Abita Springs Ready for 100%

https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/electric-school-buses

Electric school buses are practically free now Federal and state governments are practically giving away electric school buses.

"A big part of it is that drivers tend to charge their cars during off-peak hours — like overnight — when there's lots of spare grid capacity and utilities can provide electricity cheaply."

https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-cars-grid-utility-bills-electricity-rates-cheaper-for-everyone-2022-12

Electric cars make utility bills cheaper for everyone, new research finds Electric cars are big moneymakers for utilities. And since utilities can't reap unlimited profits, they need to pass the extra cash to customers.

Talk about clean, renewable energy!
https://newatlas.com/energy/blowhole-wave-energy-lcoe/

Blowhole wave energy could soon be world's cheapest clean power The UniWave sea platform is an artificial blowhole that harvests energy from ocean waves. Independent analysts now predict it'll create some of the cheapest renewable energy on the market – and some of the most reliable and predictable, as well.

And think of a fast train circling the lake to BR and NO that you could board in Mandeville or Slidell... BR with no traffic jams. How sane is that?

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/another-reason-to-swap-your-gas-stove-study-finds-cancer-causing-chemicals-in-natural-gas-11656530602

Another reason to swap your gas stove? Study finds cancer-causing chemicals in natural gas Harvard study finds the natural gas that lights gas stoves for home and professional cooks contains low concentrations of several chemicals linked to cancer.

https://digital.olivesoftware.com/olive/odn/houstonchronicle/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=HHC%2F2022%2F06%2F29&entity=Ar01401&sk=2C9B4858&mode=text #=undefined

Clean energy hiring outpaces fossil fuels - Houston Chronicle, 6/29/2022 Kamal Ramoutar trains in installing the infrastructure at a solar farm south of El Campo. The U.S. added 300,000 jobs last year, mostly in clean energy.

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/20/1104920656/ford-electric-f150-lightning-electric-vehicles-automakers

He's the first buyer of the electric F-150. Why he's the future of the car industry Legacy auto makers such as Ford and GM are racing to catch up to Tesla by investing billions of dollars to develop electric cars.

UPDATE: It was a good day! The EV/Hybrid tax bill passed with the amendment we wanted! The Sandbox bill was deferred. Yey!
We'll be here in the Capitol Rotunda until 3:PM - come by and visit. Angelle and Sophie are already at work leaving comment cards and making live comments on the three bills we are working in committee today - HB 1, HR 1033 and HR 564.
We are pushing for HB 1 and all related bills to include a focus on preservation and maintenance for all infrastructure dollars. We are Opposed to HR 564, a Sandbox bill. And we are possibly in Favor of HB 1033, a bill to tax EV and Hybrid owners. As written, we Oppose it, but with Amendment #3472 added, we will Support. The Amendment reduces the original tax to a reasonable and fair amount.

For the model year 2022, these are the top five most efficient vehicles for sale right now based on the EPA's measurement of energy used per 100 miles:

2022 Tesla Model 3 RWD: 25 kWh
2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring: 26 kWh
2022 Chevy Bolt: 28 kWh
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric: 28 kWh
2022 Tesla Model S: 28 kWh
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/04/new-ev-vs-old-be**er-which-is-better-for-the-environment/?amp=1

New EV vs. old be**er: Which is better for the environment? EVs require more energy to build, but they are far more efficient to operate.

https://electrek.co/2022/04/21/europeans-already-love-electric-cargo-bikes-and-now-americans-are-embracing-these-low-cost-car-alternatives/

Europeans already love electric cargo bikes, and now Americans are embracing these low-cost car alternatives Electric cargo bikes, which are essentially normal electric bicycles with stretched frames for carrying more gear or passengers, are becoming increasingly popular as car alternatives in the US. The move follows a common trend in the electric bike industry that sees Americans tracking several years b...

Virginia Utility Plans to Use Electric School Buses as a Power Station 50 electric school buses will be deployed throughout the state by the end of the year.

"BYD (Build Your Dreams) announced Wednesday at the California Transit Association’s Annual Fall Conference in Monterey that the Los Angeles Department of Transportation ordered 130 of its battery-electric K7M buses, the largest single order of battery-electric buses to date in the United States."
https://en.byd.com/news/byd-receives-largest-battery-electric-bus-order-in-u-s-history/ #:~:text=BYD%20(Build%20Your%20Dreams)%20announced,date%20in%20the%20United%20States.

