News Roundup
News Roundup for April 29
SOLAR SCHOOLS
Muroc Schools solar
Being located in California’s Mojave Desert means you use a lot of air conditioning, and, hence, a lot of power. But it also means you can go solar. That’s what the Muroc Unified School District is doing. Solar installations have been put up at two schools and at the central office. Officials expect the total output of nearly 400 kilowatts will cover about 80 percent of the energy the school system uses.
TWO WHEEL ELECTRIC
Electric cars get a lot of attention, but a new report suggests that electric scooters and motorcycles are going to be extremely popular. Pike Research said that by 2017, the e-scooter market will reach 19.6 million. Most of those will be in Asia Pacific, which accounts for 98 percent of the global market. And by 2017 Pike expects 2.9 million e-motorcycles to be sold annually across the globe.
SMART JOBS
Smart grid might also be smart job creation policy. A new Duke University report finds that thousands of American jobs have already been added, with great potential for more. The report identifies 334 locations in 39 states currently developing or manufacturing smart grid products. “To make the most of job opportunities, the United States must continue pursuing the cutting edge of smart grid technologies, especially those needed for integrating renewable energy sources and electric vehicles into the grid,” said Marcy Lowe, the study’s lead author and a senior research analyst at Duke’s Center for Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness.
THEFT LAW REVISITED
Officials in Marion County, Fla., will revisit a proposed copper theft ordinance when they meet May 3. The recycling industry, and even some members of the county commission, were concerned that parts of the proposal went too far, so they tabled it at an earlier meeting. The measure would require buyers to get information from sellers, including height, weight, and hair and eye color. The information would have to be sent to the sheriff’s office daily.
—Based on news and wire reports
Tags: Copper Theft, Electric Vehicles, News Roundup, Solar Energy