President Obama leads by example with his decree that all government vehicles will be alternatively fueled through the Green Fleet Initiative. Also, the EU plans to remove all gas-fueled cars by 2050 and which Virginia coal plants are converting to biomass.

Obama Launches Green Fleet Initiative

President Obama has launched his green fleet initiative, a plan to encourage all federal agencies to purchase electric, hybrid, or alternative fueled cars by 2015. Since he took office, Obama has nearly doubled the number of hybrids in the government’s fleet of 600,000 vehicles.  The president is leading by example—he also aims to put one million electric cars on the road for the public by 2015. Reducing the gas consumed by government cars will in turn lower America’s dependence on foreign oil.

 

Solar Farm on Saudi Arabian Oil Company Lot

The largest solar power plant in Saudi Arabia is going to be built at the North Park offices of Saudi oil company, Aramco in Dhahran. The 10-MW photovoltaic system will be installed in the parking lot of the company. Belectric and Sun & Life are working together to install more than 120,000 solar panels. The project will begin producing electricity for the public grid by the end of 2011.

 

Virginia Coal Plants Converting to Biomass

A Virginia utility is converting three power stations from coal-burning plants to facilities that run on biomass. Dominion’s conversions are expected to generate $350 million in environmental and consumer benefits in the form of job creation and local taxes over the next three decades. The plants in Altavista, Hopewell and Southampton County all went operational in 1992. If the conversion process is smooth, they are expected to burn biomass by 2013. This move will help Dominion reach its 15 percent Renewable Energy Standard. The plants will be able to power 37,500 homes using fuel from wood waste.

 

EU: Completely Green Roadways

The European Union’s European Commission aims to remove gas and diesel-fueled cars from EU cities by 2050. Gas cars will be slowly phased out and replaced with alternatively-fueled vehicles for which new infrastructure will be laid out such as EV charging stations. The transition is estimated to cost more than $2 trillion.

Interior Secretary takes your Energy Questions

Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar, will be available to take your questions on Wednesday, April 6 during a live chat at 5 p.m. EDT. He will be covering issues about the Obama Administration’s Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future. Questions can be relayed throughcomments posted on Facebook.

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