1. Events, Classes, &
Presentations
2. Environmental Job Posting
Yahoo!:
Director Strategy Energy and Climate Change.
* Evaluate options for decreasing climate impacts, make
recommendations, and implement programs
* Manage Yahoo!'s carbon offset
portfolio, interfacing with vendors, consultants, and offset project developers
* Work closely with the facilities, real estate, and
operations staff in our datacenters and offices
* Set energy efficiency goals that position Yahoo! as a
leader and oversee tactics to reach those goals
* Evaluate and respond to suggestions made by employees on
how to improve office and datacenter environmental performance
* Represent Yahoo! at industry-wide consortiums focused on
energy and climate change
(More Details)
3. In the
News
Water:
2008 Bush
budget proposes Hetch Hetchy
study
Bush administration is offering $7 million to study restoring the dammed Yosemite valley
From
the community: Time running short for Delta
Column: Canal still best
Delta water fix
Editorial:
California's complicated water balancing act
Don't
take the delta for granted
A recent
court ruling should serve as a reminder of the fragility of California's water supply
_
Climate Politics:
Supreme
Court: EPA can regulate vehicle emissions
In a surprise
5-4 vote, the Supreme Court announced that the EPA can regulate CO2 as a
pollutant.
This
opens the way for states to file charges for economic damages from global
warming.
The only
way for the EPA to avoid regulation of CO2,
Is to basically disprove that CO2 causes economic damages.
Since the
court ruled that international concerns are not enough of an excuse not to
regulate.
California and Massachusetts
already filled lawsuits claiming economic damages months ago.
Europe OKs binding low-carbon
energy targets
European
Union pledges to reach a 20% reduction in carbon by 2020
Offering
to fulfill a 30% reduction if the United States gets involved
Large
Silicon Valley Tech group wants big push for alternative energy
Technet, the largest technology group in the
world, calls for carbon caps, and support for renewable energy.
Pension
funds argue in Washington for climate change regulations
The
largest pension funds call for carbon caps, and support for renewable energy.
(Including Calpers and Calsters)
Energy
Firms push for greenhouse-gas caps
Including
PG&E, large energy and chemical organizations call for carbon caps, and
support for renewable energy
Terry
Tamminen named as head of new public policy program on climate change
Former environmental aid to Gov. Schwarzenegger in new organization speaking on behalf of climate
change
California Wants to Link State Program With European Emissions Trading Scheme
Accurate Offset Measurements,
and Accurate Labeling of Products will be needed
NOAA:
2006 warmest year on record in United States:
2006 was
the warmest year in US
history. However 2005 was the warmest year worldwide.
Both
years are as-warm, or warmer than temperatures were in 1998 (when it was an
unusually warm El Nino year)
U.N.
Study Shows Likely Impact of Global Warming
Today is
the Release of newest IPCC report. The bottom line is that natural forces like solar radiation, cosmic rays, water vapor,
and volcanoes do not explain the current warming.
The
report also updates information from it’s
previous 2001 report that the
lower atmosphere is most definantly warming as
fast or faster than the surface temperature.
This new
knowledge goes a long way towards proving the CO2 theory as even heavy skeptics
admit that this is what we should be seeing happening if it were true.
Perhaps
the most compelling is that solar
irradiation hasn’t increased significantly in 6 decades.
_
Liquid Fuels:
Bush
seeks to scrap current ethanol standard
And in it’s place, put in an “alternative” energy
standard,
that
involves getting fuel from sources that are
Even worse than oil
Like Liquified Coal, which is twice as bad as
oil.
Or biofuels refined with coal electricity.
Or biofuels which cause the destruction of
rainforests.
Gov.
Schwarzenegger demands that these
fuels achieve a carbon benefit.
Rather
than make things worse.
Ethanol’s growing list of
enemies
As corn
prices rise, unlikely allies seek end of government aid for bio-fuel.
Cattle farmers band together with environmentalists.
Ethanol,
Ethanol Everywhere, Time to Stop and Think
Describes that farm crops are terribly inefficient at converting
sunlight into energy. (32x worse than solar)
At best
1-2% efficient, before any energy losses involved in converting it to fuel are taken into account.
(Roughly
0.14% using the after losses are accounted, which is
being generous)
Meanwhile
solar panels, 10-35% efficient (and more) are far more
effective at converting sunlight into energy.
On top of
which, electric cars can utilize biomass as electricity twice as efficiently as
conventional gasoline/diesel cars.
If we
want to Save the Planet, we need a Five-year Freeze on
Biofuels
BioFuels,
particularly those developed near rainforests, are doing more harm than good.
Palm Oil
from Brazil
for instance, despite that it produces relatively large amounts of oil.
