Go Green Radio

The global clean energy marketplace is expanding rapidly, but the competitive position of American industry is at risk because of increased competition abroad and uncertain policies at home, according to a report to be released Jan. 17 by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The study, Innovate, Manufacture, Compete: A Clean Energy Action Plan, states that revenue in the clean energy sector worldwide could...

One of the drawbacks of solar and wind energy is the intermittency of power generation, and the inability of our current electricity grid to handle an inconsistent flow of electrons. If solar and wind power were coupled with large-scale energy storage capacity, this could create the steady flow of electricity that is optimal for our grid. One of the promising technologies for mass energy storage i...

For as long as anyone can remember, waste management in U.S. neighborhoods has been paid for by residents and commercial ratepayers. What would happen if we turned that system upside down, and required the companies that produce things that end up in our waste stream to deal with it? What do you think would happen to products and packaging if the producers had to take it back, disassemble it, recy...

Today we're joined by Marisa Miller Wolfson, director of the award-winning documentary, Veducated. Part sociological experiment and part adventure comedy, the documentary, Veducated, follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Lured by tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover the hidden sides of animal agriculture that mak...

According to my guests today, we may be witnessing the dawn of a new industrial revolution. But instead of raw ingredients like coal, steel, and lumber, this century's boom is likely to be fueled by lithium, tantalum, vanadium, and a host of other rare earth minerals and metals. These are the elements that will make possible infinite vs. finite energy technologies, medical device advances, and com...

Can solar energy compete with cheap natural gas? Will the U.S. solar industry suffer without a reliable, domestic source of raw materials to manufacture solar panels? Will there be sufficient public and private funding for solar installations after the "fiscal cliff" plays out in Washington? Today we're joined by Gary Gerber, founder & CEO of Sun Light & Power, to discuss the latest trends in sola...

CONFESSIONS OF AN ECO-TERRORIST is the true, no holds barred story of 30 years of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) campaigns leading up to the hit show Whale Wars. It's a feature documentary that reveals the true odyssey of the most wanted environmentalist today, Captain Paul Watson. Filmmaker and longest-serving SSCS crew member Peter Jay Brown documented the mythic deeds of the organizat...

In this episode we'll take a look at what causes drought, how climate change may impact the intensity and frequency of droughts in the U.S., and what we can do to make our communities more resilient during extremely dry periods. We are joined by Steve Fleischli, Director of Water & Climate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, who will discuss a new report that rate each of the 50 U.S. states...

Forty percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the state of California come from transportation. In an effort to both reduce emissions and air pollution, the California Energy Commission (CEC) has developed the Alternative and Renewable Fuel & Vehicle Technology Program. This program funds a variety of fuel technologies and the infrastructure needed to make those fuels available to California dr...

Power failure on the scale we recently saw with Super Storm Sandy does NOT have to happen. But it will happen, over and over again, unless antiquated energy infrastructure is updated. Today we are joined by Dr. Massoud Amin, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and member of the IEEE Computer Society's Task Force on Security and Privacy. In the aftermath...

For as long as anyone can remember, waste management in U.S. neighborhoods has been paid for by residents and commercial ratepayers. What would happen if we turned that system upside down, and required the companies that produce things that end up in our waste stream to deal with it? What do you think would happen to products and packaging if the producers had to take it back, disassemble it, recy...

Food is one of the most basic things that all human beings have in common. We don't all eat the same types of food, but we are all linked to one another in our need for nourishment. Modern agriculture has increased the amount of food that is produced, yet even in America, there are hungry, malnourished children. Additionally, the environmental footprint of modern agriculture places it in direct co...

Today we'll be joined by Major General Anthony Jackson, USMC (ret.), Lt. General John Castellaw, USMC (ret.), and retired Republican Senator John Warner, who also served in the Marine Corps and as the Secretary of the Navy from 1972-74. Each will discuss his views on America's energy future and the need for advanced biofuels in the military. Tune in to hear what our armed forces are doing to conse...

Our nation, and our world, is transitioning to a green economy. But what about those people whose livelihoods are intertwined with carbon emissions: coal miners, oil rig operators, etc.? What happens to their families as the economy transitions to one that is less carbon intense? If they are retrained for a "green" job, will it pay as well, or will their family have to relocate? AFL-CIO, the umbre...

Today we're joined by Marisa Miller Wolfson, director of the award-winning documentary, Veducated. Part sociological experiment and part adventure comedy, the documentary, Veducated, follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Lured by tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover the hidden sides of animal agriculture that mak...

Imagine a world where nothing is discarded into the land, air or water that could harm humans, animals or the planet. That is the goal of a "zero waste" philosophy. Today we are joined by Leslie Lukacs, who has presented at the Zero Waste International Association (www.zwia.org) conference for the past 3 years, and is a founder and principal of L2 Environmental (www. L2environmental.com). Leslie w...

In this episode we'll take a look at what causes drought, how climate change may impact the intensity and frequency of droughts in the U.S., and what we can do to make our communities more resilient during extremely dry periods. We are joined by Steve Fleischli, Director of Water & Climate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, who will discuss a new report that rate each of the 50 U.S. states...

Suppose someone told you your entire country would likely be submerged in a few short decades. How would you plan for future generations of your family? These are some of the many issues facing millions of people from Fiji, Grenada, the Marshall Islands, the Maldives and hundreds of islands off Panama. As the Arctic rapidly melts, rising sea levels are forcing entire countries to consider relocati...

"We are not helpless," was the message from Ken Alex, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Brown and Director of the Office of Planning and Research, at the recent press conference announcing the release of California's historic body of research assessing the state's vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change. Over 120 scientists organized into 26 research teams have completed over 30 studies t...

Studies show that more than 90% of Americans support mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods. Yet for twenty years we have been denied that right. While our reasons for wanting to know what's in our food may vary, what unifies us is the belief that it's our right. Without labeling of GE foods, we cannot make informed choices about our food. The Just Label It campaign was created to...

"We are not helpless," was the message from Ken Alex, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Brown and Director of the Office of Planning and Research, at the recent press conference announcing the release of California's historic body of research assessing the state's vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change. Over 120 scientists organized into 26 research teams have completed over 30 studies t...

My guest is author and leading green architect, David Bergman. An architect, ecodesigner and LEED Accredited Professional with more than 25 years of experience, Bergman has recently completed his first book, Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide, to rave reviews. Written for students and professionals as well as anyone looking to get an overall understanding of the general concepts of sustainable d...

Today we'll be joined by Major General Anthony Jackson, USMC (ret.), Lt. General John Castellaw, USMC (ret.), and retired Republican Senator John Warner, who also served in the Marine Corps and as the Secretary of the Navy from 1972-74. Each will discuss his views on America's energy future and the need for advanced biofuels in the military. Tune in to hear what our armed forces are doing to conse...

On Earth Day, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig sank creating the worst oil spill in history. According to the global media, the story ended when the well was capped – but that's when the real story began. By exposing the root causes of the oil spill and what really happened after the news cameras left the Gulf states, filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell uncover a vast network of c...

Since the 1950s, it has become routine practice in many countries to add low levels of antibiotics to the feed or water of healthy poultry, cattle, and swine to promote faster growth and prevent infections that tend to occur when animals are housed in crowded, unsanitary conditions. The unnecessary use of antibiotics on farms is a key culprit in the rise of drug-resistant bacteria that pose a grow...