Found an interesting article about Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway and many other devices. He owns an island off the coast of Connecticut that is off the grid. Using various technologies such as wind turbines, LED light bulbs and water purification systems, he has turned his little island nation into a microcosm for implementing green technology to gain energy independence. His plan is to export his lessons learned to poor countries around the world.

Although experimenting with energy independence on a private island will have some limited application, I think the idea of implementing green energy economies in small island nations has real-world application. The smaller scales of infrastructure and the entire economy in general would allow the effects, positive or negative, of changes in technologies to be realized more quickly. The lessons learned could then be applied around the world.
Published by Be the Bay

So I was in my car yesterday (unfortunately, not a hybrid) and Science Friday came on the radio. The discussion was about plug-in hybrids. These are hybrid (gas-electric) vehicles that can be plugged-in to your household current to recharge the batteries. This extends the range you can drive without having to use the gas engine part of the drive train. In the case of Toyota Prius's that have been modified by Hymotion to be plug-ins, they can get 100+ mpg. This doubles the Prius's already exellent gas mileage.
I think the concept of the plug-in is extremely exciting. This is technology that we already have and we can hit the ground running with it today. We just need the political will to make it happen. And now we are in an excellent position to "encourage" Detroit to get with program and start producing these vehicles. They came to DC this week looking for $25 billion to help them continue business as usual - producing gas guzzling SUVs, fighting fuel efficiency standards, etc. I'm of the opinion that letting the "Big Three" automakers go under would most likely not be in the best interests of the US. However, I also think that just loaning them $25 billion with no strings attached is a huge mistake. Let's loan them the money, but let's require that they get into high gear with producing more hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. And no 10 or 15 year timelines for implementation. The technology is here and now! Mini-Cooper is coming out with an all electric mini next year that they developed and are bringing to market in 10 months! It can be done! And if you think Green cars aren't sexy, check out the Tesla Roadster.
Published by Be The Bay.

Was in Home Depot yesterday and noticed that they have a new receptacle for recycling used CFL light bulbs! I was very happy to see this. The one at the store I was at in Gloucester, VA was up at the customer service desk. The way it works is you bring in your used bulb, place it in the small plastic bag which they provide and drop it in the receptacle.
I just want to say "Way to go Home Depot for stepping up!!"

Link: http://www.elizabethriver.org/

The Elizabeth River Project has taken on one of the most ambitious restoration programs in the entire Chesapeake Bay. Since 1993, this group has been on a mission to clean up one of the most contaminated rivers in the Bay. The Elizabeth River flows through Hampton Roads, Virginia and is one of the most industrialized rivers on the Bay with 3 current Superfun sites.

Despite decades of pollution, the Elizabeth River Project sees potential. And they have already seen great signs of success in removing toxic sediments, educating local landowners with their own list of 9 things they can do to help, and restoring local wetlands. The group just released their new Watershed Action Plan. In it they outline their goal of making the Elizabeth River "fishable and swimmable" by 2020. If that language sounds familiar, it should. The Clean Water Act of 1972 says we all deserve to be able to fish and swim in our waterways. Everyone around the Elizabeth has a part to play in its cleanup, from residents, to businesses, and even kids are getting involved.

If you live in the Hampton Roads area, you should visit their website. Even if you don't, they provide a good example of how a small group of people on a mission can make a huge difference.

This clip has been floating around for a while now, but it's so worth watching if you have not seen it. In it, Senator Collins from Australia discusses his not-very-in-depth knowledge of what caused a 2007 oil tanker incident in his country. As much as this seems like a Monty Python routine, it is an actual news interview. Even more striking is that he refers to 'towing the vessel out of the environment'. When pressed about where it is now, the Senator replied that it is out at sea, where "nothing lives". Well nothing, if you choose not to count birds, fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks, rays, and all other marine life.

The Chesapeake Bay has been fairly lucky in terms of oil spills. Despite having two of the world's largest ports, Norfolk and Baltimore, there have been only a few spills in the last 25 years, and they have been relatively small and/or contained quickly. Let's hope the boats entering the Chesapeake are built a little sturdier than those Australian wave-fearing vessels.