Home Depot announces what amounts the U.S.’ biggest CFL recycling program; more biofuel woes; and a green light for Canada’s Zenn electric car.

Home Depot Offers Recycling for Compact Fluorescent Bulbs : While mercury levels in modern Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs have been steadily dropping over the past few years, CFLs still require safe disposal. Unfortunately, many areas in which CFLs are sold still lack convenient recycling opportunities. Now Home Depot — one of North America’s largest big-box retailers — has announced an ambitious CFL take-back campaign which may answer some of these concerns. The company announced Tuesday that it will begin accepting old CFL bulbs at all 1,973 U.S. stores, instantly creating the country’s largest take-back program. Home Depot estimates that 75 percent of Americans live within 10 miles of one of their stores. (New York Times)

Biofuels pushing 30 million into poverty — Oxfam: The international aid agency Oxfam says demand for biofuels is driving up food and associated production costs worldwide. In a press release this morning, Oxfam claim that biofuels account for about a third of recent food price increases. Nearly 30 million people are directly effected, mostly in developing nations. Oxfam biofuel policy expert Rob Bailey says world demand for biofuel has driven grain reserves to historic low levels. (Reuters)

Solar Plexus: When, Japan Wonders, Should Clean-Energy Subsidies End?: Japan is among the technology producing companies wondering where the cut-off point might be for alternative energy subsidies. Generous government subsidization of Japan’s solar energy industry turned it into a world sun-power leader. But when legislators eased back on subsidies two years ago, domestic solar industries were quickly overtaken by European and Chinese rivals. Though it would appear that a fresh infusion of government investment might help Japanese solar comapnies catch up, the country’s Finance Ministry is resisting the resumption of subsidies it has only now brought to an end. (WSJ.com)

Dow — Energy Efficiency Not Offsetting Rising Costs of Energy: Dow Chemical Company says its doing all the right things — moving aggressively to improve its company’s energy efficiency. Company Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris says Dow has trimmed its energy use by an impressive 25 percent over the past ten years. But that’s still not enough to pace spiraling energy costs. In a press release yesterday, Dow cites the high cost of power and fuel for another round of price hikes. The company will also idle several plants and impose energy surcharges in an effort to stay ahead of expenses. (Earth2Tech)

Electric vehicles at low speed - the Ministry for Transport launches a pilot project: Employees of Zenn Motor Company have always shared a common frustration: their diminutive “neighborhood electric vehicle” isn’t street legal in most of Canada, where it’s assembled. That may be about to change. The Quebec Transport Ministry has announced a three-year program to test the viability of low-speed vehicles such as the Zenn. The Ministry will study the safety of operating small, low speed cars on public motorways before possibly broadening the project through the province. (Provincial Press Release)

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