SACRAMENTO, California, December 12, 2008 (ENS) – The California Air Resources Board today adopted two regulations aimed at cleaning up harmful emissions from the estimated one million heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in California. The regulations are the first of their kind in the United States.

Heavy-duty big rigs are the largest remaining source of unregulated diesel emissions, responsible for 32 percent of the smog-forming emissions and nearly 40 percent of the cancer-causing emissions from diesel mobile sources. Other diesel emitters include trains, off-road vehicles and marine engines.

Beginning January 1, 2011, the Statewide Truck and Bus rule will require truck owners to install diesel exhaust filters on their rigs, with nearly all vehicles to be upgraded by 2014.

Owners also must replace engines older than the 2010 model year according to a staggered implementation schedule that extends from 2012 to 2022.

Also adopted today, the Heavy Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction measure requires long-haul truckers to install fuel efficient tires and aerodynamic devices on their trailers that lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy.

Trucks operating in California will have to
comply with new rules limiting diesel
emissions. (Photo by Alexander DeVoe)

“Today’s vote marks a milestone in the history of California’s air quality,” said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “The Board’s actions will not only help protect the health of 38 million Californians, they will also ensure that California continues strongly on its path to achieving clean air.”

“In light of today’s extremely challenging financial climate, I am also pleased to say that the governor, legislature and voters have made available more than one billion dollars in grants and loan programs to help truckers and business owners comply with this vital public health measure,” she said.

Diesel emissions are associated with cancer and worsen cardiovascular and respiratory ailments, as do smog-forming emissions. The truck regulation is expected to save 9,400 lives between 2011 and 2025, and reduce health care costs.

These benefits have an estimated value of $48 billion to $69 billion, said Nichols. The cost of installing the trailer greenhouse-gas-reducing technologies will be quickly recouped through lower fuel use.

Without the diesel regulation, California will not be able to meet U.S. EPA mandated air quality standards and deadlines, and so could lose billions of dollars in federal highway funding.

“In passing these rules, California will continue to lead a nationwide movement to protect our most vulnerable citizens and reduce health care costs by placing highly cost-effective controls on diesel engines,” testified Dr. John Balbus, chief health scientist with the Environmental Defense Fund.

During the public meeting this morning before the Air Resources Board voted to approve the rule late today, Balbus said, “The scientific literature is overflowing with studies documenting harm from diesel emissions to the lungs, the immune system, the heart and cardiovascular system, even the developing brain.”

The greenhouse gas reduction measure applies to more than 500,000 trailers, while the diesel regulation applies to about 400,000 heavy duty vehicles that are registered in the state, and about 500,000 out-of-state vehicles that do business in California.

Because many heavy duty vehicles are replaced or retired due to normal business practices on a faster schedule than what the new regulation will require, the number of vehicles expected to be retrofit by 2014 under the rule is about 230,000, while up to 350,000 vehicles would be replaced earlier than normal over the next 15 years.

There are exceptions to the regulation, including low-use vehicles, emergency and military vehicles, and personal use motor homes. School buses would be subject only to requirements for reducing diesel particulate matter and not for engine replacement.

To reduce diesel emissions and improve air quality and public health, the California Air Resources Board adopted a Diesel Risk Reduction Plan in 2000 and has already passed regulations addressing urban buses, garbage trucks, school bus and truck idling, stationary engines, transport refrigeration units, cargo handling equipment at ports and rail yards, port trucks and off-road vehicles.

California is the state with the most polluted air in the country. Because of new engine standards established in 2001, diesel engines operating in California have been getting cleaner, but they are not getting clean fast enough to meet air quality goals.

With the new State Bus and Truck rule in place, by 2014, diesel emissions will be 68 percent lower than they would be without the regulation, while emissions of the smog-forming pollutant nitrogen oxides will be 25 percent lower.

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NEW YORK, New York, July 11, 2008 (ENS) – St. Mary’s Recreation Center in the Bronx was the first indoor recreation facility to open in New York City in 1951. Now the aging building is about to receive energy-saving retrofits to fix outdated heating and cooling systems, insufficient ventilation, and windows and doors that leak heat in the winter and cooled air in the summer.

