Earlier this year, Google announced the development of a gadget called Google PowerMeter which delivers personal electricity usage data to consumers on their individual computers. This effort took a big step forward on Wednesday of this week when Google announced a list of eight initial electric utilities that will serve as partners.

United by a common interest in connecting their customers with personal consumption data, the diverse list of partners includes utilities from India, Canada and the United States. The partnering utilities range in size from small providers to ones with millions of customers.

The full list of partnering utilities is as follows:
* San Diego Gas & Electric® (California)
* TXU Energy (Texas)
* JEA (Florida)
* Reliance Energy (India)
* Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (Wisconsin)
* White River Valley Electric Cooperative (Missouri)
* Toronto Hydro–Electric System Limited (Canada)
* Glasgow EPB (Kentucky)

One of the larger utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has been partnering with Google throughout the past year and now has plans to install over 200,000 smart meters this year. By 2011, SDG&E estimates that they will have their entire territory of 1.4 million customers equipped with smart meters. According to a New York Times post, San Diego Gas & Electric has indicated that their smart meter customers should be able to access their energy usage data via the Google PowerMeter before the end of this year.

Google is not the only tech company working hard to bring energy data to customers via the Internet. As a smart energy grid evolves, so will energy management applications the applications that deliver usage data into the hands of the customers. By doing so, it is estimated that customers can reduce their energy usage by 5% – 10%.

In addition to listing the eight utility partners, Google also announced their partnership with smart meter maker, Itron. Although Google and others in the field of home energy management have discussed whether or not they actually require partnerships with utilities and smart meters in order to deliver these data services, it certainly helps Google’s efforts to have solidified the partnerships. The Google partnership is helping Itron as well, as indicated by Itron shares being up about 3.7% on Wednesday.

There a number of players in this field and more will emerge as partnerships such as these are formed. However, as usual, Google appears to be taking the lead.

On Wednesday, The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) released a first draft of a treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol (1997) which is set to expire in 2012. This new 53 page document is considered to be the basis for the agreements to be made in the international climate talks scheduled for December 7th-18th in Copenhagen.

The key-differentiating factor between this document and the original Kyoto Protocol is that the newly proposed treaty calls for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by both, developed and developing nations. Bridging this gap should satisfy the historical Kyoto opposition from both sides, which plagued the original framework since it’s inception. Under the Bush administration, opposition to Kyoto was founded in the notion that due to output volume of GHG emissions, developing nations should be included in the framework. Conversely, opposition from developing nations was founded in the argument that as the leaders in per capita pollution of CO2, the industrialized nations should hold the primary burden of emissions reductions.

With revised emission reductions for both developed and developing countries, the UNFCCC’s latest draft attempts to satisfy the needs of all involved parties. The head of the UNFCCC, Yvo de Boer indicates that the release of the new draft marks, “an important point on our road.” The document contains a nearly complete list of industrialized nations’ commitments to cut emissions after 2012, which allows for cross-national comparisons of reduction goals. The intent is that information sharing of this type will encourage the creation of more ambitious goals on behalf of participating nations.

According to the newly proposed treaty, emerging countries such as China and India would commit to targeting reductions of GHG emissions to 15% – 30% of 2000 levels by 2020. If agreed upon, this commitment would represent a first-ever international agreement for developing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under the newly proposed framework, developed nations would target carbon emissions reductions to 75% – 95% of 1990 levels by 2050.

With only 200 days remaining until the final December talks in Copenhagen, this document represents the promise of a comprehensive and shared set of agreements to sign-off on in Copenhagen. That being said, there is still more work to be done on the proposed treaty between now and December. In June, governments will meet in Bonn, Germany to debate the details of the new draft. Specifically, the Bonn talks will examine the various proposals for establishing emissions limits and the allocation of funding and penalty payments.

Currently, the draft treaty has indicated that a nation’s population trends, access to technology and economic trends will be considered. The new document also proposes that funding priorities be placed on regions with glaciers, regions affected by desertification as well as low-lying areas that are at high risk of flooding.

In addition to setting revised targets for emissions cuts, the draft document also describes detailed mechanisms for financing, technology development and capacity building initiatives in the fight against climate change.

Earlier this week, Boeing released it’s 2009 Environmental Report which highlights 2008 reductions in energy and water consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. On the more innovative side, the Boeing report describes biofuel demonstration flights held over the past year which document the technical feasibility of using biofuels in commercial jetliners. The demonstration flights represent a significant step toward a long-term vision of sustainable fuel solutions for the aviation industry.

In addition to biofuel advancements, a Boeing subsidiary, Spectrolab achieved a new solar cell world record with 40.7% efficiency in converting sunlight to electricity. The 2009 Environmental Report provides a clear indication that the company is pioneering innovative technologies that will realize even greater efficiencies in the coming year.

A true industry leader, Boeing is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Boeing’s foray into sustainable fuels signals an emerging trend within the aviation industry that result in mainstream standards in a few short years.

Boeing worked a number of commercial airlines on the demonstration flights which required no modifications to the airplanes or engines.

