Greeneroo

This is the most exciting green news I have heard in ages. Quick summary:

• Los Angeles PORT goes to electric motors, cuts pollution
• Toxic diesel fumes have sickened area’s children and adults, air will be cleaner now
• Local company, gets the research money and develops the technology for the port
• Idea is repeatable benefitting all ports and even rail yards and recycling companies where big haulers are used
• Now this innovation will be shared and the port will benefit again, with royalties of $1000 for each hauler estimated at $1 million for the port
• 43 new green jobs

Here is a link to Morning Edition which reports the news: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101177695

The port, in a project with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, plans to spend $5.6 million for 25 of the electric “yard hostlers,” developed by Balqon Corp., Santa Ana, Calif.

In addition regulations have become more stringent on the air qualtiy at the port. On Jan. 1, a regulation from the state Air Resources Board takes effect, requiring that ship operators use low-sulfur or other low-emitting diesel fuels.

I wonder who did the financing…. The $500k seed money came from somewhere. Or maybe it really was a government loan.

From KCBS, Matt Bigler:
“The global recession has an unavoidable impact on Silicon Valley. The annual Index, released Tuesday morning, found that unemployment has spiked as the hi-tech markets erode worldwide.

However, there may be a bright spot on the horizon for the region: green technology could pull the local economy out of the doldrums. Investment in clean tech has risen 94% since 2007.”

Considering….
the sales price of startups dropping, venture capital funding dropping quickly in 2009 and startups folding this quarter or almost out of cash…. which companies are positioned to survive. Can Obama green funding get to the Bay Area in time to spur development and survival of the brightest hopes and green tech promises?

From Web Guild: Martin Pichinson a well known winding down specialist in Silicon Valley told the WSJ “Start-ups are failing faster and you’re going to see a major shakeout.”  His firm has been shutting down an average of three start-ups a week since January 2009, up from just one or two closures a month in September.

From Stanford University, Spring 2009 events:

Small farmer, Joel Salatin and chef Jesse Cool are discussing FOOD on Thursday FEB 19 7pm Cummings Art Bldg – Annenberg Auditorium on the S U campus.  Jesse Cool is the guru that owns Flea Street Cafe and the Cool Cafe on the Stanford campus in the Art museum.  Both were featured in the Omnivore’s Dilemma written by Michael Pollan.

Other Spring events:

• April 2-  Tyrone Hayes – Biology U.C. Berkeley [Go Bears!]
• April 11- “Food for Thought” Conference sponsored by Stanford Assn for Intl Dev.
• April 23- Film Who Killed the Electric Car? Prius Owners— do you know what really happened? Now is your chance to get really outraged! Go see this film. Hummer owners should see it too!
• May 14- Film “Thirst” Have a glass of water before you go!

These events are sponsored by a stellar group, check out Ethics in Society at Stanford University.

Local efforts are so important… here is more information on this great new garden!

A Transformation of the Broadway Tunnel Mini Park East

Broadway Gardens is a new educational garden that is replacing the derelict mini-park and an asphalt parking pad located at Broadway and Himmelman.

Gardening, Education and Self-esteem

The Broadway Gardens program is modeled after the Alice Waters Edible Schoolyard Project in Berkeley and is similar to several school gardens in San Francisco.  The program will educate children about growing sustainable foods, increase their self-esteem and improve their attitude toward school.  A gardening area for seniors is also planned.

Demolition of the derelict structures began in October and the grounds will be ready for planting by the spring of 2009.

Public Private Partnership

This project is a public private partnership to create an educational school garden and improve an area that has been severely neglected in one of the most visited and underserved areas of the City. The lead agency for the City is the Department of Public Works.

Community Support

Broadway Gardens has broad support from the community, including Jean Parker Elementary School located at the entrance to the Broadway Tunnel and St. Mary’s Chinese School in Our Lady of the Guadalupe Church, both of which are project participants. Russian Hill Neighbors is the project sponsor on the community side and is providing financial support along with the San Francisco Parks Trust.

We are continuing to seek contributions and welcome donations of materials and supplies, volunteer time and/or money.  

For more information:
Contact Dian Blomquist at dian@dblomquist.com