The New York City Parks Department facility is just one of the many municipal buildings that will be modernized under a $2.3 billion nine-year plan to reduce the carbon footprint of New York City.

The projects in the plan will be partly funded by an annual commitment of 10 percent of the City’s energy budget, which in fiscal year 2009 will be $100 million.

Firehouses, police precincts, sanitation garages, offices, and courthouses will all be repaired and retrofitted with the goal of energy-efficiency. Upgrades are planned for lighting, refrigeration units, boiler upgrades office equipment, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems.

The city will expand on-site electricity generation at city facilities with solar panels and combined heat and power systems known as cogeneration.

Street lighting fixtures will be replaced with models that maintain equal lighting levels, but use one-third less wattage. City procurement officials will accelerate the purchase of more energy efficient vehicles.

St. Mary’s Recreation Center in the
Bronx (Photo credit unknown)

The plan was developed by the Energy Conservation Steering Committee created by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Executive Order last October and chaired by Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward Skyler.

Mayor Bloomberg visited St. Mary’s Rec Center Monday to present his administration’s detailed long-term plan. It calls for making municipal buildings more efficient, improving preventative maintenance, and capturing energy at wastewater treatment plants, among other measures.

The goal is to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from municipal buildings and operations by 30 percent by 2017, as promised in PlaNYC, Bloomberg’s plan “for a greener, greater New York,” unveiled on Earth Day 2007.

“Our long-term plan will cut city government’s annual output of greenhouse gases by nearly 1.7 million metric tons, which also will greatly improve air quality, and take a 220-megawatt bite out of peak demand for electricity,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

“We can achieve these results by using cost-effective existing technologies. The city is doing its part, I hope the private sector follows our example and finds conservation savings of their own,” the mayor said.

The largest single opportunity for reductions, 57 percent of the total, is through upgrades to existing buildings and there are more savings to be found in the way buildings are operated.

Preventive practices in buildings can save large amounts of energy. Leaking pipes, clogged steam traps, and inefficient air distribution, pumps, or fan systems will be systematically identified and repaired.

Energy-saving projects at wastewater treatment plants account for the second largest opportunity for greenhouse gas reductions, 17 percent of the total. Wastewater treatment plants decontaminate sewage and stormwater runoff through a series of physical, chemical, and biological processes, and release the water back into the environment once it has been cleaned.

These processes generate methane gas, one of the greenhouse gases more damaging to the climate than carbon dioxide, the predominant heat-trapping gas.

Projects in this group include fixing methane gas leaks, using recaptured methane to power electric generation equipment, and making general efficiency improvements to other specialized equipment.

The upgrades will help shrink New York’s energy consumption, but not by much. City government accounts for about 6.5 percent of New York City’s total energy usage and 10 percent of its peak electricity demand.

“This plan is the most in-depth and comprehensive ever look at the energy used by the city, which is the largest property manager in the city, as well as the operator of the largest municipal vehicle fleet in the nation,” said Skyler.

“We have identified a number of ways to make real energy savings, and the investments we make today will start paying for themselves immediately, and be fully recouped in just a few years,” the deputy mayor said.

Environmentalists greeted the plan with cautious optimism. “Especially during this period of high energy costs, deploying energy efficient lighting, air conditioning, motors, and office equipment, along with improved Operations and Maintenance, makes economic sense and it is to the City’s credit and Mayor Bloomberg’s leadership that existing public buildings will be showing the way,” said Ashok Gupta of the of the Natural Resource Defense Council.

“Today’s announcement confirms that significant reductions in energy usage to achieve the 30 percent reduction requirement in global warming pollution by 2017 is not only achievable but it will also save taxpayers money,” he said.

But now the city must deliver on its promises, Gupta said, “The public is watching.”

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 3, 2008 (ENS) – Global warming legislation will be enacted for the first time in Pennsylvania when Governor Ed Rendell signs the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act as he is expected to do. The measure was overwhelmingly approved today by both houses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

A coal-rich state, Pennsylvania emits one percent of the world’s greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, more than the emissions of 105 developing countries combined.

