Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced three new large solar power plants in the Mojave Desert, whose open spaces and clear skies have placed it at the center of a renewable energy boom. The three installations, together, will generate enough electricity for more than 375,000 homes. All three will be designed and built by BrightSource Energy Inc. of Oakland, with the first plant starting operation as early as 2011. Dozens of solar projects have been proposed for the Mojave Desert as California tries to fight global warming by expanding the use of renewable energy.

Officials in 18 states are taking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) back to court to try to force it to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that rebuked the Bush administration for inaction on global warming. In a petition prepared for filing Wednesday, the plaintiffs said last April's 5-4 ruling required the EPA to decide whether to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, from motor vehicles. The EPA has instead done nothing, they said.

China recently announced the launch of the China Green Building Council at a conference in Beijing. The public-private partnership will be responsible for, among other things, administering the country's new indigenous green building labeling system. China's government recently mandated the need to reduce pollution and energy consumption, yet China's construction market, which builds nearly half the world's total new buildings every year, is estimated to account for 40 percent of the country's total energy consumption by 2020. The green construction market in China is currently valued at $213.77 billion US.

Becoming a more environmentally conscious business can create an environment that is healthier for employees, and it can also result in considerable savings. The following article details ways for businesses to begin going green in order to save money, including:

• Developing a green strategy
• Implementing a training program for employees and business associates.
• Reducing energy consumption according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system for green buildings.
• Using biodegradable cleaning products

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has forecast Japanese households and businesses will face a bill of US$500 billion over the next decade if it wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 11 percent. Under the Kyoto global warming pact, Japan has agreed to cut greenhouse emissions by 6 percent under 1990 levels by 2012. Japanese industry, meanwhile, will face a bill of $269 billion towards the cost of switching to more energy efficient technology, including the cost of switching to "clean -burning" cars and building nuclear plants. Japan has been at the forefront of a global goal of cutting emissions by 50 percent by the year 2050, on expiry of the present Kyoto Protocol.

Tishman Speyer has secured the rights to develop the coveted Hudson Rail Yards, a 26-acre industrial site along the Hudson River widely viewed as the last great development opportunity on the West Side of Manhattan. Tishman's bid topped $1.004 billion and will construct about 13 million square feet at the site, and will include multiple high-rise office towers and more than 3,000 residential units. About 10 million square feet of office space and more than 500,000 square feet of retail space is also planned, along with a new public school, a cultural center and 13 acres of public space. Roughly 380 units would be developed as affordable housing. Architects are planning the entire project for LEED Gold certification.

Several U.S. firms have adopted internal practices to reduce their carbon footprint by saving energy, reducing paper usage, and engaging in extensive recycling programs. Others, after complying with ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge Waste Wise, Green Power Partnership, Energy Star Programs, and LEED certification are positioning their firms and their environmental and related practice areas strategically in legal markets. The greening of America's law firms has not reached critical mass, but the tipping point may come soon.