In response to the plan, Natural Resource Defense Council Director of Programs Wesley Warren said “With this budget, President Obama is starting to usher in a clean energy economy. That means more jobs, less carbon pollution and a more secure nation.His budget promotes America’s energy independence by reducing our reliance on foreign oil, starting the transition away from dirty fossil fuels, and investing in conservation and clean power like wind and solar. Cutting harmful greenhouse pollution and ramping up renewable energy will secure our nation and foster innovation that will make our economy more competitive. Now it’s up to Congress to deliver on the president’s funding priorities for a cleaner, more secure America.”

The highlights of his speech included the following:

Provides $3.3 billion total for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.

This will allow States and Tribes to initiate approximately 800 clean water and 500 drinking water projects nationally, continuing a major Federal commitment to water infrastructure investment.

• Provides new funding to support the Administration’s commitment to mitigate climate change.

Obama wants Congress to enact forward-looking energy legislation that kicks off our development of advanced, clean energy technologies to reduce our dependence on oil, strengthen our energy and national security, create new jobs and restore the U.S. spot as a global leader in mitigating climate change.

• Continues support for collaborative, interagency ecosystem restoration efforts in the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay and Mississippi River Basin.

Obama’s plan gives $300 million towards the Great Lakes, $17 million for the Mississippi River and increases Chesapeake Bay support by $13 million. The Great Lakes money will focus on contaminated sediments and toxics, nonpoint source pollution, habitat degradation and loss and invasive species. The Mississippi project will target nonpoint source reduction practices on agricultural land to reduce nutrient loadings. The Chesapeake money will support the Presidents Day May 2009 Chesapeake Bay Restoration Executive Order and enables the EPA to conduct robust regulatory, permitting, modeling and reporting efforts.

• Provides grants for States and Tribes to administer delegated environmental programs at $1.3 billion, the highest level ever.

Environmentalism has helped lead this FY to have the highest budget for environmental programs, 14% higher than 2010 FY. The budget recognized state fiscal restraints and provides increases for select state and tribal programs, including a $45 million increase for state water pollution control grants and a $58 million increase for air quality management grants.

• Supports economic growth and job creation in hard hit regions by bolstering Brownfield’s cleanup.

Brownfields are lightly contaminated sites-many in economically hard hit regions- that pollution may keep from being used productively. This green legislation increases the spending available to help clean up these areas. Obama gave an estimated $3,000 more for these projects than FY 2009.

Source: GoAccess.gov

Westminster Farms Inc., a dairy farm located in Vermont, and Green Mountain Power, which provides electricity to 90,000 residents in Vermont, are working together to create green energy electricity for local residents and businesses. It is a joint investment between the two, not only to make Vermont a greener state, but also to cut the cost of electricity production during these hard economic times.

Westminster Farms invested $700,000 and Green Mountain Power invested $175,000 into this green electric power project, but it also got help from both the U.S. and Vermont Departments of Agriculture.

Westminster Farms Inc., a dairy farm located in Vermont, and Green Mountain Power, which provides electricity to 90,000 residents in Vermont, are working together to create green energy electricity for local residents and businesses. It is a joint investment between the two, not only to make Vermont a greener state, but also to cut the cost of electricity production during these hard economic times.

Westminster Farms invested $700,000 and Green Mountain Power invested $175,000 into this green electric power project, but it also got help from both the U.S. and Vermont Departments of Agriculture.

About this green electricity project

You may not know this, but cow manure is a huge contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s also a big source of pollution when it runs off into surrounding beds of water. To eliminate these harmful effects of manure the Vermont dairy farm will use an anaerobic digester to mix, heat and break down the manure.  Then the manure will be used to produce methane biogas, which is used to generate electricity.

The liquid waste will be used as fertilizer and any other solid waste will be used as cattle bedding (which replaces sawdust - saving the farm over $80,000).

Right now the green electricity that is created from this project powers about 250 Vermont homes every day. If this project continues to prove to be a success both financially and environmentally, then it looks like Vermont is going to be a great green state!

