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The Buzz
September 20, 2006
During this campaign the buzz word has been technology – “Prop 87 will invest in clean, affordable alternatives to fossil fuels by investing in new and existing industries and technologies that will benefit all Californians.” Today I got a sense of what that could mean. I saw some incredible test vehicles, including a plug-in hybrid, that could mean the end of our dependence on oil. The event today, held by E2 in Palo Alto, it is easy to imagine that one day soon, I could be stuck in traffic on a LA freeway without the hazy exhaust emissions from so many gasoline vehicles.
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Nunez Supports Prop 87
September 19, 2006
Today I had the great privilege of hearing Speaker Nunez speak in support of Prop 87. In my line of work, as a teacher, I have learned that an individual has a stronger voice when it is echoed with a collective coalition. I know that it takes a team of people to protect those whose safety we are entrusted. And with this mentality, I hope the collective voice of voters join together on November 7th to protect and safeguard the environment by passing Proposition 87.
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Keep Tahoe Blue
September 18, 2006
The Lake Tahoe region is world renowned for its majestic beauty, quiet tranquility, and unparalleled recreation. If you are like the many Nor Cal’ers who often find themselves stuck in traffic on the way up the hill to Tahoe on Friday afternoons, you have likely seen countless “Keep Tahoe Blue” stickers on the backs of cars, trucks and SUVs. But do you know what the message on the sticker stands for?
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Quest for Fuel
September 16, 2006
Our Car Tour vehicles were running low on bio-diesel by the time we arrived in Sacramento so we had to call in reinforcements. The below details Dave’s (AKA: Our Knight in Shining Armor) journey from the Bay Area to Sacramento to provide us with precious gallons of biodiesel.
“Seemed like it would be easy -- I looked up a list of biodiesel outlets on the web. I found a place in Martinez that sold B100. So off I went.
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A Well Rounded Diet
September 15, 2006
On the road you realize how much you take for granted having control over what you consume. You’re forced to find something to sustain yourself at roadside rest stops so getting some variety can be a challenge. You could probably eat at a Denny’s every night, but how many Moon Over My Hammies should you really eat? California’s energy portfolio is similar; our diet consists far too much of fossil fuels and not nearly enough of the innovative (but proven) alternatives. The cars that we drive every day are an excellent place to start diversifying.
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Seeing the Air
September 14, 2006
I have lived in California all my life and I've seen my fair share of smog. Today, however, I looked at the air quality with the help of some fellow Californians and even a couple of outside observers.
In the morning we started out in Fresno, discussing Prop 87 with community members concerned with the air quality in the Central Valley. Under a hazy hot sun, they viewed our biodiesel and hybrid vehicles that we are driving up and down the state. Stephanie from the Latino Issues Forum shared her frustration with the pollution that has become a way of life in the Central Valley. Michelle from the American Lung Association noted that the schools here lose a lot of money when children stay home sick with asthma, caused by air pollution.
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The Bio Alternative to Diesel
September 12, 2006
Even though I know it's cleaner, I'm still getting used to the feeling of driving a diesel truck of my own. Since Monday I've been driving a Ford F-350 pickup, the most unassuming member of our Car Tour. What most people don't realize is that any modern diesel engine is capable of running on the cleaner, renewable bio-diesel fuel in my tank right now.
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Riverside Mayor Supports Prop 87
September 12, 2006
Mayor Ron Loveridge today urged Californians to vote Yes on Proposition 87, saying the time for action on cleaner air and cheaper energy is now.
Ron Loveridge has served as Riverside's Mayor since 1994, and was a member of its City Council from 1979 to 1994. He is the Immediate Past President of the League of California Cities and is a member of the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Learning by Fire
September 11, 2006
Today we were diverted on our way from Bakersfield to Riverside due to a fire raging in Angeles National Forest. Ash rained down on us, the air was roiling with smoke, and the sun was a virulent orange in the sky. Even though we had the windows up and the vents blocked, the thick, heavy smell of smoke made it’s way into the car, our noses, and our lungs. It made me realize how much we take the air we breathe for granted. Like frogs -- who don't notice that the water is heating up until it boils -- we only notice a change if it’s sudden and strong. If you take a deep breath and a good look around, you can see the air quality is getting worse everyday… one problem Prop 87 hopes to address.
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Welcome to the Tour!
September 9, 2006
Sick of rising gas prices and poor air quality? So are we.
We are traveling the state in support of Prop 87, the Clean Energy Initiative that will appear on the California statewide November 7, 2006 ballot.
Prop 87 will make oil companies pay their fair share for drilling in California -- just like they do in Alaska, Louisiana, and yes, even Texas.
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