Ontario's Green Energy Act is Leading the Green Economy

Ontario is leading North America with an energy vision focused on renewable energy and conservation. The province's vision is spurring the economy and creating green jobs. Ontario’s Green Energy Act (GEA) became law on May 14, 2009. Regulations to fully implement the legislation were introduced in September 2009.

Since 2003, Ontario has brought more than 1,200 megawatts of new renewable energy on-line. New renewable energy projects already in place or under construction in Ontario since 2003 represent a total investment of over $4.6 billion.

The GEA builds on the Ontario government’s earlier initiatives, including plans to eliminate coal from the power supply. Coal-fired generation is the single largest source of air pollution in Ontario and eliminating it from the supply mix will be the largest climate change initiative in Canada.

The Indian Government is Supporting the Development of Electric and Hybrid Cars

The government of India is helping its automotive industry to develop greener vehicles by supporting hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). The government of India's National Electric Mobility Mission will enable companies to develop batteries with lower running cost and maintenance.

“There are several players in India making different kind of electric vehicles but lack of infrastructure to charge these vehicles and the high-price of hybrid cars has prevented growth,” said Ambuj Sharma, joint-secretary, ministry of Heavy Industries.

In India hybrid vehicles cost twice the price of those powered by a combustion engine alone. The cost of EVs is particularly relevant in India, where higher costs have slowed the widespread adoption of greener cars.

The higher cost of battery technology represents a major obstacle to the growth of electric and hybrid vehicles. By investing in greener cars the government of India is capitalizing on an under-utilized segment and building an infrastructure that will generate economic growth and reduce emissions.
© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Investing in Green Economic Growth

A report by the UN Environment Program (UNEP), indicates that a relatively small investment by governments can go a long way towards helping the green economy to grow. According to Pavan Sukhdev, head of UNEP's Green Economy Initiative:

"Governments have a central role in changing laws and policies, and in investing public money in public wealth to make the transition possible. By doing so, they can also unleash the trillions of dollars of private capital in favor of a green economy."

An investment of 2 percent of the global gross demestic product ($1.3 trillion), could generate momentum toward a low-carbon world. Investing in the greening of sectors such as construction, energy and fishing could jump start the new green economy.

"Investing 2 per cent of global GDP into 10 key sectors can kick-start a transition toward a low-carbon world," the Nairobi-based agency said in a statement.

Such investments would not slow the economy. The report indicates that this investment would grow the global economy at the same rate, or higher, then present economic policies. Greener policies would still grow economies while reducing the ecological footprint by nearly 50 percent in the next 40 years. Despite some job losses, investment in more sustainable jobs would offset losses.

"The sum, currently amounting to an average of around $1.3 trillion a year and backed by forward-looking national and international policies, would grow the global economy at around the same rate if not higher than those forecast, under current economic models."

The report said that ten sectors (agriculture, buildings, energy supply, fisheries, forestry, industry, tourism, transport, waste management and water) could all benefit the environment if they were more green.

Left to purely market forces this transition would occur over time, however, the urgency of climate change demands immediate attention and these types of investments are the most productive way to spur the growth of the green economy.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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CEIL: Standard Compliance Knowledge Center for Green Government

Compliance with presidentially mandated green government can be a daunting challenge, thankfully there is a resource bank and online community that can help.

The Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership (CEIL), has launched a new online community. CEIL is an independent organization connecting government and military professionals with providers of green goods and services to help them comply with Executive Order 13514 – President Obama's commitment to creating a "Green Government."

Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability was signed on October 5, 2009, it required each Federal Agency to submit a 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution reduction target from its estimated 2008 baseline. President Obama has pledged to reduce the Federal government's GHG emissions by 28 percent over the next decade.

According to a press release from Whitehouse.gov, "Actions taken under this Executive Order will spur clean energy investments that create new private-sector jobs, drive long-term savings, build local market capacity, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy industries."

To assist with the implementation of EO13514, CEILeadership.org has created a knowledge center for sustainability in the public sector, it includes news, expert advice, discussion groups, and podcasts. For more information or to join go to CEIL.

CEIL is also producing GovGreen Conference & Expo in Washington, DC on November 9-10, 2010. See GovGreen for more information and registration details.
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California's Government Partnerships are Driving the Green Economy

Partnerships between regional and state authorities are a big part of California's green leadership. According to Greenopia, California is the fifth greenest state in the US. Berkeley and Oakland are but two examples of green cities in the state of California. According to a report titled, 2010 Smarter City for Energy, Long Beach, San Francisco, Huntington Beach, Santa Clarita and Santa Cruz are also among the leading eco-municipalities.

The Bay Area is home to a range of local and regional coalitions and partnerships many of which target environmental issues. The Bay Area is an extensive region of Northern California that encompasses the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, San Jose and other cities and towns.

Municipal authorities have developed innovative programs including an energy efficiency pilot program in affordable multi-family housing in Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley. Dozens of local governments are providing residential outreach and guidance for the Energy Upgrade Alameda Program.

California's cities benefit from the state's progressive environmental policies including a renewable portfolio standard that pressures investor-owned utilities to use renewable sources of energy. The California Climate Plan is the state’s roadmap for emissions reductions and development of the green economy. Funding including California’s State Energy Program supports energy-saving initiatives in cities throughout the state. California is also phasing out materials deemed hazardous to the environment including global warming causing auto air conditioning refrigerants.

A 2008 New York Times article reported that "Green policies have created 1.5 million jobs over 30 years in California, while eliminating only 25,000."

In California, government intiatives are working with private enterprise in ways that are of benefit to people, profits and the planet.
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Private Public Cooperation Behind SA Joule

The Joule electric city car is manufactured by Optimal Energy with help from the government of South Africa (SA). The Joule is the first vehicle to be developed and manufactured by a wholly owned SA company. The major powers in the global economy are developing greener vehicles, but so are small companies from less affluent nations. The Joule is getting ready to meet the growing demand. It is widely believed that by 2020, 10% of world automotive production will be in electric vehicles.

The project is being funded partly by the Industrial Development Corporation, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Science and Technology. The Joule is benefiting from the SA government's second industrial policy action plan, which seeks to increase local automotive content and manufacturing.

Commercial production of the Joule should begin in 2013, reaching 50000 units a year by 2015. The company will employ more than 2000 people in its assembly operation, while supplier and support activities could create a further 8000 downstream jobs.

Kobus Meiring, CEO of Optimal Energy said, "We want to make it clear that we are not aiming at the green market as such, but rather the C-segment, in competition with cars like the Toyota Corolla," he says.

SA Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in this year's budget speech the government hoped "to influence the composition of SA's vehicle fleet to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly".

These efforts will help SA meet her Copenhagen Accord commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025.

Although the car is expected to establish a local market, the company says 90% will be exported. If more green vehicles are to be sold in SA, there needs to be better support infrastructure and better market education.

Above all, "it must be a combined drive between government and industry," says Mike Whitfield, CEO of Nissan SA.

The fact that the SA motorists will not pay more for a greener car means that the Joule must not only have zero emissions it must also be inexpensive.
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