What’s New: In Brief (May 22, 2007)

Marsh Inc. announced the launch of a dedicated renewable energy team, and named Susan K. Stokes and Tom Sexton as its co-leaders.
The team will work closely with the firms global marine and energy practice and the power and utilities industry practice to help clients address and find upside in the wide range of risks they face.
Stokes will be responsible for leading the renewable energy team in the Americas, and Sexton will head the European, Middle Eastern, Asian and African teams.
Businesses and governments have sharpened their focus on renewable energy, particularly as the energy industry responds to the global emphasis on developing new technologies that lower carbon emissions, Stokes said in a statement.
The creation of Marshs renewable energy team provides both a framework as well as dedicated resources from multiple practices to expand our efforts to help clients address emerging risk issues in this dynamic sector.

New York Citys yellow cabs will be going green, with Mayor Michael Bloombergs announcement that the citys 13,000-car fleet will be entirely composed of hybrid vehicles within the next 5 years, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Today there are 375 fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles in the fleet, that number will increase to 1,000 by October 2008 and will continue to grow by 20% each year until 2012.
The changing of the fleet is part of Bloombergs wider sustainability plan for the city, which includes the goal of a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
The city will also require that all new vehicles entering the fleet after October 2008 to achieve a minimum of 25 miles per gallon, a year later, all new vehicles must get 30 miles per gallon and must be hybrid, the paper reported.
City officials expect the new standards, when fully implemented, are expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 200,000 tons per year.