Mayor Bloomberg Plans to Convert Landfills to Solar Plants
New York City’s Mayor Micheal Bloomberg announced plans to build solar power plants on old landfills as a part of his PlaNYC initiative. The goal of PlaNYC is to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. About 250 acres of 3,000 will be converted to solar powerhouses. When all projects are operational, the landfills will generate enough electricity to power 50,000 homes. Mayor Bloomberg also outlined plans for the creation of NYC Energy Efficiency Corp., whose mission will be to fund renewable energy installations for property owners. The company will be funded using $37 million in federal stimulus money.
NPRA Responds to the President’s Oil Corruption Team
The National Petrochemical and Refiners Association quickly responded to President Obama’s intents to create a team to investigate corruption in the oil market and his call to bring oil and gas subsidies to an end. NPRA President Charles Drevna took a staunchly opposing view blaming the Obama administration’s policies for the high fuel prices the country’s dependence on foreign oil sources. He argued that the best way to relieve American consumers of high energy costs would be “to allow increased use of our own abundant domestic energy resources and lift burdensome environmental regulations”. President Obama, in his weekly address last week, announced that the Attorney General, along with a selected team, will look into allegations of price gauging and other corrupt measures possibly undertaken by oil companies. He also called for Americans to support his administration’s investment in renewable energies.
Hybrid Car Sales Increase
There has been a 46 percent increase in hybrid and clean diesel car sales, fueled by high gas prices and a recovering economy, in March 2011 as compared to last year, according to auto analyst firm Baum and Associates. Efficient cars now hold the same market share as “true” SUVs, at seven percent, the report said. Even used cars demonstrate greater demands for fuel-efficient cars over pickups and SUVs. The study showed that hybrids and clean diesels sold at three times the rate of the overall market compared to March 2010. Moreover, the demand for Toyota Prius models is increasing in both new and used car markets, according to the report.
Pennsylvania Energy Company Gives Back
A Pennsylvania utility launched its “Fueling Your Day with Love Campaign” to serve underprivileged children in the community. The Equitable Gas Company partnered with Pittsburgh McDonald’s restaurants to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh. The Ronald McDonald house provides temporary housing for families who have traveled in search of life-saving medical care for their children. Through Memorial Day, if customers buy 17 million ounces of drip coffee, the energy company will donate $17,000 to the charity.
BP Sponsors Research in the Gulf
A BP-sponsored research initiative in the Gulf of Mexico announced the availability of additional funding for projects that will study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred about one year ago. The spill was one of the worst in American waters and did unprecedented damage to wildlife and the environment. On May 24, 2010, BP announced $500 million over a 10-year period to create an independent research program, Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, to explore the effects of the spill. The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative is now offering $37.5 million per year to create four to eight Research Consortia to study the accident’s impact on the region
