NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 8, 2007Mitchell 1 to Hold
Management TrainingPOWAY, CA (Feb. 10, 2007) - Mitchell 1 is hosting the first of four 2007 Management Training Workshops in Orlando, FL from March 8 to 10, 2007, at the Rosen Plaza Hotel. This workshop will teach OnDemand 5 Manager and ManagerPlus users who have been customers more than six months how to get more out of the software. The registration fee for the workshop is $200 for a shop's first attendee and $100 for each additional employee. Registration must be completed by Feb. 21, 2007. More information is available at
www.buymitchell1.com/form/m1users.htm.
(Source: Mitchell
1)Senate Bill Seeks to Raise
Renewable Fuels' AvailabilityWASHINGTON (Jan. 28, 2007) - On the first day of the new 110th session of Congress, the BioFuels Security Act was introduced by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard G. Lugar (R-IN), Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-DE), Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) and Barack Obama (D-IL). The bill seeks to increase renewable fuels' use by increasing the federal renewable fuels standards (RFS) to 60 billion gallons, mandating availability of ethanol pumps at every station across America and increasing production of cars equipped to run on alternative fuel sources. Specifically, the bill:
* Proposes increasing the RFS, doubling it to 60 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel to be included in the U.S. motor vehicle fuel supply annually by the year 2030.
* Calls for large oil companies to install E85 pumps by 5 percent per annum for each of the next 10 years, so that more than 50 percent of stations have access to E85.
* Directs automakers to gradually increase flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) production by10 percent per annum for each of the next 10 years.
(Source: U.S.
Senate)Federal Agencies Ordered to
Go Green WASHINGTON (Jan. 24, 2007) - One day after the State of the Union address, President Bush issued an executive order designed to strengthen the environmental, energy and transportation management of federal agencies. The order requires:
* Improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the agencies, through reduction of energy intensity by 3 percent annually through the end of fiscal year 2015.
* Ensure that at least half of the statutorily required renewable energy consumed by an agency in a fiscal year comes from new renewable sources.
* Mandates that any agency operating a fleet of at least 20 motor vehicles reduce the fleet's total consumption of petroleum products by 2 percent annually through the end of fiscal year 2015. In addition, any affected agency must increase the total fuel consumption that is non-petroleum-based by 10 percent annually, and use plug-in hybrid vehicles when they are commercially available at a cost reasonably comparable, on the basis of life-cycle cost, to non-plug-in hybrid vehicles.
(Source: The White
House)Energy Secretary Nixes Gasoline TaxDAVOS, SWITZERLAND (Jan. 25, 2007) - U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman defended President Bush's drive to reduce oil consumption without introducing a gasoline tax, saying such a proposal would be too divisive across the country. Bush is asking Congress to aggressively expand the use of alternative fuels, mainly cellulosic ethanol, to reduce the need for gasoline and put the brakes on growing U.S. use of foreign oil. Bodman spoke as part of a panel at the World Economic Forum, a gathering of presidents, prime ministers, some of the world's top oil executives and others. He rejected suggestions that fuel or emissions taxes could help spur the move to alternative energy sources. "People in New York view the taxation of gasoline as one thing," Bodman said. "People in Texas, Wyoming and areas where you have to commute very long distances view the taxation in a very different matter."
(Sources: World Economic
Forum, Forbes)Tesla Motors Opens
MI Technical CenterROCHESTER HILLS, MI (Jan. 26, 2007) - Tesla Motors, a manufacturer of high-performance, zero-emissions electric vehicles, has opened its new Michigan Technical Center. In addition to its California facility, Tesla Motors also has facilities in England (assembly of the Tesla Roadster) and Taiwan (motor production).
The region's existing base of automotive companies, facilities and engineering talent were deciding factors for the location of the center. "We felt it was smart to use the existing test tracks, validation equipment, wind tunnels and more, rather than duplicating these costly investments," says Martin Eberhard, CEO and co-founder of Tesla Motors.
The 19,240-square-foot facility will focus on research and development for future Tesla products, starting with a four-door electric sports sedan. That project, named "WhiteStar," will be a four-door, five-passenger, lightweight, high-performance sedan planned for production around 2009.
(Source: Tesla
Motors)
EPA Names BMW "Energy Partner of the Year"
BALTIMORE (Jan. 25, 2007) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named the BMW Manufacturing Co. and partner D
