California, number 5 in energy

According to Environment California, recent data has put California in fifth place in building new renewable energy projects. California ranks behind Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Colorado.

"California has one simple choice: continue to build polluting fossil fuel power plants or shift to clean, non-polluting renewable energy projects," said Dr. Joseph Lyou, executive director of the Environmental Rights Alliance. "Nearly every proposal to build or expand fossile fuel power plants in California directly impacts a low-income community of color. The renewable energy path protects their right to breathe clean air."

Many environmental groups have gathered together to try and get the state goal of 20% renewable energy by 2010 up to 33% by 2020.

According to a recent report by the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, a 33% by 2020 RPS would create well over 200,000 new manufacturing jobs. In addition, according to the California Air Resources Board, a  33% by 2020 RPS is needed to reduce global warming pollution by more than 20 million metric tons, a critical component to the state's proposed plans to meet its global warming pollution cap by 2020.

No compost in sight

Organic materials such as green wastes and food wastes make up to 30% of our landfills. According to Californians Against Waste,

in landfills, this material undergoes anaerobic decompostion and produces significant quantities of methane, up to 80% of which is not captured by a landfill gas system. Composting, on the other hand, is a fundamentally aerobic process, and well managed compost facilities do not produce any methane.

Methane is 23% more effective at trapping greenhouse gasses that CO2.

So, why is the nearest compost site that accepts food waste in Fort Irwin and/or Victorville?

Water shortage, coming soon...

It's hard to believe that we are in a water crisis, most of us hardly even think of our water use. I was barely even aware that Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a drought this past June. According to PE.com a recent court order

reduced the amound of water available to Southern California from the Central Valley and State Water projects.

During the San Bernardino County Water Conference, held on Aug. 14, building agencies, water agencies, and local government representatives discussed the water shortage and ways in which one can be avoided. Suggestions included recycling runoff, limiting amount of water per home and charging extra for over use, and to maximize local water supply.

Schwarzenegger has set a goal for the state to reduce per capita water consumption by 20 percent by 2020.

What else can we do to bring water awareness to everyone?

Garbage Patch

The North Pacific Gyre is full of our wate and debris. The Great Garbage Patch states :

This waste accumulates in swirling seas of debris, where plastic to sea life ratios are 6:1; where birds and mammals are dying of starvation and dehydraton with bellies full of plastics; and fish are ingesting toxins at such a rate that soon they will no longer be safe to eat.

Watch this video to learn more.