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Newsweek's Greenest Retailers in the US (2012)

October 31, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Each year Newsweek compiles lists of all things green. This list of retail stores operate sustainable businesses and disclose the details of their operations and environmental impact. To compile the list of the greenest retailers they compared the largest companies according to their environmental footprint, management (policies, initiatives, controversies), and transparency. To generate ratings and compile these lists they partnered with Trucost and Sustainalytics, two leading research companies. The methodology was developed in consultation with an advisory panel of experts in corporate sustainability. Here is Newsweek's list of the top 15 retailers and their corresponding scores:

15. SUPERVALUE

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 57.3
Environmental Impact: 55.0
Environmental Management: 56.9
Transparency & Disclosure: 69.3

14. Safeway

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 58.0
Environmental Impact: 56.7
Environmental Management: 58.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 62.0

13. Costco Wholesale

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 58.1
Environmental Impact: 65.6
Environmental Management: 57.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 26.2

12. Kroger

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 58.2
Environmental Impact: 55.6
Environmental Management: 59.3
Transparency & Disclosure: 64.4

11. Lowe's

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 59.2
Environmental Impact: 66.1
Environmental Management: 56.8
Transparency & Disclosure: 38.5

10. Whole Foods Market

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 61.2
Environmental Impact: 56.4
Environmental Management: 64.3
Transparency & Disclosure: 68.5

9. Sears Holdings

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 61.7
Environmental Impact: 64.3
Environmental Management: 58.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 66.6

8. J. C. Penney

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 61.7
Environmental Impact: 63.8
Environmental Management: 62.2
Transparency & Disclosure: 49.9

7. Target

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 63.2
Environmental Impact: 65.2
Environmental Management: 58.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 74.9

6. Kohl's

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 64.3
Environmental Impact: 66.5
Environmental Management: 60.7
Transparency & Disclosure: 70.4

5. Wal-Mart

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 68.0
Environmental Impact: 64.5
Environmental Management: 69.8
Transparency & Disclosure: 75.8

4. Home Depot

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 68.7
Environmental Impact: 64.9
Environmental Management: 79.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 39.3

3. Best Buy

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 71.2
Environmental Impact: 71.2
Environmental Management: 75.3
Transparency & Disclosure: 52.7

2. Staples

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.4
Environmental Impact: 69.4
Environmental Management: 83.9
Transparency & Disclosure: 54.2

1. Office Depot

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.4
Environmental Impact: 66.3
Environmental Management: 80.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 83.4

Source: The Daily Beast

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Newsweek's Greenest Tech Companies in the US (2012)

October 31, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Each year Newsweek compiles lists of all things green. This is their fourth annual look at the most environmentally-friendly companies. For this list they compared America’s largest tech companies according to their environmental footprint, management (policies, initiatives, controversies), and transparency. To generate ratings and compile these lists they partnered with Trucost and Sustainalytics, two leading research companies. The methodology was developed in consultation with an advisory panel of experts in corporate sustainability. Here is Newsweek's list of the top 15 American tech companies and their corresponding scores:

15. Intuit

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 69.9
Environmental Impact: 80.0
Environmental Management: 68.3
Transparency & Disclosure: 31.3

14. Google

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 71.2
Environmental Impact: 74.9
Environmental Management: 77.5
Transparency & Disclosure: 26.7

13. Autodesk

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 71.3
Environmental Impact: 80.2
Environmental Management: 70.9
Transparency & Disclosure: 32.7

12. Motorola Solutions

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 71.8
Environmental Impact: 64.3
Environmental Management: 85.8
Transparency & Disclosure: 43.1

11. Cisco Systems

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 72.1
Environmental Impact: 66.6
Environmental Management: 79.7
Transparency & Disclosure: 62.4

10.Cognizant Technology

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 73.1
Environmental Impact: 78.8
Environmental Management: 66.4
Transparency & Disclosure: 78.1

