Debra Goldenberg's Blog (9)

Landfill ceremony a (natural) gas

11/02/2009 Gov. Schwarzenegger Celebrates Opening of World’s Largest Landfill Gas to Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today celebrated the opening of the world’s largest landfill gas to liquefied natural gas (LFG-to-LNG) facility in California, the Waste Management Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility in Livermore. The plant, put together by partners Waste Management, Linde-BOC and Gas Technology Institute, is designed to produce up… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on November 4, 2009 at 11:13am — No Comments

Congress proposes "Cash for Clunkers"

This idea provides a good incentive for citizens to upgrade to a car with better gas mileage. 'Cash for clunkers' drawing support By David Lightman McClatchy Newspapers Posted: 05/13/2009 10:53:27 PM PDT Updated: 05/14/2009 06:26:42 AM PDT WASHINGTON — Consumers could get up to $4,500 each to help replace old gas-guzzling cars — as long as they turn in their old ones — under a plan that's gained strong support from the White House and leaders of Congress. The "cash for clunkers" moveme… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on May 14, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Low-cost loans spark interest in electric cars

By Janis Mara Contra Costa Times Updated: 03/24/2009 10:54:27 AM PDT BERKELEY — Norma Myers, a Berkeley psychotherapist, has long dreamed of purchasing an electric car. Now she can swing the deal thanks to an arrangement between an electric vehicle dealership and a long-standing credit union here. Bucking the national trend of tight credit, Berkeley's 67-year-old Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union has agreed to finance 100 percent of the purchase price of a ZENN electric car at Berkeley… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on April 4, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Parking garages to offer electric car outlets

State of the art electric car charging stations coming to Contra Costa County by Elisabeth Nardi Contra Costa Times Updated: 04/04/2009 04:32:58 AM PDT Gas prices go up, down, then back up again, but Bill Segraves doesn't care. Most days he ignores the truck and two gas-guzzling Cadillacs in his Pleasant Hill driveway and takes his all-electric GEM to work, where he simply plugs it into the wall outlet to recharge. He dreams of the day when all cars will be electric. "To have no rel… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on April 4, 2009 at 7:00pm — 1 Comment

Ca bill proposes to increase renewable energy standard

(From http://www.sierraclubca.blogspot.com/) Renewable Energy bill moves forward California takes the first step in reforming the state’s renewable portfolio standards law. On Tuesday March 3, 2009, the Senate’s Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee passed Senate Bill 14 by Senator Joe Simitian. If enacted, SB 14 would increase the required amount of renewable energy sources in California’s portfolio to 33 percent by 2020 and make other necessary reforms to our state’s… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on March 9, 2009 at 8:43pm — No Comments

Isabutanol as a replacement for ethanol

Isabutanol is being considered as a third-generation biofuel, that has many advantages over ethanol. "The arguments for isobutanol are strong. For example, it takes less energy to produce a gallon of isobutanol than it takes to produce a gallon of ethanol, and also, isobutanol produces 50% more energy than ethanol. Both sides of this equation makes for a relatively economical biofuel source. Since isobutanol does not mix with water, existing storage, transportation, and distribution infrastruct… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on March 8, 2009 at 10:48pm — No Comments

The cap and trade solution

The article below gives a very clear and concise argument describing how a cap and trade system for carbon would work. http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/02/10-ways-trade an excerpt: Sounds great, you say, but does it work in practice? We found out in 1990, when the Clean Air Act was modified to address acid rain pollution caused by sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants. Instead of requiring every plant to install a specific cleanup technology or meet a specific emission rate,… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on February 23, 2009 at 9:47pm — No Comments

California offers successful blueprint for renewable energy policy

Rolling Stone reports on the positive outcomes of energy policy in California, with an emphasis on conservation and solar and wind renewables. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/25833544/look_west_obama Here are some excerpts: Over the past three decades, while per capita electricity usage in America grew by more than 50 percent, California's consumption stayed flat, even while the state's economy doubled. "California is proof that you don't need to choose between growth and sustainab… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on February 21, 2009 at 7:19pm — No Comments

In the news: biodiesel

Blue Skies for biodiesel firm Sirona By Janis Mara Staff Writer Posted: 02/03/2009 04:27:31 PM PST RALPH MACINTYRE, manager of refinery operations for Sirona Fuels, holds a container of biodiesel at the company s facility in Oakland. Sirona has recently acquired Blue Sky Biodiesel, a company co-founded by MacIntyre. (KRISTOPHER SKINNER/STAFF ) OAKLAND — A biofuel refinery here is jumping out of the frying pan and into the forest, with new owners and a new source of raw material… Continue

Added by Debra Goldenberg on February 4, 2009 at 10:29pm — No Comments