.: Major Operations Begun at Sunrise Landfill :.

** Republic Services of Southern Nevada has begun large-scale construction work under oversight by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at Sunrise Landfill, a 440-acre closed municipal solid waste landfill, located three miles outside of Las Vegas city limits in Clark County.

The $25 million construction project, expected to last through 2012, was awarded to Las Vegas Paving Company and will employ 40 local construction workers.  The project stems from a 2008 Consent Decree requiring Republic, the landfill operator, to: install extensive storm water controls, an armored cover, and landfill gas monitoring system; complete and monitor a groundwater monitoring system; and develop a long-term operation and maintenance strategy.

“EPA is requiring this work to protect a vital drinking water source for communities from Las Vegas to Phoenix,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “This will prevent the release of over 17 million pounds of contaminants each year.”

Under the settlement, Republic is utilizing clean diesel technology to place 1 million cubic yards of soil and rock within the site. These efforts are especially important because diesel exhaust is linked to reduced lung capacity and asthma, and is a likely human carcinogen.

Continue reading at:

http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/major-operations-begun-at-sunrise-landfill/

.: Carlyle Group Releases Corporate Citizenship Report :.

Report Outlines Carlyle’s Approach, Progress to Date, and Goals for 2012

** Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group released its second annual Corporate Citizenship Report, detailing the firm’s efforts to make responsible investment decisions while creating value for investors. The report outlines Carlyle’s range of activities in the following areas: responsible investing, environmental stewardship, community volunteering, wealth sharing, and workplace diversity. The 34-page report is available here.

Carlyle Co-Founder and Managing Director William E. Conway, Jr. said, “We’re pleased with the progress we’ve made but realize there is more work to do. Being a good corporate citizen is good business practice and creates long-term value for our limited partners.  This also further aligns our interests with limited partners who are leaders in these areas.”

The report shows Carlyle’s progress in meeting the Private Equity Growth Capital Council’s (PEGCC) guidelines for responsible investing. More than 60 companies, which represents more than 90 percent of Carlyle’s controlled, corporate buyout portfolio, evaluated their operations according to the PEGCC guidelines in 2011.

 Carlyle also applied EcoValuScreen – a due diligence tool developed in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund – to five transactions, to establish numerical benchmarks to assess and track environmental savings. For example, by applying the EcoValuScreen process to the operations of Carlyle portfolio company NBTY, the company expects to reduce costs by approximately $1.8 million per year and eliminate about 5,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and 440,000 pounds of waste annually.

Continue reading at :

http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/carlyle-group-releases-corporate-citizenship-report/

.: A New Spin on Cleaning: 2011 Green Cleaning Award :.

Columbia School District Attendance Up After Switch to Green Cleaning

** Columbia Public Schools (CPS) has been named the recipient of the 2011 Green Cleaning Award given by American School and University, a leading trade publication for the education sector. This award recognizes school districts that have taken significant steps toward cleaning their facilities using environmentally preferable products and cleaning methods that help protect human health and the environment.

The jury that selected the winning school districts included Stephen Ashkin, long known as “the father of Green cleaning” within the professional cleaning industry, President of the Ashkin Group, an internationally recognized consulting firm working to green the cleaning industry. Other members of the jury included Mark Bishop and Rochelle Davis, both with the Healthy Schools Campaign, a nonprofit advocating for a healthy school environment.

Continue reading at : 

http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/a-new-spin-on-cleaning/

.: Mohr Davidow: Investor Bets for 2012 :.

** We are now seeing the first wave of venture backed clean energy companies mature and matriculate.

Despite the ongoing macro economic uncertainty, I think we will continue to see growth and the increasing impact of cleantech companies. I think 2012 will reveal the increasingly cooperative relationship between emerging technologies and incumbent players.

** 1) The domestic natural gas boom is undeniable.

** 2) Biochemicals will take center stage.

** 3) Grid scale energy storage will emerge.

Continue reading at:

http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/mohr-davidow-investor-bets-for-2012/

.: Panasonic: The New Energy Company :.

** 1. Growth of Solar Industry

The first trend, a very powerful trend, is the growth of solar energy for home, business, and government. It’s a very positive trend, driven by the falling cost of deploying solar panels and the higher efficiency that solar is able to make converting the sun’s energy into electricity.
Solar can still cover the costs over a reasonable lifetime under less than optimal conditions.

** 2. Smart Products and Homes
More and more entrepreneurs and companies like ours are making products that are smart products that can be networked and literally talk to each other.

** 3. Recycled Content and Resource Conservation

Continues reading at:

http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/panasonic-the-new-energy-company/

.: USDA Announces Funding for Water Quality Markets, Seeks Proposals for Projects :.

** Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a funding opportunity that will bring states, USDA, and other stakeholders together to enhance the effectiveness of water quality credit trading. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)  is providing up to $10 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for these projects, with up to $5 million focused on water quality credit trading in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Proposals for projects are due March 2, 2012.

Continue reading at: 

http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/10-million-for-water-quality-projects/

.: EPA to Provide Environmental Justice Grants to Help New York City Communities Prevent Lead Poisoning and Restore Wetlands Organizations in Northern Manhattan, the South Bronx, and Jamaica :.

** The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing $75,000 to two New York City organizations to help them address public health and environmental problems in Northern Manhattan, the South Bronx and Jamaica, New York. West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. (WE ACT) will receive $50,000 to test homes for lead and conduct research on the best ways to detect lead hazards in households in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx. The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance will be provided $25,000 to train students to restore wetland habitats.

Continuing reading at:

http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/environmental-justice-grants-to-prevent-lead-poisoning/

The September Challenge Winner

Question: What is the most vital resource to the future of the United States?