Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 15 January 2013

California ratepayers to receive cap-and-trade revenue

January 14, 2013 - California regulators unanimously approved a plan that will directly a large majority of the state's new cap and trade proceeds directly to residential ratepayers.

Under the new regulation, 85 percent of cap-and-trade sales will be funneled back to state residential ratepayers. The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the rules late last month in an effort to offset rising electricity costs. The revenue will be distributed as a biennial "climate dividend." read more>>>

Ontario nearly coal-free

January 13, 2013 - In 2003, Ontario's government made a decision to stop burning coal. Since that time, Ontario has cut its use of coal by nearly 90 percent, and more than 80 percent of its power generation comes from water, nuclear, and renewables.

The last of Ontario's coal plant operations will cease by the end of 2013 -- a year earlier than originally planned. In 2014, Ontario's use of coal is expected to be less than 1 percent of total electricity generation -- down from 25 percent in 2003. read more>>>

British conservatives vow to push a green economy; why won’t Republicans?

January 14, 2013 - If you listen to Fox News or conservative talk show hosts you get the sense that advocating a green economy is not conservative. In fact, American conservatives—Republicans, treat it as folly and a socialist plot. The mantra for American conservatives is "drill baby drill," not "conserve baby conserve."

This is not the case in other places. A very influential group of British Conservative Party Members of Parliament (MPs) called on their party to "redefine the green agenda" and make it a central plank of its pitch to the country ahead of the 2015 election.

Expanding the Green Economy in Great Britain read more>>>

Green Economy Short Documentary

For the "RIO Conference" 2012, the European Union created a short documentary that would present promising green initiatives supported by the EU outside Europe.

- Green Economy - from Nicolas Torres on Vimeo.

Director: Nicolas Torres Correia
DOP: Alain Fisch
Sound: Cosmas Antoniadis
Editor: Sophie Huyvaert
Production: Mostra Communication