Ford Begins to Ship All-Electric Transit Connect Vans. By Christina Rogers, Detroit News, 12/8/10. “Ford Motor Co. expects commercial plug-in vans and trucks to be as important to the emerging electric vehicle market as sales to consumers in dealer showrooms. That's why the automaker is getting in early. Ford began shipping its all-electric Transit Connect on Dec. 8, becoming the first large automaker to produce a commercial, plug-in van for the U.S. market in larger volumes... The $57,400 electric Transit Connect will have a range of 80 miles and come with a 10-year, 120,000 mile warranty, which reflects typical commercial use.”

Hertz Puts Electric Cars On The Fast Track, Starting In New York. NYTimes, 12/7/10. “Hertz announced it would be adding electric cars and plug-in hybrids to its urban and college fleets worldwide, starting with New York City, where they’ll be available in Connect at Hertz car-sharing locations beginning Dec. 15. The rental company is planning to offer the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Smart Electric Drive, Nissan Leaf, Coda sedan and Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid.”

New Jersey Gov. Christie Again Kills Hudson Rail Tunnel Project. NJRecord, 10/27/10. “Governor Christie ended one proposed tunnel under the Hudson River but threw a lifeline to another planned commuter rail tunnel into New York -- one being spearheaded by Amtrak. Christie on Wednesday did what he promised weeks ago and stopped the long-planned commuter rail tunnel into Manhattan, despite pleas from the Obama administration and what his office said were ‘intense negotiations’ to keep New Jersey’s share of the project limited to $2.7 billion.

“Democrats, who control the Legislature, reiterated their charges that Christie is shortsighted saying his decision will cost jobs, hamper economic development and had more to do with politics than engineering. ‘He has stubbornly shot down each and every financing option the federal government offered, instead of displaying leadership and creative ingenuity by considering how all of these options might work together,’ Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, D-Essex said in a statement. U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez... accused Christie of using the tunnel to burnish his own image among conservatives… U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg reacted by saying ‘this is a tragic day in New Jersey’s history.’”

New Portland Grocery Store Has More Parking for Bikes Than Cars. By A.K. Streeter, TreeHugger, 10/14/10. “New Seasons, an upscale Whole Foods-style grocery store that has enjoyed massive success in Portland, Oregon, is opening its seventh store this week. The newest store, in the dense (watch the web cam to see how dense) inner-city Hawthorne Street neighborhood, has something of a surprise. Rooftop parking for cars, and rows of bright blue staples in front of the store for bicycles. Well, perhaps that's not so incredible. What makes it much better is that according to Bike Portland, the sum total of bike spots (50) outnumbers the slim number of car parking spaces (36).

“Because parking is such an integral part of sprawl, here's some fun fast facts from Streetsblog on what we give up for the almighty car: 1) 99% of U.S. car trips begin and end with a free parking spot. 2) The average car is parked 95% of its time. 3) Office space typically requires 175 to 250 square feet per person. In comparison, curbside parking requires 200 square feet per vehicle, and garages require 300 to 350 square feet per vehicle.”

E.U. and U.N. Agencies Agree on Deal to Reduce Airline Emissions. Reuters, 10/9/10. “A global deal on emissions curbs by airlines struck late on Friday will allow the European Union to press ahead with plans to charge airlines for emissions permits from 2012, the European Commission said on Saturday… The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency, adopted a resolution on Friday to reduce aviation emissions with a ‘roadmap’ up to 2050 for the 190 member states. The aviation sector would seek to become 2 percent more fuel-efficient every year and to cap emissions from 2020. European Commissioners for Transport, Siim Kallas, and for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, said in a statement they welcomed the breakthrough after almost a decade of deadlock with a deal to cover over 90 percent of worldwide air traffic.”

