Green Festival in Washington DC and Other Cities

Summer time and the living is busy! Get ready, because Green Festival is headed to Washington DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles this fall. We're kicking off our fall festival season September 29-30, returning to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Along with classic program favorites – Green Business, Fair Trade, Community Action and more – Green Festival introduces brand new, hands-on stages, including: DIY, Good Food, Live Art Demonstration and Eco-Fashion Showcase. Learn by doing at the DIY Stage as you gain practical skills to increase your self-sufficiency while saving your money. Discover fabulous recipes for a healthy, happy family at the Good Food Stage. Be entertained by live demonstrations detailing the origins of eco-fashion and fantastic local art installations at the Eco-Fashion Showcase and Live Art Demonstration Stage. Then, it's off to the west coast! Green Festival continues November 10-11 at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center and November 17-18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

89-Year-Old Man Develops Bladeless Bird-Friendly Wind Turbine!

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU: solaraero, sustainable design, green design, wind turbine, wind power, renewable energy, clean tech, bladeless wind turbine Ultra-Efficient Bladeless Wind Turbine Inspired by Nikolai Tesla X Energy Beth Buczynski 89-Year-Old Man Develops Bladeless Bird-Friendly Wind Turbine! by Beth Buczynski, 08/31/12 filed under: clean tech, News, Renewable Energy, Wind Power Share on Tumblr Email Catching Wind Power Farm, wind turbine, bladeless wind turbine, birds, conservation, design, renewable energy Wind turbines transform moving air currents into clean energy; there isn’t much to hate about that, especially when compared to the toxic emissions and high cost of fossil fuels. But wildlife conservation organizations have often expressed concerns that wind farms pose a threat to flying species bird and bat species. Eighty-nine-year-old military veteran Raymond Green decided that there’s no reason why clean energy and birds can’t coexist, so he designed the Catching Wind Power device, a bladeless wind turbine that promises to harness wind energy without harming our feathered friends. Ads by Google DC Residential Wind Power Electricity For Homes in DC. Low Fixed Rates. Learn More! www. CleanCurrents. com Catching Wind Power Farm, wind turbine, bladeless wind turbine, birds, conservation, design, renewable energy Green’s CWP Compressed Air Enclosed Wind Turbine completely eliminates the three massive blades seen on most wind turbines. Rather than waiting for the wind to turn a blade, Green’s device features a patented Inner Compression Cone Technology, which he claims will squeeze and compress the incoming air in order to create more power at the turbine. “Our design does not have any external moving parts to hit the birds,” writes Green on his website. “Our unit is easy to see so the birds can avoid it, and all moving parts are internal. The blades are mounted behind the windsock and inner compression cone, therefore making them nonaccessible to birds. Also, our turbines make virtually no noise.” According to Green, his design can be scaled up for commercial power production, or down for residential use. The CWP will soon be tested, improved upon, and manufactured by Sigma Design, so final judgement will have to be reserved for the birds themselves. +Catching Wind Power via Treehugger 1 print print email thisemail [Pin It] Related Posts Read more: 89-Year-Old Man Develops Bladeless Bird-Friendly Wind Turbine! | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building Green’s CWP Compressed Air Enclosed Wind Turbine completely eliminates the three massive blades seen on most wind turbines. Rather than waiting for the wind to turn a blade, Green’s device features a patented Inner Compression Cone Technology, which he claims will squeeze and compress the incoming air in order to create more power at the turbine. “Our design does not have any external moving parts to hit the birds,” writes Green on his website. “Our unit is easy to see so the birds can avoid it, and all moving parts are internal. The blades are mounted behind the windsock and inner compression cone, therefore making them nonaccessible to birds. Also, our turbines make virtually no noise.” According to Green, his design can be scaled up for commercial power production, or down for residential use. The CWP will soon be tested, improved upon, and manufactured by Sigma Design, so final judgement will have to be reserved for the birds themselves. Read more: 89-Year-Old Man Develops Bladeless Bird-Friendly Wind Turbine! | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

United Kingdom's Lloyds Banking Group Invests 1.57 Billion in Alternative Energy

Hydrogen Fuel News The United Kingdom's Lloyds Banking Group, one of the world's most influential financial institutions, has taken a keen interest in alternative energy. The organization is poised to make a large investment in several alternative energy projects. These ... Read more at: http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/alternative-energy-gains-a-powerful-ally-in-the-uk/855061/ To top of blog: www.usaalternativeenergyenergy.blogspot.com

Obama Administration Releases Roadmap for Solar Energy Development on Public Lands

