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News 2010:

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April 30, 2010

 

2010 US Small Business Risk Outlook

The commercial real estate collapse has removed a major source of growth for banks. Maxed out consumers are not positioned to drive loan growth at the bank in the near future. As a result, bank CEOs are turning to business banking as the key growth driver. With deposits pouring into the bank, the next big challenge is where to profitably and safely find earning assets among commercial and industrial customers.

Approved! Cape Wind Gets Green Light

After almost a decade of debate, the U.S. will build its first offshore wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts. In an historic announcement today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar appeared alongside Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to officially give his seal of approval to the Cape Wind Project. The project will consist of 130 turbines installed in Nantucket sound off the coast of Massachusetts.

Arctic Explorers Get Nasty Surprise; Rain

"It's definitely a shocker ... the general feeling within the polar community is that rainfall in the high Canadian Arctic in April is a freak event," said Pen Hadow, the team's expedition director.

"Scientists would tell us that we can expect increasingly to experience these sorts of outcomes as the climate warms," he told Reuters in a telephone interview from London.

Arizonans can't see where the money goes

Arizona gets an "F" when it comes to helping taxpayers see where and how their money is being spent, according to a report released April 13 by an advocacy group...other states that have developed Web sites detailing governments' financial dealings save money by reducing wasteful spending and in the process restore the public's confidence.

Bills anger customers; Not all electric revenue goes toward keeping lights on

Where the money goes

Ask local officials about the high rates and they'll give you the full history of the towns' electric contracts.

BP increases efforts to control oil spill as slick hits shore

In a statement, BP said it was ramping up preparations for a "major protection and cleaning effort" on the shorelines of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

The statement came as reports suggested that the oil slick had already reached the coast of Louisiana.

The US Coast Guard has sent investigators to confirm whether crude had begun to wash up on parts of the Louisiana shoreline, the BBC reported Friday.

British Columbia gov't unveils energy plan, seeks more exports

British Columbia, through crown corporation BC Hydro, expects to acquire renewable power supplies from independent power producers, fill in gaps in the intermittent power flows with output from existing hydro plants, and then export the electricity to the US...

Christian ‘doctrine’ fueled dehumanization; UNPFII report

“The first thing indigenous peoples share is the experience of having been invaded by those who treated us without compassion because they considered us to be less than human,”...“Dehumanization leads to the second thing indigenous peoples share in common: Being treated on the basis of the belief that those who invaded our territories have a right of lordship or dominance over our existence and, therefore, have the right to take, grant, and dispose of our lands, territories, and resources without our permission or consent.”

Congressman Waxman Slips Obscure Anti-Supplement Measure into Wall St. 'Reform' Bill Passed by the House

The American public is becoming fed up with “sneak” provisions tacked onto largely unrelated bills that are likely to pass. A glaring recent example was tacking onto the Healthcare bill a complete change to student loans. Often the “sneak” provision is so buried that hardly anyone is aware of it.

Diminishing Water Supply And Aging Underground Infrastructure Will Impact NJ State Economy

Speaking at the Rutgers Quarterly Business Outlook panel last Tuesday, New Jersey American Water President John Bigelow said that in the Garden State, a diminishing natural water supply and aging infrastructure will impact business and the state for the foreseeable future.

Energy efficiency paying off in reduced utility bills

Hugh Joyce thinks environmental concerns for energy efficiency and dollars-and-cents business calculations are starting to add up to economic opportunity.

EPA cites Bokoshe ash disposal site

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday ordered the operator of a fly ash disposal pit to stop discharging toxic waste into a local waterway near this eastern Oklahoma town.

EPA Confirms Climate IS Changing

In another display of the sea change that has occurred at the US Environmental Protection Agency under the current administration, a new report was issued yesterday regarding indicators of climate change. The report, entitled "Climate Change Indicators in the United States," measures 24 separate indicators showing how climate change affects the health and environment of US citizens.

EPA Launches New Web Tools to Inform the Public About Clean Water Enforcement

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new set of web tools, data, and interactive maps to inform the public about serious Clean Water Act violations in their communities.

EPA; U.S. Climate Is Warming, Seas Rising, Glaciers Melting

Heat waves, storms, sea levels, glaciers, and wildlife migrations are just a few of the environmental indicators that show measurable signs of climate change, finds a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released Monday.

Feds Again Invade Amish Farm for 5 a.m. Inspection

The farm invaded Tuesday is the one agents visited in February, driving past “Private Property” signs to demand Allgyer open his property for their inspection, saying, “You have cows. You produce food for human consumption.”

GE's leader issues an energy warning

While the rest of the world invests in renewable, nuclear and cleaner energy sources, the U.S. continues to fall further behind, General Electric's chairman and CEO said Wednesday in Houston.

Global Floating Ice In 'Constant Retreat'; Study

The world's floating ice is in "constant retreat," showing an instability which will increase global sea levels, according to a report published in Geophysical Research Letters on Wednesday.

Floating ice had disappeared at a steady rate over the past 10 years, according to the first measurement of its kind.

Grass Shows Promise For Removing Antibiotics From Water

What goes in must come out, and when animals are given antibiotics, they can find their way into the water supply. Now, a Michigan Tech senior has identified one way to sop them up.

Antibiotics, like many pharmaceuticals, pass through the digestive tract largely unchanged. The resulting drug-laden waste from farms and feedlots (or for that matter, apartments and subdivisions) may be treated, but conventional methods don't break down excreted antibiotics.

Gulf of Mexico spill may hit coast this weekend

A giant oil slick from a deadly offshore drilling rig explosion could hit the fragile U.S. Gulf Coast shoreline this weekend as the White House and Congress launched separate probes into the worst offshore incident in nearly a decade

Hearing to be held to discuss W.Va. surface mine

EPA has determined to revoke the permit for the project, permitted in 2007 and delayed by litigation ever since. Current EPA administrators said the agency could not reach an agreement to lessen stream impacts and water quality degradation from the 2,200 acre surface mine.

House bills introduced to promote small nuclear reactors

Two bills were introduced in the US House of Representatives Wednesday that would promote the development of small nuclear power reactors. ..Designs for so-called small modular reactors, defined as nuclear generating units with a capacity of 300 MW or less, are being developed by several US and overseas firms.

Hurricane Outlook & Perspectives

It's late-April, and that means it's time for the parade of Hurricane Season Forecasts.  With 12 active Seasons in the past 15 years, many forecast services perennially become contrarian or overly-bullish - often reflecting "markets over meteorology".  Two of the more popular claims this year will be:

It won't die; the myth of US crude exports

Here's the reality: the US did allow on a case-by-case basis the export of Alaskan crude in the 1990's. But after fighting for years to get the right to do it, BP found that the economics of sending crude to Japan or Taiwan was simply not working.

Military may join fight to contain Gulf oil slick

BP and the Coast Guard have already mounted what the London-based company calls the largest oil spill containment operation in history, involving dozens of ships and aircraft.

But they are struggling to control the slick from the leaking well 5,000 feet under the sea off Louisiana's coast, which the Coast Guard said late on Wednesday was spilling five times more oil than previously estimated.

Military officials say wind turbines can stir up problems for bases

Standing 250 feet high with 150-foot-long blades, the wind turbines could cause false signals on radar and endanger aerial maneuvers or produce erroneous information about storm conditions, several military officials told the House Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs.

Not aging fast enough? Drink a soda!

Hoo boy. The American Beverage Association isn't going to like this news one bit. Food companies now add significant amounts of phosphates to soda and other processed foods. And now researchers have found evidence that phosphates may accelerate aging..

NRC; Time to revisit health study for TMI, other plants

Citing the 20 years since the last comprehensive national study of its kind, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is requesting a new study on the potential health effects on those living near nuclear power plants, including Three Mile Island.

Nuclear commission, Areva settle over safety error

Areva NP and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have reached a settlement agreement after an employee disabled an electronic eye sensor used as part of a safety check...the employee taped the wand's eye to make it work.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 042910

No flares were observed during the past 24 hours. IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be very
low. Solar wind speeds have increased the last 24 hours from around 310 to 400 km/s indicating the presence of
a weak coronal hole high speed stream.  The geomagnetic field is expected to be predominantly quiet for the next three days (30 April-02 May).

Risk Management after the Great Crash

This study takes a closer look at the role of risk (mis)management by financial institutions in the emergence of the Great Crash. It is explained that prior to the crisis too much reliance was placed on the quantitative side of risk management, while not enough attention was paid to qualitative risk management...In fact, too much faith in a new generation of complex risk models might lead to even more spectacular risk management problems than the one we experienced during the Great Crash.

Scientists create artificial skin that stretches like the real thing

Scientists at Spain’s University of Granada have created artificial skin with the resistance, firmness and elasticity of real skin. It is the first time artificial skin has been created from fibrin-agarose biomaterial. Fibrin is a protein involved in the clotting of the blood, while agarose is a sugar obtained from seaweed, commonly used to create gels in laboratories. The new material could be used in the treatment of skin problems, and could also replace test animals in dermatological labs.

Spanish PV After the Crash

From roaring boom to crippling bust, the story of Spain's solar industry has entered into the mythology of the renewable energy business. For free market economists it is a fireside tale of the dangers of government interference, while for the opponents of renewable energy it is exhibit 'A' in the case against solar. But as the dust settles, we can now analyze what really happened, and answer the question: Is the Spanish solar industry terminally ill?

SunWize Takes the Risk Out of Buying Chinese Modules with Trina Solar

In the case of Trina Solar, we underwent a rigorous evaluation process that included: examining the product, assessing manufacturing quality and capabilities and negotiating a viable business agreement that protects our customers and their customers. We were impressed with Trina Solar’s products on paper, so the next step was to order some containers and have our dealers install them and tell us what they thought

The e.coli threat lurking in a free dab of lipstick

Women are putting their health at risk by dabbing on lipstick, moisturiser and mascara from cosmetics tester packs at high street beauty counters.
In a shocking study, researchers found that every make-up tester pack they analysed was contaminated by the e.coli bug.

The Food Nightmare Beneath Our Feet; We're Running Out of Soil

Each year the world loses an estimated 83 billion tons of soil. What does this mean for food production and what can we do about?

Two new coal mines under PSC review

For the first time in regulatory history, the Public Service Commission staff is reviewing two permit applications at the same time for new coal mines in North Dakota, one in Oliver County near Hannover and one in Stark County near South Heart.

US Fixed-Rates Stable, Posting Little Change From Last Week's Figures

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 5.06 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 29, 2010, down slightly from last week when it averaged 5.07 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.78 percent

US Government Mobilized to Contain Gulf Spill

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been spreading steadily and at a much greater rate than earlier determined. Like the Exxon-Valdez spill in Alaska, it is devastating to the affected marine ecosystems and has the potential to get much worse.

Vegetarians 'get fewer cancers'

Analysis of data from 52,700 men and women shows that those who did not eat meat had significantly fewer cancers overall than those who did.

But surprisingly, the researchers also found a higher rate of colorectal cancer - a disease linked with eating red meat - among the vegetarians.

What do brains, worms and computer chips have in common?

An international team of scientists has discovered that the human brain, the nervous system of a worm and a computer chip are strikingly similar.

Which Fish to Eat? Study Finds Lower Mercury in Most Top-Selling Seafood

Experts send a mixed message to consumers when it comes to eating fish: it's good for your heart health but beware of the methylmercury. A new way of organizing and ranking the pollutant's levels in fish and shellfish may help consumers navigate this apparent contradiction, according to the study's author.

 

April 27, 2010

 

44% Favor Solar Energy For Home Heating

Forty-four percent (44%) of Americans believe solar energy should become a standard method of heating homes in the United States, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Americans Still Not Confident Economy Has Turned

The message from the White House and from economists over the past few months is that the economy has turned the corner. The economy is getting better, but jobs and employment may lag behind other good economic indicators. While they may hear all of this, the American public may not be quite ready to embrace this good news, nor the messenger.

Bobble bottles offer instant filtered water, on the go

Bottled water might seem like a very innocuous, ecologically-friendly beverage, but it does have its dark side – it has been estimated that 1.5 million barrels of oil are used annually for the production of one-use water bottles. About 38 million of those get tossed out each year. True, many of them go to recycling facilities, but those facilities aren’t exactly carbon footprint-free themselves.

Chernobyl Radiation Killed Nearly One Million People; New Book

Nearly one million people around the world died from exposure to radiation released by the 1986 nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl reactor, finds a new book from the New York Academy of Sciences published today on the 24th anniversary of the meltdown at the Soviet facility.

Climate Debate Gets Ugly As World Moves To Curb CO2

Climate scientists, used to dealing with skeptics, are under siege like never before, targeted by hate emails brimming with abuse and accusations of fabricating global warming data. Some emails contain thinly veiled death threats.

Could acid in breast milk be the answer to beating cancer?

A substance found in breast milk can kill cancer cells, claim researchers. For the first time, the substance - known as Hamlet - has been successfully tested on humans. Patients with bladder cancer who were treated with Hamlet managed to expel dead cancer cells through their urine after each treatment, raising hopes it could be a potential cure

Crude futures lack direction, despite earlier highs

According to energy analyst Edward Meir, the currency markets could provide the immediate direction in global markets due to the ongoing Greek financial crisis.

Desperately seeking silver linings in clouds of ash

Earlier this month the UK government found itself stuck in an almost unprecedented perfect storm. Faced by a monstrous ash cloud spewing forth from an Icelandic volcano, which had already shut down much of Northwest Europe's airspace during a key vacation period, and with an increasingly tight-looking general election just weeks away, Downing Street fell back on an old fashioned response. It sent the fleet in

Ecuadoran President Confirms Deal to Leave Oil Under Yasuni Park

President Raphael Correa now has approved an agreement to leave Ecuador's largest oil reserves, amounting to some 900 million barrels, underground in Yasuni National Park in exchange for more than $3 billion.

Energy Markets and Banking Reforms

Congress is now considering legislation to ban those financial institutions from participating in speculative activities that are not tied to the basic and federal-backed services that they offer. So, those investment banks that trade commodities for their own advantage so as to increase their revenues would be barred from doing so. But those that trade on behalf of their industrial clients would be allowed to continue

ENERGY REFORM;  Reduce dependence on foreign oil

Since July 2008, members of the Pickens Plan army have been working to spread the word about the continuing dangers of our dependence on foreign oil. In August 2009 — even with oil at about half the price it was in 2008 — we still spent over $25 billion to import more than 60 percent of the oil we used in just one month. That is money which could have been supporting the American economy instead of the economies of places like Saudi Arabia, Angola and Venezuela.

EPA calls Va. golf course fly ash application safe

Coal fly ash reclaimed from a Virginia Power coal-fired plant, then mixed with cement dust and used to sculpt the Battlefield Golf Club course in Chesapeake, Va., has created no adverse health impacts on surface water or sediment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Feds found Pfizer too big to nail

Imagine being charged with a crime, but an imaginary friend takes the rap for you. That is essentially what happened when Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, was caught illegally marketing Bextra, a painkiller that was taken off the market in 2005 because of safety concerns.

