Unions, environmentalists push for freight rail jobs

Keeping things calm and bright
Just when you were wringing your hands, biting your nails, pulling out your hair, InStyle magazine rushes to the rescue with “10 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress,” a story so important it is mentioned on the magazine cover….

Read more on San Francisco Chronicle

Atlas of the atmosphere
The air is teeming with microbes, and scientists are finally starting to understand how they influence everything from meteorology to epidemiology

Read more on The Scientist

Starbucks aims to recycle cups
Starbucks may soon serve your morning coffee in a used paper cup that has been recycled into a new paper cup, as the coffee chain aims to ensure that 100% of its cups are reusable or recyclable by 2015.

Read more on CNN Money

Looking to plant new roots in your city?
The clock is ticking for Canadian municipalities interested in receiving some ‘green’ to green their main streets. TD Friends of the Environment Foundation is encouraging municipalities and First Nations communities across Canada to apply for funding to support tree planting initiatives through the TD Green Streets program, in partnership with Tree Canada.

Read more on CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance

Unions, environmentalists push for freight rail jobs
A coalition of labor and environmental groups called Monday formore investment in freight railroads, including projects such asthe $71.4 million Indiana Gateway, as the best means of ending U.S.dependence on foreign oil and creating jobs.

Read more on The Times of Northwest Indiana

Deluxe Light Push Reel Lawn Mower

www.cleanairgardening.com The deluxe light push reel mower is made by the American Lawnmower Company, and is a good push reel lawn mower for your lawn. It’s under 30 pounds, assembles quickly with no tools, and has an 18″ cutting radius for your lawn. It’s a perfect way to go green and trim everything up. A gas powered lawn mower emits a lot of harmful pollutants and can’t always provide as attractive as a cut as your push reel mower can. Look into a push reel mower like this for an eco friendly option for your lawn. For more info on this push reel mower, please visit our website (which is listed at the top of this video description). This and other excellent push reel mowers are featured there.

Automakers Push Fuel Economy Bill Harder

Automakers are strengthening their lobbying efforts ahead of a House debate on fuel economy standards, which is expected this fall. After failing to stop a Senate bill passed in June that would significantly increase efficiency standards, automakers are exerting more rigorous efforts to ease fuel economy demands.

In a pair of e-mails sent last week, the Chrysler Group urged employees and dealers to support an alternative fuel economy bill in the House. The automaker also prods the elected officials to do the same especially at Fourth of July events.

“If you see or visit your Representative this week for an Independence Day Parade or other event, ask him/her to support and co-sponsor H.R. 2927, the Terry-Hill bipartisan fuel economy bill,” John Bozzella, Chrysler’s vice president for external affairs and public policy, wrote in a Tuesday e-mail.

U.S. Reps. Baron Hill, D-Ind., and Lee Terry, R-Neb., have proposed raising corporate average fuel economy standards to 35 mpg for passenger cars by 2022 and 32 mpg for light trucks by 2022.

The Senate bill would increase CAFE standards to an average 35 mpg by 2020 for cars and trucks combined. “The Senate bill undermines several longstanding elements of the CAFE program that balance increasing standards with safety, consumer choice and the continued viability of automobile manufacturing,” Steven Landry, Chrysler’s executive vice president for sales and marketing, wrote to dealers. “This was obviously not the result we wanted.”

Another proposal to the Terry-Hill legislation by U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., would require automakers to meet the combined 35 mpg standard by 2018. The Senate and Markey bills make domestic automakers spend at least $85 billion, adding as much as $5,000 to the cost of every vehicle. The mandates could also compel automakers to discontinue selling the largest vehicles, minimize the power of engines and build more hybrids.

Automakers and the United Auto Workers union have endorsed the Terry-Hill proposal, which is more stringent than an alternative, promoted by Michigan’s senators and others, that failed in the Senate. “The Hill-Terry bill calls for fuel economy standards that are very challenging, and would require the entire industry to make a giant leap forward,” Bozzella said Friday. “However, most importantly, the bill respects the functional differences between passenger cars and light trucks, which is critical to our company and to our customers.”