Obama Administration Releases Roadmap for Solar Energy Development on Public Lands -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 07/24/2012 Contact: Blake Androff (DOI) 202-208-6416 Energy Department Public Affairs: 202-586-4940 David Quick (BLM) 202-912-7413 WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, the Department of the Interior, in partnership with the Department of Energy, will publish the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for solar energy development in six southwestern states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The final Solar PEIS represents a major step forward in the permitting of utility-scale solar energy on public lands throughout the west. Today’s announcement builds on the historic progress made in fostering renewable energy development on public lands. When President Obama took office, there were no solar projects permitted on public lands; since 2009, Interior has approved 17 utility-scale solar energy projects that, when built, will produce nearly 5,900 megawatts of energy—enough to power approximately 1.8 million American homes. Thanks to steps already taken by this administration, renewable energy from sources like wind and solar have doubled since the President took office. The Solar PEIS will serve as a roadmap for solar energy development by establishing solar energy zones with access to existing or planned transmission, the fewest resource conflicts and incentives for development within those zones. The blueprint’s comprehensive analysis will make for faster, better permitting of large-scale solar projects on public lands. “This blueprint for landscape-level planning is about facilitating faster, smarter utility-scale solar development on America’s public lands,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “This is a key milestone in building a sustainable foundation for utility-scale solar energy development and conservation on public lands over the next two decades.” “Developing America’s solar energy resources is an important part of President Obama’s commitment to expanding American-made energy, increasing energy security, and creating jobs,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “This new roadmap builds on that commitment by identifying public lands that are best suited for solar energy projects, improving the permitting process, and creating incentives to deliver more renewable energy to American homes and businesses.” The Solar PEIS planning effort has focused on identifying locations on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands that are most suitable for solar energy development. These areas are characterized by excellent solar resources, good energy transmission potential, and relatively low conflict with biological, cultural and historic resources. The Final PEIS identifies 17 Solar Energy Zones (SEZs), totaling about 285,000 acres of public lands, as priority areas for utility-scale solar development, with the potential for additional zones through ongoing and future regional planning processes. The blueprint also allows for utility-scale solar development on approximately 19 million acres in “variance” areas lying outside of identified SEZs. In total, the Final PEIS estimates a total development of 23,700 megawatts from the 17 zones and the variance areas, enough renewable energy to power 7 million American homes. “Input from stakeholders has been extremely valuable throughout this process,” said Acting BLM Director Mike Pool. “Their comments have helped to refine the zones to make sure they’re ‘smart from the start’, to improve the transmission analyses and to build effective incentives into this blueprint for solar development." Key elements of the Final Solar PEIS: Establishes an initial set of 17 Solar Energy Zones on 285,000 acres across 6 Western States; Outlines a process for industry, the public and other interested stakeholders to propose new or expanded zones; efforts already underway include California’s Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan and the West Chocolate Mountains Renewable Energy Evaluation, Arizona’s Restoration Energy Design Project, and other local planning efforts in Nevada and Colorado; Includes strong incentives for development within zones, including faster and easier permitting, improved mitigation strategies, and economic incentives; Sets a clear process that allows for development of well-sited projects on approximately19 million acres outside the zones; Protects natural and cultural resources by excluding 78 million acres from solar energy development; Identifies design features (best practices) for solar energy development to ensure the most environmentally responsible development and delivery of solar energy; and Establishes a framework for regional mitigation plans and a strategy for monitoring and adaptive management; the first mitigation pilot for the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone is already underway. In support of more detailed system-level analyses of transmission needs, the BLM is engaged in ongoing transmission planning efforts, including through the Transmission Expansion Planning Policy Committee and the Western Electricity Coordination Council’s transmission study. The July 27 Federal Register Notice of Availability for the Final PEIS will begin a 30-day protest period, after which Secretary Salazar may consider adopting the document through a Record of Decision. The BLM released the Draft Solar PEIS in December 2010, and in response to the over 80,000 comments received from cooperating agencies and key stakeholders, issued a Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS in October 2011. Click here to access the Final Solar PEIS. Click here for a list of the 17 Solar Energy Zones. Click here for a map of the six-states (individual state maps available upon request). Click here for the Executive Summary of the Solar PEIS. ###

