Tuesday, November 15, 2005

[Schools] Scientists from WMRC Visit MSHS On Wednesday, November 9th Dr. Tim Lindsey and his research associates visited the BSAA (Biological Science Applications in Agriculture) class at Mahomet-Seymour High School. During this class period, students were given a first-hand  demonstration on how grease can be converted into vegetable oil. This oil is then capable of providing the energy supply for various forms of diesel machinery. [Source: Mahomet-Seymour (IL) High School web site] 4:10:59 PM Google It!    [End-of-life automobiles] Argonne: Technology To Recycle Automotive Plastics Is Profitable, Good For Environment Recycling is not just good for the environment, it is good for business. The Argonne National Laboratory announced on Nov. 11 that researchers have developed a technology to successfully recover plastic from obsolete automobiles that may add plastic to the list of valuable materials recycled from old cars and trucks. [Source: Environmental Protection E-News] 4:08:34 PM Google It!    [Renewable energy] Renewables 2005: Global Status Report Global investment in renewable energy set a new record of $30 billion in 2004, according to a report produced by Worldwatch Institute for the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21). Technologies such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and small hydro now provide 160 gigawatts of electricity generating capacity, about 4 percent of the world total, the report finds. "Renewable energy has become big business," said Eric Martinot, lead author of Renewables 2005: Global Status Report. Martinot, who is a Senior Fellow at the Worldwatch Institute and a Lecturer at Tsinghua University in Beijing, notes that renewable energy is attracting some of the world's largest companies, including General Electric, Siemens, Sharp, and Royal Dutch Shell. The report estimates that nearly 40 million households worldwide heat their water with solar collectors, most of them installed in the last five years. Altogether, renewable energy industries provide 1.7 million jobs, most of them skilled and well-paying. Read the press release. Download the Renewables 2005: Global Status Report. (PDF) Download the notes and references for the report. (PDF) 4:06:36 PM Google It!    [Grants] Fund for Teachers The Fund for Teachers provides grants to classroom teachers who work with students in grades K-12 so that they may participate in training and enriching activities that will improve and enhance their skills and capacities as teachers. Applications will be accepted from teachers in 30 states and Washington, DC. Applicants must have a minimum of three years teaching experience and propose a summer activity that will make the applicant a better teacher. Teachers may apply as an individual or as a team. The application deadline is January 20, 2006. 4:01:42 PM Google It!    [Grants] Energy Foundation The Energy Foundation is a partnership of major foundations interested in sustainable energy. The Foundation's geographic focus is the United States, with special emphasis on regional initiatives. Local projects are not supported unless they have been consciously designed for further replication or have broad regional or national implications. Applications for grants are accepted in the following areas: power, buildings, transportation, national policy and analysis, and climate program. The Foundation's priority is providing resources to the institutions that most effectively leverage change. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year. 3:54:52 PM Google It!    [Biofuels] Partially Burning Biomass May Reinvent Agriculture Researchers say partially burning some of the residue left in corn fields (stalks, husks and cobs) after every fall's harvest produces products that can be used to improve soil fertility, boost in-soil storage of greenhouse gases and reduce the amount of natural gas used to produce anhydrous ammonia fertilizer. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com] 3:49:03 PM Google It!    [Biodiesel] Clarkson U. Research Improves Economics of Biodiesel The goal of NextGen Fuel Inc. is to build technology based on its research that will advance alternative energy production and create a more cost-effective approach to making biodiesel. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com] 3:47:48 PM Google It!    [Wind power] Illinois Launches Community-based Wind Power Loan Program Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced the launch of a $4 million Renewable Energy Development (RED) Fund that will support community-scale wind-energy projects throughout Illinois. The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) will work with community banks and lenders to provide loans and loan guarantees to qualified farmers and farmer co-operatives who construct wind turbine projects less than 20 MW in capacity. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com] 3:46:35 PM Google It!    [Paint] New Web Site Educates Consumers on Leftover Paint Reuse, Recycling Earth 911, a Web portal for local environmental information, has joined with the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) and the Product Stewardship Institute Inc. (PSI) to launch the Paint Wise consumer information portal (http://www.Paint.Earth911.org). [Source: Environmental Protection E-News] 3:33:32 PM Google It!    [Biodiesel] Green chemistry: Biodiesel made with sugar catalyst Masakazu Toda, Atsushi Takagaki, Mai Okamura, Junko N. Kondo, Shigenobu Hayashi, Kazunari Domen, and Michikazu Hara. "Green chemistry: Biodiesel made with sugar catalyst." Nature 438, 178 (2005). Abstract: The production of diesel from vegetable oil calls for an efficient solid catalyst to make the process fully ecologically friendly. Here we describe the preparation of such a catalyst from common, inexpensive sugars. This high-performance catalyst, which consists of stable sulphonated amorphous carbon, is recyclable and its activity markedly exceeds that of other solid acid catalysts tested for 'biodiesel' production. 3:10:22 PM Google It!    [Awards] 2006 Small Business Recognition Awards The National Steering Committee (NSC), representing the Small Business Ombudsman and Small Business Assistance Programs (SBO/SBAP) nationwide, in conjunction with the National Compliance Advisory Panel and US EPA's Office of Small Business Ombudsman, will be accepting nominations November 1, 2005 for the following award categories:       Small Business Assistance Program Award,       Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award, and       Trade Association Environmental Leadership Award. The NSC Awards Subcommittee is seeking nominations for the 2006 awards.  Nominations will be accepted starting November 1, 2005.  All nominations must be submitted by Tuesday, January 17, 2006, no later than 4:00 PM EST. This is the third year for these annual awards.  Past winners are not eligible.  Awards will be presented at the National SBO/SBAP Conference to be held at the Mt. Washington Resort in New Hampshire, March 26th - 30th, 2006. For more information about the awards and how to nominate a person, program, business or organization, visit http://www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org/sba/awards_smallbusiness_2006.html . For questions or more information about the 2006 awards, contact the Awards Subcommittee: Linda Hayes-Gorman Awards Subcommittee Chair Air Quality Business Assistance Program OR Dept. of Environmental Quality 2146 NE 4th Street Bend, OR  97701 Email: hayes-gorman.linda@deq.state.or.us Phone: (541) 388-6146, x274 Fax: (541) 388-8283 OR Amelia Gooding Awards Subcommittee Vice-Chair Small Business Environmental Assistance Program IL Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity 620 E. Adams, 4th Floor Springfield, IL  62701 Email: ag ooding@ildceo.net Phone: (217) 785-4557 Fax: (217) 557-2853 3:06:22 PM Google It!    [Biodiesel] The Biodiesel Band Bus Veggie buses are cool these days. Top players with biodiesel bus conversions include Neil Young, Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson. [Source: E -- The Environmental Magazine] 3:03:37 PM Google It!    [Biofuels] How the U.S. Biofuels Industry Relates to Indiana While the state of Indiana is poised on the leading edge of the emerging biodiesel market, according to a study commissioned by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, it also needs to anticipate the effects of a spike in ethanol production. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com] 2:58:36 PM Google It!    [Solar power] Two California Staples Stores Go Solar SunEdison and "SunE Solar Fund I" have financed and installed two solar power systems totaling 560 kW at two Staples, Inc. distribution facilities in Ontario and Rialto, California. SunE Solar Fund I is a $60 million fund created in June 2005, to install, own and operate the solar systems. The systems were designed and installed by BP Solar. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com] 2:57:36 PM Google It!    [Biodiesel] Sen. Obama Proposes National Renewable Biodiesel Standard Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) introduced legislation calling for a Renewable Diesel Standard that would require 2 billion gallons of diesel alternatives by the year 2015 to help lessen national dependence on foreign oil. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com] 2:56:23 PM Google It!    [Solar energy] How Much Will "Million Solar Roofs" Cost? The California Public Utilities Commission is now just weeks away from voting to create the largest solar program in the United States. If passed this "Million Solar Roofs" initiative would create a 10-year incentive program to increase and extend California's current solar programs, and achieve Governor Schwarzenegger's 3000 MW solar target -- equivalent to one million 3kW residential solar energy systems. But will the Commission provide adequate funding for the Million Solar Roofs Program? How much money is really necessary? What will it cost the average residential customer? [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com] 2:55:10 PM Google It!    [Schools] Midland School Receives National Schools of Character Award Midland School received a 2005 Promising Practices Award from the Character Education Partnership (CEP) recognizing K-12 schools and districts nationwide demonstrating outstanding character education. The CEP honors school initiatives that yield positive results in student behavior, school climate and academic performance and that emphasize core ethical values such as honesty, respect, responsibility and caring. For more information: School web site: http://www.midland-school.org/ Environmental projects: http://www.midland-school.org/environment.html  Organic garden: http://www.midland-school.org/garden.html 2:51:48 PM Google It!

© Copyright 2005 Laura L. Barnes. Last update: 12/2/2005; 9:58:43 AM.