Feds will pay you to update heating system

The federal economic stimulus bill is funding a new round of rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient heating equipment to replace older units.

Firms warm to climate bill

Oil companies including ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell PLC will back new climate-change legislation in the U.S. Senate, according to people familiar with their plans.

Food in the U.S. Is Still Tainted with Chemicals That Were Banned Decades Ago

Thirty-eight years after DDT was banned, Americans still consume trace amounts of the infamous insecticide every day, along with more than 20 other banned chemicals.

Fossil fuels unlikely to lose starring role

Ramm and other speakers, a mix of university researchers and energy industry executives, said during the conference at the University of Houston that global demand is growing so quickly that the world will continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels, even as researchers work to make alternative fuels more cost-effective.

Four cities, four markets; Profiling the growth in green jobs

Mechanics construct windmills in Indianapolis while lab techs in Silicon Valley crank out thin-film solar panels. Contractors in Portland, Ore., weatherize Queen Anne homes, and their counterparts in Pittsburgh fix up low-income apartments. Renewable energy and efficiency projects like these are cropping up in every state, in some cases on a massive scale, boosted by funds from federal and state governments.

Genetically Modified Crops are Not the Answer for Global Food Security

This bill includes a mandate that we spend foreign aid dollars developing genetically modified (GM) crops. No other kind of agricultural technology is mentioned. Unsurprisingly, Monsanto has lobbied more frequently on this bill than any other entity.

Global crude futures drift down with stock build expected in US

Global crude futures were around $1/barrel lower in the European morning trading session Tuesday. ...A slightly stronger dollar and expectations of greater stocks in the US were weighing on global crude prices, one London-based broker said.

Global Warning

According to most scientists who study the matter, global warming is a fact and it is correlated to the increased concentration of carbon dioxide (along with the increased concentrations of many other types of greenhouse gas molecules) in the global atmosphere.

Greenpeace says no to energy bill

“Although we appreciate the Senate’s efforts to reduce global warming pollution, it’s clear that polluter lobbyists have succeeded in hijacking this climate policy initiative and undermined the ambitious action necessary,” Phil Radford, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.

Greenpeace statement on pending climate bill

Greenpeace has highlighted crucial elements of the draft climate bill necessary to address the catastrophic effects of global warming pollution. Senator Kerry, in a teleconference Thursday, organized by the We Can Lead coalition, outlined specific details from the draft Climate Bill expected to be released Monday that had not previously been publicly available.

Gulf of Mexico blowout raises questions about OCS drilling plans

The blowout and fire that destroyed an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico this week could have a far greater destructive effect on the Obama administration's plans to open up for drilling large areas of the US Outer Continental Shelf.

Gulf of Mexico Oilspill Spreads As Well Leaks

The well, 5,000 feet under the ocean surface off Louisiana's coast, is leaking about 1,000 barrels of oil a day. The spill, which the U.S. Coast Guard has called "very serious," has put the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Florida on alert for potential oil contamination.

How Candidate Abuse Is Costing Your Firm Millions of Dollars in Revenue

For decades it has been accepted that god-awful treatment of candidates is normal, and that since it is widespread, it's OK. How anyone in recruiting cannot connect that a poor candidate experience is similar to a poor customer experience and assume that there is a significant negative impact is disturbing.

I want to convert my car to hydrogen. Where can I buy a kit?

Conversion projects could be anything from lawn mowers, farm equipment, family cars, to high performance dragsters. It is evident that any of these applications would require an individual design approach using different sets of components.  Because of the diversity of personal interests in hydrogen conversions, we have offered conversion courses in the past which explored all the pertinent subjects and addressed specific application questions.

Ill. ready to boost its coal output

Illinois will feel none of the restrictions the Obama administration is bringing against mountaintop removal mining, which is almost exclusively an Appalachian coalfield practice.

Kuwait oil minister says current oil prices are 'acceptable'

Kuwaiti oil minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Sabah said Monday that oil prices in a range between $75 and $85/barrel were an acceptable level at which new projects were economically viable without harming the global economic recovery.

Link Discovered Between Carbon, Nitrogen May Provide New Ways To Mitigate Pollution Problems

A new study exploring the growing worldwide problem of nitrogen pollution from soils to the sea shows that global ratios of nitrogen and carbon in the environment are inexorably linked, a finding that may lead to new strategies to help mitigate regional problems ranging from contaminated waterways to human health.

Net-zero house hides its sources

From the street, 1820 Merriman Way in the South Side Flats looks like the rest of the upscale townhouses in Riverside Mews.

It's what you can't see that makes it special -- the 36 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof, geothermal tubing that reaches 450 feet into the earth, and a little number on the screen of a device called the Energy Detective.

New Siemens Direct Drive wind turbine ready for sale

The new SWT-3.0.101 with a rated power of 3 megawatts (MW) offers innovation through a completely new Direct Drive concept introducing a permanent magnet generator. With half the parts of a conventional geared wind turbine, and much less than half the number of moving parts, the new wind turbine will require less maintenance and increase profitability for customers.

Obama will focus on energy bill after bank reform

President Barack Obama said on Friday his administration would shift its focus to climate and energy legislation after finishing financial regulatory reform, which he said would take a few more weeks.

Panel told nuclear plant cancer study faces challenges

Arjun Makhijani, president of the anti-nuclear Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, said the study must take a closer look at a small cross-section of nuclear plants to be able to identify links between living near the plants and cancer.

Penan Score Victory as Logging Road Blockades Halt Timber Giant's Encroachment on Their Rainforests

Two logging road blockades erected by Penan communities have caused a Malaysian timber giant, Samling, to withdraw its bulldozers from the Penan's rainforests on the upper reaches of the Akah river in Malaysian Borneo.

Power line plan foes air concerns

Many words were exchanged but few minds appeared to have been changed Sunday after a capacity crowd packed the auditorium at Prairie High School to talk about the Bonneville Power Administration's plan to run new high-voltage power lines through Southwest Washington.

Power play; Turbines have a payback cost of 10 to 20 years

Interest in owning and operating wind turbines to power a farm, a home or a cabin is growing even though the financial payoffs of small wind generation typically aren't as good as large wind farms.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 042610

Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed during the past 24 hours and the disk remained spotless. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled with isolated active periods at high latitudes on day 1 (27 April) due to possible effects of a CME observed on 22 April and a coronal hole high speed stream rotating into a geoeffective position. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected on day two (28 April) due to a second coronal hole high speed stream rotating into a geoeffective position.

Russia's Medvedev In Oslo For Arctic Energy Talks

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said it was possible to secure a deal with Norway over a disputed Barents Sea border region, whose delineation could unlock access to oil and gas resources.

Scientists Refute Carbon Capture Doubts

Some academics say that the world's efforts to limit dangerous climate change depends on CCS, which can in theory almost eliminate carbon emissions from burning coal and so give the world time to develop cheap fossil fuel alternatives.

The trouble is that the full chain of CCS processes from trapping and piping to burying underground carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by power plants is untested at a commercial scale.

Scientists Uncover Deep Ocean Current Near Antarctica

Scientists have discovered a fast-moving deep ocean current with the volume of 40 Amazon Rivers near Antarctica that will help researchers monitor the impacts of climate change on the world's oceans.

A team of Australian and Japanese scientists, in a study published in Sunday's issue of the journal Nature Geoscience, found that the current is a key part of a global ocean circulation pattern that helps control the planet's climate.

States Fear Devil In Details Of U.S. Climate Bill

California and other states with aggressive environmental agendas said on Wednesday they fear a federal climate bill may unacceptably weaken their power, in a new sign of uncertainty over compromise legislation being crafted by U.S. Senator John Kerry and his allies.

Structural Impediments Hamper Efforts to Increase Bank Lending

Despite the national consensus that jump-starting bank lending is critical to getting the economy back on track, commercial and industrial lending remains mired at levels far below the targets set by government and the banks themselves — and getting the situation turned around might be much harder than most people think. The reason: Although the primary causes of today’s depressed lending activity can undoubtedly be found in the real estate collapse, credit crisis and economic recession, there are also structural impediments within the banking industry that have to be overcome before lending can rise to desired levels.

Study Seeks Link Between Arsenic And IQ

Researchers from Columbia University and the University of New Hampshire are expanding a study to determine what effect arsenic in drinking water has on IQ...

Targeting A Waterborne Foe

Discovered in 1976, cryptosporidium lurks worldwide in water, contaminating swimming pools, water parks, and drinking water supplies. Although it has even been featured on the comedy show The Colbert Report, it is no laughing matter — this microscopic pathogen is a leading cause of diarrhea and malnutrition and the most common source of infection in immune-weakened people such as AIDS patients. It is also a potential bioterrorism agent.

The Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands Announces the 5th Global Oceans Conference

The Global Oceans Conference 2010 will provide a vital forum for high-level leaders, experts, scientists, and policy-makers to address the major policy issues affecting the oceans at global, regional, and national levels, and to make progress in advancing the global oceans agenda, particularly in light of climate change.

Troubled by power cuts, Indians go green with solar energy

"Electricity is not at all reliable these days. There is an acute shortage of power supple and even inverters, which provide temporary relief, are failing. I'm looking for solar energy option which can recharge my inverter and can give some relief in this heat," said Berwal, who was scouting through various stalls displaying solar energy-based products at an exhibition.

U.S. unveils climate report in runup to Senate bill

The report, a draft of the Fifth U.S. Climate Action Report that will be sent to the United Nations, says bluntly: "Global warming is unequivocal and primarily human-induced ... Global temperature has increased over the past 50 years. This observed increase is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases."

Ukraine parliament ratifies gas-Black Sea fleet deal with Russia

The Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday ratified a natural gas agreement with Russia that provides a 30% price discount in exchange for extending stationing of Russian navy in Ukraine.

United States re-examines opposition to UN Declaration

Political tides are turning as international support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples continues to grow, putting greater pressure on Canada and the United States to fully endorse it.

US senator seeks EPA study on gas-related pollution incidents

US Senator Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, on Monday called on the US Environmental Protection Agency to step up efforts to investigate and respond to groundwater contamination and other potentially harmful consequences of natural gas drilling in his state.

Using productive farmland to grow crops for food instead of fuel is more energy efficient

It's no mystery where Grist comes down on the food vs. fuel debate, aka the Great Ethanol Boondoggle. But it's nice to see the science continuing to support our side of the argument (via Science Daily):

Using productive farmland to grow crops for food instead of fuel is more energy efficient, Michigan State University scientists concluded, after analyzing 17 years' worth of data to help settle the food versus fuel debate.

Water, Fair And Foul

Does your drinking water smell foul, or are you worried that chemicals might be damaging your family's health? Water treatment facilities currently use chlorine that produces carcinogenic by-products to keep your tapwater clean, but Tel Aviv University scientists have determined that ultra-violet (UV) light might be a better solution.

 

April 23, 2010

 

Advancing Massachusetts' Clean-Energy Leadership

By a range of different measures, Massachusetts stands out as a clean-energy leader among states in the U.S. It has made the growth of clean energy a clear legislative and economic development priority in the state, with strong results to date in leading-edge policies, industry expansion, job creation, and increased investment and deployment.

America's War On Islamist Terror...Or Is It?

It has become fashionable these days to invoke the “rule of law” as if it means the rule of lawyers—and in particular, the rule of judges. But that has never been the term’s meaning. In the U.S., the rule of law is embodied in the Constitution and resides in the statutes, treaties, rules, and regulations adopted pursuant to the Constitution. The rule of law does not refer either to judges or to elected officials, who are themselves servants of the Constitution.

'An issue of trust' - NRC hears from public

What they heard the most was that many people just don't trust the NRC or Entergy, which owns and operates Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon.

"The role and duty of Entergy ... is to push the regulations and make as much money for its shareholders and (executives) and get rewarded for that,"

Bank sets up energy lending strategy

F&M Bank & Trust Co. has developed an energy lending group that aims to be a banking alternative for energy companies in its primary markets as well as surrounding states.

Arizona Governor Brewer signs controversial gun carry bill

Just one day before the deadline, Governor Jan Brewer signed a bill into law which in three months allows gun-carrying Arizonans to carry concealed weapons without permits.

By eliminating the permit requirement, the new law allows people 21 or older to forego background checks and classes which are now required.

Cash for Appliances program begins today

N.M"  If you've been in the market for a new washing machine, refrigerator, or gas furnace, today could be a good day to buy it.

Chemical Cosmetics Linked To Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer

...women exposed to synthetic fibers and petroleum products in the course of their work appear to be most at risk of breast cancer. Exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants before she reaches her mid-30s could triple a woman’s risk after menopause.

Now comes news from ChemicalSafeSkincare.co.uk that women unknowingly apply up to 175 different chemicals to their bodies daily in the form of mainstream cosmetics. 

Coal plant foes discuss impact

By and large, opponents of a coal-fired power plant proposed in Surry County have focused their attention south of the James River.

That is, after all, where the bulk of the plant's toxic emissions would come to rest. But the pollutants -- mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, among others -- would also reach Williamsburg, Newport News and other Peninsula communities.

Coal's Tarnished Image

Coal producers are trying to refurbish their image. But the current hardship in which 29 miners died in underground explosion in West Virginia is making it difficult.

Conciliatory Approach to Change

Before his inaugural, Barack Obama spoke of healing the country's divisions and of lifting its spirits. But more than a year later, those lines have become entrenched, best illustrated by the bitter healthcare vote. That has left an irreconcilable gash between the two parties that might make future agreements impossible.

Consumers Unwilling to Allow Electricity Suppliers to Remotely Limit Energy Use without Significant Price Discount

Consumers are not willing to allow electricity providers to remotely limit the use of their home appliances as part of electricity management plans without significant rate discounts, according to a report issued by Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The report also found that almost half of consumers would be deterred from joining electricity management programs if their electricity bills were to increase as a result.

Denmark’s Case for Antibiotic-Free Animals

They call it the “Danish Experiment” – a source of pride for the country’s 17,000 farmers. Unlike industrial farms in the U.S., which use antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease, farmers in Denmark use antibiotics sparingly, only when animals are sick.

Device allegedly would bring city free electricity

A machine that would generate all of Valparaiso's power without an electric bill sounds too good to be true....Public Works Director Ron DeTorrice said the city should get hold of Stephen Hawking to help analyze it.

Different approach to solar energy

Plastic lenses focus the sun on tiny but highly efficient solar cells to generate more electricity than conventional photovoltaic panels.

The so-called multijunction cells, which were first developed to power satellites, use fewer expensive semiconducting materials like silicon.

Do you really save money by growing your own vegetables?

In the past two seasons, there has been a huge uptick in interest in vegetable gardening.

There are plenty of good reasons to garden right now:

DOE to double loan guarantees for uranium enrichment projects

It's a possible good news/bad news story for the planned $3.5 billion uranium enrichment plant project in Piketon that could bring hundreds of jobs to economically struggling southern Ohio.

Earning Executive Pay

The weak economy has forced boardrooms to cut executive pay for a second year running. By any standard, however, utility chiefs are still getting paid well.