• On Dec. 30th, 2008, Air New Zealand conducted the first sustainable biofuels flight using jatropha as a fuel source (flown with a 50/50 mix with traditional jet fuel).
• On Jan. 7th, 2009, Continental Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to conduct a biofuels test flight and also the first to use algae as a fuel source.
• On Jan. 30th, 2009, Japan Airlines became the first airline to use the energy crop camelina as a fuel source. The 90 minute flight relied upon a fuel mix of camelina, algae and jatropha mixed with conventional jet fuel.

Results from these test flights will be incorporated into Boeing’s strategy development as they work towards their target goal of a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency in each new-generation aircraft. Documentation of the demonstration flights is an encouraging signal that the possibility of non-fossil fuel flights is closer than most would imagine.

Additionally, the demonstration test flight results are intended to contribute to the effort to certify the algae-based fuels through the ASTM. The greater goal of this effort is to eventually alter the current jet fuel specification requirements which state that jet fuel must be derived from petroleum-based source material.

Driven by both, environmental and economic incentives, the widespread use of biofuels in the aviation industry represents a significant savings for airlines. With increasing fuel costs, biofuels represent a fuel source that in a matter of years will be price competitive with today’s fossil fuel costs. According to a recent article in Fast Company, jet fuel is the airlines’ largest and most volatile expense, representing 25% – 40% of total operating costs. Estimates indicate that commercial quantities of algae oil can be produced in three years and that this supply can be produced domestically. Experts agree that assuming projected increases in fuel prices takes place, algae-based biofuels will in fact, be price competitive. If not, we’ll likely see a program of government subsidies to introduce the new biofuels into the marketplace.

Until now, the aviation industry has been slow to demonstrate initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of their products and services. In addition to reductions in fuel consumptions, Boeing is now pioneering more sustainable technologies that address environmental noise pollution and reduced energy needs for their operations. In this regard, the aviation industry has begun to show greater progress on the environmental front than the shipping and cruise line industries, which contribute twice as much as the aviation industry does to climate change.

In addition to advancements in developing feasible biofuel sources, Boeing has also collaborated with leading airlines and environmental organizations to form the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group. The goal of this group is to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative sustainable aviation fuels. Outcomes from this group are expected to include reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry and to securie the industry’s exposure to volatile oil prices.

China’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Environmental Protection have requested research from a regional think-tank to develop preliminary proposals for a national carbon tax. The proposals, which are due for publication within the month, may one day become a part of the Chinese government’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

International governments have pressed Beijing to implement legislation to curtail their carbon dioxide emissions and the Chinese response has typically been a call for rich countries to lead by example in the development of CO2 regulation schemes. With the possibility of a US cap-and-trade regime being approved later this year, the Chinese government’s request for research on carbon tax policies may indicate that China will head off in it’s own direction.

Devising an agreement on an appropriate taxation cost for carbon is complex, as it is affected by a number of uncontrollable variables. Preliminary research by the World Bank and the Dutch and British governments has come up with a range of $70 to $280 per ton of CO2. Certainly, further research is necessary to refine the range of taxation and more importantly, to devise one that is appropriate to the practices and scale of a country as large as China.

Revenue from a carbon tax in China represents a significant financial stream when you consider that China is the world’s largest source of CO2 with roughly 80% of its electricity being generated by coal-fired power plants. China has a population of 1.3 billion people and the country produces roughly four metric tons of GHG emissions per person. Although China’s total emission count now exceeds that of the US, the US averages about 20 metric tons of GHG emissions per person.

The question remains, what is driving Chinese interest in pursuing the possibility of a carbon tax policy when for years, they have adamantly declared that developed nations who have caused the climate crisis should lead the way in mitigating climate change? It seems apparent that developed nations are now heading in the direction of a cap-and-trade regime versus a carbon tax. Perhaps, the Chinese government views a cap-and –trade system as being overly laborious on the regulation side. Or, perhaps China is making preparations in advance of the December climate talks in Copenhagen.

However, the more likely motivation is that China strives to become a leading nation in the reduction of carbon emissions.

Alaska governor Sarah Palin has rejected $28.6 million dollars in federal stimulus money for Alaska’s State Energy Program. However, Gov. Palin did accept all other federal stimulus money that her state is eligible for ($930 million). Palin’s rejection of the funds is founded in her opposition to strengthening state building codes and making energy efficiency and renewable energy top priorities when spending the money.

Although other governors have voiced opposition to the stimulus package, Gov. Palin is the only governor who has not signed a letter of reassurance to Steven Chu (US Energy Secretary) that her state intends to accept the funds and will comply with the policies associated with the money for state energy departments.

Governor Palin has argued that mandating a statewide energy building code throughout her region does not serve the interests of Alaskans due to the fact that once the federal funds are exhausted through initiating programs, state funds will be required to continue the new programs and activities. However, Palin did accept $28 million for home weatherization and home energy-efficiency programs.

Rejecting the additional $28.6 million for the State Energy Program will put Alaska behind other states in terms of adopting more stringent building codes to conserve energy. Additionally, the rejection of the federal stimulus money for energy delays progress towards state-driven initiatives to encourage utilities to develop incentives for residential and commercial customers to adopt energy efficiency practices.

Click here to read the assurance letter submitted by your state to Steven Chu.