May 17th, 2006
The roofs of nine Bayonne, N.J., schools now host solar panels. They save the district $500,000 a year — roughly what it spends on textbooks.
The state has offered rebates of up to $43,500 for a $77,500 residential solar system. With a $2,000 federal tax credit introduced this year and other incentives.
Construction has increased from six solar power systems in 2001 to 1,270 today, with 600 more in construction and 1,000 applicants for the next round of funding.
as reported by philly.com…
When solar-power executives toured New Jersey’s Meadowlands last month, checking out a $25 million plan to cover 30 acres of enclosed landfill, roofs and parking lots with panels - touted as the nation’s largest solar farm - Thomas Leyden of PowerLight Corp. called it a “Persian Gulf” of opportunity.
They get it in New Jersey.
May 13th, 2006
as reported by billingsgazette.com…
MONTANA — During a recent helicopter tour of Glacier Park conducted for ABC News, Montana Governor Schweitzer noted, “We had over a hundred glaciers … Now we’re down to a couple dozen, and by 2025, 2035 at the rate that they’ve been declining, there will be no glaciers in Glacier National Park.”
Yes, the ice is melting.
Go to Glacier National Park. See them while you can. Then come home and reduce the ways you waste energy. It’s not so hard to change your own habits and you’ll feel good in the process. Be part of the solution. Don’t give up. It’s not too late.
May 2nd, 2006
as reported by onedayvancouver.com…
BEIJING — Global warming is causing Tibet’s glaciers to melt faster than expected at a rate of 7 per cent annually, triggering droughts, expanding desertification and increasing sandstorms in China.
China has collected data from 681 weather stations over four decades. The results? A 2 degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature since the 1980’s. And yes, the ice is melting – 7% per year. Deserts are sprawling and sandstorms are becoming problems.
Whether you believe we have caused global warming or not, the ice is melting. There are ways you can help induce global cooling.
Carpool. Use public transportation. Walk. Turn your thermostat down a bit in the winter, and up a bit in the summer. Drive a more efficient vehicle. Use or support energies like wind and solar through direct use, or by purchasing energy tags.