9. Microsoft

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 73.5
Environmental Impact: 77.5
Environmental Management: 79.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 27.6

8. EMC

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 73.6
Environmental Impact: 67.4
Environmental Management: 88.8
Transparency & Disclosure: 32.8

7. Accenture

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.7
Environmental Impact: 79.2
Environmental Management: 77.5
Transparency & Disclosure: 41.8

6. Intel

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 75.2
Environmental Impact: 59.2
Environmental Management: 88.4
Transparency & Disclosure: 87.3

5. NVIDIA

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 76.3
Environmental Impact: 77.2
Environmental Management: 76.3
Transparency & Disclosure: 72.3

4. CA Technologies

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 77.1
Environmental Impact: 79.9
Environmental Management: 80.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 48.1

3. Dell

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 77.1
Environmental Impact: 67.4
Environmental Management: 89.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 64.4

2. Hewlett-Packard

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 78.5
Environmental Impact: 67.2
Environmental Management: 91.9
Transparency & Disclosure: 68.7

1. IBM

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 82.9
Environmental Impact: 78.9
Environmental Management: 87.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 82.9

Source: The Daily Beast

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Newsweek's Green Rankings Winners Reputation and Reality (2012)

October 31, 2012 Add Comment Edit

In addition to Newsweek's rankings of all things green, they have included a new measure which factors consumer perception. Corporate brands are increasingly competing to be perceived as eco-friendly to vie for consumer attention and brand allegiance. This list of winners highlights the brands with high marks for both reputation and practices. Companies that landed on this list were among the top 25 percent in both the Newsweek Green Rankings and the Green Brands survey. Here is Newsweek's list of the top 15 companies that have done well in terms of both their reputation and their practices:

15. Volkswagen

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 71
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): N/A
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 71.0
Reputation Score: 61.2
Average Score: 66.1

14. Home Depot

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 92
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 38
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 68.7
Reputation Score: 63.6
Average Score: 66.15

13. Kimberly-Clark

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 119
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 56
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 66.7
Reputation Score: 65.8
Average Score: 66.25

12. Sony

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 57
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): N/A
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 72.5
Reputation Score: 61.7
Average Score: 67.1

11. Cisco Systems

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 59
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 19
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 72.1
Reputation Score: 62.1
Average Score: 67.1

10. Samsung

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 37
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): N/A
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.6
Reputation Score: 61.2
Average Score: 67.9

9. Walt Disney

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 87
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 35
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 69.0
Reputation Score: 67.1
Average Score: 68.05

8. Staples

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 38
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 10
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.4
Reputation Score: 61.8
Average Score: 68.1

7. Office Depot

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): N/A
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 9
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.4
Reputation Score: 61.9
Average Score: 68.15

6. Johnson & Johnson

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 88
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 36
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 68.9
Reputation Score: 67.5
Average Score: 68.2

5. Google

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 67
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 22
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 71.2
Reputation Score: 66.8

4. Microsoft

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 47
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 12
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 73.5
Reputation Score: 64.9
Average Score: 69.2

3. Intel

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 35
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 7
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 75.2
Reputation Score: 63.4
Average Score: 69.3

2. NVIDIA

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): N/A
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 6
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 76.3
Reputation Score: 65.4
Average Score: 70.85

1. IBM

NEWSWEEK Green Rank (global): 4
NEWSWEEK Green Rank (U.S.): 1
NEWSWEEK Green Score: 82.9
Reputation Score: 63.0
Average Score: 72.95

Source: The Daily Beast

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Newsweek's Greenest Companies in the US (2012)

October 30, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Each year Newsweek compiles lists of all things green. This is their fourth annual look at the most environmentally-friendly companies. They compared America’s largest companies according to their environmental footprint, management (policies, initiatives, controversies), and transparency. To generate ratings and compile these lists they partnered with Trucost and Sustainalytics, two leading research companies. The methodology was developed in consultation with an advisory panel of experts in corporate sustainability. Here is Newsweek's list of the top 15 American companies and their corresponding scores:

