News 2010:

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August 31, 2010

A Global Shift to Renewable Energy

As fossil fuel prices rise, as oil insecurity deepens, and as concerns about climate change cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new energy economy is emerging. The old energy economy, fueled by oil, coal, and natural gas, is being replaced by one powered by wind, solar, and geothermal energy. Despite the global economic crisis, this energy transition is moving at a pace and on a scale that we could not have imagined even two years ago. And it is a worldwide phenomenon.

An Urgent Message from The League of American Voters

Just months ago Obama, Pelosi and Reid said they planned to only partially renew the Bush tax cuts.

This would have simply been disastrous to the U.S. economy.

One major British economist formerly with the Bank of England has warned of a full blown depression if the Bush Tax Cuts are not renewed.

But due to our national efforts, Democrats realize the American people won't put up with an automatic tax hike at the end of this year.

Are Oxygen Levels Changing?

Are We About to Hit Peak Coal?

What if estimates of world-wide coal supplies are exaggerated? According to a report in the scientific journal Energy, there is evidence that this may be the case.

Arizona Energy Office grants $2.7 million to seven renewable-energy companies

The Arizona Department of Commerce has awarded seven Arizona renewable energy companies more than $2.7 million to advance their operations and create nearly 180 new jobs for Arizonans.

Atmospheric Oxygen Levels Fall As Carbon Dioxide Rises

The conclusion of that 20 year study is that, as carbon dioxide (produced primarily by burning fossil fuels) accumulates in the atmosphere, available oxygen is decreasing.

Bald Eagle Nestlings Contaminated by Chemicals

Ever since the banning of the pesticide DDT, which weakened eggshells, bald eagles have been making a comeback in the Great Lakes region. In Michigan, however, that recovery has been lackluster, and researchers have found one potential reason why: flame retardants and pesticides in the blood of eagle nestlings.

Beck Rally Signals Election Trouble for Democrats

If Democrats had doubts about the voter unrest that threatens to rob them of their majority in Congress, they needed only look from the Capitol this weekend to the opposite end of the National Mall.

Beck Says US Has 'Wandered in Darkness' Too Long

While Beck billed his event as nonpolitical, activists from around the nation said their show of strength was a clear sign that they can make a difference in the country's future and that they want a government that will listen and unite.

Beleaguered couple backs tougher EPA fly ash rules

The Foxes plan to urge Environmental Protection Agency officials to require the public be told when and where fly ash is being dumped or used in projects. Fly or coal ash is the byproduct of burning coal for energy.

Castor Bean Genome Published by Research Team Including Scientists from the Venter Institute

While the castor bean genome is the first to be sequenced and published from this family, the jatropha genome has been sequenced by JCVI and the company Synthetic Genomics Inc. Jatropha is also an oilseed crop.

Clean tech faces muddy future

Southwest Washington’s emerging clean-technology industry could face long-term setbacks if the U.S. Congress fails to pass a comprehensive energy policy this year, state and local leaders say.

Coal-fired plant rush burns out; 8 proposals in state hitting the brakes

Three years ago, eight new coal-fired energy plants were proposed in Michigan, causing environmental groups to decry the state's coal rush.

The rush appears over.

Confidential document reveals Obama's hardline US climate talk strategy

Titled Strategic communications objectives and dated 11 March 2010, it outlines the key messages that the Obama administration wants to convey to its critics and to the world media in the run-up to the vital UN climate talks in Cancun, Mexico in November

Cutting Small Business Taxes Will Boost Economy

...an act of good faith that tells the small businessman, who has risked his life’s savings in many cases, that the government appreciates all his hard work and effort.

Many will argue this will raise the deficit. Fact is, the multiplier effect of this savings will be felt throughout economy. Small businesses will have more capital and incentive to expand and grow.

Drinking Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen dioxide) is a water molecule with an extra oxygen atom...The human body creates and uses hydrogen peroxide (free radicals) to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Ozone (O3) is created when radiation (ultraviolet light) from the sun interacts with oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere. O3 is heavier than O2 and falls toward the earth. In the lower atmosphere, ozone (03) encounters water vapor and forms hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Rain water and snow contain a small percentage of hydrogen peroxide which acts as a natural disinfectant in lakes, rivers and oceans.

