Use Less, Pay More Under PG&E's Proposed Rate Hike
By John Upton, The Bay Citizen, May 25, 2011
Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s residential customers could be slapped with new monthly fees, and its most energy-efficient and lowest-income customers could face additional fee hikes.
The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to rule Thursday on the company’s proposal to charge all of its residential electricity customers a flat fee of at least $2.40 per month.
The company is also proposing to increase rates for customers who use the smallest amounts of electricity, in an effort to reduce the bills of big energy users, such as residents of energy-inefficient McMansions in the far stretches of the East Bay.
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GOP Cuts Target Food Aid for Low-Income Families
Associated Press, CBS News, May 23, 2011
House Republicans are targeting domestic nutrition programs and international food assistance as they try to control spending in next year's budget.
In a bill released Monday, Republicans proposed cutting $832 million — or 12 percent — from this year's budget for the federal nutrition program that provides food for low-income mothers and children. The 2012 budget proposal for food and farm programs also includes a decrease of almost $457 million, or 31 percent, from an international food assistance program that provides emergency aid and agricultural development dollars to poor countries.
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Carbon-Cutting Cap and Trade Plan on Pause; Brown to Weigh in on California's Global Warming Plans?
By Molly Peterson, 90.3 KPCC, May 23, 2011
We haven't heard too much yet from Governor Jerry Brown on his climate plans, other than that, you know, he backs having some, in general. But that's probably going to change now that a San Francisco Superior Court judge has ruled that - while most of AB 32 plans can go forward - the state needs to do a real, comprehensive, deep analysis of its centerpiece plans to cut carbon to 1990 levels by2020 under AB 32.
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Lessons in How to Eat Right
By Matt Vilano, the Press Democrat, May 22, 2011
In 2008, when 76-year-old Santa Rosa resident Rich Delambert was diagnosed with diabetes, his primary care doctor said it was time to change his diet and, hopefully, his life.
But instead of heading to the health-food section of the local Safeway or stocking up on the latest diet pill, Delambert set out to base his decisions on scientific fact and a hearty helping of medical expertise. He met with a registered dietitian to devise a new eating strategy. He attended group sessions through his health care provider (Sutter) to share best practices with other patients.
He even started shopping differently, opting for smaller portions and more raw foods.
This strategy paid huge dividends; over the past 18 months in particular, Delambert has gotten control of his disease completely.
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CSET Seeks Continued Support
By Staff, Visalia Times-Delta, May 21, 2011
Community Services Employment Training Inc., a private nonprofit and the community action agency in Tulare County, invites residents in Tulare County to provide input on community needs and satisfaction with CSET services.
Community action agencies produce a Community Action Plan every two years, based on the needs of the local area. A road map for creating community change, the Community Action Plan is driven by a participatory community assessment. CSET surveys residents for their input on what's important to the people who live here.
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How to Build a Job Engine
By Bill Saporito, TIME Magazine, May 19, 2011
Katherine Knapp Carney can barely contain her enthusiasm about her new job. A talkative, attractive 20-something dressed in a just-long-enough navy blue skirt and matching jacket, she would not be out of place in a management-consultancy firm or the account side of an ad agency. Instead, Knapp Carney is into heavy metal, a mechanical engineer at Pratt & Whitney. She designs jet engines. Pratt & Whitney, which had sales last year of $12.9 billion, is the biggest division of United Technologies Corp. (2010 sales: $54.3 billion), which makes all kinds of stuff, like Sikorsky helicopters, Otis elevators and Carrier air conditioners.
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US Presses Green Growth in Asia
By Shaun Tandon (AFP) , AFP, May 19, 2011
BIG SKY, Montana — Warning that the era of cheap fuel was over, the United States has called for Pacific Rim economies to knock down trade barriers to spur growth in clean energy.
President Barack Obama's administration, which faces domestic opposition on climate change, is putting a high priority on the environment as the United States this year chairs the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Meeting senior APEC trade officials at the snow-covered ski resort of Big Sky, Montana, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said that millions of green jobs are waiting to be created from the factory floor to the construction sector.
