New Plant to Make 100% American Made Wind Turbines

by Muskegon Critic

Wanna see some American jobs? A wind turbine assembly plant is opening in Saginaw, Michigan. That's right where the Thumb of the Mitten meets the Hand. Saginaw. And it'll be the first plant the US to make 100% American Made wind turbines. That's wind turbines spelled: j-o-b-s.

Score one more for Governor Granholm's long time push to diversify Michigan's economy...not just into anything, but into green manufacturing. Screw this being tied to one industry crap: the auto industry. She's doing what should have been done 50 years ago.

Northern Power Systems of Barre, Vt., intends to use a facility in Saginaw to manufacture its next-generation large wind turbines, expected to be the first ones built in the U.S. using 100% American-made parts. Plans call for sourcing as many parts as possible from Michigan companies.

[snip]

Northern Power already has a deal to supply 13 of the turbines for a Heritage Sustainable Energy wind farm near Escanaba that will supply power to Consumers Energy, state officials said.

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Liveblog: Community Energy and Climate Action Conference

by radical simplicity

[Notes: (1) ALL is paraphrased, I can't type as quickly as people can speak, any errors or inaccuracies are strictly my fault. (2) My keys keep popping off of my keyboard, so there will be more than my usual number of typos. If I have time, I'll try to clean them up later, but please have patience in the mean time.]

These are my real-time notes from the Vermont Community Energy and Climate Action Conference in Fairlee VT.

"A Vision and Plan for Vermont's Energy Future" : Governor-elect Peter Shumlin

We have an extraordinary opportunity. Was in DC last week for "baby governor school." It was an eye-opening experience for a VT boy. There were lots of governors there who balance their budgets by producing coal. In closed door session they asked pres why EPA is so hard on them. We're trying to create jobs make America strong.

Update: added "Schools" session notes

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China stops our Green Revolution in its tracks

by gjohnsit

 The news media and the political blogs are enraptured with handicapping the political races. No one has time to worry about real issues anymore. This is the silly season, when immigrant nannies and comments from comedians become "important". When shady television hucksters are inexplicably taken seriously and hold huge political rallies.

 Yet the real world, the one that operates on tangible things that make an actual difference in our lives, keeps chugging along.
  While some of you were busy obsessing about political trivialities, the governments of the world were entering a global trade war. This development entered a scary stage yesterday when Brazil decided not to attend the coming G20 summit.

 However, that was nothing compared to China's latest move.

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California Technology – Help Jerry Brown

by Sara R

I first came to California in 1966 as a nine year old child.  My father was finishing his time in the Air Force at Vandenberg AFB before taking a job in the aerospace industry in Southern California.

Southern California was aerospace central in those days.  We were going to the moon, discovering how to walk in space, and developing new passenger aircraft, to boot.  In the wake of all this, many new products were developed.  It was a boom time, a time of good jobs.  I remember it fondly.

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DelBene closing on Reichert. Let's pick up one blue.

by rb137

I met Suzan DelBene for the first time some months ago, when we had a converstion about why she chose to run for congress. She impressed me at the time, and I have not been disappointed since. In the past six weeks, she's closed a 14 point gap to the point where the spread is within the error bars, and she has real momentum.

Joan McCarter wrote about this race yesterday and Politico called it a "sleeper alert" this morning, citing this article in the Seattle-PI. The Republicans are freaking, though, because they expected this to be a comfortable contest for David Reichert. They are putting 11th hour resources into this district to be sure.

You might remember Wa-08 prior, when Darcy Burner ran for congress in 2006 and 2008. This is a tough district that has never seated a Democrat, but is always within striking distance of making a red to blue transition. Darcy nearly succeded. More than turning a red seat blue, though, I want to tell you why we need to send Suzan to congress.  

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White House and My House, Reflections on 10 months of Solar in Central Texas

by Jakkalbessie

This is my first time writing a diary here, and decided maybe this one would not inflame too many souls even though it is a hot topic.

I was motivated to write this after reading about  solar panels going back up on the White House.

We, as a country really need to think more about Green Energy/Clean energy and so thought I would share our experience in making the decision to go solar.

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White House hid the truth on spill: The truth and the oil is still out there.

by Phil Radford II Greenpeace

The President's National Oil Spill Commission released preliminary findings today from its investigation into BP's oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more about how the White House hid the truth on the spill, and what we know now.

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Obama White House going solar!

by Lawrence

Jimmy Carter started it all by installing solar panels on the White House and pushing hard for renewables and energy independence.

Then came Reagan/Bush and 30 years of a Republican-driven agenda and the U.S. went from being on the forefront of the renewables industry to being a laggard.  

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Double Dealing Dirty Canadians Want To Clean You Up

by terryhallinan

They seem so nice.  So hospitable.  I once thought that the ubiquitous Tim Horton's with dank, weak coffee and pastries that only Burger King could make worse had to be a Canadian company that patriotic Canadians chose to patronize.  It's actually a division of Wendy's.  They will just let anybody in it seems.  Even let George Bush in despite his conviction for drunk driving.

Hey, I like Canadians - except when they're driving.  Only a Yellow Cab driver in New York City or an Angeleno creating new angels regularly can be more frightening behind the wheel than the average Canuck.

But they be doing the planet dirt, even worse than Americans.

An example below the fold.

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We Need Clean Energy Jobs Now

by Congressman Paul Hodes

Yesterday, we learned that another oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Thankfully, nobody was hurt and no oil has leaked into the Gulf as a result of the explosion.

But this most recent explosion happened less than five months after the tragic explosion at BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which killed 11 workers, dumped 4.9 billion barrels of oil into our waters and wreaked havoc on the local economies of Gulf communities.

The most dangerous thing these spills have in common is this: there were warnings that disaster might occur. Just like BP, Mariner Energy, who owns the oil rig that exploded yesterday, was cited for two safety violations in the past six months alone.

It’s clear now, more than ever, that we need to rethink America’s energy strategy.  We need to rethink the way we power our economy.

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"Disaster at The Top of The World": ekos Earthship Monday

by eKos

Welcome to the eKos Earthship, your one-stop-shop for green diaries and series.

Beneath the fold you will find news and notes, community announcements, and our eco-diary roundup.

Peruse the eKos Library to find previously listed diaries. You can also follow eKos on Twitter.

Tonight's editor: ellinorianne

Please remember to rec the BP Catastrophe Liveblog Mothership: 90

And don't forget to check out Ecojustice, tonight's diary is EcoJustice: Coming to Ecuador, with or without Chevron

All views expressed by today's editor do not necessarily represent those of eKos or eKos listed diarists.

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After 11 Weeks of Distaster, Time for Freedom From Oil (PHOTOS)

by Phil Radford II Greenpeace

Eleven weeks ago, BP's Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded into the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers. Since the explosion thousands upon thousands of barrels of oil have spewed into this precious ecosystem, hundreds of wildlife have been affected, the fishing industry has been decimated, and an entire culture is being threatened.

Greenpeace scientists and volunteers have been in the Gulf since week one collecting data and exposing the largest environmental disaster of our time. Using our boats, planes and expertise we've helped reporters gain access to hard to reach areas and documented the disaster ourselves every step of the way. Here are some of our most powerful photos, along with those of others, to share with you what we've seen in the past 11 weeks. On Independence Day this weekend, let us remember that we have yet to achieve energy independence from dirty and harmful fossil fuels.

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