Recently by James Shepherd

TOYOTA, which has an engine plant on Deeside Industrial Park, Flintshire, has helped make maritime history by shipping its cars across the world on board a ship part-powered by solar energy.

The Auriga Leader docked in Long Beach, California, earlier this month with new Prius and other Toyota and Lexus models on board, destined for the North American market.
On its voyage from Japan, the ship was able to harness the power of the sun to reduce demand on its diesel engines.

Launched in Kobe, Japan, last December, the 60,000-tonne ship is 200m long and can carry 6,200 vehicles.

ONE of the companies in the running for the £850m 25-year contract to manage Cheshire's waste is inviting residents to give their views on proposals for a plant in Wincham.

Resource Recovery Solutions (RRS), a partnership between United Utilities and Interserve, is launching a comprehensive engagement programme on its planned state-of-the-art facility at Wincham Lane, which is set to create "at least 70 new long-term jobs".

The schedule includes a series of information days where people will be asked to comment on the design of the facility.

The waste treatment plant will recycle materials and utilise 'proven gasification technology' to generate renewable energy from the remaining 'black bag' waste - enough to power 22,500 Cheshire homes.

An RRS spokesman said the advanced technology will be housed in a 'specifically designed, modern, streamlined building' alongside a visitor and education centre, which will also be offered as a community centre.

Officials have admitted that a tiger reserve in India no longer has any tigers.

Panna National Park, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, had 24 tigers three years ago, but now officially joins the Sariska reserve in Rajasthan on zero.

Panna's tiger demise is particularly embarrassing because "warning bells were sounded regularly for the last eight years," according to a report prepared by the central forest ministry (BBC).

This one's from CNNMoney.com

America should attack global warming by ... painting rooftops and road surfaces white.

Seriously. No kidding.

Among those promoting the idea is Energy Secretary Steven Chu, a big-thinking physicist who has a bully pulpit and influence over billions in research and stimulus funds.

Chu spoke about the idea at a London conference last month while Congress was busy hashing out a complex, 1,400-page bill to cut greenhouse gases.

The UK must invest more in nuclear and clean coal energy and put less emphasis on wind power if it wants a secure low-carbon future, business leaders say.

The CBI says government energy policy is "disjointed" and it is urging a "more balanced" energy mix.

The current approach means the UK might miss climate change targets, it added.

We all know Britain is Great, but now we can make our green and pleasant land even greener - with the first Green Britain Day.

Friday is when everyone starts working together to cut our carbon footprint in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Among the celebrities taking part are Olympic hero James Cracknell and gold medal Paralympic swimmer Eleanor Simmonds. This time they are leading a race of a different kind - against climate change.

OIL giant Shell has defended its record on C02 emissions after an environmental group branded it the dirtiest producer.

Joint research by Friends of the Earth, Oil Change International and Platform claimed that Shell was neglecting its green pledges.

But the company rejected the accusation and said emissions were being cut.

"Shell's focus on managing CO2 emissions remains strong," said a spokesman.

"We continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the facilities we control or operate. These emissions have fallen by more than 30% since 1990."

You recycle your carrier bags and turn off the TV at night, but how far would you go to really make a difference to the planet?

Eight streets around the country - all with the word Green in their names - spent the past year being as eco-friendly as possible in a bid to win thousands for local projects.

British Gas selected them from hundreds of entries and the AVERAGE street reduced its domestic energy use by 25%. The winning street, Green Lane in Leeds, saved a THIRD of its power, bagging £50,000 in funding.

HEADTEACHERS in Cheshire could wipe a massive £1m off school energy bills by making their schools more efficient, the Carbon Trust announced.

Reducing energy wastage would also reduce Cheshire schools' carbon dioxide emissions by 7,000 tonnes.

"Headteachers, parents and governors alike are always seeking ways to make the school budget go further. Cutting energy use is a highly effective way to free-up those funds, while engaging the school community in the fight against climate change," said Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust.

PLANS to introduce fortnightly bin collections in Sandbach, Middlewich and Holmes Chapel have been rubber stamped for August.

Plans to collect household and recyclable waste on alternate weeks were approved by Cheshire East Council's cabinet.

The scheme has faced opposition from residents who feel it will leave streets looking and smelling like dumps over the summer.