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Plant Profile - Stuyvesant Cove Park
May 16th, 2008
Aquilegia canadensis is a new addition to the park, planted in the fall of 2007. Hundreds of these plants were added, most of them quite small. Early this year the park staff started noticing that many of the Aquilegia planted last year were coming up, which is surprising considering Stuyvesant Cove is a public park and we tend to lose a lot of plants due to foot traffic. But not these delicate jewels, they quickly grew to full size (1.5 feet) and started blooming in late April. They are still blooming today and will sporadically bloom till mid June.
Aquilegia canadensis, also know as Wild Columbine, can grow in a variety of light conditions: part sun/shade, full sun, or full shade (fewer flowers). It is also tolerant of many types of soils, as long as it has good drainage, making it an easy low maintenance native plant. Keeping it watered will produce lush gray green leaves and many flowers. This plant is also very comfortable in drought conditions where it will also produce flowers. There are many insects and animals that are attracted to this plant, mostly ones that have the ability to reach the nectar in the long tubular flowers, such as moths, butterflies and hummingbirds, just to name a few.
Wild Columbine is a great addition to any flowerbed or park, it has wonderful pale red flowers that dangle downward and stand out very nicely against fresh spring leaves of other plants. If you are interested in seeing this plant in person, please stop by the park and have a look; they are the only red blooming plants in the park at this time.
Posted in Native Plants, New York City, Stuyvesant Cove Park, Sustainability | Permalink | posted by Melissa
Nissan Plans All-Electric Car for 2010
May 15th, 2008
Speaking at a press conference in Portugal last week, Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Renault and Nissan, announced bold plans to introduce a battery-powered car for the mainstream American automobile market by 2010 and a complete range of affordable electric vehicles for global launch by 2012. This announcement follows on the heels of another just-unveiled initiative by Renault-Nissan, in partnership with the Silicon Valley venture Project Better Place, to introduce all-electric cars and a network of charging points throughout Denmark and Israel by 2011. Through such ambitious endeavors, Ghosn is clearly positioning Renault-Nissan to corner the market in “affordable zero-emission vehicles”. Although the company is investing in the production of both parallel and plug-in hybrids as well as hydrogen-powered automobiles, it clearly favors the all-electric approach for large-scale retail markets; Nissan plans to offer its first electric model to the public for around $25,000. According to Ghosn, except for the batteries, the technology is already in place for such a democratic endeavor. But with rapid improvements being made in lithium-ion batteries and massive investment from Nissan as well as other companies, practical and affordable battery technology is simply a matter of time.
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Technology, Transportation | Permalink | posted by Bill
I Heart PV Street Team visited by State Senator Eric Adams in Brooklyn this weekend.
May 12th, 2008
On Saturday May 10th, the I Heart PV Street Team held its very first Brooklyn activity at the Grand Army Plaza Green Market. The group of Manhattan Comprehensive H.S. students provided hands-on solar demonstrations by charging cell phones and laptops, and also briefed passers-by on the legislative goals of the campaign. They were met with great interest and enthusiasm by the crowd.
At the event, the group was greeted by State Senator Eric Adams of the 20th District in Brooklyn (pictured above, center), whose support and enthusiasm for the subject of solar was responsible for the group’s appearance at the market. Senator Adams is committed to making solar more viable in the five boroughs through progressive policy measures, and supports the campaign’s goal of expanding net-metering for solar electricity systems in New York. (Click here to find out more about it, and how you can get involved.)
Solar One thanks him for his support and leadership!
Posted in Solar One | Permalink | posted by Neidl
On View: Darwin’s Garden
May 11th, 2008
When it comes to evolution, most people imagine fish with legs, anthropoid-like monkeys or those otherwise nondescript finches from the Galapagos Islands. An exciting new exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden, however, seeks to provide insight into a rather neglected realm of evolutionary history. Darwin’s Garden: An Evolutionary Adventure, on view now through June 25, is a 40-minute walking tour through botanical deep time that explores the phylogenetic relationships, histories and habits of some thirty different plant and fungus species, beginning with such primitive life forms and living fossils as algae, mosses and cycads through more complex flowering plants and carnivorous nitrogen-seeking specialists like the venus flytrap. This ambitious program spans “three separate Botanical Garden venues and includes an “evolutionary tour” of living plants that demonstrate key points on the tree of life, which links all living beings through a common ancestry.”
So take forty minutes from your day to visit the distant relatives from which you branched off hundreds of millions of years ago. Tix are $20 for adults, $7 for children, and $18 for students and seniors. You can order online or by calling 718-817-8716 during workweek business hours.