15. McGraw-Hill: Media & Publishing

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 72.8
Environmental Impact: 75.0
Environmental Management: 70.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 72.8

14. Hartford Financial Services Group: Financials

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 72.8
Environmental Impact: 77.7
Environmental Management: 70.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 63.8

13.Cognizant: Information Technology & Services

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 73.1
Environmental Impact: 78.8
Environmental Management: 66.4
Transparency & Disclosure: 78.1

12. Microsoft: Information Technology & Services

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 73.5
Environmental Impact: 77.5
Environmental Management: 79.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 27.6

11. EMC: Technology Equipment

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 73.6
Environmental Impact: 67.4
Environmental Management: 88.8
Transparency & Disclosure: 32.8

10. Staples: Retailer

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.4
Environmental Impact: 69.4
Environmental Management: 83.9
Transparency & Disclosure: 54.2

9. Office Depot: Retailers

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.4
Environmental Impact: 66.3
Environmental Management: 80.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 83.4

8. Accenture: Information Technology & Services

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 74.7
Environmental Impact: 79.2
Environmental Management: 77.5
Transparency & Disclosure: 41.8

7. Intel: Technology Equipment

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 75.2
Environmental Impact: 59.2
Environmental Management: 88.4
Transparency & Disclosure: 87.3

6. NVIDIA: Technology Equipment

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 76.3
Environmental Impact: 77.2
Environmental Management: 76.3
Transparency & Disclosure: 72.3

5. CA Technologies: Information Technology & Services

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 77.1
Environmental Impact: 79.9
Environmental Management: 80.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 48.1

4. Dell: Technology Equipment

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 77.1
Environmental Impact: 67.4
Environmental Management: 89.6
Transparency & Disclosure: 64.4

3 Sprint Nextel: Telecommunications

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 77.5
Environmental Impact: 72.4
Environmental Management: 84.3
Transparency & Disclosure: 70.2

2. Hewlett-Packard: Technology Equipment

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 78.5
Environmental Impact: 67.2
Environmental Management: 91.9
Transparency & Disclosure: 68.7

1. IBM: Information Technology & Services

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 82.9
Environmental Impact: 78.9
Environmental Management: 87.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 82.9

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Newsweek's Greenest Companies in the World (2012)

October 30, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Each year Newsweek compiles lists of all things green. This is their fourth annual look at the world's most environmentally-friendly companies. They compared the world’s largest companies according to their environmental footprint, management (policies, initiatives, controversies), and transparency. To generate ratings and compile these lists they partnered with Trucost and Sustainalytics, two leading research companies. The methodology was developed in consultation with an advisory panel of experts in corporate sustainability. Here is Newsweek's list of the top 15 companies in the world and their corresponding scores:

15. Telefónica: Telecommunications (Spain)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 79.8
Environmental Impact: 75.1
Environmental Management: 80.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 99.7

14. Nokia: Technology Equipment (Finland)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 79.9
Environmental Impact: 68.3
Environmental Management: 88.2
Transparency & Disclosure: 95.2

13. Bell Canada Enterprises: Telecommunications (Canada)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 80.0
Environmental Impact: 74.3
Environmental Management: 83.2
Transparency & Disclosure: 91.5

12.Generali Group: Financials (Italy)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 80.1
Environmental Impact: 84.8
Environmental Management: 78.4
Transparency & Disclosure: 67.1

11. Tata Consultancy Services: Information Technology & Services (India)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 80.4
Environmental Impact: 74.9
Environmental Management: 81.8
Transparency & Disclosure: 98.9

10. Marks & Spencer Group: Retailers (United Kingdom)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 80.5
Environmental Impact: 65.7
Environmental Management: 92.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 95.8

9. KPN: Telecommunications (Netherlands)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 80.6
Environmental Impact: 76.1
Environmental Management: 81.3
Transparency & Disclosure: 98.3