When Rainforrests are destroyed to plant these trees, (Which is
becoming more and more common)
The
resulting BioFuel causes 10x more carbon dioxide
emissions than if we had stuck with petroleum fuel.
(The
ironic thing is that Brazil
achieved “energy independence” not through ethanol, but almost all
from increased domestic oil drilling)
(Source:
PDF attached)
_
Automotive:
Honda Develops
Next-Generation Clean Diesel Engine Legal for use in California
California’s air quality standards for diesel are 3x more stringent than in Europe.
Due to
new ultralowsulfur diesel fuel, new 2008 diesel cars
will be available in California.
Diesel
cars offer 41% better mileage than gasoline cars. (Comparable to a Prius)
And these
new diesels won’t have any of the noise, smell, or vibrations associated
with old diesel engines.
The 2008
Diesel Jetta has already been announced for early
2008.
Next-Gen
94MPG Prius by 2008/2009
Originally
a rumor, but it has now been confirmed that the third generation Prius will
be using LithiumIon Batteries,
Toyota’s CEO also mentions,
"We are now aiming at reducing, by half, both size and cost of the
third-generation hybrid system,".
Which should go some way to bringing the price of hybrids
closer to regular gasoline cars.
TeslaMotors:
Technology Comparison (Electric versus everything else)
This
presentation shows how heading toward electric cars should be the end goal for
automotive innovation.
3-4x less electricity than Hydrogen for the same range.
Can
utilize energy in biomass or petroleum 2x as
efficiently as liquid fuels
And requires 32x less land than Ethanol if the electricity is derived
from solar panels.
Even when
powered by Coal electricity, It’s
still Greener than a Prius.
(Video) (Video) (Video)
Look out Tesla... ZAP building
Electric Supercar (Further Specs)
Offers 644horsepower, Solar electric windows, 350 Mile Range
With an
amazing 10 minute recharge speed. Pricetag of $60,000 (Same as a Lexus Hybrid)
Planned for release in late 2008. (There’s
speculation that they will be using AltairNano as
their battery provider)
Video: Plugin Partners National Campaign
Overview of the local Plug-in Partners campaign, which involves EPRI
and CalCars.
The
program promotes the usage of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. (PHEV)
A
New Battery Takes Off in a Race to Electric Cars
A123 Systems, has developed advanced lithium batteries that can
recharge in minutes, and use less expensive catalysts.
EEStor: Battery Breakthrough?
A Texas company says it
can make a new ultracapacitor power system to replace
the electrochemical batteries in everything from cars to laptops.
UltraCapacitors claim the potential to deliver the performance of advanced Lithium
Ion batteries
With a lifecycle range of 20-40 years. All at the low cost comparable to
conventional lead acid batteries.
It sounds
almost too good to be true. But
apparently it is. (below)
EEStor Announces Two Key Production Milestones:
EEStor
has independently verified their material production facilities through third
party. They plan to start producing
ultracapacitors in 2007.
Nanotech
strikes again! University of Arizona creates new capacitor technology
University of Arizona validates the potential of ultracapacitors for vehicle use.
_
Energy:
Report
questions Nuclear’s role in beating global
warming (Report
PDF)
Even
assuming the waste issue and terrorist attacks against nuclear facilities can
be solved.
The
logistics of nuclear proliferation security, and the threat of nuclear winter
make it automatically unsafe and
expensive, as it grows further out of hand.
Furthermore
by perusing this route, there’s no longer any ability to demand nations
like Iran or North Korea.
Germany and
New Zealand have already declared aggressive carbon reductions, while placing a
moratorium on the usage of nuclear.
Meanwhile India has declared all of it’s nuclear operations
to be “military” and therefore exempt from oversight by the IAEA
(International Atomic Energy Association).
Other nations
could follow suit, like Iran or North Korea, making it impossible to regulate
nuclear safety worldwide.
Quantum Dot Leap: Tapping tiny crystals' inexplicable
light-harvesting talent
Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells
Solar power breakthrough at Massey
A variety of technologies make way
for future generations of solar photovoltaic panels to multiply in efficiency.
Sandia helps develop new wind turbine blade design
Sandia
National Labs developed a new type of wind turbine blade.
Lightweight,
stronger, and best of all, it creates useful energy out of slower moving wind.
Solar Hyper-Concentrators: Reducing The Cost of Solar Power
Full steam ahead for Nevada solar concentrator project
This project
uses under half a square mile of desert to produce 64MW of electricity.
The array of
mirrors heating up transmission fluid is 3-2x more effecient
than current solar panels.
At night the
transmission fluid is heated by burning natural gas, allowing it to provide
electric power 24/7.
This is
similar to PG&E's Luz II project. (PG&E to Buy 500 MW of Solar Energy in 2010 for SF Bay
Area)
California's Cow-Powered Solar Power Stations
Two solar
power stations in California’s Imperial Valley now operate 24/7 with the
help of cow manure.
