Long thought of as “great idea, but will never happen”, green taxes are coming closer to becoming reality. Now there’s an email newsletter that tracks them, “Environmental Tax News Update,” published by The Center for a Sustainable Economy. It reports on environment-related tax news from the local, state, federal, and international levels. Contact Scott Anders: sja@sustainableeconomy.org
Several countries are experimenting with wave power – Scotland, UK, and Japan. Wave power prices have been cut almost by half since about 10 years ago, and governments are beginning to take a new look at the technology, which works in areas with jagged coastlines. Machines with names like Whiplash and Limpet will pioneer the commercial development of wave power in Britain and Scotland. Government approval guarantees a market and premium price for generators of green power plants during the costly start-up phase. Whiplash is a steel tube 100 metres long and 3.4 metres wide, with about 15 special joints. It is moored into the ocean floor and it undulates with the waves. Pumps inside each segment force oil down the pipe to a hydraulic motor. The motor drives a generator and the electricity moves through an undersea cable to shore. Two Whiplash machines, able to generate 750 kilowatts, will be installed a mile offshore. Dr. Yemm, 30, the inventor, says, “This is a very important start for wave power. We are starting to get the same support as wind power.” European Commission studies indicate that Britain could generate all its electricity from waves if .1 per cent of the […]
A new group is in the formation stage: The Environmental Industry Coalition (EIC) of the United States. Its mission is to serve as a unified single voice for the environmental industry, to reinvigorate demand for environmental products and services domestically, and to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. environmental industry in the global market. EIC will educate policy makers about the environmental industry. According to Bob Hurley, executive director, the industry consists of 33,000 corporations, employing 1.3 million people, with revenues of $187 billion, producing a $10 billion per year trade surplus. EIC’s immediate goals are: — Identify political leaders to act as national-level industry champions and other advocates in both major political parties, — Increase awareness of the environmental industry and our issues among policymakers and the public, — Gain better-coordinated government support for environmental exports — Promote policies that link production efficiency, economic competitiveness and environmental progress, establishing a market incentive for investment in continuous environmental improvement, Bob Hurley: bhurley@pghtech.org
The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements unveiled its accreditation seal at the Bio Fach organic trade conference in Nuremburg, Germany in February. The seal accredits certifying agencies in the same way certifiers accredit organic products. Three U.S. certifiers – Oregon Tilth, California Certified Organic Farmers and the Organic Growers and Buyers Association – are accredited thus far, with another six waiting for approval. IFOAM is promoting the seal as the world-wide standard for organic products and as a way to lower barriers to international trade. Source: Natural Foods Merchandiser
What are the conservation records for newly elected members of Congress? The League of Conservation Voters profiles each member with a biographical sketch, election results, endorsement information environmental positions and votes. It environmental ratings for key committee members too. For a printed copy: Contact Allison Clements [sorry this link is no longer available]
What are the conservation records for newly elected members of Congress? The League of Conservation Voters profiles each member with a biographical sketch, election results, endorsement information environmental positions and votes. It has environmental ratings for key committee members too. For a printed copy: Contact Allison Clements [sorry this link is no longer available]
Western Power in West Australia is close to finalizing a green power option for customers from wind, biomass (tree plantation residues) and tidal power. It will be based on the successful New South Wales (NSW) initiative, Green Power, where customers pay a premium of 3 cents a kilowatt hour for renewable energy. The additional revenue will be used to develop further renewable energy sources. Almost 30,000 people in NSW opted for green power, representing .2 per cent of electricity sold in the State. The federal government targets an additional two percent from renewables by 2010, the equivalent of 50 wind farms.
Western Power in West Australia is close to finalizing a green power option for customers from wind, biomass (tree plantation residues) and tidal power. It will be based on the successful New South Wales (NSW) initiative, Green Power, where customers pay a premium of 3 cents a kilowatt hour for renewable energy. The additional revenue will be used to develop further renewable energy sources. Almost 30,000 people in NSW opted for green power, representing .2 per cent of electricity sold in the State. The federal government targets an additional two percent from renewables by 2010, the equivalent of 50 wind farms.
Georgia Power, with 179 electric vehicles (EVs), has one of the nation’s largest fleets. In May or June, an additional 100 Ford Ranger EVs and GM EV1s will arrive to kick-off their new employee leasing commuter program. Georgia Power sees EVs as a future market for its electricity and as a way to improve the poor air quality of the metropolitan Atlanta region, which is not meeting Clean Air Act standards. Employees that live within 40 miles of work are eligible to lease an EV – and there’s a waiting list. The employee pays $200 a month for the EV1 and $150 a month for the Ranger, about half what they’d pay in California or Arizona. The lease includes installation of a charger at the employee’s home. 100 more EVs will be added to the program each year through 2002. “The ultimate goal is to bring the (EV) market here to Atlanta”. And Georgia Power customers are already calling with questions how they too can lease an EV. The company will double the number of public chargers from 25 – 50 this year. MARTA, Atlanta’s light rail transit system, will install public chargers at its train stations. In a show […]
Ford Motor Company purchased a majority interest in Pivco Industries’ new THINK, a two-passenger battery electric car. It will be introduced to markets in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark this year, and North America in 2000.
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