EPA to decide how to treat coal ash

The U.S. coal industry is bracing for tighter and more costly regulation of its waste. Environmental groups say that it's about time.

Ex-SEC Chief Levitt; Muni Market Massacre Is Coming

Former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Arthur Levitt says there's a massacre about to happen in the municipal bond market.

Heliotrope creator sets sights on international expansion

If someone asks you to describe a solar power plant you'd likely look to convey an image of row upon row of sun-soaking panels pointing skyward. It's doubtful that the first thought to pop into your head would be of someone's home, unless of course you've already witnessed the likes of the Heliotrope.

Hydrogen Peroxide - The Answer to Our Body's Cry for Oxygen

Due to the burning of fossil fuels and the reduction of our rain forests, the oxygen levels in our atmosphere have been depleted to the point that it is absolutely necessary to supplement our diets with oxygen products if we are to achieve vibrant health.

Hydrogen Peroxide Inhalation Method

Articles on this page include Bill Munro's inhaling method and several cancer cures derived from inhaling or drinking hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen; A long wait

At first glance, hydrogen-powered electric cars using fuel cells seem like the ideal solution to pollution woes and dependence on imported oil...Manufacturing costs are now about a hundred times that of an equivalent gasoline car, however, and reliability and life-span issues are still being addressed.

Is Genetically Altered Fish OK? U.S. To Decide

U.S. health officials are set to rule on whether a faster-growing, genetically engineered fish is safe to eat in a decision that could deliver the first altered animal food to consumers' dinner plates.

Just how environmentally friendly are electric vehicles?

Because they produce no exhaust gases in operation electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as the eco-friendly alternative to conventional gas-fueled cars. While zero-local emissions is clearly a big plus, other factors contributing to the overall environmental impact of EVs are often overlooked...

McConnell; Cap-and-trade 'dead'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Monday that cap-and-trade energy legislation is "dead" in the upper chamber. 

Miller; Turn Out Feds, Give Alaska Greater Control of Its Resources

The federal government is driving the nation into bankruptcy, and Alaska's resources should be turned out of federal hands to save the state and the nation, Alaska Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller said Sunday.

National call for inquiry into deaths of hundreds of Native women

The “Missing Women Investigation Review” released by the Vancouver Police Department Aug. 20 documented widespread deficiencies in investigations of missing and murdered women – no surprise to families who’d been filing reports for more than two decades.

Nevada gaining in development of geothermal energy

With an installed capacity of a little more than 400 megawatts, Nevada's ability to take geothermal heat and turn it into electricity is second in the U.S. only to California.

New Findings on Carbon Dioxide Release from World's Oceans

Carbon Dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, is intricately linked to global warming. The largest store of CO2 is the world's oceans. How the oceans sequester or release CO2 to or from the atmosphere is important to understand as mankind alters Earth's climate with the burning of fossil fuels.

O2 Dropping Faster than CO2 Rising

Mention climate change and everyone thinks of CO₂ increasing in the atmosphere, the greenhouse effect heating the earth, glaciers melting, rising sea levels, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and a host of other environmental catastrophes. Climate mitigating policies are almost all aimed at reducing CO₂, by whatever means.

Within the past several years, however, scientists have found that oxygen (O₂) in the atmosphere has been dropping, and at higher rates than just the amount that goes into the increase of CO₂ from burning fossil fuels, some 2 to 4-times as much, and accelerating since 2002-2003 [1-3]. Simultaneously, oxygen levels in the world’s oceans have also been falling

Obama administration sides with utilities in Supreme Court case about climate change

The Obama administration sided with major utility companies in a Supreme Court case about climate change on Thursday, angering environmentalists who say that the administration's broad argument could hurt their ability to force reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or even to bring other lawsuits.

Obama’s Land Grab Is a ‘Bad Idea’?

The Obama administration plans to have the federal government acquire millions of acres of private land even though it can’t afford to maintain the land it already owns.

Offshore wind sector set to create 60 times more jobs in ten years

The first comprehensive study of the potential impact of offshore wind on the Scottish economy suggests this new industry could create as many as 48,000 jobs - 28,000 directly, supported by a further 20,000 through related industries.

Oil Sands Polluting Canadian River System; Study

Canada's vast oil sands operations are polluting the Athabasca River system, researchers said on Monday, in a report that is bound to fuel the environmental battle over developing the resource.

