By Christopher DeMorro •
September 1, 2009
In an effort to drum up attention and support for their algae-based biofuel, Sapphire Energy has announced they will conduct a coast-to-coast journey in their “Algaeus” plug-in hybrid. Part electric hybrid, part biofuel vehicle, Sapphire claimes the Algaeus will get 150 miles per gallon from its hybrid/biofuel drivetrain.
The Algaeus will visit 10 cities, starting in San Francisco on September 8th and ending in New York City on the 18th.
By Danny Kennedy •
June 26, 2009
Editor’s Note: The is a guest contribution by Danny Kennedy, President of Sungevity. This is part of a series from the CEO’s of major solar companies. You can follow the complete series here.
Sometimes it is hard to contemplate what a good news story our industry – solar sales and installation – and the broader clean energy economy really represents. I was reminded on Monday at the graduation ceremony [...]
By Andrew Williams •
December 11, 2008
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is today expected to adopt the most radical global warming plan in the U.S., and possibly the world. If passed, it will force individuals, as well as the state’s utilities, refineries and large factories to fundamentally change the way they do business, and slash greenhouse gas emissions.
By Jerry James Stone •
September 6, 2008
Citing two years of low precipitation and barren water reserves, California officials have announced a plan to purchase water from Sacramento Valley farmers and sell it to Southern state agencies - a program that’s been dormant in the Golden state for 17 years. The fear of yet another drought this year is pushing the programs revival: statewide precipitation this year has only been 45 percent of average, making it the fourth driest year of the 114 years on record.
“We’re hoping for the best, that we’re going to have a good storm season and be able to meet the needs of California,” said state Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow. “However, we would be negligent if we didn’t prepare for the worst.”
This “water bank” was last used in 1992, during the final year of a six year drought. Those that sold water were in districts holding generous, century-old water rights on the Sacramento, Yuba and Feather rivers. The buyers were urban communities in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. The largest buyer in ‘92 was the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Schwarzenegger officially declared a drought this past June, stating that nine counties in the farm-rich Central Valley are in a state of emergency due to low water supplies after two years of below-average rainfall. In the Northern Sierra, this spring and summer were the driest on record since 1921. Additionally, 2007 and 2008 made up the ninth driest two-year period in 88 years of record keeping for the Northern Sierra.
By The Dave Room •
September 5, 2008
In less than three weeks, Sacramento plays host to the world’s largest conference on one of the most important societal issues of our time - Peak Oil. In late September, the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas - USA (ASPO-USA) is convening its 2008 Peak Oil Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Sacramento, California. The conference title - The Peak Oil Energy Challenge - The Future Starts Now! - says it all; it’s time for us to take control of our energy future and start dealing with our oil and energy predicaments.
I imagine ASPO-USA chose Sacramento since California is leading the nation in laws for renewable energy and combating global warming, thereby providing a model for other states. Perhaps if Peak Oil mitigation can get some traction in the California, it can also speed up action on the federal level which tends to be slower than molasses.
In 2005 the world was aghast by the images seen on television and newspapers of the mass destruction caused to human life and the city of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina.
A recent report reveals that State authorities are bolstering levees around Sacramento to prevent it from experiencing Katrina-like effects during a flood. They also hope that severe storms don’t hit the capital city before the completion of projects planned to end by 2012.
With [...]
By mcmilker •
April 18, 2008
Outcry in Sacramento against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan for aerial spraying of several California counties to combat an apple moth infestation that threatens California agriculture.
One might wonder, in particular how this will impact organic farmers…
Photo courtesy: Wikipedia through Creative Commons License
