The case for not investing in the stocks of fossil fuel companies could not be clearer. The growing consensus is that fossil fuel corporations have 5 times more known reserves than scientists have calculated to be safe for use. In other words, 80% of these fuels need to remain untapped to avoid accelerating the rate of environmental damage. Why would a long term-investor want to own a company that is spending a lot of money looking for more product sources that can never be used? Would a pharmaceutical company invest in developing a drug that has no chance of ever being approved for use?
Environmental organizations such as 350.org, the Sierra Club,
If you are heading to Bumbershoot this weekend, take a quick break from the music and crowds and head over to the Prius Playground where you’ll have the opportunity to help power-up Bumbershoot. The Prius Playground is a partnership between Toyota and not-for-profit organization Global Inheritance designed to inspire people to think creatively about energy solutions.
Here’s how it works:Visitors are invited to donate a bit of sweat by pedaling on stationary bikes or taking a spin in the human hamster for three minutes. The energy generated is then stored in an energy well, which allows people to see the real time energy production and consumption at the playground. And, staying true to its name, the playground isn’t all hard work!After each three minute spin fans are rewarded with a free snow cone made with the very energy they generated!
Sustainable Seattle is pairing with New Belgium Brewing and the Clips of Faith Beer and Film Tour to produce a local, creative, artistic, and zero waste event at Gasworks Park in Seattle on July 29th.
This event, which is only two years old this year, will travel to 18 cities across the United States. Each city which is visited will have a local organization supported by the proceeds from the festival. The proceeds for Seattle will go to the Nature Consortium. Attendees will be able to view films from all different genres, lengths, and backgrounds, including one from a Seattle filmmaker Sam Nuttman called "The Millionaire's Club."
Sustainable Seattle will be responsible for organizing the recycling at the event. Zero waste is a trend which is beginning to catch on in many different locations and events. For example, upon entering Safeco Field to attend a Mariners game, you might see a large sign that depicts their efforts to make the ball field zero waste. It shows pictures of what can be considered compost, what can be considered recycle, and what might be trash. Only when we are able to create products and behaviors which result in zero items which must be "trashed" can we create a world where zero waste is the norm instead of the alternative option.
The idea of zero waste has been in the news lately for it's use in reality television, grocery stores, and the first zero waste energy plant.
Austin, Texas seems to be leading the way in innovative sustainability. A reality television show was produced by the City of Austin's waste management program called "Dare to Go Zero" aired on their government access channel. It lasted five weeks and the family with the highest percentage of waste reduction at the end won a $2,000 sustainable home improvement package. Their goal was to help the people of Austin learn more about recycling and reducing their waste. Another way residents can do this, coming in October, is to shop at a zero packaging grocery store. In.gredientswill allow shoppers to bring their own containers and take as much or as little of different items they want. They want to help reduce waste from single use packaging of products (often sometimes double and triple wrappings) as well as processed food.
Had the concern over waste reached this extreme years ago, there wouldn't necessarily be a need for a $65 million zero-waste energy plant like the one which is being built in the Pampanga province. They have such a problem with waste that Mackay Green Energy (MGE) and Pampanga Green Management Inc. paired up to create and implement technologies which can use the province's waste to create green energy. You can read more about this innovation here.
So on July 29th Seattle will again join New Belgium Brewery and the Clips of Faith Beer and Film tour to create a zero waste event. This represents a great stride in a continued quest for sustainability in the city and will help put Seattle on the map with cities like Austin.
Commissioner Goldmark announces pilot projects in Biomass Initiative
Four firms selected to turn woody biomass into clean energy and jobs
OLYMPIA – Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark announced the first four companies selected to partner with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in renewable energy projects using biomass from state forestlands.
“These four partners will put their technologies to work using forest products they purchase from state trust lands to produce clean, sustainable energy and rural jobs,” said Goldmark. “These projects have a huge potential to help encourage rural economic development and improve the health of fire-prone forests. This will hopefully be the beginning of a new green industry on state lands.”
The pilot projects will use woody biomass—the residual waste (slash)—that the companies purchase in part from state trust lands managed by DNR. The biomass can come from timber harvests or be removed during forest health treatments such as thinning over-crowded and fire-prone tree stands.
The pilot projects and their locations are:
Parametrix will launch a pilot to convert woody biomass into liquid fuels at SDS Lumber in Bingen (KlickitatCounty) using fast pyrolysis technology.
Borgford BioEnergy, LLC in Valley and Springdale (StevensCounty) will utilize wood waste to generate electricity, bio-oil, syngas, and bio-char.
Atlas Products in Omak (OkanoganCounty) will use forest biomass to produce wood pellets for heating.
Nippon Paper Industries USA, Ltd. in Port Angeles (ClallamCounty) will utilize wood waste for the cogeneration of heat and electricity at its paper mill, as well as selling excess energy.
Commenting today on the projects were representatives from the four companies:
“The partnership with DNR helps show that this is a very viable operation that will help us as we seek funding from private investors,” said Ken Fellows of Parametrix. “This partnership will help us advance to the next level by highlighting the credibility of our team and our project.”
“Jobs have to be sustainable and we have to use good stewardship in the forestland. We’re really excited about being a partner with DNR because this project does both,” said Dale Borford, Borford BioEnergy, LLC.
“This project is not only creating new jobs, but actually saving the jobs and infrastructure that already exist. It represents the very best of what can happen with forest restoration and bio-mass energy production,” said Eric Hanson of Atlas Products.
“The relationship with DNR will help us secure volume, quality of supply of biomass to our plant in Port Angeles and help preserve the 220 jobs there now,” said Harold Norlund, Nippon Paper Industries USA.
New Biomass Legislation
Today’s announcement came in the same week that House and Senate committees in the Washington Legislature were conducting hearings on the Forest Biomass Supply Agreements Bill requested by Goldmark.
“The selection of these projects is an important step in moving forward with a new, green energy industry, and I’m thrilled that Port Angeles’ own Nippon was chosen to participate,” said state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D–Sequim. “One way to create stable, family-wage jobs in this emerging industry is to allow the state to enter into long-term biomass supply contracts with businesses. A bill I’m sponsoring in the House would do this, paving the way for energy-related timber jobs in our rural communities.”
The bill (SB 6236 / HB 2481) would allow DNR to enter into long-term biomass supply agreements with the emerging biomass energy economy. The ability to secure reliable and predictably priced biomass feedstock supply is central to triggering private investment in the emerging biomass energy economy.
Neither the requested legislation nor the projects announced today would have any cost to the State’s General Fund, and they may lead to new markets and revenue for forest products.
The case for not investing in the stocks of fossil fuel companies could not be clearer. The growing consensus is that fossil fuel corporations have 5 times more known reserves than scientists have calculated to be safe for use. In other words, 80% of these fuels need to remain untapped to avoid accelerating the rate of environmental damage. Why would a long term-investor want to own a company that is spending a lot of money looking for more product sources that can never be used? Would a pharmaceutical company invest in developing a drug that has no chance of ever being approved for use? 