8. SAP: Information Technology & Services (Germany)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 81.8
Environmental Impact: 80.7
Environmental Management: 78.9
Transparency & Disclosure: 99.8

7. Munich Re: Financial (Germany)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 82.5
Environmental Impact: 87.6
Environmental Management: 78.2
Transparency & Disclosure: 79.0

6. BT Group: Telecommunications (United Kingdom)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 82.7
Environmental Impact: 77.3
Environmental Management: 84.2
Transparency & Disclosure: 99.8

5. National Australia Bank: Financials (Australia)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 82.7
Environmental Impact: 82.0
Environmental Management: 79.5
Transparency & Disclosure: 99.8

4. IBM: Information Technology & Services (United States)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 82.9
Environmental Impact: 78.9
Environmental Management: 87.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 82.9

3. Bradesco: Financials (Brazil)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 83.7
Environmental Impact: 87.9
Environmental Management: 75.9
Transparency & Disclosure: 99.9

2. Wipro: Information Technology & Services (India)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 85.4
Environmental Impact: 70.2
Environmental Management: 100.0
Transparency & Disclosure: 88.3

1. Santander Brasil: Financials (Brazil)

NEWSWEEK Green Score: 85.7
Environmental Impact: 88.5
Environmental Management: 88.4
Transparency & Disclosure: 61.5

Source: The Daily Beast

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International Green Awards 2012 Short Lists Announced

October 30, 2012 Add Comment Edit

The short list for the International Green Awards was announced on October 15th. “This year, the awards introduced a revolutionary new entry format in the bid to find organizations that have embedded sustainability across their processes. Organizations were evaluated on sustainability vision, level of innovation and advocacy against 8 sustainability indicators ranging from energy and carbon, through to supply chain and resources. Additionally, the awards have also partnered with WWF-UK to find one true ‘Green Game-Changer’ across products, services and business models.”

Most Sustainable Large Corporation

Brasil Foods (Brazil)
Hitachi (Global)
Iberdrola (Spain)
Interface (Global)
ITC Hotels (India)
Pearson Plc (Global)

Most Sustainable Medium Organisation

Ecotricity (UK)
Focus Press (Australia)
Kyocera (UK)
Numi Organic (USA)
Sydney Theatre Company (Australia)
Yealands Estate Wines (New Zealand)

Most Sustainable Small Organization

AJDR (Rwanda)
EcoChain Technologies (Netherlands)
Green Bottle (UK)
The Big Lemon (UK)
Permanent Publications (UK)

Most Sustainable NGO

Big Green Litter Machine (UK)
East Clare Community Cooperative (Republic of Ireland)
Green Globe (Lebanon)
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens (USA)
Sahabat Alam (Indonesia)

Most Sustainable Educational Institution

Bentleigh Secondary College (Australia)
York University (Canada)
University of Washington (USA)
Abu Dhabi Indian School (UAE)

Most Sustainable Government

City of Philadelphia (USA)
City of Sydney (Australia)
Dublin Fire Brigade (Republic of Ireland)
Songa-pu Office (Republic of Korea)
Water Replenishment District (USA)

WWF Green Game-Changer

C-Change Retrofit Mortgage Discount (UK)
IntelligentCity – Philips Lighting (EMEA)
Streetbank (UK)
WHISCERS (UK)
YouGen (UK)

The winners will be announced at the International Green Awards™ ceremony on November 20th, 2012 at Battersea Power Station, London.

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WWF Canada's Goal of 600,000 EVs by 2020

October 29, 2012 2 Comments Edit

WWF-Canada has launched an initiative designed to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Their campaign is called Transportation rEVolution, this program aimed at reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation by encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs). To achieve this objective, WWF aims to have 600,000 electric vehicles in Canada by 2020.

According to a recent Environics study commissioned by WWF-Canada, almost three quarters (73 percent) of Canadians support government actions to promote electric cars, however, many do not understand the environmental value of driving EVs.