'Financial Death by a Thousand Cuts'

Which decade witnessed the largest stock market decline in U.S. history? The decade starting with the Great Depression? The Panic of 1987? The most recent decade with its two crashes? After adjusting for inflation, it turns out that the 1970s was the worst. While the Great Depression produced the largest nominal percent point drop, it also generated a period of deflation.

Find appliance rebates in your area

France bets on wood as fuel of the future

Alongside hi-tech renewables like wind and solar, France sees wood playing a key role in its energy future. It is already the country’s leading source of renewable energy, but a government-sponsored program seeks a high-tech revolution in wood-burning appliances.

Gas exporters agree to pursue gas price parity with oil; Russia

"All the minsters agreed to that we continue our objectives to strive to achieve indexing of gas through oil parity," Shmatko told reporters in Oran following the gas exporters' meeting.

"We believe we should prevent any types of competition between different types of gas and we agreed to take action to improve the advantages of gas as a fossil fuel versus other types of fuel."

Gas, electric rates could head higher

Even as it shows signs of easing, the recession could bring higher natural gas and light bills for Georgia consumers.

GE to Study Impact of High Solar Energy Penetration on the Grid

With energy experts forecasting substantial increases in solar power in the coming decades, GE researchers are working with Arizona Public Service, the state's largest electric utility, to understand how large amounts of solar can best be integrated into today's grid.

Global Climate Deal Best Option, But Road Rough; U.N

The prospect of a global climate treaty is fading as the world's top two carbon emitters, China and the United States, avoid legally binding action. Experts say a shift to a less ambitious goal might help.

Governor's betting on state wind power

Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants Michigan to be the first state with wind turbines in the Great Lakes, but the competition is fierce.

Green Groups Point To Ash Cloud Silver Lining

Iceland's erupting volcano has spewed plenty of ash but far less greenhouse gas than Europe's grounded aircraft would have generated.

Carbon dioxide emissions totaled 150,000 tonnes a day in the early days of the eruption, according to Durham University. That compares with 510,000 tonnes per day emitted when planes are flying as normal over the continent.

Health Care in a Free Society

The social and political programs of the progressives came in on two great waves: the New Deal of the 1930s and the Great Society of the 1960s. Today, President Obama often invokes progressivism and hopes to generate its third great wave of public policy. In thinking about what this would mean, we need look no farther than the health care reform program he is promoting along with the leadership in Congress.

Homeowners with turbines expect to generate benefits

 "It was something we wanted to do ... [but] we're not tree huggers, for sure," said Frank Brewster of Harmony, speaking for himself and his wife, D.J. "We knew coal, electric and gas prices were going to continue to rise."

Houses of 2020 will be all about energy

More houses will have energy meters that track power usage and program appliances to run when electric rates are lowest.

Houses also will waste less energy because they'll have better insulation and windows.

Iceland Volcano Tremors Stay Strong, Ash Plume Low

... the tremors coming from it are stronger now than when the ash plume was at its highest, at about 9 km (5.6 miles), said meteorological office geophysicist Steinunn Jakobsdottir.

"We don't know exactly what this is telling us. This is kind of telling me that it is not stopping yet ... As it looks now it could go on for a while," she told a news conference.

Military leads fight against climate change

The U.S. military, the government's largest fuel buyer, is leading the fight against climate change by investing in the "Great Green Fleet" and other ways of cutting dependence on oil and coal, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts report released on Tuesday.

MIT Technology Review names 10 technologies that will change the World

Here we are in the Information Age. Never before has the flow of ideas, innovation and new technologies been so strong, so much so that it's hard to imagine what the world will be like in 10, 20 or 50 years time. So which of today's fledgling technologies will have a fundamental impact on the way we live our lives in the future?

National Poll Shows Americans Want More Wind Power

Voters overwhelmingly support increasing the use of wind power in the U.S. and adopting a strong Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), according to a national poll released today by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

“The poll's bottom line is clear:

New rust sensor could lead to safer bridges

The sensor-transponder system Fraunhofer researchers say delivers an early warning of dangerous rust steel-reinforced concrete bridges

New Senate Supplements Bill Expected

The bill will fully fund FDA implementation of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), the legislation that governs the regulation of dietary supplements.

At the present time, opponents of dietary supplements and natural health make false claims that supplements are not regulated and therefore unsafe.

We completely disagree.

NRC issues yellow and white inspection findings to Browns Ferry nuclear plant

The NRC staff originally identified three apparent violations related to fire protection and a conference with TVA was held Feb. 22. During that meeting, TVA described its assessment of the significance of the findings, its root cause evaluations and corrective actions. TVA also offered their view that the two violations involving the failure to take adequate measures to protect equipment in the event of a fire were similar and should be combined.

NRC says tritium program working

Engineers and technicians at Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant found the source of a leak of tritiated water in 49 days, much quicker than at other plants with similar leaks

NSWMA says companies support zero waste goals

Solid waste companies support zero waste goals, according to a trade group representing the nation´s for-profit waste management sector.

"Americans have already witnessed a transformation in how we deal with our trash," said Bruce J. Parker, president and CEO of the NSWMA. "We still generate a significant amount of municipal solid waste -- EPA estimates almost 250 million tons in the last year alone. But we are sending several million fewer tons to disposal than we did 20 years ago."

Obama administration decides to continue spring dam spills for salmon

The Obama administration has backed off from a proposal to transport troubled species of salmon and steelhead around three Lower Snake River dams on barges, signaling it will continue to spill water past the dams like it has every spring since 2006.

Ocean Chemistry Changing At 'Unprecedented Rate'

Carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming are also turning the oceans more acidic at the fastest pace in hundreds of thousands of years, the National Research Council reported Thursday.

"The chemistry of the ocean is changing at an unprecedented rate and magnitude due to anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions," the council said. "The rate of change exceeds any known to have occurred for at least the past hundreds of thousands of years."

Ocean salinities show an intensified water cycle

Evidence that the world's water cycle has already intensified is contained in new research to be published in the American Journal of Climate.

The stronger water cycle means arid regions have become drier and high rainfall regions wetter as atmospheric temperature increases.

ONR’s microbial fuel cell generates electricity from mud

It is estimated there are approximately five nonillion (that’s 5x10 to the power of 30) bacteria on Earth, and although they generally get a bad rap, there are actually many beneficial bacteria that are vital to life on our planet

Pew Study; Department of Defense Embracing Clean Energy

"National security experts have been clear in their warnings - America's dependence on foreign sources of energy constitutes a threat - militarily, diplomatically and economically," said Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew's climate and energy programs. "But, the department is doing more than sounding an alarm; it has enacted energy goals and is inventing, testing and deploying new technologies and alternative fuels to meet those goals. The military is, in many respects, leading the way and helping to reenergize America's future."

Power grid is inefficient, expensive and vulnerable

A system so crucial to nearly every aspect of modern life has advanced very little in more than a century, when Edison was one of its creators and Western New York was the location of the first power grid, connecting the hydroelectric plant in Niagara Falls with the street trolley system in Buffalo.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 042210

Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed during the last 24 hours. The geomagnetic field will be predominately quiet with isolated unsettled conditions on day one (23 April). Quiet levels are expected for days two and three (24-25 April) as the effects of the coronal hole high speed stream diminish.

Shippers Face Steep Air Cargo Rate Hikes

A recent headline in the Journal of Commerce said "Shippers Face Steep Air Cargo Rate Hikes." As the article goes on to say, when European airspace re-opens, capacity will be scarce, expensive and there will be steep hikes in air cargo freight rates.  Many of the airlines have already notified us that they are going to charge premium rates for all new shipments-as much as three times the standard rate.

Size Matters in Wind, But Only So Much

The wind turbine – standing tall, sleek and uniquely modern – is arguably the most powerful symbol of the technological advancement of renewables. And although size is typically the metric for such progress, it's the less visible improvements that have allowed the industry to grow.

Smells and Aging

If your nose is at its best, you can tell the difference between 4000-10,000 smells! As you get older, your sense of smell gets worse. Children are more likely to have a better sense of smell than their parents or grandparents.

Stirling Is Gold

Salt River Project announced the opening of a new concentrating solar power pilot project in late January. The 1.5 MW Maricopa Solar installation is the first commercial project for the SunCatcher, a 25 kW dish/Stirling power system developed by Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Stirling Energy Systems (SES).

Switching 3.5M commercial trucks to natural gas would save 1.2M BBL of oil a day

Replacing 3.5 million medium and heavy vehicles with natural gas vehicles by 2035 would keep the United States from importing about 1.2 million barrels of day, or more than is currently being imported from Saudi Arabia daily, according to a new report.

T. Boone Pickens urges Congress to pass The NAT GAS Act

T. Boone Pickens, energy expert and creator of the Pickens Plan to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee On Ways and Means and urged Congress to pass legislation dramatically expanding the use of domestic natural gas as a heavy duty transportation fuel, currently embedded in H.R. 1835.

The Coming Constitutional Debate

Proponents of a “21st century constitution” or “living constitution” aim to transform our nation’s supreme law beyond recognition—and with a minimum of public attention and debate. Indeed, if there is an overarching theme to what they wish to achieve, it is the diminishment of the democratic and representative processes of American government.

Union threatens to shut down Nigerian oil production from Friday

Nigerian blue-collar oil workers union Nupeng Thursday said it would withdraw its members from oil fields and export terminals as it embarks on an indefinite strike from Friday over an industrial dispute with Shell.

US Banking 2010–2015, Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Between 5% and 10% of U.S. banks will be acquired or otherwise disappear by the end of 2011, according to new projections by Greenwich Associates. By 2015 the number of banks in the United States is projected to fall to 20% below 2007 levels. During the same period, the number of bank branches in the United States will decline by 25% and the resulting disappearance of some 20,000 branch locations will undue much of the past decade’s expansion.

US Long-Term Mortgage Rates Mostly Unchanged from Last Week

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 5.07 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 22, 2010, unchanged from last week when it averaged 5.07 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.80 percent.

US Senator wants EPA powers stripped in return for climate vote

US Senator George Voinovich, an Ohio Republican whose support for a pending climate change bill Democrats had hoped to woo, named his price for his vote in a draft circulated Wednesday.

Virginia, NASA Keep Eyes On Skies For Air Quality

The federal and state agencies are both interested in generating a comprehensive data record of pollution from industrial processes and vehicles.

What to Do When the Current Climate Change Legislation Threatens to Do More Harm Than Good

Unfortunately, when it comes to climate change legislation, all signs are pointing to system failure. Congress urgently needs to pass a comprehensive climate bill, but the current Senate proposal, spearheaded by senators Kerry, Lieberman and Graham, threatens to do more harm than good.

Wildlife Still Exposed To Exxon Valdez Oil 20 Years After Disaster

Scientists in Alaska have discovered that lingering oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill is still being ingested by wildlife more than 20 years after the disaster. ..The Exxon Valdez tanker ran aground on the Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989, spilling 10.8 million gallons of crude oil into the sea, covering 1,300 square miles. It is still regarded as one of the most devastating human-caused contamination events...

Wind power to increase 160%

Global wind power capacity could increase by 160% over the next five years, according to the Global Wind Energy Council’s (GWEC) annual wind industry forecast.

World Will Completely Miss 2010 Biodiversity Target

Species classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as "threatened" increased by 2.1 percent in 2009, as 365 species were added to the organization's Red List of Threatened Species. Only 2 species were removed from the list.

 

April 20, 2010

 

10 Year Monthly Forecast of US Treasury Yields

Today’s forecast shows 1 month Treasury bill rates peaking at 5.465% in the fourth quarter of 2017 and the 10 year U.S. Treasury yield at 5.745% on March 31, 2020.

Ailing_Watch List Lenders

Ailing lenders haven't shut down, but they're significantly scaling back or are (or recently have been) in manifest financial, legal, or operational distress. Unfortunately, most of the industry now falls under this description, so we are forced to reserve this list for the more glaring cases or those which we happen to have more specific info about.

Biggest mass of living things in the oceans. Microbes

The ocean depths are home to myriad species of microbes, mostly hard to see but including spaghetti-like bacteria that form whitish mats the size of Greece on the floor of the Pacific, scientists said on Sunday.

Breakthrough in using sunlight to split water

A team of MIT researchers has managed to mimic the photosynthetic process in plants by engineering M13, a simple and harmless virus, to help splitting water into its two atomic components - hydrogen and oxygen - using sunlight. The researchers hope this is the first step toward using sunlight to create hydrogen reserves that could then be used to generate electricity or even produce liquid fuels for transportation.

Chemical Safety Reform Gains Momentum in Congress

Two bills in Congress would dramatically strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ability to regulate chemicals. The bills shift the burden of proof to industry, which would have to demonstrate the safety of existing and new chemicals. That's a major change from the existing system, in which EPA must prove that chemicals are harmful before it can regulate them.

Clean Edge Jobs

Clean Edge Jobs is the premier source for clean-tech job seekers, employers, and recruiters. Search current openings among the job categories listed below.

Cleaner Coal Technology Moves Forward in China

Under the terms of the agreements signed today, USTDA will fund a feasibility study that would support the advancement of commercial scale integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) facilities in China based on GE-designed IGCC technology.

Colorado Enacts Law Replacing Coal Power with Cleaner Energy

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today signed into law the Colorado Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act, legislation that requires the utility Xcel to cut nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 percent from several Front Range coal plants by the end of 2017, most likely sooner.

Comments on Current Volcanic Eruption

While earlier reports of ash clouds reaching the stratosphere appear to have been exaggerated, updated analysis has indicated that volcanic ash has only been observed in the troposphere up to ~11 km (or ~35,000 feet).  However, until the precise amount of ejecta is known, specific climate impacts are still mere speculation at this juncture.

Congressional hearing held at Grand Canyon

A number of conservation groups, members of the Havasupai and Hualapi tribes, National Park Service officials, and others filled the Shrine of Ages for a congressional hearing on April 8 to discuss the effects of uranium mining in the area, as well as other topics.

Consumer Price Index Summary

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All  Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.1 percent in March, the U.S.  Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months,  the index increased 2.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Cows on Drugs

NOW that Congress has pushed through its complicated legislation to reform the health insurance system, it could take one more simple step to protect the health of all Americans. This one wouldn't raise any taxes or make any further changes to our health insurance system, so it could be quickly passed by Congress with an outpouring of bipartisan support. Or could it?

Creative Financing Fuels California Solar Boom

Although the United States solar industry's overall growth for all types of solar energy slowed somewhat as the Great Recession reached its nadir in 2009, residential rooftop installers had a record year. Companies like Sungevity installed 156 megawatts of residential solar panels in 2009, up 101 percent from the previous year.

East Ky. Power delays Clark Co. coal plant

East Kentucky Power Cooperative is backing away, at least for a while, from its long-sought plans to build a new coal-fired power plant in Clark County.

Electricity rate comparison; Power to the People

Amid forecasts of 30 percent increases in electric bills, a record number of PPL Utilities customers shopped around for a cheaper electric supplier when rate caps were lifted Jan. 1.

