San Diego’s Only Eco-Friendly Transport Firm Reduces Carbon Footprint with Every Trip

HYBRID CAR

As San Diego’s only carbon negative private transportation company, Terramoto offers executive-level services utilizing hybrid motor vehicles while at the same time, creating a positive impact on the environment by donating a dollar from every trip to plant a tree. Combining an eco-friendly approach to the transportation business translates into economically advantageous rates for customers and the benefit of enhanced earth-friendly surroundings for the community. The concept for the modern day private transportation company, Terramoto is derived from the combination of terra for “terra firma” (the planet) and moto, which means rapid movement.
According to CEO and co-founder, Quentin Sponselee, “Our goal is to leave the lowest environmental impact possible. In order to do that, we decided our vehicles would have to be a hybrid. After considering factors such as rear passenger seat legroom, bench space, cargo capacity, fuel economy and vehicle purchase price, the Toyota Prius was the perfect fit. Particularly with our service in North County that has widespread terrain, the Prius is half the price of a Lincoln Town car and gets three times the gas mileage. We intend to make our entire current fleet ultra low emission and eventually — when technology allows — 100% emission free. To take things a step further, we contribute one dollar out of every trip to an organization that plants protected trees in order to offset our carbon footprint completely. In fact, we net a negative carbon footprint, a first in transportation history.”
Terramoto is a full service transportation company that provides airport meet and greets, curbside pick ups and drop offs, point-to-point transfers and hourly charters. They also offer hybrid Toyota Highlanders for larger group transportation needs. The company is a charter member of the New Environmentally Responsible Alliance of Transportation (New ERA of Transportation), a green transportation coalition whose members are committed to ensuring their day-to-day operations maintain environmentally friendly practices. To learn more about Terramoto, visit

L.A. County Votes to Ban Plastic Bags

This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a ban on single-use carryout bags at all grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies and drug stores located in the County’s unincorporated areas.
The vote bans stores from giving consumers single-use plastic bags. Store will also be required to charge 10 cents each for paper bags. The ordinance, which will go into effect  July 1, 2011, will not affect the 88 cities within county boundaries such as Long Beach.
As part of its approval, the Board supported an amendment by 4th District Supervisor Don Knabe which revised the definition of “reusable bag” to include language that a reusable bag can be cleaned or disinfected, not just machine washable.
“While I support the elimination of single-use bags, if there is going to be a ban, I believe it should be done at a statewide level, as the Board previously supported in AB 1998,” said Supervisor Don Knabe. “Rather than being punitive, we should provide incentives to encourage businesses to develop creative, green solutions, and therefore jobs, to our environmental challenges. That is why I asked for a change in language to today’s motion to ensure that we did not exclude many locally-owned manufacturing plants from producing reusable carryout bags. There are many types of materials that can be used to manufacture reusable bags, and we should not limit their use because they are not machine washable.”

A statewide ban on plastic bags was defeated earlier this year. However, several major metropolitan areas have acted to ban single-use bags including San Francisco and Washington D.C.