3p Contributor: Shannon Arvizu
Recent Articles
Cap-and-Trade: The Real Deal from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce may actually have a better idea than a cap-and-trade bill for cutting emissions. And, contrary to popular opinion, they do recognize climate change and the need for clean tech development.
This past week I interviewed Dan Letourneau, the Communications Director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as part of a clean car web radio show called the EVCast. What I learned was quite surprising, given the amount of negative attention the Chamber has been getting lately from environmental groups and the green media.
It appears that the main reason the Chamber opposes a cap-and-trade bill in Congress is because it believes that it will not do enough to help businesses incorporate clean tech into their operations. It has issued an official statement detailing its position and has created an affiliate Institute for 21st Century Energy to develop what they call a “common sense energy strategy.” Letourneau remarked that the Chamber has, in fact, proposed 88 different policy recommendations to Congress that reflect real-world approaches to helping businesses curb emissions.
So – what is the real deal here? Is this just a facade to cover up prior opposition to clean energy…or does the Chamber have a valid point? As I’ve written on TheCleanDeal, a climate treaty should work directly to implement clean technology in the market place. A “cap-and-trade” bill does not necessarily lead to mass market clean tech outcomes. In fact, under Europe’s carbon market system, it has often been cheaper to buy credits than invest in clean tech to reduce GHG emissions.
New Book Gives the Low-Down on Green Business Models
There’s a lot of hype in this field about how “green is gold.” But there is little hard evidence that shows actual trends and models in green business operations. A new book, “Hybrid Organizations: New Business Models for Environmental Leadership,” aims to fill that gap by providing up-to-date analysis of green start-up firms.
Of course, we have to start with what makes a “hybrid organization.” The authors recognize that there are a lot names thrown around these days for classifying companies with an explicit social or ecological mission. They define a hybrid organization as “a market oriented, mission-centered organization which operates in the blurred space between for-profit and nonprofit enterprises.”
A123: The Hottest New Player in the Clean Stock Market
Reuters reported this morning that clean tech investments have risen substantially this year. In the third quarter report just released, there were 112 deals totaling $1.9 billion that included investments in solar power, smart grids, biofuels, green building materials, and electric car technology.
Much of this enthusiasm is believed to be led by a new IPO entry in the clean stock market, A123. A123 stock increased 50% since last week and it is billed as “the most attractive” of recent public offerings.
Triple Pundit Takes A Ride in Ford’s New Electric Cars
At Ford’s Drive Green Forum in New York City recently, Triple Pundit got a first-hand look at the company’s new electric vehicle offerings. I took the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the 2011 Ford all electric vehicle for a brief test drive. Both cars are part of Ford’s new electrification strategy for improving emissions and reducing oil consumption.
In terms of eco-performance and smart driver interaction experience, either of these vehicles could take the famed “Prius-Killler” title.
First, let’s look at fuel economy and energy usage. The Ford Fusion Hybrid gets 41 mpg in the city. Ford reports that this is “70 percent better than comparable non-hybrid models and 8 mpg better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid.”
Electric Cars for the Masses: Ford’s New Strategy
Major carmakers are in a head-to-head race right now to offer cleaner options for consumers and fleet managers. Ford is the latest to make an announcement that it will deliver affordable electric vehicle technology at high volumes in the next few years.
At Ford’s Drive Green Media Forum in New York City on Wednesday, Nancy Gioia (Director of Sustainable Mobility) repeatedly stated, “Electrification is not an option, it is the way forward.”
Up Close and Personal with Green Cars
Last Friday, Triple Pundit was invited to attend a unique event in the green car field. Consumer Reports brought together major automakers, entrepreneurial companies, and other electric vehicle innovators to display their latest clean technology vehicles to both print and online journalists. I had the opportunity to test some of these future cars on the Consumer Reports test track in Connecticut, including two fuel cell vehicles – the Chevy Equinox and the Honda FCX Clarity. We also engaged in a two-hour q&a discussion with automakers to discuss feasibility, projections, and tech specifics of the vehicles on hand. My favorite part of the event, however, was the opportunity to discuss the emergence of the Myers Motors NmG, a personal electric vehicle that is a resurrection of Lee Iacocca’s Sparrow.
Wanted: $21 Billion to Save Brazilian Rainforest
Can a new plan to halt deforestation of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest actually work? Last week, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a new international fund to raise money for sustainable forest projects. It is hoped that nations will donate a target amount of $21 billion over the next 13 years. Norway has been the first to commit with $100 million so far.
“We are conscious of what the Amazon represents for the world… It’s better for the country’s image to do things right, so we can walk in international forums with our heads high,” Lula said.
But the logic behind such a plan seems faulty. Global warming and the need for carbon sinks (in the form of rainforest vegetation) are cited as the main reasons for an international financial commitment to sustainable forestry projects. Brazil is only accepting money, however, if nations release any direction or accountability to how the funds will be spent.