While Pennsylvania is a big contributor to global warming, the legislation passed today creates opportunities for the state to be part of the solution.

The measure will require Pennsylvania to conduct an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and set up a registry for business and industry where they can track their emissions and get credit for pollution reductions.

The bill provides for an stakeholder advisory group for the state Department of Environmental Protection and requires the DEP to develop a state plan to reduce emissions.

“This will be a good planning tool for Pennsylvania to help with coordination of the various measures the state has implemented and those it should implement to combat climate change in the future,” said state Representative Greg Vitali, a Democrat from Delaware County who introduced the measure in the House.

In the Senate, the bill was sponsored by state Senator Ted Erickson, a Republican whose district includes part of Delaware County, which is located just west of Philadelphia
Pennsylvania’s Montour coal-fired power plant (Photo courtesy Mark Morey)

Vitali said, “Climate change is the most important environmental problem we’re dealing with in Pennsylvania – we produce a full one percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emission. I applaud Senator Erickson, and thank everyone for the work they’ve done to keep this issue alive in both chambers over the years.”

Vitali said initial language for global warming legislation was drafted nearly a decade ago by Don Brown, currently an associate professor of environmental ethics and program director for ethical dimensions of climate change at Penn State University. He is the former senior counsel for sustainable development at DEP, and has worked for both the state and federal governments on environmental issues.

“Don Brown came up with the initial idea of this legislation, drafted the language for the original bill, and his knowledge and counsel have been invaluable to this process and the issue of global warming,” Vitali said.

“Senator Erickson’s bill is a good bill that incorporates those same principles. I think this is a historic moment in our state’s history – a time that will prove to be a turning point in our endeavors to curb global warming as a state.”

Environmentalists are pleased with the bill. Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, known as PennFuture, praised the legislators on both sides of the aisle who moved the bill forward.

“This bipartisan outpouring of support shows the seriousness of our climate problem, and the determination of our elected officials to face it squarely,” said Jan Jarrett, PennFuture’s vice president.

“They understand that global warming poses a threat to our economy and our future if we don’t take action,” said Jarrett, “and they also understand that solving the problem will help grow the green economy and create new jobs.”

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council today praised passage of the Climate Change Act. “This legislation will help Pennsylvania address both the significant challenges and the potential opportunities associated with climate change,” said John Walliser, the Council’s vice president for legal and governmental affairs. “Climate change will affect our economy, environment, and our quality of life.”

“Both Senator Erickson and Representative Vitali took the lead on the need to fully evaluate what climate change will mean to Pennsylvania for the foreseeable future,” said Walliser. “Thanks to their cooperation on seeing this legislation through, Pennsylvania now stands ready to meet this challenge head-on and even find opportunities for further economic development.”

The General Assembly is considering legislation that would encourage the use of biofuels, promote the development of renewable energy sources, and set energy conservation standards for new buildings.

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ALBANY, New York, April 6, 2008 (ENS) – A new reporting standard to help track the emissions of greenhouse gases in North America was announced Wednesday by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis.

The Climate Registry, a nonprofit partnership of which New York is a board member, released its General Reporting Protocol which provides a comprehensive guideline for how greenhouse gas emissions will be measured, verified and reported by participants in the Registry’s voluntary program.

“Every New Yorker has a vital stake in the success of controlling greenhouse gas emissions and limiting climate change,” Grannis said.

“Through The Climate Registry, we are beginning the crucial work of developing a reliable inventory of actual greenhouse gas emissions. Any firm, institution or organization that emits greenhouse gases needs this information to make the right decisions about how real reductions can take place and make a difference in the fight against global warming.”

Correct information about emissions is the basis for effective climate change policy and for cost-efficient investments in greenhouse gas reduction.

The Climate Registry provides a consistent way for companies, governments and organizations to count and report their emissions from greenhouse gas sources under their control, and to track progress toward meeting greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.

