Energy Secretary Steven Chu also announced the DOE has offered a $133.9 million loan guarantee to Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas LLC (ABBK). This brings the total "investment" to some $2.6 billion for this company to build a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Hugoton, Kansas.
When construction is complete, the facility will convert 300,000 tons of corn stalks and leaves into an estimated 23 million gallons of ethanol a year. But it'll create jobs! 195 of them.
And in other news from the Green front:
Four years ago, the Park District of Highland Park banned the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides on its playing fields. It’s “integrated pest management program” was praised as a model among parks organizations leading a natural lawn-care movement.
But after shifting from pesticides to organic, health-conscience techniques, including intensified irrigation, aeration, mowing, over-seeding and other cultural practices, the district is going to let its grounds keepers again deploy pesticides and herbicides.
The commissioners OKd the change last week after park officials said the organic program had likely contributed to the worst field conditions the district has seen in more than a decade.
A "model" government Green program produces bad results? How can this be? And in only four years, at that. They went from winning awards for turf health and playability to becoming a "model" for "natural lawn care" - and their fields went south. Who'd have guessed?
But wait! There's more! All those "green jobs" that the governments are creating are really starting to make a difference.
WICCOPEE — The frequently lauded and taxpayer-funded SpectraWatt Inc. — which closed its solar cell plant and laid off workers earlier this year — has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
This seems to be a pattern, where "solar" plants are concerned. A lot of them just never pencil out. Such a surprise!
