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October 30, 2009

 

Allegheny Energy case shrouded in secrecy

An impenetrable cloud surrounds a 2005 lawsuit Pennsylvania and four other states brought against Allegheny Energy for alleged Clean Air Act violations. Of the 339 documents filed so far in the federal case, 21 key documents are under seal.

University of Pittsburgh law professor Arthur Hellman called that unusual.

BLM; The Colossal Snafu of the 21st Century

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has come under harsh criticism during the last part of 2008 and the early part of 2009 for creating a monstrous backlog of solar energy applications. In July 2008, the BLM put all solar applications on hold...

Cash Cows; Farm Converts Cattle Manure into Electricity

A Vermont dairy farm is producing something other than milk. Earlier this month, state officials were on hand to visit Vermont’s newest methane facility. Westminster Farms Inc., along with Green Mountain Power (GMP), have been working together in an on-site plant that converts methane gas released from cow manure into electricity.

China agrees to drop barriers for international wind developers

Wind power companies, including many American and European firms, are likely to find it easier to enter the growing Chinese market as part of an agreement top US and Chinese officials reached Thursday.

Chinese airlines' profits rise on improved demand, cheaper fuel

China's three largest airlines posted profits for third quarter 2009 on the back of improved demand for air travel, lower jet fuel costs and fuel hedging gains, the airlines said in separate statements late Tuesday.

Coal plant proposal fires up Painesville residents

A proposed coal plant could stabilize electric rates: sounds good, right?

An environmental organization, a handful of Painesville residents and at least one councilman disagree and say it could mean increased rates.

Company Considers Wind Farm

A Spanish energy company with a growing U.S. presence is studying the possibility of spending "hundreds of millions of dollars" to build a wind farm near Owensboro.

Crude futures lower as upward momentum in dollar continues

The ICE Dollar index traded higher for a fourth consecutive session, having closed the day on Tuesday at a two-week high. Equity bourses meanwhile edged lower.

Dispassion as the world ends; The absent heart of the great climate affair

I suggest that we as climate activists are not telling the unadulterated truth—which seems to worsen daily—to the public.  This is one critically important reason we’re making so little progress in changing behavior and politics commensurate with the drastic acceleration of global warming.  We have hurled ourselves far beyond the point where simply reducing greenhouse-gas emissions will make a difference that makes a difference.

Electricity That's Cheaper Than Free

Would you believe that there are places and times when power companies generate so much renewable energy that they give it away?

In west Texas and Illinois, when the wind blows at night and nuclear plants run around-the-clock, power generators produce more electricity than people need. This oversupply "has forced electricity prices into the negative range," an expert explains-meaning that some customers are paid to use electricity.

Energy Leadership Center Sees No Energy Shortage

Contrary to the popular notion that the United States and the world are facing an energy shortage, Andy Hannah believes that the planet's resources offer enough potential energy -- if we can just figure out how to harness it.

Energy Secretary; Science Demands Action on Climate

Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Tuesday laid out the scientific risks of inaction on global warming and went straight to his main point -- the climate and energy bill starting its way through the Senate could help drive what he called "energy opportunity."

EPA's Secret Plan to Raise Public Radiation Exposure Levels Challenged

Public employees have filed a lawsuit demanding documents related to the U.S. EPA's plans made "in secrecy" to allow public exposure to increased levels of radioactivity following nuclear accidents or attacks.

FACTBOX - Carbon Offsets, Wood Chips Fuel Forests

Forests are a growing investment prospect as climate incentives place new value on wood chips and standing trees, say fund managers.

An economic recovery will also drive demand for more traditional products such as pulp and lumber, investors say.

Federal science agency experts to discuss research

The goal is to develop a collaborative framework ensuring future research and development dollars are spent wisely and in a coordinated manner, according to the EPA.

Fifth 'swine flu' vaccine death in Sweden - vaccinations still go ahead as planned!

Media in Sweden is having a tough time maintaining the propaganda as more and more people question the reasons for the mass vaccination. Now, authorities say that if not "80% of the population takes the shot, we risk 100 deaths from the swine flu".

For gas sector, DC not yet singing its song

The gas industry is still seeking more from the climate change bill Congress will pass ... sometime. Probably. After having been scolded roundly by former Senator Tim Wirth and others several months ago for having missed the boat on the issue, the gas sector got itself in gear.

Fossil Fuel Subsidies More Than Double Those for Renewables

The largest U.S subsidies to fossil fuels are attributed to tax breaks that aid foreign oil production, according to research from the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). The study, which reviewed fossil fuel and energy subsidies for Fiscal Years 2002-2008, revealed that the lion's share of energy subsidies supported energy sources that emit high levels of greenhouse gases.

Freddie Mac's Portfolio Grows. Delinquency Rate Continues to Rise

Freddie Mac's total mortgage portfolio increased by $1.44 billion to $2.24 trillion in September, much less than the $6.94 billion increase reported in August and well below the $38.65 expansion seen in March 2009.  Refinance-loan purchase volume was $21.4 billion in September, down from $35.6 billion in August. Year to date Freddie Mac's total mortgage portfolio has grown by $35.23 billion.

Further deaths linked to swine flu vaccine

Health investigators are under more pressure as two elderly women are reported to have died, days after receiving the swine flu vaccine. It brings the total number of deaths linked to the vaccine in Sweden to four.

Glacial Melting May Release Pollutants In The Environment

Those pristine-looking Alpine glaciers now melting as global warming sets in may explain the mysterious increase in persistent organic pollutants in sediment from certain lakes since the 1990s, despite decreased use of those compounds in pesticides, electric equipment, paints and other products.

Global Bank Downgrades Decline by More than 50pct in Q3

Fitch Ratings said the number of bank downgrades declined globally to 41 in Q309 from 94 in Q209. Overall, the number of bank rating actions taken by Fitch dropped to 90 from 183 during the same period, following particularly high levels of rating actions from Q408.

Grain Production Continues Growth After Mixed Decade

For the second year in a row, world grain production rose in 2008, with farmers producing some 2.3 billion tons. The record harvest was up more than 7 percent over the previous year and caps a decade in which only half the years registered gains.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe delivers exceptional value, unwavering reliability, and remarkable advantages over conventional types of piping

With superior resistance to corrosion and abrasion, HDPE piping systems supply long service life, excellent joint performance, and leak-free protection that create an exceptional value.

It’s these characteristics that have already made HDPE the pipe material of choice for water applications in much of the world.

How to Compare Power Generation Choices

People like to compare the cost to generate electricity from various renewable resources, like wind or solar, to the cost to generate electricity from coal, nuclear and natural gas. Comparing these costs is like comparing apples to oranges.

I see what you're saying - NEC's ‘Tele Scouter’ retinal-display translation glasses

The prototype device called a “Tele Scouter” is a glasses type display that translates the foreign language being spoken by a partner and projects the translation onto a tiny retinal display.

It's the environment, stupid

If Harry Truman were running for president today, he’d probably ‘Give ‘em Green,’ rather than ‘Give ‘em Hell.’ Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan would be, ‘It’s the environment, stupid.’ And Herbert Hoover might be promising a solar panel on every roof, rather than a chicken in every pot – and the pot would sit on a smart-metered stove, powered by a plug-in hybrid, eligible for renewable energy certificates.

Minnesota ranks high in wind power

The state has the fourth-highest amount of capacity for power produced by wind turbines in the country, according to a new American Wind Energy Association report.

Mortgage rates up 2nd straight week; Freddie Mac

U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, the most widely used loan, rose for a second straight week, hitting a key level that may cut into demand.

The rates averaged 5.00 percent for the week ending October 22, up from the previous week's 4.92 percent, according to a survey released on Thursday by home funding company Freddie Mac

Multiyear Arctic Ice Is Effectively Gone; Expert

The multiyear ice covering the Arctic Ocean has effectively vanished, a startling development that will make it easier to open up polar shipping routes, an Arctic expert said on Thursday.

Vast sheets of impenetrable multiyear ice, which can reach up to 80 meters (260 feet) thick, have for centuries blocked the path of ships seeking a quick short cut through the fabled Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They also ruled out the idea of sailing across the top of the world.

Navajo Nation gets $4.9M for smart grid

The money would fund a smart grid for the Nation that quickly would identify electrical system outages, monitor people's appliances for efficiency and better facilitate the use of alternative energy.

New hydrogen energy source

Claims have been made about the discovery of a new CO2-free source of energy which its backers claims is more powerful than oil and gas.

New nuclear power could supply every home in the UK

A third potential new nuclear operator entered the UK market today, taking total proposals for new nuclear power stations up to 16 gigawatts of electricity.

New Study Predicts Future Consequences Of A Global Biofuels Program

A report examining the impact of a global biofuels program on greenhouse gas emissions during the 21st century has found that carbon loss stemming from the displacement of food crops and pastures for biofuels crops may be twice as much as the CO2 emissions from land dedicated to biofuels production.

Nigeria, oil majors set up committee on post-amnesty program

State-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said Wednesday it agreed with its foreign oil partners to back Nigeria in rehabilitating and training militants who recently accepted the government's amnesty.

Officials testify that climate bill would reduce emissions

A climate bill under debate in the Senate would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and boost the economy at a minimal cost to the public, according to Senate testimony from key Obama administration officials.

Offshore Wind Could Surge

Offshore wind production could surge forward. Both European and U.S. advocates say that the construction of such energy projects could take off assuming that both continents stick with their carbon-free energy themes.

Pennsylvania wind projects come to standstill

Despite a recent report indicating Pennsylvania's significant growth in wind energy, local projects that once seemed imminent are all either dead or at a standstill.

President Obama's Foreign Policy; An Assessment

Reagan was all about America . . . . Obama is 'we are above that now.' We're not just parochial, we're not just chauvinistic, we're not just provincial. We stand for something--I mean in a way Obama's standing above the country, above--above the world. He's sort of God.

Raising Capital from Non-Traditional Sources

As global organizations struggle to regain to their footing, they are finding some comfort in the wealth of other, foreign governments -- those willing to invest essential resources in their enterprises. But such capital is a double-edged sword and one that some fear could ultimately harm a nation's economic and political good.

Report Examines Hidden Health And Environmental Costs Of Energy Production And Consumption In U.S.

A new report from the National Research Council examines and, when possible, estimates "hidden" costs of energy production and use -- such as the damage air pollution imposes on human health -- that are not reflected in market prices of coal, oil, other energy sources, or the electricity and gasoline produced from them.

Rise in US GDP Ends String of Four Consecutive Quarterly Declines

The first, or advance, estimate of third-quarter GDP indicated that the economy rose a robust 3.5% at an annual rate. This was slightly above market expectations of a 3.2% increase and represented the first increase in five quarters, including a 6.4% drop in the first quarter and a 0.7% decline in the second.

Scientist Jeopardizes Career by Publishing Paper Criticizing GMOs

The paper makes a damning case against genetically modified foods, saying the technology is based on obsolete science, that biotechnology companies such as Monsanto have too much influence on government regulators and "public" universities, and that university scientists are ignoring the health and environmental risks of GM crops. Lotter calls the introduction of GM foods the "largest diet experiment in history."

Stop the Shot Law Suit; Judge Issues 'Show Cause Order' to Prove We Have a Right to Be in Court

There are many wrongs under the law, but not everyone has the right to contest them all. Law suits can require plaintiffs (that's us - the people bringing the suit and making the formal complaint) to show that they have a reason to bring this suit, or, in legal terms,that we have "standing". We believe that this Show Cause Order is a positive move that gets the issue of standing, which the other side will surely use to try to get the suit dismissed, out of the way before our November 5 hearing.

Study ties climate bill, jobs

The study, conducted with the University of Illinois and Yale University, said that all states can grow on the demand side as a result of legislation tightening energy efficiency, renewable energy and a cap-and-trade program. The country as a whole could gain 918,000 to 1.9 million jobs by 2020, the study concluded.

SunEdison's 9.1MW plant maps the solar road for utilities

The opening of SunEdison's new 9.1MW solar PV power plant in Canada reflects a confluence of factors from financing and incentives to increased interest from utilities --- which together are poised to "drastically change the nature of the PV market in North America," according to one analyst.

The gas industry's bad cop-good cop routine on climate bill

The American Petroleum Institute and America's Natural Gas Alliance have many of the same members, but the associations' approaches to the Boxer-Kerry climate change bill in the Senate couldn't be more different.

The Power of Growing Your Own Food

Is your lawn perfectly manicured but only contains un-edible plants? Why not transform your backyard into an edible garden. Imagine never having to shop for salad or veggies again, how much would you save?

Tough Climate-Change Bill Touted As Good for State

The more a congressional climate-change bill cracks down on greenhouse-gas emissions, the better the long-term prospects for Ohio's economy, according to a report yesterday by renewable-energy business advocates.

Ohio would gain up to 61,000 jobs by 2020 ...

Toxic Face Paint Makes for Scary Halloween

Some children's face paints contain lead, a neurotoxin that can harm the brain at low doses, according to new product tests documented in a report from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of nonprofit health and environmental groups.

U.S. Climate Bill Will Create Jobs, True or False?

Leaders at companies that develop low-carbon energy told a Senate panel that climate legislation would create millions of new jobs, but lawmakers from fossil-fuel dependent states said the bill would hit employment in the traditional energy economy.

Climate change presents a global crisis, but "can also provide an economic opportunity of vast proportions,"...

UK will not sign Copenhagen deal if it is 'inadequate'; Miliband

UK secretary of state for energy and climate change Ed Miliband Wednesday said the country would not sign up to a deal at Copenhagen climate change talks in December if it thought the deal was too weak for the scale of the problem.

US coal production falls 12.3% on year in week to October 24; EIA

US coal production totaled about 20.5 million short tons in the week that ended Saturday, the Energy Information Administration said Thursday.

This production estimate is about the same as the previous week's estimate and 12.3% lower than the production estimate in the comparable week in 2008, the EIA said.

US consumer goes shopping

Spurred in part by Cash for Clunkers, the consumer went shopping again. Personal consumption increase was 67% of the jump in the GDP number announced this morning (42% came from durable goods).

US energy department pumps $338 million into geothermal energy

The US Department of Energy said Thursday it has awarded $338 million in stimulus funds for geothermal energy research and development.

The grants will support 123 projects in 39 states and will be matched by $353 million in private, state and local cost-share funds, it said.

US natural gas proved reserves rose 3pct in 2008 to 244.7 Tcf; EIA

US proved natural gas reserves increased by 7 Tcf, or 3%, in 2008 to reach a record high, the Energy Information Administration said on Thursday.

Waste_Inbox 102909

I find this story fascinating, even though I am not -- and never will be, even remotely -- a gun guy. Because the one situation that sometimes makes me wish I had one is when I see a motorist toss a piece of litter out a car window. That type of action begs for a loud response, and a car horn just doesn’t send the same message that a nice, big bazooka would.