Orchestrated Message

Oxygen Crises

Lee Aundra Temescu writes in an article "20 Things You Didn't Know About Death" #5 "The trigger for death, in all cases, is lack of oxygen.

Pakistan Is ‘Ripe’ for Another Military Coup

Pakistan is fighting a bitter counter-insurgency campaign against the Taliban and its allies at the same time it deals with the ravages of recent flooding — convincing some in the nuclear-armed nation that only a military coup can restore order.

Record Number in Government Anti-Poverty Programs

Government anti-poverty programs that have grown to meet the needs of recession victims now serve a record one in six Americans and are continuing to expand.

Tea Party, Palin Battle GOP Over Murkowski-Miller Outcome

A major battle is brewing in Alaska between grass-roots conservatives and the national Republican establishment after a GOP committee sent its top legal gun to help incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski win her absentee-ballot clash with Fairbanks attorney Joe Miller.

The Fate of Dairy Antibiotics in Ground Water

There are a lot of things that can go into the ground water. The key is whether what goes in will readily biodegrade and if not can it harm you or the environment. In the first large study to track the fate of a wide range of antibiotics given to dairy cows, University of California (UC) Davis scientists found that the drugs routinely end up on the ground and in manure lagoons, but are mostly broken down before they reach groundwater.

The Science Of  Oxygen

...man "breathes out" carbon dioxide and "breathes in" oxygen.  If his "breathing in" process includes roughly double the amount of carbon dioxide as our ancestors (or only 200 years ago) did, that could explain a great deal of the change in degenerative diseases that exist now, in great abundance compared to their almost complete non-existence 200 years ago.

The Tea Parties and the Future of Liberty

Barack Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009. Within a month he signed a $787 billion “stimulus package” with virtually no Republican support. It was necessary, we were told, to keep unemployment under eight percent. Overnight, the federal government had, as one of its highest priorities, weatherizing government buildings and housing projects. Streets and highways in no need of repair would be broken up and repaved.

U.S. birth rate hits a new record low

America's birth rate was lower in 2009 than at any other time in the past century, the AP reports -- and many experts feel that the economic downturn is to blame.

U.S. Western States Have Cap-and-Trade Emissions Plan

It began in 2007, when the governors of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Washington state and Oregon acknowledged that climate change was already wreaking havoc in their states.

US wasted billions in rebuilding Iraq

A $40 million prison sits in the desert north of Baghdad, empty. A $165 million children's hospital goes unused in the south. A $100 million waste water treatment system in Fallujah has cost three times more than projected, yet sewage still runs through the streets.

W2 Energy and the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy Collaborate on the Development and Testing of Cutting Edge Renewable Energy Products

W2 Energy, in collaboration with AzRISE, will be developing new solar energy technologies using concentrating solar power to generate steam and then using that solar-generated steam to drive W2 Energy's SteamRay Steam Engine.

Waste_Inbox 083110

...about the trend toward using the chips not just to monitor how full bins are but for punitive purposes -- i.e., to enforce fines for people who aren´t complying with recycling laws.

Why food is costing us the earth

The fight is on over how to solve our food crisis, but if we choose the wrong food policy at this juncture there could be no going back, says Rose Prince.

Why Most Wall Street  Analysts Analysts Are Wrong

there are four primary reasons why the Wall Street “experts” are almost always wrong:

1. Most Wall Street experts fall prey to the phenomenon known as groupthink
2. The research span of most Wall Street experts is very limited
3. Most Wall Street experts lack creativity and have a limited knowledge base
4. Most Wall Street experts seem to be much more concerned about their own financial well-being than the investment performance results of their clients

Wind power finds two powerful foes

The American Wind Energy Association said a survey of its members found scores of projects in 2009 ran into interference from the U.S. Defense Department and the Federal Aviation Administration, despite a push from the U.S. Energy Department to produce energy from renewable sources, The New York Times reported Friday.

August 27, 2010

A global shift to renewable energy; But will it be fast enough?

As fossil fuel prices rise, as oil insecurity deepens, and as concerns about climate change cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new energy economy is emerging

Alaskan Volcanic Rebirth

A secluded island in the Aleutian chain is revealing secrets of how land and marine ecosystems react to and recover from a catastrophic volcanic eruption that at first wiped life off the island.