Automakers initiatives are accelerating without the aid of EBC Greenstuff. General Motors Corp. spokesman Greg A. Martin said the company also planned to communicate with its dealers, suppliers and employees “about the implications of extreme CAFE measures.” The Detroit automaker also is planning to bring dealers to Capitol Hill. Also, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is considering another advertising campaign on fuel economy, but with a more positive message, officials said.

“We’ve put together some talking points and explanation to our dealers about what we feel is the best solution,” Toyota Motor Corp. spokeswoman Martha Voss said Friday. “The (Terry-Hill bill) is the best chance for us to achieve a reasonable achievable fuel economy standard that moves us closer to energy security.” Voss added Toyota was considering bringing company officials and dealers to Capitol Hill to urge them to support the alternative.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not ruled out considering fuel economy legislation as part of a package of energy measures expected to be considered the week of July 16. But U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, wants to wait until September, and that seems more likely, officials said. It is not apparent whether the Markey or Terry-Hill bills or a different bill will materialize.

Future products: Hyundai’s push will change the look of showrooms:

16 Chinese central companies form Electric Vehicle Industry Alliance
The Electric Vehicle Industry Alliance, which consists of 16 Chinese central companies and is led by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), was founded in Beijing on August 18.

Read more on People’s Daily

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 Crossover Uses Diesel Power
Diesel hybrid to get almost 70 mpg on the European cycle

Read more on AnandTech

Grand Strand becoming “Green Strand”
South Carolina’s north coast is known as the Grand Strand because of its sandy beaches. But it’s also getting a reputation as a Green Strand.

Read more on WIS News 10 Columbia

TV Star Test Drives Electric Car in Eugene
He came for an estimated $17,000 electric car that can reach speeds of 70 miles per hour. read more

Read more on KEZI 9 Eugene

Future products: Hyundai’s push will change the look of showrooms:
Hyundai is introducing seven new or redesigned models in a 24-month stretch that ends in the fall of 2011. So naturally the Hyundai guys refer to their product onslaught as and#8220;24/7.and#8221;

Read more on AutoWeek

China’s Electric Push

Every major Chinese car company seems to have one… Models of electric cars claiming to be greener, safer, better than the competition. Behind the race to build high quality petrol powered vehicles, Chinas manufactures are trying to get a head start on the future. In recent years Chinas technological progress in building cars has improved considerably, but the big question now is fuel efficiency and green technology. The government is very keen on pushing hybrid cars and electric cars out into the commercial market. Beijing is offering financial incentives to fuel the development, both, to manufactures and corporate or government buyers of eco-friendly cars. This kind of revolution certainly is coming from top down, not bottom up. That is, consumers are still only faintly aware of alternative engines, hybrids, electrics… China also hopes, the greener vehicles will ease its notorious problem with urban pollution by cutting down greenhouse gases. BWD, a company in Shenzhen, on the border with Hong Kong, is leading the charge. Harnessing its experience in building mobile phone batteries, the company will roll out Chinas first commercially viable full electric car later this year. Legendary investor Warren Buffet believes BWD is onto something and has put about 230 million Dollars in to buy a 10% stake. Because of the size of the Chinese auto market and the companies development of green energy technology, the CEO says, BWD can become the biggest car maker in the world …

Chevy prices Volt at $41,000 but will push leases

GM hopes electric Volt creates buzz at $41,000
The electric Chevrolet Volt will be priced between $41,000 and $44,600, but an aggressive lease will enable consumers to get it for three years at…

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GM hikes production capacity for Volt by 50 pct
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors says it’s boosting production capacity for its new Chevrolet Volt due to strong public interest in the electric car that goes on sale later this year.

Read more on KIMT Mason City

BMW seeks tax perks for electric car production in Thailand
BMW AG has asked Thailand to consider granting it special tax incentives to manufacture electric cars in the kingdom, media reports said Wednesday.BMW’s chief of government affairs Thomas Becker raise…

Read more on Thailandnews.net

San Jose Unveils Public Charging Stations for Plug-In Cars
The sight of electric cars plugged in at two public charging stations in the San Jose Convention Center Garage may soon be a common one around the Bay Area. ChargePoint America plans to install 1,600 charging stations at a cost of $37 million. “We have collaboration with Oakland and San Francisco as part of a [...]