By enrolling in the Registry, participants benefit by getting access to user-friendly web-based software and technical assistance in developing their greenhouse gas inventories.

The Climate Registry is a national, nonprofit organization that has established a common system for state and tribally recognized greenhouse gas emissions records.

The organization’s Board of Directors includes representatives from 39 U.S. states, including New York, eight Canadian provinces, six Mexican states, three native tribes, and the District of Columbia.

The Registry’s General Reporting Protocol announced today is significant because it defines the methodology that will be used to calculate, verify, and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions.

Correct data in The Climate Registry will ensure that emissions reduction programs are consistent across borders and industry sectors, and that responsibility for controlling emissions is shared equitably.

The new protocol will ensure that the emissions data are accurate, complete, consistent, and verified.

The Registry will ensure consistency and transparency between programs, and will establish a high level of integrity in emissions accounting and reporting. The Protocol document incorporates public comments from workshops conducted throughout North America.

All New York businesses, nonprofit organizations, universities and municipalities are encouraged, although not required, to join The Climate Registry and begin measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions.

Seventy-three corporations, nonprofit organizations, cities, and counties are currently reporting their greenhouse gas emissions to The Climate Registry.

Entities reporting to The Climate Registry agree to calculate both direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. Direct emissions include those from on-site combustion, manufacturing processes and transportation fleets.

Emissions associated with electricity and steam consumption are the only indirect emissions required to be reported. However, reporters to the Registry are also encouraged to register additional indirect emissions.

Reporters measure and report emissions of the same six greenhouse gases specified for reduction by the Kyoto Protocol – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is currently in the process of joining the Registry as a reporting member, and will voluntarily report the agency’s emissions data.

Organizations that join The Climate Registry as reporters before May 1, 2008, will be considered “Founding Reporters” and will receive continued recognition for their outstanding environmental leadership in measuring and publicly reporting their greenhouse gas emissions on a voluntary basis.

The Climate Registry is complementary to New York’s ongoing implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, RGGI, a program in which 10 Northeastern states have agreed to implement a carbon dioxide cap-and-trade program for the generation of electricity.

RGGI’s first auction of carbon dioxide allowances has been set for September 2008, with implementation of the RGGI program beginning in January 2009.

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SACRAMENTO, California, February 20, 2008 (ENS) – California’s cities and counties must take action now to combat global warming by limiting emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, says California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr.

In 534 letters mailed statewide Tuesday, Brown invited mayors, local planning directors, and county supervisors to attend workshops this spring where they can learn practical ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Brown said, “These workshops will launch the first statewide movement to reduce the negative impact of local planning decisions on global climate.” The workshops will be held from March to May in Oakland, Sacramento, Visalia, Los Angeles and Monterey.

Brown began the letter by saying, “I write to you today about a myth, a challenge, and an opportunity. The myth is that there is no immediate need to address local contributions to global warming. The challenge is to take action today and at every level to address global warming. And the opportunity, particularly for local government, is to be an active force in the fight against global warming by asking the hard questions, seeking the best information, and making the sound decisions that will move California to a low-carbon future.”

The Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32, requires California to cut greenhouse gas emission to 1990 levels by 2020, but the rules and market mechanisms will not take effect until 2012. Meanwhile, local governments will make thousands of planning decisions that will affect the emission of greenhouse gases. The workshops are intended to help local officials make climate-friendly decisions.

Brown will co-host the workshops, which will focus on climate change and the California Environmental Quality Act. This law requires local agencies to analyze and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from projects with significant impact, including regional transportation and development plans.

Methods of modeling greenhouse gas emissions will be discussed in detail at the workshops, which will also address how cities and counties can analyze the global warming-related impacts of development efficiently and on limited budgets and find strategies to mitigate them.

Thirty thousand square feet of solar
panels on the roof provide power
to the Moscone Convention Center
in downtown San Francisco. (Photo
courtesy PowerLight Corporation)

“California must adopt the necessary changes that will encourage economic growth while reducing greenhouse gases,” Brown said. “This difficult transition from our current escalating dependence on fossil fuel demands that cities and counties encourage maximum building efficiency and innovative land-use.”

