Apple is Worth Almost as Much as ExxonMobil – And That’s Good News For the Planet

via GNN

Apple is the second most valuable private company in the world, but steadily gaining on Exxon Mobil, which is currently worth about $338 billion to Apple’s $300 billion.

This shouldn’t be only of interest to investors. It holds far broader political and cultural significance. It’s not just about value, but values.

There couldn’t be a more stark contrast between the new economy and the old than the comparison of these two companies–a sleek tech giant versus a dirty fossil energy monster.

(READ the analysis in Discovery)

 

A Banner Year for U.S. Wind Power Expansion

Posted by geri via GNN

Friday, 16 April 2010

The U.S. wind energy industry released their annual report last week touting another record year. More than 10,000 MW of new wind power generating capacity came online last year, the largest year in U.S. history, and enough to power the equivalent of 2.4 million homes or generate as much electricity as three large nuclear power plants.

America’s wind power fleet will conserve approximately 20 billion gallons of water annually that would otherwise be lost to evaporation from steam of cooling in conventional power plants. And, it will eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to taking 10.5 million cars off the road.

In state rankings, Iowa leads in terms of percentage of electricity from wind power, getting 14% of its power from the wind, and also leads in highest number of jobs in the manufacturing sector. Texas consolidated its lead in wind capacity and in largest wind farms installed.

Despite the economic downturn, the demand for small wind systems for residential and small business use (rated capacity of 100 kW or less) grew 15% in 2009, adding 20 MW of generating capacity to the nation. Seven small wind turbine manufacturing facilities were opened, announced or expanded in 2009.

All 50 states have jobs in the wind industry, with 85,000 people employed. Ten new wind turbine manufacturing facilities came online in the U.S. last year, 20 were announced, and nine facilities were expanded. 100 companies to manufacture wind components opened, announced or expanded in the past three years (2007- 2009), bringing the total to over 200.

For the unemployed person looking to join the burgeoning field, 205 educational programs now offer a certificate, degree, or coursework related to wind energy, mostly offered by community colleges or technical school programs.

Pending Home Sales Surge 8.2 Percent in February

Posted by geri via GNN

Tuesday, 06 April 2010

The wobbly housing market showed a rare sign of strength in February: pending home sales were up significantly, a report released on Monday said, suggesting that Americans took advantage of a tax credit for home buyers set to expire April 30.

Sales rose 8.2 percent, the National Association of Realtors said. Analysts had expected sales to stay flat.

(READ the report in the New York Times)

Retail Sales Post Strongest Gains Since Late 2007

Posted by geri via GNN

Tuesday, 09 March 2010

Shoppers returned to the nation’s malls last month, buying a surprising amount of spring clothing and other items and helping stores post the strongest retail sales since November 2007, a month before the recession began.

The better-than-expected 3.7 percent gain was reported Thursday.

(READ the AP report at NPR.org)

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More Good News on the Economy, And This Time, Jobs

Posted by geri via GNN

Friday, 05 February 2010

Economists are reacting to the new jobs report saying the fall in the unemployment rate is legitimate good news, while President Obama calls it a “cause for hope.”

“It was not driven, as it sometimes is, by labor force dropouts,” wrote Stephen Stanley, of RBS. “The labor force grew by 360,000 in January while household employment surged by 784,000, more than reversing the big December decline.”

(Read more economists’ opinions on the Jobs report at the Wall Street Journal)

Sales Growth is Back

Make no mistake. The economy does appear to be improving at long last — albeit slowly. Here’s how you can tell. Corporations are finally reporting sales growth, not just better profits juiced by pink slips and other cost cuts. Honest-to-God revenue growth.

On Tuesday, for example, companies in a variety of industries reported that revenues were up at least 10% from a year ago, including Whirlpool, Dow Chemical and Fortune 500 homebuilder, D.R. Horton.

(Read more in CNN-Money)

New GE Renewable Energy Facility Brings 650 New Jobs

650 new jobs were brought to life a year ahead of schedule in Schenectady, NY at the “green ribbon” cutting on General Electric ‘s global headquarters for Renewable Energy. Doors opened on Monday at the state of the art facility, housed in a newly renovated 100 year-old warehouse on GE’s main campus.

Congressman Paul Tonko said, “This is a day of celebration. The winds of change are upon us, whereby we utilize our wind, our soil, our sun and our earth to make a difference to supply the energy needs of this nation and this world.” (CBS, Albany)

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Global Manufacturing Surges Back, Key US Index at Highest Since 2004

Posted by geri via Good News Network

Tuesday, 02 February 2010

Manufacturing activity soared around the world in January, according to surveys released yesterday that will bolster the hopes of a strong global recovery.

In the US, the Institute for Supply Management index – a key measure of industrial activity – rose from 54.9 to 58.4, its highest level since August 2004 and well ahead of economists’ expectations.

The key components of the index – production, employment and new orders – all increased, offering significant assurance that the manufacturing sector is in recovery.

(Continue reading in the Financial Times)

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