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 […]
Program aims to reverse honey bee decline
An attempt is underway to reverse a decline in honey bee colony populations. More than $244,000 in federal government money will be given to the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association to develop new strategies to help reverse the decline. The project aims to help beekeepers secure sustainable honey harvests and provide essential pollination services to the fruit […]
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 […]
BC’s tax system means richest households pay lowest overall tax rate
Public debate about taxes may be focused on the HST, but a new report suggests that the HST is only one piece of an inequitable provincial tax system, a system in which the richest 20 per cent of British Columbians pay a lower tax rate than the rest of us. The report, by the Canadian […]
Canada, other countries block Chrysotile asbestos from U.N. hazardous list
Reuters, GENEVA Chrysotile asbestos will not be listed as a hazardous industrial chemical that can be banned from import after countries including Canada and Ukraine blocked consensus, a United Nations spokesman said Friday. The decision was taken at a meeting of states that have ratified the Rotterdam Convention despite the treaty’s scientific review body having […]
British Columbians pay more, get less under HST, corporations billion-dollar winners: BC Federation of Labour
The BC Federation of Labour recently launched a multi-media campaign to give British Columbians another view on the choices they face in the referendum on the HST. “The Clark government’s so-called information campaign on the HST is poorly disguised advertising to persuade British Columbians to keep the HST,” said Jim Sinclair, president of the BC […]
Peace motion to be introduced at federal table
Motions to the establishment of a federal Department of Peace as well as developing a concept of a Civilian Peace Service in Canada will be introduced in the House of Commons by the region’s MP. BC Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko is planning on re-introducing a private member’s bill, first introduced by former MP Bill […]
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. […]
