Not that I expect much out of this, but, you know, it’s nice to be loved. The 2008 Weblog Awards has started so, if you want to pick this one as one of your favs in a specific category, I won’t stand in your way. But seriously, I encourage you to vote for the blogs you like, even if it doesn’t include this one. I think it’s a decent exercise to show what’s popular out there and to recognize the folks who put the time in. There are three categories I think would be most relevant for me — Best Canadian Blog and Best Business Blog and Best Technology Blog. Unfortunately, there’s no specific Enviro or Cleantech or Greentech blog category, and I don’t think I would consider mine Science. My personal preference is Best Canadian Blog, but I trust your judgement.

Oh, and thanks in advance.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, recently re-elected, gave his Throne Speech today and reiterated the Conservative party’s campaign promise of having 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity come from “non-emitting” sources by 2020. The media have characterized this as “ambitious,” and while it seems so on the surface, it’s not so challenging when you look at the numbers.

In fact, what it really means is increasing the amount of power we get from non-emitting sources by 25 per cent. But using a figure like 90 per cent sounds a lot more impressive than 25 per cent. (more…)

For those who thought he would back down after being elected… think again.
 

VRB Power’s vanadium flow-battery technology might have held potential as a utility-scale energy storage system, but in the end the Vancouver-based company has failed to execute and is on the road to insolvency. The company released a press release this afternoon announcing that it has been unsuccessful in seeking a merger, sale or some kind of financing that can keep the company afloat. (more…)

The City of Toronto has launched two funds that will make it easier for schools, churches, hospitals and other not-for-profit sectors to reduce their carbon footprint.

The $42 million Toronto Energy Conservation Fund and the $20 million Toronto Green Energy Fund, created as part of the city’s climate action plan, make available zero-interest loans for projects that aim to make buildings more energy efficient or bigger users of green energy. Up to $1 million will be available for individual projects, on the condition that the funding represents no more than 49 per cent of total project costs. Both new and retrofit building projects, including those involving municipal buildings, are eligible.

It’s a great idea, particularly during the current credit crunch, and we need to see more of the same. In fact, the city might want to check out what’s going on in Berkeley, Calif., where residents can install solar panels and pay for them over 20 years through a line item on their property tax bill. A company called Renewable Funding is administering the program, which could apply to a range of renewable energy and efficiency measures.