Empire to Install Arizona's Largest Commercial Solar Rooftop System

Empire Power Systems (EPS) today announced that it will install Arizona's largest commercial rooftop solar power system to date on an 850,000-square-foot building near 27th Avenue and Buckeye Road in Phoenix. The 2.4-megawatt SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile system chosen for this rooftop represents approximately 6.5 acres of solar panels. The installation is scheduled to begin immediately.

Failed Bank List

The FDIC is often appointed as receiver for failed banks. This page contains useful information for the customers and vendors of these banks. This includes information on the acquiring bank (if applicable), how your accounts and loans are affected, and how vendors can file claims against the receivership.

Ford says auto future hinges on electric car

Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford closed out the SAE World Congress on Thursday with an endorsement of the future of electric vehicles.

"All the early cars were electric," said Ford, great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, at the engineers' conference. "They've been around really for the past century or so, but they really haven't had mass-market appeal."

Greece, the Euro’s Trojan Horse

Because members of the eurozone have no “sovereign” control over the currency, these governments are more vulnerable to default.

Of all the worries brought on by Greece’s debt problem, the most fundamental is the question it raises about the viability of the euro.

Hawaii's green efforts not cheap, but will pay off, advocates say

A 10-megawatt solar power project that would have boosted the amount of renewable energy on Kaua'i isn't moving ahead at this time.

The reason? The Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative wouldn't agree to pay what the developer wanted for the electricity.

Imploded_ Lenders

"Imploded" lenders: The "imploded" status is somewhat subjective and does not necessarily mean operations are ceased permanently: it can mean bankruptcy filing, temporary but open-ended halting of major operations, or a "firesale" acquisition. The Companies include all types (prime, subprime, or a mix of both; retail or wholesale; subsidiaries and entire companies).

In Defence of Pachamama

Through their ancestral knowledge and traditions, indigenous peoples will make a unique and invaluable contribution to the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, which begins Monday, Apr. 19 in the central Bolivian city of Cochabamba.

In Vermont, nuke power faces a test

The pro-nuclear governor here has gotten a pie in the face. Compost has been thrown on a nuclear power plant manager. Protesters, including several grandmothers, have been arrested for trespassing at the plant gate.

This was not what President Obama, who hopes to spark a renaissance in nuclear power, had in mind this year when he urged an end to "the same old stale debates between the left and the right, between environmentalists and entrepreneurs."

Internet could lower its cooling bills by using hot water

It’s easy to think of the Internet as something that’s just “out there” in cyberspace, that doesn’t effect the physical world in any tangible way. In 2009, however, it was estimated that Internet data centers worldwide consumed about 2% of global electricity production. Not only did most of that electricity undoubtedly come from non-green sources, but it also cost the global economy approximately 30 billion US dollars.

Jordan committed to renewable energy

Irani attributed the difficulties to unfavourable global market conditions, a rise in wind energy turbine prices, challenges in obtaining project financing, and the relatively small size of the Jordanian market for renewable energy.

Acknowledging the maturity of wind technology, Irani called for the supply chain of wind turbines to be shortened in order to minimise construction time and meet demand quicker.

Law bars homeowner from installing solar panels on pier

Maryland is so eager for its residents to try solar power that it offers homeowners thousands of dollars in grants to mount photovoltaic panels on or around their homes to generate electricity from the sun.

Just don't try to put them on your boat pier.

Mercury surprise; Rice can be risky

Ask toxicologists how best to avoid mercury poisoning and they'll almost certainly advise against eating too much of the wrong types of fish. (Never mind that there’s considerable confusion about what the wrong types are.) But a new study out of China shows that for millions of people at risk of eating toxic amounts of mercury-laced food, fish isn’t the problem. Rice is.

New Zealand supports the UN Declaration

On the opening day of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, New Zealand made a surprise announcement that it has changed its position and is now supporting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Recent Tectonic Activity Shaking Things Up

There seems to have been a rash of high magnitude earthquakes and volcanic eruptions recently on planet Earth. One begs to know if there is an underlying cause behind it, or if it is all merely coincidental. Can the Earth be undergoing severe seismic shifts? Are the poles reversing? Is our planet stable or should we start building our doomsday caves and space ships? When it seems like there is something abnormal about all this tectonic activity, one needs to defer to the experts on the matter, and they are saying that it is, in fact, nothing unusual.

Small Farmers to Gain in Senate Food Safety Battle

Several amendments aimed at lessening the impact on small farms will be adopted in the final version of the food safety bill headed for the Senate floor next week, a key sustainable agriculture group announced yesterday.

Solar energy; Enormous Ontario potential

Canadian scientists say solar power production in southeastern Ontario can potentially produce nearly the same amount of power of all U.S. nuclear reactors.

Solar plans knocked in New Mexico

A New Mexico power utility's plan to go green through solar power is running into opposition from those who say it will wind up costing consumers too much.

Tai Chi; A Great Mind-Body Workout

Tai Chi (pronounced tie-chee) is a physical and mental technique that integrates body, mind and spirit, and has been practiced for centuries in China. It began as a martial art, but these days it is most frequently practiced for its health benefits and meditative properties. What exactly is Tai Chi? What are some of its health benefits? And where can you get started with it? Keep reading for answers to all of those questions and more.

The Icelandic Cauldron

At this point most people know that a volcano erupted in Iceland spewing forth tons of ash that have grounded countless flights. What is less known is the intense thermal emissions (at least 60 megawatts, or 60 million watts) emanating from the vent at the base of the massive plume. This is just the energy released by heat into the atmosphere. This thermal emission, equivalent to the energy consumption of 60,000 homes, represents only a small proportion of the total energy being released by the volcano as its molten lava interacts violently with ice and water.

The Natural Gas Card

Natural gas has been riding high ever since the most recent estimates say that it can feed the country's electric generators for another 100 years. But it got an even bigger boost when President Obama vowed to end a two-decade long ban on drilling throughout much of the Outer Continental Shelf.

Town proposes solar-powered electric car charging terminals at train station

A proposed plan to build a solar-powered car charging terminal at the Saugatuck train station has put the town of Westport at the forefront of the emerging electric vehicle market.

Toxic Sewage Sludge; The EPA’s Forgotten Priority

Imagine a product so ubiquitous that it is made in every city in the nation, yet so under the radar that the Environmental Protection Agency admits it does not understand the risks of the 135 potentially hazardous substances that the product may contain. Imagine that the product's manufacturers accept EPA's admittedly limited safety guidelines and devote little, if any, resources to finding out more about its hazards. Now imagine that the farmers who benefit from using the product the most are also said to be the very people at greatest risk to be harmed by it.

US government support for ethanol, solar critical; officials

The US ethanol and solar power industries--two key components of the drive by the US to wean itself from hydrocarbon dependence--will need continued government subsidies and grants in the coming years if they are to deliver on their promise, officials representing both industries said Sunday.

Wind Power Complications with Radar

The U.S. Air Force is threatening to halt construction of a 845-megawatt wind farm in eastern Oregon that would be the world’s largest wind project, citing concerns that the wind turbines would interfere with a nearby military radar station and its ability to detect radar images. Rotating wind turbine blades could impart a Doppler shift to any radar energy reflecting off the blades and cause false images or interference. This has impact on the location of future wind farms but issues remain on how to resolve this problem.

 

April 16, 2010

 

 

‘Growing concern’ over marketing tainted beef

Beef containing harmful pesticides, veterinary antibiotics and heavy metals is being sold to the public because federal agencies have failed to set limits for the contaminants or adequately test for them, a federal audit finds. A program set up to test beef for chemical residues “is not accomplishing its mission of monitoring the food supply for … dangerous substances, which has resulted in meat with these substances being distributed in commerce,” says the audit by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General.

A random walk; fusion, ethanol economics, and nobody likes Iran

A few random thoughts from some items that either came into my mailbox today or showed up in Platts stories.

Add Water Systems To U.S. Infrastructure Challenges, Says 'Infrastructure 2010; An Investment Imperative'

More and more urban areas throughout the United States – in both dry and rainy locales – are facing growing pressures on their water infrastructure systems, necessitating both greater investments for overhaul and a change in development patterns that are more conducive to conservation...

AEP to cut up to 10% of workers

Despite sales and profit numbers that many companies would envy in recent times, American Electric Power plans to cut its work force by as much as 10 percent, potentially affecting several hundred workers in central Ohio.

Africa to generate $200 billion in revenue from oil in 10 years

African countries are expected to generate about $200 billion in revenue from oil production in the next 10 years as new oil fields open up throughout the Gulf of Guinea, according to a senior Ghanaian government official.

AikidoAi_weekend2010

The Aikido-Ai Memorial Weekend Retreat gives you outstanding Aikido, Tai Chi, Qigong, and Zen meditation and talks for four days -- morning, afternoon and night. Five well-respected high-ranking aikido teachers bring you more than 150 years of combined experience. Students of all levels are welcome... even first-timers. 

ANH-USA Victory! Supplements Are Exempted From Codex Language in Food Safety Bill

The FDA Food Modernization Act (S. 510), also referred to as the “Food Safety” bill, has been modified to exempt dietary supplements from language that otherwise creates a slippery slope toward U.S. harmonization with Codex Alimentarius.

Arctic Oil Drilling Threatens Norway Government

A classic battle pitting the oil industry against environmentalists and fishermen in Norway's Arctic seas is set to intensify on Thursday when the most thorough environmental study of the project to date is released.

Arizona Public Service Partners with EPA to Save the Environment and Money

Each year Americans dispose of roughly nine million refrigerators and freezers that contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which deplete the ozone layer and contribute to climate change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Arizona Public Service, the largest utility company in Arizona, are partnering through EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal Program to ensure environmentally-responsible disposal of household appliances. This partnership will not only help to protect the environment, but it will also save consumers money.

Biofuel companies at the crossroad

Biofuel has narrowed its cost and performance gap to petroleum with help from academic labs and venture partners – but how will it become competitive?

BLM Plans New Power Line Meeting

The project, proposed by SunZia Transmission LLC, would consist of a 500-kilovolt transmission line, or two parallel lines, to deliver electricity from primarily renewable energy sources to western power markets. It would stretch between the eastcentral plains of New Mexico from south of the Moriarty area south to the Las Cruces area then west to the Casa Grande, Ariz., area just outside of Phoenix.

Brazil suspends Amazon dam project

A Brazilian judge on Wednesday suspended the preliminary license for the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, a controversial project in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, citing "danger of irreparable harm," reports the Amazon Watch, an NGO that has been campaigning on the issue.

Breakthrough Guideline To Boost Carbon Capture And Storage

DNV and the energy industry, with valuable contribution from government agencies, have developed the world's most comprehensive guideline for safe and sustainable geological storage of CO2. This unified procedural framework is intended for global use, supporting both industry and regulators, and is a breakthrough that should speed up the large scale deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

Chinese Coal Ship Refloated From Australian Reef

Australian salvage teams have refloated a Chinese coal ship which ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef, with the ship's owner likely to face heavy fines despite the avoidance of an environmental disaster.

Clean Coal Technologies, Inc. Announces Significant Reductions in Green House Gases (GHG) Emissions Through the Use of Its Technology

Clean Coal Technologies, Inc. announced today that as a result of assessments conducted using the same power plant simulation model developed by the US Department of Energy in conjunction with Carnegie-Mellon University, their patented clean coal technology could reduce GHG emissions significantly when used in a coal-fired plant.

Climate Crisis Brings New Opportunities, Expert Says

Every person willing to do something to address the global problem of climate change can have an impact, the U.S. Department of State's deputy special envoy for climate change said April 7.

Governments -- and businesses that know to take advantage of emerging clean-energy markets -- can also make a difference...

Clouds Lifting for Solar Energy

Some clouds have lifted but the solar energy still has to contend with rough weather ahead. Industry advocates say that less restrictive financing and more access to public lands would brighten their day.

Companies tell Congress they need more time to clean coal

Coal will keep fueling national and world energy needs for decades to come, but that doesn't have to mean a dirty-power future, coal-industry executives told a House committee today.

Dept. of Energy delays closing Yucca Mountain repository

The federal Department of Energy has announced it will delay closing Yucca Mountain while lawsuits surrounding the decision to abandon the nuclear waste repository are litigated.

Earth's Missing Heat Could Haunt Us Later; Report

The rise in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere means far more energy is coming into Earth's climate system than is going out, but half of that energy is missing and could eventually reappear as another sign of climate change, scientists said on Thursday.

EPA Finalizes the 2008 National U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the15th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory report, which shows a drop in overall emissions of 2.9 percent from 2007 to 2008. The downward trend is attributed to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption.

EU could switch to 100% renewables by 2050; EREC study

A report published Thursday by the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) sets out a "pathway" for moving the EU to renewable energy sources for all its electricity, heating, cooling and transport needs by 2050.

FERC Looks to Ease Development of Small Hydropower Projects

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) took a step toward making its small hydropower licensing program more user-friendly today by announcing a series of Web-based tools that will help developers understand the FERC licensing process, help improve coordination with other agencies, and help license applicants complete the process more quickly and efficiently.

First step towards carbon-free ‘power-plant’

Plants, including algae blooms such as this, could be a source of high-efficiency, clean bioelectricity

GAO questions accuracy of US oil and gas production measurements

The two offices charged with verifying oil and natural gas production volumes at the US Department of the Interior could not reasonably prove to congressional auditors that US oil and gas production on government leases is accurately measured.

Gas exporters forum will not become OPEC-style organization; Libya

A meeting of major gas exporting countries due to take place in the Algerian city of Oran on Monday will discuss gas market developments and prices, but the Gas Exporting Countries Forum will not be turned into an OPEC-style cartel, Libya's senior oil official said Thursday.

Geothermal Grows 26% in 2009

The US geothermal power industry continued strong growth in 2009, according to a new report by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA). The April 2010 US Geothermal Power Production and Development Update showed 26% growth in new projects under development in the United States in the past year, with 188 projects underway in 15 states which could produce as much as 7,875 MW of new electric power.

Global Temperatures Last Month Broke Heat Records for March

The world's combined global land and ocean surface temperature made last month the warmest March on record, according to federal government scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA.

Global Warming; Next Chapter

For those in the American Northeast last winter was rugged and fairly cold. Yet what is he world picture? The World Meteorological Organization’s latest report demonstrates that 2000-2009 is the warmest decade since modern measurements began recording temperatures around 1850.

Groups ask White House to act on coal ash regulations

The Environmental Integrity Project, along with more than 200 local, state and national organizations, have sent a letter to the White House asking for movement on proposed federal regulations for coal ash disposal.

Iceland Volcano; Not Yet A Global Cooling Eruption

Cataclysmic eruptions, led by Pinatubo and Mount Chichon in Mexico in 1982 in the 20th century, spewed so much debris into the upper atmosphere that they cooled the planet for months, briefly offsetting the effect of industrial heat-trapping gases.

"This is not like Pinatubo. So far the scale is not big enough to have a global effect," said Hans Olav Hygen, a climate researcher at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

Icelandic Volcano Eruption Intensifies

A volcanic eruption in Iceland, which has thrown up a 6-km (3.7 mile) high plume of ash and disrupted air traffic across northern Europe, has grown more intense, an expert said on Thursday.

