Author: Positive Future

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Early 2019 Recap of the Electric Vehicle Industry

Positive Future #388 (Feature photo – 300 Car Chargers in Zeebrugge, Belgium used to charge Tesla cars coming in by freighter – Tom Randal) Most folks are unaware that there are 43 different models of cars for sale in the U.S. that have plug-in capability. 12,000 of all of these different electrified cars were sold in the U.S. in January. CleanTechnica journalist Zachary Shahan explores how much change is going on in the electric vehicle industry and it is significant. Recapping the major highlights for January, Shahan covers a broad range of events that are changing transportation as we speak: https://cleantechnica.com/2019/02/13/what-changed-in-the-electric-vehicle-industry-in-january/ Want More? – Sign up below Special Deals Ahead…Sign up!

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Is 100% Renewable Energy Inevitable?

Positive Future #387 (Feature photo – Ivanpah Concentrated Solar Facility – CCA SA 3.0 Unported) States, counties and cities are working together to do what the Federal Government is balking at – transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy. The most recent news comes from North Carolina where 19 cities and counties have adopted resolutions favoring 100 percent clean energy. These cities and counties include sparsely populated areas to some of the most populated areas in the state. You can read the full report here: https://energynews.us/2019/02/13/southeast/n-c-cities-want-to-lead-on-clean-energy-but-theyll-need-help-to-meet-goals/ Want More? – Sign up below Special Deals Ahead…Sign up!

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The Legal Uncertainty Facing the Hemp Industry

Positive Future #386 (Feature photo – Hemp – CCA SA 3.0 Unported) In an insightful article, the Hemp Business Journal explores the recent confiscation of 17,000 pounds of hemp with a reported value of $850,000. While police say there was THC present in the hemp, hopes are that things will get cleared up and set a positive precedent for the hemp industry. You can read the full story here: https://www.hempbizjournal.com/seized-hemp-case-raises-concerns/ Want More? – Sign up below Special Deals Ahead…Sign up!

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Renewable Energy – One City at a Time

Positive Future #385 (Feature photo – Kissimmee City Seal – Public Domain) While much of the debate surrounding renewable energy takes place at the federal level and big think tanks, the real world is experiencing something else. Recently the city of Kissimmee, Florida made news as the city contracted with its power provider to source all power for city utilities from 100 percent renewable solar. This will make Kissimmee the first city in Florida to have 100 percent of its facilities powered by solar. Logically, the next step is for the residents and businesses of Kissimmee to go solar. Kissimmee, a modest city of 70,000 people, is moving into the…

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Emerging From Europe – Fast Freight

Positive Future #384 (Feature photo – Italian High Speed Rail – CCA SA 2.0 Generic) There is no question that perishable food should be transported quickly. On another front, fast transport via trains creates lower emissions than trucks on roads. The European nations are working to shift road freight to rail freight and speed can make a difference. Now a new service called Mercitalia from Italy is introducing fast freight that travels at 185 miles per hour. No doubt that Italy’s leadership will set the stage for further development in Europe – and potentially the rest of the world. You can read the full story here: https://www.railway-technology.com/features/mercitalia-fast-service/ Want More? -…

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Tesla Takes America to the Top

Positive Future #383 (Feature photo – Tesla – CCA 2.0 Generic) Of the top 20 electric cars sold in the world in 2018, there was only 1 American manufacturer in the group. That was Tesla. Of the 2,018,247 electrified cars sold in 2018, 245,240 (12% of the global total) were made by Tesla – the Tesla Model 3, the Model S and the Model X. CleanTechnica Journalist Zachary Shahan takes us behind the different models and Tesla: https://cleantechnica.com/2019/02/09/tesla-model-3-1-best-selling-electric-car-in-world-7-of-global-ev-market/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+%28CleanTechnica%29 Want More? – Sign up below Special Deals Ahead…Sign up!

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Oregon Hits 90 Percent Recycling Levels for Bottles and Cans.

Positive Future #381 (Feature photo – Drink Machine – CCA SA 4.0 International) Money makes a difference. Oregon passed a law a few years back that would raise the fee for buying bottled drinks from 5 cents a bottle to 10 cents a bottle if recycling rates got below 80 percent. When years 2014 and 2015 came in at less than 70 percent, the higher bottle charge/refund kicked in. You can read the full story here: https://inhabitat.com/bottle-recycling-in-oregon-hits-90-percent-record-high/ Want More? – Sign up below Special Deals Ahead…Sign up!

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The Green New Deal

Positive Future #380 (Feature photo – Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Energy in Tandem – CCA 2.0 Generic) In our popular media, the concept that we can do anything we set our mind to almost always applies to the individual. If we attempt to apply it to a nation or city, critics emerge out of the woodwork to curse broad visions as utopian, unrealistic, too expensive and fantasy. By the time the financial critics get done we all bow down and embrace the concept that humanity cannot ever adequately afford itself. Bigger social and environmental stewardship visions are coming over the horizon at a faster pace. The efforts for social, economic…

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Affordability – The Force Behind Social Change

Positive Future #379 (Feature photo – Poor Workers – Public Domain) The affordability of the basics – food, housing and transportation – is what much of the social unrest is about in the world. Often it comes down to demands for higher wages and the ravages of underemployment. At the national minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, the complete monthly paycheck is often not enough to even pay for a 2 bedroom apartment in large metropolitan areas. Making news, the small nation of Luxembourg in Europe (population 600,000) announced that it was moving towards free transportation within its borders on public trains, trams and buses. According to the small nation,…

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Farming versus Urbanization – The Looming Land Issue

Positive Future #378 (Feature photo – Harley Davidson Sportster – CCA SA 2.5 Generic) A new report predicts cities will grow by 80 percent by 2030. Considering what most large metropolitan areas look like today, this is a spooky prognosis. The upshot is that land use – whether or not to pave the last best farmland for urbanization – will become a pivotal issue. The primary issue for most households will be the affordability of housing whether it is owning or renting. Next comes the affordability of food that has a smaller and smaller area on which to be grown. You can read about the report here: https://www.curbed.com/2019/2/1/18205869/city-growth-urbanization-sprawl Want More?…

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