Ecorazzi: DiCaprio Brought Solar Power To ‘Inception’ Set

July 22nd, 2010

Ecorazzi is our favorite source for green gossip and information about what the entertainment industry – and its biggest stars – are doing for the environment.

Today, Michael d’Estries posted a story about the worlds’ largest Mobile Solar Power System which was used on Inception – the red hot Warner Bros. film, starring red-hotter Leo DiCaprio and Marion Cottilard.

DiCaprio is as dialed in to environmental issues as almost anyone on the planet.

After a conversation with Warner Bros. President Alan Horn, Leo helped bring Mobile Solar Power front and center in powering the base camp of Inception when it was shooting in LA late last summer. Read the post here.

Homeless teens check out Pure Power at Warner Bros.

July 20th, 2010

Last month a group of homeless teens who live at an LA Family Housing family shelter were introduced to Pure Power and the world’s most powerful Mobile Solar Power System. It was one of those moments where, one hopes, the concept of renewable energy was made real in young people’s lives.

The visit was part of “Hollywood 101″, a 10-week course I developed specially for LA Family Housing to introduce middle and high school kids to potential careers in Hollywood. On their field trip to Warner Bros., the kids were able to meet and talk with Jonny Romano, Manager of Sustainable Production, who told them about the many things Warner Bros. is doing to reduce the environmental impact of its feature films.

You might think that would have been “less than interesting” to a group of homeless teens, but it’s times like these when one realizes that kids this age are the hope for the planet.

One might think that these kids had every reason not to care about externalities like recycling and climate change – they’ve got more pressing concerns, right? – But they get this stuff intuitively and they act on it. They get recycling, they get “carbon neutrality”, and they get solar power. When Romano was speaking, you could have heard a pin drop (and since the “48″ was running and not a diesel generator, you really could have heard it…)

Pure Power’s Mark Garrett was incredibly generous with his time, and spent over an hour sharing his knowledge and life experience with the kids. One said, “Man, I want to do what he does. That looks so cool!”

Mark Garrett

Seeing the one-of-a-kind 48-foot Solar System powering the base camp of the new Steve Carrell production, on the lot at Warner Bros., was a special experience for these kids, who have so many challenges. Warner does a lot in this community, and here was a great example.

Pure Power favorite Solar Movies

July 20th, 2010

Pure Power has just completed providing solar power on our FIFTH FEATURE FILM for a major Hollywood studio, and before we start on number 5 and beyond, we’d like to review our favorite feature films that have used renewable energy as part of the power mix. Today’s Pure Power Solar Film pick is JONAH HEX.

Based on the DC Comics classic, starring Josh Brolin as Johan Hex, “a scarred drifter and bounty hunter of last resort who can track anyone… and anything.” Highly stylized with lots of fast-action, this film also featured Megan Fox, John Malkovich and Michael Fassbender.

Pure Power’s role with this film was to provide a portion of the base camp’s power requirements. We developed an advanced Mobile Solar Power System (for its time), the S10, built a pair and delivered them to New Orleans. It was the second time, to our knowledge, that Mobile Solar Power had be brought to a feature film set.

Coming soon: Pure Power’s first feature film project.

NY Times: Does Middle East Oil Get a Carbon Subsidy?

July 20th, 2010

From this morning’s (July 19) New York Times “Green: A Blog about Energy and the Environment”: “Now, two professors at the University of Nebraska counter that gasoline is an even bigger source of heat-trapping gases than previously believed. While most attention focuses on the obvious sources of gasoline-related emissions — drilling wells, transporting oil, refining it into gasoline and finally burning it in a car engine — they argue that the military activity that goes into protecting and acquiring oil imports from the Middle East takes an emissions toll that doesn’t get factored into comparisons of gasoline and ethanol.”

This writer certainly could have chosen any form of cleaner-than-fossil fuel energy to highlight the dangers of our dependence on foreign oil – this time it was ethanol. Read the entire article here.

Pure Power for Tesla

July 19th, 2010

Mobile Solar Power System… Mobile Solar Power System… Mobile Solar Charging Station!

Pure Power for Tesla

We’ve been saying for a long time that there’s a natural synergy with electric or hybrid vehicles and our Mobile Solar Power System.

