Business & Finance

The sleepy East Bay suburbs of Newark, Union City, Castro Valley and Fremont may seem like an unlikely locale for the latest battleground between public transit operators and ride-booking services, such as Uber and Lyft. But it’s here that AC Transit, which operates buses in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, is going bumper-to-bumper with the tech darlings, offering a competing service that blends on-demand rides with traditional bus routes. And, the agency says, it may just be working.

China’s dominance in wind, solar, and hydro energy is growing as the U.S. is falling behind, experts have said.

Approximately 95 percent of global fishing is conducted in small-scale boats, often unequipped with AIS (Automated Identification System) technology. As a result, most small-scale fishing activity goes untracked. Transparency in fishing behavior provides both benefits to the environment and economic advantages for fishermen and communities that depend on fish resources.

The Vermont Green Business Program (VT GBP) is an environmental assistance and recognition program for businesses in the Green Mountain State that support sustainable business practices. It is administered by the Vermont Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). VT GBP is a no-cost, voluntary program that promotes improved environmental and economic performance and enhances public recognition for environmental excellence of Vermont businesses.

Where Food Comes From Inc. (d.b.a. IMI Global, Inc.) (OTCQB: WFCF), the largest independent verifier of food production practices in North America, is acquiring SureHarvest Inc. The transaction expands and diversifies WFCF’s commodity reach with high-value specialty crops, including winegrapes, almonds, hazelnuts, strawberries, mushrooms, cut flowers, leafy greens and other fresh produce.

Fellow Sumit Kadakia and his wife have launched a New Haven-based start-up that is turning food production refuse into nutritious, tasty, and environmentally sustainable food.

Fellow Joe Rand says research from the Berkeley Lab, Elevate Energy and the Center for Sustainable Energy shows that buyers think solar is a desirable feature, but that they, realtors and appraisers need more help to find and value solar homes.

Out-of-work Kentuckians are increasingly turning to farming “out of necessity,” said Martin Richards, who runs Kentucky’s Community Farm Alliance. His group works with eight farmers’ markets in eastern Kentucky, including one Howard helped found with another seventh-generation Kentuckian, Nathan Hall; Richards says twice as many farmers participate as did five years ago.

The Aspen Institute First Movers Fellowship Program today announced its 2016 class of Fellows who are working within companies to help solve the world's most challenging social and environmental problems. First Movers is the leading global network of intrapreneurs and equips Fellows with the skills and confidence to drive innovations inside companies that add value to the organization and positively impact the lives of consumers, employees and communities.