To date, the attorney general has submitted formal comments to 23 local jurisdictions throughout the state under the California Environmental Quality Act, encouraging them to evaluate and avoid or limit the increases in carbon dioxide emissions caused by land use decisions.

Attorney General Brown also has reached agreements with San Bernardino County and ConcoPhillips on specific greenhouse gas reduction strategies.

Local jurisdictions across California including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sonoma, Santa Monica, Berkeley, Marin, Palo Alto, Chula Vista, Modesto and Healdsburg already are initiating measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Many mitigation strategies are becoming realities of life in California.

The City of Berkeley, for example, is developing a program that funds solar power projects with public monies and allows the property owners to repay the city through property tax assessments.

High-density developments are being planned that reduce vehicle trips and utilize public transit. Transportation impact fees are being placed on developments to fund public transit service, and regional transportation centers where various types of public transportation meet are being planned.

Electric vehicle charging facilities and conveniently located alternative fueling stations are springing up across the state.

Methane is being recovered from landfills and wastewater treatment plants to generate electricity.

Developers are including energy efficient designs for buildings, appliances, lighting and office equipment as well as solar panels, water reuse systems and on-site renewable energy production.

Greenhouse gas emissions are being offset by purchases of carbon emissions credits that fund alternative energy projects.

In addition, over 120 California cities have joined the Cool Cities campaign and taking concrete steps to fight global warming, including the development of greenhouse gas emissions inventories and a local Climate Action Plan.

Twelve Cool Counties each are establishing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and regional plan to cut emissions to 80 percent below current levels by 2050.

The California Department of Justice Website has been expanded to provide information that can help local agencies join the fight against global warming at: url]http://ag.ca.gov/globalwarming/ceqa.php[/url]

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BRUSSELS, Belgium, January 24, 2008 (ENS) – The European Commission has released a set of proposals to expand the current greenhouse gas Emission Trading System to combat global warming and promote renewable energy in the period beyond 2012, when the present trading period ends.

At a news conference introducing the proposals Wednesday, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas warned, “On current trends, climate change will almost certainly be endangering the lives of millions of people and causing serious disruption to our economies within the lifetimes of many in this room today.”

“Europe and the rest of the world have to act fast, and act boldly, if we are to prevent this catastrophe,” he said. “Today’s package underlines the European Union’s determination to continue leading global action by example.”

Germany’s coal-burning
Heilbron power plant (Photo by
Sebastian Stumpf)

Currently the system allows trading in emissions of carbon dioxide and covers power stations and other combustion plants, oil refineries, coke ovens, iron and steel plants and factories making cement, glass, lime, bricks, ceramics, pulp, paper and board.

The Commission now proposes to include additional sectors and greenhouse gases. Six gases are governed under the Kyoto Protocol, to which the EU member states and the European Union adhere.

Carbon dioxide emissions from petrochemicals, ammonia and aluminium will be included in the expanded trading system, as will emissions of nitrous oxide, N2O, from the production of nitric, adipic and glyoxylic acid. Emissions allowances of perfluorocarbons from the aluminium sector will also be traded.

The capture, transport and geological storage of all greenhouse gas emissions will also be covered.

The new proposals are introduced to help the European Union achieve its greenhouse gas reduction target agreed at the March 2007 meeting of the European Council of Ministers.

At that meeting, the EU adopted an emissions reduction target of at least 20 percent by 2020 compared with 1990 levels.

The reductions target would be raised to 30 percent as long as other industrialized countries commit to comparable efforts in the framework of a global agreement to combat climate change after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

At the December 2007 United Nations climate change conference in Bali, all nations reached consensus that they would negotiate a global agreement to curb climate change to take the place of the Kyoto Protocol. If that agreement is finalized, it would trigger the EU’s 30 percent greenhouse gas reduction target.

The decision to launch EU-wide negotiations to strengthen the Emissions Trading System was taken at Bali and the negotiations are expected to start in March or April.

Dimas called the 30 percent cut in emissions “crucial.”

