News Roundup
News Roundup for April 29
ELECTRIC TAXI HAILED
Tokyo's Electric Taxi
A California company is behind Japan’s first electric taxi. Better Place put the first of three such cabs on the streets of Tokyo this week, where it’s being used by the city’s largest taxi operator. The cab should go about 100 miles on a charge before pulling in to a switch station, where the depleted battery is swapped out for a fully charged one. Better Place said the procedure takes less time than gassing up.
OFFSHORE WIND
The United States is getting its first offshore wind farm. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced his approval of the Cape Wind project off of Cape Cod, Mass. The decision caps nine years of disputes over the controversial project, which will place 130 turbines rising some 400 feet above the ocean surface. Salazar said the carbon emission reductions from Cape Wind would be equivalent to 175,000 cars. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said, “America needs offshore wind power and with this project, Massachusetts will lead the nation.”
ENERGY DIET
What do a California J.C. Penney store, a North Carolina college dorm and a New York City office building have in common? They are among the 14 commercial buildings in 11 states competing in the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Building Competition. Selected from nearly 200 applications, the buildings will vie to cut the most energy use. “It’s time for buildings to tighten their belts and we’re happy to help them go on an energy diet,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation.
PARK RENEWABLES
Colorado’s state parks would be allowed to generate enough renewable energy to be self-sufficient and to sell excess power to utilities, under a bill moving through the legislature. The state House gave preliminary approval to a plan that would permit parks to produce as much as 120 percent of the energy they consume.
—Based on news and wire reports
Tags: News Roundup