Posted in Education, Legislation, Native Plants, New York City, Renewables, Solar One | Permalink | posted by Bill
NYC Wildflower Week Celebration at Solar One
May 5th, 2008
On Saturday May 10th from 10am-2pm, Solar One will be hosting a celebration of Native Plants as part of NYC’s first Wild Flower Week. This free event will focus on educating children on the importance of native plants and to celebrate them through fun interactive activities in Stuyvesant Cove Park. Appropriate for ages 3-12.
Activities include:
Potting up your own native plants to take home
Making seed balls to disperse somewhere in the city
Bingo and crossword puzzles
Worm composting demonstration by The Lower East Side Ecology Center
“Pretend you’re a plant” interactive park tour
Create your own plant hat and/or costume by The New York Restoration Project
Coloring your favorite native plant
All are welcome, please come and join us!
Posted in Education, Native Plants, New York City, Solar One, Stuyvesant Cove Park, Sustainability | Permalink | posted by Melissa
As Oil Concerns Mount, the Profits Roll In
May 2nd, 2008
Against the backdrop of consumer protests and rising tensions, Royal Dutch Shell and British Petroleum (BP), two of the world’s largest oil producers, announced record profits for their first-quarter earnings this past Tuesday. With oil currently priced at an unprecedented $120/barrel, the announcements underscored the clear division between consumer concerns and what many activists and environmentalists perceive as corporate exploitation. While company executives were no doubt basking in the good news, commercial truckers in both the U.S. and Europe staged vehement demonstrations, bringing traffic to a halt in some cities. Given the strife, BP’s 63% profit growth seems obscene, not to mention unlikely to hasten the move to clean and sustainable alternatives, and considerable handouts in the form of government subsidies further abet this inequity. According to the Center for American Progress, the big five oil companies - BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobile, and Royal Dutch Shell - received $1.3 billion in tax breaks last year despite $123 billion in profits.
Isn’t it time for such double-dipping to end? While these write-offs are a drop in the bucket compared to company earnings, they could go a long way to easing the burden on the average driver. H.R. 5351, recently passed in the House and now before the Senate, intends to set limits on tax credits for oil companies while at the same time increasing subsidies for renewables. Such subsidies are intended to spur growth in emerging industries seeking a foothold in a competitive market; needless to say, oil companies don’t fall into this category. Recent legislative developments are cause for guarded optimism, however; a similar proposal nearly became law back in December, falling one vote short of overcoming a tortuous fillibuster by conservative Senators that had killed previous reform bills. Notably, Republican presidential candidate John McCain didn’t show up for the vote, though a campaign spokesman has stated that “would not have supported breaking the fillibuster”.
The passage of H.R. 5351 is a necessity if we are to tip the balance away from fossil fuels. Click here and here to read more about oil subsidies.
Posted in Energy, Legislation, Transportation | Permalink | posted by Bill
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR STATE’S LARGEST SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT
April 30th, 2008
Last week on Earth Day (April 22) Governor David A. Paterson announced a major alternative energy project that would more than triple the state’s current solar power capacity by adding 50 MW of new photovoltaic generation throughout Long Island. Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) President and CEO Kevin S. Law said LIPA released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to initiate the project last week.
The new capacity would provide enough power to sustain more than 6,500 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20,000 tons, and importantly it would add a critical burst of clean power right when the state needs it most - hot, sunny summer days. The solar energy would be produced by one or more developers of solar photovoltaic systems and will be introduced onto the LIPA grid and purchased by LIPA.
The project will meet 50% of a 100 MW-by-2011 goal that was set by Paterson last fall when he headed up the state’s Renewable Energy Task Force as Lt. Governor.
Solar One commends the Governor’s progressive leadership on this issue. The project marks an important step towards making solar a truly viable source in the Empire State over the course of the coming decade. Additional measures in the State Legislator must be advanced, however, for this end to ultimately be achieved. Please visit our I Heart PV campaign page to find out about simple ways in which you can help push for greater political support for solar power in New York today.
(click here for the official press release announcing the Long Island solar project.)
Posted in Solar One | Permalink | posted by Neidl
Go Green Expo a Success
April 29th, 2008
April 26-27 -This past weekend Go Green Expo was held at the Hilton Hotel in New York. Three floors of booths with eco friendly products and non-profit organizations concerned about the environment were host to thousands of visitors.
Chris Neidl, Solar One’s Outreach Coordinator and Director of our 
I <3 PV campaign gave a seminar to dozens of enthusiastic New Yorkers.
At the booth, a solar powered laptop was running on a mobile charger built by students from Manhattan Comprehensive Day/Night School. (Visitors could charge their iPods, cell phones and computers, as well.)
Visitors were very impressed by the students who were on hand to explain the campaign. And he laptop provided a live link to legislators so that voters could write directly to their elected officials, urging support for solar energy in New York.
