Earth Day, in recent years, has become a frenzied media event for all things labeled green. But there is a signal amid the noise. Want to find it? Check out these 20 headlines on today’s energy, climate and cleantech policy announcements, plus helpful context and analysis of the changing meaning of Earth Day for businesses, policymakers, consumers and the environment.
In the Air: Elizabeth Kolbert details the history of Earth Day, from the first “raucously exuberant” celebration in 1970 to today’s toned-down affair. — The New Yorker
Use Energy, Get Rich and Save the Planet: When the first Earth Day took place, affluence and advanced technology in the U.S. seemed so obviously bad for the planet that they were featured in a famous equation, I=PAT (environmental impact equals population multiplied by affluence multiplied by technology). But now, might more wealth mean a healthier planet? — New York Times
The Science Guy: Questions for Steven Chu: Energy Secretary Steven Chu says that “From here on in, every day has to be Earth Day,” and that most Americans aren’t doing enough to make their homes energy efficient. — New York Times Magazine
Does Earth Day Still Matter?: With green exploding everywhere and a progressive administration in the White House, do we still need Earth Day? — Grist
What’s the Best Way to Increase Your Carbon Footprint?: Earth Day = Opposite Day at Jalopnik. In an automotive sense, the biggest greenhouse gas culprits include production, delivery, displacement, aerodynamics and weight. — Jalopnik
Chrysler Unveils Four All-Electric Minivan Prototypes to USPS: Chrysler unveiled four all-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivan concepts to the US Postal Service today and announced plans to apply for stimulus funds under the DOE Transportation Electrification program to develop electric mail delivery vans. — Green Car Congress
EPA Releases Analysis of Climate Bill: Just days after declaring that carbon emissions are a threat to human health, the EPA has released a preliminary analysis of the Waxman-Markey energy bill, giving it high marks for driving “the clean energy transformations of the U.S. economy.” — NYT’s Green Inc.
Microsoft Shares Sustainable Best Practices: An overview of the best practices (such as providing incentives and taking advantage of competitive bids from multiple vendors) highlighted in a new 10-page white paper from Microsoft’s Global Foundation Services infrastructure team. — Data Center Knowledge
The Real Story on Moore’s Law for Solar: The photovoltaic industry might think it deserves a Moore’s Law, since it looks a lot like a semiconductor business, but Carbonflow CEO Neal Dikeman says this application of the tech maxim is mischievous. — Cleantech Blog
Coal is the Problem, Unless It’s the Solution: While many environmentalists point to coal as the biggest part of the climate problem, it’s such a big part of the energy mix that even green-minded policymakers figure cleaner coal has to be a big part of the solution. — WSJ’s Environmental Capital
A CIO’s Take on the Future of Green IT: Deloitte Chief Information Officer Larry Quinlan says the strategies and best practices of green IT are here to stay, but the terminology may be a passing fad. — Data Center Knowledge
Exelon, SunPower Plan Largest Urban Solar Plant in U.S.: Exelon and SunPower Corp. announced plans today to develop a $60 million, 10 MW solar project at a former industrial site on Chicago’s South Side by the end of this year. — Solar Industry
How to Reduce Your Impact on the Planet: Five web sites that do carbon calculation, green product recommendations and environmental activism better than anyone else. — CNET’s Webware
Renewables Success Requires Electricity Upgrade, MPs Told: The UK government is at risk of missing its climate change targets if it fails to make substantial investment in the country’s electricity network, Britain’s energy distributors warned UK officials today. — Guardian
10 Technologies on the Green Frontier: An illustrated roundup of 10 technologies that scientists and environmentalists hope will help humans reduce their impact on planet Earth. — MSNBC
Chancellor Promises to Cut Emisions by 34 Percent by 2020: British finance minister Alistair Darling today pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent by 2020 and said while he aims to do this without purchasing carbon credits, he’s keeping offsets as a “fallback option.” — Guardian
Beyond Fossil Fuels: Alan Hanson on Nuclear Power: The executive vice president of AREVA, Inc. weighs in on the hurdles facing his industry in a Q&A. — Scientific American
Salt n’ Solar: The Revolution in Technology: A Solar Millenium AG plant set to come online in Spain this summer is supposed to generate power even when the sun isn’t shining, thanks to a new process that uses a cousin of common table salt. — Celsias
Biden Announces $300 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Clean Cities Program: Vice President Joe Biden today announced $300 million in funding from the stimulus pacakge for state and local governments, as well as transit authorities to expand the nation’s fleet of clean, sustainable vehicles and the fueling infrastructure necessary to support them. — Department of Energy
As House Digs Into Climate Cill, Debate Focuses on Costs to American Families: As the House begins serious debate on the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill, the biggest sticking point may be how much it will cost average Americans. — Grist
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