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House Passes Bill to Cut Energy Costs, Create Green Jobs
GoLocalProv News Team , GOLOCALl Prov News, May 19, 2011
A bill targeting cutting consumer energy costs, reducing carbon emissions and creating green jobs locally passed the Rhode Island House on Wednesday. It will now go to the state Senate, where an identical companion bill has already been submitted.
The bill (2011-H 5281), which is sponsored by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, would extend an expiration date on the law establishing the state’s Renewable Energy Fund and would make a technical change necessary for the implementation of existing law requiring utilities to invest in energy efficiency when it’s less expensive than the energy it would save.
USDA Proposal Cuts Potatoes in Schools
By Ben Forer, ABC World News, May 18, 2011
As part of a push to make school meals healthier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed removing white potatoes from all federally subsidized school breakfasts and limiting them dramatically in lunches.
The proposal is intended to reduce the amount of starchy vegetables, such as French fries and Tater Tots, students eat. Starch-heavy corn and peas are also being cut in favor of leafy greens and orange vegetables, such as sweet potatoes. Yes, not all potatoes are created nutritionally equal.
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What Effect is "Going Green" Having on Manufacturing?
By Michele Nash-Hoff, San Diego News-Room, May 17, 2011
Anyone who has shopped at their local grocery store, drug store, or hardware store has seen the variety of “green” products on the market. Are these “green” products creating new manufacturing jobs? For the most part, the answer is “no” because they are just more eco-friendly versions of existing products.
Global companies like General Electric, Dupont, Alcoa, and Procter & Gamble are beginning to respond to the simultaneous increases in shipping and environmental costs with “green” policies meant to reduce both fuel consumption and carbon emissions. That pressure is likely to increase as both manufacturers and retailers seek ways to tighten the global supply chain as fuel prices and transportation costs continue to rise.
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Green Jobs Training Gets Global Focus
By Susan DeFreitas, Earth Techling, May 16th, 2011
Arizona has been digging out from under its economy woes in recent years with some major solar projects. Can the state make the transition to a clean economy–and lead the way for solar worldwide? A new agreement between Arizona State University (ASU) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is set to pave the way.
Under the agreement, ASU will receive a $10-million in two grants to lead a consortium of higher education institutions and service providers offering clean tech vocational ed to develop and implement renewable energy programs worldwide. The first, $3 million grant will allow the university to build and develop this program, while the second, providing up to $7 million in funding, will focus on renewable energy projects for specific countries. These projects will be developed under USAID’s Vocational Training & Education for Clean Energy (VOCTEC) umbrella.
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City Wins SCAG's Visionary Planning Award for Prosperity
Staff writer, Blackvoicenews,com, May 11, 2011
The City of San Bernardino won the 2011 Compass Blueprint Visionary Planning Award for Prosperity, Mayor Patrick Morris announced on Tuesday.
The award was presented by the Southern California Association of Governments at its annual general assembly awards dinner May 6 at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta. The Compass Blueprint Award is considered to be one of the highest achievements in government in Southern California, going to the region’s most outstanding projects in planning, development and quality of life.
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Wholesome Wave Making Nutritious Food More Affordable
By Brigid Darragh, Greenchipstocks.com, May 9, 2011
For years now, an on-going debate among nutrition experts, policymakers, and the general public has ensued regarding the use of food stamps and the consumer's right of choice.
Should food stamps be used for purchase of soda and other sweetened beverages, in light of our country's ever-growing obesity rates (both in children and adults) and cases of type II diabetes — and in the midst of a health care crisis?
Nutritionists and medical experts confirm soda and sweetened drinks are only adding insult to injury to a population whose health issues and weight-related risks increase annually.
