Thursday, January 31, 2013

Sabrina Carpenter Lands Role In Disney's "Girl Meets World"

RCN America has just heard that Sabrina Carpenter who we featured early in 2012 has landed a role in Disney's "Girl Meets World". Sabrina will star as Maya Fox, the best friend of Cory and Topanga’s tween daughter, Riley Matthews played by Rowan Blanchard.

According to sources, Disney execs were first impressed by Carpenter when she was cast in the ill-fated Disney XD pilot, Gulliver Quinn, with Jon Heder. Disney later hired her as the voice of a princess in the animated Disney Junior hit Sofia The First.

Carpenter will next be seen as the tween version of Becki Newton’s character, Chloe, in the Fox comedy The Goodwin Games.

Girl Meets World, a spin-off of the insanely popular ’90s sitcom Boy Meets World, is set to begin production next month with Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel reprising their roles of Cory and Topanga. Boy Meets World creator Michael Jacobs is back as exec producer of the offshoot.

We here at RCN America are excited about Sabrina Carpenters new role in Disney's "Girl Meets World". Sabrina congratulations on your new role and many more to come.

About Sabrina Carpenter:

Actor Spotlight: Amandla Stenberg Rising Star

Amandla Stenberg is a 14 year old Actress from Los Angeles, California who stars in the movie series "The Hunger Games as Rue. Named for the Zulu word for power, Amandla Stenberg is a force to be reckoned with. Born on October 23, 1998, she landed the first of her Disney catalog modeling shoots when she was four years old. Amandla has shot numerous national spots, most notably for McDonald's with Ronald McDonald himself, for Walmart with DJ Tony of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (LeVar Burton aka Kunta Kinte directed), and for BuildThe Dream.org. This moving, Boeing-sponsored PSA, which raised funds for a national memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., premiered during the weekend of President Obama's inauguration in January 2009 on "Meet the Press" and other NBC/MSNBC programs.
On October 16, 2011, Amandla was invited by the MLK Memorial Foundation, along with such luminaries as Jesse Jackson, Tommy Hilfiger, Dan Rather, Stevie Wonder and Nikki Giovanni, to participate in the memorial's dedication ceremony. After an introduction by actress Cicely Tyson, Amandla paid tribute to the four little girls who were killed in the Birmingham church bombing.

In addition to on-camera jobs, Amandla has put her sensitive ear to work in ADR gigs for both film and television, and as a musician. She plays the violin, drums and guitar. In 2009, Amandla performed the violin with the Los Angeles Unified School District's Honors Orchestra at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex. Her involvement with the Rock STAR Music Education program landed her gigs at the House of Blues and the Hard Rock Cafe, as well as a studio session with producer/engineer Gerry Brown, after her band won RockSTAR's Battle of the Bands.

In the summer and fall of 2010, the actress shot her first feature, "Colombiana," an action-thriller starring Zoe Saldana whose character, Cataleya Restrepo, Amandla plays as a child. Amandla opens the movie, setting the stage for Saldana's cold-blooded assassin. The Luc Besson vehicle is quintessential Besson, featuring lots of daring stunts, some of which Amandla performed herself. On set to help Amandla hone her natural athletic abilities was David Belle, the French-born creator of Parkour. Next up for Amandla came the Hallmark Channel movie "A Taste of Romance," which she filmed in Los Angeles in February 2011.

In April 2011, Lionsgate announced that Amandla had landed the coveted role of Rue in the screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' popular young adult series, The Hunger Games. The news was greeted with overwhelming support by fans, and the highly anticipated film opened in theaters on March 23, 2012, to much acclaim and big box

Chloë Grace Moretz Covers Teen Vogue March Issue

Chloe Grace Moretz
Actress Chloe Grace Moretz is Teen Vogue March Issue cover girl. Chloe looks beautiful on cover of the March Issue of Teen Vogue magazine. Lets look at her outtakes from her shoot with Teen Vogue magazine. Outtake photographs are credited and by TeenVogue.com. Make sure to pick up your copy of Teen Vogue's March Issue.
Chloe Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz
Chloe Grace Moretz
About Chloe Grace Moretz:

Sloth Bear Cub Born At National Zoo


Sloth Bear in the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. Photo By Asiir
SLOTH BEAR CUB BORN
Our sloth bear Hana gave birth to one cub on December 19, 2012.

National Zoo’s Sloth Bear Gives Birth to a Cub

The female sloth bear at the Smithsonian's National Zoo gave birth to a single cub on Monday, Jan. 9. The cub was born in an inside den at the National Zoo's sloth bear exhibit.