According to the WWF's research only 26 percent of Canadians strongly agree that vehicle emissions in Canada are a major source of climate change. A total of 36 percent of Canadians are unsure about the impact of an EV on reducing GHG emissions.

The WWF program is designed to help address this problem by informing Canadians about the environmental value of EVs.

To learn more about the campaign click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Hurricane Sandy Shows Us What Climate Change Looks Like

October 29, 2012 1 Comment Edit

While climate change may not have been a high profile issue in the 2012 Presidential elections, the super-storm known as Hurricane Sandy will not let American voters forget the dire implications of a world ravaged by climate change. Even before hurricane Sandy strikes the US, it had already killed 65 people in the Caribbean. Sandy is almost one thousand miles across (1600 kilometers) and it will affect people from the East Coast to the Great Lakes. The mega-storm threatens 50 million people, many of which are expected to be left without electricity for days. In addition to the wind and rain, snow is anticipated to follow the initial onslaught. In places like the mountains of West Virginia weather forecasters are calling for as much as 3 feet of snow. A total of 7,000 flights in and out of the East have also been canceled due to the storm.

With ocean surges expected to be as high as 11 feet high (over 3m) in the New York City area, subways and schools are closed as is the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, (the first unplanned shutdown since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001). "If you don't evacuate, you are not only endangering your life, you are also endangering the lives of the first responders who are going in to rescue you," Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned. "This is a serious and dangerous storm."

President Barack Obama declared emergencies in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, authorizing federal relief work to begin well ahead of time.

The sea surface temperatures along the Atlantic coast have been running at over 3C above normal for a region extending 800km off shore all the way from Florida to Canada. Global warming contributes 0.6C to this. With every degree C, the water holding of the atmosphere goes up 7%, and the moisture provides fuel for the tropical storm, increases its intensity, and magnifies the rainfall by double that amount compared with normal conditions.

On Sunday afternoon Sandy was already causing winds gusting up to 64 mph (103km/h) in North Carolina. Heavy rains are already occurring from North Carolina to New Jersey. One of the most significant risks is from the coastal storm surge on top of very high sea levels made higher by climate change.

Forecasters are tracking the monster storm as it heads for the coast of New Jersey. It is expected to make landfall on Monday night or early Tuesday and it will combine with two other weather systems to create an epic super-storm.

Those who want to know what weather will look like if we do nothing to manage climate change need look no further than hurricane Sandy.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Taking Stock of President Obama's Environmental Efforts

October 29, 2012 Add Comment Edit

On Tuesday September 4, 2012, Democrats opened their national convention by defending President Obama’s record and asking Americans to be patient. In their first four years in office, the Obama administration’s green efforts have been resisted by unprecedented Republican obstructionism and an electorate misinformed about the science of climate change. Others have criticized Obama for not doing enough to move the green agenda forward.

Despite a highly polarized political landscape, Obama has accomplished a great deal on energy and the environment. President Obama has worked to advance green jobs, electric vehicles, conservation, clean energy and efficiency.

Jobs

Obama has made the environment a national priority, and a primary source for job creation. The election of Obama was a radical departure from the G.W. Bush administration which was responsible for 150 actions undermining environmental protections.

Obama has advanced clean energy investments and green job creation. He has created job training programs in clean technologies for displaced workers and the Green Vet Initiative to promote environmental jobs for veterans. He has dedicated $150 million for Pathways Out of Poverty green jobs training grants. Green investments in Obama’s $789 billion economic stimulus included tens of billions of dollars for green retrofits of federal-buildings. Obama also imposed greener procurement policies for government agencies.

Vehicles

The Obama administration raised the standards for cars and light trucks for Model Years 2011-2016 to 35.5 mpg. Recently, the Obama Administration finalized new vehicle standards of 54.5 mpg that are scheduled to be implemented by 2025. This will save consumers more than $1.7 trillion at the gas pump which amounts to $8,000 over the life of a vehicle. The standard reduces US oil consumption by 12 billion barrels or 3.1 million barrels per day by 2030. It will also reduce carbon pollution by 570 million metric tons in 2030. The new standard is also a winner for automakers as it will increases their profits and create 570,000 new jobs between 2017-2025.