Nations Divided about Controlling Emissions from Shipping. By Roger Harrabin, BBC, 10/7/10. “Environmentalists at the UN climate talks in Tianjin have criticized big developing nations for blocking plans for efficiency standards on shipping. Shipping produces about 3% of global emissions -- more than the UK or Germany. And the International Maritime Organization is trying to stop ‘dirty’ ships being built. It is believed the scheme would benefit ship owners everywhere by reducing fuel consumption in the long term. But China's delegate at the meeting in Tianjin said he could not support the plan because it imposed uniform standards on rich and poor alike - contrary to the spirit of UN climate negotiations… Shipping was excluded from the original Kyoto climate treaty in 1997 because, like aviation, it presented too knotty a problem for anyone trying to ascribe ‘ownership’ of the emissions. Like aviation, it was left to regulate itself. And, observers say, like aviation it has done little until recently. The shipping industry has previously been defensive about its emissions. It points out that for shifting cargo, boats are 80-100 times more efficient than planes. Environmentalists say this has made the industry complacent about the potential for improvements which could benefit ships' owners in long-term fuel savings, so long as standards were uniformly imposed to prevent cut-throat short-term competition.”

Washington D.C. Launches Nation's Largest Bike-Share Program. By Matt Martinez, Grist, September 20, 2010. "Washington D.C. and Arlington County debuted Capital Bikeshare on Monday [Sept. 20]. It's the largest bike sharing program in the United States -- 1,100 bikes at 100 kiosks in the District and Northern Virginia. (Denver and Minneapolis are the other two cities in the US with significant bike share programs.) The previous iteration of the District's bike share system, SmartBike, launched in 2008. Operated by Clear Channel Communications, it never really caught fire… Capital Bikeshare is modeled on the bike share service in Montreal. It's a public-private partnership -- funded by user fees and operated and maintained with private companies. D.C.'s program is operated by Alta Bicycle Share, based in Portland, Ore."

Urban Cycling in L.A. Spawns its Own Peddlers. By Cyndia Zwahlen, LATimes, August 30, 2010. "Carol Agay loved the retro-style wire bike basket that came with her new yellow cruiser, except that her keys and cellphone kept falling through its holes. So the Costa Mesa resident came up with a fashionable but practical solution: a basket liner that kept her items secure while she was riding. And she included drawstring handles so that off the bike, the liner could be transformed into a handy tote. So many female bicyclists stopped her to ask about the invention that Agay transformed it, again, into something else: a business… The liners… appeal to cyclists looking for fashionable and functional gear for casual commuting, shopping trips and social rides. This movement, dubbed urban cycling by some, is in contrast to hard-core road cycling, with its spandex outfits, and rugged mountain biking, with its own gear and garb. Urban cycling has gained in popularity as a practical, more social alternative to more sport-centric bicycling… The attire looks like everyday clothing, with some alterations… to make it more bike friendly… Los Angeles clothing companies, Swrve and Shifty, cater to urban cyclists... online as well as at [urban bike stores like] the Flying Pigeonand Orange 20 Bikes... Last month, Los Angeles released a draft bicycle plan that would increase the city's bikeways - including designated paths and lanes - to more than 1,630 miles in the next five years from the existing 339 miles."

New York City Attempts to Limit Emissions with Compressed Natural Gas Buses. By Michael Graham Richard,Treehugger, September 2, 2010. "The Board of the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (the 'MTA') has awarded New Flyer of America a contract for up to 475 buses. The contract is for 135 40-foot compressed natural gas ('CNG') heavy-duty transit buses with options for up to an additional 340 CNG buses... Based on testing by the U.S. Department of Energy, 'model year 2004 CNG engines produced 49% lower nitrogen oxides emissions and 84% lower particulate matter emissions versus transit buses equipped with model year 2004 diesel engines.' This is particularly important because in urban areas, NOx and PM are the pollutants that accumulate the most and cause smog and bad air quality. On the CO2 front, the reduction should be of about 25%, depending on the source of the gas (a bigger reduction can be had if biogas from carbon neutral sources is used). The main downside is that methane emissions can be higher, but this can be mitigated by minimizing leaks and making sure that the refuelling is done properly."