“It is a 30 percent cut by developed countries that is needed to get global emissions onto a downward track – and it is a 30 percent cut that we will continue to press for in the international negotiations launched at Bali,” he said.

The European Environmental Bureau, EEB, the largest federation of environmental citizens organizations in Europe representing 143 organizations in 31 countries, welcomed the proposals as “a first step” but said they fall short of what is needed to really curb climate change.

EEB Secretary-General John Hontelez said, “The Commission has been under massive pressure from industry coalitions and several member states to present watered-down proposals and it has, to a certain extent, given in to that pressure.”

“The EEB insists that the EU stick to its agreed objective of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, which would require the EU to go for a 30 percent reduction target, rather than the 20 percent proposed today,” Hontelez said.

“This would be in line with the Bali conclusion that industrialized countries have cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25-40 percent by 2020,” he said.

Under the new proposals, if all 27 European Union member states and the European Parliament agree, there will be one EU-wide cap on the number of emission allowances instead of the current system of 27 national caps.

The annual cap will decrease along a linear trend line, which will continue beyond the end of the third trading period – 2013-2020.

Industrial complex at Teeside,
England (Photo by Ian Britton
courtesy FreeFoto.com)

The system will remain based on trading periods, but the third trading period will last eight years, from 2013 to 2020, as opposed to five years for the second phase from 2008 to 2012.

A much larger share of emissions allowances will be auctioned instead of allocated free of charge. And harmonized rules governing free allocation will be introduced, said the Commission, the executive branch of the EU government.

It is estimated that around 60 percent of the total number of allowances will be auctioned in 2013, and this proportion will increase in later years.

Auctioning of allowances should be the basic principle for allocation from the third phase onwards, the Commission said in a statement. “This is because auctioning best ensures the efficiency, transparency and simplicity of the system and creates the greatest incentive for investments in a low-carbon economy.”

It best complies with the “polluter pays principle” and avoids giving windfall profits to certain sectors that have passed on the notional cost of allowances to their customers despite receiving them for free, the Commission said.

Hontelez said the EEB “deplores” the proposed delays in moving from free emission credits to a system that requires only certain industry sectors to pay for their emissions.

EEB also rejects offering industry extra emission rights through investment in “questionable” energy projects outside the EU.

Instead, EEB is calling for “a robust penalty system for exceeding emissions limits to create a level playing field for those businesses that choose to invest in eco-innovation.”

The new Emissions Trading System proposals are detailed here.

At the same time the Commission has proposed a new law, called a directive, setting standards for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and formalizing the 20 percent greenhouse gas emissions target by 2020.

The directive includes a 20 percent increase in energy efficiency and a 20 percent share of renewables in overall EU energy consumption by 2020.

In addition, the law requires a 10 percent biofuel component in vehicle fuel by 2020 and sets sustainability standards for biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.

The renewable energy law affects three economic sectors – electricity, heating and cooling and transport. It is up to the member states to decide on the mix of contributions from these sectors to reach their national targets, choosing the means that best suits their national circumstances.

They will also have the option of achieving their targets by supporting the development of renewable energy in other member states and third countries.

The minimum 10 percent share of biofuels in transport is applicable in all member states. “Biofuels tackle the oil dependence of the transport sector, which is one of the most serious issues affecting security of energy supply that the EU faces,” the Commission said.

Biofuels cost more than other forms of renewable energy and without a separate minimum target for biofuels, they will not be developed, said the Commission. “This matters because greenhouse gas trends are worst in transport, and biofuels are one of the few measures – alongside vehicle fuel efficiency – realistically capable of making a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions from transport.”

While supporting the Commission’s overall efforts to boost renewables, the EEB does not approve of their continued support of “a disputable biofuels policy, despite ever louder warning signals from many sides.”

Hontelez said, “Because of the variation in quality of different biofuels, in addition to the potential knock-on ecological impacts from biodiversity loss, soil degradation and water stress, the arbitrary 10% biofuels target the Commission stubbornly supports is unlikely to provide positive results for the environment.”

