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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.
Clean Edge Jobs
Search current openings
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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