Leaf new motor plants

7-20-11: Nissan Americas confirmed that, starting in early 2013, it will produce the electric motor for the Nissan LEAF – the world’s first all-electric, zero-emission vehicle designed for the mass market – at its Decherd, Tenn., powertrain assembly plant. Preparation of the plant for electric motor production, facilitated by U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program loan funds, will include addition of a new assembly line and will create up to 90 new jobs. When the new assembly line is completed, the plant will have the capacity to produce up to 150,000 electric motors annually for Nissan LEAFs, which will be built at the company’s assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn.
Looks like the motor and the batteries are going to be home grown!

http://nissannews.com/newsrelease.do;jsessionid=7CC1099195CEC4DC76D967AF729E29D6?&id=2685&allImage=1&teaser=nissan-picks-decherd-tenn-plant-make-motor-assemblies&mid=1

USGS Rain Garden Study

A five-year study by the U.S. Geological Survey's Wisconsin Water Science Center has confirmed that even simple, residential-style rain gardens can capture nearly 100 percent of stormwater runoff from the roof of an adjacent building, even in thick clay soils. The key in temperate climates is to use native prairie vegetation, the long roots of which can penetrate the silt/clay layer of the subsoil, according to the study.
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First Leaf electric car in Nashville!

Tuesday, Dec 21st, Nissan turned over the keys to the first Tennessee buyer of its new Leaf at a Nashville dealership to become the world's first automaker to introduce a mass-market, highway-capable electric car. The Heeren family of Nashville were the first to receive a Leaf in Tennessee by virtue of being the first to sign up to buy one on a Nissan website in August.
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Keep Williamson Beautiful plans bigger Green Expo

During a Keep Williamson Beautiful committee meeting in November, members decided to switch the August Green Expo from The Factory at Franklin near downtown to the Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Park off Long Lane for more space and cost savings. The Expos has out grown the Factory space and this will save cost since the Expo center is county property.
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GM's Chevy Volt wins Green Car of the Year???

I'm not sure how this happened. The Volt can not go but 40 miles on battery then has to use gas engine. It's more like a regular gasoline driven car with a battery back-up. Looks like the Leaf would have been a better choice. Go figure
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State and Local Agencies Observe America Recycles Day Nov. 15

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the following news release:

America Recycles Day is Monday, Nov. 15, and Tennessee's departments of Environment and Conservation and Transportation are joining local county and city agencies across the state, providing several opportunities for citizens to reduce waste and make a difference.
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TVA wants to use smaller nuclear reactors by 2020

TVA has announced to nuclear regulators they may begin using new and smaller nuclear reactors by 2020. TVA will have to get approval through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This brings up a whole set of issues that need to be discussed: environmental impact of several more power plants on the landscape; is this the direction we need to go or should we be looking at alternative energy?
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