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Oregon Farm To School Act Could Bring More Local Food to Eugene School
By Sarah Nicholson, Eugene Daily News, Apr. 21, 2011
As farms continue to pump out locally produced and processed goods and school children continue to wolf down cafeteria lunches, it’s a curious conundrum that more food doesn’t pass directly from local producers into the school systems. In Lane County, the Willamette Farm and Food Coalition and other local organizations have been addressing this issue for the past several years. With a mission to strengthen the local economy, benefit public health and support local food producers, WFFC has been promoting farm to school connections, becoming a leader in the region and the National Farm to School Network‘s State Lead Agency for Oregon. Now, with a current bill pending review by Oregon’s House of Representatives, the potential exists to strengthen that connection even more.
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States, Utilities Ask EPA To Boost Regional Cap-And-Trade Plans
By Gabriel Nelson, The New York Times, Apr. 19, 2011
The states of California, New York and Minnesota, as well as about a dozen power companies and influential advocacy groups, have joined forces to persuade U.S. EPA to let states meet new federal climate change rules by crafting their own programs, such as the cap-and-trade plans that have been adopted by California and a handful of Northeastern states.
Under a settlement that staved off lawsuits from environmentalists, EPA must set new limits on greenhouse gas emissions from the utility sector this year. The agency is planning to create New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) under the Clean Air Act, which would put a cap on the amount of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases that a coal-fired power plant is allowed to release.
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A Smart Grid Will Expose Utilities To Smart Computer Hackers
By Peter Behr, The New York Times, Apr. 19, 2011
A year ago, an unidentified computer intruder tried to penetrate the Lower Colorado River Authority's power generation network with 4,800 high-speed log-in attempts that originated at an Internet address in China, according to a grid official's confidential memo that was leaked to the media.
And that was probably just an amateur's work, says David Bonvillain, vice president of Accuvant LABS, the security and research division of Accuvant, a cybersecurity consulting firm based in Denver.
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LG Introduces It's First Smart Grid-Ready Refrigerator for DIOS
By Daimaou - G-A.G , akihabaranews.com, Apr. 19, 2011
Barely 24 hours Samsung’s Smart Grid Ready fridge, LG is now announcing its very own connected Smart Grid-Ready DIOS Fridge in Korea. The new smart refrigerator offers updates and information that can be accessed via smartphones and tablets. It offers three powerful smart savings options: late night saving, preferable time saving and the Smart Grid-ready.
The smart fridge also comes with Smart Adapt, which allows owners to keep their refrigerator software up-to-date with the latest upgrades, features and options. The smart fridge is also a source of useful information as it keeps track of daily schedules and dispenses regular weather reports. And instead of having to jot notes on sticky memos, family members can turn the fridge’s LCD screen into a note pad to leave messages for each another.
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Chef Tries to Fix LA's Nutrition Problems in New Reality Show
By Alex Kaufman, The Tufts Daily, Apr. 19, 2011
Courtesy Mitch Haddad / ABC
Jamie Oliver meets with a group of students at
a high school outside the Los Angeles
Unified School District, which he was banned from entering.
Jamie Oliver has a mission: to create a healthier, better−fed world. He's been successful across the globe, and his next destination is Los Angeles. "This is not reality TV: This is a campaign," Oliver says as he speaks to concerned parents about the food their children are being served — and the audience believes it.
Last season, "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" focused its efforts in Huntington, W. Va., which has been cited as one of the unhealthiest cities in the country. Oliver butted heads with the cafeteria workers in the city's schools, but his endeavors garnered the program the Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program in 2010 and the Television Academy Honors for embodying "television with a conscience."
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Bill To Fund 'Green' Job Training for Students Goes to Jerry Brown
By Torey Van Oot, the Sacramento Bee, Apri. 4, 2011
The Senate today sent legislation aimed at expanding "green" jobs training for high school students across the state to Gov. Jerry Brown for approval.
SB X1 1, by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg would provide grant funding for "green partnership academy" programs that include in their curriculum training for careers in the clean technology and renewable energy sectors. The bill redirects $8 million from a California Energy Commission special fund to pay for the programs.
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