SWE - Winter 2008 - (Page 30)

CHARLESTON AREA CVB WWW.CHARLESTONCVB.COM their green stripes. Fortune magazine’s ranking of “Most Accountable Companies,” conducted in partnership with the British-based think tank AccountAbility and corporate social responsibility consultant CSRnetwork, put multinational oil company BP number one on the 2007 list. BP’s commitment to research and development of wind, solar, and carbondioxide sequestration (processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) technologies was cited. Oil and gas producer Eni of Italy scored number three for establishing a sustainability group and reducing its carbon footprint by 21.5 percent. Other major corporations in the top 10 include Royal Dutch Shell, French automaker Peugeot, and oil company Chevron. Another global powerhouse, computer-maker IBM, has started recycling defective Portland, Ore. is the first city in the semiconductor chips so it can United States to deploy a comprehensive send the refined silicon that’s replan to reduce CO2 emissions and is comcovered to manufacturers of monly cited as the “Greenest U.S. City.” It is a photovoltaic solar cells. strong advocate for green-building initiatives Nuclear energy is making a and started a “green” sourcing program in comeback because it doesn’t 2005 for buying and disposing of computers burn off carbon dioxide and has and servers. Portland also runs a system of no carbon emissions, said Paul buses, bike lanes, and light rail, and provides Kostek, vice president for career 92,000 acres of green space, plus hiking, bikactivities for the U.S. division of ing, and running trails. The City of Roses is the Institute of Electrical and now proposing a carbon tax on new housing Electronics Engineers Inc. in that meets only the regular building code. The Washington, D.C. Controversy proposal, to be considered by the City over nuclear-waste disposal is Council, would also require sellers of houses being addressed with new deand commercial buildings to give buyers the signs that aim to lessen its enviresults of energy audits, according to the ronmental impact, he said. Associated Press. In fall 2007, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission received the first full license application for a nuclear power plant in nearly 30 years. NRG Energy Inc. and the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Co. are proposing to build two advanced boiling water reactors in Matagorda County, Texas. The NRC expected to receive as many as four additional applications by the end of 2007, and 17 companies and consortia plan to An increase in public submit applications for more than 30 new reactransit, such as the MAX tors in the future, according to the Nuclear Light Rail System, has contributed to reduced Energy Institute. carbon dioxide emissions On the global scene, Westinghouse and the BIKESTATION® BIKESTATION® PORTLAND OREGON VISITORS ASSOCIATION is one of the first major U.S. cities to claim it has cut greenhouse-gas emissions to such an extent that it now meets the targets of the international Kyoto treaty aimed at combating global warming. Bikestation® is a not-for-profit organization that provides secure bicycle parking, encouraging commuters to combine cycling with public transportation in downtown Seattle and other cities. Seattle Shaw Group plan to build four nuclear plants in China, starting in 2009. Westinghouse also has acquired IST Nuclear, a South African provider of systems for the pebble bed modular reactor. Wind power is also becoming popular. American Electric Power Co. has signed a 75megawatt power-buying agreement for wind power with the Camp Grove Wind Farm being built near Camp Grove, Ill., by Orion Energy LLC. And American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio, is acquiring wind power because of Ohio’s plans to require utilities to get 25 percent of their power needs from renewable and advanced technology sources by 2025. How to Make Green Work for You How can engineering professionals and students take advantage of the greening of America? Michael Jones, president of the bioenergy division of the national search firm The Richmond Group USA, which focuses on engineering positions and grain and oilseed operations, said there is strong demand for chemical, process, and mechanical engineers. Opportunities for Professionals. The good news for engineers with skills that can be applied to growing fields is that most startup companies are looking for experienced engineers, Charleston, S.C. Mayor Joe Riley signed the Cities for Climate Protection agreement in 2005, pledging that by 2012, greenhouse-gas emissions will be reduced to 7 percent below 1990 levels, according to the Post and Courier newspaper. Riley also serves as co-chair of the South Carolina Mayors for Climate and Energy Leadership. The city has set up a parking lot for cyclists and pedestrians so they can access the new Cooper River Bridge, and a committee is working on other green initiatives. Letters and a local bumper-sticker campaign were instrumental in the addition of a pedestrian/bicycle lane to the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, S.C. in Portland, Ore. 30 SWE WINTER 2008 http://WWW.CHARLESTONCVB.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE - Winter 2008

SWE - Winter 2008 Heritage Club President’s Note View from the Executive Suite Editor’s Page Readers’ Forum EWeek 2008 New Faces of Engineering The Leaky Science and Engineering Pipeline Why Do Women Leave the Engineering Work Force? A Greener America = New Growth Fields for Engineers The Off-On Ramp Revolution Recognizing the Historic Contributions of African-Americans Membership Information & Calendar A&B Women in Tune with Technology: SWE 2007 Conference Overview Keynote Address Achievement Award Region, Section, and Collegiate Awards SME Bowl and SWE Anniversaries Engineering World: Point of View: Why I Blog Career Toolbox Book Review SWE Smiles Opportunity Index SWE Scrapbook

SWE - Winter 2008

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