Is Bigger Always Better?

Ozone is a multi-functional technology, with many applications for both disinfection and oxidation.
Although ozone plays an important role in water treatment today, it is often viewed as being too
expensive or too complicated to implement. While there have been drastic improvements in the cost and footprint of ozone systems over the past 15 to 20 years, these pre-conceived notions can hinder the consideration of ozone for some water treatment applications.

Is Raw Milk Becoming Too Popular for its Own Good?

As far as the public health and medical establishments are concerned, whenever people consume raw dairy products, it's a problem. In their view, raw milk is inherently dangerous and shouldn't be produced or consumed.

But the fact that as many as three million Americans regularly consume raw milk...raw whole milk from grass-fed cows (fed pasture, hay and silage), produced under clean conditions and promptly refrigerated, contains many anti-microbial and immune-supporting components; but this protective system in raw milk can be overwhelmed, and the milk contaminated, in situations conducive to filth and disease. Know your farmer!"

Mainstream Scientists Finally Admit that GMOs are Environmentally Destructive

“Genetically engineered crops have provided ‘substantial’ environmental and economic benefits to American farmers, but overuse of the technology is threatening to erode the gains, a national science advisory organization said Tuesday ...

March Global Temperatures

How hot is it? It depends, of course, on where you are. From a global perspective there are agencies that check and recheck and average it all out.

The world’s combined global land and ocean surface temperature made last month the warmest March on record, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Mine downplayed airflow problem, inspector says

Three months before last week's deadly explosion, Massey Energy managers at the Upper Big Branch Mine told workers "not to worry" that the flow of air in the mine -- meant to control deadly gases and coal dust -- was headed in the wrong direction, a federal government inspector said in newly released U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration records.

Mortgage Rates Ease a Bit This Week

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 5.07 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending April 15, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 5.21 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.82 percent.

NASA Puffin personal electric aircraft concept

It’s a vertical take-off and landing tail-sitter that has generated quite a lot of interest from those inside and outside of NASA. It’s definitely a weird-looking craft, with a tail that splits into four "legs" that serve as landing gear.

Natural Gas is an eloquent Option for vehicles - Fiat CEO

The car industry has been suffering the effects of the global economic crisis more than most. So profoundly, in fact, that it is being compelled to rethink its business model completely. Every crisis makes us discard our traditional way of looking at things. This one is forcing us in this direction but with the added complexity, long overdue, of environmentally focused solutions.

New nuke plants, new challenges, NRC says

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will face new challenges as it scrambles to meet demands brought forth by a surge in nuclear power plant construction, according to a senior agency official.

New PV cell generates electricity from UV and IR light

The new PV cell can generate electricity from ultraviolet and infrared light as well as visible light.

Nothing negative about cheaper treatment for open wounds

For some reason, and nobody knows exactly why, the healing process for open wounds can be sped up by applying suction to them under a tightly-sealed bandage. ...Students at a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engineering class have been able to develop a basic negative pressure pump that doesn’t require electricity, is cheap to manufacture, lightweight to transport and can be left in place for days.

NRC; Radiation monitor at Oyster Creek plant wasn't working

A radiation monitoring device at the Oyster Creek nuclear plant was found during routine maintenance to be not functioning, according to Nuclear Regulatory Commission records.

Obama Administration Announces Nearly $100 Million for Smart Grid Workforce Training and Development

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced today that the Department of Energy is announcing award selections for nearly $100 million for 54 smart grid workforce training programs that will help prepare the next generation of workers in the utility and electrical manufacturing industries

Ohio senator asks Chu to act against rising gasoline price

Concerned about the impact of rising gasoline prices on his economically struggling state, Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown on Tuesday asked the Obama administration to "redouble its efforts" to stem the increase.

Proposed rate hike irks residents

This just in: People aren't happy about the prospect of seeing their monthly electric bills go up by 34 percent.

Proposed utility rate hikes extra costly to poor

Jack Burch, the non-profit agency's executive director, said tough economic times have greatly increased the number of people coming in his door looking for help with utility bills.

"Some people had a really good job, and they're working retail now," he said. "They were making $25 an hour, and now they're making $8."

Regulation Courtesy of Kafka

Not long ago, a form of Vitamin B6 (pryadoxamine) was forbidden by the FDA because a drug company had studied it and wanted to make it into a drug. ...Now, because another drug company wants to make another form of Vitamin B6 into a drug, and it fears, in writing, that people would take the supplement rather than the drug if it were not banned as a supplement, The FDA is considering granting its Citizens Petition to do just that.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 041510

The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet with isolated active to minor storm periods from 14/21-15/03Z due to recurrent coronal hole high speed stream effects. The geomagnetic field is expected to remain quiet for day one (16 April). Mostly quiet to unsettled levels are expected for days two and three (17-18 April), with possible isolated active periods at high latitudes on day three (18 April). Increased activity levels are due to effects from the CME observed on 13 April. .

Seattle residents increase food waste composting 47%

In 2009, city residents sent 89,000 tons of organics and food waste into the city composting program instead of the landfill, SPU reported, an increase of 47% over the previous year.

Secretary Chu Announces New Partnerships under the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas

"Dozens of countries from across the Americas have come together today to promote clean energy future for our Hemisphere," said Secretary Chu. "By expanding our cooperation and collaboration on key energy and climate issues, we will lay a foundation for broad-based economic growth while helping to protect our environment."

Securities Lawsuit Filings Drop and Dismissals Surge as Credit Crisis Eases

After dominating securities litigation for three years, new securities lawsuit filings related to the global credit crisis all but disappeared in the first quarter of 2010...

Solar fire raises questions about panel safety

A small house fire caused by a solar panel in San Diego last week exposed a potentially dangerous flaw in the building codes of many cities across California, which is pushing for tens of thousands of homeowners to install the generating systems on their rooftops.

Survival of the FIT-est

The year 2009 was tough on every industry, and the 'hot' solar energy industry wasn't immune to the global recession and the financial market upheaval. And, although 2010 is shaping up to be a better year, it won't be without its challenges. But what are the major business challenges that industry players will face in the coming year and what are their implications?

Talk of a shale gale shows no signs of dissipating

Its pink and purple blotches represent the shale basins that sprawl across the country, from the Rockies clear across to the Appalachians.

Tell The FDA That Cherries—And Now Walnuts—Are NOT Illegal Drugs

In the latest volley of the US Food and Drug Administration’s bizarre war on scientific freedom of speech, the FDA has sent a Warning Letter to the president and CEO of Diamond Foods stating that the firm’s packages of shelled walnuts are “in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.”

The Coming Smart Grid Boom -- and Bust

Smart Grid is the power industry's version of the legendary dot.com boom. It could bring some long overdue innovation and excitement to the industry, or it could leave enormous disappointment in its wake. There are certainly some interesting parallels -- legions of starry-eyed entrepreneurs with big ideas chasing venture capital; a whole cottage industry of newsletters, seminars and conferences; and lots and lots of hype.

Trina Solar launches solar PV modules and systems

Trina Solar is launching two black residential solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for homeowners and small businesses, and a multicrystalline solar PV module for large, ground-mounted systems.

US Air Force flies with biomass on all engines

The US Air Force scheduled a A-10 Thunderbolt II jet aircraft flight at Eglin Air Force Base in March on a blend of biomass-derived and conventional JP-8 jet fuel.

US Beige Book, Overall Economic Activity 'Increased Somewhat'

The Fed’s Beige Book, prepared with data collected before April 5, indicated that U.S. economic activity “increased somewhat” since the last report across all Districts except one (St. Louis), which reported that conditions “softened”.

US House Republicans blast bid to repeal oil and gas tax credits

"I am ... discouraged by the administration's proposed tax increases on oil and gas and coal industries," Michigan Representative Dave Camp, the senior Republican on the committee said. He added that tax incentives should not be directed solely at renewables.

US House vote on home energy efficiency bill seen in weeks

A bill that would encourage homeowners to pour money into energy efficiency improvements to their homes--and put unemployed contractors back to work at the same time--could get a vote in the US House of Representatives in two to three weeks, a key House Democrat said Wednesday.

US Military Warns Oil Output May Dip Causing Massive Shortages by 2015

The US military has warned that surplus oil production capacity could disappear within two years and there could be serious shortages by 2015 with a significant economic and political impact.

Utah State board imposes new regulations on depleted uranium

EnergySolutions can take no more depleted uranium until it shows its radioactive landfill can contain the radioactive waste for thousands of years.

Vermont House; Entergy liable for cleanup

The decommissioning bill, which was given preliminary approval on a 139 to 0 vote, establishes that Entergy is responsible for costs associated with decommissioning, managing spent nuclear fuel and restoration the site to a greenfield condition. Entergy must kick in additional money to help accomplish those goals when the plant shuts down, now scheduled for March 2012.

Volcanic ash disrupts northern Europe air traffic

Air traffic in much of northern Europe was halted Thursday by ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland, aviation authorities said.


"Due to ash, air traffic on the sea area between Scotland, Norway, northern Sweden, Britain, Norway and northern Finland is being limited," Finland's airport agency Finavia said.

Wisconsin's scaled-back global warming bill unveiled

A revised state clean energy and global warming bill unveiled Tuesday scales back the scope of the legislation but retains a commitment to expand use of renewable energy and opens the door to construction of nuclear reactors in Wisconsin.

Workers discover leak at Callaway Nuclear plant

The leak was discovered around noon during normal maintenance in an auxiliary building. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission was immediately notified that an "unusual event" occurred, AmerenUE said.

 

April 13, 2010

 

8 Things You Should Know About US Hydrogen

 

A Civilizational Tipping Point

In recent years there has been a growing concern over thresholds or tipping points in nature. For example, scientists worry about when the shrinking population of an endangered species will fall to a point from which it cannot recover. Marine biologists are concerned about the point where overfishing will trigger the collapse of a fishery.

Biomass Under Attack;  When is Carbon Neutral?

The use of biomass from forests, grasslands and other organic material to produce electricity has
been expected to be a major contributor to meeting clean energy goals in the United States and
around the world. Yet recently, the combustion of biomass for electricity has caused some
scientists and environmental advocates to raise concerns about its long-term impact on forests
and climate change.

Climate Bill Sets Oil 'Rack' Transport Tax

Details of an oil industry tax are being filled in Congress as part of an upcoming U.S. climate control bill, sparking a spirited lobbying campaign this week over how the revenues from that tax would be used.

Coalition wants US tax benefits for industrial energy efficiency

A coalition of almost 90 industrial companies, environmental groups and associations Monday urged the US Congress to pass legislation that would increase federal tax incentives for certain generation projects that make industrial manufacturing more energy efficient.

Combating One Of Mother Nature's Overlooked Assassins; Dirty Water

Purging water of parasites, viruses, bacteria and other grunge is nothing new. But unlike the fuel-guzzling, generator-driven systems of yesteryear, S&T is seeking a portable and self-sustaining purifier, one that would lend itself to ready usage on a stand-alone basis

Decarbonizing EU power to cost little more than business as usual

The cost of decarbonizing the European Union's power sector by mid-century, including a switch to 80% renewables, is only slightly higher than following a high-carbon business as usual strategy, according to a study by the European Climate Foundation to be published Tuesday.

Don’t They Like the Sun in Hawaii?

If  there’s any state in the Union that could call itself a natural candidate for solar power, it might have to be Hawaii...  The Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is attempting to block homes and businesses from installing rooftop solar panels and connecting them to the grid in every island except Oahu.

DOT, EPA Set Aggressive National Standards for Fuel Economy and First Ever Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels For Passenger Cars and Light Trucks

...the first-ever national greenhouse gas emissions standards and will significantly increase the fuel economy of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States.

Electric vehicles; Sprouting a new industry

The race to develop electric vehicles is generating billions of dollars of investments as a new set of companies vies for a piece of this expanding global market.

Amid the excitement, Michigan has planted its flag as a center for advanced battery manufacturing.

Energy Storage Market to Hit $44B by 2015

With virtually every major automaker planning an electric vehicle launch, and governments worldwide funneling billions of dollars into smart grid technologies, the prospects for energy storage technologies are getting lots of attention.

The market for batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells targeting transportation and smart grid applications will more than double from $21.4 billion in 2010 to $44.4 billion in 2015, according to a new report from Lux Research.

FDA says studies on triclosan, used in sanitizers and soaps, raise concerns

The Food and Drug Administration said recent research raises "valid concerns" about the possible health effects of triclosan, an antibacterial chemical found in a growing number of liquid soaps, hand sanitizers, dishwashing liquids, shaving gels and even socks, workout clothes and toys.

Glacier breaks in Peru, causing tsunami

A huge glacier broke off and plunged into a lake in Peru, causing a 75-foot (23-meter) tsunami wave that swept away at least three people and destroyed a water processing plant serving 60,000 local residents, government officials said on Monday.

Greenspan Also Highlights the Risks of Securitization

In a statement to the Congressional Hearing, Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, defended his policy on interest rates and placed the blame for the recent crash on the fact that most new mortgages in the final years of the property boom were securitized.

Institutional Investors New Embrace

When major institutional investors and venture capitalists start investing in alternative and low-carbon energy companies, it is noteworthy.

Iraqi oil minister urges other ministries to support oil majors

Iraqi oil minister Hussain al-Shahristani has urged other ministries to help facilitate the logistics of foreign oil companies, in a bid to increase their presence in the country as it prepares for a drastic boost in oil production.

Mammoth high-voltage line alarms residents

Like most people, Eric Johnson never really thought much about transmission lines.

But now that a high-voltage power line threatens to dwarf his Dakota County home, he thinks about it every day.

Massive Arctic Ice Cap Is Shrinking, Study Shows; Rate Accelerating Since 1985

Close to 50 years of data show the Devon Island ice cap, one of the largest ice masses in the Canadian High Arctic, is thinning and shrinking.

Measured Response to Greenhouse Gases

No issue has been as politically polarizing as climate change. With the positions of both the right and the left mostly predictable, the power is now in the hands of the political and industrial moderates.

Momentum Gathers for the Senate to Enact its Version of the Financial Regulatory Reform Bill

With Congress on recess for the past two weeks, both the Democrats and the Republicans spent
the time away from the nation’s capitol engaged in a delicate dance regarding regulatory reform,
with each side trying to achieve the best positioning.

Nation Mourns for 29 West Virginia Miners, Investigators Poised

The U.S. Attorney in West Virginia today said he plans to prosecute any criminal activity related to the deaths of 29 coal miners in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion, the deadliest U.S. coal mine incident in 25 years.

New Canadian studies suggest seasonal flu shot increased H1N1 risk

Despite a rapidly launched range of studies, investigators in Canada are still unable to say—or to rule out—whether receiving a seasonal flu vaccination in the 2008-09 season made it more likely that Canadians would become ill from 2009 pandemic H1N1 flu.

Nigerian military uncovers fresh plot for attack on oil industry

Nigeria's security agencies have discovered fresh plans for attacks on the country's oil and gas production facilities, a military spokesman said Monday.

