Three Democratic presidential candidates, Dennis Kucinich, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, are going to be discussing environmental issues at 5 p.m. Eastern today.
You can get more information here. I tried the video link a little while ago but it wasn't working but if it's up and running later, I'll post it at Going Green
I wonder where Mr. Interior, Bill Richardson, is? And Obama?
Grist also has a breakdown on where the candidates, Democratic and Republican, stand on environmental issues.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Not So Fast
The San Jose Mercury News has a good piece, looking at the difficulties of creating an electric-car business. It manages to avoid the hype of some alternative-energy stores and gives us some context about the auto industry..
How Silicon Valley could become the Detroit of electric cars
DAUNTING CHALLENGES FACE FIRMS ENVISIONING LIFE AFTER GASOLINE
By Matt Nauman
Mercury News
The valley's electric car industry
Silicon Valley is already the capital of the world's high-tech industry. Is it also becoming the Detroit of the electric car industry?
Last week's announcement by Shai Agassi, a former SAP executive based in Palo Alto, that he's raised $200 million for a company that will try to revolutionize the electric car industry is the latest sign of this region's growing role in one of the hottest sectors of the automotive industry.
That's no surprise considering California's mandate for cleaner cars, the local enthusiasm for plug-in hybrids, the Silicon Valley fascination with new technology and the number of Bay Area venture firms investing in this industry.
Agassi, who spent months studying his venture, makes an interesting observation about the valley and the Motor City. "Detroit is a car manufacturing center. I think what we're looking at is not something that can be done in a normal way. . . . It needs an Internet approach, a Google approach."
And, he said, this region is well-suited to do that. "In the valley, we know how to do technology disruption. We know how to do business models, how to develop proof of concept and get it adopted around the world," he said.
Others, even those enthusiastic about the potential of electric cars, are uncertain about how much success start-ups such as Agassi's Better Place and Tesla Motors of San Carlos can have against the huge global auto industry. General Motors and Toyota, for instance, each produced more than 9 million vehicles in 2006.
"It's not simple or cheap stuff to do," said Neal Dikeman, partner with Jane Capital Partners, a San Francisco merchant bank focusing on cleantech and energy technologies. "$100 million is the ante up to play the game," Dikeman said.
"People are waking up to the fact that this is not like software start-ups that raise $40 or $50 million, and then have IPOs," said Darryl Siry, Tesla's vice president of sales, marketing and service. "This business is capital intensive."
How Silicon Valley could become the Detroit of electric cars
DAUNTING CHALLENGES FACE FIRMS ENVISIONING LIFE AFTER GASOLINE
By Matt Nauman
Mercury News
The valley's electric car industry
Silicon Valley is already the capital of the world's high-tech industry. Is it also becoming the Detroit of the electric car industry?
Last week's announcement by Shai Agassi, a former SAP executive based in Palo Alto, that he's raised $200 million for a company that will try to revolutionize the electric car industry is the latest sign of this region's growing role in one of the hottest sectors of the automotive industry.
That's no surprise considering California's mandate for cleaner cars, the local enthusiasm for plug-in hybrids, the Silicon Valley fascination with new technology and the number of Bay Area venture firms investing in this industry.
Agassi, who spent months studying his venture, makes an interesting observation about the valley and the Motor City. "Detroit is a car manufacturing center. I think what we're looking at is not something that can be done in a normal way. . . . It needs an Internet approach, a Google approach."
And, he said, this region is well-suited to do that. "In the valley, we know how to do technology disruption. We know how to do business models, how to develop proof of concept and get it adopted around the world," he said.
Others, even those enthusiastic about the potential of electric cars, are uncertain about how much success start-ups such as Agassi's Better Place and Tesla Motors of San Carlos can have against the huge global auto industry. General Motors and Toyota, for instance, each produced more than 9 million vehicles in 2006.