Americans Want to Give Electric Vehicles a Test Drive

Forty percent of consumers report they are likely to test drive an electric vehicle, according to a new study

AMP members approve alternative to coal-fired plant

American Municipal Power Inc. members have approved the development of an alternative to a coal-fired plant that was canceled nearly a year ago.

Arizona Regulators Back TEP Plans for 10 New Renewable Power Projects

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has expressed its support for Tucson Electric Power's plan to purchase the output of 10 new renewable power projects that together will generate nearly 150 megawatts (MW), enough energy to power more than 30,000 Tucson homes.

Biosynthetic corneas restore vision to humans

A study made public this Wednesday has shown that biosynthetic corneas can and do restore eyesight in humans.

California to Launch Next-Generation Feed-in Tariff for Solar Energy

Yesterday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision to launch a new renewable incentive program designed to drive mid-sized renewable energy development. This next-generation feed-in tariff program will require investor-owned California utilities to purchase electricity from renewable energy systems between 1 and 20 MW in size.

Canadian Officer's survey finds 92% of police want gun registry scrapped

A national survey conducted by an Edmonton police officer reveals that 92 percent of police officers in Canada want Members of Parliament to vote in favour of scrapping the long-gun registry in September.

Chevron Fights Potentially Historic Damages Case

As the ruling looms, each side accuses the other of presenting fraudulent evidence while a slew of related legal actions are played out in the United States and Europe.

Climate Aid Reaches $30 Billion Goal, But Is It New?

Aid promises from rich nations to help poor countries slow global warming are reaching the $30 billion goal agreed in Copenhagen but analysts say much of that is old funding dressed up as new pledges.

Danger of Inflation Can't Be Blown Out of Proportion

The main issue with effectively printing more money and injecting it into the economy is that you run the risk of causing hyperinflation.

Most governments hate deflation and that is why they injected so much money into the economy, despite the inflation risks. Many prominent investors and economists believe that despite all this spending, deflation is still a big risk.

Drinking Water Proven to Help Weight Loss

"It's this popular idea that, oh yeah, drink more water -- that's what you have to do when you want to lose weight," said Davy, who presented her new findings today at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston. "It seems to be logical, but it had never really been investigated."

'Dry water' could be used to store carbon dioxide

You know, I’m pretty sure I remember a Far Side cartoon or something, where someone was selling powdered water – “Just add water!” Well, dry water isn’t quite the same thing. It’s 95 percent liquid water, but that water takes the form of tiny droplets each encased in a tiny globe of silica.

Engineers Drain Water Trapped In French Alps Glacier

Workers have begun draining a pocket of water trapped inside a glacier on Mont Blanc which authorities warned could burst at any time, endangering the lives of more than 3,000 residents in the French Alpine valley.

Ex-CIA Official; Ground Zero Mosque 'Symbol of Victory' for Extremists

Counterterrorism expert Michael Scheuer tells Newsmax that construction of a mosque near ground zero would be viewed as a “symbol of victory” by Muslim extremists — and calls New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg a “windbag” for voicing support for the mosque.

Experts Put Recession Risk at 40 Percent as Jobless Claims Stay High

“Businesses now are retrenching, business investment based on the global growth numbers because there’s not growth in the economy and there’s no final demand… There’s weakness in the financial system,” Roubini said.

Glaciers Retreating In Asia

Many of Asia's glaciers are retreating as a result of climate change.

This retreat impacts water supplies to millions of people, increases the likelihood of outburst floods that threaten life and property in nearby areas, and contributes to sea-level rise.

Grid seeks rate hike - after 'outrageous' costs

National Grid honchos are seeking the biggest gas rate hike in Bay State history even as they have gouged consumers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for outlandish executive expenses - from private school tuition and veterinary bills to a $1,200 charge to ship a private wine collection, newly released documents show.

Home Sales Plunge 27 Percent to 15-Year Low as Economy Weakens

Sales of previously occupied homes plunged last month to the lowest level in 15 years, despite the lowest mortgage rates in decades and bargain prices in many areas.

Iran says it's ready to sell arms to Lebanon

Iran is prepared to sell weapons to Lebanon if Beirut asks for help in equipping its military, Iran's defense minister said Wednesday.