National Zoo staff are monitoring the cub and its 11-year-old mother, “Hana,” via a camera mounted in their den, but Zoo veterinarians and keepers will not examine the cub for at least several weeks. They do not want to disturb the mother and cub during the critical first few weeks of the cub’s life to allow them time to bond. Zoo staff also hope to determine the cub’s gender at that time.

This is the third cub for Hana; she gave birth to two cubs in December 2004, but both cubs died within four days of being born. At birth, sloth bear cubs are very small, fragile, and dependent on maternal care. They are known to stay in their dens until they are two or three months old, and will stay with their mother for two or three years. Female bears are known to carry their young on their backs with the cubs holding on to the mother's long shaggy fur.
Young bear cub on mother.  Photo By L. Shyamal


No photographs or video of the cub are available. The cub's father, 24-year-old “Merlin,” may still be seen at the Zoo's sloth bear exhibit near the sea lion exhibit.

When Asia Trail opens this fall, sloth bears will be the very first animals Zoo visitors see when entering the main gates on Connecticut Avenue. They are one of seven species to be exhibited on the Zoo's Asia Trail, which will also include clouded leopards, Asian small-clawed otters and giant pandas. Asia Trail is scheduled to open in October.


Sloth bears are native to the tropical deciduous forests of India and Sri Lanka, with no solid estimate of how many remain in the wild. Sloth bears usually mate in early summer and females give birth six to seven months later. It is unknown how long sloth bears live in the wild, but these bears have lived up to 40 years in zoos. They are listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.


JANUARY 19, 2013
Time flies: Our sloth bear cub is one month old today! Hana continues to be very attentive to him or her, and keepers are still monitoring the pair closely through their closed-circuit cam. Because the cub’s dark hair is growing quickly, it’s getting tougher to spot. (If it turns just so, the white patch of fur on its chest gives its location away!)

Even if keepers can’t always see the cub nursing, they can hear that distinctive suckling sound as well as some typical squeaks and squawks. On occasion, they spot Hana and cub pawing at each other as though they are playing! Exercising those limbs is important, and the cub is almost on the go! It can push itself up using it’s front legs, but it has not yet mastered using its back legs. It will be another few weeks before it’s fully crawling and climbing aboard mom’s back.

DECEMBER 21, 2012
Forget two turtle doves—we’ve got two bearing bears! Our 18-year-old sloth bear Hana gave birth to a single cub around 8:30 a.m. on December 19, 2012—which happens to be her birthday, too! Animal care staff are keeping a close watch on the cub through a closed-circuit TV camera, and it appears both bears are doing great. Mom is very attentive, and the cub has successfully nursed. If the cub thrives, it will be a few months before it goes on exhibit. On warm winter days, Zoo visitors can watch the cub’s father, Francois, sunning himself on Asia Trail.


JANUARY 30, 2013
Hana and the cub continue to do well! Keepers are seeing the cub sit up more but it still hasn’t tried to climb onto Hana’s back. Hana leaves the den more frequently and eats small snacks on a daily basis, but she still spends the majority of her time in the den with the cub. We occasionally see Hana sitting next to the cub or going into the tunnel connecting the den to her outer enclosure, coming back to nuzzle the cub briefly, and then repeating. We wonder if she’s teaching that it’s okay when mom leaves because she’ll always come back? The cub is certainly becoming calmer when she leaves the den and not screaming at the top of its lungs like it did during those first few weeks!


Disheveled in appearance, the sloth bear leads a reclusive life in India's forests, noisily seeking out insects and fruits.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Sloth bears have shaggy, dusty-black coats, pale, short-haired muzzles, and long, curved claws that they use to excavate ants and termites. A cream-colored "V" or "Y" usually marks their chests. Sloth bears' nostrils can close, protecting the animals from dust or insects when raiding termite nests or bee hives. A gap in their teeth enables them to suck up ants, termites, and other insects.
SIZE:
Sloth bears grow five to six feet long, stand two to three feet high at the shoulder, and weigh from 120 (in lighter females) to 310 pounds (in heavy males).
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION:
Most sloth bears live in India and Sri Lanka; others live in southern Nepal, and they have been reported in Bhutan and Bangladesh.
STATUS:
The sloth bear is listed as vulnerable on the World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Animals.
HABITAT:
Sloth bears live in a variety of dry and wet forests, and also in some grasslands, where boulders and scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter.