1. Events,
Classes, & Presentations
|
Carbon
Stewardship Council Workshop
WHEN:
Monday 23rd
April 2007, ( 9:00am
- 2:00pm )
WHERE:
Yahoo! Inc.
701 First
Avenue Main Reception – Building D
Sunnyvale,
CA, 94089
_
The Climate
Group, JPMorgan Chase, Environmental Defense and
Interface invite you to a workshop on carbon neutrality.
The Climate
Group has made initial contact with many of the organizations involved in
this market and is convinced that there is a clear need for an international
standard on carbon neutrality.
The attached discussion paper outlines the possible vision and
components of the standard and the process to develop an independent body to
manage the standard. This work is
being completed under the title Carbon Stewardship Council. No decision to establish a Carbon
Stewardship Council has been made - the paper is intended to provide a basis
for discussions.
The aim of
the workshop is to:
- confirm
whether there is a need for an international standard on carbon neutrality;
and (if there is)
- agree the
vision and process for developing a standard; and
- identify
organizations that are interested in participating in the initiative.
Registration
for the workshop is essential.
Please register for the Carbon Workshop by reply email and include
your name, job title, company, email and the workshop you wish
to attend (New York or San Francisco).
More
information is in the attached workshop program.
(See
attached file: Carbon Stewardship Council Discussion Paper.pdf)
(See attached
file: Workshop Programme SF.pdf)
Linking Water and Land
Use in the Bay Area
This workshop that
examines the nexus between growth and water resource issues, and how the Ahwahnee Water Principles can be applied in the Bay Area
to align them. We will identify critical issues and concerns, discuss
successful programs and projects, identify policy solutions and potential
barriers, and discuss future needs and actions.
Note there is a
small registration fee ($15), but this covers Lunch.
Registration for the workshop is available online:
Or, fill out the attached invitation for and fax or mail it to LGC
– fax and address provided
on the invite.
Residential Green Building Summit 2007
Thursday, June
7, 2007
7:30 a.m. to
2:00 p.m.
San Jose City
Hall Rotunda
Learn about the
latest Green building technologies and practices.
See what home
building industry leaders are doing to create healthier, greener homes.
Conference
sessions specific to residential development include:
· Sustainable
rating systems
· Green building
financing
· Methods of
incorporating green building products and practices
Join
builders, developers, property owners, designers, facility managers, brokers,
and financiers.
Registration
is $100 per person.
More
registration information will be available soon. Sponsorship
opportunities are available
For more
information email GreenWorkshop@sanjoseca.gov or call (408)
535-8550.
Sponsored in
part by City of San Jose Environmental Services, Silicon Valley Energy Watch,
Pacific Gas & Electric and in partnership with
the San Jose Redevelopment Agency.
|
|
2. Environmental
Job Posting
Yahoo!:
Director Strategy Energy and Climate Change.
Yahoo! has
created a brand new position Director Strategy Energy and Climate Change.
This is a wonderful new position to really make a changes.
This person would be strategic to Yahoo! own corporate responsibilities and
voice of Yahoo! in Energy.
Energy &
Climate Change Position
This position
will drive Yahoo!'s overall environmental strategy
for our global facility operations with a specific focus on decreasing impacts
on climate change. Will specialize in decreasing energy use
and climate impacts of the offices and datacenters worldwide.
Responsibilities will include analysis of energy choices and technologies,
green power selection, carbon offsets, and utilization of clean technologies.
Reports To:
This position
will report into corporate development but will work closely with the Yahoo!
for Good team (Yahoo!'s community relations
department).
Duties and
Responsibilities:
* Oversee the
climate change strategy to ensure Yahoo! is making the best choices given our
environmental and business objectives
* Evaluate
options for decreasing climate impacts, make recommendations, and implement
programs
* Manage Yahoo!'s carbon offset portfolio, interfacing with vendors,
consultants, and offset project developers
* Work closely
with the facilities, real estate, and operations staff in our datacenters and
offices
* Update our
greenhouse gas inventory on a quarterly basis
* Set energy
efficiency goals that position Yahoo! as a leader and oversee tactics to reach
those goals
* Gain recognition
for leadership practices
* Evaluate
and respond to suggestions made by employees on how to improve office and
datacenter environmental performance
* Represent
Yahoo! at industry-wide consortiums focused on energy and climate change
Skills,
Characteristics, and Experience Preferred:
* Requires BS
in Engineering, science, or other technical field. Master's degree a plus
* 7-10 years
experience in energy efficiency and clean technology as it relates to
facilities
* Technical
experience in power generation, renewable power, and energy sources
* Experience with
private corporate investment in voluntary offsets. Extensive knowledge of
carbon offsets and other mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
* Thorough
understanding of programs such as Energy Star, LEED certification, and other
standards for leadership
* Experience
managing datacenters a plus
* Strategic
thinker as well as detail oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple
tasks simultaneously
*
Self-motivated. Makes decisions independently and involves higher management
when appropriate
* Thrives in
a fast-paced and unstructured environment
* Innovative,
entrepreneurial, and thinks creatively
* Resourceful, excellent written and verbal communication, and strong
interpersonal skills
Yahoo! Inc.