Little miracles, big wonders

There are many questions and small and big wonders around the blow-out and its stoppage. From the first moment on, there have been persistent rumours that the situation was very different than portrayed.

Microbes Ate BP Oil Deep-Water Plume; Study

A Manhattan-sized plume of oil spewed deep into the Gulf of Mexico by BP's broken Macondo well has been consumed by a newly discovered fast-eating species of microbes, scientists reported on Tuesday.

More than half new power in EU and US is green

More than half of all new electricity capacity added in the United States and Europe last year was from renewable power such as wind and solar, a body backed by the International Energy Agency and the UN reported.

New technology could prolong the life of medical implants

Researchers at the University of Louisville/Jewish Hospital's Cardiovascular Innovation Institute (CII) have discovered a method for preventing scar tissue from forming around implantation devices.

Newsmax Exclusive; Alaska's Joe Miller Declares US Has 'Gone Bankrupt'

In an exclusive Newsmax interview, the staunch fiscal conservative laid out one of the key messages of his campaign: that the nation has "gone bankrupt."

Obama Stimulus to Cost $27 Billion More Than Original Pricetag

Congressional analysts released new figures Tuesday estimating that the law enacted in January of 2009 — then projected to cost $787 billion over a decade — would cost $814 billion. That's still lower than the Congressional Budget Office estimated in January, when it said the measure would cost $862 billion.

Radioactive waste to remain at former nuclear plant site

After transfer of an operation license of a nuclear facility is complete, radioactive waste will remain on the site of the former Zion nuclear energy plant in Lake County, Ill., with approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 102610

Solar activity was very low during the past 24 hours. Region 1101 (N13E48) produced two low level B-class flares.The geomagnetic field ranged between quiet and active conditions during the past 24 hours. The geomagnetic field is forecast to be mostly quiet to unsettled with isolated active conditions on day 1 (27 August), returning to mostly quiet conditions on days 2 and 3 (28-29 August).

Santa Cruz County looks to ban PGandE SmartMeters

County Supervisor John Leopold, who says he gets calls every day now from people worried about potential health and accuracy problems with SmartMeters, is laying the groundwork for a moratorium on the new technology.

Scientist; Wind, solar energy is future

...total oil and natural gas production, which today provides about 60 percent of global energy consumption, is expected to peak about 10 to 30 years from now, followed by a rapid decline, an ACS release said Tuesday.

But ongoing research and development of alternative energy could lead to a new era in human history in which two renewable sources -- solar and wind -- will become Earth's dominant contributors of energy, Kohn said.

Scientists hope to collect electricity from the air

Nikola Tesla once dreamed of being able to harness electricity from the air. Now, research being conducted at Brazil’s University of Campinas (UC) is indicating that such a scenario may indeed become a reality.

Sea Education Association Finds Widespread Floating Plastic Debris In The Western North Atlantic Ocean

Despite growing awareness of the problem of plastic pollution in the world's oceans, little solid scientific information existed to illustrate the nature and scope of the issue.

A previously undefined expanse of the western North Atlantic has been found to contain high concentrations of plastic debris, comparable to those observed in the region of the Pacific commonly referred to as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch".

Shift to solar power easy, affordable with group-discount program

The high cost of installing solar panels can be one of the biggest roadblocks when it comes to homeowners deciding whether or not to embrace solar energy.

Shiller; Rumor of Housing Market’s Death Exaggerated

While many experts have warned of a crash in the housing market after recent news of plunging sales, Yale economist Robert Shiller says that’s overdoing it.

Existing home sales dropped 27 percent in July from June to at least an 11-year low.

Sir John Templeton’s Last Testament; Financial Chaos Will Last Many Years

The first two words — so pithy yet so powerful — are bolded and highlighted on his original document. They read, simply: “Financial Chaos.”

State Department official says U.S. shale-gas boom has ‘transformed global energy markets’

A senior State Department official said Tuesday that the U.S. boom in producing natural gas from shale rock formations could pave the way for other countries to expand development that allows displacement of carbon-heavy coal.

Stocks lose big on home sales shock

"Economic reports have been close to disastrous," said Joseph Saluzzi, co-head of equity trading at Themis Trading. "People are very concerned about the economy and everyone is talking about a double-dip [recession] at this point."

