http://www.environmentalleader.com Environmental Leader Fri, 25 May 2012 17:41:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/burning-down-the-house-the-shocking-economics-of-energy/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/burning-down-the-house-the-shocking-economics-of-energy/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 16:04:03 +0000 Andy Mannle http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77260 Imagine if Mitt Romney’s sons burned through their entire family fortune in less time than it takes to watch Titanic in 3D. That would be crazy, right? But that’s exactly what we’re doing when it comes to energy: we’re burning our inheritance instead of collecting our income. We don’t normally see it expressed in these [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/burning-down-the-house-the-shocking-economics-of-energy/feed/ 4 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 15:51:18 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=77317 Goldman Sachs Group plans to invest $40 billion over the next 10 years into renewable energy, an area where the bank expects demand to grow as the global appetite for energy increases and major manufacturing countries like China set more aggressive emissions targets, Reuters reported. But the bank’s new clean energy target would average about [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/24/goldman-sachs-to-pump-40bn-into-clean-energy/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/09/aep-sustainability-report-carbon-emissions-rise-1-5-revenues-up-4-8/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/09/aep-sustainability-report-carbon-emissions-rise-1-5-revenues-up-4-8/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 14:01:17 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=76062 American Electric Power’s total CO2 emissions rose just shy of 1.5 percent from 2010 to 2011, while revenues rose 4.8 percent over that time period, according to the company’s 2012 combined annual report and corporate sustainability report. In 2011, AEP emitted 136 million metric tons of carbon, up from 134 million metric tons in 2010. [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/09/aep-sustainability-report-carbon-emissions-rise-1-5-revenues-up-4-8/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/08/nrel-unveils-more-accurate-energy-project-emissions-calculator/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/08/nrel-unveils-more-accurate-energy-project-emissions-calculator/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 16:12:45 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=75985 Cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas emissions from solar photovoltaics are about 5 percent of those from coal; wind and solar are about equal in emissions; and nuclear energy is on a par with renewable energy, according to a new study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which claims to use a more precise method for calculating life [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/08/nrel-unveils-more-accurate-energy-project-emissions-calculator/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/27/tool-to-determines-solar-and-wind-energy-potential-of-contaminated-sites/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/27/tool-to-determines-solar-and-wind-energy-potential-of-contaminated-sites/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:50:55 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=75249 Companies have a new way to determine the feasibility of on-site renewable energy, after the EPA launched a tool to test vacant and contaminated land for solar and wind energy potential. The alternative energy “decision trees,” developed by the EPA and the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), give landowners, communities and [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/27/tool-to-determines-solar-and-wind-energy-potential-of-contaminated-sites/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/23/why-congress-cant-kill-the-ptc/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/23/why-congress-cant-kill-the-ptc/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:53:40 +0000 Chad Hall http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74287 The wind power production tax credit (PTC) has survived multiple extensions since its inception in 1992, and now it requires support more than ever before. In February, the alternative energy sector experienced a devastating setback when Congress opted not to extend the PTC, threatening domestic innovation as well as tens of thousands of American jobs. [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/23/why-congress-cant-kill-the-ptc/feed/ 2 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/19/mcdonalds-unveils-sustainable-practices/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/19/mcdonalds-unveils-sustainable-practices/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:21:29 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74679 Fast food chain McDonald’s has employed techniques including $500 staff incentives, 30 percent wind power requirements and lightweight tractor-trailers to help green up its operations, according to a report by the company. McDonald’s Global Best of Green 2012 details examples of company programs around the world aimed at energy saving, waste reduction and other environmental [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/19/mcdonalds-unveils-sustainable-practices/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/13/policy-enforcement-briefing-eu-aviation-law-carbon-permits-ghg-targets-gulf-sheen/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/13/policy-enforcement-briefing-eu-aviation-law-carbon-permits-ghg-targets-gulf-sheen/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:10:08 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74180 Here’s the latest policy, enforcement and legal news affecting corporate environmental and energy executives. Today’s briefing includes 11 items. India’s environment minister called the EU aviation law on carbon emissions a deal-breaker