Solar Tûranor Pays Visit to NYC

World's largest solar boat docks in NYC

18 June 2013 - The world's largest solar boat, a catamaran called Tûranor, reached New York City Monday afternoon, docking at the North Cove Marina in downtown Manhattan at about 5 p.m. New York is the boat's sixth stop in a trans-Atlantic expedition that began in March in the south of France.

The boat's upper decks are covered in 5,554 square feet of solar paneling. The photovoltaic cells get Tûranor up to an average speed of 5 knots (5.57 miles per hour), with a maximum speed of 14 knots (16.1 miles per hour). Tûranor is large enough to carry 60 people on board, including four crew members, in 6 cabins. read more>>>

6pc Equinox Solar Light Set

Climate Change and the Floodplains

Climate change to increase floodplain by nearly half

June 16, 2013 - Floodplains subject to 100 year floods will grow nationwide by 45 percent in freshwater areas by the year 2100 and grow by up to 55 percent in seaside coastal areas, say consultants in a newly released report prepared for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The report's (.pdf) predictions are the median result of modeling, implying that there exists a 50 percent chance of occurring. FEMA contracted with Los Angeles-based AECOM for the study in a bid to analyze the implications of climate change on the National Flood Insurance Program, which faces financial health issues. read more w/pdf links at bottom>>>

Electric or Gas?

New ‘eGallon’ Pricing Helps Drivers Compare

June 11, 2013 - The U.S. Energy Department today launched “eGallon,” a quick and easy online state-by-state system for drivers to compare the cost of fueling an electric vehicle with the cost of driving the same distance on unleaded regular gasoline. Find it here.

In Oregon, for instance, the eGallon price is about $0.96, meaning that a typical electric vehicle could travel as far on $0.96 worth of electricity as a similar vehicle could travel on a gallon of gasoline, which costs $3.74 in Oregon.

On average, fueling a car with gasoline costs roughly three times more than fueling with electricity.

In California, the eGallon price is $1.51 as compared with a gallon of gas, which costs an average of $3.98 in California.

In Virginia, the eGallon price is $1.04, while a gallon of gas costs $3.41, while in New York, the eGallon price is $1.80, while a gallon of gas costs $3.70. read more>>>

Building an Oasis From Future Water Shortages

REPORT AIR DATE: June 11, 2013 - Could Agriculture Bloom in the Desert? Qatar Works to Invent an Innovative Oasis

SUMMARY

Thanks to Qatar's harsh desert environment and growing population, researchers have embraced the tiny country as a laboratory to address global concerns. As part of the NewsHour's series "Food for 9 Billion," special correspondent Jon Miller reports on their inventive efforts to ensure water and food security for the future. Transcript>>>

Watch Could Agriculture Bloom in the Desert? on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

And away from the deserts to the forests and farming that was aired the day before:

REPORT AIR DATE: June 10, 2013 - Using 'Nature as an Asset' to Balance Costa Rica's Farming With Preservation

SUMMARY

As part of the NewsHour's series "Food for 9 Billion," special correspondent Sam Eaton reports on a push in Costa Rica to embrace forest preservation and biodiversity while keeping up with the demand for farming. Researchers are measuring the helpful roles of small animals like bats, birds and bees. Transcript>>>

Watch Balancing Costa Rica's Farming With Preservation with Nature on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

New Solar Guide For Homeowners

The Solar Foundation Releases New Solar Guide For Homeowners Associations

06 June 2013 The Solar Foundation (TSF) has announced a new guide designed to educate homeowners association (HOA) boards and other managers of planned communities on best practices for encouraging solar development.

The guide, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Encouraging Solar Development through Community Association Policies and Processes," offers HOA-governed communities policies and tips for overcoming administrative roadblocks to pursuing solar energy. read more>>>

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Cutting-Edge Solar-Electric Propulsion Thruster

Saturday Space Sight: The Engine Burns Blue

8 June 2013 - This image shows a cutting-edge solar-electric propulsion thruster in development at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., that uses xenon ions for propulsion. An earlier version of this solar-electric propulsion engine has been flying on NASA’s Dawn mission to the asteroid belt. read more>>>

Shift from Coal to Gas is Being Offset by a Sharp Rise in Methane Leakage

Methane leaks could negate climate benefits of US natural gas boom: report

Reduction in carbon emissions triggered by America's shift from coal to gas is being offset by a sharp rise in methane

4 June 2013 - Methane leaks could undo the climate change benefits of America's natural gas boom, a new report said on Tuesday.

The report, produced by the Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), said America's shift from coal to gas had produced important climate gains.

Carbon dioxide emissions fell last year to their lowest point since 1994, according to the Department of Energy. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions were 12% below 2005 levels.

But the report said those reductions were not enough, on their own, to escape the most catastrophic consequences of climate change. read more>>>

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