The EEB wants the specific biofuels target eliminated altogether.

The Commission’s analysis shows that achieving its renewable energy targets will result in savings of 600 to 900 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year “holding back the rate of climate change and sending a signal to other countries to do the same.”

Reductions in fossil fuel consumption of 200 to 300 million metric tons per year can be expected, the Commission said, most of it imported.

The Commission anticipates a boost for high-tech industries, new economic opportunities and jobs will result from the new law.

All this will cost approximately €13-18 billion (US$19.19 – $26.57 billion) per year.

“In terms of annual effects on GDP,” said Dimas, “which is in any case a less than perfect measure of progress, the impact of cutting emissions by 20 percent will be as low as 0.04 to 0.06 percent per year.

“As for the benefits,” he said, “the package is expected to deliver the kind of structural changes that Europe needs to remain competitive.”

“By taking the lead, Europe will be kick-starting the development of the low-carbon global economy that is vital to prevent climate change from reaching dangerous levels,” said Dimas. “We are giving ourselves a first mover advantage in a new industrial revolution that will unleash a wave of innovation and job creation in clean energy and high-efficiency technologies.”

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Solar power is a reliable resource for creating electricity. The German government considered the benefits and hindrances of the technology for several years and concluded that a national incentive plan was needed in order for solar technology to succeed. Motivating this decision were two critical factors: 1) As part of the EU Energy Council, Germany agreed to greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. 2) The cost and security implications of importing vast quantities of oil and natural gas is not in the long term public interest of Germany.

Before going into the details of the German government’s subsidy program for solar energy, it is important to understand some of the challenges of solar power. There are three main challenges to widespread solar power.

Firstly, you can only generate solar energy when the sun is shining, which means the night time is a problem; finding a way to store the energy from the daytime can be expensive and require battery replacement. The amount of energy a home uses is often greater during the day, so this helps to mitigate this problem a little.

Secondly, solar power plants require a great deal of space. Additionally, transmitting solar energy through power lines results in a significant loss of electrical charge. The German government chose solar power because localized solar panels on domestic households and businesses avoided this power loss problem since the electricity is being created where it is being used.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly to some, the cost of solar cell installation is rather high and requires expert electricians and specialized equipment. This final reason leads us to why the German Government chose to price fix the sale value of solar power at 50 cents to the kilowatt hour. With this sale price the incentive to install solar power is extremely strong for the German public and business world. It may sound counterintuitive, but remember that with a solar panel installation at a home or business, that 50 cents per kw/h is the price the electric company pays you for your excess power rather than the other way around.

The sale of regular electricity generated by a coal plant, natural gas plant or nuclear plant fluctuates with market forces, but is additionally taxed by the German Government. This tax can be thought of as a carbon tax and acts to subsidize the high sale price of solar power. The price of regular electricity, then, ends up being around 20-25 cents per kilowatt hour. This is extremely high, and one might think that the German population would be rioting in the streets over it. However, 80% of the German public supports this solar energy incentive program. Nobody is quite sure why the German people tolerate the high cost of electricity, but it may be because they realize paying more for energy is better than consuming cheap energy that pollutes the health of the planet.

Thanks for spending time on the Green Blog and please consider commenting on these posts with any additional information or questions that could help create positive environmental movement around the issues covered by this post.

It looks like those loud rumbling machines we call garbage trucks are being greened up by some cities. This has been a slowly growing trend among garbage truck fleets in various cities including Portland, Oregon; Berkeley, California; Grand Rapids, Michegan; San Francisco, California; and now New York City.

The recent announcement that New York City will be using B5 (5% biofuel) is very exciting and especially important because this change is costing the city nothing and will lower greenhouse gas emission by 5%. Not content to stop there, New York City has commissioned three hybrid garbage truck prototypes for testing in ‘08.

San Francisco has been using biodiesel in the garbage fleet for some time now, and they are using B20 fuel (20% biofuel) which can lower greenhouse gas emissions by some 21%.

I hope everyone can join me in clapping out loud for the people who take away the garbage everyday.