GREEN ISSUES
30 Jan 08. Raytheon Company was recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its leading green power purchase and for its support and participation in the agency’s Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge. Raytheon purchased more than 2.5 million kilowatt hours of green power, which is enough to meet 10 percent of the Aurora’s facility’s purchased electricity use. The green power used by Raytheon is wind generated and is being supplied by Xcel Energy. “By adding green power consumption, Raytheon dramatically demonstrates its proactive choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner, renewable energy alternatives,” said Michael D. Keebaugh, president of Raytheon’s Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) business. “If other businesses decide to enact similar green practices, we can contribute to increasing Colorado’s green footprint.” “EPA applauds our Fortune 500 partners for protecting our environment by purchasing green power,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “By voluntarily shifting to renewable energy, Raytheon’s Aurora, Colo., facility is proving you don’t need to wait for a signal in order to go green.”
01 Feb 08. On Friday, February 1st, 2008, the Airbus A380 launched the company’s alternative fuel research programme by becoming the first commercial aircraft to fly with a synthetic liquid fuel processed from gas (Gas to Liquids – GTL) in a three hour flight between Filton, UK and Toulouse, France. The A380, today’s most fuel efficient airliner, is powered by Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines, while Shell International Petroleum is providing the Shell GTL Jet Fuel. The Airbus tests are running in parallel to the agreement signed in November 2007 with Qatar Airways, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Fuels, Qatar Science & Technology Park, Rolls Royce and Shell International Petroleum Company to research the potential benefits of synthetic jet fuel processed from gas. The findings of the tests will benefit the consortium’s research.