IN BUSINESS WORLD

In Business, September-October, 2005, Vol. 27, No. 5, p. 4

“GREEN ECONOMISTS” GET GREATER RECOGNITION
Natural resources are being increasingly seen as basic to economic frameworks just like labor and capital, notes an economics professor at Stanford University. “Green Groups See Potent Tool In Economics” headlines the Wall Street Journal in a story reporting how a growing number of economists

“are choosing to use their skills not to track inflation or interest rates but to rescue rivers and trees. These are the 'green economists' more formally known as environmental economists, who use economic arguments and systems to persuade companies to clean up pollution and to help conserve natural areas.” Continues the Journal:
“Working at dozens of advocacy groups and a myriad of state and federal environmental agencies, they are helping to formulate the intellectual framework behind approaches to protecting endangered species, reducing pollution, and preventing climate change. They also are becoming a link between left-leaning advocacy groups and the public and private sectors.”
The Environmental Protection Agency had about 164 on staff in 2004, up 36 percent from 1995. Environmental Defense employs eight economists who develop market incentives to address environmental issues like climate change and water shortages. Explains an economist who works for the Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C.: “If we are going to engage in debate on the Hill about drilling the Arctic, we need to be able to combat the financial arguments. We have to play that card or we are going to lose.”
Since 2001, the San Francisco-based Rainforest Action Network has persuaded J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. to account for pollution costs in their loan underwriting process. Adds Michael Brune, Network director: “Companies are looking for certainty and stability. They can do that by investing in sustainable energy, where they don't run the risk of lawsuits, federal regulation or the reputation of being associated with environmentally controversial projects.”

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE INVENTORS ALLIANCE IN 10TH YEAR
The Executive Director of the National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance, Phil Weilerstein, sends details on latest winners for products that “reach the market and make a difference in people's lives.” Steven Nichols, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, won the inaugural award for leadership that included an integrated technology entrepreneurship program that increased start-up companies and created a “permanent culture of multidisciplinary cooperation.” The NCIIA will hold its 10th Annual Meeting, March 23-25, 2006 in Portland, Oregon. For details, visit www.nciia.org. Theme is “Strengthening the Fabric - Building Capacity of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.” For details about grants to universities, etc., Weilerstein can be contacted at NCIIA, 100 Venture Way, Hadley, MA 01035. Phone (413) 587-2172.

BAY AREA GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM EXPANDS
A report in Terrain, published by the Ecology Center in Berkeley, California, provides details on the Bay Area Green Business program which is a partnership of environmental agencies and organizations that certify environmentally friendly businesses.” The program originated 10 years ago in Alameda County. One specific motive was to reduce the county's output of hazardous waste, and now involves green business coordinators in cities including Sacramento, Santa Cruz and Monterey. Alameda County coordinator Pamela Evans says that about 180 businesses are certified green in the county. “These businesses see themselves as filling an environmentally preferable niche,” explains Evans, adding that consumers want to know where they can spend “green dollars.” Program goal is to help businesses reduce environmental footprints.
Terrain article describes how a company called Peerless Coffee of Alameda County became certified after working with the Green Business group and setting up recycling programs. “Becoming certified has changed the way we produce, roast, and package our coffee, and run our business,” states George Vukasin,Jr. who manages Peerless Coffee with his sister. For more information, contact: www.greenbiz.abag.ca.gov/index.

MORE SCHOOLS JOIN “FOOD TO FLOWERS” LUNCHROOM COMPOSTING PROGRAM
The San Francisco Unified School District and Environment Department are adding an average of a dozen schools each year to its “Food to Flowers!” program which introduces composting into the lunchroom. This year, the District is also using paper milk cartons (instead of plastic milk pouches) which will be composted. Currently about 20 percent of the public schools, as well as 16 private schools, participate. SF Environment is currently working with schools to reach 50 percent waste diversion, with the goal to have all schools adopt the program. All organics are collected in a separate cart and hauled to Jepson Prairie Compost Facility where they are composted and used as fertilizer by Bay Area farms, wineries, school gardens, etc. SF Environment also offers teachers lesson plans and fact sheets to incorporate into the classroom. Meanwhile, composting saves the District money on garbage fees. An estimated 500 tons of organic residuals are diverted each school year from the Altamont landfill, helping to reduce the 3 thousand tons of garbage generated by San Francisco each day.

