The City of San Francisco and its employees may no longer buy bottled water with public money after mayor Gavin Newsom banned it last week . . . declaring it too expensive, too polluting and too wasteful, because it's just tap water. Newsom said 1,000 gallons of tap water costs the city the same as one gallon of bottled. The Conference of US Mayors also passed a resolution to asses the impact of plastic bottles on municipal waste. Corporate Accountability International welcomed the move in a statement: "The ripples of leadership will be felt in cities and towns across the country." It is not yet known what effect the ripple will have on the shores of Galway Bay.

GOLDMAN SACHS ON RENEWABLES

In a new departure for an investment bank, Goldman Sachs has called for an extra tax.

Spelling out drivers necessary for the booming US renewable energy sector to continue its rapid growth, Goldman analysts want the feds to introduce cap-and-trade emissions regulation or a carbon tax, and force US utilities to source up to 25% of their power from renewable sources, thus attracting investment into the sector. Goldman Sachs believes the final key driver to spur renewable energy industry growth is bidding 'adieu' to George W Bush. He has opposed carbon regulation and serious renewable energy rules. Investors believe the next administration . . . regardless of party . . . will encourage both of these developments.

GREEN CHEAPSKATES

Customers want greener products, but won't cough up the greenbacks to pay for manufacturers' costs in improving consumables. That's the complaint coming from consumer goods manufacturers at last week's Reuters Consumer and Retail Summit. Reducing packaging, developing sustainable alternatives to current products, and increasing energy ef"ciency are all ways companies have begun adapting to the green revolution, but from tampon applicators to washing machines, changing customer habits is the hard part industry leaders said.