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Green Business Trends
August 18, 2008
Wind Energy Win in Texas
Texas officials have given the green light to begin construction of the nation’s largest wind-power project. This venture will bring billions of dollars worth of pollution-free energy from windswept West Texas to urban areas. Texas is currently the nation’s leader in wind power and this project is at the forefront of the state initiatives concerning alternative energy.
San Francisco Driven to be the Greenest City
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is working on programs that will lead the city to adopt electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Currently, Newsom is identifying stakeholders who will collaborate with the city to establish an electric car charging infrastructure and billing system. This initiative is part of the larger effort to incorporate environmental responsibility into the city’s infrastructure.
Wal-Mart Fears Democratic Victory
According to a recent article published in the Wall Street Journal, Wal-Mart is holding mandatory meetings with store supervisors and managers to warn them that if the democrats win the presidential election, the Employee Free Choice Act will surely pass, and their stores will be unionized.
Wal-Mart Increases Local Food Sourcing
To offset the escalating cost of fuel, Wal-Mart plans to increase the amount of its locally sourced fruits and vegetables. In the last two years, Wal-Mart’s partnerships with local farms have jumped 50 percent, and they anticipate it will source over $400 million in local produce in 2008. Wal-Mart plans to work with states’ agriculture departments to stimulate the growth of new of native crops in depressed rural areas.
Coca-Cola to present at Corporate Climate Response
Coca-Cola Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, John Downs will present the company’s investment in low-carbon technologies at the upcoming Corporate Climate Response. This event aims to enlighten those responsible for developing corporate environmental strategies. Speakers include representatives from PepsiCo, Burt’s Bees and Nike.
Saharan Sun to Power Europe
EU scientists are working on plans to create immense solar panel farms in the Sahara desert that are expected to power all of Europe by 2050. According to Arnulf Jaeger-Walden of the European commission’s Institute for Energy, “just .03% of the light falling on the Sahara and Middle Eastern deserts could provide all of Europe’s energy needs” if properly captured. Because the sunlight in this area is more intense, solar panels in the region can create up to three times the electricity of similar panels in northern Europe. The venture has received approbation from French president Nicholas Sarkozy.
John McCain promotes Offshore Drilling
Presidential candidate John McCain’s proposal to “drill more in America and rescue our family budgets,” appears to be an illusory goal in the near term. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the US Department of Energy, it would take nearly a decade for drilling to produce any oil, and at the peak of its production would only account for less than .2% of world production.