Source: TriplePundit.com

Did you know that it’s a crime to throw away your food scraps in San Francisco? According to a new city law it is, so you better watch where you put the food that you don’t eat.

Following the lead that Seattle, Washington residents took in April of last year, as of today the people of San Francisco are now required to recycle all of their household’s extra food waste. How do they do it? They place the food in a sealed compost bin that gets picked up by the city’s curbside recycling program.

Did you know that it’s a crime to throw away your food scraps in San Francisco? According to a new city law it is, so you better watch where you put the food that you don’t eat.

Following the lead that Seattle, Washington residents took in April of last year, as of today the people of San Francisco are now required to recycle all of their household’s extra food waste. How do they do it? They place the food in a sealed compost bin that gets picked up by the city’s curbside recycling program.

More about the food scrap recycling program

The food recycling program in San Francisco has been embraced by the residents so far because they no longer have to deal with stinky food smells coming from their overflowing garbage. Plus, the city gets to cut its garbage costs basically in half!

Right now Organics Annex, where the city of San Francisco ships its food waste to be turned into compost, processes about 500 tons of it per day. That’s an amazing feat for a city that already keeps 72% of its entire garbage out of landfills.

The food recycling law is now passed in two states in the U.S., and we hope that other states start to realize just how necessary it is for our green future.

Source: NPR.com

Even though you may think that the desert is no place for anything green, the students at California’s College of the Desert located in Palm Desert are determined to prove you wrong.

Working with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, an organization aimed to enhance the economic growth of the surrounding county, and using $2 million in economic stimulus funds, the college will train students in several projects for renewable energy. These projects will focus on wind energy and solar energy.

Even though you may think that the desert is no place for anything green, the students at California’s College of the Desert located in Palm Desert are determined to prove you wrong.

Working with the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, an organization aimed to enhance the economic growth of the surrounding county, and using $2 million in economic stimulus funds, the college will train students in several projects for renewable energy. These projects will focus on wind energy and solar energy.

The renewable energy projects

What type of renewable energy projects will the students at California’s College of the Desert be working on? They will learn the ins and outs of large-scale solar energy plants, as well as how to build and safely climb wind turbines.

Some other facts about the renewable energy projects:

• Students can take a seven-week program to gain wind-turbine technician skills
• College hopes to train 120 solar techs to build solar energy plants within 18 months
• Students will learn electrical, pipefitting and mechanical skills for alternative energy jobs
• Students will learn how to climb on a wind-turbine’s 80-foot high tower
• Future plans for classes on solar panel rooftop installation

These renewable energy products are designed to not only prepare students for a future green career, but also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our nation’s reliance on natural gas and oil imports.

Source: PE.com

This past September the University of Denver started a new on-campus bike sharing program that was created by the school’s sustainability committee. This new program allows current DU students, faculty and staff to rent high-tech bikes for free from a special bike-lending library…all with the swipe of their DU identification card.

The bike share program offered at the University of Denver is part of a citywide bike sharing program that is set to launch in April of 2010. By then, the city of Denver hopes to have 600 bikes offered at 50 solar powered kiosks around the city.

This past September the University of Denver started a new on-campus bike sharing program that was created by the school’s sustainability committee. This new program allows current DU students, faculty and staff to rent high-tech bikes for free from a special bike-lending library…all with the swipe of their DU identification card.

The bike share program offered at the University of Denver is part of a citywide bike sharing program that is set to launch in April of 2010. By then, the city of Denver hopes to have 600 bikes offered at 50 solar powered kiosks around the city.

More about the bike share program

So far the bike sharing program has been a success for the university. Students can rent the bikes for free and must return them by 7pm that same night. There is a late charge if the bike is returned after 7pm, and if it’s still not back after 3 days the student must pay the retail cost of the bike (which costs a pretty penny at several hundred dollars).

Here’s a video that explains more about the program:

Denver is already a green city, so this new bike share program is only making it greener and more sustainable in the long run.

