Posts Tagged ‘From’

Environment Agency: Four skips of rubbish removed from River Welland

Posted by admin on February 4th, 2012

Workers from the Environment Agency have recently removed four skip-loads of rubbish from the River Welland and Coronation Channel in and around Spalding.

The rubbish and debris is normally below the water line. However, lower water levels – which are necessary while the flood defence piles through Spalding are being refurbished – has made much more rubbish visible.

Items taken from the river have included tyres, traffic cones, shopping trolleys, motorcycles and a bed.

Alec Ambridge-Richardson, Operations Delivery Team Leader, said: “Our works to refurbish the piling have included painting sections that would normally lie below the water’s surface. This has meant we have had to lower the river level to carry out the works.

“As a result, we have taken the opportunity to remove a large volume of rubbish from the river while the works are taking place. Clearing submerged items is not routinely undertaken by the Environment Agency unless they are likely to increase flood risk. On this occasion, however, we decided to act early to prevent any potential for future issues.” 

Rubbish will continue to be cleared from the River Welland over the next week.

The Environment Agency began painting the steel piling which supports the banks of the river at the end of August 2011. The works are expected to be completed in March.

The painting is being carried out from a floating pontoon to allow easy access to the 50-year-old piles. Protective booms are in place to reduce the risk of the bitumen paint entering the water.

A navigation restriction is in place on the river between Fulney Lock, Spalding, and Deeping St James, until 26 March 2012.

Boaters should be aware of the lower water level and avoid the edges of the river where it is likely to be most shallow.

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Defra: Publication of the statistical release on air quality statistics in the UK from 1987 to 2011 – Provisional results

Posted by admin on February 2nd, 2012

Defra has published provisional figures for annual UK air quality up to 2011, showing average concentrations of particulates and ozone –  the two pollutants thought to have the greatest health impacts.  The statistics also report the average number of days when pollution was moderate or higher.

Full statistical release can be found at: Air quality statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2011 – Provisional

Page published: 2 February 2012

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Atlanta Airport Marriott at Gateway Center Earns Silver LEED® Certification from The U.S. Green Building Council

Posted by admin on February 2nd, 2012

ATLANTA–()–The Atlanta
Airport Marriott Gateway (NYSE:MAR), adjacent to one of the world’s
busiest U.S. airports and home to the Georgia International Convention
Center, recently earned Silver LEED® (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) certification by the United States Green
Building Council (USGBC). The eco-savvy, 403-room property is among the
greenest hotels in the city and is one of only 41 LEED Silver hotels for
new construction in the U.S. to earn this level of accreditation. “We
are proud of this outstanding achievement in being recognized as an
environmental leader,” stated Robert Woolridge, General Manager. “Our
contributions in making the environment a healthier place by reducing
waste, conserving energy and water and using “green power” provided by
the city of College Park are paying off and will continue for years to
come.”

“Our
contributions in making the environment a healthier place by reducing
waste, conserving energy and water and using “green power”

The Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway was created with ten percent of
recycled materials and a landscape and irrigation design that reduces
water consumption by 50 percent. The hotel uses 30 percent less water
and 28 percent less energy than a non-LEED hotel. Twenty percent of all
hotel supplies are sourced locally, within a 500-mile radius, and a
white roof reduces heat absorption. The venue uses non-coal produced
energy, low-flow plumbing and shower fixtures, energy efficient lighting
and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, sealants and carpets.

The property regularly monitors and tests indoor air quality to ensure
the best level and provide guests access to thermostats to control
personal environments. Additionally, guest will discover recycling in
centralized locations, hybrid rental cars, premium parking spaces for
low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles, paperless billing, green
meeting options and materials.

The U.S.
Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders
from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are
environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and
work.

Be transported via ATL SkyTrain, a complimentary light rail line
departing Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and enjoy the two
minute journey to a vibrant, mixed use destination connected by a
covered walkway to the adjacent Georgia International Convention Center.
Together, both venues provide 321,000 square feet of meeting space. For
reservations call (404) 763-1544, or visit www.atlantaairportmarriottgateway.com.

For more information about our sustainability efforts visit www.marriott.com/environment.

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Arizona’s Buckeye Union High School District Dedicates 4.29-Megawatt Solar Generation Project from Constellation Energy

Posted by admin on January 31st, 2012

BALTIMORE & BUCKEYE, Ariz.–()–Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) and the Buckeye Union High School
District, today announced the completion of an aggregate 4.29-megawatt
(DC) solar
generation project. Baltimore-based Constellation
Energy’s retail business owns and will maintain the solar power
systems. In return, the school district will purchase and receive all of
the electricity generated by the solar panels at a fixed rate from
Constellation Energy under a 25-year solar services agreement.