Last month we were proud to have provided Systems to recharge 15 Plug-In Prius(R) at a Toyota event in Orange County, California.

Here, we provided a System that’s charging Tesla’s in Seattle.

This is just one of the myriad ways users are deploying Mobile Solar Power Systems today.

Next up: the Mobile Solar Microgrid.

Pure Power Play of the Day (Grand Slam)

July 11th, 2010

Pure Power Distribution provides pure clean power for commercial uses such as the 2010 ESPY Awards (more on that tomorrow).

Every baseball-playing boy’s back yard dream was realized by Jose Lopez last night as he blasted a grand slam in the bottom of the 8th to beat the red-hot Yankees 4-1.

At home.

Breaking the Yankees 7-game win streak.

“Lopez steps to the plate, facing Chamberlain. bases loaded. Bottom of the eight. Yankees lead 1-0. A hit could tie the game, but Lopez…goes…yard…!

And that’s the Pure Power Play of the Day.

Pure Power Play of the Day (World Cup Soccer)

July 10th, 2010

Pure Power Distribution provides pure clean power for commercial uses such as the 2010 ESPY Awards (more on that soon).

Today’s Pure Power Play of the Day comes from the World Cup third-place game. Diego Forlan’s volley in the second half left the German keeper unable to move off his line and gave Uruguay a 2-1 lead against the high-scoring German squad.

Forlan almost equaled that gorgeous goal in the final seconds, but his topspin free kick hit the crossbar and bounded out. Germany wins 3-2, but Forlan gets the Pure Power Play of the Day.

Southern California Edison and WBC Enterprises to Join in Community Outreach Effort at Local Church

July 1st, 2010

RIVERSIDE, Calif., June 10, 2010 — Southern California Edison (SCE) and Whitlock Ballton Chaplan (WBC) Enterprises, a faith-based organization, will host an outreach effort on Saturday at a local church to help SCE customers learn about ways to lower their electric bills and improve their chances of getting a job.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., information on discounts for qualifying customers and energy-efficiency programs will be provided at Life Church of God in Christ, 3349 Rubidoux Blvd.  There also will be workshops on supplier-diversity opportunities, résumé writing and job interviewing skills.

“We’re committed to helping our customers save energy and money, especially with so many families facing financial challenges,” said John R. Fielder, president of SCE. “Plans are under way to hold quarterly outreach events like this throughout the remainder of the year in other communities we serve.”

WBC, which is led by Mark Whitlock, pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine, comprises church and community leaders whose mission is to economically empower impoverished communities by partnering with the public and private sectors.

“We encourage everyone to get information on lowering their electric bill through available opportunities,” said Whitlock. “In these tough economic times, it’s a shame to miss any chance to save some money or get a tip on something that could lead to getting a job.

Ron Gibson, pastor of the Life Church of God in Christ, said, “It’s important to hold events like this that bring resources and information to the community.”

About Southern California Edison

An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of more than 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

Norris Lozano in Palo Alto as panelist on Financing Solar Energy

July 1st, 2010

Norris Lozano, CEO of Pure Power Distribution, presented his insights on financing solar energy projects using State Incentives at the Institute for Professional Executive Development “Financing Solar Energy” Conference. The conference was held in Palo Alto June 17th and 18th.

IPED was founded in 1975 to provide on-site and online instruction-based educational seminars, and has emerged as one of the leading organizations for national audiences of professional executives. IPED is committed to promoting affordable housing and community development throughout the United States, and to educate industry participants these areas.

Lozano’s panel included top industry executives from the accounting and legal professions discussing the challenges and opportunities of financing renewable energy projects by structuring state incentives with federal subsidy, utility rebates and private equity and debt. Over the past 5 years Lozano has led teams that have provided key financing for over $1.1 billion in tax credit transactions, including groundbreaking projects combining New Markets Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, Business Energy Tax Credits, Tax Increment Financing and private funding to provide triple bottom line returns. As CEO of Pure Power, Lozano closed the first Mobile Solar Power investment fund in the US in 30 days.

Mother Nature Networks salutes the World’s Largest Mobile Solar Power System

July 1st, 2010

Check out the article here