BYD Receives Largest Battery-Electric Bus Order in U.S. History - BYD USA BYD (Build Your Dreams) announced Wednesday at the California Transit Association’s Annual Fall Conference in Monterey that the Los Angeles Department of Transportation ordered 130 of its battery-electric K7M buses, the largest single order of battery-electric buses to date in the United States. T...

"The concept, called AuREUS (which stands for Aurora Renewable Energy and UV Sequestration), uses luminescent particles from fruit and vegetable waste that absorb UV light and convert it into visible light. A solar film then converts that visible light into energy."

Solar panels, made from food waste, produce energy without sunlight [Apr 3, 2022: Chris Young] Maigue says the system could be applied to entire buildings such as the Montreal Convention Centre. (CREDIT: James Dyson Foundation) Solar panels are a cornerstone of the clean energy revolution. And yet, they have one great flaw: when the clouds roll in their productivity...

I'm not a fan of Starbucks coffee, but I applause this decision!
https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/starbucks-to-eliminate-paper-cups.html

After 35 Years, Starbucks Just Made a Bittersweet Announcement Its most valuable brand asset is also one of its biggest problems.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/08/electric-cars-emissions-climate-change-green-environment/

Are electric cars all that green? Yes, this chart shows you how A common misconception is that electric vehicles aren't much cleaner than normal engines, but the ICCT says this isn't true.

Solar Installation Technician - Tesla PV - Solar Alternatives POSITION SUMMARY:Leading solar contractor with award-winning 14-year reputation for excellence in search of experienced and aspiring solar energy technicians. Responsibilities include installation of new solar energy systems, layout of solar arrays, tr...

“Using water canals for solar infrastructure conserves water while producing renewable electricity and avoids converting large tracts of land to solar development.”
https://thehill.com/changing-america/sustainability/energy/593694-first-in-the-nation-project-will-cover-canals-with

First-in-the-nation project will cover canals with solar panel canopies “Using water canals for solar infrastructure conserves water while producing renewable electricity and avoids converting large tracts of land to solar development.”

EVs: preferred for stranding in icy conditions? Looks like it!
https://www.insidehook.com/article/vehicles/electric-car-12-hours-freezing-cold-test

I Idled in an Electric Car for 12 Hours in the Freezing Cold to See What Would Happen The I-95 shutdown ignited a debate about EVs in winter, so I did an extraordinarily mundane test

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/worlds-first-air-yacht-sail-sky-sea-zero-emissions

​​The World’s First “Air Yacht” Would Sail in the Sky and Sea (With Zero Emissions) Take a peek inside the vessel of the future with 10 guest suites

Now that's a really Cajun - independent and proud of it!

The Lost Bayou Ramblers Get Lit Louis Michot, the co-founder of the Cajun-singing punk band, plays a set from the Solar Roller, his own sun-powered stage, and discusses how solar power can save Louisiana.

This is the kind of future the Ready For 100 group saw for Abita Springs. Sadly the current leadership and some citizens lacked the foresight to make it happen. https://www.kristv.com/news/local-news/solar-panel-saves-arkansas-school-enough-for-teachers-get-up-to-15k-in-raises

Solar panel saves Arkansas school enough for teachers get up to $15K in raises Going to clean energy paid off in an enormous way for a school in rural Arkansas

EV trucks are the future!

This electric truck sure drives differently than my old Chevy. Department of Transportation and Development Sec. Shawn Wilson and I had a great time test driving this truck and discussing the future of infrastructure on day two of the National Governors Association’s Infrastructure Summit.

Way to go!
https://www.businessinsider.com/germany-to-phase-out-the-sale-of-combustion-engine-cars-in-the-next-decade-2021-11

Germany plans to phase out the sale of combustion-engine vehicles to help meet its ambitious goal of getting 15 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 A German coalition has committed to rapidly increasing battery-powered car production and usage in a push to prioritize climate protection initiatives.

Cute and sexy EV!

Invest in the EV company with more than 12,000 preorders Aptera’s Solar Electric Vehicles aim to change how the world drives.

MUDDER? Get your EV truck now! https://www.motortrend.com/features/2022-rivian-r1t-ev-vs-ice-off-road/

Shocker: 2022 Rivian R1T Proves Electricity Is Better Than Gasoline for Off-Roading This is why the Rivian R1T makes it difficult to return to conventional gasoline vehicles for overland adventures.

The US finally adopts a national recycling strategy
Justine Calma - Yesterday 5:25 PM
he Environmental Protection Agency announced a new national recycling strategy today, the agency’s first ever such commitment, according to the Washington Post.

It’s a roadmap for the US to achieve a goal of recycling at least half of its municipal waste by the end of the decade. That’s a steep rise considering the US’ recycling rate has actually declined since 2015, and was only at about 32 percent of all municipal waste in 2018 (the most recent year for which there’s EPA data).

The recycling plans the EPA announced today are just the first piece in “a series” of forthcoming documents the agency plans to release to work towards a “circular economy,” or an economy where resources are recovered and reused to make new products rather than allowed to wind up in landfills. It’s a sort of tacit acknowledgement that recycling alone doesn’t make a huge dent in the world’s trash problems. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-us-finally-adopts-a-national-recycling-strategy/ar-AAQK2Jd

MSN

We need to force some of our not so progressive (intelligent?), legislators in Baton Rouge to read this article. Solar installations do not become a wasteland - unlike oil and gas installations.
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/14/1054942590/solar-energy-colorado-garden-farm-land

This Colorado 'solar garden' is literally a farm under solar panels The newly passed infrastructure bill could lead to a boom in solar production requiring a lot more land, including farmland. But research is showing solar panels might actually help grow some crops.

Improving your community for everyone:
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-nct2e-1129203

Moving a Green Agenda in a Republican-run City: The Story of the Millers How do clean energy and climate activists in GOP-dominated municipalities and counties gain political support and make a difference in their communities? Pat and Steve Miller in Middletown, New Jersey, who are pushing their Republican-run city for a 100 percent renewable energy transition, share the...

Entergy Arkansas shifts from plans to add gas turbines, turns to more renewable resources Entergy Arkansas is moving away from previous plans to add natural gas-powered turbines this decade in favor of more renewable resources, according to its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan.

Sometimes I really want to live among intelligent and progressive people...
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/austria-klimaticket/index.html

The $3.50 go-anywhere ticket to fight climate change Austria is launching a new transport pass, Klimaticket. It gives passengers unlimited rides on trains, buses, trams and metro lines that costs about $3.50 (3 euro) a day.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90687369/this-ingenious-wall-could-harness-enough-wind-power-to-cover-your-electric-bill

This ingenious wall could harness enough wind power to cover your electric bill It could be used near buildings, in cities, or on the side of a highway.

Just think if FEMA supported solar owners with supplemented battery backup instead of generators.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/solar-powered-apartment-in-new-orleans-kept-the-lights-on-through-ida/

In Hurricane Stricken New Orleans, a Solar Microgrid Kept the Lights on in This Apartment Building for Low Income Vets While most of the city lies is struggling to get the power back, St. Peter Residential, thanks to its solar microgrid, can relax.

Electric plane startup Lilium goes public in bid to take commercial flight by 2024

Abita Springs could have built a community solar farm, owned by local investors. That's where the smart wealthy investors are putting their dollars to work.
https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_f56004fe-de71-11eb-b161-c72a83856b8b.html

Who owns all these solar 'farms' across Louisiana? The answers may surprise you Of the 16 solar power farms proposed in Louisiana, nearly half are controlled by an East Coast hedge fund with an appetite for solar and wind projects contained in a

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oregon-clean-energy-bill_n_60d79c4ce4b0dcd799a7851b

State Lawmakers Approve Bill That Aims To Get Oregon To 100% Clean Energy By 2040 The bill, which has been described as the nation’s most ambitious clean electricity standard, now heads to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk.

This could have been here in Abita Springs.
https://www.ktbs.com/news/arklatex-indepth/new-shreveport-neighborhood-will-have-the-capability-to-run-off-of-solar-power-only/article_2bd66902-b5f4-11eb-b698-4f57097da9a2.html

New Shreveport neighborhood will have the capability to run off of solar power only SHREVEPORT, La. - Trinity Bluff is a new neighborhood in the building phase in Shreveport, and it will be it's own microgrid within the SWEPCO grid.

TESLA EV BREAKS SPEED RECORD - Costs a million or more less than comparable (but slower) Ferrari or Bugatti!
https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/15/jay-leno-breaks-world-record-in-teslas-new-plaid-model-s-i-love-this-car/

Jay Leno Breaks World Record In Tesla’s New Plaid Model S — “I Love This Car” Jay Leno broke the world acceleration record for a quarter mile in the new Tesla Model S Plaid. He is one of the few lucky ones to have driven the fastest production car ever made. Leno drove it down the dragstrip at Pomona Raceway in California, filming it for his show, Jay Leno’s Garage. The [.....