The Obama administration has provided attractive tax credits for those who buy hybrid automobiles. The “cash for clunkers” program offered vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars. Obama set the goal of one million electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2020. As a function of the President’s efforts, there will be almost 5 million charging stations by 2015. The President is also working towards the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies.

Conservation

On the issue of conservation, Obama has supported the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and led an effort to phase out whaling. He set up partnerships to share environmental technology with other countries. He increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and national parks and forests. He allocated $175 million of ARRA for water conservationand he also worked to protect the Antarctic. Through an executive order, the President helped to protect the oceans, U.S. coasts and the Great Lakes.Another executive order established Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance. He also signed an Executive order for Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration.

Clean Energy

Perhaps his greatest efforts have been in clean energy. As evidenced by his State of the Union addresses in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, the President has been a stalwart champion of renewable energy. The budget is part of the President’s energy plan to double electricity output from clean sources by 2035. The President’s goal is produce 80 percent of U.S. electricity from clean sources by 2035.
Obama is the first President to have a detailed vision for a clean energy economy. Renewable energy has grown dramatically under the Obama administration. Under Obama’s stewardship, wind power has grown by 39 percent and he proposed a national renewable portfolio standard which would require that energy plants produce 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources.
Through the EPA, The Obama administration has enacted regulations on new power plants that make it harder to build new highly polluting coal-fired plants. The President has worked to make the clean energy tax credits permanent. He has established an Energy Partnership for the Americas and a program to convert manufacturing centers into clean technology leaders.

The President has doubled federal spending for research on clean fuels and invested $60 billion in tax incentives for renewable and clean energy. He has invested in all types of alternative energy, increased funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and invested $2 billion in solar power.

Obama has overseen the first release of a smart grid framework. He gave farmers incentives to use more renewable energy and be more energy efficient. Recently Obama signed an executive order focused on efficiency that sets a national goal of 40 GW of new combined heat and power (CHP) by the end of 2020.

The 2013 Budget Proposal

President Obama’s 2013 budget proposal supports efficiency, renewable energy, green jobs, clean air, clean water, and a livable climate. Here are the details of some of the greener elements of the President’s 2013 budget:

A clean energy standard for electricity production, so that by 2035, 80 percent will be come from low-carbon sources like wind, solar, natural gas and nuclear
$2.33 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a 29 percent increase
$5 billion for the Office of Science, a 2.4% increase
$1.2 billion for energy efficiency, including clean vehicle technologies
$310 million for the SunShot Initiative for cost-competitive solar energy
$95 million for wind energy
$65 million for geothermal
$350 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) for transformative energy innovation research
$770 million to develop small modular reactors
Extended renewable energy tax credits
$27.2 billion for the Department of Energy, a 3.2 percent increase over what Congress enacted last year:
$2.3 billion would go towards research and development for energy efficiency, advanced vehicles and biofuels.
$522 million increase in renewable energy sources and an additional $174 million for a revamped industrial technology-advanced manufacturing program.
$12 million would go towards multi-year research investments in safer natural gas infrastructure in order to reduce risks associated with hydraulic fracturing in shale formations.
Pipeline safety would receive a 70 percent, or $64 million, increase.
Approximately $1 billion for energy conservation efforts in the Department of Defense (DOD), which is the world’s largest energy consumer.
DOD is increasing its commitment to renewable energy, which now makes up 8.5 percent of its energy production and procurement.
$174 million for sustainable fisheries work by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which supports the science and management needed to support the commercial fishing industry that supports 1 million jobs and yields more than $32 billion in income every year.
$28 million for the National Catch Share Program, a critical part of the nation’s strategy to return its fisheries to abundance.
$47 billion for high-speed rail.
$66 million for air quality programs to help states meet new regulations.
$5 million to hire more inspectors for high-risk oil and chemical plants.
$450 million to preserve public lands.
$28 million for new inspectors.

