Eco-Portal: An Information Gateway Empowering the Movement for Environmental Sustainability
Earth News
October 15, 2008
- Italy, Poland threaten to veto EU climate change plans
AFP - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi threatened Thursday to torpedo the European Union's climate change plans, branding them too big a burden for business amid the global financial crisis.
- 2 months
source: (Yahoo! Green News) - Musk Takes Over CEO Role at Tesla; Headcount Cuts, Delay on Model S
Elon Musk, chairman of the board and product architect of Tesla Motors, is taking over as CEO of the electric car company. Ze’ev Drori, the now former CEO, will stay on the board of directors as vice-chairman. Musk announced the change in a blog post today.
At Tesla, we have decided that the wise course of action is to focus on our two revenue producing business lines—the Roadster and powertrain sales to other car companies. In the Roadster, Tesla has a unique product with a large order book that continues to grow, despite softness in the automobile sector. Our powertrain business is profitable today and is also growing rapidly.
Our goal as a company is to be cash-flow positive within six to nine months. To do so, we must continue to ramp up our production rate, improve Roadster contribution margin and reduce operating expenses. At the same time, we must maintain high production quality and excellent customer service.
Musk said that Tesla will trim some headcount to help in “raising the performance bar,” as well as from consolidating some operations.
Musk also said that while Tesla is “absolutely committed” to development of the Model S sedan, targeted to be unveiled early next year, the company was reducing activity on detailed production engineering, tooling and commitments to suppliers until a Department of Energy loan guarantee becomes effective.
- 2 monthsThe net result will be a delay in start of production of the Model S of roughly six months to mid-2011. On the plus side, we will spend the extra time refining the vehicle design and powertrain technology, so the car will end up being slightly better.
source: (Green Car Congress) - RealDVD Suit Could Spur Flood of Legal DVD Copies
Hollywood reluctantly tackling question of whether there is a consumer right to copy DVDs. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - How GMAC's Woes Foretell Consumer Pain
The credit freeze is rapidly spreading from banks to consumers. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Hillary Clinton Has Emerged as a Vigorous Obama Booster on Campaign Trail
The New York senator has stumped for Obama in key swing states. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - An Obama Vote Is No Sin for Catholics, Even With His Abortion Views
Voting for pro-choice Democrats is actually the morally preferable thing for pro-lifers. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - The Beige Book's Grim News
Agriculture and natural resources were the bright spots. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Hyundai Heavy Industries enters wind business
The world's largest shipbuilder licenses turbine designs from American Superconductor, with plans to target the U.S. market. - 2 months
source: (Cleantech Group - Latest clean technology news) - Try Out Your Best Sarah Palin
October 21 has been set aside for the International Talk Like Sarah Palin Day. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Reader Comment of the Day
—Gigi White of CA - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Baylor Pays Freshmen to Retake SAT
Critics say the school is trying to boost its ranking unethically. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - McCain's Debate Performance Against Obama Won't Matter
The fates of Obama and McCain are out of their hands at this point. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Thousands of Copies of Student Newspaper Go Missing
UTEP paper is lifted off racks after it hints at homecoming queen's supposed scandalous past. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Christopher Buckley's Obama Embrace—Hope Over Reason
Buckley decries McCain's inauthenticity while hoping Obama matches it. Huh? - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Hard Time on McCain's Air Straight Talk
Those who fly with McCain get cool trinkets. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - With Obama Widening His Lead in the Polls, Insiders Speculate About His Cabinet
Many campaign aides would be up for posts in an Obama White House, along with a few Clinton veterans. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News) - Crisis bodes ill for climate change talks
AP - The global financial crisis could hardly come at a worse time for nations seeking a new agreement on climate change that on top of everything else will cost tens of billions more dollars.
- 2 months
source: (Yahoo! Green News) - 'Grassoline' refinery rising in Tennessee
Tennessee and DuPont Co. broke ground Tuesday on a research refinery designed to turn corn cobs and switchgrass into ethanol and potentially elevate the state into a major player in biofuels.
- 2 months
source: (msnbc.com: Environment) - Sustainable sushi guides released
Mackerel is in but octopus is out. And bluefin tuna, known as the king of sushi for its fatty belly meat, is a definite no-no. - 2 months
source: (msnbc.com: Environment) - Your iPod and BlackBerry Can Hurt Your Health
Several recent reports shed light on health concerns tied to hand-held devices. - 2 months
source: (U.S. News)