Water Use in the US Less in 2005 Than in 1975

Just when you think all human activities are making the environment worse, news comes that our efforts to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts (0ur environmental footprint) are doing some good.

World’s faster supercomputer models origins of the unseen universe

Scientists have for some time postulated that "dark matter" could partially account for evidence of missing mass in the universe, while the hypothetical form of energy known as "dark energy" is the most popular way to explain recent observations that the universe appears to be expanding at an accelerating rate and accounts for 74 percent of the total mass-energy of the universe according to the standard model of cosmology.

 

October 27, 2009

 

20 years after public vote, Rancho Seco is decommissioned by U.S.

Sacramento's Rancho Seco nuclear power plant has been formally decommissioned by the federal government, the first action of its kind in response to a public vote.

The 20-year decommissioning process cost Sacramento Municipal Utility District ratepayers $500 million.

100 MPG Hydraulic-Hybrid vies for X Prize, Runs on Biodiesel

The automotive research and manufacturing company Lightning Hybrids says they’ve designed a 100 MPG hydraulic-hybrid with sports sedan performance (0-60 mph in 5.9s).

Appalachian conference studies energy help

Appalachian leaders are seeking ways to use alternative energy initiatives to spark the 13-state region's long-sluggish economy.

Appliance rebates; Details to come

Shoppers at Sears stores nationwide are asking when federally funded rebates for energy-efficient appliances will be available.

No one knows yet, not even Sears.

Big-screen televisions make a power play

We all scream for flat screens, even in a flat economy.

But the bigger picture, many say, is one of unnecessary stress on the nation's electricity supply for years to come.

Can We Afford More Subsidies for Nuclear Power?

The Senate may finally start debating climate and energy legislation now that Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) have introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. But the addition of a nuclear provision to the bill raises some questions. What will be the fate of the so-called nuclear power renaissance, and to what extent will taxpayers be asked to underwrite it?

Cattlemen band together to face a sea of troubles

As he stood on the edge of the butte looking out over the dry range, rancher Jack Carlisle said, "It's only given to us for a short time. We're stewards of the land but it belongs to God. We'll take care of it - we just need a little rain."

Climate Cooperation To Help Ties, Hu Tells Obama

Chinese President Hu Jintao has told his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama that closer cooperation on fighting climate change could help improve overall ties between the world's top two greenhouse gas polluters.

Coal’s Evolution

Coal is at a fork in the road. If it is to remain relevant, then the industry must work to commercialize advanced technologies that can scrub the carbon and bury the residue.

'Crude,' the Film, Explores Oil Giants' Crude Conduct in Ecuador

The acclaimed documentary film "Crude," which details the 16-year struggle of indigenous peoples in Ecuador's Amazon to hold Chevron legally accountable for contamination of a huge rainforest area, opens in Washington, DC on Friday during intense scrutiny of a $27 billion liability lawsuit against the oil giant.

Do No Harm

I am a Health Care Worker. My New York State Medical License Number is 111813. I will not be part of a system that harms and incarcerates people. I will not be part of a system which uses drugs to subdue and kill dissidents and socially inconvenient people, also known as "useless eaters".

EIA Issues State Energy Rankings

EIA has issued a series of charts and maps ranking the states by energy production, consumption, and price, as well as carbon dioxide emissions from electric power producers.

EPA Moves to Veto Permit for Biggest Proposed Mountaintop Removal Coal Mine

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today moved to veto a Clean Water Act permit for the nation’s largest proposed mountaintop removal coal mining site, the Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia.

EPA recognizes 20 schools for using renewable energy

The U.S. EPA´s Green Power Partnership is recognizing the 20 primary and secondary schools nationwide using the most power from renewable energy sources.

Ford Invents Hybrid that is '300% more efficient' than Toyota Prius

Ford is developing a new form of automotive propulsion, and the implications for the American Auto Industry are huge. The Hydraulic Hybrid could be the greatest innovation since the internal combustion engine itself, and Ford is on the inside track with its F-150 Hybrid.

Group Pushes for Energy Council

An independent council could assess the nation's energy security status in much the same way that the Council on Foreign Relations improves understanding of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs, said the energy group, convened last spring at the University of California, San Diego.

High well outputs yield bumper gas crop, but reviews are mixed

US natural gas shale plays continue on a streak of impressive production bulkups, although their copious well outputs, which in a more robust economy would inspire rave reviews, have raised eyebrows in some corners of Wall Street given a currently oversupplied market. 

How Hydraulic Hybrids Work

Gas/electric hybrid cars have become common, with many automakers offering hybrid models or versions of their models with hybrid drivetrains. Gas/electric hybrids use both gasoline engines and electric motors powered by lithium ion batteries to move the car. The batteries get charged though a process called regenerative braking.

Innovative wind turbine design triples output

From the first flight at Kitty Hawk, it took about 50 years to engineer the switch from spinning propellers to more efficient jet engines. Now wind technology could be about to make a similar design leap, barely a decade after the commercial industry’s birth in the U.S.

International Climate Action Starts Today; 4,800 Events in 179 Countries

Climate protection is the point - an atmospheric level of carbon dioxide of 350 parts per million is the target - as millions of people around the world participate on October 24 in what organizers are calling the most widespread day of environmental action in history.

Is the end of the oil age nigh?

The world of oil is in for a roller-coaster ride over the next few years if Deutsche Bank analysts are right, with oil demand set to peak in just seven years' time as crude spikes again, this time to $175/barrel, before falling into long-term decline.

It won't be a case of oil running out, however. Rather, the world will become much more efficient in its use of energy. But in the next few years, Deutsche predicts, we will see a lot of volatility and even more chronic under-investment in production capacity.

Massive Pool of Magma May Feed Three Washington Volcanoes

A new study suggests there's a vast pool of magma beneath southwestern Washington State that supplies Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier and Mount Adams.

Membrane Solutions Are Key To Future Of Water Reuse

Highlighting that the time has come for the industry to adopt a new approach to meeting the challenge of growing water shortages, Bord na Mona Environmental Products U.S. Inc. recently asserted that decentralized membrane based treatment solutions are key to solving future water restrictions.

Navy plans massive cuts in fossil fuel use

The Navy intends to make massive cuts in its 100,000-barrel-a-day consumption of fossil fuels in the next several years, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said yesterday near the end of a three-day visit to San Diego.

New GAO Report Highlights U.S. Challenges to Adapt to Expected Global Warming Impacts

A new report released today by the U.S. Government Accountability Office has found that the majority of federal, state and local officials have not yet taken steps to adapt to the impacts of global warming America can expect, even with deep cuts in carbon emissions.

New hydraulic hybrid transmission doubles MPG in city driving

Mechanical transmission of power using gears is very energy inefficient. The familiar automotive multi-speed gearbox and differential suffers from the friction losses that result in 20 – 30% of engine power being lost between a car's engine and the wheels.

Palms Grew In Ice-Free Arctic 50 Million Years Ago; study

Palms flourished in the Arctic during a brief sweltering period about 50 million years ago, according to a study on Sunday that hints at big gaps in scientific understanding of modern climate change.

Queensland National Park Handed Back to Aboriginal Owners

"This is the first existing national park to be returned to traditional owners," Jones said at the ceremony marking the transfer. "This is a momentous occasion and represents a breakthrough in indigenous land tenure resolutions."

REC Solar and SunRun Team Up to Offer Colorado Residents a New and Affordable Way to Go Solar

REC Solar, www.recsolar.com, the largest solar installer in the country, has teamed up with SunRun to bring solar power to Lakewood residents Peter and Nancy McDonald and their family of five, the first Colorado residents to purchase a solar electric system through a new low-cost leasing program.

Redskins litigants win support from psychologists, justice advocates

Native American plaintiffs suing to end the trademark of the controversial Redskins National Football League team have gained new support from legal experts, social justice advocates and child psychologists.

Senator Boxer Releases Full Draft of US Climate Bill

Senator Barbara Boxer released a 923-page draft of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act over the weekend, the Senate version of climate and energy legislation, for the first time specifying emissions allocations and costs proposed in the bill.

Shifting to 100% Renewable Energy Would Save Money

The numbers show that wind, water and solar energy would reduce world power demand by 30 percent, thereby avoiding 13,000 coal power plants.

Solar Power Gives Andean Villages New Lease On Life

A pioneering solar energy project is using green technology to improve the lives of isolated villagers living beyond the reach of power lines on Argentina's windswept Andean plains.

Solutions to Water Crisis Need Grounding

Unfortunately, when it comes to funding for clean water, resources rarely go where they’re actually needed.

Study finds need for coal-fired power plant

Minnesota may need a new 500-megawatt coal-fired power plant to meet growing demand, according to a Department of Commerce study that will be presented to state lawmakers today.

Study raises red flag over home insecticides, autoimmune diseases

New research suggests a link between women's exposure to household insecticides — including roach and mosquito killers — and the autoimmune disorders rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

The scientist did not find a direct cause-and-effect relationship between insecticide exposure and the illnesses, and it's possible that the women have something else in common that accounts for their higher risk

Tribes want role in renewable energy quest

Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray told a key Senate committee Thursday that tribes are being locked out of renewable energy opportunities by bureaucratic delays, lack of financing and inadequate access to the national transmission grid.

Tying climate change to national security

So far, the climate debate has largely focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, drafting an international climate change treaty and fostering new, cleaner sources of energy and so-called green jobs.

But for nearly two years, military and intelligence experts have been issuing studies warning that climate change could put American military personnel and national security at risk. Increasingly violent storms, pandemics, drought and large-scale refugee problems, they say, will destabilize regions and encourage terrorism.

U.S. awards $3.4 billion in smart grid grants

Eighteen million homes—13 percent of all U.S. households--will get smart electric meters within three years as part of $3.4 billion in U.S. government grants to upgrade the country's aging electric grid.

Universities weigh in on patent reform

A group of university organizations sent a letter to White House officials expressing concerns in the ongoing debate over patent reform. The letter said the group believes S.515, the current Senate patent reform bill, is tied up in "negotiations underway within the Senate Judiciary Committee."

US Senate bill's emission allocations mirror House plan

US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer late Friday released a revised version of a climate change bill that would largely mirror free emission allowance allocations contained in legislation approved in late June by the House of Representatives.

Utilities Say They'll Get Power to Electric Vehicles

The nation's electric utility industry says it is committed to helping electric vehicles become a reality.

We are spending $573,000.00 per minute on foreign oil!

We are spending $573,000.00 per minute on foreign oil!  Not total, just on foreign oil alone!  Thats insane!!
Does anyone really understand how much money that adds up to?  Thats leaving our country for energy?
Its the greatest transfer of wealth in history, and we are letting it happen.

Wis. governor signs bill requiring electronics recycling

Wisconsin is now one of 18 states requiring recycling of consumer electronics, including computers, video monitors and printers.

Worried Earth Will be Slammed by a Meteor?

Did a massive meteor cause the extinction of the Dinosaurs? Could such an impact cause our extinction? There are a lot of large objects in space, and they are all on the move. How can we know if one is heading our way? NASA tracks these objects, and those which might travel near Earth are tracked carefully.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is introducing a new Web site that will provide a centralized resource for information on these near-Earth objects - those asteroids and comets that can approach Earth.

 

October 23, 2009

 

Are the Fed, the Congress and the Primary Dealers an Alliance of Convenience?

To recall the words of Alfred Sloan, it is only by sharpening our differences can we understand complex problems and understand those distinctions which matter and those which do not. But as we build a narrative to understand the crisis, we seem to be converging on one view of the causes of the financial "bubble" and thereby ignoring other perspectives and views that might be instructive.

Americans, their smiley-face facade, and reality

The book's point is that realism is being elbowed out of the way by all the life coaches, self-help books and prosperity gospel preachers like Joel Osteen who tell us that a positive outlook will lead to success, riches and the fulfillment of all of life's desires. These heaping helpings of sunny optimism are subtly diverting us from grappling with serious social and economic issues in ways that can truly bring about change.

Bankers Get a Big Surprise, People Without Money Can’t Pay Back their Debts

Consumer lenders that outsource their credit decisions to consumer credit rating agencies aren’t learning from past mistakes. By now lenders should have noticed that blind reliance on credit scores doesn’t work. Even so, most lenders continue to disregard good underwriting fundamentals and then can’t figure out why they continue to have bad credit performance. It’s almost tragic to watch bankers repeat the same mistakes year after year.

Biofuels Can Be Climate Friends or Climate Enemies, UNEP Reports

Burning some biofuels can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, but not all biofuel use leads to cuts in greenhouse gases, finds the first report of a new panel hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP. The processes of growing and conversion of biomass to fuel determine each biofuel's environmental performance, the report concludes.

Cap And Trade Program Lowers Smog Levels In Eastern United States

The 2008 NOx Budget Trading Program Annual Report, covering 20 eastern states and the District of Columbia, shows the summertime NOx emissions from power plants and large industrial sources were down by 62 percent compared to year 2000 levels and 75 percent lower than in 1990.

China's Acid Rain Control Strategy Offset By Increased Nitrogen Oxide Air Pollution

Scientists are reporting the first evidence that China's sharp focus on reducing widespread damage to soil by acid rain by restricting sulfur dioxide air pollution may have an unexpected consequence: Gains from that pollution control program will be largely offset by increases in nitrogen emissions, which the country's current policy largely overlooks.

Climate law to drive US' need for gas-fired generation; analysts

The passage of proposed US climate change legislation is expected to expand the market for natural gas-fired power generation over the next 20 years like never before, Black & Veatch analysts said in Houston Wednesday.

Compost to Create Your Own Carbon Piggy Bank!

According to the Rodale Institute, organic farms that fertilize with compost can sequester carbon at a rate of up to 3,200 kg/ha/yr.

Under the Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism, cities in the Global South are composting their organic waste (wood, straw, coffee residues, fresh green material and manure) to create carbon credits. Composting avoids methane emissions and also improves the soil fertility of the degraded soil

Congressional Natural Gas Caucus Holds First Hearing

T. Boone Pickens was the keynote witness at the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus’s very first hearing yesterday. “We are swimming in natural gas,” declared the energy industry legend, who went on to add that natural gas was “going to be the bridge to the next transportation fuel.”

Customer Privacy and the Smart Grid

We are told privacy is a big issue for consumers, but I propose that bigger drivers for consumers are convenience and control. If privacy were that big of an issue, how many consumers would use their credit card for everyday purchases? How many would continue to shop online? Consumers have chosen to continue to use credit cards even though it provides a record of what stores are frequented and how much they spend.

Deal Drafted on Nuclear Fuel for Iran's Research Reactor

A draft agreement on providing Iran with fuel for a civilian nuclear research facility that could defuse tension over Iran's nuclear program has emerged from nearly three days of talks supported by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA.

ExxonMobil Found Liable For $105 Million For Contaminating New York City's Drinking Water Supply

The jury found that gasoline containing MTBE was not reasonably safe for its intended use in light of foreseeable harm to the environment and that gasoline containing MTBE was a defective product because ExxonMobil gave no warnings about the product's dangerous propensity to contaminate groundwater. The jury also found for New York City on its public nuisance, trespass and negligence claims.

