How to spark a 'renewables revolution'

Japan's plan to wean off nuclear power could help lead a global push toward cleaner, more efficient civilization, says U.S. energy guru Amory Lovins.

Good article in Mother Nature Network reporting on Japan's progress in moving rapidly off of nuclear power--precipitated, of course, by their nuclear disaster--and how that push could be the impetus for other developed nations to do the same, while shifting from fossil fuel sources as well.

As you might remember, we did a fantastic interview with a rep from RMI, which is the organization Lovins heads, and you can find it here:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/renewable-now/2012/09/12/reinventing-fire

We'll cover this over two days, but here's the link back to the story as well:  http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/blogs/how-to-spark-a-renewables-revolution

"Ditching fossil fuels makes economic sense despite what many U.S. politicians say, energy guru Amory Lovins told a group of business and government leaders in Atlanta last week. And while Lovins continues his 40-year push for efficient, renewable energy in America, he sees more momentum on the other side of the planet.

 

"There is a renewables revolution taking off in Japan," Lovins said Thursday at a roundtable talk hosted by the environmental nonprofit Southface. "Japan is poor in traditional fuels, but it's the richest in renewables potential of any industrial nation."

 

And while many industrial nations balk at abandoning the oil, coal and gas that made them rich, Lovins thinks that could soon change if Japan's newly announced energy makeover — which aims to phase out nuclear power by the 2030s, focusing more on renewables and efficiency — goes as planned. "If the nation with the sacred sun on its flag can do this," he said, "then it will lead the whole world."

 

Lovins spoke at the roundtable before giving another speech Thursday night at Southface's 14th annual "Visionary Dinner" (see video below). Similar to a popularTED talk he gave in May, both discussions echoed many of the arguments from his 2011 book, "Reinventing Fire," in which he outlines how the U.S. can end its dependence on fossil fuels by 2050. And while the book concentrates on America, Lovins said it "could also work for many other countries, including Japan."

 

The Atlanta appearances preface an upcoming tour of Asia for Lovins, in which he'll visit several countries to discuss ideas for improving energy production, transmission and consumption. But perhaps his most anticipated visit will be to Japan, where the aftermath of last year's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis has created a rare opening for renewables and efficiency. The country's interest in Lovins was already apparent in Atlanta, as a camera crew from Japanese broadcaster NHK shadowed him for a documentary, titled "Energy Shift," that's scheduled to air Nov. 2."

Thune for Thought: Is Climate Change Really Happening or is it Not?

If you have not heard of, or worked with the Conservation Law Foundation, here's what they do:

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is an environmental advocacy organization based in New England. Since 1966, CLF's mission has been to advocate on behalf of the region's environment and its communities. CLF's advocacy work takes place in four program areas: Clean Energy & Climate Change, Clean Water & Healthy Forests, Healthy Oceans and Smart Growth. CLF works to promote renewable energy and fight air and water pollution; build healthy fishing communities and protect marine habitat; fight sprawl, promote public transit and defend public health..."

In the past we've helped them promote a great documentary on the economic power of our world's ocean waters, the industry's and jobs dependent on our mighty seas, and the threat they are under, along with those industries, from the growing pollution levels clogging their majestic waters.

Here's an interesting look, from CLF, at the airline industry and the disparity in efforts to get airlines to help clean the air:  The link: http://www.clf.org/blog/clean-energy-climate-change/thune-for-thought-is-climate-change-really-happening-or-is-it-not/ 

Part of the story:  "According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), if airlines were a country, they would be the world’s seventh biggest polluter. Aviation carbon emissions are expected to rise to 3.5 billion tons by 2050. The European Union’s requirement that all airplanes landing in the EU reduce the carbon pollution that is causing global warming, would lower carbon dioxide emissions by 70 million tons per year – equivalent to taking 30 million cars off the road.

On Saturday, September 22, 2012, a bill to prohibit operators of civil aircraft of the United States from participating in the European Union’s emissions trading scheme to reduce carbon pollution from airplanes passed in the United States Senate by unanimous consent. The Senate bill, S. 1956, co-sponsored by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), will allow U.S. airlines to ignore the European Union’s requirement that they reduce their carbon pollution that is causing global warming. If the U.S.-based airlines choose to ignore the E.U. law, they could be on the hook to pay huge penalties, which undoubtedly and inevitably will be a cost passed on to consumers.

I am less concerned about the price of my airline ticket than I am about the significant costs that come with our federal government’ and our Congress’ inability to get out of its own way when it comes to responsibly acting to reduce the threat of climate change. I understand that this is election season, and some of the Senate races are tight, and airlines can be powerful lobbyists, but, it is 2012 and an anti-climate emissions control bill is passing via unanimous consent in the United States Senate? Either climate change is really happening or it isn’t..."

Enjoy the show and tour

Show premiered on TV this weekend and will soon move to web TV.  Take a look at the preview on our home page.