for global climate talks. and joined China in barring its carriers from participation. The European Commission president hinted that the EU could to drop [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/13/policy-enforcement-briefing-eu-aviation-law-carbon-permits-ghg-targets-gulf-sheen/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/13/clean-energy-records-lowest-quarter-of-investment-since-2009/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/13/clean-energy-records-lowest-quarter-of-investment-since-2009/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:25:18 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74210 After clocking up a record in 2011, new financial investment in clean energy in Q1 2012 was the weakest since the depths of the financial crisis in Q1 2009, according to analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. New financial investment was down 28 percent from Q4 2011 to just $27bn; it was 22 percent lower [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/13/clean-energy-records-lowest-quarter-of-investment-since-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/12/standards-compliance-briefing-energy-star-buildings-windmade-corrugated-packaging-weee/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/12/standards-compliance-briefing-energy-star-buildings-windmade-corrugated-packaging-weee/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:50:20 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74117 Here’s the latest standards and compliance news affecting corporate environmental and energy executives. Today’s briefing includes nine items. The newly released list of U.S. cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings for 2011 is led by Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Riverside, Calif. and Boston. Through 2011, the [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/12/standards-compliance-briefing-energy-star-buildings-windmade-corrugated-packaging-weee/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/11/ge-pushes-gm-to-second-place-in-2011-u-s-cleantech-patents/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/11/ge-pushes-gm-to-second-place-in-2011-u-s-cleantech-patents/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:43:10 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=74012 GE led companies securing U.S. patents for clean energy technologies in 2011, with 184, pushing last year’s top company GM down to second place with 127, according to a report from the cleantech group of Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. Clean tech patents reached an all-time high of 2,331 in 2011, rising by 450 [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/11/ge-pushes-gm-to-second-place-in-2011-u-s-cleantech-patents/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/09/renewables-briefing-riverside-8minutenergy-cogenra-solar-mlb-teams/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/09/renewables-briefing-riverside-8minutenergy-cogenra-solar-mlb-teams/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:00:15 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=73772 Here’s the latest news on renewable power installations, contracts, financing and permits affecting corporate environmental and energy executives. The recently-completed $42 million Riverside Renewable Energy project at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, N.J., received a $11 million federal tax credit Thursday. Along with the federal Section 48 Investment Tax Credit, the project is also [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/09/renewables-briefing-riverside-8minutenergy-cogenra-solar-mlb-teams/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/02/renewable-energy-is-no-longer-a-pipe-dream/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/02/renewable-energy-is-no-longer-a-pipe-dream/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:20:24 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=73328 In October 2011, the global population reached seven billion. It is on its way to more than nine billion, and it took only a dozen years to add the last billion. While the population explodes and economies grow, a significant number of people are becoming increasingly affluent. With money to spend, they simply consume more. More [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/02/renewable-energy-is-no-longer-a-pipe-dream/feed/ 2 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/30/policy-enforcement-briefing-va-offshore-wind-big-oil-repeal-fails-germany-cuts-solar-tariffs/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/30/policy-enforcement-briefing-va-offshore-wind-big-oil-repeal-fails-germany-cuts-solar-tariffs/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:25:27 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=73145 Virginia has approved a plan for the installation of a single 5 (MW) wind turbine off its coast. If it clears federal approval, construction of the 479-foot tall Gamesa turbine in the lower Chesapeake Bay could be the first offshore wind turbine in the U.S, Renewable Energy World writes. The Senate turned back a Democratic [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/30/policy-enforcement-briefing-va-offshore-wind-big-oil-repeal-fails-germany-cuts-solar-tariffs/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/26/sap-sustainability-report-ghgs-up-8-but-down-6-relative-to-sales/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/26/sap-sustainability-report-ghgs-up-8-but-down-6-relative-to-sales/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:18 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=72623 Software corporation SAP emitted eight percent more greenhouse gases in 2011 than 2010, its first year-on-year rise in such emissions since 2007, but its emissions per euro of revenue were down six percent, according to the company’s 2011 sustainability report. In 2011, the company emitted 490 kTons of CO2, up from 453 kTons in 2010. [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/26/sap-sustainability-report-ghgs-up-8-but-down-6-relative-to-sales/feed/ 0