The President's Schedule Today


President Barack Obama greets former Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, in the Oval Office after they testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence, Jan. 30, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
10:00 AM
The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
1:00 PM
The Vice President attends the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Lunch
U.S. Capitol

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney

Lighthouses of California: Oakland Harbor Light




OAKLAND HARBOR LIGHT

State: CALIFORNIA
Location: RELOCATED FROM OAKLAND HARBOR ENTRANCE
Nearest City: OAKLAND
County: ALAMEDA
U.S.C.G. District: 11
Year Station Established: 1890


NPS photo by Ralph Eshelman, 1996
Existing Historic Tower:
Year Light First Lit: 1903
Is the Light Operational? NO
Date Deactivated: 1966
Automated:
Foundation Materials: CONCRETE PILINGS
Construction Materials: WOOD
Markings/Patterns:
Shape: SQUARE WITHOUT LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height:
Original Optic: FIFTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
Present Optic: REMOVED
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane:
Fresnel Lens Disposition:
Has tower been moved? YES
Previous Tower(s):
1. Construction Date:
Description:
Fate/Disposition:
Modern Tower? NO

Beauty and the Beast: "On Thin Ice" Premieres Tonight January 31st

Fans of The CW series Beauty and the Beast will be able to enjoy an all new episode tonight at 9pm entitled "On Thin Ice". In tonight's all new episode Vincent's Identity is threatened, Vincent (Jay Ryan) is torn between his new feelings for Cat (Kristin Kreuk) and his old memories with Alex (guest star Bridget Regan). J.T. (Austin Basis) learns that Evan (Max Brown) is planning to propose a task force to catch the beast and must figure out how to stop him. Meanwhile, Tess (Nina Lisandrello) investigates the mysterious skydiving death of the wife of a billionaire adventurer, while Cat remains off duty until she recovers from being shot. Also starring Brian White. Mike Rohl directed the episode written by Blair Singer.

This CW series stars Kristin Kreuk as Catherine, Jay Ryan as Vincent, Max Brown as Evan, Nina Lisandrello as Tess, Nicole Gale Anderson as Heather, Austin Basis as J.T., and Brian White as Joe.

Photographs in this article are credited and by The CW.

This Week in Naval History



1 Feb 1942: USS Enterprise and USS Yorktown activity
On 1 February 1942, USS Enterprise (CV 6) and USS Yorktown (CV 5) made the first WWII air strike against the Japanese outposts in the Marshall Islands to protect the Trans-Pacific supply route to Australia. To read more about USS Yorktown, please click here: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-xz/cv5.htm To read more about USS Enterprise, please click here: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-e/cv6.htm

2 Feb 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
On 2 February 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War. Ratified by the Senate in March, it provided the U.S. boundary be set at the Rio Grande in Texas and the title of New Mexico and Upper California be transferred. In exchange, Mexico received fifteen million dollars in compensation for the territory and the U.S. agreed to assume claims from private citizens of these areas against the Mexican government. To read the treaty from the National Archives website, please click here: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=26&page=transcript

3 Feb 1863: USS Sonoma captured British runner Springbok
On 3 February 1863, during the Civil War, the "double-ender" side wheel steam gunboat Sonoma, commanded by Commander Stevens, captured the blockade running British bark Springbok off the Bahamas. To read more about USS Sonoma, please click here: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/sonoma.htm

4 Feb 1779: John Paul Jones took command of Bonhomme Richard
On 4 February 1779, John Paul Jones took command of Bonhomme Richard (formerly Duc de Duras), which was given by King Louis XVI of France. Jones renamed Bonhomme Richard to honor Benjamin Franklin, the American Commissioner at Paris whose famous almanacs had been published in France under the title Les Maximes du Bonhomme Richard. To read more about USS Bonhomme Richard, please click here: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b8/bonhomme_richard-i.htm

5 Feb 1971: Apollo 14 mission
On 5 February 1971, Capt Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Apollo 14 Commander, and Cdr Edgar D. Mitchell, Lunar Module Pilot became the 5th and 6th human to walk on the Moon. During the 9 day mission, 94 lbs of lunar material was collected and Shepard became the first person to hit a golf ball on the moon. Recovery was by helicopter from USS New Orleans (LPH-11). To read indepth about Apollo 14, please click here for the Smithsonian website: http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/imagery/apollo/AS14/a14.htm

6 Feb 1862: US Navy forces capture Fort Henry
On 6 February 1862, during the Civil War, Naval forces, under Flag Officer A. H. Foote, captured strategic Fort Henry on the Tennessee River. This breached the Confederate line and opened the flood gates for the flow of Union power deep into the South. Vessels included: Union gunboat squadron – USS Essex, USS Carondelet, USS Cincinnati, St. Louis, and wooden gunboats USS Tyler, USS Conestoga, and USS Lexington. To read the Navy Civil War Chronology from 1862, please click here: http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/civilwar.htm#1862



Yosemite Today

Yosemite, the high Sierras and the Yosemite Valley at 7:41 this morning.