While the President is investing millions in America, Big Oil is spending millions to try to unseat him. The Koch funded Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has launched an aggressive tour to try to denigrate the President’s accomplishments.

President Obama has been a champion of the environment over the last four years and if he succeeds in his reelection bid in 2012, we can expect a great deal more.

Source: Global Warming is Real (http://s.tt/1mE6b)

Infrastructure Summit 2012: New Policy Technology and Finance (Event)

October 29, 2012 Add Comment Edit

The Infrastructure Summit will take place on November 6th 2012 in London, UK and will once again bring together 150 leading policy-makers, business, academics and experts from transport, energy and digital communications. The event will explore new approaches to infrastructure and takes a strategic view of infrastructure opportunities in Europe and the UK.

As Europe's economy stagnates, infrastructure development offers one of the critical devices to generate growth. Yet we need new ideas. Traditional approaches are simply not working. We need to rethink our policies, embrace new opportunities offered by technology and rethink how we finance these.

Issues to be discussed:

Why infrastructure development will give Europe the necessary economic stimulus.
Where the necessary public policy reforms have already been made or will be made, in short: where to invest.
How policies must change to give the right impetus to technological innovation and private investment. The new, cutting-edge technologies, how to integrate them, how this will help move ahead of the competition, increase efficiencies of infrastructure systems and cut costs.
The new approaches and strategies that are already here or will generate smart, sustainable growth across the continent.
This includes, how to take an integrated approach amongst public and private sector stakeholders across EU, national and regional levels.
How to finance infrastructure development whilst government budgets are stretched.

For more information click here.

Wind LATAM- Brazil (Event)

October 28, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Windpower Monthly is pleased to announce the launch of Wind LATAM- Brazil, to be held on 26 -27– 28 November 2012 in São Paulo, Brazil. The programme for the event has been researched with over 40 wind energy experts to ensure we tackle the biggest challenges and will provide insights into hot-button issues that the wind energy industry faces in Brazil and other hot markets in the region.

This event will provide an excellent platform to enhance your business opportunities, where you can meet with Government representatives, local and international developers, leading manufacturers, funding institutions, independent service providers, associations, and other key players in the wind industry.

Industry leaders and top experts will provide valuable information and insights on the following topics:

Current policies on the renewable energy market in Brazil and other hot markets in the region
Regulated and free wind energy market in Brazil
How to get approval for your wind energy projects in Brazil
How to successfully secure funding
Technological improvements implemented into the grid infrastructure systems to ensure successful operations
Technology snapshot in Europe and how the Latin American market can learn from it
Real life case studies of successful operations in Central America and Brazil
Latest technological advancements designed for the region’s climate conditions
How to overcome environmental, construction and design challenges
How to implement and improve your O&M strategy
How to chose the right post-warranty contract to meet your needs

Who should attend?

CEOs/Directors
Wind Energy Managers
Managers/Directors
Asset Managers
Lead Engineers
Technical Directors
Monitoring and Diagnostics Specialists
Service Managers
Project Managers
Analysts Business
Development/Commercial Directors

Wind Resource Assessment Focus Day, which will help you to:

Identify the best locations for your wind development farm
Benefit from the lessons learned about wind measurement campaign
Overcome the lack of reference data
Chose the most suitable remote sensing technology for your project
Analyse operational power curves

Who should attend the Wind Resource Assessment Focus Day?

Wind Resource Managers Engineers of Wind &
Site R&D
Engineers Global
Wind Resource Managers
Wind Analysts Energy Analysts
Heads of Wind &
Site Wind Resource Assessment Engineers
Site Assessment Engineers
Micrositing Specialists
Metereologists

To register click here.