Also, TrulightTM CFL light bulbs were being sold at the booth. We discovered that many attendees have already switched their light bulbs and are part of saving energy in NYC.
Stuyvesant Cover Park was displayed in all its verdant and flowery beauty in a photo power point show enticing volunteers for the Park.
All in all, many more New Yorkers have been informed about Solar One and it’s programs. A great success!
Posted in Solar One | Permalink | posted by Marc
BioFuels: Culprit or Scapegoat?
April 28th, 2008
The global trend toward biofuels came under attack last week at the International Energy Forum in Rome. Blamed by industry insiders for the nascent food crisis, alternative fuels made from cash crops - particularly grains - have been subject to growing criticism as it becomes evident that they aren’t the much-touted panacea for global warming many had imagined. Though these comments aren’t especially surprising coming from a bunch of oil CEOs and government policy wonks, they shouldn’t necessarily be dismissed. More and more studies are indicating that biofuels such as ethanol use at least as much energy as they are purported to save, and that the reallocation of farm land for fuel crops is putting a strain on global food markets.
So biofuels apparently aren’t all they were cracked up to be. We shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss biofuels, however. While they make a convenient scapegoat for the current crisis and are clearly deserving of skepticism, they may not be entirely to blame, despite what the energy moguls claim. Biofuels will probably never live up to their original hype, but with continued technological progress and more intelligent legislation, they may still find their niche on a smaller, more sustainable scale. First, while most attempts to produce biofuels utilize processes and raw materials that are inefficient, some alternative methods offer hope. The International Energy Agency (IEA) supports the use of second-generation biofuels, which use non-food crops to produce the fuel. Other methods focus on genetically engineering certain tree species to reduce lignin levels, which prevent researchers from accessing the cellulose needed for ethanol production. Given their high levels of cellulosity, trees are otherwise perfect candidates for biofuels. Such methods are not without their own controversies, however; critics of bioengineering have raised concerns over compromising the structural integrity of these experimental trees, not to mention the threat of cross-fertilization with wild strains. Second, most current subsidy policies do little but promote such inefficiency. Corn-based ethanol - the bulk of biofuel produced in the U.S. - is especially inefficient given corn’s low cellulose content compared to other potential sources. Yet Congress continues to pass bills in favor of greater corn subsidies and cornthanol production. (Click here and here to read our past posts.) At the conference, recently ousted Italian prime minister Romano Prodi astutely commented that “We have to examine very closely subsidy policies so as to avoid distortions in the allocation of resources”. Such a prudent approach may prove better in the long run than the outright dismissal of biofuels, despite the significant limitations born out by recent events.
“Tortillanomics”, a slideshow on Frontline’s website, also explores the effects of biofuel production on corn prices in Mexico. Click here.
Posted in Biofuel, Energy Efficiency, Food, Legislation, Politics, Sustainability | Permalink | posted by Bill
City Year NYC Volunteers In Stuyvesant Cove Park
April 25th, 2008
On April 23 & 24, Stuyvesant Cove Park was host to a group of volunteers from City Year NYC. City Year is one of the largest youth service corps in the country, with initiatives that focus on community needs. The three areas of service initiatives that City Year focuses on are: School based service which puts corp members in schools as tutors, mentors, and leaders of afterschool programs; youth leadership which teaches elementary, middle, and high school students their ability to make a difference on an individual basis; and lastly, community transformation, where corp members physically help their community by volunteering on-site at local organizations.
The two days of service provided by City Year were a great help to Stuyvesant Cove Park. The first day, volunteers helped finish up mulching park pathways, part of a project started by NY Cares a few weeks ago. This was a large project that, between the two organizations, took 25 volunteers a total of 5 hours to complete. It was a labor intensive project that would not have been possible without the help from City Year NYC. The second day of service by City Year NYC was made up of volunteers cutting back last year’s growth, pulling weeds that have already started growing, and scrubbing soda and juice stains off the park esplanade.
The staff at Solar One would like to thank City Year NYC for their hard work and dedication in helping maintain Stuyvesant Cove Park.
Posted in Native Plants, Stuyvesant Cove Park, Sustainability | Permalink | posted by Melissa
Green Design Lab at the Center for Architecture
April 22nd, 2008
April 18th was the final day of an ongoing education project with Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day School called the Green Design Lab. Students explored issues of sustainability through green design, using their school building as focal point to develop a school greening strategy that goes far beyond a recycling program. The final sessions was a student exhibition of their final models hosted at the Center for Architecture. Learn more about the program and how to get your school involved in this unique education project here.
And make sure to watch a short video of students involved in the project and their final school greening strategies!
Posted in Education, New York City | Permalink | posted by Kennedy
Sarkozy Calls For More Private Funding for Green Initiatives
April 21st, 2008
French President Nicholas Sarkozy called for a significant increase in green investment at an international conference on global warming last week in Paris. As much as 90% of the financing that will be necessary to help mitigate climate change must come from the private sector, France’s leader told reporters.