10 Words or Less: Why Do You Think We Should End Oil Dependence?
Project Better Place is offering you a chance to make your own minifesto that explains why we should kick the oil habit. The enterprising electric vehicle company has already invited several influential people in the field to post their own version, including San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Check them out and add yours here.
The minifesto is part of a “creative challenge to inspire people to dig down and discover their core motivation for changing the direction of energy use on this planet,” writes Guryan Tighe of Better Place.
Green technology needs as many catch phrases and tag-lines as any other type of product, if not more. Such invitations to the public to contribute their own minifesto help to collectively build frames around green technology and generate greater resonance in the popular imagination.
So…what are your 10 words?
L.A. Joins the Ban on Plastic Bags – In 2010
L.A. is the latest city to pass an ordinance to ban plastic bags from retail shops. The City Council decided this week that shoppers in the municipality will bring their own bag for their goodies or pay a quarter for a paper or biodegradable bag. The city has cited the need to reduce cleanup costs and to reduce debris that collects in storm drains and the L.A. River. So, when does this pathbreaking decree take effect? July 1, 2010. Yes, that’s right. Two years from now. Why the two-year delay, L.A.?
No More Chocolate in 20 Years?
The cacao bean is in danger. The Nature Conservation Research Council (NCRC) recently announced that in 20 years time, “Chocolate will be much like caviar today.” So what’s the deal?
Unsustainable farming practices are to blame. Cacao typically grows in rainforest conditions with high biodiversity. Instead, farmers now clear the forest and use hybrid seeds to increase output over the short-term. Unfortunately, this leads to soil erosion and shorter lifespan of trees. Over time, this practice is predicted to lead to an overall shortage of cacao.
While many a chocoholic may lament this news, I wish to provide our readers with a little firsthand “reality check.” Most of the world’s cacao is grown in West Africa. While living in Ghana during my study-abroad year as an undergraduate, I was struck by the fact that, even though Ghana is a net exporter of cacao, most of the country’s inhabitants could not afford to purchase a Cadbury or Hershey’s bar. Although I shared many a fresh, delicious cacao fruit with my Ghanaian friends, actually eating a chocolate bar was considered a luxury.
For Ghanaians, “no chocolate 20 years from now” is now. Such reminders are necessary to place in perspective predictions of ecological change and impacts on human populations. While we, in wealthy, industrialized countries, may fear with trepidation the loss of resources and biodiversity associated with global warming, it is important to remember that half the world’s peoples are already living that reality.
Is Greenwashing Good?
Is greenwashing really a disinformation campaign by corporations trying to win over the conscious consumer? Or is it just part of the “growing pains” of becoming a sustainable company? Joel Makower, of Greenbiz.com, thinks it’s the latter. He writes,
“The rise of green marketing claims is a testament to how quickly being seen as green has become of importance to companies. Isn’t that what all of us wanted to see happen?”
Maybe…but maybe not.
Makower hints that greenwashing may eventually fade as corporations integrate environmental considerations more fully. It could be, however, that greenwashing is symptomatic of a larger corporate contradiction between economic growth and ecological integrity.
Socially Responsible Credit Cards: Do They Add Up?
Many readers of Triple P consider themselves socially-responsible investors. But what about socially-responsible creditors? How do banks use the profit they make from interest fees, late fees, annual fees, and balance fees? Which banks use our money to further projects of greater worth, and which invest in projects that degrade the plant and contribute to global income disparity? The cover story of this month’s Real Money, distributed by Co-op America, gives us the inside scoop on the best credit cards for our conscience. Many of these cards have great APR, no annual fee, and directly fund several social/eco endeavors.
What If Your Lawn Had Brains?
Water shortage is an an increasingly important issue in cities across the nation. More than half of all urban water is used on landscapes, much of which is wasted on overwatering. Municipalities are implementing new regulations to curb usage and increase prices. So, where does that leave business owners and homeowners who would still like to keep their properties pretty with fresh foliage?
WeatherTRAK offers an advanced smart irrigation system for commercial and home use. It automatically knows when to water and how much to water based on up-to-date weather information tracked by satellite, plant type, and soil gradient. The system saves water and eliminates property damage from overwatering. It also delivers real-time information about your system via the Internet. It’s like having your own personal meteorologist and landscape manager handle your lawn. The system averages a 2-year payback period and is already in use on several multinational company campuses.
Where’s My Wind? Outdated Grid Transmission in the U.S.
Wind energy is facing yet another obstacle in the U.S. This time it’s about transmission issues. How do we connect various renewable energy projects to our nation’s grid? Currently, the U.S. transmission grid needs serious upgrading to handle the additional input of energy. In the meantime, wind turbines slated for installation have been collecting dust instead. Last week, the U.S. Senate held their first hearing on renewable energy and transmission. Don Furman (President-elect of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and Chair of AWEA’s Transmission Committee) gave testimony at the hearing and proposed the following considerations to mobilize our leaders into action.
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