GE to Power World's Largest Carbon Sequestration Project

The world's largest carbon dioxide capture and storage project under Barrow Island off Australia's west coast, will be powered with compression equipment supplied by GE Oil & Gas, the company announced today.

Heavy buying by generators helps Northeast spot gas price surge

Several nuclear power plant outages and a rallying November NYMEX natural gas futures contract combined to lift Northeast spot gas prices as much as 25 cents higher Wednesday.

The stronger prompt-month contract gave cash prices support as did maintenance outages at four nuclear plants, which contributed to some stout power prices in the region.

How Hot is Your Meal?

Conventional agriculture is fossil fuel intensive and depends on a variety of chemical inputs, machinery, and fossil fuels. It is estimated that the production of food accounts for the large majority of agriculture emissions— more than 80% by recent estimates. Most of these—about 40%—come from the chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in conventional agriculture, which are very energy intensive to create.

Hydropower industry braces for glacier-free future

From the Himalayas to the Andes, faster-melting glaciers spell short-term opportunities -- and long-term risks -- for hydroelectric power and the engineering and construction industries it drives.

The most widely used form of renewable energy globally, hydro meets more than half Switzerland's energy needs. As summers dry and glaciers that help drive turbines with meltwater recede, that share may eventually fall.

Living By Green Spaces Can Boost Body And Soul; Study

People who live near green spaces may be less likely than those surrounded by concrete to suffer a range of health problems, particularly depression and anxiety, according to a Dutch study.

Natural gas vehicles would cut oil imports

We have been in and around legislatures long enough to know that it is rare that a problem gets fixed in one bill. The CLEAR Act, adopted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, provided for tax incentives to people and companies which purchased vehicles powered by any of the following: hybrid-electric, battery-electric, natural gas, or fuel cells. It also contained a federal tax credit for commercial alternative fuel refueling sites.

The CLEAR Act took three tries to get through.

Obama Administration Will Remove Barriers to Home Energy Retrofits

The emergence of a home retrofit market that would increase energy efficiency and cut home energy bills has been hampered by lack of access to reliable information, financing and skilled workers, finds a new report released today by Vice President Joe Biden.

OPEC may raise crude output in Dec if conditions warrant;  Badri

"If these prices [around $75-$80/barrel] will continue, if we see stocks going back to normal levels of the five-year average, if we see that there is real economic growth, then I am sure that our members will take a decision to increase production," Badri told reporters in London.

Pickens Plan Message

While the price per barrel of oil has fallen from the last summer highs, it's beginning to rise again.  What hasn't changed is the percentage of oil we import every day: over the past 12 months we have continued to import nearly two-thirds of the oil we use.

Recycled water, renewable energy key to Arizona's future, ADEQ director says

Capturing rainwater for drinking. Reusing what goes down the shower drain to water the lawn. Irrigating trees with used water from a air-conditioning system.
     Recycling water in these and other ways is key to meeting Arizona's long-term water needs, Benjamin Grumbles, the head of the state Department of Environmental Quality, said in a recent interview with Cronkite News Service.

Reprocessing is Real

Spent nuclear fuel may not have a permanent storage site. But that does not mean the energy form is dead. Far from it -- particularly because the used fuel can be reprocessed.


The issue is now under consideration by the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. While the concept has its foes who argue that it is expensive and a recipe for disaster, others say that it would help solve the long-term problem of where to store spent fuel.

Solar Energy - Detroit; Renewable Companies See Advantages in Auto-Industry's Pain

It's one of a series of U.S. assemblies that have closed or shrunk, with more than 435,000 automotive-manufacturing jobs disappearing since the beginning of the decade, according to a Congressional Research Service report released in August.

But behind some of the buildings' walls, a group of renewable-energy companies are working to transform the defunct assembly into a manufacturing park for equipment such as thin-film solar panels and energy-storage and power-management systems for solar- and wind-power systems.

Solar Power International; Taking the Pulse of the Solar Industry

The solar industry has gone through one of the most eventful – and frightening – years in recent history. The last 12 months have brought financial chaos, falling demand for solar products, rising inventory and rounds of consolidation. Yet today, because of continued political support for solar, the industry is moving into 2010 with strong momentum.

That's not to say the next 12 months will be easy.

Southeast Water Scarcity Blamed on Overpopulation, Not Climate

The most recent drought in the southeastern United States destroyed billions of dollars worth of crops, drained reservoirs and touched off legal wars among a half-dozen states, but the havoc came not from exceptional dryness but from booming population and bad planning, says a new Columbia University study.

Sowing The Seeds Of A Good Food Revolution GreenBiz.com

It's a time of change in many ways. Our nation is grappling with the daunting challenges of health care and global warming. Another change is coming as well. It's called the good food revolution.

Ten questions about flu vaccines that doctors and health authorities refuse to answer

Vaccine mythology remains rampant in both western medicine and the mainstream media. To hear the vaccination zealots say it, vaccines are backed by "good science," they've been "proven effective" and they're "perfectly safe."

Oh really? Where's all that good science? As it turns out, there's isn't any.

The Race to Carbon Capture

The gleaming, metallic gray Schwarze Pumpe coal-generating complex rises in eastern Germany, not far from the Polish border. At the facility, Vattenfall is now running one of the most advanced efforts in the world to capture carbon for long-term storage.

Three-Minute Showers To Conserve Water

Venezuela has suffered several serious blackouts in the past year because of rapidly growing demand and under-investment, which has been aggravated by a drop in water levels in hydroelectric dams that provide most of its energy.

True Cost of A Solar PV

In the rush to get the solar energy systems up and running, we are throwing low-efficiency PV cells on prime solar land. This does not make for a good investment. Subsequently, there are three major cost factors that include PV efficiency which make for a good solar PV farm.

U.S. Climate Bill Prospects

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu told the Reuters Washington Summit that he was putting in long hours on climate issues and believes there was "a reasonably good possibility" that the U.S. Congress could deliver legislation reducing carbon dioxide emissions in time for the Copenhagen meeting.

UK goverment allocates $9.9 million for geothermal exploration

The UK wants to explore the potential for using geothermal energy for producing non-intermittent power and heat. "Deep geothermal energy...could provide clean, low carbon and renewable power and heat for the UK," said energy and climate minister Philip Hunt. "We want to make sure that this energy resource can play a part in the future low carbon energy mix.

Unorthodox Thinkers

At age 70, Bluebonnet could choose to settle in as a stodgy, creaky electric cooperative intent on clinging to its heydays of the past. Not quite.


Indeed, the deft decision-makers at the Bastrop, Texas co-op are arguably ahead of the utility pack in pursuit of their version of the smart grid.

US House approves solar research and development 'roadmap' bill

The measure (H.R. 3585) would provide a "roadmap" for solar research and development efforts at the Department of Energy. The House passed it 310-106.

The bill would require DOE to create a coordinated plan for encouraging technologies including solar power, solar manufacturing, solar heating and cooling, and integration of solar technologies into buildings.

Utilities Take a Shine to Solar Power

Renewable portfolio mandates, favorable economics, federal tax credits and some creative thinking are leading utilities to add solar energy to their generating portfolios.

Waste_Inbox 102208

We continue to see signs of an economic recovery, albeit one moving at a glacial pace. One area that's recovering particularly slowly is the credit markets and the general willingness to make big investments.

Who Killed All Those Honeybees? We Did

The nation’s great bee die-off has provoked a furious debate: What has caused a third of all commercial honeybee colonies to perish each year since 2006? Although widespread bee deaths have occurred before, the current sharp decline is different. This time some bees have simply vanished, abandoning their hives...

Why A Coal Guy is Going Green

Of all the companies in the U.S., Duke Energy is the 3rd largest emitter of CO2. Of all the companies in the world, Duke is the 12th biggest emitter. And if North Carolina-based Duke were a country, it would rank No. 41 in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of entire nations in Europe, Africa and Asia.

And yet...Jim Rogers, Duke's longtime president, CEO and chairman, is pushing as hard as anyone in corporate America to get a climate-change bill passed by Congress.

 

 

October 20, 2009

 

Alternative to Vaccine

Regardless whether the storm comes or goes, this is a MUST to learn about and to have on hand in our uncertain age of contamination and pandemics.

Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) is a powerful and selective biocide which will help you if you receive an attenuated vaccine.

As Arctic sea ice melts, polar bears haunt oil and gas operations

Call it poetic justice: faced with the loss of Arctic sea ice because of global warming, increasing polar bear sightings are being reported around coastal Alaska oil and gas operations, raising the possibility of dangerous encounters and disrupted operations.

Polar bears den and spend much of their lives on sea ice which is shrinking and thinning because of global warming attributable, in part, to burning fossil fuels. The bears appear to be "looking for another option as their traditional habitat is not a healthy as it used to be," said Steve Amstrup of the US Geological Survey, Reuters reported.

Australians To Fortify Coast Homes Against Climate

Many Australians live within a short car-ride of the coast and are feeling the impact of more frequent storms blamed in part on global warming, prompting national soul-searching over whether to adopt a "retreat or defend" approach to beach living.

Brazil 2010-11 sugarcane, ethanol, output to rise; Datagro

Brazil's output of sugarcane, ethanol and sugar will rise in the 2010-11 harvest year as farmers recover from a 2009-10 harvest crippled by unseasonal rains and a lack of credit for fertilizers and pesticides...

Brazil seeks climate target for all Amazon nations

Brazil wants to forge a common position among all Amazon basin countries for a global climate summit later this year, the country's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, said on Monday.

Brazil has been seeking a growing role in climate talks designed to agree upon a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which are blamed for global warming.

CEOs No Longer Refute Climate Change

U.S. chief executives no longer reject claims of human-caused climate change, putting to rest a dispute that has raged in boardrooms for decades, said the head of PG&E on Thursday.

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Climate Talks 'in The Balance'

Prospects for a new U.N. climate pact in December remained in the balance after talks among big emitters on Monday but with signs of action by Brazil, India and Australia.

"It's more do-able today than yesterday," British energy and climate secretary Ed Miliband said at the close of a two-day meeting of 17 emitters that account for about 80 percent of world greenhouse gases.

Companies sign agreement to build waste-to-energy plant

An agreement signed last week will mean the construction of a new waste-to-energy plant within the next two years in the western United States, two companies announced.

Crude futures dip after NYMEX crude hits one year high

Global crude futures were slightly lower in the morning European trading session Monday, after a bullish start to Asian trading had seen front month November NYMEX crude futures breaching $79/barrel, the highest level for a front month contract in over a year.

Energy production pollution costs billions of dollars; study

Pollution from power plants and transportation have cost the US economy billions of dollars in "hidden" costs because of damage to human health and other environmental impacts, according to a report released Monday by the National Research Council.

EPA, White House release Recovery Through Retrofit

The U.S. EPA and White House have released the Recovery Through Retrofit report, which discusses green job opportunities, potential energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions that can be achieved by retrofitting homes.

Exiled China Tycoon In U.S. Clean Vehicle Plan

Yang Rong, a Chinese automobile tycoon who fled the country after being accused of economic crimes, said he plans three multi-billion-dollar U.S. plants to make 3 million clean-technology vehicles per year by 2017.

Gold smashes records on flip coin safe-haven-risk appetite

In contrast to those who express concerns about future inflationary pressure, Jim Steel, chief commodities analyst at HSBC, believes that fear of upward inflationary pressure is not the issue driving gold prices.

Is Anyone in Charge of Food Safety?

The fact that there remains no one in charge of food safety at the USDA has become a sick sort of joke among food policy types. It’s true that there is a second in command, Jerold Mande—but he’s a cancer doctor with no food safety background and, at best, a caretaker. He has no authority to make policy or initiate reform. Bill Marler’s Food News website has the latest on the search:

Kirkpatrick introduces renewable energy bill

Arizona's District 1 Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick has introduced a bill she says will help renewable energy grow in the state.

Mission Finds Bright Ribbon At Solar System Border

A bright ribbon of hydrogen atoms marks the edge of the solar system, where the Sun's wind meets emissions from the rest of the galaxy, researchers reported on Thursday. They used telescopes aboard the orbiting Interstellar Boundary Explorer spacecraft.

NCAI rewards Larry EchoHawk with standing ovation

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry EchoHawk received a standing ovation at the National Congress of American Indians’ annual conference after a speech marked by moments of intense emotion and repeated promises to stand up for Indian country.

New law; San Francisco residents must separate trash

Residents of San Francisco must start separating compostable materials from their trash, thanks to a new law that takes effect this week.

OPEC reactivating oil projects put on ice by low prices; Badri

OPEC member countries have reactivated some planned oil projects which had been put on ice earlier this year as a result of low oil prices, the group's secretary-general Abdalla el-Badri said Tuesday

September Global Surface Temperature Second Warmest Since 1880

The northeast is getting snow already, and low temperatures. Does this mean global warming is a myth? Not necessarily. A new analysis of global temperatures show that the combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the second warmest September on record, according to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

'Stop the Shot' Motion for Injunction

...H1N1-A Influenza Vaccine license modification approvals of September 15, 2009, whereby the Defendants approved certain vaccines which have been or will be purchased by Federal government agencies for distribution to the public, including the individual Plaintiffs herein, who stand in imminent peril of irreparable harm, having been mandated by regulation to receive the vaccines upon Defendants’ approval, or suffer penalties imposed by regulation,...

The Organic Revolution; How We Can Stop Global Warming

Beyond the gloom and doom of the climate crisis, there lies a powerful and regenerative grassroots force: organic food, farming, and ranching. Even as politicians and the powerful fossil fuel lobby drag their heels and refuse to acknowledge that we have about ten years left of “business as usual” before we irreversibly destroy the climate and ourselves, there is a powerful, though largely unrecognized, life-force spreading its roots underground.

U.S. Hunters, Anglers Lobby For Climate Bill

An unlikely lobbying group is pressing the U.S. Senate to curb greenhouse gas emissions: American hunting and fishing groups who fear climate change will disrupt their sport.

U.S. Interior Secretary Salazar, energy leaders and county families dedicate Dry Lake Wind

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar joined federal, state and local officials, energy industry leaders, ranchers and school children Monday to celebrate Arizona's first commercial-scale wind power project at the dedication of the Dry Lake Wind Power Project.

US House subcommittee debates low-level nuclear waste import ban

Prohibiting the import of low-level nuclear waste into the US for final disposal could jeopardize the future of nuclear power in the US, Representative Fred Upton, a Michigan Republican, said Friday at a hearing of the House of Representatives Energy and Environment Subcommittee

US Pressured to Help Fight Tropical Deforestation

As the U.S. Senate prepares to debate its own climate change legislation, a chorus of politicians, businesses, environmentalists, and scientists is uniting to request that U.S. climate policy help tropical nations in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia protect their forests.