You can check out these other blog posts on bike sharing programs:

Eco-Friendly Vehicles at the University of Miami

More Colleges Offering Bike Rentals to Students

Ripon College in Wisconsin Gives Away Free Bikes

Source: DUClarion.com

Middlebury College, which we have mentioned in previous 2008 Sustainability Report Card and Sierra Club’s Cool Schools posts, is considered to be one of the greenest colleges in our country. After switching a few years ago to burning wood chips in addition to oil to heat the campus, the college is now going for a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative green energy fuel resource: willow shrubs.

The college currently buys 20,000 wood chips a year from local loggers to heat half of the campus, and the other half is heated by oil. By switching to willow shrubs as an alternative fuel source the school will save over $1.5 million a year in oil costs.

Middlebury College, which we have mentioned in previous 2008 Sustainability Report Card and Sierra Club’s Cool Schools posts, is considered to be one of the greenest colleges in our country. After switching a few years ago to burning wood chips in addition to oil to heat the campus, the college is now going for a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative green energy fuel resource: willow shrubs.

The college currently buys 20,000 wood chips a year from local loggers to heat half of the campus, and the other half is heated by oil. By switching to willow shrubs as an alternative fuel source the school will save over $1.5 million a year in oil costs.

Why the Switch?

Middlebury College decided to test the willow shrub as an alternative fuel resource because it grows faster than other types of trees, can reach heights of up to 16 feet tall and can be harvested in the cold winters that are native to Vermont, which is where the college is located. Plus, Vermont has many open farm fields that are perfect for planting the willows.

Right now the first experimental crop of willow shrubs is planted and should be harvested in the winter of 2010-2011. So far they are growing well, but only time will tell if they will be the go-to alternative fuel source for the college!

Source: BurlingtonFreePress.com

As the world continues to face environmental and sustainability issues head-on, more college students are becoming interested in what they can do to be a part of the green future, and a large portion of these students are in New Jersey.

While these students follow sustainable practices on their own, like recycling, conserving energy and reducing their carbon footprint, they are also starting to incorporate these practices with what they learn from green classes that focus on science, technology and politics.

As the world continues to face environmental and sustainability issues head-on, more college students are becoming interested in what they can do to be a part of the green future, and a large portion of these students are in New Jersey.

While these students follow sustainable practices on their own, like recycling, conserving energy and reducing their carbon footprint, they are also starting to incorporate these practices with what they learn from green classes that focus on science, technology and politics.

NJ Colleges Going Greener

It is projected that there will be over 4.2 million green jobs in the U.S. by the year 2028, so here are a few New Jersey colleges that are starting to prepare their students for a green future by offering going green classes:

• Bergen Community College - Partnered with local electricians to teach students how to install solar energy panels, and introduced classes for energy-efficient home construction and sustainable design.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark - Recently created a “green careers” database with over 100 college majors related to green careers, such as sustainability science studies.
• Ramapo in Mahwah - Hoping to open a new sustainability center on campus and to get approval for new Masters degree in sustainability issues.
• Kean University in Union - Has new bachelor’s degree in sustainability.
• Montclair State University in Little Falls - Developing undergrad and grad classes in sustainability science.

Although New Jersey students are becoming more interested in green classes, so are students from around the world. Issues concerning the environment are something that everyone can relate to, so we hope that more colleges will be inspired to offer green classes.

Source: NorthJersey.com

Drake University, one of the oldest law schools in the country, recently adopted a single-stream recycling program for its campus in Des Moines, Iowa. The university has teamed with Greenstar Recycling, one of North America’s leading waste-management companies, and Metro Waste Authority, an independent government agency that has created many cost-effective waste management programs.

Drake University will be the first college in Des Moines to enact a single stream recycling program.

Drake University, one of the oldest law schools in the country, recently adopted a single-stream recycling program for its campus in Des Moines, Iowa. The university has teamed with Greenstar Recycling, one of North America’s leading waste-management companies, and Metro Waste Authority, an independent government agency that has created many cost-effective waste management programs.

Drake University will be the first college in Des Moines to enact a single stream recycling program.

