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Farmers Teach Cities how to Save Water

Farmers Teach Cities how to Save Water

Posted 12 March 2010 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: energy, video, water | No Comments

According to the California Department of Water Resources, California agriculture irrigates 9.6 million acres using roughly 34 million acre-feet of water (1.1 trillion gallons) diverted from surface waters or pumped from groundwater. This water produces amazing results.
California produces over 250 different crops and leads the nation in production of 75 commodities. California is the sole [...]

Companies and VCs Pledge $3.5 Billion for Hiring

Companies and VCs Pledge $3.5 Billion for Hiring

Posted 24 February 2010 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: energy | No Comments

Fresh off the federal government’s first-year progress report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and its creation of roughly 1.2 million jobs (recipient reported) through December 31, 2009, chip maker Intel announced a $3.5 billion initiative to support investment in U.S.-based growth-oriented industries.
Led by Intel and supported by several venture capital firms and corporations, [...]

Electric Power Industry Facing Water-Use Disclosure Risk

Electric Power Industry Facing Water-Use Disclosure Risk

Posted 19 February 2010 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: climate change, energy, water | 1 Comment

The U.S. electric power industry withdraws an estimated 136 billion gallons of freshwater per day for generating and then cooling the steam that drives electric turbines. That’s roughly 41 percent of the country’s total withdrawals according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Recent guidance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission indicating that “changes in the availability [...]

Obama Folds Up TARP; Redirects Money to Energy Jobs

Obama Folds Up TARP; Redirects Money to Energy Jobs

Posted 09 December 2009 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: energy, news | No Comments

In a speech delivered yesterday at The Brookings Institute, President Obama announced a series of proposals to boost job growth. Acknowledging that the federal government must be fiscally prudent, he indicated that additional funding would come from “savings” from the Troubled Asset Relief Program or TARP.
According to the Associated Press, the Administration now estimates that [...]

Another $620 Million for Smart Grid

Another $620 Million for Smart Grid

Posted 24 November 2009 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: energy, news | No Comments

The second of the two main smart grid funding announcements (DE-FOA-38) from DOE was issued today by Secretary Chu while visiting Columbus, Ohio. According to the Department’s press release, the award includes $620 million for projects around the country to demonstrate advanced smart grid technologies and integrated systems that will help build a smarter, more [...]

A Laundry List of Water Conservation Ideas

A Laundry List of Water Conservation Ideas

Posted 19 November 2009 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: climate change, water | No Comments

For the last seven years, Building Design and Construction magazine has provided annual updates on the green building movement. They’ve discussed the green building movement (2003), sustainability (2004), life cycle assessment (2005), green building bottom line (2006), industry perspectives (2007), climate change (2008), and now water performance (2009).
In early November, prior to the 28,000-person-attended GreenBuild [...]

Finding a Home for California’s Renewables

Finding a Home for California’s Renewables

Posted 17 November 2009 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: energy | No Comments

Back on November 17, 2008, just two weeks after Obama’s election, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-14-08, which required that all retail sellers of electricity in California serve 33 percent of their load with renewable energy by 2020. This increase in the State’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) made California the leader in renewable [...]

Establishing the Electric Vehicle Capital of the U.S.

Establishing the Electric Vehicle Capital of the U.S.

Posted 13 November 2009 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: energy, transportation | No Comments

Roughly one year ago, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, announced a nine-step policy plan for transforming the Bay Area into the “Electric Vehicle Capital of the U.S.”  Where do we stand with the officially named Bay Area EV Corridor [...]

Water Accounting in California

Water Accounting in California

Posted 10 November 2009 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: news, water | 2 Comments

Last week, the California Legislature reached an agreement to overhaul California’s water system. The plan is comprised of four policy bills and an $11.14 billion bond. After the all-night negotiating session, Governor Schwarzenegger held a press conference announcing the legislation. He later signed several of the bills.
On Monday, he signed SBX7-2 at a ceremony at [...]

Trees Succumbing to Climate Change

Trees Succumbing to Climate Change

Posted 07 November 2009 | By Jeff Stephens | Categories: climate change | No Comments

Last month, the media reported extensively on the die-off of aspen trees in the West linked to climate change. Called sudden aspen decline or SAD, the phenomenon is characterized by the death of mature over story with an absence of subsequent regeneration. Open stands at lower elevations, with south to west aspects, are more vulnerable.
The [...]