains Council of Australia. Grains Council President Keith Perrett says moratoriums on commercial biotech crops in most states are at the root of Monsanto's decision to pull out of genetically modified canola. The canola plant, also known as rape, is valuable for its oily seeds. "Discussions I've had with Monsanto as recently as today, have indicated to me that they will be pulling out their canola program in Australia," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Perrett says Australian farmers may now be left behind on important biotechnology innovations. Roundup Ready canola planted in Monsanto's southeastern Australia trial site, October 2001. (Photo courtesy Monsanto Australia) Monsanto's decision to terminate its genetically engineered (GE) canola breeding program in Australia is good news for consumers, farmers and the environment, Greenpeace Australia said today. Genetically engineered canola has been the heart of Monsanto's program in Australia. "The death of that program is not only a huge victory for consumers, it's a very clear message to Bayer's GE canola program in Australia that […]

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