Will Beer Help Virginia Diversify from a Coal Economy?

man in brewery

Matt Montalbano, Zondits staff, 7/14/2022 Coal mining has long been associated with the state of Virginia. But the state’s coal production has been in decline and Virginia is looking to stimulate and diversify its economy. InvestSWVA is a public-private campaign looking to assist the region’s transition away from coal and tobacco and toward new high-tech, … Read more

Utility Executive States that Burning Natural Gas to Generate Electricity is “Stupid”

natural gas pipeline

Brian McCowan, Zondits staff, 6/9/2022 In a stark departure from typical utility industry talking points, the CEO of Enel, a giant European utility, states that it is “stupid” to continue burning natural gas for generating electricity and for heating homes and commercial buildings. In a CNBC interview conducted at the World Economic Forum held May … Read more

USPS Misses the Mark with Fleet Vehicle Replacement Contract

Taylor Patterson, Zondits staff, 3/14/2022. USPS is fronting recent headlines after announcing its plans to replace outdated fleet vehicles. The Postmaster general signed off on a plan which only calls for 10% of fleet vehicles to be replaced with electric equivalents, leaving 90% to be switched out for other ICE trucks and vehicles. Pushed to … Read more

Portable Power or Super Power?

Brian McCowan, Zondits Staff, 1/28/2022. Gasoline and, more recently, propane-powered generators have been a mainstay for remote construction, emergency power during outages, and recreational camping. But just as with mowers and snow blowers, a cleaner option is now on the market. Electric rechargeable power banks are marketed in a large variety of sizes from units … Read more

School Buses to be updated with Battery-Electric Power Systems

gravity buses

www.stnonline.com, 12/6/2021 TORRANCE, Calif., – SEA Electric and Midwest Transit Equipment (MTE) have partnered to update 10,000 school buses with battery-electric power-systems, the biggest deal of its kind to date, which paves the way for a zero-emissions future for children’s transport in North America. MTE, one of the largest school bus dealers in the country, … Read more

Colorado Jumpstarts Methane Leak Detection Industry

Brian McCowan, Zondits staff Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is receiving increased scrutiny from the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A Colorado State University laboratory is testing aerial drones, specialty cameras, real-time sensors and gas detection lasers for their ability to detect and locate methane leaks into the atmosphere. The following excerpt … Read more

Microsoft Solar Deal Breaks Down Energy Justice Barriers

cnbc.com, 8/13/2021. Climate crises across the country — record heat waves, wildfires and flooding — have pushed climate to the forefront of corporate agendas. At the same time, companies are being held accountable for their actions to fix systemic racism at the community level. The two goals may seem distinct, but a new Microsoft renewable … Read more

Transit System Bridges Nature’s Playground to the Public

yes! Solutions Journalism, 8/2/21. On a recent spring morning, Kamal Adhikari hopped in his Chrysler 200S and made the 30-minute drive from his home in a Seattle suburb to the Poo Poo Point Trailhead in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. When he arrived at 10 a.m. the trailhead parking lot was full. He ended … Read more

Earth Day 2021 Takes on a New Meaning

Taylor Patterson, 4/22/21. Earth Day has now been celebrated for 51 years. What started as a Minnesota senator’s desperate plea to spotlight climate change has evolved into a worldwide day of recognition and action to protect our struggling planet. Now, over 1 billion people across more than 174 countries participate in Earth Day activities, making … Read more

Net Zero Energy Becomes Elementary in Arlington County, VA

Taylor Patterson, 4/6/21. Zero energy buildings are the future of sustainable living – be it commercial, industrial, or residential settings. Arlington County, VA embraced this future with the design and construction of their zero-energy public elementary school. The building is powered by over 1,700 solar panels, has a geothermal athletic field that funnels into a … Read more