Something has to be said, so I'll make it quick...one year later

On year ago one of the most tragic environmental travesties started to set in motion in the Gulf of Mexico. For months we watched as the Deepwater Horizon Oil Platform spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. After numerous failed attempts, the leak was eventually stopped, but the damage had been done.

For much of the public, this is where the story ended. There were months of outrage against BP and the Administration, the past Administration, and pretty much anyone else that had some sort of part in this whole mess. We saw live congressional hearings that taught us nothing, and saw pictures of oiled birds, dead dolphins, and oi balls on beaches. But then something amazing happened, the oil well was plugged, and the problem seemed to go away in the media and in the American conscious.

Please realize, that the problem is not gone. This post isn't to be a political rant or finger pointing, because that is not the spirit of this blog. Yet, on this day and the following months, please think aboutt the energy that you consume. How can you help us get off of oil, what can you do to tell elected officials what you think, how can you lower your own personal home oil and energy consumption. It is really easy to sit back and say the politicians aren't doing anything, but we can always look at our own products we have in our house, how we drive our car, if we drive our car, how much energy do we use at home, all of this adds up. If we can think about that today, and the coming months, we can make a difference, without the politicians, and each little step is at least a step, and many little steps can walk hundreds of miles.

---Justin J. Stewart

Sir Richard Branson decides to step into the high speed rail market, in America

The hopes for high speed rail in the United States has been kept together by various groups trying to keep awareness of the need for high speed rail in the American people's radar. Even though they have been raising millions of dollars for the projects, and the idea has been wildly talked about and promised with in the Obama administration, a name and a face behind high speed rail in America (and more importantly the capital), seems to have been missing after the past few years of promises, promotion, and hope.

Enter Sir Richard Branson. Chairman of Virgin Group, a collection of airplanes, music, and now spaceships, has decided that it is time to break into the American market, with high speed rail. Branson has taken on other various philanthropic efforts, including currently working on a Center for Disease Control in South Africa. Branson's spirit, past accomplishments (involvement with the X-prize), and his availably of large amounts of capital and investors, might just be what American high speed rail has ordered!

‘I think it’s important for the States’ and Federal government to help support these trains but it’s also important for companies like ours and other investors to be involved, too,’ explains Branson

Hear, hear! Welcome to American Sir Branson, Cheers!

whole article can be found:

here

---Justin J. Stewart

General Electric announces "laregest order in history" for electric vehicles

...link via Kevin Fretz

General Electrics has announced that that this week it will receive the "largest order in history" for their personal fleet of cars. GE does have some stake in this since they are one of the largest shareholders of the electric car battery supplier field, with their A123 lithium-ion battery system. GE's current fleet consists of 45,000 vehicles, and they expect that half of the vehicles will end up being electric vehincles. All though the average consumer is still warming up to the idea of electric vehicles, large businesses see the future cost-cutting benefits of using electric vehicles in their fleet. This is a bold and refreshing step to see large businesses helping spur on electric car growth.

Article from Greencarreports.com here:

GE's 'Largest Order in History' To Boost Electric-Car Market

---Justin J. Stewart (link via Kevin Fretz)

Football season starts tonight, and the Arizona Cardinals go green

...link via Angie Fretz

The NFL's season officially kicks-off tonight with Minnesota taking on New Orleans, in New Orleans, a city that has been pushed to the brink and continues to suffer. For tonight, I hope the people of New Orleans get a great game and receive a few entertaining moments to help them find some comfort and peace for a few minutes.

This season the Arizona Cardinals will be powering every home game with 100% renewable energy provided by SRP. According to the SRP website:

The Cardinals will be one of only a few NFL teams to play in a green-powered facility during the 2010 season. For each of the Cardinals' eight regular-season home games and two pre-season home games, SRP's EarthWise Energy program will provide 113,500 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy purchased by University of Phoenix. The renewable energy will offset electricity used in University of Phoenix Stadium — from the concession stands to the parking lot lighting to the scoreboards. This amount of electricity, 1,135,000 kilowatt-hours over the course of 10 games, is comparable to what 60 average homes in the Valley will use annually.

The EarthWise Energy program for SRP puts 100% of the money towards building solar projects for non-profit groups. Recent projects have involved working with Habitat for Humanity and Sunshine Acres Children's Home. These are steps that can be made by large companies. Hopefully activities like these will lead to true renewable power for everyone in the state, including the University of Phoenix Stadium. Plus, with the Cardinals having 505,143 fans walk through their doors last year to check out a football game, that is 505,143 minds that can be opened up to renewable energy, just by being there in the stadium.

---Justin J. Stewart (link via Angie Fretz)