Business-y news I should write more about, but probably won't

Posted by David Roberts at 12:00 PM on 15 Jan 2008

GE is going to double its investment in renewable energy from $3b to $6b; Toyota plans to offer plug-in hybrids by 2010; meanwhile, GM, which also promises a plug-in by 2010, just struck a deal with Coskata, a start-up which will be making cellulosic ethanol from waste products. [Token acknowledgement that cars are not the way of the future, Grist is car-obsessed and in the pocket of The Man, public transit is awesome, and something about the happy motoring delusional something something.]

For story: Business-y news I should write more about, but probably won't
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Phew!

I'm glad you made that token acknowledgement Dave, or my day was going to be a real bummer.

by Jon Rynn at 12:17 PM on 15 Jan 2008

Funny

One edit needed for accuracy:

"which [may, if all goes well] be making ..."

http://i-r-squared.blogspot.com/2008/01/coskata-hype.html ...

The 5% Project

by JMG at 12:38 PM on 15 Jan 2008

On transit: new report out

Very interesting recommendations here from the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission:

- Ease traffic congestion by expanding state and local public transit systems and highway capacity.

_Protect the environment by smoothing traffic flow, encouraging alternative commute options such as carpooling and public transit and promoting energy-efficient construction and lighting in transit systems to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

_Seek to develop new energy sources with new research programs costing $200 million annually over the next decade.

_Raise the current gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon by 5 to 8 cents annually for five years and then index to inflation, to help fix infrastructure, expand public transit and highways as well as broaden railway and rural access.

Nice to see public transit and highways on an equal footing - even better would be + on public transit and - on highways...

by apsmith at 1:19 PM on 15 Jan 2008

Something delusional

Now you are getting it DR. Expect a call from "Time" magazine soon. Hehey.

Really? 2010? Would huge multinational evil empires lie? Of course not, it would hurt their credibility with consumers. Gasp!

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

by amazingdrx at 11:23 PM on 15 Jan 2008

NYT link to delusion

"But some experts say plug-ins may not be the ultimate answer to cutting pollution, if the electricity used to charge them comes from coal-fired power plants."

This was Vinod Khosla's latest argument as well. The response: This switch to plugin hybrids powered by a renewable smart grid will not happen overnight.

As the grid is suppiled with more and more solar, wind, and biogas power, more plugins will help buffer the demand and supply by recharging at strategic times.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

by amazingdrx at 11:31 PM on 15 Jan 2008

ADVERTISING POLICY

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