COLLEGE ALERT: BE SUSTAINABLE OR BE DEFUNCT
A Sustainability Task Force for St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota tells faculty and students that if they don't create a culture of permanence and a sustainable community, they may be defunct. “A college that wants to remain relevant to its students will teach them how to be leaders in the ecological transition of the 21st Century. That includes: Sustainable design and campus ecology projects (wind turbine, composter, etc.); Curricula and Sustainability principles. Visit: www.stolaf.edu/green/.

CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES $10 MILLION RECYCLING MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
California's Department of Conservation is accepting funding proposals for its Beverage Container Recycling Market Development program. A total of $10 million is available for fiscal 2005-06 for innovative approaches to recover/reuse recyclable bottles and cans, thereby increasing recycling rates, and job creation. The Department seeks to create new end-uses for glass, plastic and aluminum containers while improving quality of recycled feedstock for manufacturing. Proposals can address R&D of collecting, sorting, processing and upgrading market value of containers; Developing and expanding markets for recycled beverage containers.
Grants are funded by unredeemed deposits on California Refund Value bottles and cans - at no cost to the state's General Fund. To request an application or for additional information, go to: www.conservation.
ca.gov/DOR.

JAPAN TOUCHES ALL SUSTAINABILITY BASES
From ecolabeling to renewable energy from woody biomass, from food waste recycling to protecting coral reefs, Japan has been pushing ahead with its healthy environment agenda. The latest newsletter of Japan for Sustainability lists these actions: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has launched its “Green Servicing Model Business” to reduce negative environmental impacts; Tokyo's Metro Government has created a new ecoperformance labeling system for large residential buildings; First Energy Service Co. started construction on the country's largest wood biomass power plant using 100,000 tons of waste wood chips as fuel; the “Sun Sun Sunflower Plan” in Ariake Town boosts compost from food wastes to grow sunflowers and consuming the low-cholesterol oil produced from the seeds; a six-year project by the Mitsubishi Corp. introduces technology for coral reef restoration; a tax on industrial waste by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs will reduce waste generation, landfilling and promote recycling.

BONNIE RAITT, SOULS ALIKE AND THE BIODIESEL EXPRESS
The two diesel-powered buses and two semis that are taking musician Bonnie Raitt and entourage on her year-long Souls Alike Tour are being fueled with biodiesel made from any fat or vegetable oil. “We're doing what we can to minimize our impact on the planet and biodiesel is a simple step that goes a long way,” says Raitt. Other performers using biodiesel on their tours include Willie Nelson (who has his own “BioWillie” brand of fuel), Neil Young, the Indigo Girls and Jack Johnson. “By using biodiesel fuel and promoting its benefits, Bonnie Raitt has helped to increase its visibility over the past several years,” adds Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board in Jefferson City, Missouri.

BUS COMPANY IN SPAIN COLLECTS/PROCESSES COOKING OIL TO RUN ITS FLEET
EMT - the publicly-owned Municipal Transport Company of Valencia, Spain - has developed a collection system for the city's large volume of used cooking oil to be used as biofuel in its buses. The system will collect used vegetable oil from the catering and restaurant trade along with the food services industry. All collaborating establishments are identified with a sticker and given collection containers, reports the U.K. Publication Warmer Bulletin. Volume of used oil will be converted into biodiesel fuel that will supply 25 percent of fleet requirements. About 120 buses will be used.

GOVERNOR WANTS TO TURN TOWN INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY MODEL
Indiana governor Mitch Daniels hopes to create a “BioTown” in Reynolds, Indiana - a community of 550 which is 25 miles north of Lafayette. The town was chosen for its easy access by road and rail, its proximity to Purdue University and its farm economy. Methane from local hog farms and the town sewer could generate electricity; a state-formed task force will try to get the town's sole gas station to offer E85 fuel - a mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. “We want to make this a model for other communities in the future,” stresses Deborah Abbott of the state's Department of Agriculture who is also working with the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. to push the transition.

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