World EcoNews

EU LEADS IN CLIMATE CHANGE HELP

The European Union's executive arm unveiled on 1/23/2008 details on how to slash greenhouse gas emissions by a fifth in 2020, including mandatory targets to produce renewable energy and curb industrial emissions. The European Commission said member states unable to meet mandatory renewables targets at home could pay other EU countries to install the likes of wind and solar power on their behalf. In a planned overhaul from 2013 of the EU's emissions trading scheme, covering high carbon-emitting industry, the Commission proposed to cut by 2020 the supply of emissions permits by 21 percent versus 2005 emissions. The Commission estimated revenue for member states from selling permits at 50 billion euros ($73 billion) a year by 2020 and urged them to use it to support clean technologies in Europe and developing countries.

WIND POWER GROWS IN 2007

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported last week record growth in wind power generation with 5,244 megawatts of capacity installed in 2007 - a 45% increase reflecting $9 billion in investment and 30% of all new power generating capacity in 2007. 2008, however, will likely show growing pains as there is a current shortage of wind turbines, a situation that the AWEA sees as a big opportunity for manufacturers and entrepreneurs wishing to get in on a growing market. There's always a better mouse trap - wind energy technology is ripe for imaginative innovators to not only fill the current need for parts, but to continually make those parts better. It is also time for government to step up to the plate and push forward in support of alternative energy in a big way. Congress is debating this week the future of alternative energy tax credits set to expire this year with no current provision for renewal. While the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 recently signed in Congress does provide $2 billion dollars in research for alternative energy, it still pales in comparison to subsidies given the fossil fuel industry.

GREEN BUSINESS NEWS

HYDROGEN-BURNING AIRPLANE GOES GREEN

The proposed future of air travel is quite a marvel. Seems unfathomable compared to the pollutant, oil-guzzling airliners of today. With the endless and testing delays, the awkward security, and greenhouse gas-emitting beasts, it's a wonder why solutions have not yet come to fruition.It just so turns out, it is all happening rather quickly behind the scenes. One proposed aircraft that seems wildly impossible is actually on the slate for possible funding for testing. The concept hypersonic jet has been developed by Reaction Engine and it is aptly called the A2. It is a Mach-5 (3,400 mph) wicked aircraft capable of holding 300 passengers and produces, get this, ZERO emissions!

HP INNOVATES CLOSED LOOP INKJET CARTRIDGE RECYCLING PROGRAM, GIVES PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES SECOND LIFE

In an industry first, HP today announced it has developed an engineering breakthrough that enables the use of post-consumer recycled plastics in the production of new Original HP inkjet print cartridges. More than 200 million cartridges have been manufactured using the process thus far. HP used more than 5 million pounds of recycled plastic in its inkjet cartridges last year, and the company is committed to using twice as much in 2008. The company's innovative recycling process facilitates the combination of multiple sources and grades of recycled plastics from everyday water bottles to highly technical HP inkjet cartridges. In addition to closing the design loop, using recycled content saves energy and keeps plastic out of landfills . Since piloting the process, HP has used enough recycled plastic to fill more than 200 tractor trailers.

GOOGLE HELPS BOOST GREEN TECHNOLOGIES

Google Inc is prepared to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in big commercial alternative-energy projects that traditionally have had trouble getting financing, the executive in charge of its green-energy push said on Wednesday. The Internet search giant, which has said it will invest in researching green technologies and renewable-energy companies, is eager to help promising technologies amass scale to help drive the cost of alternative energy below the cost of coal.

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