Read more on KCBS Radio San Francisco

Chevy prices Volt at $41,000 but will push leases
A federal tax credit would shave the electric car’s price to $33,500. The carmaker turns heads by offering leases as low as $350 a month. The rival Nissan Leaf will sell for as little as $20,280 or lease for $349 a month. The Chevrolet Volt, the first mass-market electric vehicle from General Motors Co., will have a sticker price starting at $41,000 when it hits showrooms this year, but it was …

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Fiskars Momentum: The Eco-Friendly Push Reel Lawn Mower

Fiskars explains the environmental benefits of using the Momentum reel mower, such as not using gas fuel. Also, this particular mower creates a cleaner cut, leaving grass strong and healthy. For additional videos on lawn mowers and mower maintenance, visit www.Lowes.com

Electric Auto Antenna, Manual Radio Station, Push Buttons

Green Cars – A great push for the environment

Often, there is a change in peopleâ??s purchasing style that creates different benefits that were not the initial intention.  This is the case with the change in peopleâ??s attitudes toward more efficient green cars that are filling the streets.

With gas prices rising the past year after peaking at $4.00, may people are flocking to high MPG  vehicles and getting out of their gas guzzling SUVs.  The side benefit to this change in vehicle demand is the addition of many green cars on the street.  Green cars like hybrid vehicles, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) have a definite benefit to the environment.

Higher MPG cars like the Honda Fit & Civic, the Toyota Corolla and Yaris, and the Ford Focus are also considered green cars.  They all get above 30 MPG and also emit extremely low levels of  pollutants into the air.  In fact, these vehicles with their catalytic converters are some of the greenest cars in history.

Hybrid vehicles have become a badge of honor for environmentalalists.  These green cars like the Honda Civic Hybrid & Insight, the Toyota Prius, and the Ford Escape Hybrid also have very low emissions due to the addition of electric motors to a small gas engine.  These cars average over 40+ MPG with the Prius coming in at 50 MPG.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cars, such as the Honda Civic GX are the lowest pollution emitting vehicles on the road.  These green cars get only decent gas mileage but the cost to fill up a CNG car is very small because of the price of natural gas.  The  issue with these vehicles is access to CNG filling stations in the local areas.  But that is changing. CNG filling stations are popping up all over because of the demand for CNG cars.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the latest addition to the bunch.  EVs are the greenest of all the cars available today.  They add an electric motor and battery to a transmission which offeres excellent performance.  When technology ages, the price of these green cars will drop dramatically, and with the growing battery technology, the distance these cars will be able to  travel will also get better.

As fuel prices have increased over the past year, the side benefit has been an increase in demand for higher MPG vehicles.  These green cars are much more efficient with less pollution for the environment.  This proves that people must be hit in their pocketbook in order for change to occur.

For more information on green cars, visit Clean Green Earth or Green Cars

Kia’s electric car push

Hybrid & Electric Vehicles A Dallas Auto Show Hit
It’s costing more to fill up your car or truck and analysts say gas prices could jump to $3 per gallon by summer. With that in mind, it may be no surprise that hybrids and electric vehicles are attracting attention at the Dallas Auto Show .

Read more on CBS 11 Dallas – Fort Worth

Man in Lower Allen car fire identified
Lower Allen Township police have released the name of the man who died in a car fire Friday.

Read more on The Sentinel

Check out these foreign car designs
Last week’s Geneva, Switzerland, auto show introductions, like those at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, featured a lot of hybrids, electric cars and the plain strange.

Read more on Detroit Free Press

Car Charging Group Announces Availability of ChargePoint iPhone App for Electric Vehicle Owners
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Car Charging Group, Inc. , owner and provider of electric car charging stations nationwide, today announced that drivers of electric vehicles can now utilize the ChargePoint iPhone App from Coulomb Technologies to easily locate ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for EVs anywhere in North America and to also see in real time if a charging station is currently available …

Read more on GlobeNewswire via Yahoo! Finance

Kia’s electric car push
Kia hopes electric cars and long warranties will help boost its market share in Europe At first sight, there is nothing extraordinary about the Kia stand at the Geneva motor show.Most carmakers here …

Read more on MalaysiaNews.net

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