"It's not simple or cheap stuff to do," said Neal Dikeman, partner with Jane Capital Partners, a San Francisco merchant bank focusing on cleantech and energy technologies. "$100 million is the ante up to play the game," Dikeman said.
"People are waking up to the fact that this is not like software start-ups that raise $40 or $50 million, and then have IPOs," said Darryl Siry, Tesla's vice president of sales, marketing and service. "This business is capital intensive."
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Driving Cutback?
Based on the traffic jams, it sure doesn't seem as if people are reducing their driving.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Improved Mileage Pays Off
Citigroup Report Says Automakers Can Profit from CAFE Standards
By GreenBiz.com
WASHINGTON -- Anticipating legislation that will boost required gas mileage for cars in the United States, Citigroup has released a report showing that the auto industry can improve mileage and improve profits at the same time.
The report comes as the U.S. Congress is considering bills to raise the standards for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which dictate the miles per gallon achieved by an automaker's vehicle line. In June, the Senate passed a bill that would raise the average to 35 mpg by 2020, a 40 percent increase over the average 24.1 mpg currently achieved by the six major U.S. car companies.
"When you have the world's number one bank, which has financial ties to many major automakers, saying fuel economy standards are a good economic play, it drives a stake through the heart of the auto industry's scare tactics," said Representative Edward J. Markey of the House's Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
The report, "CAFE and the U.S. Auto Industry; A Growing Auto Investor Issue, 2012-2020," was created by Citigroup, working together with Ceres and the Investor Network on Climate Risk. The report examines predicted changes to the CAFE standards, and finds that improved mileage requirements will be good for manufacturers as well as for the environment.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Carbon-Neutral Auto Race
Teams to Race in Carbon-Neutral Road Rally
Emily Gertz
November 2, 2007 1:17 PM
From World Changing:
It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world -- or it will be in January, in Africa:
Zero Rally Africa, a carbon neutral car rally to be staged between Victoria Falls and Cape Town in January 2009 [is being held] to publicise renewable energy and draw further attention to climate chnage while crossing the continent which will be worst affected by global warming.
It is open to solar, electric, hybrid, biofuel and hydren vehicles.
Over twenty teams from the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, India, New Zealand and Australia want to take part so far. It will be a dramatic demonstration of the viability and practicality of these vehicles in an even more dramatic setting.
.
Emily Gertz
November 2, 2007 1:17 PM
From World Changing:
It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world -- or it will be in January, in Africa:
Zero Rally Africa, a carbon neutral car rally to be staged between Victoria Falls and Cape Town in January 2009 [is being held] to publicise renewable energy and draw further attention to climate chnage while crossing the continent which will be worst affected by global warming.
It is open to solar, electric, hybrid, biofuel and hydren vehicles.
Over twenty teams from the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, India, New Zealand and Australia want to take part so far. It will be a dramatic demonstration of the viability and practicality of these vehicles in an even more dramatic setting.
.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Car Careers for Women
Women in the Driver's Seat: An Automotive Career Forum for Women
Saturday, November 3, 10:30 am - 2 pm
10:30-11:15 Car Care Clinics & Brunch, Network with Women & Dealers
11:30-12:45 Panel Discussion
1:00-1:45 Car Care Clinics, Network with Women and Dealers
2:00 Raffle Drawings
Where
Center for Automotive Education & Training
15-30 Petracca Place
Whitestone, Queens
Directions
Register now to receive your free brunch ticket. Or, call Diana at 718.640.2000 for more info.
Saturday, November 3, 10:30 am - 2 pm
10:30-11:15 Car Care Clinics & Brunch, Network with Women & Dealers
11:30-12:45 Panel Discussion
1:00-1:45 Car Care Clinics, Network with Women and Dealers
2:00 Raffle Drawings
Where
Center for Automotive Education & Training
15-30 Petracca Place
Whitestone, Queens
Directions
Register now to receive your free brunch ticket. Or, call Diana at 718.640.2000 for more info.
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