Posts Tagged ‘California’

U.S. To Build World’s Largest Solar-Power Plant

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

China may be in the lead when it comes to investing in renewable energy, but the U.S. is about to take a 1,000 megawatt leap.

  • The Obama administration just approved a permit allowing a $6 billion solar thermal plant to be built on federal land in a California desert.
  • Solar thermal energy production isn’t the same as photovoltaic solar panels. The plant works by using mirrors to direct sunlight into a tube, where its heat generates steam and moves turbines.
  • The company building the plant, Solar Trust of America, intends to start construction immediately to take advantage of government incentives for renewable energy projects before the year ends.

Facts & Figures

  • This plant, along with 8 others recently approved by the CA Energy Commission, will produce enough power to sustain 800,000 homes.
  • CA law requires all state utilities generate 1/3 of their power from renewable energy by 2020.
  • Solar Trust estimates that this project alone will create 7,600 jobs.

Forget Traditional Fundraising. Let’s Grow Weed!

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Everyone had a theory about what would happen when California legalized marijuana for medical use, but growing it to fund an art foundation probably wasn’t on the list.

  • Using a small plot of land in Sonoma County, Kirsha Kaechele is experimenting with a way to fund arts programs in perpetuity by legally growing marijuana.
  • Some growers are already donating some of their profit to charities and creative causes, but Life is Art is hoping to use the marijuana farm as a consistent source of funding for a lifetime of homegrown art projects.
  • In November, California voters will consider a proposal to make marijuana legal for recreational purposes. Marijuana supporters who oppose the measure worry that expanding use will allow corporations to step in, put small growers out of business, and eliminate the potential for charitable growing.

Facts & Figures

  • Selling marijuana is still technically a crime under federal law.
  • An ounce of medical-grade marijuana sells for about $200 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
  • Art is Life plans to generate $1 million next year to pay for art projects based on the farm and in New Orleans.

Best Quote

“The whole game of finding support just started to seem so childish. So I decided to grow up and became a marijuana farmer.” – Kirsha Kaechele, Director of Art is Life Foundation

New Ideas For Former Farmland

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Farmers and environmentalists are building renewable energy plants on polluted or contaminated farmland.

  • Although environmentalists previously objected to many plans for solar energy plants, they are willing to accept them when built on already-contaminated or out-of-use farmland.
  • This arrangement benefits farmers because they often don’t have enough water to irrigate all the land they own.
  • If this arrangement proves successful, the government plans to adopt it on a more widespread level.

Facts & Figures

  • This project, called the Westlands Solar Park, involves building solar panels on 9,000 acres of leased farmland. This area will generate a projected 600-1,000 megawatts of electricity.
  • The current transmission capacity in the Westlands is up to 600 megawatts; building the plant to 5,000 megawatts, as is planned, would require major construction on transmission lines that could take over a decade.
  • If the Westlands project is successful, the federal government wants Westlands to take over another 100,000 acres of contaminated farmland.

Best Quote

“It’s about as perfect a place as you’re going to find in the state of California for a solar project like this. There’s virtually zero wildlife impact here because the land has been farmed continuously for such a long time and you have proximity to transmission, infrastructure and markets.” –Carl Zichella, former Western Renewable Programs Director, Sierra Club

California Leads The Way In Electric Car Technology

Monday, June 21st, 2010

California is ahead of the game: great weather, beautiful beaches and now affordable environmentally friendly transportation…we should all just move.

  • California is encouraging consumers to purchase electric cars through hefty discounts and reliable and accessible charging stations.
  • Charging stations are being built in locations where customers are able to linger (like shopping malls and grocery stores) because charging up a car’s battery takes longer than filling it up with gas.
  • The cost of charging a car’s battery is under discussion – some companies would like consumers to pay by simply by swiping a card, some will make the service free as a way to attract business to neighboring stores.

Facts & Figures

  • California is spending $200 million a year on low-emission vehicle technology.
  • To aid in the cost of these vehicles, California is offering up to a $20,000 rebate to buyers of low-emission commercial vehicles.

Best Quote

“California is leading the way.” – Sue Cischke, Global Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering at Ford Motor Co.