Nuclear's New Confidence

Nuclear energy development in this country is getting a big boost now that the nuclear loan guarantees are being processed. Southern Co., which snagged the first $8 billion of what will be $54 billion pie, still has to wait about a year for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to okay its license application.

Oil, gas industry 'under attack' on multiple fronts; IPAA

The oil and natural gas industry is "under attack" on the tax, environmental and hedging fronts, though industry has made some inroads with lawmakers, Bruce Vincent, chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, told IPAA conference attendees Monday.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 041110

The solar disk was generally void of spots, although there was some evidence late in the period for emerging flux...The geomagnetic field was initially quiet but became unsettled at mid-latitudes and active with some isolated storm periods at high latitudes after a sudden impulse at 1305Z (5 nT in Boulder). The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet with some unsettled periods for the first day (12 April) as the current disturbance subsides.

Same Old Divisions Mar Restart of Climate Negotiations

Government climate negotiators today opened a three-day round of official talks in Bonn, the first since the Copenhagen summit ended in December with the weak Copenhagen Accord, a political agreement. Many countries and the United Nations had aimed for a legally binding deal to limit global greenhouse gas emissions after the Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2012.

Scientists back more geothermal exploration

Hoping to attract federal stimulus money or developers to drill test holes, the U.S. Geological Survey is republishing a study highlighting possible geothermal energy about 15 miles northeast of Flagstaff.

Scientists discover new superheavy element_117

Scientists at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions at the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia announced internally that they had succeeded in detecting the decay of a new element in January 2010, and the results have now been published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Search for 'God particle' underway at LHC

After months of testing, the Large Hadron Collider research program has started at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) laboratory on the Franco–Swiss border. Accelerating particles and colliding them at 7 trillion electron volts - just half of its full capacity, but already three and a half times the energy previously achieved by the most powerful particle accelerator in the United States - scientists at LHC are now hoping to answer fundamental questions on the nature of our universe.

Secretary Chu Announces More Stringent Appliance Standards for Home Water Heaters and Other Heating Products

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the Department has finalized higher energy efficiency standards for a key group of heating appliances that will together save consumers up to $10 billion and prevent up to 164 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 30 years.

Solar energy, other 'green' industries a growing source of jobs

Yet the jury is out on the large-scale promise of "green jobs," said University of Arizona economist Marshall Vest, although he doesn't write off the possibility of an important new sector based on energy conservation.

Solar switch a 'game-changer'

When building his garage, Spinney positioned specifically for the ability to use solar panels to their maximum impact. But in seeking a solar installation, the up-front cost was a barrier.

Swallow parasitic worms to eat your food for you?

One of the latest diet crazes in the country, the practice of eating the giant intestinal roundworms has become so popular that the nation's Department of Health decided to make a public statement in opposition to it.

The Biology of Stress

The external causes of stress are multiple such as: Jobs and The Workplace, Financial Problem, Personal Relationships, Children/Family, and Being Too Busy. The biological link may show how to treat the stress symptoms in a better way.

Ukraine to get rid of highly enriched uranium stocks

Nonproliferation sources expect the next summit to take place in 2012. The White House said Ukraine plans to remove a "substantial part" of its highly-enriched uranium stocks this year.

The US will provide technical and financial assistance to help Ukraine with its effort, the White House said.

US court's Clean Air Act ruling seen a precedent for other cases

A victory for the Tennessee Valley Authority in a US court over a Clean Air Act lawsuit is likely to set a precedent for other courts attempting to define what constitutes exempt routine maintenance at coal-fired power plants.

US DOE to appeal licensing board hold on Yucca termination

The US Department of Energy intends to request on Monday that members of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission review a licensing board's order Tuesday that puts termination of DOE's Yucca Mountain repository project on hold until a federal court rules on the legality of DOE's action.

US Eastern forests suffer 'substantial' decline; 3.7 million hectares gone

The United States' Eastern forests have suffered a "substantial and sustained net loss" over the past few decades, according to a detailed study appearing in BioScience. From 1973 to 2000, Eastern have declined by 4.1 percent or 3.7 million hectares. Deforestation occurred in all Eastern regions, but the loss was most concentrated in the southeastern plains.

Utah Governor to Sign NGV Bill Later This Month

As the market in Utah has grown so has concern about the use of non-certified and non-approved NGV storage systems. The quality of conversion installations also has raised some concerns.

Utopia revisited; Illinois town a pioneer of green living

On the first Earth Day in 1970, Rebecca Wilson rode a bike on the beach at Santa Monica, Calif. The goal of the event was to raise environmental awareness at a time when a generation of young people clamored for change.

Nine years later, Wilson moved to the small town of Stelle in Central Illinois. The unincorporated community was founded in 1973 on a vision of sustainability outlined in the book, "The Ultimate Frontier."

World Leaders Meet to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism

President Barack Obama welcomed the leaders of 47 nations to Washington today for a two-day nuclear security summit with the goal of securing all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world within four years.

 

April 9, 2010

 

160-Square-Mile Oil Spill Fouls Mississippi Delta Wildlife Refuge

An 18,000 gallon spill of crude oil from a pipeline into the Delta National Wildlife Refuge has personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, the state of Louisiana, and the Cypress Pipe Line Company scrambling to contain the spreading mess.

A legacy of Katrina; Green homes

In this city on the mend, hundreds of state-of-the-art, energy-efficient homes are being built in lower-income neighborhoods, a trend that's outpacing most of the rest of the USA.

More than 500 green homes are being built with features such as solar panels and rain-catching cisterns

Active 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Likely, Gulf Coasts Vulnerable

Impacts from a decade of extreme storms on the coastline of the northern Gulf of Mexico have left many coastal areas vulnerable to future storm events, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey warned today.

Arizona forests to take spotlight in largest restoration effort ever attempted

Fire, as many in the White Mountains know, is both a healer and destroyer of the forests. In a healthy forest, fire helps to maintain the balance; in an unhealthy forest, fire is more destructive, hotter and harder to fight and control.

Bee Populations Continue Rapid Decline

The 4-year-old crisis of the disappearing bee is deepening. Harsh winter conditions led to a massive bee die off and a new study found bee pollen and hives laced with pesticides.

Ben Bernanke, The REPO Man and Castles Made of Sand

For those of you who have not been reading the front-page stories about accounting fraud at Lehman Brothers through what is called "REPO 105," a repurchase agreement is a way for dealers and other market participants to finance securities, mostly by lending the securities overnight but sometimes for longer periods of weeks or months.

Beyond The Dust Bowl; Challenges In Soil And Water Conservation

Have agricultural management efforts begun in the desperation of the Dust Bowl brought us to where we need to be tomorrow? The lessons of history and the future of research are explored in a new book, Soil and Water Conservation Advances in the United States

Big Coal Angry Over EPA Water Standard Rule Change

New federal rules to restrict mountaintop mining are likely to hurt coal production and endanger jobs in poor Appalachian communities recovering from the recession, industry experts, politicians and analysts say.

Brazil farmers shown how to profit by conserving

The state is Brazil's top soy producer, churning out an annual harvest of about 18 million tones. Fields of emerald green line the highways, stretching out to horizons so flat they look drawn with a ruler.

Breakthrough in low-cost efficient solar cells

The Earth receives more solar energy in one hour than the human race currently consumes in a year. At least, that’s what the scientists at Canada’s Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) tell us. That’s a lot of energy, and it’s going mostly untapped. Why? Because, we are told, solar collection cells are too inefficient and expensive to be more widely used. A researcher at UQAM, however, has come up with new technology that addresses these problems...

California to develop three more solar projects

The electricity generated by each plant will prevent a quarter megaton of global warming pollution from being emitted into the atmosphere, according to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger 's Office.

The reduction of pollution by the solar plants is equivalent to taking about 40,000 cars off the road each year, said the office.

China becomes the world's largest exporter

World trade suffered the biggest decline in more than 70 years in 2009, but is set to rebound with 9.5% growth in 2010, according to the WTO. The global economic crisis sparked a 12.2% contraction in the volume of global trade, though measured in US dollars, global exports fell by a whopping 23% from the 2008 peak, due mainly to falling oil prices and a sharp contraction in global demand for all types of goods, especially consumer durables (e.g. automobiles) and investment goods (e.g. industrial machinery).

Chocolate 'can cut blood pressure and help heart'

Easter eggs and other chocolate can be good for you, as long as you eat only small amounts, latest research suggests.

Easter eggs 'may be healthy'

Climate Catastrophe; Obama's Second Chance on the Predominant Moral Issue of This Century

President Obama, finally, took a get-involved get-tough approach to negotiations on health care legislation and the arms control treaty with Russia -- with success. Could this be the turn-around for what might still be a great presidency?

The predominant moral issue of the 21st century, almost surely, will be climate change, comparable to Nazism faced by Churchill in the 20th century and slavery faced by Lincoln in the 19th century. Our fossil fuel addiction, if unabated, threatens our children and grandchildren, and most species on the planet.

Climate Scientist Hansen Wins $100,000 Prize

"Hansen has played a key role for the development of our understanding of human-induced climate change," the prize citation said.

Concern raised over nuclear waste storage at Turkey Point

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has called a special meeting next week to discuss three apparent violations involving a spent-fuel pool at Turkey Point -- a critical issue as the long-held plans for storing waste in Nevada have collapsed.

Consumer Reports Finds 10 Recommended Water Filters That Can Replace Bottled Water

There's good news for consumers when it comes to clean drinking water: Water filter manufacturers are producing products that remove impurities, not just improve taste and appearance. Plus filters that cost as little as $30 can provide cleaner, better-tasting water, according to Consumer Reports latest water filter tests.

Cows Absolved Of Stoking Warming With Nitrous Oxide

Grazing by cows or sheep can cut emissions of nitrous oxide -- a powerful greenhouse gas -- in grasslands from China to the United States, according to a study that overturns past belief that farm animals stoke releases.

Crude prices up on technical considerations, spreads weaken

Crude prices remained above the Thursday's settle through the European morning Friday on the back of technical considerations with fundamentals still viewed as weak. ...

The dollar was down on the day as the euro traded at $1.3408 compared with Thursday's close of $1.3360.

El Niño is expected to continue through the Northern Hemisphere spring 2010 and transition to ENSO-neutral conditions by Northern Hemisphere summer 2010

El Niño weakened to moderate strength during March 2010, with sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies decreasing slightly, but still exceeding +1oC across much of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean at the end of the month

Farmer's Markets on the Cheap

Eating organically and locally make for a dynamic dining duo. Add seasonality to the mix, and you’ve got quite the food trifecta. Why do all of these things? Glad you asked.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables taste better and are better in quality than their out-of-season counterparts.

Firms Urge Obama To Offer Consumer Energy Info

Almost 50 U.S. firms and organizations, including Google, General Electric and AT&T, urged President Barack Obama on Tuesday to let consumers know how much energy they use so they can decide where to cut back.

This could "unleash the forces of innovation in homes and businesses ... reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save consumers billions of dollars," the group of 47 companies and organizations said in a letter to Obama.

First energy vessel makes journey to Iraq

The Turkish minister said: "energy will be the trigger of peace in the region, not wars. This is what this ship will do."

Yildiz said he hoped the power ship would contribute to the improvement of prosperity of the Iraqi people, as well as the normalization process in the country.

First robotic underwater vehicle to be powered entirely by natural, renewable, ocean thermal energy

NASA, US Navy and university researchers have successfully demonstrated the first underwater vehicle to be powered entirely by natural, renewable, ocean thermal energy. Scalable for use on most robotic oceanographic vehicles, this technological breakthrough could usher in a new generation of autonomous underwater vehicles capable of virtually indefinite ocean monitoring for climate and marine animal studies, exploration and surveillance.

Fraud Claims Mount in Chevron-Texaco Ecuador Oil Pollution Trial

A lawsuit over oil contamination of Ecuadorian land by the oil giant Texaco, now owned by Chevron, has taken another nasty turn with accusations of fraudulent evidence being presented to the public and to the court by both sides in the long-running legal battle with $27 billion at stake.

Global Chronic Hunger Rises Above 1 Billion

In 2009, an estimated 1.02 billion people were classified as undernourished, 12 percent more than in 2008.1 This means nearly one in six people on Earth suffers from undernourishment.2 Undernourishment—or chronic hunger—is defined as regularly eating food that provides less than 1,800 kilocalories (kcal) a day.3 In comparison, Americans, Canadians, and Europeans on average consume food that provides more than 3,400 kcal per day.4

Grid proposed for offshore wind turbines

U.S. scientists are proposing creation of a grid project to allow offshore wind turbines to generate steady power despite changes in wind speed and direction.

Hold The Salt; UCLA Engineers Develop Revolutionary New Desalination Membrane

The highly permeable, surface-structured membrane can easily be incorporated into today's commercial production system, the researchers say, and could help to significantly reduce desalination operating costs. Their findings appear in the current issue of the Journal of Materials Chemistry.

IBM's solar-powered desalination plant to hydrate the Saudi desert

In spite of the technological age we live in it is reported that one-in-five people on this planet still don’t have access to clean drinking water. To help correct this imbalance, a new, energy-efficient desalination plant with an expected production capacity of 30,000 cubic meters per day will be built in the city of Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia...

Mine blast called 'preventable'

"This tragedy, which left wives without husbands and children without fathers, is a classic example of a large coal company that put productivity over safety of the miners."

New report provides tribal energy outlook

A new report finds that tribes disproportionately bear negative costs resulting from U.S. energy policy and its aftereffects, yet there is substantial potential on tribal lands to generate clean energy from renewable resources.

New reverse-osmosis membrane to improve desalination

A growing number of countries are turning to desalination plants to bolster dwindling water supplies. Most of the new facilities make use of reverse osmosis technology, but unfortunately these systems are susceptible to clogging and membrane damage, which places higher energy demands on the pumping system and necessitates costly cleanup and membrane replacement. Now researchers have unveiled a new class of reverse-osmosis membrane that resists the clogging that typically occurs when seawater, brackish water and waste-water are purified.

New York chosen for first wave of THINK electric vehicles

Norwegian EV company THINK has chosen New York as the first port of call in its push to capture a slice of the electric-vehicle market in the United States. The 100 mile range THINK City Electric Car will be rolled-out in New York and "other select cities" later this year with plans to begin manufacturing the THINK City in Elkhart, Indiana from early 2011.

Nitrous Oxide’s Global Warming Impact No Laughing Matter

Thawing permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere releases "large amounts" of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, according to a new study from the journal Nature Geoscience.

The study found that under certain conditions thawed permafrost can release as much nitrous oxide as tropical forests, one of the main sources of the gas.

Obama Administration Announces Comprehensive Strategy For Energy Security

President Obama and Secretary Salazar announced that the Administration will expand oil and gas development and exploration on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to enhance our nation's energy independence while protecting fisheries, tourism, and places off U.S. coasts that are not appropriate for development.

Peak Oil Man Shifts Focus To Peak Price, Demand

The economic shock of global recession has led a prime exponent of the theory conventional oil output has peaked to shift his view of the consequences, but he still thinks the world has to go green....What has changed is his opinion of the price impact and implications for fuel consumption after the spike of July 2008 to nearly $150 a barrel was followed by world economic recession

Permanent Solution

The Application of permanent magnet generators is gaining ground in the wind turbine industry.