“This addition will play an important role
in meeting the district’s electricity needs and will serve as an
educational tool for our students to learn about solar energy
production.”

Located at three sites — Buckeye Union High School and Youngker High
School in Buckeye, Ariz. and Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear,
Ariz. — the installations collectively generate enough electricity to
power the three high schools, meeting up to 70 percent of the school
district’s electricity needs.

The installations, which were developed by GV Enterprises and
REgeneration Finance and built by CORE Construction, were facilitated,
in part, by the Arizona Corporation Commission-approved APS
Renewable Energy Incentive Program. This program offers financial
incentives, covering up to 40 percent of the installation costs, to
customers who add renewable energy systems to their homes or businesses.

In honor of the solar project completion, a celebration and
ribbon-cutting were held today at Buckeye Union High School. Students as
well as representatives from Buckeye Union High School District,
Constellation Energy, APS, GV Enterprises, REgeneration Finance, CORE
Construction and elected officials were on hand for the event, including
Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck.

“We’re pleased to celebrate the addition of three solar installations in
our school district,” said Dr. Beverly Hurley, superintendent of Buckeye
Union High School District. “This addition will play an important role
in meeting the district’s electricity needs and will serve as an
educational tool for our students to learn about solar energy
production.”

The solar power systems are comprised of approximately 15,468
photovoltaic panels, located on 29 carport rooftop structures and on two
ground-mounted installations. The project is expected to generate more
than 7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Generating the
same amount of electricity using nonrenewable sources would result in
the release of 3,875 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent
emissions from 760 passenger vehicles annually, according to U.S. EPA
data for the Arizona region.

“Constellation Energy congratulates Buckeye Union High School District
for its commitment to renewable energy and is proud to have worked with
REgeneration Finance, CORE Construction and APS to make this project a
reality,” said Michael D. Smith, senior vice president of green
initiatives for Constellation Energy’s retail business. “Solar as a
power-generation source helps schools control operating costs by
providing a fixed electricity rate over the long term, while
demonstrating to students, faculty and the community the ways that clean
energy resources benefit the environment.”

Constellation Energy currently owns and operates more than 100 megawatts
of solar
installations that have been completed or are under construction for
commercial and government customers throughout the United States. By
structuring its solar projects as solar services agreements or power
purchase agreements, Constellation Energy requires no upfront capital
from its customers and is able to provide power at a fixed cost that is
less than projected market rates.

Commercial customers, universities, school systems, hospitals and
government agencies interested in on-site solar installations of 1
megawatt or larger may contact Constellation Energy at [email protected]
or 1-877-427-2005.

To watch a brief video about Constellation Energy’s solar power systems,
please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyaXDmgM55M.

About Constellation Energy

Constellation Energy (www.constellation.com)
is a leading competitive supplier of power, natural gas and energy
products and services for homes and businesses across the continental
United States. It owns a diversified fleet of generating units, totaling
approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a leading
advocate for clean, environmentally sustainable energy sources, such as
solar power and nuclear energy. The company delivers electricity and
natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its
regulated utility in Central Maryland. A FORTUNE 500 company
headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy had revenues of $ 14.3
billion in 2010.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50151722&lang=en

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Worldwide Revenue from Microgrids Will Reach $17.3 Billion by 2017, According to Pike Research

Posted by admin on January 30th, 2012

BOULDER, Colo.–()–Microgrids, or integrated systems in which distributed energy
resources (DERs) operate as a single, autonomous grid either in parallel
to or isolated from the existing utility power grid, offer customers and
distribution utilities a host of new ways to bolster reliability and
manage variable, bidirectional resources. In addition,
their smaller scale results in far fewer line losses, a lower demand on
transmission infrastructure, and the ability to rely on more localized
sources of power generation. All of these benefits are
stimulating increased demand for microgrids on a worldwide basis, in a
range of application scenarios including campus environments, military
operations, remote/off-grid settings, community/utility systems, and
commercial and industrial markets. According to a new
report from Pike
Research, microgrid capacity worldwide will experience
a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 22% over the next five
years, reaching 4.7 gigawatts by 2017. That represents
$ 17.3 billion in annual worldwide revenue by the same year, the
cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts.

