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Speaking at the Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) meeting in Cambridge, MA., ARCO CEO Mike Bowlin said the world is entering “the last days of the Age of Oil.” Bowlin listed increasing problems with smog and a growing perception that fossil fuels are to blame for much of the world’s environmental problems, as two of the reasons for the change to new energy sources. “Ten or fifteen years from now there still will be a large and healthy market for oil – of course. But it is also true that the market share for oil will diminish, as the demand for other forms of energy grows.” Bowlin said, “The energy equations of the 21st Century, focusing on alternative fuels, will leave oil and gas companies with a critical choice: embrace the future and recognize the growing demand for a wide array of fuels or ignore reality and slowly – but surely – be left behind.” Full text of speech: http://www.arco.com/spark/1999-02Cambridge/index.html
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U.K.-based Earthwatch Institute has published a helpful five-step business guide for understanding and integrating biodiversity into environmental management systems (EMS). The free 28-page guide provides the business case for protecting biodiversity and offers a five-step process: * understanding business operations and setting priorities; * developing a matrix of potential impacts on habitats and species; * prioritizing the most critical impacts; * determining how an EMS can address these issues; * integrating the action plan into business processes. Why should business care about biodiversity? The guide points out that many companies depend on biological resources and that biodiversity “services” companies in ways that cannot be replaced, such as flood control and pest management. Moreover, it says, “part of your supply chain may affect biodiversity directly or indirectly.” info@uk.earthwatch.org Download in PDF format: [sorry this link is no longer available] FROM Green Business Letter
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The Colorado Public Utilities Commission passed new regulations which require the state’s two investor-owned utilities to disclose price and fuel source information as part of customer billing. The amounts of coal, natural gas, and other fuels must be itemized. Coal accounts for 93 percent of the electricity generated in the state. Making this information transparent to customers may encourage them to sign on to green power options.
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You’ll meet scientists, economists, and forest communities promoting non-timber forest products (NTFP) on the NTFP-Biocultural-Digest listserv. They discuss sustainable forest crops including edible ferns, mushrooms, maple syrup, palms, gums and latexes, edible nuts, fragrances, medicinals, and more. Over 600 people participate from 25 countries. To subscribe: majordomo@igc.org. Leave the subject line blank; in the body of the message type subscribe ntfp-biocultural-digest
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The California Energy Commission approved over $21.3 million for 14 renewable resource power plants. This is 30 percent of the $540 million renewables fund. Payments will be in the form of subsidies for power generated from the plants once they are completed. The facilities total 90 MW in capacity, including 62 MW from 100 new wind turbines, 22 MW from four landfill gas projects, and 3.8 MW from a agricultural waste biomass project. Source: Sustainable Energy Coalition Weekly Update: kbossong@cais.com
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Looking for ways to justify sustainable business practices? The new report by the Aspen Institute, “Uncovering Value: Integrating Environmental and Financial Performance,” can help. As more firms incorporate environmental factors into their basic decisions, they also are developing more efficient processes and creating new products. Many leading edge companies now see an opportunity to gain a competitive edge by integrating environmental factors into their core business strategies. Some examples of companies that have taken environmental concerns into their business strategies include: o Anheuser-Busch: concern about recycling aluminum prompted the company to develop a can that’s 33 percent lighter. Its recycling effort saves about $200 million a year. o DuPont: developed a family of herbicides that dramatically reduced herbicide application per acre with no drop in crop yields. More than 200 million fewer pounds of chemicals are applied to the soil each year. DuPont jumped from eighth to second in market share in the crop protection chemical industry. o Volvo: increased its market share in one truck segment by 35 percent over three years by differentiating its trucks on environmental factors like fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Its truck operations jumped from 30 percent to 56 percent of the company’s operating […]
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The Canadian government will invest $5.8 million in partnership with Stuart Energy Systems Inc. to develop the infrastructure for refueling hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles. The total price tag of the project is estimated at $17.7 million. Canadas investment support the development of a system to refuel buses, such as those being developed by Ballard Power Systems. The high-volume refueling system will enable fuel-cell buses to refuel overnight, reducing costs by taking advantage of off-peak electricity rates. The technology will be a step toward making fuel cell-powered vehicles more widely available.
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The Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation has compiled a collection of State Guides on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency online. They were funded by the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE. They contain tips and key contacts, specific to each state. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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DaimlerChrysler, EcoEnergy Ltd., Norsk Hydro, and Royal Dutch/Shell Group are jointly investigating the potential to replace fossil fuels in Iceland with hydrogen, creating the world’s first “hydrogen economy.” The initial $1 million investment will test hydrogen-burning fuel cells that can replace gasoline-power in motor vehicles. Ultimately the goal is to convert public and private transportation sectors, including fishing vessels, in a country where 67 percent of energy consumption is supplied by hydro- and geothermal sources, the highest percentage share from renewables among OECD countries. Sustainable Energy Coalition Weekly Update: kbossong@cais.com
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The U.S. could increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources (wind, solar, plants and geothermal) to about 10 times current levels over the next 20 years, and still see a 13 percent decrease in electricity prices, according to Union of Concerned Scientists study, “A Powerful Opportunity: Making Renewable Electricity the Standard.” Expanding renewable electricity use to these levels would freeze power plant emissions of carbon dioxide at about year 2000 levels, making a major contribution to meeting the US reduction targets under the Kyoto global warming treaty. Another report, “Powerful Solutions: 7 Ways to Switch America to Renewable Electricity,” UCS details methods to switch America to renewable electricity: renewable portfolio standards, public benefits funding, net metering, fair transmission and distribution rules, fair pollution rules, consumer information, and putting green customer demand to work. ucs@ucsusa.org The reports are available online: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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