Urban Cycling in L.A. Spawns its Own Peddlers. By Cyndia Zwahlen, LATimes, August 30, 2010. "Carol Agay loved the retro-style wire bike basket that came with her new yellow cruiser, except that her keys and cellphone kept falling through its holes. So the Costa Mesa resident came up with a fashionable but practical solution: a basket liner that kept her items secure while she was riding. And she included drawstring handles so that off the bike, the liner could be transformed into a handy tote. So many female bicyclists stopped her to ask about the invention that Agay transformed it, again, into something else: a business… The liners… appeal to cyclists looking for fashionable and functional gear for casual commuting, shopping trips and social rides. This movement, dubbed urban cycling by some, is in contrast to hard-core road cycling, with its spandex outfits, and rugged mountain biking, with its own gear and garb. Urban cycling has gained in popularity as a practical, more social alternative to more sport-centric bicycling… The attire looks like everyday clothing, with some alterations… to make it more bike friendly… Los Angeles clothing companies, Swrve and Shifty, cater to urban cyclists... online as well as at [urban bike stores like] the Flying Pigeon and Orange 20 Bikes... Last month, Los Angeles released a draft bicycle plan that would increase the city's bikeways - including designated paths and lanes - to more than 1,630 miles in the next five years from the existing 339 miles."

Obama's Electric Car Champion. By Ken Thomas, AP, August 24, 2010. "David Sandalow starts his five-mile commute each day by unplugging an orange extension cord connecting his Toyota Prius hybrid to an outlet in his brick carport... If American consumers begin to shift to electric cars this decade, Sandalow will be one of the government's driving forces behind the change. Crafting policy from the vantage point of an electric car driver himself, the former Brookings Institution scholar has helped shape the Obama administration's ambitious plan to pump billions of dollars into partnerships aimed at developing cars running on electric power, creating an advanced battery industry and helping communities prepare for the transition.

"President Barack Obama has pledged to bring 1 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to U.S. highways by 2015, and turned to the nascent battery industry as one of the hallmarks of his economic recovery plan. Electric vehicles built by General Motors and Nissan are arriving in showrooms later this year and every major auto manufacturer is working on an electric strategy, encouraged by federal funding and tax incentives. Plenty of obstacles remain: the lithium-ion batteries expected to power electric vehicles are extremely expensive, even when the costs are reduced by a $7,500-per-vehicle federal tax credit. The government recently estimated that a battery with a 100-mile range costs about $33,000, although federal stimulus funds could bring the costs down to $10,000 by the end of 2015. Other concerns remain about the durability and longevity of the batteries.

"Sandalow discovered the merits of electric cars while studying oil dependence at Brookings. His 2007 book, Freedom From Oil... concludes that electric cars and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles represented the quickest way to begin making the shift. With more than 240 million vehicles on the road, it will take years to turn over the fleet, but he noted that drivers with short commutes -- like his own daily trip to the Energy Department from his home in Washington -- could use electric power, recharging at night when electrical loads are low. Following his research, Sandalow decided to get his Prius, a gas-electric hybrid, converted into a plug-in hybrid at a Gaithersburg, Md., auto dealership. The $9,000 conversion, which was developed by Massachusetts battery maker A123Systems, included the installation of a large battery inside the spare tire well underneath the trunk and a charging outlet in the bumper. The conversion allows Sandalow to recharge his battery from a standard 110-volt outlet in about six hours. His family owns another car but Sandalow says his plug-in Prius is used for long-distance travel as well. Sandalow estimates running the car on electricity costs the equivalent of about 75 cents a gallon of gasoline."

Reinventing the Dutch 'Grandma's Bike' for Global City Markets. By A.K. Streeter, TreeHugger, August 17, 2010. "In Amsterdam, a majority of the bikes are black. Look out at the sea of bikes parked at the city's Central station and you see a lot of black, highly practical and functional omafiets ('grandma bikes') that most women and men prefer in the Netherlands. There's a reason you still see so many of these on the streets -- they last and last. But style-conscious Dutch bike designers at Van Moof want to take the Dutch bike concept global with bikes that have the best of city bike smarts, with a few novel twists… Rijcken said Van Moof is looking at many other accessories going forward, but always keeping that simplicity and functionality."

The Longest, Greenest Challenge. AP, August 17, 2010. "Three teams from Germany, Switzerland and Australia set off Monday on The Zero Race, aiming to prove it's possible to tour around the world in 80 days with emission-free, electric vehicles. The race, which will pass through 16 countries, is no simple challenge. Already, an American team that was supposed to compete lost its vehicle to a fire, while a South Korean team is expected to join later after running into battery trouble. The aim is to complete the 30,000-kilometre trip without pumping carbon into the atmosphere, a goal that Louis Palmer, the race organizer, believes can be done."

