Plug-in Prius; Plastic Wrap from CO2; Geothermal waste into lithium; Green roofs suck CO2; “Smart” grid utility problems

Toyota aiming for a plug-in Prius in 2 years Toyota Motor said Monday that it plans to begin commercial sales of its first plug-in hybrid vehicle in about two years, aiming to meet growing demand for fuel-efficient cars. Good, can’t wait!

Kodak to Help to Make Plastic Wrap From CO2 Although it’s made partly from carbon dioxide, Novomer says that its plastic wrap will be better for food. The company’s polypropylene carbonate (PPC) – which consists of 50 percent fossil fuels and 50 percent carbon dioxide – provides a better barrier against oxygen than traditional PPC.

Geothermal waste water could be domestic lithium source Unlike wind and solar, geothermal tends to be a lot more consistent than the sun or flow of air. It now looks like geothermal power could have another potential benefit: waste water from at least one geothermal plant in central California is rich in lithium.

Green Roofs Suck CO2 There is a lot to like about green roofs; they help keep cities cool, create habitat for birds and insects, provide wonderful amenities and just look so good on google earth. But do they actually sequester any CO2?

‘Smart’ Electric Utility Meters Prompts Revolt Some consumers argue that the meters are logging far more kilowatt hours than they believe they are using. And many find it unfair that they will begin to pay immediately for the new meters through higher rates, when the promised savings could be years away.