New Study Predicts Rise in Hybrid Sales

New Study Predicts Rise in Hybrid Sales Report says better battery technology and global oil consumption will drive growth of almost 20 percent. A new report by analysts at TechNavio paints a “green” picture of the global growth for hybrid vehicles over the next few years, predicting a sales increase of almost 20 percent through 2015. In the Global Hybrid Car Market report, analysts point to increasing worldwide oil consumption and initiatives by governments “to create awareness and acceptance of hybrid cars” as driving the sales growth of hybrids, as well as car buyers' awareness that the vehicles create less pollution and reduce dependence on natural resources. Taking into consideration the leading automakers in the industry -- Toyota, Honda, Ford, Nissan, General Motors and BMW -- the report says that the development of more efficient battery systems and their lower cost will reduce the price of these fuel-efficient alternatives to traditional gasoline vehicles. The report also predicts that the total cost of ownership for hybrid vehicles will be less than for gas-only vehicles by 2020, thanks to improved battery technology. But the report also notes that the current high cost of hybrid vehicles “is acting as a barrier to the market growth.” While high gas prices and government incentives have helped to drive sales of some hybrids, the vehicles still usually come with a premium price tag. Plus, more automakers are now focusing on building high-mileage gasoline-powered vehicles -- even U.S. automakers that traditionally have ceded the segment to imports and focused instead on trucks and other large passenger vehicles -- which makes the break-even point for purchasing a hybrid even longer, in some cases. Given that hybrid technology has matured, is a hybrid vehicle in your future -- or even on the list of your considerations? Read more at: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost-ros.aspx?post=9bb76cee-64aa-4b73-9518-28ae302ef748&icid=autos_3227 To top of blog:

SWISS SOLAR POWERED PLANE ATTEMPTS INTERCONTINENTAL FLIGHT

SWISS SOLAR POWERED PLANE ATTEMPTS INTERCONTINENTAL FLIGHT - TAKES OFF 12,000 Solar Cells Power Plane's Four Engines Watch this video at the link below. http://news.yahoo.com/video/environment-15749659/sun-powered-plane-attempts-intercontinental-flight-29449568.html To top of blog: href="http://www.usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com/">To top of blog usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com

Honda electric car gets 118 mpg, but costs add up

It would take driver 11 years to make up price difference, begin saving on fuel Associated Press 6:15 a.m. CDT, June 7, 2012 At 118 miles per gallon, the Honda Fit electric vehicle is the most fuel-efficient in the United States. But getting that mileage isn't cheap -- and it isn't always good for the environment. Honda announced the eye-popping figure Wednesday, making the small, four-door hatchback more efficient than electric rivals like the Ford Focus, Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. It goes on the market this summer in Oregon and California. The electric Fit has an estimated price tag nearly twice as high as the gasoline-powered version. It would take 11 years before a driver makes up the difference and begins saving on fuel. With gas prices falling, the high sticker price for electric vehicles is becoming more of a barrier for American buyers, even though the vehicles are far more efficient than their gas-powered counterparts. That's hurting sales of electrics. Through May, carmakers sold just over 10,000 electric vehicles, less than 0.2 percent of U.S. car and truck sales. That's because the numbers don't add up for the average consumer. — The electric Fit needs 28.6 kilowatt hours of electricity to go 100 miles. At the national average price of 11.6 cents per kilowatt hour, that costs $3.30. A gas-powered automatic-transmission Fit, which gets 31 miles per gallon, needs to burn 3.2 gallons to travel 100 miles. At the national average price of $3.57 per gallon of gasoline, that's $11.52. — People drive an average of almost 13,500 miles a year, so a typical driver would spend $445 on electricity for an electric Fit over a year, and $1,552 on gasoline for a regular Fit. — Honda has valued the price of an electric Fit at $29,125 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. That's $12,210 more than the gas-powered Fit — a savings of $1,107 per year to make up the difference between the electric and the gas-powered version. Customers don't want to spend the extra money up front and wait for years for payback, said Geoff Pohanka, who runs 13 auto dealerships in Virginia and Maryland, including three that sell the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt electric cars. "People are smart. They're looking for the deal," he said. "Is somebody going to fork out $15,000 more for something that gets them less range than their car now? It's not happening." At first, Honda will only be leasing Fit EVs in Oregon and California, for $389 per month. The subcompact seats up to five people and can be recharged in three hours with a 240-volt charging station. A fully charged Fit EV can go 82 miles, meaning a daily commute could cost nothing for gasoline. And leases can make sense for consumers. Carmakers can lower rates and subsidize deals in order to make a car — especially one with new, expensive technology — more attractive to buyers. Jesse Toprak, vice president of market intelligence for the car buying site TrueCar.com, said he tested an electric Chevrolet Volt, driving it less than 35 miles a day from his Los Angeles-area home to work and back. The cost of leasing it — $369 a month — is comparable to the $300 he would spend on gas. "In a lot of these cases, I'm surprised that people are not lining up to get these things," he said. The comparison between gas and electric cars also can vary with geography, largely because energy prices vary wildly across the country. In Oregon, where gasoline is 18 percent more expensive than the national average and electricity is 16 percent lower, an electric Fit will save $121 per month in fuel. In Connecticut, which has the highest power prices in the country, the monthly savings are just $83. The fuel used to generate electric power and the cost of gasoline also vary by region —and that affects how environmentally friendly an electric car purchase is. Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-honda-electric-car-gets-118-mpg-but-costs-add-up-20120607,0,135963.story To top of USA Alternative Energy Now blog: