Green Investing News

March 2009 News Archives

Pepsi Tests Efficient, Lower-GHG-Emitting Vending Machines - 2009-03-31
PepsiCo's newest vending machines are more energy efficient that previous models and use carbon dioxide (yes, carbon dioxide) to lower their impact on the environment.

Cap-and-Trade the Focus for Labor, Green Groups Partnership - 2009-03-31
A coalition of labor unions and environmental groups called for a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system and supporting legislation last week as a means of jump-starting job growth.

Sustainable Fishing Lands $5M in Funding from Green Group - 2009-03-31
At Google's headquarters this afternoon, the Environmental Defense Fund unveiled a first-of-its-kind revolving loan program aimed at rebuilding California's fishing industry in an environmentally friendly manner.

Sydney Rush-Hour Power Blackout Causes Chaos - 2009-03-31
A severe power blackout brought chaos to downtown Sydney on Monday afternoon, causing peak-hour traffic jams as traffic signals failed and leaving dozens of workers stranded in lifts as they tried to make their way home.

US Power Use Tumbling With Recession - 2009-03-31
US electricity demand will continue to shrink in 2009 as the economic meltdown hits industrial power consumption, but a rebound could come in 2010.

Chile Miners Look To Tap Desert Geyser Energy - 2009-03-30
Miners in northern Chile, the source of a third of the world's copper, may be sitting on the answer to energy shortages that make electricity in the zone among the world's most expensive.

Toshiba, Sharp Say May Work Together In Solar Power - 2009-03-30
Japan's Toshiba Corp and Sharp Corp said on Friday they are considering working together in the solar power business amid growing demand for cleaner energy, sending their shares higher.

Obama Starts Climate Change Forum For Big Economies - 2009-03-30
US President Barack Obama on Saturday invited 16 "major economies" including the European Union and the United Nations to take part in a forum on climate change to facilitate a UN pact on global warming.

Daimler Extending car2go Car-Sharing Program to Austin, Texas; Ramping Up in Germany - 2009-03-27
Daimler will bring its car2go mobility concept (earlier post) to the US in a pilot phase to start this fall in Austin, Texas with an initial fleet of about 200 smart fortwo mhd vehicles with start/stop functionality.

P&G Doubles 2012 Green Goals - 2009-03-27
The Procter and Gamble Co. intends to double its per-unit reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation and water and energy consumption by 2012 as part of an effort to make its environmental goals more robust.

Renewable Energy Generation Climbs in 2008, Fossil Fuels Dip - 2009-03-27
Non-hydro renewable energy increased 17.6 percent in 2008 compared to the year before, according to new figures released this week by the Energy Information Administration.

General Electric Plans to Bring Smart Meters to the Olympics - 2009-03-27
General Electric (GE) is planning to provide a range of smart meter systems to the London 2012 Olympic Village as part of a project that the company hopes will become a showcase for the technology.

Congress Approves Landmark Conservation Bill - 2009-03-27
The Democratic-led U.S. Congress gave final approval on Wednesday to sweeping land and water conservation legislation that environmental groups praised as one of the most significant in U.S. history.

Bosch Chairman Says Business Must “Do More” for Climate Protection, Even in Difficult Times - 2009-03-26
Business must do even more for climate protection, even in difficult times, said Franz Fehrenbach, chairman of the Bosch board of management, an a talk at the Baden-Württemberg sustainability congress held in Stuttgart on 25 March (Nachhaltigkeitskongress Baden-Württemberg 2009). The acute economic and financial crisis must not, he said, be allowed to function as a pretext for slackening efforts to combat climate change.

Denver Public Schools Enroll TRIRIGA to Green Campuses - 2009-03-26
Denver Public Schools have enlisted real estate management software developer TRIRIGA and the company's solution called TREES to shear energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions at more than 180 of the school system's facilities.

Top China Think Tank Proposes Greenhouse Gas Plan - 2009-03-26
A top Chinese state think tank has proposed a global greenhouse gas trading plan to reflect the different historic emissions of rich and poor nations, indicating deepening discussion in Beijing about climate change policy.

Idled U.S. Farmland May Be Large Carbon Sink: USDA - 2009-03-26
The Conservation Reserve, which pays owners to idle fragile U.S. farmland, could become one of the largest carbon sequestration programs on private land, an Agriculture Department official said on Wednesday.

U.S. Green Bank Proposed to Finance Clean Energy and Efficiency Projects - 2009-03-25
U.S. Representative Chris Van Hollen has introduced legislation to establish a Green Bank as a tax-exempt wholly owned corporation of the United States that would provide a range of financing support to clean energy and energy efficiency projects in the country.

PepsiCo Launches Industry's Lightest Water Bottle - 2009-03-25
PepsiCo Corp. plans to use 50 percent less plastic in its half-liter Aquafina water bottles in a move that will save the company an estimated 75 million pounds of plastic each year.

EPA Warns Army Corps of Engineers of Possible Harm to Water in Coal Mining - 2009-03-25
The EPA put the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers on notice yesterday of concerns about possible damage to water in two new surface coal mining operations in West Virginia and Kentucky.

Venice Seaport Eyes Algae To Fuel Energy Needs - 2009-03-25
Venice's seaport plans to become self-sufficient in its energy needs by building a power plant fueled by algae, in what would be the first facility of its kind in Italy, the port authority said.

Japan Election May Bring Tougher Climate Policies - 2009-03-25
Japan will adopt greener climate policies if the opposition, ahead in voter polls, wins an election this year and sticks to promises for greater use of renewable energy and bold cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Siemens Sees Boost In Green Product Sales: Report - 2009-03-25
German industrial company Siemens expects fiscal stimulus programs around the world to support sales of its "green" products, chief executive Peter Loescher told the Financial Times newspaper.

U.S. Interior Chief Touts Renewable Energy Zones - 2009-03-25
The Obama Administration is carving out renewable energy zones across the country and offshore, and is preparing to work with critics who object to wind turbines or solar farms near wilderness or tourist areas, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Tuesday.

National Grid Sets Emissions Goals, Adds Cost of Carbon to Business Decisions - 2009-03-24
National Grid, a gas and electric company serving Great Britain and the northeastern U.S., has set a greenhouse gas emission goal for 2020 and will begin integrating carbon into its budgets and other business operations.

Nissan In Electric Car Tie-Up With San Diego Utility - 2009-03-24
Nissan Motor Co said on Monday it has formed a partnership with utility company San Diego Gas & Electric to develop an infrastructure that would provide charging stations for electric car owners.

US Big Steel Pushes For Carbon Fees On China - 2009-03-24
China's steel industry should face fees on its exports into the United States if Washington adopts greenhouse gas cuts and Beijing does not, US steel industry officials and advocates said.

Rising CO2 Prices Boost Project Developers' Shares - 2009-03-24
Rising carbon prices are helping boost shares in clean energy project developers, weeks after bearish sentiment in the carbon market forced them to record lows. UK-based project developers EcoSecurities and Camco have seen their shares more than double in the past six weeks, supported also by increased institutional investment and favourable analyst recommendations.

Progress Seen in Corporate Water Reporting, But More Improvement Needed: Study - 2009-03-23
Companies have improved their practices in reporting water use and its effects, but significant efforts must still be made to provide greater disclosure and enable better understanding of the risks and impacts of corporate water needs, according to a recent report by the Pacific Institute.

Meeting Planners Aim for Less Trash - 2009-03-23
Meeting planners are joining forces to reduce the amount of garbage their events generate as part of the Million Tons of Trash Challenge.

Obama Offers $2.4B for Plug-In Cars, $535M Lifeline to Solar Firm, $211M for Clean Air - 2009-03-23
The Obama administration has announced that almost $3 billion can be tapped for development of plug-in hybrid vehicles, clean energy and air projects and reclamation of contaminated sites known as brownfields.

US Installed Solar Capacity Up 17 Pct In 2008 - SEIA - 2009-03-23
Installed solar power capacity in the United States rose by 17 percent to 8,775 megawatts in 2008, the strongest growth in a single year, solar advocate Solar Energy Industries Association said in an annual review issued Friday.

DOE to Award Up to $2.4B for Advanced Batteries, Electric Drive Components, and Electric Drive Vehicle Demonstration/Deployment Projects - 2009-03-20
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released two competitive solicitations that will provide up to a combined $2.4 billion in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) in support of the development of advanced electric drive vehicles (EDVs) including plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV), electric vehicles (EV), and fuel cell vehicles (FCV).

Companies Cite Growing Interest, Need and Value for Environmental Smarts: Survey - 2009-03-20
Businesses have a growing interest and need for environmental and sustainability knowledge -- so much so that 65 percent say they value such knowledge in job candidates and 78 percent say that value will appreciate as a hiring factor in the next five years, according to a survey by the National Environmental Education Foundation.

EDF Wind Arm Sees M&A Bonanza In Crisis - 2009-03-20
The global financial crisis should offer EDF Energies Nouvelles opportunities to acquire assets on favourable terms, the head of the French wind and solar power company said in an interview with Reuters.

$750 billion "green" investment could revive economy: U.N. - 2009-03-19
Investments of $750 billion could create a "Green New Deal" to revive the world economy and protect the environment, perhaps aided by a tax on oil, the head of the U.N. environment agency said on Thursday.

Business Leaders Call for Linking Water, Energy and Climate in Global Talks - 2009-03-19
Business leaders from some of the world’s biggest companies called for water, energy and climate change issues to be linked in global negotiations, such as the international climate talks due to culminate in Copenhagen in December.

Future Looks Brighter for Solar Hot Water Heating Systems at Hotels - 2009-03-19
Historically, owners of lodging establishments throughout the United States and Canada have ignored the sun as a source of potential energy to heat water. Whether because of concerns about cost or misperceptions about how solar thermal technology works, solar hot water heating systems have been rare.

Insurers Must Reveal Climate Change Risks - 2009-03-19
Insurers must disclose climate change risks to investors and regulators for the first time beginning in 2010.

California utility prepares for surge in plug-in electric cars - 2009-03-19
Automakers envision electric cars as a solution to gas price jumps. Environmentalists see bluer skies. And electric utilities? They could be the biggest winners of all.

EDF and Toyota Expand Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Demonstration Efforts in Strasbourg, France - 2009-03-18
EDF and Toyota are expanding their joint plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) road-trials in France, with about 100 units of a next-generation PHEV equipped with lithium-ion batteries to be leased to selected companies and partners in the Strasbourg area starting from the end of 2009, for a duration of three years.

California Governor Launches 'Green Corps' to Train At-Risk Youths for Green-Collar Jobs - 2009-03-18
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has created the California Green Corps, a program to train at-risk young people for technical, construction and other skilled jobs in eco-friendly industries that are expected to help fuel economic recovery.

Old Tires Become Timberland Boot Soles - 2009-03-18
Timberland is putting trashed tires back on the streets this year when it releases boots and shoes made with recycled tire rubber.

Water Firms Finding It Easier To Get Funding: Regulator - 2009-03-18
British water companies are finding it easier to secure funding for investment, although UK water regulator Ofwat is keeping an eye on financing costs, its Chief Executive, Regina Finn, said on Tuesday. Finn said Ofwat began to see evidence in late 2008 and early 2009 of an easing in companies' ability to raise debt after difficulties caused by the credit crunch.

Report Finds Water Stress Rapidly Becoming Key Strategic Risk to Commerce; Impending Water/Energy Collision - 2009-03-17
A Pacific Institute report commissioned by Ceres, whose Investor Network on Climate Risk advises investors with more than US$7 trillion in assets, concludes that impacts of declining water quality and availability will be “far-reaching” for business and industry in the developed as well as the developing world, and that companies which address water stress as a key strategic risk will be better positioned to adjust to negative effects such as reduced water allotments, rising water costs, community opposition, and increased public scrutiny of corporate water practices.

Hitachi Restructures, Spinning Off Automotive Systems Business; to Launch Group-Wide Strategies for Li-ion Battery and Renewables Businesses - 2009-03-17
As part of a major restructuring in announced Tokyo on Monday, Hitachi Ltd. will spin off its Automotive Systems Business into a wholly-owned subsidiary on 1 July. The new automotive business will have a special focus on hybrid and electric drive system components, as well as technologies for enhancing the efficiency of internal combustion engines.

Japan To Seal Carbon Deal With Ukraine Soon - Source - 2009-03-17
Japan is set to complete a deal this week to buy emissions rights from Ukraine, marking its first deal via a government-to-government trading scheme under the Kyoto Protocol, a Japanese government source familiar with the talks said on Monday.

China Wants Importers To Cover Some Emission Costs - 2009-03-17
Countries that buy Chinese goods should be held responsible for the carbon dioxide emitted by the factories that make them in any global plan to reduce greenhouse gases, a Chinese official said on Monday.

EU Calls On Farmers To Start Adapting To Climate - 2009-03-17
Europe's farmers must think how to adapt to climate change in coming decades, altering their practices to cut greenhouse gas emissions, make agriculture more resilient and keep land in use, a European Commission paper said.

Honeywell, KCP&L to Expand Demand Response Program - 2009-03-16
Diversified technology and manufacturing firm Honeywell and Kansas City Power & Light are extending their arrangement for Honeywell to manage the utility's Energy Optimizer Program for another three years with a goal of bringing total participation to almost 80,000 homes, apartment and small businesses.

IBM Wants to Make a Big Splash in Water Management - 2009-03-16
IBM is launching a new line of services and research, called Strategic Water Information Management solutions, as part of the firm's Smarter Planet initiative and the company's growing efforts to work with utilities, government agencies and businesses in managing water consumption.

Japan Unveils $5 Bln Green Loans For Asia At G20 - 2009-03-16
Japan announced a $5 billion loan fund on Saturday to help developing nations, hard hit by the global credit crisis, to put in place running water, solar power systems and other environmental infrastructure.

Global Forum Seeks To Avert Water Crisis - 2009-03-16
Government ministers from 120 countries, scientists and campaigners meet in Istanbul this week to discuss how to avert a global water crisis and ease tensions between states fighting over rivers, lakes and glaciers.

Airlines Try Going Green To Shrink Fuel Costs - 2009-03-16
Airlines around the world are going green as they push to cut their fuel costs -- one of their biggest expenses -- in a struggle to widen margins.

Maldives Vows To Be First Carbon-Neutral Nation - 2009-03-16
The Maldives will shift entirely to renewable energy over the next decade to become the first carbon-neutral nation and fight climate change that threatens the low-lying archipelago's existence, the president said on Sunday.

Warming To Make NY Vulnerable To Storms - 2009-03-16
Global warming should lift sea levels along the US Northeast nearly twice as fast as global rates this century, putting New York City at risk to damage from hurricanes and winter storm surges, scientists said.

Disaster Declared After Australia Oil Spill - 2009-03-16
Authorities declared parts of Australia's northeast coast a disaster area on Friday after tonnes of oil from a damaged cargo ship contaminated several beaches popular with tourists

IBM launches water-management services operation - 2009-03-13
The technology company is launching a new line of water services Friday, hoping to tap a new sales vein by taking the manual labor out of fighting pollution and managing water supplies. IBM says the overall water-management services market could be worth $20 billion in five years.

Climate change takes center stage in Congress - 2009-03-13
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With climate change legislation a top U.S. priority for Democrats this year, lawmakers began zeroing in on Thursday on ways to ease the financial burden it could impose on the poor, especially in the midst of a deep economic recession.

Europe’s Way of Encouraging Solar Power Arrives in the U.S. - 2009-03-13
Solar cells adorn the roofs of many homes and warehouses across Germany, while the bright white blades of wind turbines are a frequent sight against the sky in Spain.

Crisis damps U.S. wind power growth in 2009-GWEC - 2009-03-13
The economic downturn will dent wind power growth in the United States in 2009, as firms scramble to finance their projects, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said on Thursday.

Pursuing the Elusive Goal of a Carbon-Neutral Building - 2009-03-12
Yale University's recently opened Kroon Hall is a state-of-the-art model of where the green building movement is headed. Yet even this showcase for renewable energy highlights the difficulties of creating a building that is 100 percent carbon neutral.

Mid-Sized Businesses are Buying In to Green IT: Report - 2009-03-12
Cost savings are king in this economy, and when it comes to reasons for adopting green IT projects, that is truer than ever before.

Toxic Jatropha Shrub Fuels Mexico's Biodiesel Push - 2009-03-12
Known locally as "pinon," jatropha is a hearty shrub that grows with no special care. Its oil-rich seeds are being eyed as an attractive feed stock for biofuel since the poisonous plant does not compete with food crops

China Says Stimulus Plan Won't Sacrifice Environment - 2009-03-12
China's 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion), two-year stimulus package to counter the global economic slowdown will not lead to the environment being sacrificed for growth, a deputy minister said on Wednesday.

Aid Needed To Boost World's "Green" Energy - 2009-03-12
Wind and solar power could produce 40 percent of the world's electricity by 2050, but only if government subsidies are secured for the next two decades, scientists said on Wednesday.

AT&T to Deploy More Than 15,000 Alternative-Fuel Vehicles in Fleet Over Next 10 Years - 2009-03-11
AT&T plans to invest up to $565 million as part of a long-term strategy to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years.

Altair Nanotechnologies Pursuing ARRA Funding for Grid Modernization - 2009-03-11
Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (Altairnano), a provider of lithium-ion energy storage systems, is pursuing federal funds associated with the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which includes $4.5 billion for the modernization of the US electricity grid. Altairnano is developing energy storage systems for the automotive market as well as for the power generation sector.

Good Housekeeping Adds a Green Seal of Approval - 2009-03-11
Good Housekeeping magazine, whose seal of approval has been a hallmark of reliability for household goods for 100 years, will soon join the fight against greenwashing with a new label for eco-friendly consumer goods.

How Australia Will Ease Costs Of Carbon Trade - 2009-03-11
Australia plans to auction carbon permits to 1,000 of the country's biggest companies, covering 75 percent of national greenhouse emissions, under its emissions trading system due to start from July 2010.

Petrobras Biocombustível To Invest US$2.4B in Biodiesel and Ethanol Production - 2009-03-10
As part of its newly released business plan, Brazil’s Petrobras Biocombustível intends to invest approximately US$2.4 billion in biodiesel and ethanol production from 2009-2013; 91% of the investment is targeted for Brazil.

Disney Aims for Zero Carbon Emissions, Zero Waste in New Environmental Goals - 2009-03-10
The Walt Disney Company details a set of long- and near-term environmental goals in its first comprehensive corporate responsibility report for the recreation and entertainment empire of media networks, theme parks, resorts, cruise and travel tours, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media businesses.

Climate change accelerates water hunt in U.S. West - 2009-03-10
There is very little water left untapped and global warming, the gradual increase of temperature as carbon dioxide and other gases retain more of the sun's heat, has created new uncertainties.

Volvo Trucks Introduces New Range of More Fuel Efficient, Lower-Emitting and Higher-Power Engines and Transmission - 2009-03-09
A number of technical engine improvements with the focus on optimized combustion and a new SCR catalytic converter combine to deliver up to 3% lower fuel consumption, 40% lower emissions of NOx and higher power outputs.

Pininfarina/Bolloré BLUECAR EV Shown at Geneva - 2009-03-09
Pininfarina and Bolloré, which set up a 50-50 joint venture at the beginning of 2008 with the purpose of designing, developing, manufacturing and distributing an electric car, displayed the latest version of the Pininfarina BLUECAR at the Geneva Motor Show on the Véhicules Électriques Pininfarina-Bolloré stand.

Green Building Councils for Australia, U.K., U.S. to Collaborate on Carbon Standard - 2009-03-09
Major green building organizations and their assessment systems in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have agreed to work together to develop common metrics for measuring carbon emissions from new office buildings and homes.

Green Power Forecast: Partly Cloudy -- For the Short Term - 2009-03-09
The sagging economy continues taking its toll on renewable energy spending, with solar and wind projects across the country shutting down or getting delayed as financiers reassess the benefits of investing in new energy technology as their bottom lines shrink. The lower price of oil isn't helping

Corporate Boards Taking Larger Role in Pushing Sustainability Agenda - 2009-03-09
A survey of 220 directors at U.S. companies with $1 billion or more in revenue finds that despite the current economic environment, corporate boards of directors have taken on a growing role in overseeing the risks and opportunities associated with corporate responsibility and sustainability (CR&S) and climate change.

US Energy Secretary Pledges To Fight Global Warming - 2009-03-09
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Thursday pledged to work with Congress to pass legislation that would impose a cap-and-trade system to curb greenhouse gas emissions and fight global warming.

Geithner Defends US Carbon Cap-And-Trade Plan - 2009-03-09
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Thursday defended the administration's plan to raise hundreds of billions of dollars in revenues from a carbon emissions cap-and-trade system, saying it would help wean America off imported oil.

China Pledges $2 Billion For Tibet Environment - 2009-03-09
China has pledged to spend 15 billion yuan (US$2.19 billion) over two decades to protect the environment in Tibet, which is at serious risk from global warming, the official China Daily reported on Friday.

Magna Electronics and BRUSA Collaborate on Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Applications - 2009-03-05
Magna Electronics, an operating unit of Magna International Inc., and BRUSA Elektronik AG, a developer and supplier of high-efficient power electronics and electric motors, have formed a collaboration on electric and hybrid vehicle applications.

Study Concludes That Land Set-Asides Can Be Better Climate Investment Than Corn Ethanol - 2009-03-05
A new study concludes that, depending on prior land use, carbon (C) releases from the soil after planting corn for ethanol may in some cases completely offset C gains attributed to biofuel generation for at least 50 years.

Study Concludes That Land Set-Asides Can Be Better Climate Investment Than Corn Ethanol - 2009-03-05
A new study concludes that, depending on prior land use, carbon (C) releases from the soil after planting corn for ethanol may in some cases completely offset C gains attributed to biofuel generation for at least 50 years.

Global Agencies Want Huge Leap in Fuel Economy, EPA Revisits Calif. Waiver - 2009-03-05
The day before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency begins hearings on its decision to prevent Californiafrom regulating tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions, global agencies called on automakers around the world to boost fuel economy by 50 percent to fight climate change

Cadbury to Dish Out Fairtrade Chocolate in the U.K. - 2009-03-05
Candy-maker Cadbury expects to receive Fairtrade certification for its U.K. and Irish Cadbury Dairy Milk products by the end of this summer, a change that will triple the sales of Fairtrade cocoa for farmers in the African country Ghana.

Schwarzenegger, Green IT and the Economy on Display at CeBIT - 2009-03-04
Sporting a bright green tie and rattling away (happily, it seemed) in his native tongue, the governor had dropped in on this northern German city to promote more than 50 California companies -- many of them textbook cases in how to go green -- at CeBIT, the world's largest technology trade show

South Africa Sees Binding Climate Change Policy In 3 Years - 2009-03-04
South Africa expects to put in place a binding climate change policy within three years to cap emissions by 2020-25, the environment minister said at the launch of a climate summit on Tuesday.

EU slaps duties on U.S. biodiesel imports: sources - 2009-03-04
A key European Union trade panel approved on Tuesday temporary anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports of biodiesel from the United States, sources with knowledge of the decision said.

Ford Unveils New Battery-Electric Tourneo Connect at 2009 Geneva Show - 2009-03-03
At the Geneva Motor Show, Ford introduced a new concept Ford Tourneo Connect equipped with a conceptual but fully operational Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) powertrain developed in collaboration with Smith Electric Vehicles.

Greater Efficiency Seen as 'Silver Lining' for Hotels During Downtown: Report - 2009-03-03
A successful quest for greater cost savings, yielding increased energy and other operational efficiencies, will help hotel companies weather the recession and enable the businesses to better position themselves in the market when turbulent times subside, according to a recent report by Ernst and Young LLP.

California Considers Product Stewardship Bill - 2009-03-03
A proposed bill in the California State Assembly would require producers of certain products and packaging to change the materials they use and develop better ways to deal with the products when they're disposed of.

EU Upholds Austria, Hungary Right To Ban GM Crops - 2009-03-03
Austria and Hungary reaffirmed their sovereign right on Monday to ban growing genetically modified maize after EU environment ministers squashed more attempts by the European Commission to lift the restrictions.

Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation to Assemble Zero-Emission Commercial Trucks in North America - 2009-03-02
The company will assemble and market all-electric zero-emission commercial vehicles in North America, and said it will initially focus its production on battery-electric-powered vehicles for depot-based route delivery fleets.

Chemical Industry, Health and Environment Groups Push for U.S. Toxics Law Reform - 2009-03-02
Health and environmental organizations and the chemical industry agreed before Congress that the U.S.'s current law overseeing toxic chemicals is doing a poor job and needs to be updated.

EDF Maps 1,200 Companies Poised to Benefit from Climate Laws - 2009-03-02
Legislation that puts a cap on greenhouse gas pollution will spur job expansion in a dozen manufacturing states in the U.S., according to the Environmental Defense Fund.