Why Branson and SuperFreakonomics are wrong, in pictures

“If we could come up with a geoengineering answer to this problem, then Copenhagen wouldn’t be necessary. We could carry on flying our planes and driving our cars.” Sir Richard was talking about removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. He’s not alone. The authors of the upcoming book SuperFreakonomics also think that geoengineering is a cheap, easy way to avoid the work of fashioning a more sustainable society.

 

October 16, 2009

 

1,000 U.S. Mayors Have Signed Climate Protection Pledge

September 30, 2009 (ENS) - U.S. Conference of Mayors President Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels says that by Friday, 1,000 mayors, representing 85 million Americans, will have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement since it was introduced in February 2005.

A Green Supply Chain Starts in China

As companies work to reduce their carbon footprint, the easiest steps to take are often the closest to home.

Arctic To Be Ice-Free In Summer In 20 Years; Scientist

Global warming will leave the Arctic Ocean ice-free during the summer within 20 years, raising sea levels and harming wildlife such as seals and polar bears, a leading British polar scientist said on Thursday.

Biodiesel Returns More Energy to the Earth Than Ever, Study Finds

Biodiesel is better than ever at harnessing the power of the sun and turning it into fuel. In fact, a study shows the fuel is returning more than four times the energy that it takes to make biodiesel.

CA renewable energy legislation signed

California state officials have signed new legislation for what they call "a model of federal-state initiative and cooperation" for reviewing and applying funding for renewable energy development, in a push to meet Gov. Schwarzenegger's mandated goal of a third of its energy received via renewable sources by 2020.

Canada oil sands boss takes aim at 'dirty' energy critics

Canadian Oil Sands Trust head Marcel Coutu, has come out fighting against activists at home and abroad who claim that the country's oil sands are a "dirty" energy source.

Coutu, who is also the chairman of Syncrude, in which COST is the major stakeholder, acknowledged that while the oil sands account for some 5% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, or GHG emissions, that amounted to less than 1% of global GHGs. Moreover, the industry had cut its GHG emissions by 38% since 1990 and was continuing "this strong record of improvement."

Cancer; The Health Risk Behind the Cosmeceutical Mask

The term cosmeceutical, applied to anti-wrinkle and anti-aging creams, was first adopted by the cosmetics industry in 1984. It was developed as a way to avoid subjecting the industry’s claims to the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The idea was to create a new category of products that did more than just improve the appearance of the skin, yet do somewhat less than pharmaceutical drugs.

But Dr. Epstein wants to alert consumers to the dangers of cosmeceuticals, including the increased risk of skin cancer.

China's Lead Smelters Poison Hundreds of Children

lood tests on 968 children in China's largest lead smelting area have shown "excessive lead levels," the official Chinese news agency Xinhua said Tuesday.

Climate Roulette

They say that everyone who finally gets it about climate change has an "Oh, shit" moment--an instant when the full scientific implications become clear and they suddenly realize what a horrifically dangerous situation humanity has created for itself.

Coal will remain in energy mix, but will not be dominant;Coal will remain in energy mix, but will not be dominant; panel panel

The push to cut greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide, does not mean the end of coal-fired generation, but coal, which is fueling about 50% of US power generation, will not be the dominant player in 20 years, panelists said Thursday in web seminar.

Consumer Electronics' Role

When the utility industry talks about home energy management, the focus is often on managing home appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators. But what about all of the other stuff we plug in -- or just never unplug -- each day? The "plug load," which consists of many consumer electronics (CEs), just doesn't get enough air time today in smart grid discussions.

Crude futures lower as Dollar Index inches higher

The dollar-led movement in the crude complex continued Friday as the stronger US currency forced crude benchmarks down.

Both the NYMEX WTI and ICE Brent benchmarks traded at discounts to previous settles with the NYMEX WTI contract traded at $77.36/barrel, down $0.22/b at 1023 GMT.

The new front month ICE Brent contract traded at $75.86/b, a $0.37 fall.

Dow Launches The Dow Live Earth Run For Water – The Largest Global Water Initiative In History To Help Solve The World Water Crisis

Recently, Dow, along with Live Earth and Global Water Challenge, announced plans to implement the largest worldwide water initiative on record to help combat the global water crisis. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water – to take place April 18, 2010 ...

Drinking From Plastic Bottles Raises BPA Levels by 70 Percent

BPA, an industrial chemical that makes plastics hard and transparent, is widely used in plastic drinking bottles, infant bottles and other consumer products, and also in resins that line cans of food and infant formula. The chemical has been shown to disrupt the hormonal system, potentially leading to reproductive defects as well as brain damage, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.

Earth's Life Support Systems Failing

The world has failed to slow the accelerating extinction crisis despite 17 years of national and international efforts since the great hopes raised at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

EC prepared to make EU proposals on nuclear waste; official

"Nuclear waste storage is more a political than technical issue," the EC's director for nuclear energy Peter Faross told an industry meeting in Brussels. "I can't announce any details until we have a new [energy] commissioner but the services would be ready to make appropriate proposals on waste management."

Energy Efficiency Still Dominates, But Other Factors Influencing Green IT and Sustainability Policies of US Companies

Energy remains the dominant reason why U.S. companies have adopted green IT and sustainability strategies. However, a recent IDC survey found that energy is less of a policy factor today than it was twelve months ago, when 77% of U.S. companies identified energy as the primary reason for their green IT and sustainability strategy compared to 64% in 2009.

EPA Recognizes Leaders In Water Efficiency

More than 1,000 WaterSense partners helped Americans save 9.3 billion gallons of water in 2008. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named five of them as the 2009 WaterSense Partners of the Year.

EPA Releases List Of Priority Drinking Water Contaminants For Regulatory Consideration

EPA is releasing its third list of drinking water contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may require regulation. EPA will continue to evaluate and collect data on the contaminants, and determine by 2013 for some of them whether or not to propose drinking water regulations.

Fossil Fuel Production Up Despite Recession

World production of fossil fuels--oil, coal, and natural gas--increased 2.9 percent in 2008 to reach 27.4 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) per day, the highest ever recorded.

GAO Report; Ethanol Tax Credit Is Unnecessary, Costly

The investigative arm of the U.S. Congress said a federal tax incentive granted to ethanol blenders is unnecessary and may no longer be needed to stimulate the production of corn-based fuel.

GE Eyes $6 Billion In Renewable Investment By 2010

General Electric Co aims to boost its investment in renewable energy generation to $6 billion from its current $4 billion level by the end of 2010

Getting Greener May Cost Us Less Than We Think

"Over the next few decades the economic losses from policies to avert climate change would exceed the economic gains in terms of climate change," he added

Giant Invasive Snakes, Giant Problem for U.S. Ecosystems

Five giant exotic snake species already in the United States would pose high risks to the health of U.S. ecosystems if they become established here, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.

Global Warming Threatens to Upset Arctic Carbon Trapping

The study shows that the arctic could potentially alter the Earth’s climate by becoming a possible source of global atmospheric carbon dioxide. The arctic now traps or absorbs up to 25 percent of this gas but climate change could alter that amount, according to a study published in the November issue of Ecological Monographs.

Gold smashes records on flip coin safe-haven-risk appetite

In contrast to those who express concerns about future inflationary pressure, Jim Steel, chief commodities analyst at HSBC, believes that fear of upward inflationary pressure is not the issue driving gold prices.

How PV grid-tie inverters can zap utility power factor

Compared to their residential forerunners that generated only a few kilowatts (kW) of power, the mammoth systems of today are designed to put out upwards of 100kW. While these super-sized powerhouses can dramatically lessen reliance on utility power, there is something else they do that may surprise you.

In Search of Wildlife-Friendly Biofuels

The unintended consequence of crop-based biofuels may be the loss of wildlife habitat, particularly that of the birds who call this country’s grasslands home

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Saves 10pct of World's Wild Plants

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew celebrated a milestone in plant conservation today, the collection and banking of 10 percent of the world's wild plant species. The 10 percent target was set in 2000 when Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership was formed.

Minnesota Indian Tribe Calls on President Obama to Find Solution to Nuclear Waste Issue

The Tribe's urging comes after Congress approved the FY2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill which cuts funding for the proposed national nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nev., to record low levels. High-level, radioactive nuclear waste from the nation's nuclear power plants is currently accumulating at 'temporary' storage sites in 39 different states...

More refinery shutdowns needed for margins to improve

Sunoco's plans to indefinitely shut for economic reasons its 145,000 b/d Eagle Point refinery in Westville, New Jersey, near Philadelphia, did not come as a major surprise to most in the gasoline market.

But they add it would take many more similar shutdowns, not only on the US Atlantic Coast but also down on the US Gulf Coast, before such moves would generate any tangible effect on US refining margins.

Large swathes of the industry do admit that gasoline-centered refineries -- which make up the bulk of US plants -- are bearing the brunt of current weak margin situation.

MSU Scientists Developing More Efficient Solar Energy

A collaboration of chemists, mathematicians and engineers at Michigan State University is driving to improve solar panel technology, backed by a $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

The three-year grant comes from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies and will focus on developing methods for making a new class of solar cells from cheaper materials.

N.C. Coal Ash Ponds Contaminating Groundwater, Analysis Shows

An independent analysis of water testing data has revealed that thirteen North Carolina coal ash ponds are leaking toxic pollutants into groundwater.

The analysis of groundwater contamination data was conducted by Appalachian Voices' Upper Watauga Riverkeeper team, who reviewed test results on coal ash ponds located next to the state's coal-fired power plants.

Next German gov't to cut solar subsidies

Germany's next government is considering slashing subsidies to renewable energy industries, particularly solar, an energy expert with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats said Tuesday.

Offshore oil, gas contractors see pick-up in upstream activity

International oil and gas contractors are seeing a gradual recovery in their business as oil prices have stabilized and equipment costs have come off, industry sources said this week.

Upstream oil and gas development activity is picking up after oil prices have stabilized around $60-70/barrel, having fallen sharply from the $140/b levels seen last year, they said.

Though the high price was good for developing deepwater fields, it raised the cost of material and equipment, forcing companies to shelve projects.

Oil demand for developed countries peaked in 2005; CERA report

Though demand for oil will grow modestly in the coming years from these economies, the level of oil consumption will never reach its 2005 peak, according to the report.

One of the largest biomass-fuelled electric generating facilities

One of the largest biomass-fuelled electric  facilities in the USA, capable of generating 100 MW.

OPEC raises call on its crude for 2009, 2010

OPEC has raised its estimates of demand for its own crude in both 2009 and 2010 on expectations that world oil demand will be stronger than predicted in light of an improving economic outlook.

The oil exporter club now expects demand for its crude to average 28.6 million b/d in 2009, 100,000 b/d more than its previous forecast a month ago, and 28.4 million b/d in 2010, 300,000 b/d more than previously forecast.

OPEC's cup brimming despite leakage

Steadily diminishing OPEC compliance with last December's 4.2 million b/d output pact is turning out to be no big deal in light of rising hopes that the world economy may finally be on the path to recovery.

The latest Platts estimates show total OPEC production in September at 28.83 million b/d and output from the 11 members bound by quotas at 26.33 million b/d, up 40,000 b/d and 90,000 b/d respectively from August.

Paving The Way For More Renewable Energy

President Obama has set an ambitious goal of doubling renewable energy production in the United States within three years, which would spur the development of a clean-tech economy and address the challenge of climate change. There’s just one problem: even if we achieve the president’s goal of producing more renewable energy, we have no way of actually delivering that energy to where it’s needed.

Political Alliances Shift in Fight Over Climate Bill

The flurry of companies quitting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is highlighting how the climate-change issue is straining traditional alliances in Washington, as some businesses seek to profit from overhauling the energy market and others try to cut deals to head off tougher regulation.

Some companies and industry groups that have in the past worked with Republicans to fight efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels -- such as Detroit's auto makers -- are now expressing support for action on climate change.

Quality protocol introduced for biodiesel from waste cooking oil and rendered animal fats

Prior to the introduction of the new protocol, all biodiesel from waste cooking oil and rendered animal fats was classified as a waste product until it was burnt in an engine. This placed an administrative burden – and associated costs - on producers and end users of the biofuel, who were required to comply with waste management controls governing its handling, transport and storage. The ‘waste’ tag applied to biodiesel also created problems for producers keen to market their biofuel as a quality product.

Recycled tires to fuel Colorado energy company

Novo´s process converts the tire chips into fuel and fuel additives including but not limited to diesel and gasoline. The company plans to construct its first tire-to-fuel plant in the Denver-area by the second quarter of 2010.

Renewable Hydrogen Production Becomes Reality At Winery

The first demonstration of a renewable method for hydrogen production from wastewater using a microbial electrolysis system is underway at the Napa Wine Company in Oakville. The refrigerator-sized hydrogen generator will take winery wastewater, and using bacteria and a small amount of electrical energy, convert the organic material into hydrogen, according to a Penn State environmental engineer.

RFA Responds to GAO Biofuel Report

Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a compilation of critiques of America’s ethanol industry. Containing little in the way of new information or analyses, the report does nothing to address the issues facing America regarding its reliance on foreign oil.

Sulfuric Acid Manufacturer Agrees To Spend $30 M To Resolve Clean Air Violations

Mosaic Fertilizer will spend approximately $30 million on air pollution controls that are expected to eliminate harmful emissions from sulfuric acid production plants in Uncle Sam, La., and Mulberry, Fla., the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced. The company will also pay a civil penalty of $2.4 million to resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations.

Supporters Say Summit Won't Reach Climate Deal

An international meeting in December to create tough new goals for fighting global warming will fail to produce a deal, but more modest objectives can be achieved, supporters said on Wednesday.

U.N. Climate Talks May Need Extra time In 2010

World climate talks may need extra time next year to agree cuts in greenhouse emissions for 2020 since U.S. laws are unlikely to be in place before a U.N. meeting in Copenhagen in December, experts say.

A deal from the 190-nation December 7-18 talks may focus on finance to help developing nations confront global warming, technology and institutions. But a key goal of fixing country by country targets for the rich to curb emissions by 2020 may slip.

U.S. Army To Build 500 MW Solar Power Plant

The U.S. military is tackling a new mission in the field of alternative energy, moving to power up a 500-megawatt solar facility at Fort Irwin's sprawling desert complex in California.

U.S. Climate Plan will Boost Nuclear, Renewables

A U.S. cap-and-trade market on greenhouse gases should be designed carefully to avoid unfair economic pain in fossil fuel industries and other parts of the economy, experts told lawmakers on Wednesday.

The aim of a cap-and-trade market on greenhouse gases at the center of the climate bill introduced by Senate leaders this month would transform the economy from being based on fossil fuels to more nuclear and renewable power.