The Government Tells Another Healthcare Whopper

Earlier this month, Medicare’s trustees published their annual report. In response, NYT’s Paul Krugman crowed that Medicare was in better financial shape than previously thought and that “health reform was the biggest move toward fiscal responsibility in a long, long time.”...

Not so fast. In response, and for the first time in Medicare history, the Medicare Chief Actuary called the trustees’ projections “unreasonable” and “implausible,” and encouraged everyone to ignore them and view instead an illustrative alternative report:

The Layers of the Earth

The asthenosphere is the highly viscous mechanically weak region of the upper mantle of the Earth on which "float" the continental plates. It lies below the lithosphere, at depths between 60 and 120 miles below the surface, but perhaps extending as deep as 400+ miles. The lithosphere is a complex mixture of layers.

The Myth of Cheap Fossil Fuels – A Roadblock for Renewable Energy

“Keep it cheap” is a winning argument, but it’s dead wrong. It appeals to today’s strained pocketbooks while jeopardizing tomorrow’s economic footing. The truth is that traditional energy costs us dearly and is only artificially cheap.

The power of the concentrated sun

If CSP plants covered even a small fraction of the Sahara Desert, they could provide enough energy to supply the world's energy demands

Turkey and China help Iran on fuel supplies

Friendly powers in the international arena are helping Iran get fuel supplies after the US passed unilateral sanctions that aim to hinder Tehran's fuel imports.
The Islamic Republic is buying around half of its July gasoline imports from Turkey and the rest from Chinese sellers, oil traders said, as most other suppliers have stopped selling due to the US sanctions.

TVA to Idle Nine Coal-Fired Units

The Tennessee Valley Authority, with a vision to be one of the nation's leading providers of low-cost and cleaner energy by 2020, announced Tuesday that it will idle nine coal-fired electric generating units, totaling about 1,000 megawatts, at three of its power plants beginning in fiscal year 2011.

U.S. energy 'appetite' trimmed in 2009

Americans are using less energy overall and availing themselves of more renewable energy sources, a report says.

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Capture, Regionally

The report summarizes current knowledge of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions and capture across six regions — Northeast, Southeast, Corn Belt, Northern Great Plains, Southern Great Plains, and Pacific — as influenced by cropping system, tillage, and soil management.

U.S. Takes Action to Stop Illegal Acid Waste from Texas Chemical Plant

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Justice Department today announced that Air Products LLC has agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million in civil penalties to resolve hazardous waste mismanagement violations at its Pasadena, Texas chemical manufacturing facility.

UK Bee Industry Abuzz With Mite Resistant Breed

A British beekeeper said on Wednesday he may have discovered a strain of honey bee immune to a parasite that has been gradually wiping out populations of the vital insect worldwide.

Undersea Oil Plume Vanishes in Gulf, Degraded by Previously Unknown Bug

Despite press accounts to the contrary, the disappearance of this deepwater oil plume, whose midsummer existence was detailed last week by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is far from a shock, at least to scientists. Undersea bacteria -- the single-cell janitors of the marine world -- along with currents and diffusion likely combined to degrade or isolate the dispersed oil to undetectable levels...

US Durable Goods Orders Much Weaker than Expected

New orders for durable goods rose a surprisingly modest 0.3% (month-over-month) in July following declines of -0.1% (previously -1.0%) and 0.7% (previously -0.8%) in June and May, respectively. 

US Initial Jobless Claims Fall More than Expected in Latest Week

Initial unemployment insurance claims dropped an encouraging -31,000 to 473,000 for the week ending August 21, 2010, more than reversing the previous week’s 16,000 rise to a 504,000 level (initially reported as 500,000).  Expectations for today’s report were for the level of claims to dip to 490,000. 

US Long-Term Mortgage Rates Fall for the Ninth Week Out of Ten

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.36 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending August 26, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 4.42 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.14 percent.

US New Homes Sales Plunge to New Record Low in July

New home sales in July plunged -12.4% to 276,000 annualized units from June’s downwardly revised 315,000 annualized units (initially reported as 330,000 units). The decline was well below market expectations...

US, Mexico Fail to Stem Flow of Drug Money South

Mexican drug cartels are moving tens of billions of dollars in profits south across the border each year, according to a report in The Washington Post.

