California

Electric vehicle charging stations

Electric Vehicle Charging Station This is a an addendum to the blog that I did on the Green Car Challenge. California has plans for the world’s first solar-powered, fast-charging, electric car charging corridor. Well done California, they seem to be moving ahead with renewable transportation, solar power and zero emissions. It seems that Solar City and Rabobank are going to be teaming up to create a carbon-free trip for those who own electric vehicles along Highway 101 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, (this is approximately 400 miles.) This means one can now commute long-distances, and use these EV (electric vehicle) charging stations like gas stations. SolarCity will build four Tesla fast-charging stations at Salinas, Atascadero, Santa Maria and Goleta. These four charging stations will provide a full charge in one-third the amount of time of other stations. The hope is that after focusing on cars produced at Telsa Motors, they plan to retrofit these to fit all electric vehicles, eventually making all the stations solar-powered. So with an eye to zero emissions, faster charging times, renewable transportation and wonderful scenery what more could one want?

Julie Andrews and Libraries

You may know Julie Andrews as the star of Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and The Princess Diaries, but I was quite excited to learn that she’s also an enthusiastic supporter of public libraries! She wrote an editorial in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times, criticizing budget cuts. I’ve visited some California public libraries (and in fact have a Palos Verdes Peninsula library card) but am not that familiar with LA libraries. Have any of you visited any? And what do you think of her editorial?