“Several new players have recently entered the microgrid market,
signaling that a new race is on to take advantage of the significant
opportunity that microgrids represent on a worldwide basis”

“Several new players have recently entered the microgrid market,
signaling that a new race is on to take advantage of the significant
opportunity that microgrids represent on a worldwide basis,” says senior
analyst Peter Asmus, “most notably ABB, the Swiss industrial giant that
is a leading player in transmission and distribution infrastructure, and
Boeing, the veteran defense contractor that is engaging with Siemens in
a strategic alliance to serve the U.S. military, as well as San Diego
Gas & Electric – one of the leading utilities in this space – and Green
Energy Corporation, which is addressing the interoperability of various
controls and communications platforms being deployed for microgrids.”

Microgrids still face significant barriers to wide scale adoption.
As of 2012, not a single national government has developed an
integrated or comprehensive policy creating a viable, vibrant market for
customer-driven microgrids. With the exception of Denmark,
few other countries are even examining the complex policy issues
involved when aggregating DERs not owned by utility companies on a broad
scale. While North America is still clearly the leader in
terms of planned capacity, the developing world remains the most
promising long-term market. In particular, the
remote/off-grid segment has emerged as the clear leader in terms of
revenue and is arguably the most mature in terms of commercial status.

Pike Research’s report, “Microgrids”,
analyzes the global market opportunity for microgrids across five key
application segments: campus, military, remote, community,
and commercial & industrial. The report provides a
comprehensive assessment of the demand drivers, business models, policy
factors, and technology issues associated with the rapidly-developing
market for microgrids. Key industry players are profiled in
depth and worldwide revenue and capacity forecasts, segmented by
application and region, extend through 2017. An Executive
Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that
provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The
company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis,
end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of
technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy,
Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings
sectors. For more information, visit www.pikeresearch.com
or call +1-303-997-7609.

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American Water Awarded Research Grant From WateReuse Research Foundation

Posted by admin on January 27th, 2012

VOORHEES, N.J.–()–American
Water (NYSE: AWK), the nation’s largest publicly traded water
utility, announced today it has been awarded a research grant from the
WateReuse Research Foundation to develop best management practices to
control potential health risks and other issues associated with storage
and distribution of reclaimed water.

“This research will provide the reuse industry with tools to identify
and optimize processes responsible for these issues, in turn, helping to
promote public acceptance and support for various reuse applications
including flushing, heating/cooling, irrigation, and industrial
applications.”

The project, valued at $ 377,578, will utilize “Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Process” as a basis to prioritize water quality
parameters that impact aesthetic and water quality issues during storage
and distribution of reclaimed water. Water quality information will be
supplemented with extensive case studies, using the company’s
geographically dispersed systems, to define best management practices.

“Complex interactions during storage and distribution can create
health-related and aesthetic issues that have a tremendous impact on
acceptance of reclaimed water by the end-user,” said Dr. Mark
LeChevallier, Director of Innovation and Environmental Stewardship.
“This research will provide the reuse industry with tools to identify
and optimize processes responsible for these issues, in turn, helping to
promote public acceptance and support for various reuse applications
including flushing, heating/cooling, irrigation, and industrial
applications.”

The project team will consist of LeChevallier as Principal Investigator,
with American Water’s Dr. Zia Bukhari and Dr. Patrick Jjemba, serving as
Co-Principal Investigators.

About the WateReuse Research Foundation

The WateReuse Research Foundation is an educational, non-profit public
benefit corporation that serves as a centralized organization for the
water and wastewater community to advance the science of water reuse,
recycling, reclamation and desalination. The Foundation sponsors applied
research which addresses the full range of scientific, technical,
policy, and social science issues related to water reuse and
desalination. For more information, visit www.watereuse.org.

About American Water

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S.
water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees,
N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who
provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to
approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states and parts of
Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.

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From Concept to Commercialisation of Research

Posted by admin on January 27th, 2012

The BES, together with the Biochemical Society, hosted another successful Policy Lunchbox at Charles Darwin House yesterday. The guest speaker was David Bott, Director of Innovation Programmes at the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) who delivered an engaging talk on the process of turning innovative ideas into real products and services. David identified a number of barriers to this progression and outlined how the TSB is working to address them.

