California is launching the United State’s largest solar incentive program. The incentives to get consumers to switch to solar power for heating, electricity generation, and even solar cooling, won’t be put into action until 2007.
“The money will be used for rebates for solar photovoltaics, solar water heating, and solar heating and cooling systems over 10 years, with 10 percent of the money slated for low-income customers and affordable-housing projects.”
Necessity is proclaimed to be the mother of invention, and in quake-hit Pakistan, necessity also seems to advance human rights. Women in Pakistan have traditionally been granted few freedoms, but the recent surge of NGOs and the need for money have both provided women with chances to work – something unimaginable a few years ago.
It’s comforting to see that even if disaster good things can happen.
From the article:
Rights workers say there has been a big change in attitudes towards women and work.
“It is a sudden and vast change,” said Raja Nawaz, project coordinator with the International Human Rights Observer organisation.
“Before this disaster, it was very difficult to get females to work in the private sector or in the NGO sector. It’s astonishing that women have started working outside their homes.”
Fuel cells are often said to be the next leap in power supplies for cars, busses, and other generally large consumers of power, but that is not where most consumers will first use a fuel cell. Methanol-based fuel cells are being used in MP3 players and other handheld electronics already. Using hydrogen, in a very controlled state, the batteries can last over 60 hours.
The catch is that these new batteries are expensive, but with more advanced consumer electronics coming out that require more juice, it seems that the time is rife for these longer-lasting and reusable batteries.
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Governor George E. Pataki wants to help New Yorkers get more choice when it comes to what they put in their fuel tank. The Governor wants to reduce the state’s reliance on petroleum by getting biodiesel and ethanol to be distributed at petroleum stations that already exist in the state, as early as this year.
His budget plan also aims to encourage research and development of alternative fuels.