U.S. Headed for Massive Decline in Carbon Emissions

"For years now, many members of Congress have insisted that cutting carbon emissions was difficult, if not impossible. It is not," says Lester R. Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute, in a recent release, "U.S. Headed for Massive Decline in Carbon Emissions" "During the two years since 2007, carbon emissions have dropped 9 percent. While part of this drop is from the recession, part of it is also from efficiency gains and from replacing coal with natural gas, wind, solar, and geothermal energy."

US gas pipeline companies preparing for 2010 price rebound

The US gas pipeline industry continues to build new capacity, particularly in the West, in anticipation of a gas market rebound next year, several executives said Tuesday at the LDC Forum near Los Angeles.

"If production can turn down so quickly in one year, we don't see any reason why it can't turn back just as quickly," said Todd Kremer, business development director for Kern River Gas Transmission.

Utility Prepares for Smart Meters and Plug-ins

From smart meter pilot programs to plans for electric vehicle charging stations, utilities are moving from concept to reality as the ways in which electricity is used and delivered is radically altered in the early 21st Century.

Vaccine Exemption Forms

Vaccine exemption forms for many states in the US,  Australia,  Canada,  New Zealand

Water Polluters Beware; EPA Plans to Enforce Clean Water Act

At a Congressional hearing today held to mark the 37th year since passage of the Clean Water Act, U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced that the agency is stepping up its efforts to enforce the law.

White House announces nation-to-nation conference

“Indian country has been waiting for well over a decade for a meeting of this caliber with the President of the United States,” said Joe A. Garcia, National Congress of American Indians president.

Leaders of all 564 federally recognized tribes will be invited, an announcement said, adding that they will be given the opportunity to interact directly with the president and other top administration officials.

Why You Should Say No to GMOs

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are the latest travesty thrust upon an unsuspecting public by the greedy, control minded corporations that see the Almighty Sign ($$) as the ultimate in achieving the highest "bottom line" possible. If you control the food supply you control the people. If you control the people, then ultimately they will work for you and their money is yours.

Did you know...if seeds from a GMO field blow over to a non-GMO field the non-GMO farmer can be sued for theft?

 

October 13, 2009

 

BioFuelBox Deploys World's First Waste-FOG-To-Fuel Plant

BioFuelBox Inc., a leader in waste-to-fuel solutions, announces the world's first fully scaled refinery for converting waste fat, oil and grease (FOG) from wastewater into a clean-burning renewable fuel

California Heats Up Incentives For Solar Power

California is heating up its push for clean energy, as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger approved a new subsidy for solar power on Monday and joined forces with the federal government to fast-track renewable energy projects.

Carbon Capture Coal Tech Must Be Ready By 2019

A technology to bury underground the greenhouse gas emissions produced from burning coal must be ready for global deployment by 2017-2019, U.S. energy secretary Steven Chu said on Monday.

Coal is the world's single biggest source of carbon emissions, at 40 percent. Other sources included burning oil and natural gas, and deforestation and the production of cement.

China leading world out of recession -- LSE economist

"This has happened at least twice before," said Quah, citing the global downturns of 1991 and 2001. "Asia carried growth forward in those instances. We have seen the US start to dry up as a well of consumption. This has not slowed down China. It has started to propel global growth in previous downturns."

Climate Bill Differences; Waxman-Markey versus Kerry-Boxer

On September 30, 2009, Senators John Kerry (D–Mass.) and Barbara Boxer (D–Calif.) introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (the Kerry–Boxer bill). This bill follows the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, sponsored by Representatives Henry Waxman (D–Calif.) and Edward Markey (D–Mass.), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2009. This article will describe the main differences between the Kerry–Boxer bill and the Waxman–Markey bill.

Controversy over H1N1 vaccine grows

Whether someone thinks they need the flu vaccine or not, some health experts are saying they need to know some important information before deciding.

One of the most important things to know is that if there are any complications, injuries or fatalities from taking the vaccine, they are on their own.
There is no legal recourse for adverse affects from the vaccine. Vaccine makers, federal officials and anyone giving the shot will be immune from lawsuits, according to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.

Crude futures higher as rally persists, ICE Brent at $71.90/b

Global crude futures reversed earlier Asian losses Tuesday and continued to ascend to new highs for the week. Both the NYMEX WTI and ICE Brent contracts surpassed Monday's highs, supported by firmer equity markets, sources said. At 10:08 GMT, the front month ICE Brent contract added $0.54/barrel to the overnight settle to trade at $71.90/b.

Drinking And Waste Water Engineers Together For First Time To Address Grey Water Use Obstacles

This session marks the first time that drinking and waste water engineers have joined together in a single session to promote the use of grey water, or waste water generated by domestic processes such as dish washing, laundry and bathing.

"It's obvious that using drinking water to flush toilets and irrigate landscapes is an incredible waste. Yet, politicians continue to block the use of grey water due to misconceptions about current technology...

Drinking Water For 1.8 Million In Pittsburgh Area At Risk

Analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency shows that drinking water supplies for at least 1,868,000 residents in the Pittsburgh area are at risk of contamination from industrial pollution – and federal agencies like EPA may not have authority to stop it.

Economic Crisis Has Slowed Global Climate Change

Emissions of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas mainly responsible for global warming, could fall three percent worldwide in 2009 due to the global financial and economic crisis, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.

EIA raises OPEC 2010 export earnings forecast by $11 bil

The US Energy Information Administration has raised its forecast of oil producer group OPEC's export earnings for 2010 by $11 billion but has trimmed its forecast of 2009 revenues by $1 billion.

EPA Begins New Scientific Evaluation Of Atrazine

One of the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the U.S., atrazine can be applied before and after planting to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. EPA will evaluate the pesticide's potential cancer and non-cancer effects on humans. Included in this new evaluation will be the most recent studies on atrazine and its potential association with birth defects, low birth weight, and premature births.

Europe To Throw $73 Billion Behind Energy Research

Europe will this week launch a campaign to triple funding for energy research to 8 billion euros ($11.7 billion) a year in a technology race with Japan and the United States, a draft document shows.

Gold remains above $1,050 oz, sentiment robust

The dollar has been a key driver of gold's rally for a number of months. With the greenback's validity as the global reserve currency coming under ever-more scrutiny, further weakness could help propel the yellow metal even higher.

Industry On Board

Call it the one-two punch that proponents say will advance the climate change agenda. The U.S. Senate is now debating a measure similar to that of the House while the U.S. EPA has proposed that utilities install modern pollution control equipment on all facilities they modify or build.

Iowa unveils photobioreactor to reduce CO2 emissions

A photobioreactor, funded in part by state grants, is being unveiled in Iowa where an algae harvesting system was installed in an ethanol plant in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions.

Kashmir's main glacier 'melting at alarming speed'

Indian Kashmir's biggest glacier, which feeds the region's main river, is melting faster than other Himalayas glaciers, threatening the water supply of tens of thousands of people, a new report warned on Monday.

Experts say rising temperatures are rapidly shrinking Himalayan glaciers, underscoring the effects of climate change that has caused temperatures in the mountainous region to rise by about 1.1 degrees Celsius in the past 100 years.

Natural Solutions Foundation Seeks Delay in Vaccine Use Until Legally Required Safety Testing Has Been Completed

Although safety testing of all vaccines is inadequate, as shown by the high levels of side effects, adverse events and damage caused by vaccines, especially influenza vaccines [and most especially, live attenuated influenza virus or LAIV vaccines], even that safety testing has been eliminated by the FDA. The government says that the H1N1 virus is so novel that they classify it as a bioweapon.

October 2009 Economic Outlook, Will Recovery Be Experienced Equally Across States

Economic indicators point toward modest economic growth during the third quarter.  Analysts will debate whether this marks the start of a fledging recovery, but the consensus view is that the longest, deepest recession since the 1930s has passed.  At the national level things are looking better – but at a local level the story is mixed.

Offshore Wind Could Surge

Offshore wind development, in theory, would avoid the typical in-fighting that occurs with respect to all other of power projects that are built on land. In practice, however, it is just as onerous largely because the wind mills in some places could be seen by local residents and because of the extensive underwater transmission systems that are thought to harm sea life.

On the rebound

Cautious optimism best describes the International Energy Agency's latest assessment of the world oil market, which suggests an upturn in oil demand is just around the corner.

OPEC ups 2009 call on own crude 100,000 b/d to 28.6 mil b/d

OPEC said Tuesday it expected demand for its crude to average 28.6 million b/d in 2009, 100,000 b/d more than its previous forecast a month ago.

The oil producer group also revised upward its forecast of the call on OPEC crude in 2010.

Oregon Dead Zone Blamed on Climate Change

Climate change is likely responsible for the formation of a large dead zone that has formed off the coast of Oregon and Washington for the past eight years, researchers from Oregon State University said today.

Dead zones are ocean expanses that lose most of their marine life during the summer due to a lack of oxygen, called hypoxia. The Pacific Northwest dead zones, which have appeared every summer since 2002, are located in one of the nation's most important fisheries.

Peak oil guru Simmons wants G20 to lead data transparency drive

One of the founding fathers of the peak oil movement, Matthew Simmons, renewed his call Monday for greater data transparency to help prove or disprove peak oil theories.

Rainwater Harvesting Enjoys Enormous Growth Across U.S.

The nation's interest in "green" living and "green" jobs is continuing to fuel the growth of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), a national non-profit that educates people on how to use rainwater harvesting systems and conserve water. During the past three years, ARCSA's membership has grown rapidly from 256 members to over 700 as of September 2009.

Schwarzenegger, Interior Secretary Salazar sign renewables MOU

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar that it is hoped will speed up the siting of renewable energy projects.

Solar days on the National Mall

A sunny, sunny Sunday on the National Mall, and it was just the ticket for the apparently thousands of people lined up to get in the 20 800-square-foot houses erected there to show off what can be done with solar power.

And because just doing it is not enough, we can vote for the one we like best.

Soros Aims To Invest $1 Bln In Green Tech

Billionaire George Soros said on Saturday that he would invest $1 billion in clean energy technology as part of an effort to combat climate change.

The Hungarian-born U.S. investor also announced he would form and fund a new climate policy initiative with $10 million a year for 10 years.

'Stop the Shot' Litigation Filed Today in DC Court!

The Foundation's Court complaint alleges that the government failed to follow its own rules and applicable legislation in rushing the vaccine approvals in the absence of any of the requisite minimum scientifically sound and appropriate testing for both safety and effectiveness as required by law since 1964.

Take that, California. Massachusetts flexes its efficiency muscle

Senators from California and Massachusetts are leading the climate-bill effort. At least so far, it is named for them: the Boxer-Kerry bill. Or Kerry-Boxer. Depends on who's talking. It is surely no coincidence that the two states are energy efficiency leaders, and now the rivalry (if indeed they have competitive streaks) has gotten a bit more interesting.

The gospel of shale gas being sung overseas

In almost breathless prose, the New York Times discovered Sunday that there's shale gas out there.

All over the world. Lots of it. As with US shale, estimates of proved reserves are all over the map -- ranging from as low as 10 years' worth to as high as several centuries' worth.

Truth Commission on Amazon massacre established

Iviche, a traditional Harakmbut leader, said the oil project threatens the forests and waters of the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, established in 2002 for the use of local Harakmbut, Yine and Matsigenka communities. “The project will destroy the forest and affect animals we use for food. Instead of going to the supermarket for food or medicine, we go to the forest. We depend on it for our sustenance.”

Iviche also charges that – in violation of international standards and Peru’s constitution – Hunt is operating without the consent of the area’s Native inhabitants. “They never have consulted with the communities,” he said, adding that residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the operations.

UK government must act now on carbon to meet targets; consultancy

The UK government needs to "take immediate steps" if it is to "dramatically shrink" the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases in line with targets recommended by the independent Committee on Climate Change, according to reports published Monday by Finnish consultancy Poyry.

We Energies says carbon-capture project works

The project was the first real-life demonstration of technology that uses chilled ammonia to act as a magnet to capture the greenhouse gas and purify it for possible shipment into underground geological formations instead of into the air.

 

October 9, 2009

 

Ameren rate hike under fire

Ameren Illinois executives on Monday night faced nearly two dozen skeptical ratepayers who questioned the utility's request for $226 million in gas and electric rate increases.

Apples, Pumpkins and Squash — Time to Switch our Local Food Radar to Autumn

Eating locally can be a healthier, wiser way to go - fresher food is more nutrient rich. But shopping for local produce means we must learn to take control of our menu, work with what's in season and let go of what's heading out.

Now that it's fall, we have to say goodbye to berries, hello to pumpkins, and dig through our cookbooks for that squash soup recipe.

Biogas being used to boost and broaden farm businesses

“Interest in biogas plants remains high both in Germany and abroad," says the company. "EnviTec is increasingly negotiating with agricultural business. Uncertain prices of agricultural products are prompting many farmers to consider diversifying their operations".

Can Russia develop a nanotech industry?

Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev wants Russia to move full speed ahead in developing a nanotechnology industry to weed the country from its dependency on profits from its vast oil and gas natural resources.

CDC Drafts 'Isolation Order' for H1N1

The following draft of an “isolation order” was discovered on the  CDC’s website. It is a template for state and local officials to impose quarantines and what would effectively be martial law.

Chemo Does Not Cure; Often It Inflicts Damage and Spreads Cancer

For years now, many of us who advocate natural health and natural approaches to beating cancer have warned against the dangers and the ineffectiveness of chemotherapy. The following report presented at the 27th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium illustrates how chemo actually spreads cancer cells, as well as points out how little we are being told about the dangers of chemo:

China and USA energy and climate change comparison

China has long since been criticised by the West as being intransigent on its response to climate change issues. But a new analysis by NGO Greenpeace compares various aspects of China's policy and energy landscape with that of the USA, and it reveals some interesting findings.

China's Solar Footprint Could Grow Tenfold Through Policies, Low Prices, According to New Report

Demand for solar panels inside of China could explode over the next three years, presenting an opportunity for investors and select international partners, according to a new report from GTM Research, the market research arm of Greentech Media.

CIO Exodus

Industry observers have noted the growing number of utility chief information officers who have either resigned or retired in recent months....Regardless of the reasons, one thing is clear: The departure of so many CIOs, each with a great deal of experience and tenure, will have a profound impact on the evolution and implementation of smart grid technologies.

Clean Car Rule Must be a Victory for Consumers and the Environment

In May, President Barack Obama announced national clean car standards to spur the creation of a U.S. automobile fleet that averages approximately 35 miles-per-gallon by 2016. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) are currently finalizing the rule to implement these standards.

Cogeneration and hydrogen production for solar-grade polysilicon

Global issues such as the depletion of fossil fuels, long-term supply security of fossil fuels, global warming, and greenhouse gas emissions raise concerns on what holds for the future. These issues trigger as to what is needed today in going forward for our future generations. The new directions of using energy-efficient technologies and the use of renewable energy in the industry are a necessity.