About Single Stream Recycling

Do you know what the single stream recycling process is? It basically takes the hassle away from separating your recyclables and lets you put them all together into one container.

Take a look at this YouTube video to learn more:

Now can you see why this is such a great idea for Drake University?

Starting the Program

To get the single stream recycling process started on campus, each college office received a recycling container and a trash container. The custodial crew will then collect the trash and recyclables and dump it into corresponding dumpsters that will be located throughout campus.

Hopefully this new single stream recycling process will help Drake students to more effective recyclers and to make more of an effort to reduce their waste.

For more information on what can be recycled in the single stream recycling process, check out the single stream recycling flier created by Drake University.

Source: Drake University News

You may not believe it, but the organic food industry is actually doing pretty well despite the recent problems with the economy.

The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), which provides economic information and research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, revealed in a current report that, “Organic products have shifted from being a lifestyle choice for a small share of consumers to being consumed at least occasionally by a majority of Americans.”

You may not believe it, but the organic food industry is actually doing pretty well despite the recent problems with the economy.

The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), which provides economic information and research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, revealed in a current report that, “Organic products have shifted from being a lifestyle choice for a small share of consumers to being consumed at least occasionally by a majority of Americans.”

For those of us living an eco-lifestyle, this is great news, and it might inspire others to switch to healthier organic foods.

Destined for Organic

If you don’t believe in the mainstreaming of organic food, here are a few true facts from the ERS:

• The 2006 price for a half-gallon container of milk ranged from 60% above non-organic milk for private label organic milk to 109% above non-organic for branded organic milk.
• Consumers prefer organic food because of their health concerns, as well as for environment and animal welfare concerns.
• Consumers are now willing to pay premium prices for organic foods.
• Organic food sales have quintupled over the same period, from $3.6 billion to $21.1 billion last year.
• Fruit and vegetables are the biggest organic food sellers at 37%.
• Organic dairy products sell at 16%.
• Organic beverages (grew by 40% in 2008) and packaged foods are at 13%.
• Organic breads and grains achieved 35% growth over the year.

The Organic Trade Association, which promotes organic trading to protect the environment and to better people’s lives, even said that organic food sales grew by 4.9% just this year, which is a huge increase for the organic industry.

It’s good to see that organic food and organic food stores are becoming more mainstream because it means that more of us are starting to care about our health and the impact that our food handling practices have on the environment.

If you’re interested in the organic food industry check out our post on Want go Join an Organic Farm Exchange Program?

Source: Food Navigator-USA.com

Last week President Obama and his administration outlined changes that would greatly alter the fuel economy and emissions standards of the auto industry. Not only would these changes reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted into the air by cars, but they would also save the average car buyer thousands of dollars in fuel.

So far both environmental organizations and lobby groups seem to be on board for the car fuel economy changes.

Last week President Obama and his administration outlined changes that would greatly alter the fuel economy and emissions standards of the auto industry. Not only would these changes reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted into the air by cars, but they would also save the average car buyer thousands of dollars in fuel.

So far both environmental organizations and lobby groups seem to be on board for the car fuel economy changes.

The best fuel economy standards?

So, what makes the 1,200 page fuel economy and emissions standards document so great for everyone? Besides completely altering the current rules of the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, these rules will also:

• Push for a 5% increase in fuel economy standards per year from 2011 to 2016
• Increase  automobile fuel standards from 27.3 mpg in 2011 up to 35.5 mpg in 2016
• Ensure that cars with model year 2016 would have to meet an average limit of 250 grams of carbon emitted per mile driven

These are all great changes that could help everyone reduce their carbon footprint. The government even says that these would:

• Save car buyers $3,000 in fuel costs over the life of a vehicle
• Reduce CO2 emissions about 950 million metric tons
• Greatly reduce US dependence on foreign oil by about 1.8 billion barrels

Overall, this sounds like a great green initiative, and we hope that it will help us reach the best fuel economy standards in a reasonable amount of time.

What do you think? Are these goals within reach?

Source: Matter Network