MORE NEWS, 3-16 (STIM FOR OHIO FOREST SERVICE SUN; TH!NK THINKS MICHIGAN; MICKEY GOES ZERO EMISSIONS)

STIM FOR OHIO FOREST SERVICE SUN
Economic stimulus funds solar energy expansion in Wayne National Forest
March 12, 2009 (Ironton Tribune)

"The Wayne National Forest Solar Energy Program will soon be expanded thanks to funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009…[It] is one of several [projects] recently announced by the U.S. Forest Service to receive funding for national forests across the country.

"It is estimated four jobs will be created by the Wayne National Forest six-month project that gives business to Ohio’s growing solar industry."

Wayne National Forest headquarters - soon to be powered by sun. (click to enlarge)

"Up to 200 additional solar panels will be installed on the rooftop of the forest headquarters building and Athens Ranger District office…in southeastern Ohio.

"The Wayne began its Solar Energy Program in 2008, by installing a 20-panel solar system. Last year, the forest added 30 more panels to bring the total to 50…[The system] is generating 7 percent of the facilities energy needs."

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"Once the new expansion is completed later this summer, up to fifty-percent of the Wayne National Forest headquarters building will be powered by the sun, an increase of over 40-percent…[The Wayne] solar energy program [became] part of the state’s solar revolution by being included in the Ohio Solar Tour…

"Nationally, nearly $63 million worth of U.S. Forest Service projects creating hundreds of private-sector jobs have now been funded…[R]emaining projects to be funded [are] valued at $1.052 billion…[and] will create approximately 23,500 more jobs nationwide."


TH!NK THINKS MICHIGAN
Michigan in the running for Think's electric-car plant
Alisa Priddle, March 12, 2009 (Detroit News)

"Michigan is one of at least eight states in the running for a plant to build electric-carmaker Th!nk's diminutive City car, the Norwegian company announced…

"The carmaker also announced its plans to expand sales of its City car to the U.S. in 2010. Th!nk will launch its expansion with fleet customers and pilot projects next year and add retail sales in 2011."

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"The automaker plans to whittle the site selection for its U.S. plant to one or two states by March 31. The plant would employ 300 workers initially and 70 more at a technical center…

"The plastic-bodied [all-electric] Think City is a two-seater about the size of the Smart, with an optional back seat [with a top speed of about 62 mph, a range to 112 miles and its batteries need several hours to recharge]…It has three battery suppliers: MES-DEA, A123 Systems and EnerDel."

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"Originally, Th!nk wanted to start selling the City in North America this year, but financial travails have prompted the company to shut down production in December…

"Th!nk began life in 1991 as a Norwegian company…Ford Motor Co. bought the company in 1999 and…started work on…the Think City, which was to launch in 2002. But the market for electric vehicles was small and a California mandate for electric vehicles was amended, prompting Ford to sell Th!nk to a Swiss maker of microelectronics instead…Th!nk went bankrupt in 2006 and a group of investors, led by a Norwegian venture capitalist, bought it…"


MICKEY GOES ZERO EMISSIONS
Disney sets plan to cut carbon emissions to zero
Gina Keating (w/Lisa Von Ahn, Richard Chang), March 10, 2009 (Reuters)

"The Walt Disney Co [plans] to cut carbon emissions from fuels by half by 2012, and ultimately to achieve net zero direct greenhouse gas emissions at its office and retail complexes, theme parks and cruise lines.

"Disney also set a long-term goal to cut to zero the amount of waste it sends to landfills…300,000 tons in 2006…through diverting some to recycling centers, composting and buying more post-consumer recycled materials…The company pledged to reduce water use as well as emissions and waste associated with the manufacture, transport, use and disposal of Disney products…"

From xxLIVExLOVExLAUGHx via YouTube.

"The environmental plan was released a day ahead of Disney's annual shareholder meeting, in its "corporate responsibility" report. The entertainment conglomerate is joining a growing number of U.S. corporations that have pledged to improve carbon and ecological footprints by a certain date, or have already done so…

"Disney worked with Conservation International on emissions reduction targets, and plans to have a third party monitor its progress through annual audits…"

No More...(click to enlarge)

"To get to zero net direct emissions, Disney plans to find efficiencies to cut emissions and to replace high-carbon fuels with low-carbon alternatives, then use "high-quality offsets" for what is left.

Disney also plans to buy clean electricity from utilities and invest in clean electricity projects, in addition to taking steps to conserve…The company set 2013 as its goal for cutting solid waste to landfills by half of its 2006 baseline…"