Solar power's coming of age in the US
By Suzanne Goldenberg, guardian.co.uk Sierra SunTower, the only commercial CSP tower facility in north America – just one sign of solar power’s coming of age in the US. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Two of America’s solar power executives are on a road show to make the case that the industry has grown up and is […]
'Renewables' now required in diesel fuel, heating oil
Diesel fuel and heating oil will now require two per cent renewable content, the federal government announced this week in Saskatoon. Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent said the requirement will strengthen the market for renewable fuels, meaning an increased demand for feed stocks like canola, ensuring a stronger bottom line for farmers. The regulatory amendment […]
Manure as clean renewable energy? That's a load of cow droppings
This is a toot in the right direction. B.C.’s first small-scale on-farm anaerobic digester will be built at Abbotsford’s Bakerview EcoDairy, converting cow manure into clean renewable energy — and then connecting to B.C.’s electricity grid. The anaerobic digester will generate up to 60,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually – enough to power 20 electric […]
Why the insurance industry gets climate change
By Jules Boykoff, guardian.co.uk When it comes to climate change, the US Congress is a hornets’ nest of political dysfunction. Last month, President Barack Obama nominated energy executive John Bryson to lead the commerce department. From the response of congressional Republicans, you might have thought Obama had nominated Ed Abbey and Rachel Carson’s imaginary love […]
New York legalizes same-sex marriage
The New York State Legislature passed a bill Friday that legalizes same-sex marriage in the state. It was signed into law by Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo. New York now becomes the sixth and largest U.S. state with legalized same-sex marriage. The practice is legal in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire,...
New York legalizes same-sex marriage
The New York State Legislature passed a bill Friday that legalizes same-sex marriage in the state. It was signed into law by Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo. New York now becomes the sixth and largest U.S. state with legalized same-sex marriage. The practice is legal in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire,...
Staying slim more complex than previously thought
By Marianne English, Discovery News The adage “Eat less, exercise more” generally works, but new research suggests that half the fight to stay slim lies in long-term lifestyle changes and eating the right foods. One study in The New England Journal of Medicine reports that avoiding fattening foods and sugar-heavy beverages reduces weight gain, yet […]
Artificial meat could slice emissions, say scientists
By Fiona Harvey, guardian.co.uk Meat grown artificially in labs will be a greener alternative for consumers who can’t bear to go vegetarian but want to cut the environmental impact of their food, according to new research. The study found that growing meat in the lab rather than slaughtering animals will generate only a tiny fraction […]
How to bring electric vehicles to the mass market
By David A Gabel, ENN Automakers must figure out how to avoid having their electric vehicles suffer an agonizing death in the niche market, and instead, figure out how to get 100 million EVs on the road. The single biggest complaint against electric vehicles is their lack of range, so the batteries must be addressed. […]
Mixed reaction to Communist Party epic in China
Beginning of the Great Revival, the epic cinematic tribute to the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), was released in mainland China cinema on June 15, 2011. However, the suspended release of Hollywood movies in June as a result, has enraged many people. Angry netizens have trashed the movie through online rating platforms such […]