Format: 2013-05-24
Format: 2013-05-24
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Solar

Applied Materials: NO on Prop 23

By Mike Splinter
Oct132010

One of the most hotly contested items on this year's California ballot is Proposition 23, an initiative aimed at suspending the State’s landmark AB 32 law (the Global Warming Solutions Act). Prop 23 is being touted as a "jobs initiative," but the real thrust of the proposition is to suspend AB 32 until unemployment reaches a level of 5.5% for four consecutive quarters, a mark that has been hit only a few times in the last 30 years. As a consequence, Prop 23 is effectively a repeal of the law. At a time when the U.S. and California need to redouble its leadership in mitigating climate change and its investment in building a low-carbon economy, Prop 23 would be a major step backwards.

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Solar

Standing or Sitting

By William Morin
Mar292010

The fourth installment of EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) took place the week of March 22, mainly in Brussels but with satellite events throughout many of the 27 EU Member States. To this observer from Washington, the week's program evoked the old saw, "where you stand depends on where you sit." Brussels and Washington, sitting or standing, are definitely not in the same place.

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Solar

Reply to AB 32 Comments

By Bruce Klafter
Mar102010

I’m listening to reader comments on my original blog story.

I do agree that policymakers have to be concerned about dislocation and sectoral job losses and not just net job losses or gains. While AB 32 and other climate change and energy laws undoubtedly present opportunities and risks, it is not a given that there have to be "winners" and “losers".

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Solar

Suspend AB32 (Global Warming Solutions Act)...No, Thanks.

By Bruce Klafter
Mar82010

California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, more commonly referred to as AB 32, is a 2006 landmark piece of legislation aimed at reducing California’s greenhouse gas emissions in a manner that is both cost-effective and maximizes the economic benefits to the State. In the past week, however, a group has launched a ballot initiative to suspend the Act in the hopes of getting California’s economy “back on track” and “putting Californians to work”.

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Solar

China and Clean Tech: Competition or Collaboration

By Bruce Klafter
Feb102010

I recently attended two conferences where the keynote speakers presented viewpoints on China and clean tech that were dramatically different in perspective. At the Sustainable Capital Forum in San Francisco the keynote was delivered by Steve Westly of the Westly Group venture capital firm (Westly is a former Controller of the State of California and eBay executive).

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Solar

Renewable Energy Can Drive Economic Growth

By Gary Fazzino
Jan292010

This week Applied Materials hosted an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos — a dinner and conversation on how renewable energy can be a key driver for economic growth.

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Solar

Davos: Renewing the Global Economy

By Mike Splinter
Jan282010

This year’s Davos Forum has an unmistakably more sober feel compared to years past. Overshadowed by the tragic events in Haiti, the theme of this year’s five-day event is appropriately titled: “Improving the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign and Rebuild.” As representatives from business, government and civil society convene here in Switzerland to respond to this challenge, it is important to keep in mind that fixing the global economic system requires more than simply repairing a few roads and bridges; instead we need to think bigger about how to establish the groundwork for tomorrow’s world economy.

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Solar

COP 15 – Implications for Business

By Bruce Klafter
Jan122010

The world watched, agendas were displayed and the actual outcome of the Copenhagen Accord of December 18, 2009 left most everyone disappointed on one account or another.

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Solar

Will Cities Drive Smart Grid Development?

By Blair Swezey
Nov92009

San Francisco is working to convert the city’s entire transportation system to cleaner fuels and electricity, and to build an urban infrastructure for electric vehicles.

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