is an equal opportunity employer. For more information or to search all of our
openings, please visit http://careers.yahoo.com
Contact: Margo McCullough at margom @yahoo.com
3. In the
News
Terry Tamminen named as The New America
Foundation’s head of its new public policy program on climate change
The New America Foundation has named Terry Tamminen,
who was one of Gov. Schwarzenegger's key environmental aides, as head of
its new public policy program on climate change. Foundation President/CEO Ted
Halstead said the climate change issue needs "out-of-the-box
thinking" and Tamminen has the "vision and leadership" to
provide it. Schwarzenegger named Tamminen to head Cal/EPA in November 2003 and
promoted him to cabinet secretary in December 2004. Tamminen left the
Administration last August to work on a book, Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost
of Our Oil Addiction, which was published in October. Although the foundation
is based in Washington DC, Tamminen will work from an office in Santa
Monica, where he lives.
His new email is Tamminen@newamerica.net. Contact: Jerry Irvine (301)
801-3356.
Monday, April
2, 2007
Climate Change
California Wants to Link State
Program With European Emissions Trading Scheme
BRUSSELS--California
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) wants the state to have a greenhouse gas
emissions trading scheme that would be compatible with the European Union's program,
Linda Adams, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, said
March 29.
"Our
governor has asked us to design a market" that can be linked to the European
Union's emissions market and other trading programs, Adams told reporters at a
news briefing held after meeting with EU lawmakers to discuss climate change
policies.
Anders Wijkman, a Swedish member of the European Parliament, told
reporters that linking California's yet-to-be developed market with the EU
trading scheme would help to create the larger emissions market needed for
long-term success in fighting climate change.
Legislation
California enacted in September, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (A.B.
32), requires the state to adopt by 2011 policies and regulations that would
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels about 25 percent by 2020.
Schwarzenegger
signed an executive order Oct. 17, directing state regulators to develop a market-based
program that would permit emissions trading with other markets, including the
European Union (200 DEN A-8, 10/17/06).
Adams,
California Resources Agency Secretary Mike Chrisman, and state Assemblyman Ira
Ruskin are part of a California delegation in Europe March 29-April 5, to learn
about the emissions trading system and other climate change policies of the
European Union. The delegation also met with European Commission officials and
industry representatives March 29.
Launched in
2005, the EU emissions trading system established carbon dioxide emissions caps
for power generators and oil and gas operations. Facilities can purchase
credits to meet their emissions limits or can sell credits if emissions are
below those thresholds.
Energy-Efficiency, Labeling Standards
Chrisman said
the delegation is here to learn about the EU experience. "We want to know
what went right with it and what went wrong," he said.
Chrisman,
whose agency oversees the California Energy Commission and the Department of
Forestry, said he is very interested in learning about the European Union's
policies on energy conservation, carbon sequestration, and biofuels.
Chrisman also
said he wants to work with the European Union to pursue the potential for
developing energy-efficiency standards and labeling requirements for
appliances.
Ruskin told
reporters that there still is debate in California among stakeholders,
including state lawmakers, about the best time to launch an emissions trading
market. He said many in the Legislature believe adopting regulations and
collecting data must come first.
California
wants whatever program it develops to be a model for the rest of the United
States, Adams said. The state has teamed up with four other Western states to
pursue regional climate change policies, and it is cooperating with the
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative being developed by several Northeastern
states, she said (41 DEN A-4, 3/2/07).
Accurate Emissions Data Needed
"We
learned this morning that it's going to be very complicated" to develop
our own emissions trading program, Adams said.
California
must decide which industry sectors should be included in its program, she told
BNA. Information gleaned from the March 29 meetings indicate including the
transportation sector or small sectors might not make sense, Adams said.
One of the
biggest lessons to be learned from the European Union's experience is the
importance of having accurate emissions data, she said.
The EU
nations over-allocated emissions credits, triggering a price crash for carbon
credits. Adams said there was little, if any, verification of industry emissions
data.
California
has been collecting emissions data over the last three years, and inventories
are being updated as part of the implementation of the Global Warming Solutions
Act.
Adams said
California also must decide whether to auction or to allocate the initial
emissions baselines. If the emissions limits are auctioned, she said, California
must determine how the revenue would be used.
Chrisman
suggested California needs to go slow, rather than hurry in developing its
emissions trading scheme.