Commercial Green Fuel From Algae Still Years Away

Filling your vehicle's tank with fuel made from algae is still as much as a decade away, as the emerging industry faces a series of hurdles to find an economical way to make the biofuel commercially.

Cracks open in E&P fracking fluid disclosure front

Until recently, the oil and natural gas exploration-and-production industry has presented a united front on the need to keep secret the chemical composition of its hydraulic fracturing fluids, but that wall of silence is now beginning to see some cracks.

Crude benchmarks higher, WTI at $70.30b, as US dollar weakens

Crude futures pushed higher in European morning trading Thursday as the US dollar came under further selling pressure, with the ICE Dollar Index trading down to its lowest level since September 23.

"The crude complex is higher on non-oil news. We're seeing a counter-reaction to yesterday's levels following the US inventory statistics, but much of the upward momentum is attributable to the currency markets, specifically the US dollar," a London-based broker said.

Current technology can cut most coal-fired mercury emissions; GAO

Sorbent injection systems can be used to reduce between 80% and 90% of mercury emissions, the GAO found in tests that the Department of Energy conducted at 14 coal-fired plants. Similar reductions can be made across the country, as most coal-fired power plants used the tested coal and boiler configurations, said John Stephenson, GAO's Director of Natural Resources and Environment.

Desalination Technology Increases Naval Capabilities, Meets Humanitarian Needs

Before the advent of modern desalinization plants, mariners relied on the fresh water they collected from rain and stowed while at sea. Today, Sailors and Marines benefit from high-tech, Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalinization plants aboard most U.S. Navy ships.

El Niño is expected to strengthen and last through the Northern Hemisphere winter 2009-2010

A weak El Niño continued during September 2009, as sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies remained nearly unchanged across much of the equatorial Pacific Ocean....For the contiguous United States, potential impacts include above-average precipitation along the Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida, and below-average precipitation for the Pacific Northwest. Other potential impacts include a continued suppression of Atlantic hurricane activity, along with above-average temperatures and below-average snowfall for the Northern Plains.

Engaging Third Voices to Avoid the 'Nuclear Option'

Nuclear power may be on the way back into vogue, but the nuclear option is something you want to stay away from in your public engagement.

EPA Carbon Control Seen Fraught With Problems

The Obama administration has warned it could use the Environmental Protection Agency to help cut carbon emissions if Congress drags its heels, but legal and logistical problems could thwart that strategy.

EPA Lists Areas Violating Daily Air Pollution Requirements

EPA is designating 31 areas across the country as not meeting the agency’s daily standards for fine particle air pollution (PM 2.5), or particulate matter. Particulate matter, which is emitted by power plants, factories and motor vehicles, can cause a number of serious health problems including aggravated asthma, increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits, heart attacks and premature death

Frost & Sullivan Hosts Free Webinar To Discuss Residential Water Treatment In Select Countries

In the past decade, the global residential water treatment market has experienced a steady growth rate. An increased awareness of water quality issues and broad media coverage of health outbreaks facilitated market development, which allowed manufacturers to expand market share. The market is largely driven by consumer awareness of health risks, efficiency improvements and available products. Future demand in this market is likely to remain high.

German biofuels producers encouraged by new government

Germany's biofuels producers are hopeful the country's new government formed by the coalition of the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union parties as well as the Free Democratic Party and elected on September 27 will once again support the biofuels industry.

Hu on Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets Act of 2009

It helps to establish a regulatory framework that addresses risks to the financial system and promotes efficiency and transparency in the markets.  We strongly encourage Congress to build off this proposal and enact legislation that will bring even more vital transparency and oversight to this market.

Iran Says Some Countries Offer It Nuclear Fuel

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that some countries had offered to provide Iran with uranium enriched to 20 percent for use as nuclear reactor fuel, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Iraqi oil output above 2.5 mil b/d in September; official data

Iraqi crude production, as measured at the wellhead, rose to 2.502 million b/d in September from 2.49 million b/d in August, continuing the recovery seen through much of this year, according to oil ministry figures obtained by Platts Wednesday.

Is the German Renewable Energy Industry in Jeopardy?

Germany's newly elected government could hinder the expansion of renewable energy in the country with its plans to extend the lifetime of nuclear reactors, warns the German Renewable Energy Federation (Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie - BEE).

"There has to be a commitment to a sustainable energy strategy."

'Istanbul Decisions' to Guide IMF as Countries Shape Post-Crisis World

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn told policymakers from 186 countries gathered in Istanbul that global cooperation had saved the world from a far worse crisis and leaders should now seize the opportunity to shape a post-crisis world.

KAB releases results of 2009 Great American Cleanup

Keep America Beautiful has released the results of its 2009 Great American Cleanup, held March 1-May 31 this year.

Over the three-month period, the organization reported 3 million participants collected 64 million pounds of litter and debris from public lands including parklands, rivers, lakes and wetlands.

Maldives President Calls Underwater Cabinet Meeting; Tells His Ministers to Take Scuba Lessons

Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed has asked his cabinet members to take scuba lessons and learn underwater signs in preparation for a cabinet meeting he has called for October 17 – the reason for the lessons and sign language is because the meeting will be held 20 feet underwater.

Mercury Limits Suspended for H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccine to Improve Access

Secretary of Health Mary Selecky is temporarily suspending Washingtons limit on the amount of mercury (thimerosal) allowed in H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine given to pregnant women and children under three.

National Poll Shows More Than Nine Out of 10 Americans Want Solar Now

A vast majority of Americans, across all political parties, overwhelmingly support development and funding of solar energy, and their support for solar has remained consistent over the last year.

New EPA Rule Will Require Use Of Best Technologies To Reduce Greenhouse Gases From Large Facilities

The Administrator will announce a proposal requiring large industrial facilities that emit at least 25,000 tons of GHGs a year to obtain construction and operating permits covering these emissions. These permits must demonstrate the use of best available control technologies and energy efficiency measures to minimize GHG emissions when facilities are constructed or significantly modified.

NGWA Hosts November Conference On Petroleum Hydrocarbons And Organic Chemicals In Ground Water

NGWA has held this conference for more than 20 years, training groundwater professionals on how to protect groundwater from contamination, as well as how to clean up contaminated groundwater from spills and leaks. Through the years, in addition to petroleum hydrocarbons, the conference has expanded to cover many types of organic compounds.

Nigeria sets $50barrel oil price benchmark for 2010 budget

Nigeria has proposed a budget of Naira 2.5 trillion ($20 billion) for 2010 based on a benchmark oil price of $50/barrel, the state news agency Thursday reported Finance Minister Mansur Muhtar saying.

This compares with the $45/b benchmark Nigeria adopted for the purpose of revenue projections in the 2009 budget.

OPEC output rises 120,000 b/d in Sep, compliance down to 62%; IEA

OPEC crude production rose to 28.93 million b/d in September, up 120,000 b/d from 28.81 million b/d in August, the International Energy Agency said Friday.

In its latest monthly oil market report, the IEA attributed most of the increase in production to higher volumes from Angola and Nigeria, which outweighed smaller falls in supply from some other countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Our Global Ponzi Economy

Although the functioning of the global economy and a Ponzi investment scheme are not entirely analogous, there are some disturbing parallels. As recently as 1950 or so, the world economy was living more or less within its means, consuming only the sustainable yield, the interest of the natural systems that support it. But then as the economy doubled, and doubled again, and yet again, multiplying eightfold, it began to outrun sustainable yields and to consume the asset base itself.

Phoenix Power Group Commences Project To Generate Clean Electricity From Waste Oil

Phoenix Power Group LLC announced today that it has commenced development ofthe Phoenix 5 Series Power Generator, a revolutionary renewable power system capable of generating electricity from waste (used) oil. The company anticipates these prototype systems to be available for installation at selected partners' beta sites in 2010.

Portable And Precise Gas Sensor Could Monitor Pollution And Detect Disease

In the air, it is a serious pollutant. In the body, it plays a role in heart rate, blood flow, nerve signals and immune function.

Nitric oxide, a gas well known to scientists for its myriad functions, has proven challenging to measure accurately outside the laboratory.

Pure Revolution Makes Drinking Water Safe

Reverse osmosis technology proven to be the only reliable solution to remove all contaminants now made affordable to homeowners and businesses.

Recycling And Land Reuse Practices Can Help Fight Climate Change

There is much potential to reduce the nation's greenhouse gases through recycling, waste reduction, smart growth, and by reusing formerly contaminated sites including brownfields.

Salt Water System Could Generate Hydrogen

The idea of generating hydrogen from salt water has often been claimed to work effectively. However, the systems proposed so far generally require a much greater energy input than the energy they produce, making them impractical for energy generation. Now, a recently revived system may be able to cheaply generate a small amount of power.

Saturn has a Giant New Ring!

NASA has discovered a surprise around Saturn. The Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered an enormous ring around the planet -- by far the largest of the giant planet's many rings.

Saving forests five times better than carbon capture for climate action

WWF Sweden is urging its government — holding the current EU Presidency - to get behind an effective international agreement on halting forest loss as a key and highly cost effective measure on climate change.

Schwarzenegger Muscles Lawmakers For Major Water Bill

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger desperately wants a bill to fund an overhaul of the state's water system -- so much so he is hinting he may veto more than 700 bills awaiting his signature by midnight Sunday if top lawmakers fail agree to one.

Senate approves apology to Natives, part two

The resolution extends a formal apology from the United States to tribal governments and Native American people nationwide. It is aimed at making amends for years of “ill-conceived policies” and acts of violence against Native Americans by U.S. citizens.

It also asks President Barack Obama to “acknowledge the wrongs of the United States against Indian tribes” in order to encourage healing.

Slow permitting holding back solar power in the West; industry

"Anything that takes the government two years to do, I guarantee you, could be done in six months," Roger Ballentine, president of energy and environment consulting company Green Strategies, said during a panel discussion Thursday in Washington.

Solar and wind projects added to Missouri loan assist program

A Missouri low-interest loan program for the first time is covering solar and wind projects when small businesses or homes use them to meet their energy needs.

Invest in Missouri is a 25-year-old program in which the state makes deposits in Missouri lending institutions so they can reduce interest rates on certain loans. The program is meant in part to boost the state's economy and create jobs.

Southeastern renewables sector in trouble if US GHG bill fails

Southeastern distributed solar developers warned Tuesday that blocking a US cap-and-trade bill in the Senate would create hurdles for renewable generation in their region.

Staples And Home Depot Join Effort To Save U.S. Forests

Staples Inc and Home Depot Inc are collaborating with environmental groups in a pilot program aimed at conserving fast-disappearing Southern U.S. forests, organizers said on Thursday.

Supergrid for Renewables; Coloring the US Grid Green

Renegades, some may call them, but people have lived off-grid for decades by relying exclusively on solar panels for electricity. Disconnected from their local utility, they have no central back-up and no reliability. Most solar electric users are less extreme. They remain connected to the utility and use a combination of solar and grid power.

The end of the petrodollar is nigh - not so fast

The story itself is hardly new, but with the US economy showing more than just a few signs of strain under the weight of trillions of dollars worth of debt in the post-bubble years, anti-dollar mutterings are not uncommon.

Dollar bashing was a long-term strategy of Saddam Hussein and more recently, Iran and Venezuela have been no strangers in calling for the ditching of the greenback. Iran has actually managed to get customers to pay in euros or yen but you won't see the price of internationally-trade oil quoted in anything other than dollars.

Thoughts on Irradiated Food

Is food irradiation good enough that we could theoretically go back to having rare hamburgers, soft-boiled eggs and unpasteurized milk? I miss all of those!

Carla


Dear Carla,

Let’s bond: I miss the hollandaise sauce at breakfast buffets, homemade mayonnaise, and eggnog made from scratch. Oh, and I miss raw chocolate chip cookie dough like the deserts miss the rain. 

The short answer to your question is no.

U.N. Says Renewable Energy Investment Down In 2009

Global investments in renewable energy technology like wind, solar and hydroelectric power have slid dramatically this year as the economic crisis limited government and private funds for new projects, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

U.S. Ethanol Profits From Bumper Corn Crop

The U.S. ethanol industry is chalking up the best profits in months after suffering through 2008, with a bumper corn crop this year, relatively high energy prices and the possibility of exports bolstering the sector.

Unsung Players in the Alt Energy Revolution

A few days ago I posted about T. Boone Pickens, thinking out loud about his impact on the ongoing discussion about and investment in renewable energy.  Since then it struck me that Pickens represents a new breed of public figure:

US Congress drains US$2 billion from renewable loan guarantees

As if the US renewable energy loan guarantee program hasn’t suffered problems enough, Congress contributed another headache in late July - just before recessing for the August break - when it reduced the budget of one of two loan guarantee programs by US$2 billion, reports Steve Barlas.

The money was transferred to the “Cash for Clunkers” program...

US DOE launches loan guarantee program for renewables

The US Department of Energy has launched a new program that will transfer some of its loan-making responsibilities to banks and other private-sector financial institutions to bankroll mature renewable energy projects.

US Geothermal Capacity Could Top 10 GW

A new report by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) shows growth in new geothermal power projects continuing through 2009. U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Update, September 2009 identifies 144 new geothermal projects under development in fourteen states that could represent as much as 7,100 megawatts (MW) of new baseload power capacity.

US tax credit application deadline approaching

Final applications for the US renewable advanced manufacturing tax credit program - jointly run by the Treasury Department and the Department of Energy - are due to the DOE and IRS on 16 October 2009.

US to offer 17 of 77 previously withdrawn Utah parcels

Speaking to reporters at the Interior Department, Salazar said the report signifies a new direction on how the US will lease public lands for oil and gas exploration.

"There was a headlong rush to leasing in the prior administration," he said. "It's a new day."

Waste_Inbox 100809

T. Boone Pickens became wildly successful in large part because he decided that he knew best and went after it.

When he spoke to a large audience at Wastecon last week, he gave them much the same advice when asked what the solid waste industry can do to improve the environment and the American energy situation. It's good advice.

Water Scarcity Will Create Global Security Concerns

'We have very little time,' says Nobel winner

"At one level the world's water is like the world's wealth. Globally, there is more than enough to go round. The problem is that some countries get a lot more than others," he says. "With 31 percent of global freshwater resources, Latin America has 12 times more water per person than South Asia. Some places, such as Brazil and Canada, get far more water than they can use; others, such as countries in the Middle East, get much less than they need."

Why so Much Talk About the Demise of the Dollar When There are Much More Important Issues to Worry About

The reality of the situation is that it would have been very hard to price commodities in terms of a basket of currencies that actually does not have a physical presence. The dollar exists and people understand how it relates to other currencies. More importantly people can pay for commodities denominated in dollars in dollars. They don’t need to constantly carry around a calculator to find out how to convert the price from the basket back to the amount they have to pay.

Wind-Power Also Comes With Environmental Costs

At the center of the back-and-forth between the Maine Public Utilites Commission and warring engergy developers is a question of whether industrial sized wind farms are really feasible in Maine.

