gas

Why Consider Electric Cars?

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Author
Jukka Kukkonen
PlugInConnect
Publication Date: 
November 1, 2010
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For the last century we have relied heavily on oil to provide energy for our transportation needs. Gasoline- and diesel-powered internal combustion engines (ICE) have monopolized as the propulsion provider for cars and trucks. They have worked fairly well for us, but we are also paying a heavy price in environmental effects. Fortunately, we are starting to explore new alternatives, and electric vehicles (EVs) are emerging as the most viable new alternative for most of our driving. Here are some reasons to consider the switch:

Resources
On the Web!: 
Plug In America, pluginamerica.org
Electric Auto Association, eaaev.org
Electrification Coalition, electrificationcoalition.org
The Plug-In Hybrid Consortium, hybridconsortium.org
Act Locally!: 
PlugInConnect, Jukka Kukkonen St Paul, MN PlugInConnect.com
ReGo Electric Conversions Minneapolis, MN 612-822-1626 regoelectric.com
Minnesota Electric Auto Association MNEAA.com 

Worry Less About Gas Prices and Consider Alternatives

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Author
SARA GROCHOWSKI
Do It Green! Minnesota
For many of us, daily commutes to and from school or the workplace is an accepted part of life. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Minnesotans spend an average of 5.79% or $2,377 of their annual income on gasoline expenses. Considering these rates were published in a report based on 2007 prices and gas prices have continued to increase at alarming rates, finding a cheap way to get from one place to another has become increasingly difficult. Alternative modes of transportation can help your wallet and the environment.
Footnotes/Endnotes
ON THE WEB!

Calculate your average fuel cost,
fueleconomy.gov/Feg
/savemoney.shtml

Natural Resources Defense Council,
nrdc.org

THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE “Next Generation” Biofuels

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Author
RICHARD HEMMINGSEN
Director, University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment
If the price of a gallon of gasoline hasn't gotten your attention lately, concerns about the environmental impacts of America's fossil fuel addiction or national energy security likely have. In the face of such challenges, alternative fuels are rapidly being developed and commercialized.

Minnesota farmers were among the first to answer the call, producing ethanol, a "first generation" biofuel. In the United States, ethanol is produced primarily from corn. Globally, ethanol is made from a wide variety

Footnotes/Endnotes

ON THE WEB!

"A Smaller Carbon Footprint," University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, June 2008,
cts.umn.edu (search for "transportation studies June 2008")

Minnesota Corn Growers Association, www.mncorn.org  (Search for "Renewable Bio-Fuels")

Minnesota Department of Agriculture,
www.mda.state.mn.us/renewable

National Renewable Energy Lab, www.nrel.gov (search for "biofuels")

Biofuels for Transportation, genomicsgtl.energy.gov/biofuels
/transportation.shtml

Ethanol Facts,
ethanolfacts.com/ETHL2008
/page.php?pgID=1

Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment,
www.iree.umn.edu

"U of M Biofuels Research" video, www1.umn.edu/urelate
/newsservice/Multimedia_Videos
/biofuels.htm

"Biofuels: Beyond the Headlines" video, environment.umn.edu
/multimedia/index.html

Act Locally!

Minnesota Department of Commerce: Energy Information Center,
www.commerce.state.mn.us (Search for "Energy Info Center")

Minnesota Ethanol-Ethanol, E85, Bio-Diesel, Biofuels, Renewable Fuels Directory,
www.mnethanol.com/biodir.php

The Coming of the Solar Age & Clean Energy

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Author
Carl Nelson
Director of Community Energy, Green Institute
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Footnotes/Endnotes

Resources

On the Web

Reading

  • Beyond Oil, by Kenneth S. Deffeyes 2005.
  • The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling, by Daniel D. Chiras 2002.

Act Locally

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