Trackless trains: Is that the future? 1

The utmost in interplanetary human transport has yet to be commercially delivered. Such is the same regarding delivery of the utmost in intra-planetary travel. We have not yet arrived at either of those so-called “destinations.” Though on the journeys there, we’ve been uninterruptedly, if not, unwaveringly, plodding along. As for what we’re in search of … Read more

When it comes to railway-propulsion development, these are exciting times!

From wood and coal and oil (for steam generation) to electricity, gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas, linear induction, magnetic levitation, vacuum tube and hydrogen propulsion (did I miss any?) the world of train-power generation has experienced it all. What we’re talking about here are generations of train-propulsion techniques, some of which were tried but never … Read more

States see forward progress in areas of energy and transportation efficiency

Despite there being a wealth of disappointing news lately having to do with environmental matters, one can take heart in knowing that not all news making the rounds related to the environment in this day and age is bad. Some of it is even downright good. As a case in point, the American Council for … Read more

Businesses, cities, nations, etc. commit to climate-corrective action at CAS

It is hard to believe it has already been a week since the United Nations’ Climate Action Summit was held on Sept. 23, 2019. It was an unprecedented gathering. For one day (Sept. 23, 2019) a summit was convened at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The assemblage was for the purpose of … Read more

Greenhouse gases overall dip in California; and then there’s transportation

Fortunately, the news is mostly good: Greenhouse gas emissions in California fell. Transportation is one trouble spot, however – the main one. Speaking directly to this, on Aug. 12, 2019, the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board (ARB) released its California Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2000 to 2017: Trends of Emissions and Other Indicators … Read more

Raised concerns among majority of Californians re climate change making wildfires worse

Information below is from the “Record-High Share of Californians Concerned About Global Warming Making Wildfires More Severe,” Jul. 29, 2019 Public Policy Institute of California press release. The entire press release can be read here. In the wake of devastating wildfires over the past few years, seven in ten Californians (71%) say they are very … Read more

Efforts to advance clean energy in U.S. cities clear; path for many to meet climate goals cloudy

The below Jul. 24, 2019 press release from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. US cities are ramping up their clean energy efforts, notably with stricter energy-saving rules for buildings, but only a few cities appear on track to meet their community-wide climate goals, according to the 2019 City Clean Energy Scorecard, released today … Read more

Of power outages, upped backup generator demand and dirtier-air potential

Wildland fires last year proved to be disastrous for California in terms of not only the amount of acreage charred and the number of lives impacted but of the associated monetary cost as it has to do with property loss. It has been suggested that because of global warming, the state has become more susceptible … Read more

World Environment Day 2019: Air pollution (and making cleanup job 1)

A heads-up: June 5, 2019 is World Environment Day 2019. This year’s focus: Air pollution. As part of that in this thread, included is information on air cleanup. Introduction There isn’t a soul anywhere I can think of who doesn’t appreciate clean, healthy air. That said, on Earth, better than 90 percent of humanity is … Read more

Sierra Club’s 2019 electric vehicle guide released

The below Apr. 22, 2019 press release is from the Sierra Club. Today [Apr. 22, 2019], the Sierra Club released a newly updated electric vehicle (EV) guide at a time of increasing excitement around the expansion of the EV market in the United States. The evidence of growing user demand keeps mounting: 1 in 5 … Read more