Wind power is often seen as Maine's chance to contribute to reducing carbon emissions and to take advantage of its potential of becoming the "Saudi Arabia of wind."

World Carbon Database Launches To Track Global Carbon Offsets

The World Carbon Database (WCD) today launched the world's first integrated database for carbon offset credits and carbon reduction credits. WCD, a non-profit open resource, uses proprietary data collection tools at the point of sale to archive customer and product data, and is a single comprehensive source for data about carbon credit purchases and purchasers.

World's largest...in oil it's relative

On October 2nd, Russia was declared world's largest oil producer in terms of September production, courtesy of OPEC's own statistics.

This wasn't the first time its production had nudged ahead of Saudi Arabia's. Since August 2006 it's been in the statistical lead often. Even the US Energy Information Administration describes Saudi Arabia as the world's second largest crude oil producer after Russia. What was a more significant first was that Russian production exceeded 10m bpd (10.01) in September. That was a record for Russia and certainly close to Saudi Arabia's production high.

 

October 6, 2009

 

Acidic Clouds Nourish World's Oceans

Water droplets in clouds generally form around dust and other particles. When clouds evaporate, as they often do naturally, the surface of the particle can become very acidic. This is especially true where the air is polluted. Paradoxically, scientists suggest that large scale industry in countries like China could be combating global warming to some extent by creating more bioavailable iron in the oceans, and therefore increasing carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere.

Alternate-energy scramble on across West

It's a land rush across much of the West, which offers an abundance of wide-open public lands, steaming geothermal resources, blazing sunshine and unconstrained wind corridors.

Scores of projects — some speculative, others well-funded and a few quirky — have surfaced with energy companies eager to take advantage of loan guarantees and tax breaks being promoted by President Barack Obama:

Analysts look for 1.9-million-barrel US crude stock build

US crude inventories should show a build of 1.9 million barrels for the week ending October 2 when weekly statistics are published later this week, as refinery runs remain low and imports high, analysts polled by Platts said Monday.

And Now for Some Really Bad Economic News

The U.S. economy has a long way to go before the economic recovery will be either sustainable or robust.  Monetary indicators don’t look good and are once again getting worse.  I am concerned that the financial system hasn’t recovered enough for the Federal Reserve to withdraw from its program of quantitative easing. 

Apocalyptic Storm Brewing in MidEast

Events are moving so quickly in the epicenter it can be difficult to keep track of, much less understand the big picture. So here it is in a sentence: An apocalpytic storm is forming over the Middle East.

Arctic Ice Shows no Sign of Returning

Old, "multiyear" ice -- the glue that holds the polar ice cap together and forms the Arctic's defense against encroaching warming -- is slowly disintegrating, a process that is plain to see from the air.

As Hampton Roads' power grid nears limit, new lines go up

By the summer of 2011, demand for electricity in South Hampton Roads and on the Outer Banks will surpass what the region's power grid can reliably bear.

If nothing were done, outages that the system can absorb today could cause rolling blackouts.

Help is on the way...

Banks Don’t Intentionally Overcharge Credit Card Customers…Or Do They?

Have you ever tried to recalculate the finance charges on your credit card bill?  I am betting that few American’s know if their bank is overcharging them or not. 

Benefits of Organic Fruit are Worth the Price

"Non-organic foods are treated with toxins such as chemicals and pesticides," said Susan Scholl, a faculty member of the Department of Health and Wellness at Syracuse University.

But eating organic comes at a cost, and many people aren't interested in paying the extra money.

California Launches Largest Energy-Efficiency Effort in U.S. History

The California Public Utilities Commission says it wants to make energy efficiency a way of life in California, and on Thursday, the commission put its money where its mouth is by approving the largest energy-efficiency program in American history.

Cassandras of Climate

Every once in a while I feel despair over the fate of the planet. If you’ve been following climate science, you know what I mean: the sense that we’re hurtling toward catastrophe but nobody wants to hear about it or do anything to avert it.

And here’s the thing: I’m not engaging in hyperbole. These days, dire warnings aren’t the delusional raving of cranks. They’re what come out of the most widely respected climate models, devised by the leading researchers. The prognosis for the planet has gotten much, much worse in just the last few years.

Companies Race to Develop Utility-Scale Power Storage

Wind farms typically generate most of their energy at night, when most electricity demand is lowest. So a lot of that "green" energy is wasted.

So the big question is: How do you bottle that power for air conditioners and other appliances that are busiest during the day?

Dow Introduces Affordable Solar Power Shingles

Midland-based Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) Monday unveiled its line of Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles, revolutionary photovoltaic solar panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials.

Electric rate request high but not unprecedented

The way utilities raise rates -- in increases that come every several years, rather than gradual amounts every year -- is called "lumpiness" and means that in any given year, one utility will be the most costly but that utilities essentially take turns having the highest rates over time.

Energy partnership allows First Nations to develop own resources

Creating an environment where tribes and First Nations can be proactive in energy investments on their land is what the private equity development fund, known as Native American Resource Partners, does best.

EPA Will Spend $50 Million to Cap Toxic California Seabed

Undersea sediments along the shelf contain 110 tons of the pesticide DDT and about 10 tons of polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs, the agency says. The contaminated sediment at the Superfund site is too deep for direct human contact, but fish in the area contain levels of the toxics that pose risks to people and wildlife that eat them.

Forget Fertilizers; Energy Efficient Gardening Using Compost

Most gardening books and common wisdom recommend adding fertilizers to soil regularly to help ensure that plants get the major nutrients they need. But Earl Boyd with Lyngso Garden Materials says that adding fertilizer amendments to soil can actually disrupt the balance of nutrients in the soil and destroy trace minerals.

A healthy soil can help plants thrive and exchange nutrients. Fertilizers won’t kill plants, but they won’t support healthy soils either, Boyd said.

Friends of the Earth Statement on the Kerry-Boxer Draft Climate Bill

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica had the following statement in response to the Kerry-Boxer draft climate bill:

"We commend Senators Boxer and Kerry for their dedication to combating the important problem of climate change but we cannot support a bill that fails to solve the problem. Overall the draft is riddled with loopholes and does not go far enough to protect the planet. 

Fungus Illuminates World's Worst Extinction

In the wake of the world's worst mass extinction 250 million years ago, life on Earth was nearly nonexistent. All across the supercontinent Pangea, once lush forests lay in ruins, the corpses of trees poking like matchsticks into the poisoned air.

In their place fungus ruled the land, according to a new study. It feasted on defunct wood, spreading across the planet in an orgy of decay.

Global crude futures higher on weaker dollar, firmer equities

Global crude futures were higher during morning trading as a weaker dollar and firmer equity markets help support crude benchmarks, sources said.

"A stronger dollar, firmer equity markets and the general ebb and flow of crude buying and selling has pushed the market higher," a market source said.

Goldwater Institute; Arizona Constitution leaves many other states' in the dust

The Arizona Constitution rates better than the constitutions of most other states in part because it guards against government seizing private property and putting public dollars toward private ventures, according to a report by a conservative Goldwater Institute.

Governors' Global Climate Summit Backs Treaty With Teeth

At the Governors' Global Climate Summit today, 30 governors, premiers, mayors and senior officials from around the world and the United Nations declared that workable solutions to global warming exist and they want a strong climate deal to emerge from negotiations in Copenhagen this December.

Green Chemistry Fuels UQ Wastewater Study

UQ's Dr Korneel Rabaey will hone his knowledge in wastewater research as he taps into an exciting new way of producing energy-rich biofuels from wastewater and biomass.

Green Roofs Shown to Offset Warming

Filling rooftops with plants and dirt can help pull a modest amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, found a new study.

Home Appliances Are Starting to Wise Up

Whirlpool Corp. plans to produce 1 million "smart" clothes dryers by the end of 2011, a step toward the company's goal of making all of its appliances smart grid-compatible in six years.

In Marine Power Race, Sea Snake Leads

A first attempt fell victim to the crisis: now in the docks of Scotland's ancient capital, a second-generation scarlet Sea Snake is being prepared to harness the waves of Britain's northern islands to generate electricity.

Increased Risk Of Birth Defects After PCE Exposure

Exposure to tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchlorethylene, PCE) may cause congenital birth defects. A study of expectant women exposed to PCE in drinking water, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Environmental Health, found an increased risk of oral clefts and neural tube defects in their children.

It's Harvest Moon Time!

The Harvest Moon is the full moon after the fall equinox, which this year was the 22 of September. The Harvest Moon usually happens in September, but this year is a little late. You will be able to see it this weekend. But why is is so special about it?

Nothing happens to the Moon itself except that, during these days, it travels really close to the horizon. That triggers something called the Moon illusion.

More than one-fourth of new Colorado homes are ENERGY STAR

The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) announced today that ENERGY STAR New Homes accounted for more than 26 percent of the new homes built in the first half of 2009 in Colorado. Market penetration for efficient ENERGY STAR New Homes (ESNH) continues to grow in Colorado, a sign that homebuilders are a strong partner in Colorado's New Energy Economy.

Most people in denial over climate change, according to psychologists

The Met Office has warned that if the world continues to burn fossil fuels at the current rate temperatures will rise above four degrees C in the next fifty years.

This will cause sea level rise, droughts, floods and mass collapse of eco-systems.

However Clive Hamilton, Professor of public ethics at the Australian National University, said the majority of the population is still in denial about the risks of climate change.

New Mexico Power Project Applies to Use State of the Art Carbon Capture and Sequestration

Sithe Global Power LLC ("Sithe") announced today that it has applied for a $450MM Department of Energy ("DOE") grant under the CCPI 3 program to implement carbon capture and sequestration ("CCS") technology at its Desert Rock Energy Project, a proposed coal-fired power plant to be constructed on Navajo Nation territory in New Mexico.

Nike Resigns From Chamber Board

In another sign of the widening divide in the business community over climate change action, Nike announced Wednesday that it would resign its position on the board of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

North Carolina Enjoys Cleanest Air in 30 Years

North Carolina’s smog levels this year are the lowest since the state began monitoring air quality in the 1970s, due to weather patterns and declining emissions from industry and motor vehicles, according to data compiled by the state Division of Air Quality and made public today.

Obama Administration Backs Overhaul of Toxic Chemicals Law

Principles to guide Congress in writing a new chemical risk management law that will fix weaknesses in the current law, were announced by U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on Tuesday.

Obama Orders Federal Government To Cut Emissions

U.S. President Barack Obama ordered federal agencies on Monday to set a goal within 90 days for cutting their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, the White House said, aiming to "lead by example" in fighting climate change.

Over 150 Companies From 30 Plus States To Support Comprehensive Energy & Climate Legislation

In one of the most diverse business gatherings of its kind in support of climate legislation, the group will come to the Nation's Capitol on October 6th and 7th, to advocate for comprehensive climate and energy policies to create over 1.7 million new jobs, cut carbon pollution, restore America's competitiveness and provide for our economic and national security.

States urge caution, cooperation on smart grid in comments to FCC

State utility regulators want the US Federal Communications Commission to avoid getting too far along in promoting utility smart grid efforts as part of a national broadband plan and recommended more federal-state regulatory cooperation in comments filed with the FCC on Friday.

The Other Inconvenient Truth; The Crisis in Global Land Use

It’s taken a long time, but the issue of global climate change is finally getting the attention it deserves. While enormous technical, policy, and economic issues remain to be solved, there is now widespread acceptance of the need to confront the twin challenges of energy security and climate change. ..Unfortunately, this positive shift in the national zeitgeist has had an unintended downside. In the rush to portray the perils of climate change, many other serious issues have been largely ignored.

The Supply Question

Not long ago there were two widely held views when it came to the fossil fuels that powered nearly three-quarters of the electric generation industry: the United States was the "Saudi Arabia of coal," with a huge supply that would last well over two centuries, and the increasing reliance on natural gas to produce electricity would stress this country's ability to meet the demand from domestic, or even North American, sources.

Total U.S. coal consumption fell by over 9 percent between the first and second quarters of 2009 to 231.7 mst, its lowest quarterly level in 14 years

  • Production declined by 6.7 percent to 262.6 mst in the second quarter of 2009. This was the country’s lowest quarterly production in nine years.
  • Total U.S. coal consumption fell by over 9 percent between the first and second quarters of 2009 to 231.7 mst, its lowest quarterly level in 14 years.

Treatment Systems Can Help Schools Provide Students Safer Water

Following a comprehensive Associated Press study revealing that the drinking water in thousands of schools contains lead and other toxins, the Water Quality Association today urges administrators to look into treatment systems to protect their students.

U.N. Climate Scientist Says Clean Tech Good Investment

The United Nations scientist whose report set the global standard for climate change sees biofuels as a good investment bet and advised on Friday that people eat less meat to help curb global warming.

U.S. National Parks Vulnerable as Planet Heats Up

"Climate disruption is the greatest threat ever to America's national parks," warns Stephen Saunders, president of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and principal author of a new report released Thursday that identifies the 25 U.S. national parks, lakeshores, seashores and monuments most at risk of global warming.

U.S. solar industry to challenge tariff ruling

The U.S. solar energy industry hopes to persuade Customs officials to reverse a decision to impose a 2.5 percent tariff on solar panel imports after more than two decades of duty-free trade in the product, an industry official said on Thursday.

Unusual Arctic Warmth, Tropical Wetness Likely Cause for Methane Increase

Unusually high temperatures in the Arctic and heavy rains in the tropics likely drove a global increase in atmospheric methane in 2007 and 2008 after a decade of near-zero growth, according to a new study. Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, albeit a distant second.

NOAA scientists and their colleagues analyzed measurements from 1983 to 2008 from air samples collected weekly at 46 surface locations around the world.

UPS offers customers chance to offset carbon emissions

United Parcel Service of America is offering customers the chance to offset carbon emissions generated by the transportation of their packages in the United States.

The Atlanta-based shipping giant said a new program provides the option of paying an extra 5 cents for ground service and 20 cents for next day air, second day air and "3 Day Select" services.

US DOE official says policy success relies some on nuclear energy

US Under Secretary of Energy Kristina Johnson said promoting the expansion of civilian nuclear power in the US is important to the Obama administration, adding that her tenure at the Department of Energy "won't be as successful" if no new reactors result from the administration's energy policy.

US Senate climate bill weak on international carbon offsets; IETA

Carbon market players on Friday said a US Senate cap-and-trade bill needs to be far more open to the use of international offsets in order to reduce the economic impact on emitters looking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to spur investment in offset projects in high-emitting developing countries.

Utility Rate Cases

An increase in electric utility rates is always a delicate balancing act: electric utilities must pay for their own investments in new generation, transmission, or distribution, while consumers are focused on electricity reliability and affordable prices. With this year's economic downturn affecting everyone's bottom line, and many consumers finding it increasingly difficult to stay ahead of their bills, electric utilities too are finding the legislated focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and new transmission straining their own purse strings.

