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04/16/12 - Economic expansion and warm summer weather helped boost U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 following two years of declines, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.The agency’s latest report on emissions trends shows that total emissions — including carbon dioxide, methane and other gases — increased by 3.2 percent from 2009 to 2010.
Apr 20, 2012 - Friday marks the two-year anniversary of the massive BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast. While the FDA says the local fish are safe to eat, several new reports suggest that local wildlife and the overall environment continue to suffer from damaging effects of what many consider the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.The Associated Press reports that a number of fish in the Gulf are suffering from visible maladies, including, "open sores, parasitic infections, chewed-up-looking fins, gashes," and " "mysterious black streaks" along their bodies.
And one reason speculators are bidding oil prices up, so the likes of BP can recoup some or all, plus, of the cash lost because of the blowout, and then some, with very little, if any, going towards safety nor clean up for their corrupt business practices!!
Two years after a series of gambles and ill-advised decisions on a BP drilling project led to the largest accidental oil spill in United States history and the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, no one has been held accountable.
Sure, there have been about $8 billion in payouts and, in early March, the outlines of a civil agreement that will cost BP, the company ultimately responsible, another $7.8 billion in restitution to businesses and residents along the Gulf of Mexico. It's also true the company has paid at least $14 billion more in cleanup and other costs since the accident began on April 20, 2010, bringing the expense of this fiasco to about $30 billion for BP. These are huge numbers. But this is a huge and profitable corporation.
Companies now rarely collapse or fold from major mistakes or corruption, the onus is now on the consumer, that's free market supply side capitalism!!!
16 April 2012 - EU commission president announces plans to provide access to sustainable energy services for 500 million people by 2030
April 20, 2012 - The Informal Environment Council celebrated in Horsens, Denmark, ended with the Ministers agreement in that the inclusive green economy is a vehicle for achieving long term sustainable development to ensure global job creation and for eradicating poverty. Janez Potočnik, the European Commissioner for the Environment, welcomed the strong support for the approach suggested by the Commission which will provide a clear negotiation basis in the run up to the Rio Conference.
2012-04-20 - Nepal is among the countries with the highest ratio of decent jobs per million dollars of investment from green investments.“Nepal, Indonesia and Ghana have the highest ratio of decent jobs per million dollars of investment with labour intensive economies benefiting from green investments,” said International Trade Union Confederation urging governments to drive investment of at least two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the green economy in the wake of independent economic analysis forecasting the potential for the growth of green jobs.
April 17, 2012 - Drivers of electric vehicles such as General Motors Co. (GM)’s Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Motor Co.’s Leaf may save as much as $1,200 a year on fuel compared with a new gasoline-powered compact, a scientists’ group found.
April 18, 2012 - The global wind industry is set to install more than 46 GW of new wind energy this year and, according to a new five-year industry forecast published today by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) at the EWEA 2012 Conference at Bella Center in Copenhagen, total global wind power capacity by the end of 2016 will be just under 500 GW.
April 18, 2012 - The United States needs to overhaul its support for clean energy research to keep recent gains alive as subsidies that have fueled a boom in the field expire, researchers urged Wednesday.
As to above, I've often asked myself where are the private capital investments, and have over the past some thirty to forty years working in the construction industry. Those were the promises of the free market supply side new definition of capitalism, not the real capitalism of the sharing in business expertise and our needed experienced labors and thus innovations from. Especially as to the alternative energy industry we had started developing some forty years ago only to get blocked by the special interests and their government representatives, still doing so today. And reports like above, in these recent times, about government incentives for investments, that new definition of capitalism was suppose to make government not have a need to invest, the private sector was supposed to be rapidly trickling down investments in the old and new for smooth economic growth, why are they still feeding at the government trough and demanding to do so while at the same time demanding less regulations which lead to accidents like above and much much more. That was also supposed to be the case as to the much needed infrastructure, much more then roads and bridges, new and maintaining that these capitalist at the top need to continue garnering top returns, we the public weren't supposed to be paying for all their needs with public breaks and incentives yet that's all we've been doing to entice the corporate and wealthy moguls, the 'job creators', to develop here rather then overseas for much cheaper labor, and little in regulations, but not cheaper products for the consumer.
April 19, 2012 - Hawaii’s renewable energy tax credits, which are credited with helping the state’s solar energy industry to reach new heights, are now backed by a report saying that they yield a clear, significant net fiscal benefit to the state.According to the Blue Planet Foundation’s Solar Tax Credit Economic Impact Study, every commercial solar tax credit dollar invested yields $13.37 that stays in Hawaii and $44.70 in additional sales, which generates $3.17 in new tax revenue.
Additionally, for a typical 118-kilowatt commercial photovoltaic installation, the state gains 2.8 local jobs each year over the 30-year life of the system, the report said.
Today is Earth Day, and this year more than ever before, we need to take action to reduce carbon emissions and avoid the worst impacts on our economy and our environment of climate change. So take a minute today to send a comment to the Environmental Protection Agency on the proposed carbon pollution standard that will ensure new power plants are built cleaner and more efficient. It's important to our fight against climate change, and a good way to mark the 42nd Earth Day.
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