Terrific job by the Rockefeller Family Fund

This is a feel good story about a private foundation making a difference in our lives, and a reminder that each one of us can make a difference in the world.

We will follow up with a radio show reporting more on the EIP and their work. 

Eric Schaeffer was planning to leave his job as EPA Director of Civil Enforcement, and we were more than happy to help him with the planning.

We got to know Eric in 2001 when he served on a conference panel we helped organize. At the time he was head of civil enforcement for EPA, and his enforcement initiative to limit pollution from power plants and oil refineries was under direct attack by the Bush Administration. Together, we identified the need for a new organization, one that could deploy a wide range of tools – including whistleblowing – to hold the EPA and other environmental agencies accountable.

We knew we had found the right person – Eric’s demeanor and professionalism were ideal for an organization designed to insist on public integrity. But the organization and support systems didn’t yet exist to help that right person take on this task.

Over daytime meetings (often at a Starbucks down the street from EPA headquarters) and evening phone calls, we came to understand that leaving EPA would be a huge personal risk for Eric. His career path would change utterly, and he had a family, with young children, to support. So we took our time. We identified partner foundations and began building a financial base that would enable Eric to take this risk. We planned a public launch for a new organization. We made it possible for him to commit.

In February 2002, Eric resigned his post to found the Environmental Integrity Project – and did so to great fanfare, with front-page stories in major newspapers and multiple interviews on national news programs.

Today, the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) thrives. It focuses public attention on chronic violations of environmental laws, and demands real enforcement. Its work has led to substantial reduction of harmful pollutants from refineries, power plants, municipal water treatments, and factory farms. The EIP pulls together accurate data measurements of pollution levels, brings court challenges when necessary, and uses its expertise to empower grassroots advocates and enhance government enforcement efforts. Its work has protected the health of millions of Americans and undoubtedly has saved lives. EIP’s annual budget is now more than $2 million – virtually all of it from sources other than RFF.

• A focus on finding highly qualified individuals, rather than organizations, often leads to key breakthroughs.
• Agencies must be held accountable - and government usually takes the path of least resistance without a watchdog nipping at its heels.

New rankings to help shoppers go green.

This from the Sacramento Bee.  Co-incidentally, Tesla opened their first retail operation in Natick, MA this past weekend.  Their new sedan is a beautiful car, and the place was packed.

At the same time, as you may know, they announced plans to install super-chargers across the country...thereby giving us the infrastructure to support EV's.  All good news.

"Consumers looking for horsepower with "green" appeal may soon have a way to measure a new car's performance along with its sustainability.

Unveiled Friday at the Accelerating Sustainable Performance Summit at the raceway in Sonoma, the "Sustainable Performance Ranking Metric" is "designed to create a new standard in vehicle excellence that values both sustainability and performance," according to its creators.

An academic research team from Dominican University of California's Green MBA program compiled the data used to form the matrix, which is still in its beta version. Dr. Paul Erickson, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UC Davis, provided the engineering review.

For the rankings, sustainability was based on such factors as emissions and fuel mileage. Performance included horsepower, torque and a vehicle's power-to-weight ratio. More factors will be added in as the matrix is refined, say its developers.

The matrix ranks the top 100 selling consumer vehicles, as well as popular hybrid and alternative-fuel models. The highest ranking - 8.9 out of 10 - went to the electric Tesla Model S.

The Sustainable Performance Summit is a day-long forum devoted to finding new ways to prompt more automotive sustainability, both for consumers and in motorsports."

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Paul Sakuma Associated Press Tesla is introducing its all-electric, five-passenger sedan. The boutique brand is known for its roadster, above, sold to the likes of George Clooney for $109,000 and up.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/07/4797852/new-ranking-will-help-car-shoppers.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/07/4797852/new-ranking-will-help-car-shoppers.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

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Today's radio show/WARL 1320 AM and Blog Talk Radio

Today at noon, EST, we introduce eNow to our global audience.  This from WARL's web site promoting today's show:  Listen also live this Wednesday at 12 noon to the Renewable Now Radio Show  

This week we will have Jeffery Flath Pesident and CEO of Enow.

Learn about how Enow is changing the way we transport goods and services .

Visit their website at  eNowEnergy.com

Don't forget the show will move to our archived section on the Renewable Now channel on Blog Talk Radio, where you find all of our previous radio shows, and will be available 24/7 by Thursday of this week.

You can be part of the show by contacting us through our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Enjoy the show.

Betaspring series

You'll notice we posted our first video, in a six-part series, from last week's open house at Betaspring in Providence, one of the key accelerators in the US.

Accelerators play a very important role in driving new business and incubating great ideas.  On Friday we will be back at Betaspring to film five complete shows, covering a range of topics from how they formed, their core mission, investors, mentors and CEO's who come in and help these fledgling companies, and take a very close look at how many of their graduates help transform the business world into a more sustainable model.

Take a look at our opening video with one of their founders, Owen Johnson, and send us your comments and suggestions on how to best look at accelerators and their impact on our global economy.