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Archive for the ‘Sustainability’ Category

Renewable Energy in the 50 States: Western Region

Friday, September 20th, 2013

AMERICAN COUNCIL ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
The western United States’ remarkable renewable energy resource availability, supportive policies, and well-developed supply chains have transformed western states into national leaders in renewable energy development. In 2012, the region attracted about half of the country’s combined venture capital, private equity and asset finance investment in the renewable energy sector, and produced approximately 31% of its total energy generation from renewable energy sources – compared to roughly 12% nationally (sources: Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) and Energy Information Administration (EIA)).

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Tags: ACORE, American Council on Renewable Energy
Posted in Energy, Environment, Infra Views, National, Sustainability

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Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration

Thursday, September 19th, 2013

Figure ES-2 The LACDA Project Under Construction, Downsteam of Arroyo Seco Confluence 1940

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
The Los Angeles River is the 51-milelong backbone of an 870 square mile watershed. It once anchored a vast system of riparian foothill, riverine and freshwater marsh habitat that carried seasonal rains and subterranean flows across the coastal plain to the Pacific Ocean. Over the last 150 years, the River has been degraded by a cycle of increasing urban development in the floodplain, flooding, and channelization, culminating in the mid-20th century with the construction of the Federal flood risk management project known as Los Angeles County Drainage Area (LACDA).

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Tags: ARBOR, CA, California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles River, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE
Posted in Infra Views, Local, Sustainability, Urban Planning

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Beyond Renewable Portfolio Standards

Friday, September 13th, 2013

NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Executive Summary Several Western states have renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements that have driven significant expansion of wind, solar, and geothermal power. This study examines the renewable energy resources likely to remain undeveloped in the West by the time all these requirements have culminated in 2025. Development beyond that point will […]

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Tags: Beyond Renewable Portfolio Standards, NREL
Posted in Clean Air, Climate Change, Competitiveness, Energy, Environment, Green, Infra Views, Smart Growth, Sustainability

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Guest on The Infra Blog: Rob Gramlich, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, American Wind Energy Association

Tuesday, September 10th, 2013

“If the wind stops blowing in one place it’s most likely blowing somewhere else around that region and therefore across the region, and these are regional electricity markets that we have in the country. Across the region wind itself is not variable…if you spread it out with transmission across such a wide region.”

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Tags: American Wind Energy Association, AWEA, Rob Gramlich, Turbines, Wind, Wind Energy
Posted in Clean Air, Energy, Funding, Guests on The Infra Blog, National, Private Investment, Sustainability, The Infra Blog

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Biodiesel in California: Companies Fueling Positive Change

Monday, September 9th, 2013

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS (E2)
Biodiesel is a renewable alternative to traditional diesel. It is made from feedstocks (raw materials) such as oils and recycled cooking grease, rather than fossil fuels. Biodiesel is commonly blended with traditional diesel, but is also sold in its pure form. It has considerably fewer emissions than its traditional counterpart and because much of the feedstock used in California is from the state, it reduces dependence on foreign sources. Successful growth of the companies profiled here demonstrates that the industry is creating jobs inCalifornia and growing the economy. EDF profiled one company to represent each step of the value chain:research and development, feedstock, collection, production, blending, and retail and distribution.

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Tags: Biodiesel, CA, California, E2, EDF, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Entrepreneurs
Posted in Energy, Environment, Infra Views, Private Investment, Sustainability

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Fracking Explained: Opportunity or Danger

Wednesday, September 4th, 2013

Fracking is a controversial topic. On the one side the gas drilling companies, on the other citizen opposed to this drilling method. Politicians are also divided on the matter. We try to take a neutral look on fracking. It is relevant for all of us, because of high prices for energy and the danger for […]

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Tags: Fracking, Opportunity or Danger, YouTube
Posted in Drinking Water, Energy, Environment, Green, Pollution, Show Us Your Infra, Sustainability, Water Treatment

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Maximizing Walkability, Diversity and Educational Equity in U.S. Schools

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013

POLICYLINK
CHANGELAB SOLUTIONS
With childhood obesity at an all-time high, many health advocates are calling for greater access to walkable schools as an important element of a comprehensive approach for addressing this epidemic. Children who can safely walk or bicycle to and from school can build physical activity into their daily routine. In 1969, about half (48 percent) of K-8th grade students walked or bicycled to school. By 2009, only 13 percent did so. Many factors, including schools’ locations, have led to this decrease in children walking and biking to and from school.

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Tags: ChangeLab Solutions, Livability, Nashville, Policylink, Tennessee, TN, Walkability
Posted in Infra Views, Schools, Sustainability

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Interactive Map: Clean Energy Jobs Across the Country

Friday, August 30th, 2013

Cleanenergyworksforus.org, started by Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) in August, 2013, aggregates clean energy job data from around the U.S. and makes the information available to the public along with articles, videos and other clean-energy media. Their interactive map is a great tool to see what’s happening in your state, region, or anywhere in the country.

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Tags: Clean Energy, cleanenergyworksforus.org, E2, Environmental Entrepeneurs, Texas, TX
Posted in Environment, National, Sustainability, The Infra Blog

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Guest on The Infra Blog: Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director, Coalition for Smarter Growth

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

“Citizens are critical and non-profit advocacy groups are particularly important. Frequently, the business community advocates for infrastructure investments, but I think you need a broader coalition and I think you need to have the conservation and smart-growth community, affordable-housing advocates, transit advocates and others at the table in advocating for infrastructure.”

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Tags: Arlington, Coalition for Smarter Growth, D.C., Stuart Schwartz, VA, Virginia, Washington
Posted in Buses, Guests on The Infra Blog, Rail, Smart Growth, Sustainability, The Infra Blog, Transit, Urban Planning

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