In September, California lawmakers passed a bill aimed at tapping a surprising source of green energy: traffic on the state’s busy freeways. Cars and trucks compress asphalt, and piezoelectric generators installed under road surfaces convert this compression into electricity. “The heavier the load, the better the electricity returns”, explains Randy Copperman… (more)

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2011

California wind power is lowest during the day, when demand is highest

Green power is great when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing – but what about when they’re not? Currently, there is no way to store masses of excess energy produced from renewable sources for future use.

But that may change soon…(more, see p.5)

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2010

California state representatives have launched a November 2010 ballot initiative to gut AB 32, the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, requiring a 25% cut in carbon emissions by 2020. Dubbed the California Jobs Initiative by supporters, the measure would keep AB 32 from kicking in until the state’s jobless rate falls to 5.5% or less… (more—see p.3)

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2010

These days, green jobs are a bright spot in California’s economic gloom. Statewide, green jobs grew more than twice as fast as jobs overall during the past decade, and continued to increase by 5%, even as the total number of jobs dipped by 1% in 2008… (more—see p.4)

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2010

California’s new regulations for transportation-fuel carbon emissions are shaking up the biofuels industry. When biofuels first took off, corn ethanol was touted as having the potential to cut carbon emissions by nearly 20%. But now the carbon intensity of corn ethanol can exceed that of gasoline… (more)

California Agriculture, 2009

Keeping up with the Joneses has gone beyond maintaining flawless lawns and spotless cars, and now extends to improving energy efficiency. When people learn that their neighbors use less energy, they cut back too… (more—see p.4)

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2009

Although wildly popular for their picture clarity and thin profiles, flatscreen televisions are outperformed by their outdated cathoderay tube (CRT) cousins when it comes to energy efficiency… (more—see p.4)

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2009