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GreenBits: Briefs for the Week of Aug. 11, 2000

<b>GreenBiz.com's Environmental Business News in Brief:</b> Kinko's Takes to Wind ... Genetically Modified Food Fight ... Foster's Beer Drops Greenhouse Gas Refrigerants ...

Highlights from the world of business and the environment: Kinko’s Takes to Wind ... Genetically Modified Food Fight ... Foster's Beer Drops Greenhouse Gas Refrigerants ...

Kinko’s Looks to Wind Power

NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2000 – Kinko's has announced its intentions to meet 50% of its electrical demand in the state of New York using wind power. Kinko's will buy roughly 4.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity from the 11.5-megawatt Madison Windpower Project, now under construction in central New York State. PG&E Corporation is building the facility with partial funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. According to Larry Rogero, Kinko's environmental manager, Kinko's has previously purchased renewable energy for approximately 90 of its stores in California, Colorado, and Pennsylvania.



U.S. Corn Group Sees Tough Battle with Biotech Foes

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 10, 2000 – Farm groups face a protracted battle against opponents of biotechnology who have labeled the products as "Frankenstein foods," an official of the National Corn Growers Association said yesterday in a Reuters report. Bruce Knight, vice-president of public policy for the association, said in a speech at the 17th annual Sweetener Symposium the success or failure of genetically modified foods and seed products "hinges on the public's dependence on biotech. "We are up against a group of opponents that are lean, mean, well organized and very rapid," he said, alluding to the ability of those who are fighting against GM goods to get on the Internet and spread their message. GM foods have run into a firestorm of controversy, especially in Europe. An American sugar beet farmer said he has decided not to sow GM seeds due to problems with public acceptance of the products. "Our consumers have told us they do not want any GM products. Until this thing is resolved, we cannot use those seeds," he said.



Foster's Beer Commits to Drop Greenhouse Gas Refrigerants

SYDNEY, Australia, Aug. 11, 2000 – Greenpeace has persuaded a second Olympic sponsor to phase out greenhouse gas polluting hydrofluorocarbons from its refrigeration units. Foster's Brewing Company announced Thursday that it will no longer purchase HFC equipment. But the company, whose beers are sold in 121 countries, will use 200 HFC coolers at this September's Olympic Games. In June, also under pressure from Greenpeace, Coca Cola announced it would abandon HFCs from its refrigeration policy. HFCs have been used for refrigeration in place of ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons since CFCs were banned by international agreement. Because HFCs contain no chlorine, they do not contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion, but scientists warn that this class of of heat trapping compounds contributes to global warming.

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