How to de-centivise green vehicle ownership - Californian style

Frankly I'm amazed.

Drivers of hybrid cars in California will have just lose their HOV status.

HOV stands for High-Occupancy Vehicle and is a series of special lanes on major routes which allow car sharing drivers to whizz past the stationary traffic.

Previously, Hy-brid vehicles had also been allowed to use the HOV lanes - even with a single occupant.

Now due to the popularity of vehicles like the Toyota Prius, the lanes are becoming too congested, so their use will now be restricted to passenger sharing vehicles and all electric vehicles like the Tesla Roadster as well as some natural gas powered vehicles.

It's a move that isn't going to endear itself to the 85,000 hybrid owners (source Inhabitat.com) but might well evoke a similar spending spree on all electric vehicles - who can say?

Reminds me of the Government's drive to get us all driving diesel cars in the early '90's. The minute we'd bought one, the cost of diesel suddenly shot up to match and even exceed petrol prices.

They've never come down since. (grump!).

photo credit: computerguy

Solar power is just fine -it's just suffering bad PR

A USA TODAY journalist asked the question "does solar suffer from bad PR?".

Considering it's clean, safe and relatively simple to install, and can add value to your property, not to mention it can be a right little money-spinner, so "what's not to like?".

He quotes a recent survey of "well-off Silicon Valley residents - the perfect solar audience demographic" and the results are rather shocking.

For example, only 39% saw solar as being reliable, whilst only 11% thought solar was affordable.

It's an interesting article and does indeed put a whole new spin on why, in countries abundant in sunshine, solar isn't catching on more. Read the full USA Today article here.

photo credit: ged carroll

California here we come... Solar hot water rebates a tipping point

Day 4 - Short 4 - News reaches us that Californian utility regulators have just approved $350 million in rebates to encourage residents to install solar hot water systems.

"The rebates could reduce the cost of a solar water heater by 15% to 25%, industry experts said. The federal government also offers a 30% tax credit. " reports the LA Times.com.

Solar hot water installers were "ecstatic" following an "absolutely dismal" year in 2009 - one company said they'd only sold a dozen such heating systems in the whole of 2009 compared with 50 in 2008.

Read more at LA Times.com by clicking here.

Wouldn't it be nice if we copied our American cousins trend on this occasion? Don't forget you can get your own online quote for installing your own solar hot water system using Solar Panel Quoter - click here.

photo credit: john morgan

Solar Energy that's far out

Hot on the heels of a japanese proposal to collect solar energy in space and 'beam' that energy back to earth comes this report from Green Inc.

California regulators have approved a utility contract for what would be the nation's first space based solar power plant.

The plan is for a 200 megawatt orbiting solar farm, the energy collected in radio waves which would be beamed to a collecting station on Earth.

As Michael Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission pointed out "This technology would offer around-the-clock access to clean renewable energy, and while there’s no doubt this project has many hurdles to overcome, both regulatory and technological, it’s hard to argue with the audacity of the project."

Not least is the cost of putting the equipment into orbit - a cost many times that of building a similar plant on Earth.

“I’ll be the first to admit our reach may exceed its grasp,” said Mr. Peevey of the utilities commission.

You can read the full article on Green Inc by clicking here.

photo credit: denniswong

Animal Rights protestors slow down California Wind Turbines - solar shines through

As a 384 home solar powered community - the largest of its kind in the U.S. - Southern California to be precise - opened its first phase to the home buying public, developers were praising the design features which will see residents enjoy up to 60% lower fuel bills.

California prides itself in leading America's alternative energy use. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is a pro-active advocate of solar powered homes and green energy generation in general. He has set a goal of 1 million homes to have been fitted with solar roof panels.

The news comes amidst news that the state's wind turbine program has slowed down as animal rights groups object to bird casualties due to propeller strikes. However, California shows no signs of slowing down its "aggressive goals for green energy production".

You can read more on the new solar powered community, which could be a future planning way forward for the rest of us, by clicking here.

photo credit: avenefica

Go on - you tell him you don't believe in solar energy

News reached us that Terminator star turned California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed two bills which will boost incentives for installing solar energy systems in the sunny state.

One bill deals with utility companies paying consumers for surplus energy they put back into the grid, the other establishes a 'feed-in' tariff aimed at providing an incentive to install photovolatic systems on commercial buildings, parking lots etc.

Read the full article and see a picture of our favourite movie star / politician at the signing on Examiner.com by clicking here.

photo credit: caitlyn willows