The pace of approvals for solar and wind projects in the U.S. is picking up under the Obama administration, with two new plants in California and Oregon winning approval. The Interior Department says it has now pushed through 27 renewable-energy projects totaling 6,500 megawatts since 2009, compared with about 1,800 megawatts in all prior years, the result of more staff working on a fast-tracked permitting process. “When we came to the Department of Interior almost three years ago, there was very little going on with respect to renewable energy,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said recently. Energy projects must get federal permits if they are built on public land or if their transmission lines pass through a federal right of way. Most wind projects aren’t located on public land, but some big U.S. solar and geothermal power plants are being built on public lands in the West. Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, which oversees public lands, has fewer employees overall than it had in 2009, but more of its staff now work on renewable energy. The result has been an increase in approvals. [Read this article]
Wind And Solar Projects Advance On A Fast Track
Date: 01/03/2012 | Source: The Wall Street Journal 
Survey: People Want More Green Homes
Date: 12/22/2011 | Source: Jetson Green
It turns out that a green, energy efficient home built with sustainable materials is “most wanted,” according to a Yahoo! Real Estate survey of 1,500 current and aspiring homeowners. Homeowners prefer a green home (50%) over a custom home (38%), water view (38%), suburb (31%), or living on the beach (27%). Yahoo! found that homeowners don’t want urban locations, gated communities, or castle-style homes. Only 5% consider a tiny house to be a “dream house,” while only 10% want an ultra-modern home with glass walls. When asked about the top reasons for moving, survey respondents said they want a home that suits their style (47%), that’s larger (45%), that suits a life stage (44%), or that’s in a better neighborhood (30%). About 27% would consider it a top reason to move when the home is “more environmentally sustainable.” [Read this article]
Should Clark Griswold Have Switched To LED Christmas Lights?
Date: 12/22/2011 | Source: Greentech Media
Clark Griswold has a lot on his plate. After all, planning the perfect family Christmas is nearly impossible, as he finds out in what many argue is the best Christmas movie of all time: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Hats off to the Griswolds for getting a real tree instead of using a fake one, as a real Christmas tree is a more sustainable option than a plastic tree. But why stop there? With his bonus check already spent before it arrives, should Clark Griswold consider switching to LED Christmas lights (assuming it’s not still 1985) to stop his electric meter from spinning out of control? The good news for Clark’s son Rusty is that with LED lights, even if one of the bulbs is out, the rest of the strand will still work. The popularity of LEDs has been growing year over year, with GE seeing about 30 percent growth in sales each year and LEDs claiming about half of the market. Although not having to toss an entire strand when one light goes out is tempting, the real appeal of LED lights is the clean, bright light for 80 percent less energy. [Read this article]
Has The Sun (Finally) Set On Suburban Sprawl In California?
Date: 12/22/2011 | Source: GreenBiz.com
A new study issued this month by the Urban Land Institute confirms what many living in California already know – sprawl has had its heyday, and more and more people are choosing to live closer to where they work and play. The study finds that Generations X and Y – which will dominate market demand in the coming decades – don’t want to live in far flung housing developments that require a car and long commutes to work, school or to run errands. By comparing 2010 supply of different housing types to 2035 projected demand in Calfiornia’s four largest regions – Sacramento, the Bay Area, Southern California, which includes Los Angeles, and San Diego – the report makes some stunning observations about the direction future growth should take to help the housing market recover. Right now, California’s four largest regions are analyzing and adopting plans to shape their regions and accommodate growth through 2035 through the creation of their Sustainable Communities Strategies. In a fortunate convergence of market trends and policy goals, the report finds a “directional alignment between the real estate preferences expressed by consumers and the greenhouse gas reduction objectives expressed by the state of California in the form of Senate Bill 375.” [Read this article]
Treasury Building Earns A Green Honor
Date: 12/22/2011 | Source: The Washington Post
Folks at the Treasury Department deal with a lot of green – and now they officially work in a green building. The Department’s 142-year-old headquarters, located next to the White House, has earned a LEED Gold certification, making it the oldest building in the world to earn the distinction. Treasury officials said the department spent about $700,000 on LEED-related improvements in recent years, including the installation of low-flow faucets, waterless urinals, lighting sensors and high-efficienty water heaters. Such changes are needed in order for an older building to earn the gold ranking. “The fact that the home of much our nation’s financial history has achieved this distinction for environmental leadership adds new meaning to the term ‘green’ building,” said Assistant Treasury Secretary Dan Tangherlini. “We’re proud of the improvements we’ve made around the Treasury Building – both big and small – to help reduce our environmental footprint and save taxpayer dollars.” The Treasury is spending $3.5 million less in building costs annually, officials said. [Read this article]
Congress’ Bill May Slow Switch To Efficient Light Bulbs
Date: 12/22/2011 | Source: USA Today
Congress’ move to save Thomas Edison’s 131-year-old incandescent light bulb from a federally required phaseout, slated to begin Jan. 1., may slow but not halt the nation’s switch to more efficient lighting. The Senate and House passed a massive spending bill that includes a measure barring the Department of Energy from enforcing more efficient light bulb rules. Those rules, requiring bulbs use at least 25% less energy, do not ban all incandescents but phase out Edison’s bulbs in favor of the more efficient halogen incandescent, the CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) or LED (light emitting diode). In recent years, U.S. lighting manufacturers have rolled out an increasing array of more efficient light bulbs that are gaining market share. While these bulbs have higher upfront costs, they save consumers money in the long run by using less energy. [Read this article]
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