New Jersey is one of many states struggling to shape greenhouse gas reduction policies. Energy Vision’s comments on the draft of the program laid out one major area where the state could do the most in the near term to slash these gases: convert its bus and truck fleets to natural gas. For more, read the full comments here.
Industry newsletter Fleet Maintenance—an electronic publication with an audience of about 20,000—covered Energy Vision’s recent research showing the potential of biogas:
Energy Vision, a national non-profit organization that analyzes and promotes technologies and policies to make a swift transition to pollution-free renewal energy sources, found that biogas from NYC’s residential garbage could produce tens of millions of gallons of biomethane vehicle fuel annually, not only during the lifespans of the landfills in which it is buried, but for years after their closure. This fuel – a much cleaner, less polluting fuel – could be used to replace dirtier diesel fuel.
The article also notes that “New York City’s Department of Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty agrees that the findings are impressive, and says that his department will work with Energy Vision on this important issue.”
Take a moment to read the entire article here.
It looks like the EU’s ambitious energy policy, aimed at a 20% reduction in CO2 by the year 2020, is being outpaced by an unlikely group—a number of cities from its own member states:
To date almost 550 towns and cities across Europe, and further afield, have made the formal commitment to go beyond the EUs 20% CO2 reduction objectives. Local and urban authorities are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. At present urban areas are responsible for 80% of CO2 emissions and energy consumption, with the growth rate of 1.9% of energy use in cities (versus 1.6% globally). Therefore, it is only through decisive action at the local level that the challenge of climate mitigation can be overcome.
A model for American cities, perhaps?
Click here for more on the EU’s carbon-reduction efforts.
Alan Murray from the Commonwealth Club, a public affairs forum, recently played host to an interesting pair: Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, and Dave O’Reilly, chairman and CEO of Chevron Corporation. Have a listen as they discuss the future of energy in the field of transportation. Carl Pope presented an especially insightful thought on the potential for change in the energy industry:
25 years ago, if we talked about the phones we’d be having, there’s nothing involved in this system that uses a piece of equipment designed more than 10 years ago. In our energy system, we routinely accept the fact that we drive cars built on chassis built in the 1970′s, we use light bulbs that, actually, Thomas Edison would be able to recognize, and ship them from power plants in some cases built when Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States. We need to turn capital stocks in the energy sector over much much faster. That will actually be good economic news. The rapid change in the telecommunications industry was good for the economy. A similar transformation will be good in the energy economy.
On June 11, Linklater Law hosted Energy Vision at a 40-person brunch, where attendees learned about how New York City’s trash can be converted to fuel for bus and truck fleets. While there, EV delivered an excellent presentation on this cutting-edge topic.
Click on the links below to read parts 1-5 of the presentation.
Amongst the attendees were New York City Council Member David Yassky (below left) as well as EV President Joanna Underwood and attorney Stephen B. Land from Linklater Law (below right).
Energy Vision just launched a study of New York City’s potential to turn trash into fuel – and New York is excited:
New York City’s Department of Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty agrees that the findings are impressive, and says that his department will work with Energy Vision on this important issue. “DSNY looks forward to working with Energy Vision to explore opportunities for converting the City’s organic waste into transportation fuel for public and private fleets. If this strategy is found to make economic and environmental sense, it could contribute to the City’s long-term sustainability and energy independence,” said NYC Sanitation Commissioner Doherty.
Check out the full press release here.
Just how green is your beer? It could very well be a little greener than it was last year…along with your milk and your phone service.
Anheuser Busch, the maker of iconic American beer brands like Budweiser, Verizon, Bartlett Dairy and Derle Farms are among the growing number of companies that are greening their delivery fleets by use of natural gas delivery trucks. Bartlett and Derle are among the first in the dairy industry to adopt CNG technology.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) have awarded 14 companies over $6.6 million to introduce these compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks as well as electric, and hybrid-electric vehicles to City fleets.
The funding is being awarded through the New York City Private Fleet Alternative Fuel/Electric Vehicle Program, which is designed to assist private and not-for-profit fleets operating in New York City to purchase new vehicles or to repower vehicles with alternative fuels or advanced technologies that improve efficiency and reduce emissions. The new clean fuel vehicles (137 in all) will displace over 5.8 million gallons of petroleum over their lifetimes as compared to conventional vehicles. They will cut harmful pollutants by 790 tons of Oxides of Nitrogen, 2,791 tons of Carbon Dioxide, 5 tons of Hydrocarbons, and 18 tons of Particulate Matter over the lifetime of the vehicles. The greatest gains will come from the 72 shifting to CNG.
“This is exactly the kind of public/private cooperation that is quickly producing the kind of change in transportation fuel that Energy Vision advocates,” said Joanna Underwood, Energy Vision’s President. “Natural gas, the one 100% petroleum-free fuel option, is here right now, and its use means one big step on the path to real, sustainable fuel and energy independence.”
The Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF) is currently enjoying Honda’s Civic GX natural gas vehicle—an honor received in support and celebration of Energy Vision’s second anniversary.
Read the full article below:
April 20-21, 2009
Energy Vision President Joanna Underwood was a keynote speaker at the Spring Conference of the New Jersey Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America. She spoke about “Turning Trash Into Cash: New Opportunity for Our Communities in New Jersey.” The two-day conference took place at the Hilton Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
April 23, 2009
EV was an exhibitor at the Students for a Sustainable Future EXPO ’09 at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York.
April 25, 2009
Joanna Underwood was a Panelist at the Green Living Expo at Suffolk Community College, Brentwood, New York. The topic is “Green Energy Transportation” Where will Long Islander’s source the fuel needed to transport themselves around the Island? Will they use Bio-Fuel, Electric, Propane or good old-fashioned Petro? Listen to the experts and hear their thoughts on this hot button topic.
In this time of economic crisis, New York City has the opportunity to take advantage of a valuable energy resource that is close at hand and largely thrown away. Household garbage from the city can produce enough Biomethane (“renewable natural gas”) to fuel the city’s entire fleet of refuse trucks, recycling trucks, and thousands of additional vehicles as well.