Pickens wind turbines coming to Goodhue

After shelving plans for a mega wind farm in the Texas Panhandle, Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens renegotiated his headline-making order of 667 wind turbines from General Electric Co., cutting it to about 334 machines with plans to stick them somewhere in the country's gusty central zone. Now we know where some of his stash is headed: Goodhue.

Recognizing Coal's Constraints

Coal's long term future is up in the air. But if it is to continue to serve the American economy and to provide the preponderance of fuel that generates electricity, it is clear that the utilities using it will have to make it much cleaner.

The status quo won't do.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 040810

B3 flare at 08/0325Z with an associated EIT wave and a earth directed full halo CME. SOHO C2 imagery observed a second CME, This CME is not expected to become geoeffective....Observations from the ACE spacecraft show continued influence from the coronal hole high speed stream. Solar wind speeds have averaged 600 km/s...

CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu

Twenty-Seven Million People with Mortgages Believe They Owe More than Their Homes Are Worth

A new Harris Poll provides some unpleasant numbers about the housing crisis and the collapse of the house price bubble. Fully 24% of people with mortgages believe they owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.

U.S. Reveals Nuclear Target; Oceans

The new U.S. nuclear weapons doctrine released on Tuesday had stern warnings for Iran and North Korea, with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates explaining that it left "all options on the table" for dealing with atomic renegades despite its broader goal of restricting the U.S. use of its nuclear stockpile.

US FOMC March 16 Minutes Provide Balanced View of Risks to the Economy and the Interest Rate Outlook

The statement contained very little in terms of surprises although it seemed to hint at a slightly more upbeat assessment of the economic recovery.

US Long-Term Mortgage Rates at Second Highest Level This Year

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) last week released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.08 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 1, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 4.99 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.78 percent.

US Treasury Market is Headed Toward Rapid Growth in Trading Volume, Attracting New Dealers, Arbitrageurs and Trading Venues

Competition in the US Treasury market has been sparse with the number of primary dealers on the decline since the mid-1980s, but according to TABB Group in a new research note written by Adam Sussman, their director of research, new entrants are beginning to emerge.

Washington State considers Yucca Mountain legal options

At least three actions are pending in federal court on Yucca Mountain, including a lawsuit filed by three Tri-City business leaders -- Bob Ferguson, Bill Lampson and Gary Petersen -- asking the court to decide if the Obama administration has the legal authority to terminate Yucca Mountain.

They believe it is a violation of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.

Waste_Inbox 040810

Paper has long made up the biggest piece of the pie by far. It still does, but its dominance is shrinking. There's the depressed state of newspapers, with declining advertising revenue translating into significantly fewer news pages. Increasingly, we're viewing and storing information electronically that we used to read from a hard copy.

Water Utilities Raise Rates As Demand Falls

Manufacturing closures and cut-backs, a poor real estate market, and a downturn in tourism were cited as causes for the drop in water usage, exemplified in southern Maine by an 11 percent drop in sales last year for the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Wells Water District.

"This is happening most everywhere. It's a regional thing, it's a national thing," ..

West Basin Municipal Water District Begins Construction Of Ocean-Water Desalination Demonstration Facility Utilizing Ocean Protection Technology

"Southern California is faced with a fragile, out-of-date state water delivery system, predicted reductions in imported water supplies caused by climate change, continued statewide population growth, and other limitations.

West Virginia blast site near other controversial Massey projects

Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine, where 25 workers died in an underground explosion April 5 and four miners are still missing, is within a few miles -- as the crow flies -- of other company mining projects that have aroused the ire of the community and environmentalists.

Why YOU Should Raise Rabbits

Rabbits produce manure that is arguably the BEST for the gardeners' purposes. It is ready for use with absolutely no composting: no building bins, no heavy work turning the piles, no trucking in loads of manure from animals who may be heavily medicated. ...

Meat Production--Rabbits are the most economical, labor efficient, and practical way to produce protein.

 

April 6, 2010

 

APS Community Power Project Approved

APS will own, operate and receive energy from solar panels on customer rooftops that are suitable for the project. The company will hire solar contractors to install and maintain the systems in a limited area of northeast Flagstaff. Customers will receive a long-term Community Power Rate for the solar portion of their bill. This rate will remain fixed at a guaranteed level -- approximately equivalent to what they pay today -- for 20 years.

Arctic Thaw Frees Overlooked Greenhouse Gas; Study

Thawing permafrost can release nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, a contributor to climate change that has been largely overlooked in the Arctic, a study showed on Sunday.

Bolivia’s indigenous women continue struggle for land

Land is a hot commodity in impoverished agrarian Bolivia, where much of the country’s 60 percent indigenous population lives by farming small parcels.

Canadian Cement Plant Becomes First to Capture CO2 in Algae

A Canadian company called Pond Biofuels is capturing CO2 emissions from a cement plant in algae — algae the company ultimately plans on using to make biofuel.

Chinese ship leaking oil on Great Barrier Reef

A stranded Chinese bulk coal carrier leaking oil into the sea around Australia's Great Barrier Reef is in danger of breaking up and damaging the reef, government officials said on Sunday.

Chinese Coal Ship Aground on Great Barrier Reef Spills Oil

Angry Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says "the book should be thrown" at the owners of a grounded Chinese coal cargo ship leaking oil into pristine waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Conservation Grant Flows to Africa's 'Miracle,' iSimangaliso Wetland Park

"The park is a major natural asset that has the potential to play an important role in fostering economic growth in the region," said Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority at the signing ceremony March 24.

Dr. Mehta signs club for growth 'Repeal It' pledge

The pledge reads:
     I, Dr. Steve Mehta, hereby pledge to the people of my district (AZ01) upon my election to the U.S. House of Representatives, to sponsor and support legislation to repeal any federal health care takeover passed in 2010, and replace it with real reforms...

E.P.A. Delays Plants’ Pollution Permits

The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that it would not require power plants or other industrial sites to obtain federal pollution permits for emitting greenhouse gases before next January.

EPA Preparing to Finalize First National Greenhouse Gas Pollution Standards in U.S. History

The Obama administration is preparing to finalize new fuel economy benchmarks and the first national standards for greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. history, putting the nation on a path to more efficient fuel use and significant pollution reductions from cars and light trucks over the next two decades.

Explosion at Tesoro Refinery in Pacific Northwest Kills Four

An explosion and fire at the Tesoro oil refinery in Anacortes just after midnight Friday has claimed the lives of four employees and left three others critically injured.

Fuel oil to be drained from coal vessel stranded on reef

Heavy fuel oil aboard a Chinese-registered coal carrier that ran aground on Australia's protected Great Barrier Reef will be transferred to another vessel, Queensland state premier Anna Bligh said Tuesday.

GM crops cause liver and kidney damage

A report published in the International Journal of Microbiology has verified once again that Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) crops are causing severe health problems. A legal challenge issued against Monsanto forced the multi-national agriculture giant to release raw data revealing that animals fed its patented GM corn suffered liver and kidney damage within just three months.

How Wind Farms Affect the Global Climate

Proponents claim wind power can reduce the threat of global warming. However, a recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found that the opposite is true. Mass produced wind farms can actually affect climate in a negative way.

Natural Gas Boom Brings Riches To A Rural Town

At a windswept rail yard at Wellsboro in northern Pennsylvania, dozens of railcars wait to load thousands of tons of sand onto trucks that will take the cargo to natural gas rigs across the state.

Natural Gas Output Overestimated, Shale Blamed

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is revamping the way it calculates domestic natural gas production after it overestimated output from key producer states Texas and Louisiana, an agency official said on Monday.

Nestle Drops Palm Oil Supplier Destroying Rainforest in Indonesia

Nestle's announcement came after Greenpeace released a report on Wednesday which looked into how the company was sourcing palm oil.

NGVAmerica congressional testimony

As the title of this hearing suggests, transportation policy has a profound impact on efforts to improve energy security and the environment. NGVAmerica believes that national transportation and energy policies should encourage the increased use of natural gas as a transportation fuel.

No Deaths from Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids or Herbs

Why then is the government trying to restrict our access to them? Big Pharma ties? Sports ties? I mean really!

Nuclear power plant remains intact after strong quake

A nuclear power plant in Southern California remained intact after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook the region on Sunday, authorities said.

The temblor did not result in the shutdown of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station...

PGE Asks DEQ to Allow Early Closure of Boardman Plant

Portland General Electric Company today submitted a proposal asking the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for rule revisions to allow the utility to meet new environmental standards by closing the Boardman Power Plant in 2020, at least 20 years ahead of schedule.

Putting wind-generated power where it’s needed

The national push for more wind turbine-generated electricity could turn Illinois into a transmission hub.

(Editor Arizona Energy:  Suggestion:  Have every family, every business, every entity, produce enough energy on site to satisfy their demand requirements.  The remainder of those who simply cannot do this, arrangements can be made for transmission.)

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 040510

The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to severe storm levels during the past 24 hours. Conditions were initially quiet to unsettled, but increased to active levels after 0300Z, and increased further to
major to severe storm levels between 0900-1200Z. The increase in activity followed a strong shock observed at the ACE spacecraft...Activity declined to active to major storm levels from 1200-1800Z and declined further to mostly unsettled levels from 1800-2100Z....The geomagnetic field is expected to be unsettled to active during the early part of the first day (06 April) due to persistent effects from the current disturbance. In addition, another increase to unsettled levels with a chance for active periods is expected late in the day and continuing through the second day (07 April) due to the onset of a high speed stream from a favorably positioned coronal hole.

Scientists Say F.D.A. Ignored Radiation Warnings

Urgent warnings by government experts about the risks of routinely using powerful CT scans to screen patients for colon cancer were brushed aside by the Food and Drug Administration, according to agency documents and interviews with agency scientists.

'Shocking' Reasons to Go Organic

Eating organic foods has lots of benefits, from protecting the environment to helping you stay slim and healthier.

Small-scale windmills generate mixed reviews

While the Dyers, who live on Route 7 in Dover-Foxcroft, are unhappy with their purchase, others say their windmills have generated what they expected, but they say location is the key.

SRP's largest reservoir at all time highest elevation

Nearly three months of unusually productive winter storms have pushed water levels at Roosevelt Lake to its highest-ever elevation.

US Biodiesel Industry Gets Government Boost

A federal mandate on use of biodiesel and the likely extension of a tax credit for the fuel are resurrecting hopes for the industry in the U.S.

Production of the fuel--which is similar to crude-oil-based diesel but made from vegetable or animal oils--essentially came to a halt over the past several months due to the economic downturn and the expiration of the $1-a-gallon tax credit at the end of 2009.

US nuclear industry sues DOE over continued waste fee collection

The Nuclear Energy Institute and 16 of its member companies sued the US Department of Energy in a federal appeals court Monday, asking the court to order the department to suspend collection of a fee nuclear utility customers pay for the federal government's spent fuel management activities.

US oil company donated millions to climate sceptic groups, says Greenpeace

A Greenpeace investigation has identified a little-known, privately owned US oil company as the paymaster of global warming sceptics in the US and Europe.

Wind Power Soared Past 150,000 Megawatts in 2009

Even in the face of a worldwide economic downturn, the global wind industry posted another record year in 2009 as cumulative installed wind power capacity grew to 158,000 megawatts. With this 31 percent jump, the global wind fleet is now large enough to satisfy the residential electricity needs of 250 million people. Wind provides electricity in over 70 countries, 17 of which now have at least 1,000 megawatts installed.

With Yucca Mountain out, nuclear waste has nowhere to go

The tanks are still there, 177 in all, packed with 53 million gallons of radioactive waste. One million gallons have leached into the desert soil.

A decade from now, this byproduct of the atomic age at Hanford nuclear reservation was to be turned into 14-foot-long glass rods, loaded in steel canisters and shipped to Nevada, where it could sit forever beneath a mountain. An additional 2,300 tons of spent nuclear fuel would go with it.

Year-End 2009 Data Reveal Renewables at 10.66pct of Domestic Energy Production While Nuclear Output Drops for Third Consecutive Year

In its latest "Monthly Energy Review," the Energy Information Administration confirms continued growth for renewable energy, which accounted for 10.66% of domestic energy production in 2009. By comparison, renewables accounted for 10.10% of domestic energy production in 2008 and 9.44% in 2007.

 

April 5, 2010

STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS

The source of the storming is an Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejection associated with a weak solar flare that occurred in Active Region 1059 on April 3 at 05:54 AM EST. 

Systems that can be affected include electric power systems, spacecraft operations, high-frequency communications, GPS, and other navigation systems.
 

April  2, 2010

 

A New Geologic Era

It is a new age of geological time or so some say called the Anthropocene Epoch. This is noted in the in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. (web issue March 29; print issue April 1). This is because of the dramatic recent or potential changes in the world such as climate warming and species extinction. The dawning of this new epoch may include the sixth largest mass extinction in the Earth's history. Whether the new era will be dramatic as the Jurassic with the end of the dinosaur is still to be determined.

Acetaminophen; the Killer Painkiller

The active ingredient in the painkillers Tylenol, Anacin and Panadol was the focus of a recent analysis of 19 studies of 425,000 children and adults treated with acetaminophen in the past year. Children given acetaminophen were 60 percent more likely to suffer from asthma, while adults who had taken the drug were 75 percent more likely to experience asthma.

American Clean Skies Foundation calls natural gas key to less smog

Tougher proposed air quality standards for ozone could be met, in part, by greater use of natural gas for power generation and transportation, according to comments filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Washington-based non-profit organization American Clean Skies Foundation (ACSF).

Another Reason We Need The Free Speech About Science Bill; U.S. Media Ignore 'The Power of Your Plate'

Nutrition — “The Power of Your Plate,” as Dr. Neal Barnard termed it in his book of that name — is known to be important in the prevention and treatment of disease. And yet, the American press gives nutrition a pass.

Anti-mountaintop mining bill killed, environmentalists say

A House subcommittee today voted unanimously to strengthen legislation banning mountain-top mining of coal in Tennessee.

But immediately afterwards, the panel angered proponents of the measure by adjourning the panel for the year without taking a final vote.

Below 2C Opens New Rift In U.N. Climate Battle

A goal to limit global warming to "below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) is opening a new rift for 2010 talks on a U.N. climate treaty as developing nations say it means the rich must deepen cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

An alliance of 101 developing nations and island states says the temperature target, endorsed by major emitters since the Copenhagen summit in December, is tougher than a previous goal by industrialized nations of 2 degrees as a maximum rise.

Canada, US to collaborate on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations

Canada will not unilaterally impose limits on greenhouse gas emissions from industry, saying on Thursday that it will work in tandem with the United States, as it is doing with vehicle standards.

Clean Car Rule Makes History—But Auto Dealers Try to Turn Back the Clock

Many automakers supported these common-sense regulations, which mark the first time in U.S. history the federal government has regulated global warming pollution under the Clean Air Act.  Unfortunately, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is still trying to keep cleaner cars off our roads. Their lawyers are actively supporting attempts to block the government’s ability to regulate global warming emissions.