One of the biggest issues is the significant risk involved in pursuing innovative ideas as well as a lack of long-term support for innovative projects due to a demand for immediate returns on investments. There is also a lack of long-term political planning. The UK Government does not harness its considerable market influence, which has the potential to drive innovation in its suppliers through forward-thinking procurement and regulation, alongside tax breaks to encourage investment in certain technologies. Since its creation, the TSB has developed a ‘toolbox’ of solutions to these barriers including providing coherent, long-term support to those involved in innovation and encouraging knowledge exchange, for example by hosting ‘Missions’ to introduce innovators to potential competitors, funders and collaborators, and creating _connect, an online social network.

The environment presents an important area in which innovation is key and David stated that the TSB has identified energy and food production as major markets for the coming years due to the considerable logistical challenges they pose. The need to double food production by 2050 will require significant innovation in agriculture, whilst increasing energy production without worsening damage to the environment will require novel design and planning. In response to this energy challenge, one of TSB’s ‘Catapult’ technology and innovation centres will focus on Offshore Renewable Energy. Sustainability, although a relatively small proportion of the budget, is a specific, dedicated programme within TSB and underpins all of the board’s work.

Already, TSB’s work has contributed to innovative environmental projects. A Demonstrator Project (designed to encourage further innovation in the sector) tested consumer responses to newly introduced electric cars, measuring their habits, attitudes and opinions of the vehicles when using them for a year. Another scheme – Retrofit for the Future – used innovative technologies to adapt 118 social houses to reduce their carbon emissions by 80% and found significant energy and money savings for the residents.

With the Business Secretary Vince Cable MP announcing a further Catapult Centre yesterday and a range of funding opportunities and events planned for the new year, the TSB’s valuable work in driving innovation is set to continue.

David Bott’s presentation at the Policy Lunchbox was well received by all the attendees and led to some very interesting discussion afterwards.

We would like to thank David Bott for his participation today, and everyone who attended. The TSB report ‘Concept to Commercialisation’, which discusses the work of the TSB further is available online.

The next Policy Lunchbox event on 6th March will see Beck Smith, Assistant Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, discuss ‘how can the Government incentivise private sector investment in research and development?’ This event is full, but to join the waiting list contact James Lush at the Biochemical Society.

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The Economist backs moves to stop wrong-doers from hiding their ill-gotten gains

Posted by admin on January 23rd, 2012

Global Witness has long campaigned for companies to come clean about who actually owns them. In most countries in the world individuals can legally disguise their identities and their assets behind anonymous shell companies. This allows corrupt politicians, terrorists, organised criminals, among others, to hide their illicitly acquired wealth.

A leader in this week’s Economist calls for a change in the law to prevent this abuse.

“Anyone registering a limited company should have to declare the names of the real people who ultimately own it, wherever they are, and report any changes. Lying about this should be a crime. Some dodgy places will try to hold out. But anti-money-laundering rules show international co-operation can work. You can no longer open an account at a respectable bank merely with a suitcase of cash. Let the same apply to starting a limited company.”

In the same issue The Economist has an article describing the scale of the problem and how difficult it has been to date to close this damaging loophole, with international institutions and national governments failing to take responsibility.

“The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the world’s main anti-money-laundering body, is revamping a set of 40 recommendations to tighten rules on everything from tax dodging to terrorist financing. But reaching agreement on changes to ownership rules was particularly tricky and progress has been modest […] The wheels will grind on: FATF will evaluate progress (more rigorously, it says) and name and shame laggards. The European Union will shortly start work on a new anti-money-laundering directive, its fourth and toughest to date. But for the time being, self-interest has trumped efforts to clean up company law.”

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Attenborough urges business to protect nature from population

Posted by admin on January 18th, 2012
  • Lewis Smith
    • Crowded beach by the East Pier in Brighton
    A crowded beach in Brighton … the earth’s population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050. Photograph: Paul Carstairs/Alamy

    Sir David Attenborough has called on big businesses to protect the natural world from the rapidly expanding human population.

    The broadcaster and naturalist said the population increase is unstoppable and that action must be taken to stop the natural world from being concreted over.

    Distancing himself from conservationists who regard big businesses as the enemy, he said companies and corporations, as the holders of much of the world’s wealth, have a vital and leading role to play.

    “It’s not a mystery. Wealth empowers,” he said. “And businesses have by no means been slow in helping. We’ve [conservationists] gone to multinationals over and over again.”

    He said there were exceptions, but that for the most part businesses that defiled the natural world in the 19th and to an extent the 20th century, such as by dumping waste in the sea, usually did so out of ignorance. “They didn’t know any better,” he said.

    But he warned: “We’ve got to such a situation and dense population that we can no longer make these mistakes. The warning is clear and the job of people in the media like me is to make sure the warning is understood.”