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Wind Farm Construction & Operations Procurement Seminar (Event)

October 28, 2012 Add Comment Edit

The Wind Farm Construction and Operations Procurement Seminar will take place on November 29, 2012, at Wolverton House, in London, UK. Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of the procurement and contracting process for wind farm projects.

Getting the procurement and contracting process right first time is all important; making a mistake can be very costly in terms of time and money. This seminar is designed to develop your knowledge of construction procurement and operational procurement and the day is split into focusing on these two distinct areas.

In the first section you will gain the knowledge required to support the construction procurement process, including the advantages and disadvantages of the different structures and forms of construction contract, the purpose of common contractual clauses and typical associated benchmarks, and the importance of developing a comprehensive and appropriate Employer’s Requirements.

The second section, in the afternoon, focuses on the intricacies of the operational procurement process, including the advantages and disadvantages of the different structures and forms of operations contract and current contracting trends, the typical scopes of service works and acceptable exclusions and the purpose of common contractual clauses and typical associated benchmarks.

All attendees will receive notes, and each section is integrated with interactive group discussion and series of case studies to illustrate the value of getting the contracting process right for the construction and operational phases.

Who should attend:

From Developers/Owners/Operators/Utilities/ISP

Project Manager/Coordinator
Project Developer
Project Executive Development Manager/Coordinator
Development Executive
Investment Manager
Finance Manager
Senior/Principal Engineer
Buyer Sales/Business
Development Manager

Green Energy Business Seminar & Trade Show: Sustainable Growth for Northern Virginia (Event)

October 28, 2012 Add Comment Edit

A Green Energy Business Seminar with be taking place on November 1, 2012, from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the Mason Inn Conference Center in Virginia. The strategic seminar is subtitled "Sustainable Growth for Northern Virginia." The event is being conducted by Relerience, a green energy consulting company.

The Seminar will address the development of green business plans and offer strategic guidance in eight key areas.

Business plans are intended to help companies:

• Implement green energy solutions
• Implement energy management strategies
• Optimize resources
• Gain access to capital
• Comply with industry & government requirements
• Attract more revenue
• Achieve business growth
• Create jobs

Goals for the Green Energy Business Seminar:

To support business growth and job creation through Green Business Plans.
To support relationship-building and economic growth in the Northern Virginia business community.

The guest speaker for the event is Terry McAuliffe, the Chairman of GreenTech Automotive, a U.S.-based automotive manufacturer dedicated to developing and producing environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient vehicles. McAuliffe has been a long-time investor and promoter of affordable green energy projects. McAuliffe has been a business leader and entrepreneur for nearly four decades. In addition, he was elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005. He also served as Chairman of the 2008 Hillary Clinton Presidential campaign. In 2009, he ran for Governor of the State of Virginia. McAuliffe received a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University School of Law and a Bachelors degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He lives in McLean, Virginia. Learn more about McAuliffe.

Agenda:

8:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Exhibit Hall is open

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Breakfast and Networking

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Opening Remarks

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Part I: What is a Green Energy Business in 2013 and beyond?

10:00 AM– 10:15 AM: Remarks by Terry McAuliffe (of GreenTech Automotive) regarding Green Energy & Transportation

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM: Part II: Green Energy Business Plans

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Networking Session & Lunch
Throughout the Seminar: Exhibit Hall is open during the entire Seminar

Attendees:

Over 400 executive leaders and business owners are expected to attend the Green Energy Business Seminar.

Attendees include:

• Companies seeking alternative strategies to grow their customer base and increase cash flow.

• Companies interested in implementing green energy initiatives to increase their revenue.

• Companies interested in energy management strategies to increase access to capital.

• Defense contractors, restaurants, hotels, franchises, manufacturers, retailers, technology firms, transportation companies, car dealerships, commercial banks, and health care facilities.

Register:

• $55 to register.

• $35 Online Seminar Option.

Attendees interested in viewing the Seminar live, online (rather than in-person), may register for $35. Presentation materials will be made available in electronic format during the Seminar and immediately thereafter.

For more information click here.

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