Climate Unit Criticized For Stonewalling Skeptics

Scientists at a leading British climate research center had a culture of withholding information from global warming skeptics but did not deliberately manipulate data to support their case, lawmakers said on Wednesday.

Commercial Cooking Elevates Hazardous Pollutants In The Environment

As you stroll down restaurant row and catch the wonderful aroma of food — steaks, burgers, and grilled veggies — keep this in mind: You may be in an air pollution zone.

Congress should do more to support natural gas for transportation

Faster growth in the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel would provide increased energy security, cleaner air, less greenhouse gas emissions, and more U.S. jobs, the president of NGVAmerica told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Consumers snapping up appliance rebates

Ohioans still looking to save money on a new dishwasher through a "cash for clunker" appliance-rebate program might be out of luck.

All the rebate money for dishwashers had been allocated ..

Court Voids Malaysian Palm Oil Giant's Leases on Native Lands

A native community on the Tinjar River in the Malaysian part of Borneo has won an important legal battle against the Sarawak state government and a subsidiary of IOI, one of the world's largest palm oil companies.

Designate renewable energy zones across US, suggests think-tank

A US think tank says creating ‘competitive renewable energy zones’ would be a solution to raise the private investment that is needed to update transmission infrastructure, increase capacity for renewable energy and move toward the ‘smart grid.’

Developing Nations Eye Renewable Energy

Developing countries are ramping up renewables after Copenhagen. About 151 developing countries took part in the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Economists Warn against Setting Price for Carbon Too Low

In its first attempts to regulate carbon emissions, the U.S. government is hindering its own efforts by using flawed economic models that grossly underestimate the impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) on the climate and on our economic future, says a new report issued today by America's largest network of independent climate economists.

Energy producers, consumers to establish formal charter

The agreement "confirms the political and financial commitment of IEF countries to an enhanced energy dialogue and outlines the path for a stronger institution," the IEF said, though it stressed the need to maintain the informality of dialogue.

'Evil Twin' Threatens World's Oceans, Scientists Warn

The rise in human emissions of carbon dioxide is driving fundamental and dangerous changes in the chemistry and ecosystems of the world's oceans, international marine scientists warned recently.

"Ocean conditions are already more extreme than those experienced by marine organisms and ecosystems for millions of years," the researchers say in the latest issue of the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution (TREE).

First advanced prototype revealed for the Australian bionic eye

Researchers at Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) have produced a prototype version of a bionic eye implant that could be ready to start restoring rudimentary vision to blind people as soon as 2013. The system consists of a pair of glasses with a camera built in, a processor that fits in your pocket, and an ocular implant that sits against the retina at the back of the eye and electronically stimulates the retinal neurons that send visual information to the brain.

Fracking Not A Cleaner Alternative; Cornell Prof

Natural gas obtained by the controversial technique of hydraulic fracturing may contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and so should not be considered as a cleaner alternative to coal or oil, according to a Cornell University researcher.

FSA - Seven Charged in Insider Dealing Investigation

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) yesterday charged seven people with 13 charges in respect of conspiracy to deal on inside information obtained by the defendants from two major investment banks.

Fuming over solar rules; State mandate adds $250M a year to electricity costs

Massachusetts businesses are feeling burned by new solar-power rules that it now appears the state knew could cost electricity customers up to $250 million more a year.

Getting real about small wind

The first article in this series by wind energy expert David Sharman outlined the scale of the small wind turbine industry, and listed 30 notable manufacturers who compete commercially worldwide. Below, he describes co-operation in the important area of product standards, testing, and certification.

Gov't; Yucca suit lacks merit

In an answer to a complaint filed in February by Aiken County Council, the response agencies argue on several fronts that Aiken does not have standing to stop proceedings or that the municipality has not suffered any damage.

Greening the Grid

Utilities and environmental groups are coming together to help modernize the transmission system. It's arduous job, though, requiring conciliation and patience.

Hawaii environmental law being reshaped in private talks

A group of builders, environmental groups, lawyers and public agencies and institutions has been quietly meeting in private to help shape the first overhaul of Hawai'i's environmental laws in 40 years, even as lawmakers hold public hearings on a bill that is likely to go nowhere this session.

High Fat Breakfasts May Not Be So Bad

For all of you who enjoy syrupy pancakes, bacon, eggs, and sausage for breakfast; for all who crave omelets and pork-roll, egg and cheese sandwiches; for all who relish the breakfast of champions, there is some great news coming your way.

IEF to media; No access allowed

When the proceedings kicked off at 8:30 local time this morning, it was with the understanding no media would be allowed in the main conference room. Not a great arrangement, but reporters would at least be able to watch the sessions on the two large-screen television sets hanging from a wall in the press room.

Improving the fuel economy of heavy vehicles

While there are fuel consumption standards for passenger cars, there is no such regulation of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the U.S. With such vehicles accounting for about 26 percent of the transportation fuel used in the U.S. regulators are looking to establish fuel economy standards for these vehicles in the next few years. Now a new U.S. report has been released recommending the best ways to measure and regulate fuel economy for these vehicles...

Just How Broken is the FDA?

There has been comment of late about the FDA’s refusal — under the guise of protecting trade secrets — to notify practitioners and consumers about defective medical devices. But that controversy pales in comparison with the scandal now swirling around Menaflex,..

Lower cost solar panels using plastic electronics

It seems that half the world’s R&D is involved in solar energy, which isn’t a bad thing considering the mess our reliance on traditional energy generation has got us into.

Making your house more energy efficient

These days, few homeowners have the thousands of dollars it would take for a whole-house energy makeover. In the shakedown of what does make the most sustainability sense, we asked local energy experts to list the top five green building renovations in Portland.

Mega-Flood Triggered Cooling 13,000 Years Ago; Scientists

Scientists say they have found the trigger of a sharp cooling 13,000 years ago that plunged Europe into a mini ice age.

Mark Bateman from the University of Sheffield in England said a catastrophic flood unleashed from a giant North American lake dumped large amounts of freshwater into the Arctic Ocean.

This led to the shutting down of the Gulf Stream ocean circulation pattern that brings warmth to Europe.

Mercury Free Drugs, Genes Cannot Be Patented

The system has just declared itself to be without either conscience or shame. By killing children, maiming them and continuing the sham of pseudoscientific and pseudo legalistic justification...

At stake is the notion that isolated DNA can be patented and owned, the very foundation upon which GMO patents rest.

Microorganisms In Toxic Groundwater Fine-Tuned To Survive

Microorganisms can indeed live in extreme environments, but the ones that do are highly adapted to survive and little else...

Minding the Store

In his days as a control room operator more than a decade ago, John Pespisa remembers working intermittent renewable energy resources like wind into the system. The footprint may have been small, but the resource had to be dispatched. "Sometimes at 3 a.m., you'd wonder where the wind went," he said.

No longer.

New CO2 'Scrubber' From Ingredient In Hair Conditioners

Relatives of ingredients in hair-conditioning shampoos and fabric softeners show promise as a long-sought material to fight global warming by "scrubbing" carbon dioxide (CO2 ) out of the flue gases from coal-burning electric power generating stations, scientists reported today at the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Niger Delta amnesty disappoints

Nigeria's amnesty has not delivered the intended results. Oil wealth has not percolated through society, and many of its citizens are still feeling marginalized. But promises of market reform and hopes for a more settled future continue to tempt producers.

Not Feeling Well? Perhaps You're 'Marijuana Deficient'

For several years I have postulated that marijuana is not, in the strict sense of the word, an intoxicant...the word 'intoxicant' is derived from the Latin noun toxicum (poison). It's an appropriate term for alcohol, as ethanol (the psychoactive ingredient in booze) in moderate to high doses is toxic (read: poisonous) to healthy cells and organs.

Obama Puts Pesticide Pusher in Charge of Agricultural Trade Relations

Sidestepping a stalled Senate confirmation vote, yesterday President Obama recess-appointed Islam Siddiqui to be chief agricultural negotiator in the office of the U.S. trade representative. Dr. Siddiqui’s nomination was held up in the Senate and was opposed by the Center for Biological Diversity and more than 80 other environmental, small-farm, and consumer groups.

Official; Gov't contradictory over Yucca plan

The federal government's game plan for the "political football" of nuclear waste are contrary to long-term promises made to the Savannah River area and its history of patriotism and sacrifice, according to the head of a the Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO).

Pollution From Asia Circles Globe At Stratospheric Heights

The economic growth across much of Asia comes with a side effect: pollutants from the region are wafting up to the stratosphere during monsoon season.

Power going out on incinerator deal for city, Tampa Electric

For decades, the city and Tampa Electric Co. have been partners in a waste-to-energy project that has prevented millions of tons of trash from ending up in landfills.

Prescribed Burns May Help Reduce U.S. Carbon Footprint

Results of a new study find that such burns, often used by forest managers to reduce underbrush and protect bigger trees, release substantially less carbon dioxide emissions than wildfires of the same size.

"It appears that prescribed burns can be an important piece of a climate change strategy,"...

Prop 16 is June's priciest ballot initiative, with PGandE coughing up big money

PG&E has thrown $28 million behind a ballot measure that would limit competition in the electricity market, making the utility the biggest contributor so far in June's slate of initiatives and drawing charges from critics that customer rates are bearing the brunt of lavish campaign spending.

Reclaimed Water System to Feature 'Green' Storage Tank

Even with its strong water conservation culture, the fast-growing city of Austin, TX, must balance hot, dry summers and recurring drought with the steadily increasing demand for drinking water.

Record Number of Clean Technology Venture Deals in 1Q 2010

$1.9 billion in venture capital invested in 180 clean technology companies in 1Q10; transportation top sector by amount invested while energy efficiency attracted most deals

Renewable biofuel oozes from reprogrammed microbes

It seems like every day, a new way of producing biofuel is being discovered. Within the past few years, we’ve reported on technology that harvests biofuel from garbage, booze, crop waste, carbon dioxide and wood-munching marine isopods. Now, Arizona State University has announced a new development in the harvesting of biofuel from cyanobacteria microbes

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 040110

Region 1059 (S22E10) remains stable.No flares were observed during the past 24 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active conditions.

WARNING: Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse expected

Safer Nuclear Reactors Could Result From Los Alamos Research

Self-repairing materials within nuclear reactors may one day become a reality as a result of research by Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists.

Secretary Chu Announces $37.5 Million Available For Joint U.S.-Chinese Clean Energy Research

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today the availability of $37.5 million in U.S. funding over the next five years to support the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center. Funding from the Department of Energy will be matched by the grantees to support $75 million in total U.S. research that will focus on advancing technologies for building energy efficiency, clean coal including carbon capture and storage, and clean vehicles.

Solar Roofing or Traditional Solar Panels - Which Should You Choose?

As far as we’re concerned, it’s a loaded question. The reason? Frankly, solar electric (aka photovoltaics, or PV for short) is frequently not the best choice to begin with.

Superbus; on-demand luxury public transport at over 150 mph

Looking more like a futuristic stretch limo than a bus, the Superbus is a 15-meter long vehicle that provides seating for 23 passengers who can embark and disembark via its 16 gull-wing doors (eight on each side). The electric bus runs on four E2M electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries with its highly streamlined shape and lightweight construction designed to keep energy consumption down as it hurtles along at 155 mph.

Terrorism Vulnerabilities to the Water Supply and the Role of the Consumer; A Water Security White Paper

The vulnerability of our water supplies to disruption and contamination by potential terrorist or malicious acts has been well documented.1,2 These potential attack scenarios have the ability, if orchestrated successfully, to produce casualties on a massive scale.

The challenges ahead – Yvo de Boer

At the opening session of the European Union Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) on 22-26 March in Brussels, de Boer identified four trends that are on collision course with each other: energy prices and security; climate change; resource scarcity; and lifestyle changes.

The Forbidden Fuel – A Personal Odyssey

In 1980, three young professionals decided to embark on an anthology of the early and modern dreamers of a sustainable biomass-based transportation system.

The Kamakura Corporation Monthly Forecast of US Treasury Yields

Concerns about potential rises in interest rates from unprecedented low levels have risen dramatically in the last few months.  On January 6, 2010, U.S. banking regulators went so far as to issue an “interagency guidance” on interest rates, warning of the dangers that lie ahead.

Total still plans 200,000 b/d European refining cut

French oil major Total is still planning to reduce its refining capacity in Europe by 200,000 b/d and would prefer to sell rather than to shut down an existing refinery, CEO Christophe de Margerie said Tuesday.

United Nations Unite for Haiti, Pledge $10 Billion for Recovery

Pledges of nearly $10 billion in immediate and long-term aid to help Haiti recover from January's catastropic earthquake were made Wednesday within hours after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened a day-long donors' conference by calling for "a sweeping exercise in nation building on a scale and scope not seen in generations."

Unity and future goals stressed by three Ute tribes

The Ute people who were the area’s first residents are still waiting for the state to acknowledge it drove some of their members into what is now Utah in the aftermath of fighting in 1879 at Meeker, a small central Colorado town that has held a pow wow the last two years with Ute descendants and others.

US DOE find 'resource-quality' gas hydrate in Gulf of Mexico

Significant concentrations of gas hydrate exist in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, potentially boosting the amount of natural gas reserves in the US, according to a study released Tuesday by the US Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy. Gas hydrate is a solid substance composed of natural gas combined with water molecules, and DOE said they have the potential to be "a significant new energy source to meet future energy needs."

US Personal Spending Rises in February, Personal Income Flat

Personal consumer expenditure (PCE) rose 0.3% in February following January’s downwardly revised 0.4% gain (initially reported as 0.5%).  The rise in spending in the month equalled market expectations going into today’s report. February’s rise in spending was in spite of unchanged personal income, although this followed gains of 0.3% (revised from 0.1%) and 0.4% (revised from 0.3%) in January and December, respectively.  Personal disposable income was unchanged in February, which, combined with the increase in spending, pushed the saving rate down to 3.1% from 3.4% in January.

US Power Generation; Gas Versus Coal

Gas prices could hold at low enough levels in 2010 for power generators to switch away from marginal coal-fired units to cheaper gas-fired plants, much the same way as the cycle in 2009, according to analysts.

Wal-Mart in Trouble Again Over Organic Marketing Practices

The Cornucopia Institute has filed legal complaints with the USDA alleging that Wal-Mart, and a North Carolina-based company, HOMS LLC, are violating the USDA organic standards by using conventional agricultural oils, and other ingredients, in pest control products that bear the word organic and the green “USDA organic” seal.

Who Holds the Power?

Last year a new ruling came down from the State Board of Electrical Examiners that stated only Massachusetts licensed electricians and registered apprentices can perform any and all aspects of installing solar energy. Seasoned solar installation veterans, some of whom had been putting solar energy on homes and businesses for more than 20 years, were literally forced off the roof as a result of the ruling. Now, one year later, a battle is brewing in Boston over who should be allowed to perform solar installations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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which enhance your independence,

help clean up the environment,

and...

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