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Archive for the ‘Environmental Topics’ Category
Made in the USA. Made in Canada, Mexico, China. WindMade? Now in additon to knowing where a product was made, you will know the energy source. Windmade announced a new product label at the World Future Energy Summit this week, which will inform consumers which products were made with wind energy.
First the logo – then the standard. What are the standards for the new certification? The standards for the verification and certification are in the developmental stage and loosely follow this schedule:
- January 2011 – Logo announced
- March 2011 – “Public Consultation” and input for “WindMade” standard
- June 15, 2011 – WindMade certification program begins
Will “Made by the Sun” be next?
Cut the cost of solar power in half by 2015. Cut the cost of batteries for electric vehicles by 70 percent between 2009 and 2015. Double U.S. renewable energy generation and manufacturing capacity by 2012. According to a new report announced by Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday, “The Recovery Act: Transforming the American Economy through Innovation“, the U.S.A. is on track to achieve these goals and more. The renewable energy initiative alone equates to boosting as much renewable energy output in the next three years as we did in the previous thirty years. The recovery act is creating new jobs, redirecting the energy economy, and accelerating scientific advances in new energy development.
The Clean Air Act of 1970 was enacted a couple years ago. OK, it was 40 years ago. We talk today of environmental goals for 2020 and beyond. Sometimes, goals of 10-40 years hence sound like another lifetime. Clearly, the proposed goals are scheduled in a time frame we cannot relate to. Perhaps the deadlines are projected to dates we never expect to meet? However, there is a success story we should acknowledge and build upon. The St. Paul Pioneer Press illustrated this point recently. Many of us tend to believe the the air we breath is not improving. IT IS improving in Minnesota and very likely in many other states. No, it’s not what we hoped for in the short term. However, progress is progress at any pace. Let’s celebrate the progress we have made so far!
Conservation groups are recruiting volunteers to help with the clean up. Volunteers are needed in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The Audubon Society , Alabama Coastal Foundation, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Mobile Baykeeper, Save Our Seabirds, National Wildlife Federation, and Global Green are mobilizing volunteer efforts.
