Tuesday, 24 Aug 2004

Whining Is Job One

Ford Battles Hybrid-Friendly Legislation, Destroys Electric Cars

Ford Motor Co. CEO Bill Ford's vocal attempts to position his company as eco-friendly are sounding a little hollow this week. As the California legislative session nears its end, Ford has ramped up lobbying efforts to kill a bill that would allow drivers of fuel-efficient hybrids to drive solo in the state's carpool lanes. Ford said the measure -- sponsored by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D) and backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) -- is a "buy Japanese" bill "intended for almost exclusive use by Toyota Prius drivers." Ford took issue with the bill's stipulation that only hybrids getting at least 45 miles to the gallon would qualify, which would exclude his company's new hybrid Escape SUV. California Treasurer Phil Angelides suggested that rather than whining, Ford should focus on building more fuel-efficient vehicles. Meanwhile, Greenpeace is protesting Ford's plan to destroy more than 400 of its Think electric cars, despite an offer from a Norwegian distributor to buy the cars and sell them to eager customers in Norway.

Grill Bit

Tips on Eco-Friendly Barbecuing

Of course it's raining here in Seattle, but we're told that in other parts of the world August frequently boasts "sunlight" and "warmth," leading people to go "outside" and "barbecue." It all sounds exotic and strange to us, but you folks in warmer climes may be wondering how to make your backyard grubfests more environmentally friendly. For the inside story on charcoal vs. gas, plus a recipe for durn tasty barbecue sauce, fire up Earthly Possessions, by The Green Guide -- today on the Grist Magazine website.

Up Against the Wall Street

Wall Street Remains Hesitant on Renewable Energy

It's a familiar refrain: Wall Street investors, we are told, are not yet sold on renewable energy. They worry that the technologies are not mature, that massive upfront infrastructure costs are too high a barrier, that despite rosy predictions from socially responsible investors, the price gap between oil and gas stocks and renewable energy stocks is not narrowing. They're not convinced that the large companies investing in wind and solar power -- among them GE, Royal Dutch/Shell, and BP -- are making smart moves. But what goes unmentioned by Wall Street analysts in business-section stories is that the reason oil and gas remain attractive investments is that they are heavily subsidized by governments, with many of their costs externalized, and on a truly level playing field, renewables would look much more attractive -- in short, that the primary impediments to renewable energy are not financial, but political.

Good-Bye, Cool World

Scientist Warns That Decreasing Air Pollution Means Increased Warming

Jeez, we really can't catch a break, can we? A German scientist now warns that air pollution is masking the true extent of global warming -- and as air pollution is reduced, warming may accelerate. Addressing the 13th World Clean Air and Environmental Protection Congress in London this week, Meinrat Andreae said that aerosols in the atmosphere (tiny particles, typically sulfur or carbon, that humans create by burning oil and wood) reflect light back into space, keeping the planet cooler and offsetting global warming from greenhouse gases. "We've been in an accelerating car with one foot on the brake and one foot on the gas," Andreae said. But the relatively short-lived aerosols are expected to diminish in coming decades, while long-lasting greenhouse gases will continue to accumulate, meaning global warming may "follow the upper extremes of current ... estimates, and may even exceed them." He recommended an immediate and sharp decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Novel idea!

Does My Butt Look Big in This Car?

Toyota's Hot-Selling Prius Appeals to Drivers' Vanity

Last month, Honda sold 1,963 Civic Hybrids and a meager 34 Insight hybrids in the U.S. -- and sales trends for both models are trending downward -- while the Toyota Prius fairly flew off lots, with 5,230 sold in the U.S. last month. A Toyota spokesperson said the company could have sold twice as many if production had kept up with demand. Why the difference? It's not performance or gas mileage, areas where the cars are roughly equivalent. Analysts say one thing can explain the disparate sales figures: vanity. Unlike the Civic, the Prius starts in electric mode, silently. And while the hybrid Civic just looks like a standard Civic, the Prius has a distinctive shape, with a bulky back end. In other words, the Prius stands out as a hybrid. In focus groups, hybrid buyers "will candidly admit they expect to receive some acclaim from friends, relatives, co-workers for their concern about the environment and/or fuel efficiency," said market researcher Art Spinella.