Modern Cargo Ships Slow to the Speed of the Sailing Clippers. By John Vidal, Guardian (UK), July 25, 2010. "The world's largest cargo ships are travelling at lower speeds today than sailing clippers such as the Cutty Sark did more than 130 years ago. A combination of the recession and growing awareness in the shipping industry about climate change emissions encouraged many ship owners to adopt 'slow steaming' to save fuel two years ago. This lowered speeds from the standard 25 knots to 20 knots, but many major companies have now taken this a stage further by adopting 'super-slow steaming' at speeds of 12 knots (about 14mph). Travel times between the US and China, or between Australia and Europe, are now comparable to those of the great age of sail in the 19th century. American clippers reached 14 to 17 knots in the 1850s, with the fastest recording speeds of 22 knots or more. Maersk, the world's largest shipping line, with more than 600 ships, has adapted its giant marine diesel engines to travel at super-slow speeds without suffering damage. This reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. It is believed that the company has saved more than £65m on fuel since it began its go-slow."

White House to Extend Fuel Economy Emission Rules. By Josh Voorhees, Greenwire, May 21, 2010. "President Obama announced plans today to extend federal auto fuel economy and emissions rules through 2025 and develop new regulations for large trucks. The president also called for additional federal support for advanced automobile infrastructure, particularly for electric plug-in vehicles, and for increased regulation of non-greenhouse gas pollutants from motor vehicles. Speaking in the Rose Garden, Obama touted the effort as an 'essential part' of his overall energy and climate strategy and as a way to boost domestic manufacturing. 'The nation that leads in the clean energy economy will lead in the global economy, and I want America to be that nation,' Obama said.

"While the memorandum the president signed today instructs federal regulators to get down to work on the next round of passenger vehicle standards and the new rules for commercial buses and trucks, the order is short on details. According to administration officials, the memorandum does not include specific miles-per-gallon targets for either the next round of auto standards or the new truck rules. 'We're at the starting gate here,' Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told reporters. 'Stay tuned.'"

Nissan Says Electric Car is Sold Out for This Year. By Nick Bunkley, NYTimes, May 26, 2010. "Nissan's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, said Tuesday that the company had already received 19,000 orders in the United States and Japan for the electric car that it would start selling at year-end. More than six months before the car, the Nissan Leaf, arrives at dealerships, the preorders mean that the car is sold out for this year and that the company might stop taking reservations, Mr. Ghosn said during a visit to the Detroit Economic Club... Nissan plans to break ground Wednesday in Smyrna, Tenn., for a plant to build batteries for the Leaf and eventually other models, part of its goal to sell at least 500,000 electric cars worldwide starting in 2013. The first Leafs will be made in Japan, with assembly in Tennessee planned to start in 2012."

High-Flying Free Riders. Commentary by David Bollier, OnTheCommons.org, April 15, 2010. "Private jets are one of the most piggish forms of conspicuous consumption imaginable. The private jet is not only a symbol of extreme privilege and exclusivity, it imposes significant costs on the air travel system, taxpayers, shareholders and the environment... The owners and passengers of private jets are free riders in other significant ways. Commercial aviation pays 95% of air traffic control costs even though it uses only 73% of FAA services -- while general aviation (corporate jets, air taxis, recreational pilots) use 16% of the services but pay only 3% of the costs. The owners and passengers of private jets are free riders in other significant ways. Commercial aviation pays 95% of air traffic control costs even though it uses only 73% of FAA services -- while general aviation (corporate jets, air taxis, recreational pilots) use 16% of the services but pay only 3% of the costs... The owners and passengers of private jets are free riders in other significant ways. Commercial aviation pays 95% of air traffic control costs even though it uses only 73% of FAA services -- while general aviation (corporate jets, air taxis, recreational pilots) use 16% of the services but pay only 3% of the costs."