    The human population is calculated to have reached 7 billion last year, a decade after it reached 6 billion, and is forecast to continue to grow throughout the 21st century. By 2050, it is expected to have passed 9 billion.

    Rising population puts additional pressure on resources, especially food production, and the increased demand has contributed to higher prices.

    Attenborough, speaking at an event in London hosted by law firm Charles Russell for the World Land Trust, a charity for which he is patron, said the UK has already used up all its land and must make effective use of what it has got, such as by redeveloping brownfield sites.

    In other parts of the world, however, he believes there are large tracts of the natural world that can still be protected from development, such as tropical forests, mangrove swamps, bogs and high mountains.

    He said: “Without the natural world, mankind is doomed. We are dependent on the natural world for the very air we breathe and every particle of food we eat. Many people, including me, would say we are dependent on it for our very sanity.

    “We can accommodate that by looking after the natural world and making sure mankind doesn’t spread willy nilly over every square yard of the globe.”

    To save many of these areas from development that would destroy the natural ecosystem and wipe out many species of animals and plants, he called on businesses to help buy the land.

    To avoid criticisms of “neo-colonialism”, he called on them to hand the land over to local organisations that will protect it while providing jobs for people living in the area.

    Attenborough told an audience of lawyers, city investors and business people: “Since I became involved in conservation the population of the world has tripled. Nothing we can do will stop that increase. We may be able to slow it, but stop it in our lifetimes we cannot.”

    He added that in the past the attitude has been simply to move on when a resource is used up: “We’ve been grossly extravagant. We’ve been brought up in the time when if one bit of land is ruined we get another.

    “I think it’s about time we dealt with this in a sensible way and we don’t waste land.”

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    enXco Acquires Texas Wind Development Assets From Cielo Wind Power

    Posted by admin on January 18th, 2012

    SAN DIEGO, CA–(Marketwire – Jan 18, 2012) – enXco, an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company, and Cielo Wind Power, LP (Cielo) announced today that enXco has signed a purchase agreement to acquire from a Cielo affiliate the development assets for the Spinning Spur Wind Project.

    The 161 megawatt (MW) Spinning Spur Wind Project spans 28,426 acres in Oldham County, Texas approximately 30 miles west of Amarillo. The project, consisting of 70 Siemens 2.3 MW turbines, will be constructed by Wanzek Construction Inc. with an anticipated start date of June 2012 and operational date of December 2012. The electricity generated will be sold to Southwestern Public Service Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy, in a previously executed power purchase agreement (PPA).

    “This is an exciting project for us,” commented Tristan Grimbert, President & CEO of enXco. “enXco has a proven track record as a successful Greenfield developer, however the current market situation and fast approaching expiration of the federal PTC (Production Tax Credit) program opens new opportunities to partner with strong developers like Cielo. After having evaluated this significant wind market on previous occasions, we believe now is the right time to enter the Texas market and Spinning Spur provides a perfect opportunity. We look forward to becoming a long-term trusted partner with the landowners, local community, and Southwestern Public Service Company.”

    “This project is a direct result of the job-creating Federal incentives for wind power that currently stand to expire at the end of 2012 and local incentives from Oldham County and area schools,” said Walter Hornaday, Chairman and President of Cielo. “Spinning Spur will deliver long term pollution free wind energy to Southwestern Public Service Company and trigger significant economic development through the creation of both Texas and New Mexico based construction jobs. We are pleased to work with enXco, a leading North American project developer and operations and maintenance company, to bring this valuable project to fruition.”

    About enXco – an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company:
    enXco (www.enxco.com) – an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company (www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com) develops, constructs, owns, operates and manages renewable energy projects throughout the United States. For more than two decades, we have been a leader in wind-energy focusing on large-scale wind projects. Today enXco’s portfolio includes solar and biomass technologies, in an effort to help drive our nation’s transition to a sustainable energy economy. enXco is a significant owner and developer of wind-energy installations in the United States, and is the leading third-party operations & maintenance provider for wind farms in North America.

    About Cielo Wind Power:
    Cielo Wind Power, LP (Cielo) is a private closely-held company based in Austin, Texas whose sole business is the development and operation of wind power facilities. Cielo is the largest independently-owned wind company in the U.S. Cielo has developed 1,395MW of projects in New Mexico and Texas over the past 11 years. “Wind Ranch” is a registered trademark of Cielo Wind Power, LP. www.cielowind.com

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