Yosemite Weather Today: Sunny, with a high near 48. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the morning.
Tonight Clear, with a low around 23. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the evening.


The Vampire Diaries: "A View To A Kill" Premieres Tonight January 31st

Tonight fans of The CW series "The Vampire Diaries" will be able to watch an all new episode at 8pm entitled "A View To A Kill". In this latest episode on "The Vampire Diaries", When Rebekah turns down Klaus’ plea to stop Kol and protect Jeremy, Klaus turns to Stefan for help. After an angry confrontation with her father, Mayor Hopkins (guest star Rick Worthy), over his unconventional approach to ending the violence in Mystic Falls, Bonnie has a frightening run-in with Kol, followed by an unexpected visitor. Klaus complicates the already tense feelings between Stefan and Damon by revealing a bit of Stefan’s personal life, then surprises Damon by asking for personal advice. Elena tells Stefan about her dangerous plan for Jeremy, leaving Stefan in a difficult spot. When the high school’s 1980s Decade Dance is cancelled by Mayor Hopkins, Stefan finds a charming way to make it up to a disappointed Rebekah. Brad Turner directed the episode written by Rebecca Sonnenshine.
This CW series stars Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, Ian Somerhalder as

DEPARTMENT OF STATE PUBLIC SCHEDULE THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013


DEPARTMENT OF STATE
PUBLIC SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

SECRETARY HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
9:15 a.m. Secretary Clinton meets with the assistant secretaries, at the Department of State.
9:30 a.m. Secretary Clinton attends a reception honoring the Department of State’s Public/Private Partnerships, at the Department of State. 
10:45 a.m. Secretary Clinton hosts the award presentation of the Holbrooke Award and Heroism Awards, at the Department of State.
2:00 p.m. Secretary Clinton delivers remarks on American Leadership, at the Council on Foreign Relations. Secretary Clinton’s remarks will be streamed live on www.state.gov
DEPUTY SECRETARY BILL BURNS
11:00 a.m. Deputy Secretary Burns meets with Ambassador of Qatar to the U.S. Mohamed Bin Abdulla Al-Rumaihi, at the Department of State.

DEPUTY SECRETARY TOM NIDES
3:00 p.m. Deputy Secretary Nides meets with General Lloyd Austin, at the Department of State.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT ROBERT HORMATS
Under Secretary Hormats is on foreign travel to Agra and New Delhi, India from January 26 through 31. Under Secretary Hormats’ visit to India will highlight our efforts to expand and enhance the U.S.-India economic relationship, U.S. support for broader regional economic cooperation, and our engagement with India on environmental and conservation issues. Please click here for more information.
9:30 a.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Tarun Das, Chief Mentor of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in New Delhi, India.
11:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats holds a discussion of HFCs with MOEF Special Secretary Mira Mehrishi and other stakeholders, in New Delhi, India.
1:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats delivers remarks at Ministerial Session 1: Ensuring Energy, Water and Food Security at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, in New Delhi, India.
3:00 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Ministry of Environment and Forests Secretary Shri V. Rajagopalan, in New Delhi, India.
4:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats meets with Agriculture Ministry Secretary Ashish Bahuguna, in New Delhi, India.
6:30 p.m. LOCAL Under Secretary Hormats participates in a AmCham Roundtable discussion, in New Delhi, India.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE7:30 a.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine hosts a CO.NX digital video conference with embassies in South Central Asia, at the Department of State.
2:00 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine meets with the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba, at the Department of State.
3:00 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine attends a meeting at the White House.
5:00 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine delivers remarks on Public Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in 2013: The View from State, at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. Please click here for more information.

ACTING UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ROSE GOTTEMOELLER
10:15 a.m. Acting Under Secretary Gottemoeller attends the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Strategic Forum, in Washington, DC.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS ESTHER BRIMMER
11:00 a.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer attends the swearing in of the new Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr. Carissa Etienne, at PAHO Headquarters.