Mexico City Launches Bicycle Program: 'Ecobici'. By Ken Ellingwood, LATimes, March 30, 2010. "Take a vast, teeming megalopolis where the car is king, bicycle paths are few and motorists often seem determined to mow down anyone not tucked behind a steering wheel. Now try talking residents into pedaling to work every day to help the environment. That's the task facing Mexico City officials, who have parked hundreds of bikes in busy neighborhoods in hopes of getting people to avoid cars and instead bicycle to the office, class or a lunch date. The new project, called Ecobici, is modeled on bike-lending programs in such cities as Barcelona, Spain; Paris; and Copenhagen. Planners hope that by saturating certain Mexico City neighborhoods with the three-speed bikes, they can persuade residents to consider making cycling at least part of their daily commute.

"Ecobici users pay a $24 yearly registration fee and get a membership card, which they can swipe across an electronic reader at any station to release a bicycle. Riders have free use for up to 30 minutes and are charged up to $3 an hour for longer intervals... So far, city officials have placed 1,100 bikes at 85 stations in several busy neighborhoods near downtown. The areas were chosen as promising proving grounds because they boast a mix of residences and businesses. The sturdy-looking red-and-white bikes, outfitted with a headlight and rack for belongings, also are sprinkled along the city's premier boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma. The bikes and equipment cost $6 million. About 2,600 people have signed up, far from the eventual target of 24,000. But use is picking up, officials say."

Cities Not on Track with California High-Speed Rail. By Daisy Nguyen, AP, March 8, 2010. "Mayor Art Brown [Buena Park, CA] spent years pushing for a commuter train station combined with nearby housing in his community. But as townhouses are being finished around the $14 million Metrolink station, he's facing the prospect that California's high-speed rail line may plow right through his beloved project. 'The only option they presented to us was either losing the condo units or losing our train station,' Brown said of an engineering presentation to city leaders last year. That a successful effort to get car-dependent Californians to embrace mass transit could be derailed by another transportation project may strike some as ironic. But it's also one of the hidden costs -- and a potential harbinger of delay -- in the ambitious plan that would enable passengers to speed the 430 miles between Los Angeles and San Francisco in just 2 1/2 hours. The conflict is one of many the California High Speed Rail Authority will have to resolve as it races to meet a September 2011 deadline to finish environmental work or risk losing a $2.25 billion federal grant. 'The idea that they would spend millions for a new station and remove it is a colossal waste of time and money,' said Mark Goldsmith, a resident of the 'transit village' next to the Buena Park station. The first phase of the $43 billion project is planned to span about 520 miles from San Francisco south to Anaheim by 2020, with extensions northeast to Sacramento and south to San Diego by 2026. The 220 mph trains are projected to carry 41 million riders annually by 2035."

"In 2008, state voters approved the sale of $10 billion in bonds to help build the 800-mile system. Then Congress set aside $8 billion for high-speed rail as part of President Barack Obama's push to combine stimulus spending on infrastructure with job creation…In announcing the funding in January, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said California was getting the largest share of the $8 billion because the state had the most advanced plans. However, local officials said they were not adequately consulted by the high-speed rail authority and are demanding a thorough review…A high-speed rail authority official insists the agency has been communicating with city planning departments since 2005, but that local officials paid little attention until the stimulus funds were approved."

Top Five U.S. Cities for Green Jobs. Center for American Progress, February 17, 2010. "Green jobs continue to make inroads in the U.S. economy. Growth in these jobs was a robust 9.1% between 1998 and 2007 compared to 3.7% overall... Here are the top five U.S. cities that are seeing the most growth... California leads the nation in clean-energy jobs with roughly 125,000 -- and San Francisco is a big source for these jobs. The Clean Edge report identifies the Bay Area as the number one metro area for clean technology job activity... Two big sources of green construction and engineering jobs in Boston are wind power... it's the city's third-largest fuel source...and the fact that new buildings have to be constructed to meet LEED certification standards... Detroit's skilled automotive workforce to bring hybrid and electric technology to the forefront of the American auto industry... A quarter of Portland's workforce commutes to work by bike, carpool, or public transportation. The city's $50 million Grey to Green initiative aims to add 43 acres of ecoroofs, plant 33,000 yard trees and 50,000 street trees... New York's PlaNYC 2030 program has 127 greening initiatives, including $1 billion for retrofitting buildings to boost energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, create homes for more than 1 million New Yorkers, and ensure that all residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park."