His comments were intended to address the creation of a long-term strategy to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Sarkozy also called for the establishment of a globally regulated carbon credit market and cited America’s policy of stimulating environmental change through private financing, though he is critical of the American administration’s insistence on voluntary emissions cuts. In the past Sarkozy has openly advocated stricter tariffs and trade penalties on nations that do not actively attempt to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, even going so far as to threaten American imports with stiffer taxation if the U.S. continues to vacillate on the establishment of a mandatory emissions cap.
Ever the diplomat, Sarkozy made no mention of President Bush’s apparently straight-faced attempt at credible environmental policy. Bush’s announcement earlier in the week that the U.S. would reduce its emissions by 2025 was met with harsh criticism at the conference by Germany and other nations; the EU released a subtler but no less emphatic statement that Bush’s plan did “not match the level of ambition needed on the part of developed countries, considering their responsibilities in the challenge we face”.
Despite his seemingly contradictory about-face on climate change, Bush offered no specific suggestions as to how this emissions reduction would be achieved. Skeptical environmentalists claim that the announcement is merely an attempt to establish a less rigorous policy before his successor has a chance to tackle the issue. With the American president’s likely motives revealed, the rest of us can stop looking for further signs of the apocalypse. The world just isn’t ready for a green George W…
Posted in Global Warming, Politics | Permalink | posted by Bill
American Beaver Spotted Near Solar One
April 21st, 2008
On the occasion of Pope Benedict’s visit this weekend, NYC Harbor and Scuba police were patrolling the area near the UN, about 20 blocks north of Solar One, when a beaver graced their view of the East River. Apparently struggling to stay afloat, the four foot-long, 40 lb. rodent was rushed to an UWS animal hospital but unfortunately died en route to a specialist in Utica.
Although the cause of death is still unknown, doctors suspect that she was already in bad shape before hitting the inhospitably salty waters of the East River, a tidal strait connecting the New York Harbor with the Long Island Sound. As beavers are fresh-water creatures, she likely drifted into the estuary from the Bronx River, where beavers may be in the process of re-establishing colonies.
This marked only the second confirmed beaver sighting in New York City since the early 1800s. The first beaver, José (pictured), was photographed in early 2007 after building a 12-foot lodge in the Bronx River. He was nicknamed after US Representative José E. Serrano, who has led a major initiative to revive the health of that river. More information on the efforts of Serrano and others can be found here.
Posted in East River, New York City, Solar One | Permalink | posted by Maya
Earth Day New York Party Tomorrow Night at the Park!
April 21st, 2008
Posted in Solar One | Permalink | posted by Neidl
Storing Solar Energy May Not Be Such a Problem After All
April 20th, 2008
An article in this week’s Science Times offers an intriguing glimpse of the potential of solar thermal, a form of renewable energy generation that, while not nearly as hyped as PV solar, may ultimately be more feasible for large-scale energy production.
One of the biggest issues with photovoltaic (PV) technology (i.e. - solar panels) has been how to store the energy once it’s generated to meet demand during times of low production, such as at night or on cloudy days. Solar thermal systems avoid this problem because they rely on generating energy from the sun’s heat, which can be more easily stored than the sunlight-generated energy of PV systems. At the core of solar thermal is a surprisingly simple concept: the sun’s rays are used to boil water, which then generates steam to power turbines. The energy is then stored in tanks of molten salt, which can reach about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit without becoming too pressurized. This allows the energy to be stored for hours, even days, until it is needed. Most current systems achieve this by focusing a field of hundreds to thousands of specially designed lenses on a large water tank or pipe system, then pumping the resulting heat through a closed loop consisting of hot and cold salt tanks, a steam generator and a turbine.
“Nevada Solar One”, the 64 MW Acciona power plant which opened in Boulder City last year and was featured on this very blog just last month, is one such system. The largest solar power plant to be built around the world in the past sixteen years, Nevada Solar One can produce enough energy to power 15,000 households. Now other visionary companies are experimenting with variations of this basic design to further improve efficiency.
Proponents of solar thermal boast other benefits, as well, including greater potential at higher latitudes and other places that don’t get much sun and its greater affordability; solar thermal systems based on a parabolic trough design produce energy at a rate that is 50-75% cheaper than its PV equivalent. As these technologies develop further, different niches may emerge for each. While PV panels may ultimately become the industry standard for individual home-owners and relatively small, off-the-grid systems, solar thermal’s double-barreled promise of storage and price make it a strong candidate for that clean, large-scale power source we’ve all been clamoring for.
Posted in Energy, Technology | Permalink | posted by Bill