President Obama: No Trade-Off Between Environmental Protection and Economic Growth

Yesterday, President Barack Obama visited the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In his remarks he said:

“I do not buy the notion that we have to make a choice between having clean air and clean water and growing this economy in a robust way,” he said.

Watch President Obama's full speech, or read the remarks, on the White House website.

City of San Jose New Years Resolution - No More Plastic Bags

In San José, California customers are shopping greener than ever. All grocery and retail stores in San José can no longer provide single-use carryout bags at checkout, the ordinance went into effect on January 1, 2012. Consumers will have the option to bring or purchase their own reusable bags or purchase recycled content paper bags at checkout.

In addition, as San Jose residents adjust to the new plastic bags ban, officials from adjacent cities will meet later this month to talk about getting a similar law passed in as many municipalities as possible including San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Foster City and Millbrae.