Christmas Tree Pickup

Dates Set for Christmas Tree Pickup: Trash collectors will pick them up before 7 a.m. daily for the first two weeks of ’10. Glendale News Press: December 28, 2009 by Max Zimbert

As Christmas gives way to the new year and households start packing up their decorations, city officials have announced a number of recycling programs for that withering tree in the living room.

Burbank and Glendale trash collectors will pick up Christmas trees before 7 a.m. off the curb for the first two weeks of 2010, officials said.

Brace Canyon and Verdugo parks in Burbank have also been designated as recycling pick-up centers.

Trees taller than 8 feet must be cut in half, and officials said all drop-offs should be without ornaments and decorations.

Burbank picks up about 70 tons’ worth of Christmas trees every year. About one-third of the trees are chopped into mulch that’s spread around city property.

The city recycles wrapping paper as well, which can go in the usual blue bins. “We take clean dry paper of all types — cardboard, wrapping paper, magazines,” Hampel said. “The main thing for people to remember is clean, dry paper can be recycled.”

Glendale officials picked up more than 8,500 trees last year, but numbers have declined in recent years. READ MORE !

California Watch: Solar

California’s Largest Photovoltaic Solar Plant Yet is Turned on Central Valley Business Times: December 21, 2009

Workers put finishing touches on PV panel installation.

What’s described by its owners as the largest photovoltaic solar power plant yet in California has been turned on and is sending electricity to customers of Southern California Edison.

Electricity generated by the solar facility is being sold to Southern California Edison, a unit of Edison International (NYSE: EIX) under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Located in Riverside County, the Blythe plant is the largest thin film PV project in the United States and is five times the size of the next largest PV project in California, says NRG. At peak capacity, the project can supply the power needs of almost 17,000 homes, the company says. READ MORE !

California Watch: Wind

California Building Power Lines to a Renewable Future
Solve Climate Blog: December 21, 2009 by Matthew Berger

California regulators have approved a plan to carry the resources of a rural, wind-rich region of the state to the homes and businesses of Los Angeles and Southern California, bringing the state a step closer to meeting one of the world's most ambitious renewable energy goals.

The California Public Utilities Commission’s announcement Thursday means the main portion of a transmission line connecting the Tehachapi region of Kern County to consumers can go forward.

"This project will help bring renewable energy to the grid that would otherwise remain unavailable," PUC president Michael R. Peevey said. "Ensuring adequate transmission infrastructure is vital to helping the state reach its 20 percent renewable energy goal and will contribute significantly to meeting the 33 percent goal."

California’s renewable portfolio standard requires that 20 percent of the state’s electricity be from renewable sources by 2010 and 33 percent by 2020. In comparison, the European Union's RPS target is 20 percent by 2020.

The state established its RPS in 2002 with a goal of 20 percent renewable power by 2017. The state's Energy Commission and the PUC later urged upping those goals, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger agreed, signing an executive order in September establishing the current 33 percent by 2020 target.

Projects like the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, to be built by utility Southern California Edison, will also help the state reach its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, as a 2006 state bill mandates.

Currently, California emits 1.4 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, which would approximately tie it with France for 14th most if it were a country; the state’s economy would be in the top 10. Regulations outlining how California will reach its emissions-reduction goals are to be released next year and adopted in 2011. READ MORE !

California Watch: Next 10

Many Shades of Green:
Diversity and Distribution of California’s Green Jobs
Next 10: December 2009

Between 1995-2008, green businesses increased 45%, green jobs grew 36% while total jobs in the state grew only 13%.Even in rural areas with a smaller economic base, green jobs are growing faster than the overall economy.

Between 2007-2008, green jobs grew 5% while total jobs dropped 1%. Services accounted for 45% of all California green jobs, the largest portion in Environmental Consulting.

Manufacturing represents 21% of all green jobs, and grew 19% between 1995 and 2008. Half of all manufacturing jobs are split between Energy Efficiency and Energy Generation. With nearly 43,000 jobs in 2008, Air & Environment is the largest of California’s green segments. While this segment’s jobs remained steady, hovering around 35,000 from 1995-2005, since 2005 the number of green jobs in this segment increased 24%.

From 1995-2008, Energy Generation employment expanded 61% by nearly 10,000 jobs. Solar makes up the largest portion, and strongest growth (63%.)

Employment in Energy Efficiency increased 63% from 1995-2008.

Employment in Green Transportation has increased 152% since 1995. Green Transportation Jobs are primarily in Motor Vehicles & Equipment and Alternative Fuels, with the latter growing faster at 201%, and representing 48% of all jobs in this segment.

Green Logistics is an emerging field, only in the Bay Area at present, with employment growing by 1,144% since 1995.