2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Brimmer attends Secretary Clinton’s remarks on American Leadership, at the Council on Foreign Relations.  Secretary Clinton’s remarks will be streamed live onwww.state.gov

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONFLICT AND STABILIZATION OPERATIONS FREDERICK BARTON
Assistant Secretary Barton is on foreign travel from January 28 through February 1 to participate in the Development and Cooperation-EuropeAid, the European External Action Service, and NATO meetings in Brussels. Assistant Secretary Barton will co-host the Stabilization Leaders Forum with Lindy Cameron, the Director of the UK’s Stabilisation Unit.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND NONPROLIFERATION TOM COUNTRYMAN

4:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Countryman meets with Westinghouse Senior Vice President for Nuclear Power Plant Business and Project Development Sandy Rupprecht, at the Department of State.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS JOSE FERNANDEZ

1:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Fernandez participates in a Live at State virtual press conference highlighting the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship, at the Department of State.
2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Fernandez participates in a roundtable discussion with the diplomatic corps from Central America and the Caribbean, at the Department of State.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS ROBERTA JACOBSON2:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Jacobson meets with Ali Moshiri, Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production, at the Department of State.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY ANN STOCK

12:30 p.m. Assistant Secretary Stock delivers remarks to welcome Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program Participants, at L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, in Washington, DC.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE STEPHEN RAPP, OFFICE OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Ambassador Rapp is on foreign travel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend official meetings regarding global criminal justice issues.

AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR GLOBAL WOMEN’S ISSUES MELANNE VERVEER10:00 a.m. Ambassador Verveer joins Secretary Clinton at a reception honoring the Department of State’s Public/Private Partnerships, at the Department of State. 

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS KRIS BALDERSTON10:00 a.m. Special Representative Balderston delivers remarks at a reception honoring the Department of State’s Public/Private Partnerships, at the Department of State.

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GLOBAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS RETA JO LEWIS
Special Representative Lewis is on foreign travel in Paris, France through February 1, where she will promote subnational engagement at the Global Conference on Local Elected Women.
11:00 a.m. LOCAL Special Representative Lewis speaks about sub-national engagement during the Roundtable on Participation of Women in Decision Making, at the Global Conference of Elected Women, in Paris, France.


A Record Year for the American Wind Industry

Photo By Doug Mills RCN America Network
Heather Zichal
Heather Zichal
Since taking office, President Obama has been focused on building an energy economy in the United States that is cleaner as well as more efficient and secure. As part of that effort, the Administration has taken historic action over the past few years to support the development and deployment of renewable energy that will create new jobs and jumpstart new industries in America. And we are making significant progress towards those goals.
Today, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has released its Fourth Quarter Market Report for 2012, which highlights a number of exciting milestones.
The American wind industry had its best year ever in 2012, with more than 13,000 MW installed. In the fourth quarter alone, more than 8,000 MW were deployed – an all-time record for the industry and twice as much wind as the previous record set in the fourth quarter 2009.
Thanks to this growth, the wind industry was able to achieve another milestone in 2012: achieving 60 GW of cumulative wind capacity in the United States. To put it another way, the United States today has more than 45,000 wind turbines that provide enough electricity to power 14.7 million homes – roughly equivalent to the number of homes in Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, and Ohio combined.
To underscore how quickly wind power is taking root in America, consider this: it took 25 years to reach 10 GW, which occurred in 2006. But it only took four years to grow from 20 GW (2008) to 60GW (2012). And last year – for the first time ever – wind power provided the largest share of new electric capacity (42%) in the United States. Of course, more wind also means less carbon pollution that contributes to climate change. With 60 GW installed, it’s like taking 17.5 million cars off the road.
All of this progress builds on the encouraging trends in renewable energy over the past few years. Since 2008, the U.S. has doubled renewable generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources, and America is now home to some of the largest wind and solar farms in the world. Wind power currently contributes more than 10% of total electricity generation in six states, with two of these states above 20%. And nearly seventy percent of the equipment installed at U.S. wind farms last year – including wind turbines and components like towers, blades, gears, and generators – was made here in the United States, up from just 35 percent in 2005.
This is what we can achieve when we commit ourselves to smart and effective policies that promote clean energy technologies, create jobs, and grow our economy. That’s why, in addition to making the largest investments in clean energy in American history, President Obama fought for – and secured – an extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC). If the PTC had expired at the end of last year, it would have landed a punishing blow to the domestic wind industry resulting in layoffs for tens of thousands of American workers.
But the President refused to let that happen. So instead of layoffs, we are hearing stories from wind companies all across the country – from Iowa Colorado, to Ohio and Illinois – that are retaining and re-hiring workers. Instead of moving business overseas, these companies are investing in the next generation of American-made wind technology and are poised for additional growth in the years ahead.



The MaineSail Journal: "All Hands On Deck"

"All Hands On Deck"  By Doug Mills
All hands on deck as the Lewis R French sets sail for The Great Schooner Race.