Vaccine skepticism is in the air

With the healthcare debate storming on, a study on attitudes over the flu vaccine shows a clear distrust in government. For some, such as blacks and immigrants, suspicions have deep roots.

Vermont boosts payoff for renewable energy

Seeking to boost solar and other types of renewable energy, Vermont has joined a small but growing number of states enacting guarantees for what utilities will pay for green power.

World carbon emissions down but urgent action still needed; IEA

The global financial crisis cut energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by 3% in 2009 and nudged the world onto the right path to prevent catastrophic climate change, but urgent action is still needed to prevent a drift back to business as usual, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.

 

October 2, 2009

 

50-MW Biomass Plant Planned in Scotland

A new 50 MW biomass-fueled co-generation plant is to be developed for papermaker Tullis Russell to supply its paper mill at Markinch, in Fife, Scotland, with heat and power.

The new facility will replace an existing coal-fired power plant at the Tullis Russell site and follows the signing of a multi-million pound deal the RWE npower renewables.

Air Pollutants From Abroad A Growing Concern, Says New

Plumes of harmful air pollutants can be transported across oceans and continents -- from Asia to the United States and from the United States to Europe -- and have a negative impact on air quality far from their original sources, says a new report by the National Research Council.

Belligerent Bosses, National Study Finds Employee Trust Sacrificed in the Financial Crisis

Employees report their bosses use threats and intimidation during the financial crisis, according to a national study of leadership funded by the University of Phoenix. “Questions get you written up and/or fired,” one worker said. The study’s results also showed employees increasing distrust what their bosses say.

Belligerent behavior and eroding employee trust are disturbing leadership trends in the financial crisis, according to Dr. Ruby Rouse and Dr. Richard Schuttler.

Children's diseases linked to chemicals on rise, professor says

Chronic childhood diseases linked to exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment have been surging upward, costing the U.S. almost $55 billion a year.

That was the opening message 150 scientists and doctors heard Wednesday at a daylong symposium on children's environmental health at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Climate Control Debate Heats Up In The Senate

The plan aims to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases over the next decades by encouraging broader use of solar, wind and other renewable fuels in place of more polluting ones such as oil.

It also would invest U.S. funds in finding cleaner ways to burn coal and other polluting fuels.

Concentrating Emissions; MIT Develops Initial Step Toward Carbon Sequestration

Ahmed Ghoniem of mechanical engineering leads an MIT effort to make coal plants cleaner by using a pressurized combustion system to capture carbon dioxide.

Researchers at MIT have shown the benefits of a new approach toward eliminating carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions at coal-burning power plants.

Cool Energy unveils engine that converts heat into power

Cool Energy Inc. has announced the new SolarHeart Engine, which converts low temperature heat into electrical power.

The SolarHeart Engine can be integrated into a solar thermal system for homes and buildings to provide both heat and electrical power from solar energy.

Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization?

The biggest threat to global stability is the potential for food crises in poor countries to cause government collapse

East Africa Drought In Fifth Year, Millions Hungry

Drought for a fifth year running is driving more than 23 million east Africans in seven countries towards severe hunger and destitution, international aid agency Oxfam said on Tuesday.

Emissions Targets, Costs Stall Climate Talks

Efforts to convince rich nations to toughen emissions cuts have failed to make much headway at climate talks in the Thai capital, the U.N. said on Friday.

Delegates from about 180 nations are meeting in Bangkok to try to narrow differences on ways to broaden and deepen the fight against climate change.

EPA Finalizes The Nation's First Greenhouse Gas Reporting System

On January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will, for the first time, require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin collecting greenhouse gas (GHG) data under a new reporting system. This new program will cover approximately 85 percent of the nation's GHG emissions and apply to roughly 10,000 facilities.

EPA outlines strategy to assess risks of nanomaterials

The U.S. EPA has outlined a new research strategy to better understand the potential health and environmental risks of manufactured nanomaterials as well as nanotechnologies potential use in cleaning up the environment.

Nanomaterials measure between one and 100 nanometers and are used in hundreds of consumer products, including paint, sunscreen, cosmetics and sports equipment.

EPA Requiring Local Governments To Initiate Storm Water Pollution Public Awareness Campaigns

"Love Your Stream", "Low Impact Living" fine art posters inspire change, teach residents best storm water practices. Teaching people to keep rain water clean creates healthier families, community, and saves millions of dollars.

EPA to regulate GHG emissions under Clean Air Act

The U.S. EPA is ready to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act if Congress doesn´t pass specific climate change legislation.

FPL Group And Duke Energy Investing $600 M To Convert Vehicles To Plug-In Hybrid Or Electric By 2020

FPL Group, Inc.and Duke Energy  today announced a commitment to transition their company cars and trucks to plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles.

High Tech May Pinpoint Antarctica Sea Rise Risks

Climate change is turning Antarctica's ice into one of the biggest risks for coming centuries. Even a tiny melt could drive up sea levels, affecting cities from New York to Beijing, or nations from Bangladesh to the Cook Islands -- named after the mariner -- in the Pacific.

Scientists are now trying to design ever more high tech experiments...

Hydropower in Canada; Past, Present, and Future

To celebrate hydropower's role as the leading source of electricity in Canada, the Canadian Hydropower Association produced Hydropower in Canada: Past Present and Future. This is an excerpt.

Income Poverty Still Falling, but More Slowly

The share of people living in extreme poverty--on less than $1.25 a day--is expected to fall slightly this year, from 21.3 percent in 2008 to 20.7 in 2009, according to the latest Vital Signs Update. Despite these gains, the economic crisis is slowing recent progress in reducing the number of people around the world living in extreme poverty.

Investor Confidence in US Capital Markets Stabilizes Despite Economic Turmoil

Despite two years of tumult in the global economy, investor confidence in U.S. capital markets has leveled off after dropping precipitously between 2007 and 2008, according to the Center for Audit Quality’s (CAQ) 3rd annual survey of individual investors.

Iran Nuclear Talks With U.S. And Allies Eases Tension

Talks between Iran and six major powers over Tehran's nuclear program on Thursday opened the door to improved relations as Iran agreed to allow U.N. inspectors into a newly disclosed uranium enrichment plant.

New Brunswick Power to Close Coal-Fired Plant and Strip Mine

New Brunswick Power announced today that the company will close its coal-fired Grand Lake generating station when its operating license expires in June 2010. During the early years of the Great Depression, New Brunswick Power built the Grand Lake facility, the Atlantic province's first thermal generating station.

New Round of Climate Talks Opens With Stern Warnings

United Nations climate change talks resumed today in Bangkok with dire warnings that failure to agree on a post-Kyoto treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions is a matter of life and death.

New Technologies May Grab Carbon Right Out Of Air

As the world wrestles with how to cut greenhouse gas emissions, new technologies are gearing up to grab climate-warming carbon right out of the air.

This is different from trapping carbon dioxide as it comes out of pollution sources like factories and power plants. This so-called air capture technology could be set up anywhere and suck carbon directly from the atmosphere.

North Carolina bans plastic bottles from state landfills

A North Carolina law goes into effect Oct. 1 banning plastic bottles from state landfills.

The law also dictates oil filters and wooden pallets must be kept out of landfills.

The state already bans materials such as scrap rubber and aluminum cans from the solid waste stream.

NRC suspends bankruptcy vote to explore other options

The National Recycling Coalition’s board of directors has suspended its vote to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy while other options are explored, giving the organization a new chance at viability.

Outlook for US Offshore Wind Projects; Favorable with High Gusts

The United States is viewed as one of the next big markets for offshore wind generation. Now that the Cape Wind project is considered more likely than not to proceed and the favorable political climate towards renewables, it is not a question of whether U.S. offshore wind farms will get built but how many.

Petroleum facility fined for storage of hazardous waste

The U.S. EPA filed an enforcement and compliance action against a Frontier Refining Inc., petroleum facility in Cheyenne, Wyo., for illegal storage of hazardous waste into a wastewater management pond. The government agency said they are seeking a fine of $7 million against the company for operation of an unauthorized hazardous waste management unit.

Poor Hit Back At Rich Over New Carbon Emission Demands

Developing countries have been ramping up voluntary efforts to curb emissions but wealthy states want these steps to be legally binding to make it easier to gauge the global level of ambition to fight climate change.

In short, they want such steps added to a registry or appendix, or to "write them on a piece of paper," one delegate from a rich country told Reuters. That would also help determine how much cash rich nations could give to poorer states to adapt to climate change impacts and to green their economies.

Recession is Over

Kamakura Corporation announced Thursday that the Kamakura index of troubled public companies made its sixth consecutive improvement in September, with credit conditions now substantially better than average. After reaching a peak of 24.3% in March, the Kamakura global index of troubled companies dropped an additional 1.5 percentage points to 10.9% of the public company universe in September.

Recyclers, labor unions applaud Kerry-Boxer climate bill

The Clean Energy, Jobs and American Power Act contains a section that would require the EPA to establish a program to provide states with funds for encouraging recycling.

Registering Greenhouse Gases

It's a first step. But it's a big one. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has signed a final rule to establish a mandatory greenhouse gas reporting system that it says would cover about 85 percent of all such emissions.

Right-Sizing Nuclear Power - September 18, 2009

If it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is false. ...Does anyone in the industry have any idea of the costs involved in just getting a nuke facility licensed even within a factor of 10? This was difficult 40 years ago. Does anyone think it would be less difficult or less costly today?

Russia does not want oil prices to go too high; president

Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that his country was not interested in oil prices going too high saying that a fair oil price should be at around $80/barrel-$90/b, as reported by Russia's Prime-Tass news agency.

He added a price that was too high would stop Russia initiating required structural changes to its economy.

Sens. Kerry and Boxer unveil GHG cap-and-trade bill

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, if eventually passed and signed into law, would require a reduction in the nation´s greenhouse gas emissions of 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 from 2005 levels. The system would apply only to the largest emitters in the country -- about 7,500 facilities that account for nearly 75% of the nation´s carbon emissions, the senators said. More than 98% of American businesses and farms would be exempt, they said.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) module production 'almost doubled' in 2008, says new report

According to the report, photovoltaics (PV) production in the world increased to about 7.3 GW in 2008, showing an 80% rise on the previous year.

Solar Systems Never Cheaper - September 16, 2009

I think it's worth pointing out that the solar "industry" should be seen as a value chain that extends far beyond upstream module manufacturers. It rightfully includes developers, financiers, EPCs, utilities, and IPPs who build, own, and operate PV power plants. While the decline in module prices may be an unwelcome trend to manufacturers, it has been positively received by just about everyone else in the downstream value chain.

Study shows consumers purchase some green products

A new sustainability study shows that the vast majority of consumers currently purchase at least some green products.

The coming 'big crunch' - IT systems will start failing on a large scale

A year ago, IT spending fell off a cliff. The key question is will it make a comeback in this quarter?

There’s a lot at stake. Hardware and software companies are hoping that IT spending will make a strong comeback this quarter because of all the pent up demand and because there’s a lot of aging IT gear out there.

The Future of Coal

Join distinguished industry leaders and Ken Silverstein, Editor-in-Chief of EnergyBiz Insider E-Newsletter, to discuss the future of coal-powered energy

The Key to Unlocking Efficient Solar Thermal Energy; Collaboration and Research

The principle of solar thermal power is sound: Focus the sun's energy on heat fluid-filled pipes, then transfer the heat and produce steam to run electricity-generating turbines. Cost, however, has prevented this promising clean energy technology from contributing more to the nation's power grid.

The Power of Solar Now

It's indisputable that solar energy is positioned for unprecedented growth in the years ahead, but does repeated emphasis on that promising future actually hold the industry back?

The Strategic Imperative for the U.S. Senate to Pass an Effective Energy Bill

The United States Senate possesses the key to address the most critical national security issue that the country presently faces. Will the Senate act decisively and without delay to protect our vital national interests or will it dither as Iran builds a nuclear bomb and further destabilizes the world?

Thirsty eucalyptus trees get the chop in Kenya

Farmers in central Kenya are cutting down water-hungry eucalyptus tree species growing near water sources as a government directive aiming to save water takes effect.

Environment minister, John Michuki, issued the directive three months ago in an attempt to lessen the impact of the drought that is ravaging the country.

Trash Or Treasure? Upcycling Becomes Growing Green Trend

Rather than throwing that bag or hosepipe into the recycle bin, how about turning it into a belt or a shower curtain, joining a growing band of upcyclers?

Upcycling refers to reusing an object in a new way without degrading the material it is made from, as opposed to recycling which generally involves breaking down the original material and making it into something else, using more energy.

Two Meter Sea Level Rise Unstoppable-Experts

A rise of at least two meters in the world's sea levels is now almost unstoppable, experts told a climate conference at Oxford University on Tuesday.

"The crux of the sea level issue is that it starts very slowly but once it gets going it is practically unstoppable," said Stefan Rahmstorf, a scientist at Germany's Potsdam Institute and a widely recognized sea level expert.

"There is no way I can see to stop this rise, even if we have gone to zero emissions."

Urban Mobility - It's Not Getting Better

In 2007, congestion caused urban Americans to travel 4.2 billion hours more and to purchase an extra 2.8 billion gallons of fuel for a congestion cost of $87.2 billion - an increase of more than 50% over the previous decade.

US 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Lowest in Four Months, Nearing All-Time Low Set in Survey in March

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.94 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending October 1, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.04 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.10 percent.  The last time the 30-year FRM was below 5 percent was the week ending May 28, 2009, when it averaged 4.91 percent.

US House approves fiscal 2010 spending bill for DOE

The US House of Representatives on Thursday approved in a 308 to 114 vote a fiscal 2010 spending bill that would provide $27.1 billion for a variety of Department of Energy programs.

Utility OKs Klamath dam removals, salmon aid

The utility that owns four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River has agreed to terms for their removal, a key milestone in efforts to restore what was once the third-biggest salmon run on the West Coast and end decades of battles over scarce water.

Waste_Inbox 100209

Toothless in Tarheel Land: The Winston-Salem [N.C.] Journal wins today´s Inbox Overheated Headline Award. "Starting today, it is illegal not to recycle plastic bottles," the paper declares atop a story about a new law that prohibits the disposal of plastic bottles in North Carolina landfills.

There are couple odd things about this. First, the story notes that the law passed in 2005 but didn´t take effect until today. Period. No further explanation provided.

 

Water Worries Threaten U.S. Push For Natural Gas

He points to small bubbles that appear in the water, and a thin ring of foam around the edge.

Meeks is convinced that energy companies drilling for natural gas in this central Wyoming farming community have poisoned his water and ruined his health.

Woody Biomass' Potential - September 23, 2009

While there may be adequate wood currently available in many states at the current time, the central issue is that biomass combustion using wood is not carbon neutral, especially in a time frame that will make a difference to slow or improve climate change.


Burning wood is dirtier than burning coal -- per megawatt hour it releases more CO2, more particulate, and more NOx.

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