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Global clean-energy expo comes to Oahu
An international conference on clean energy in Honolulu is expected to draw 1,200 attendees from more than 30 countries.
The fifth annual Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo begins today at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority says the state is an ideal place to discuss global clean-energy issues.
The gathering is expected to generate $5 million in visitor spending and $487,000 in state tax revenue.
New Samsung gear to hit retail in October
NEW YORK » Samsung said its new versions of its Galaxy Note smartphone and tablet, along with its new smartwatch, will go on sale in the U.S. next month.
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular all will carry the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone. Some of the cellular carriers will also sell the Galaxy Gear smartwatch.
Major retailers including Best Buy, Amazon.com, RadioShack and Walmart also will carry the smartphone and smartwatch.
The smartwatch is designed to let users check messages with a glance at their wrists or have a conversation through a speaker phone. The watch must be linked wirelessly with a smartphone to perform its full range of functions. It acts as an extension to the phone by discreetly alerting users to incoming messages and calls on its screen.
Safeway agrees to greenhouse gas penalty
SAN FRANCISCO » Grocery retailer Safeway Inc. will pay $600,000 and has agreed to a nationwide reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from refrigeration equipment at its 659 U.S. stores under terms of a settlement released last week.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice said the settlement with the Pleasanton, Calif.-based retailer is the largest ozone protection case ever reached under the Clean Air Act.
The government says Safeway violated the nation’s clean-air laws by not promptly fixing leaks of HCFC-22, a potent heat-trapping gas that contributes to climate change, from its refrigerators.