Colorado Approves 30% by 2020 Renewable Energy Standard

Yesterday, Colorado’s state legislature finalized a bill to increase the state’s renewable energy standard to 30 percent by 2020. Colorado was one of the first states to adopt a renewable energy standard at all, committing in 2004 to get 10 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2015 and increasing that to 20 percent by 2020 in 2006.  This latest measure puts the state right behind California, who has the highest standard at 33 percent by 2020. The bill also requires utilities to get 3 percent of their electricity from distributed sources like rooftop solar and other smaller wind and solar installations in order to give a boost to local renewable energy and construction companies.  That requirement alone will be responsible for 1 GW of clean energy, save 6.8 billion gallons of water and reduce emissions by 30 million tons of CO2 a year.

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Colorado Approves 30% by 2020 Renewable Energy Standard

Colorado Legislature Approves 30% by 2020 Renewable Energy Standard – Only California’s is Higher

Distributed generation for utilities is part of the mandate. Photo: Solar Dave via flickr . Now this is getting somewhere..

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Colorado Legislature Approves 30% by 2020 Renewable Energy Standard – Only California’s is Higher

Nation’s First Net Zero School Coming to Kentucky

Warren County Kentucky is building the first net-zero energy school in the country.  Richardsville Elementary School will operate free of the grid by generating its own renewable energy, incorporating smart architectural features and a major emphasis on efficiency. The list of features for this school is mind-boggling.  The school will have thin-film PV roof arrays, solar water heating, geothermal HVAC, insulated concrete form walls, a rainwater collection system and energy-efficient lighting.  The building is designed to take full advantage of natural light and wind for cooling. The plot of land includes a reclaimed brownfield, preserved woodland, a protected stream and bioswales.

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Nation’s First Net Zero School Coming to Kentucky

From the Slideshows: Tiger Salamander Dodges Winemakers and Homebuilders and Hopes to Survive

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service . So it wasn’t long ago that TreeHugger featured a slideshow called “10 Creatures That Conveniently Grow Back Body Parts .” One of those creatures, the Tiger Salamander, has since been granted protection under California law

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From the Slideshows: Tiger Salamander Dodges Winemakers and Homebuilders and Hopes to Survive

Artist Pete Dungey Turns Potholes Into Guerrilla Gardens

Some years ago a councilwoman of Davis, California protested the repaving of several historic alleyways in her neighborhood, claiming that new asphalt would destroy the ‘mellow’ ambience of the roads. What resulted was a media frenzy that eventually declared the Davis public servant as a kook for suggesting that even potholes had protected rights. However, one person is certainly on the same side of the councilwoman.

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Artist Pete Dungey Turns Potholes Into Guerrilla Gardens

California Smog Causing $193 Million in Healthcare Costs

The smog in California hangs like a blanket over the city, and now there’s more proof that it’s not just environmentally destructive – it’s making Californians sick! A study just out by RAND — a non-profit research group dedicated to public policy issues — says that the air pollution in California is causing over $193 million in hospital based medical care each year. The medical costs are mostly related to respiratory illnesses such as asthma and pneumonia. Over two thirds of the costs are covered by government run medical programs like Medicare and Medi-Cal

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California Smog Causing $193 Million in Healthcare Costs

Common Herbicide Causes a Sex Change in Frogs

Atrazine is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the world. It is also the most commonly found water pollutant in North America.

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Common Herbicide Causes a Sex Change in Frogs

Senators Try to Block Government Financing for Renewable Energy Projects Overseas

One day after Obama announced his “Cash for Caulkers” energy efficiency program , a group of senators is trying to block government-funded, international renewable energy projects. In a letter to be read at a news conference today, the group of Democratic officials argue that financing renewables overseas under the Recovery Act runs counter to the economic stimulus plan’s goal: to create and preserve American jobs.

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Senators Try to Block Government Financing for Renewable Energy Projects Overseas

The Week in Pictures: New Wasp Species Enslaves Spiders, Endangered Trees, Eco Car Gets 2,752 MPG, and More (Slideshow)

From the recent discovery of a species of wasp that enslave unsuspecting spiders to a new report from the United Nations that estimates a 500% growth over the next 10 years in computer waste in India alone, a lot happened this week in green. Mechanical engineering students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo have developed an eco supercar that gets 2,752 MPG and the California Institute of Technology has developed a solar cell that is 98% plastic and catches a record-breaking 96% of incident light.

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The Week in Pictures: New Wasp Species Enslaves Spiders, Endangered Trees, Eco Car Gets 2,752 MPG, and More (Slideshow)

Innovation on a Family Farm: Animals Replace Fossil-Fuels (Video)

Image credit: Chaffin Family Orchards While I can see the appeal of vegan organic agriculture , I am a firm believer that integrating animals into a mixed sustainable food production system can be an efficient way to farm.

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Innovation on a Family Farm: Animals Replace Fossil-Fuels (Video)

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