U.S. and Mexican authorities are seizing just 1 percent of the illegal cash flow, according to a Post analysis.

Waste_Inbox 082610

In an episode of "The Simpsons," nuclear power plant owner Montgomery Burns and his lackey assistant Smithers debate about where to put the latest batch of nuclear waste. After dismissing the playground, they go to the park and stuff a single barrel into a hollowed-out tree. Burns complains that the last tree, now glowing green, held nine drums.

Where Did Utility R+D Go?

Juggling four bowling pins is difficult enough, even for the polished entertainer.

But add four more pins to the mix, then light one or two on fire, and you might grasp a clearer understanding of the daunting demands facing California's investor-owned utilities as they navigate toward the smart grid of the next decade.

WHOI Scientists Map And Confirm Origin Of Large, Underwater Hydrocarbon Plume In Gulf

The 1.2-mile-wide, 650-foot-high plume of trapped hydrocarbons provides at least a partial answer to recent questions asking where all the oil has gone as surface slicks shrink and disappear.

Why Americans Will Never Revolt Against Government

You will not like these facts but if you have been frustrated as to why people don’t get mad as hell and revolt against government, I have written this to explain it. It is so obvious that I will be surprised to receive any intelligent disagreements. Hang on…

WikiLeaks releases CIA paper on U.S. as 'Exporter of Terrorism'

A little-known fact, according to a once-secret CIA analysis, is that America has long been an exporter of terrorism.

Will Your Legislators Remember the lesson of the Gulf Oil Spill?

Our nation’s legislators will return back to work after Labor Day. Will the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico still be fresh in their minds? It’s still fresh in my mind, and in the minds of the millions of people affected by this environmental catastrophe.

August 24, 2010

AIG pays back $4 billion of bailout debt

American International Group said Monday that it had used $4 billion from a recent debt sale to pay back the U.S. government, marking the single largest cash repayment so far from the bailed out insurance giant.

Americans Want to Give Electric Vehicles a Test Drive, New CEA Study Reports

The Future of Driving, suggests electric vehicles entice consumers with improved environmental quality and potential cost savings, but leave them with questions about battery life and convenience of battery charging.

An Urgent Message from The League of American Voters

While President Obama goes on another vacation (his 6th this year), leading economic figures are warning that the U.S. may face a full blown depression if the Bush Tax Cuts are not fully renewed this year.

Analyzing Coal's Future - August 11, 2010

There is a basic economic problem with coal/carbon capture that gets far too little attention. Namely, it is the only low/zero carbon generation technology that requires an increase in fuel combustion. As a practical matter, this means that carbon capture will never be economic in any world that provides an incentive for low-carbon generation to come forward -- so long as one assumes that carbon will ultimately be priced in some sort of a market, bid up to the marginal cost of supply.

Armey; Tea Party Movement to Overtake GOP

Armey, now the chairman of FreedomWorks, and FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe predicted in an exclusive Newsmax.TV interview that America's 1 million-plus tea partyers will reform the GOP and remake it into a force serving the cause of liberty rather than breaking away and forming a third party.

Batteries Are the Shocking Truth about Electric Cars

But Compact Power Inc., which received $151 million from a federal stimulus program to open the $303 million plant, isn't American and neither is its technology: It’s a subsidiary of the giant South Korean conglomerate LG Chem, and its technology is Asian.

Also that age-old bugaboo for electric cars — range and battery life — is still a work in progress.

BP Aims To Retrieve Blowout Preventer Thursday

BP Plc aims to retrieve a failed blowout preventer atop its ruptured Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, the top U.S. official overseeing the oil spill response said on Monday.

Brazilian govt to hold alternative energy auction in August

The Brazilian government will hold on August 25 and 26 an auction for the supply of 11,000 megawatts from alternative energy sources (wind, biomass and small hydroelectric power plants (PCHs)), as of 2011.

California's Solar Lead

The renewable movement has gotten the green light. Now it's a matter of crafting the right policies to ensure that projects get built in a cost-effective and consumer-friendly way. Californians think they have the answer.

Canada’s racist policies to blame for national tragedy

At a gathering of traditional healers and spiritual leaders in the Turtle Lodge earlier this summer, the national tragedy of more than 582 murdered and missing First Nations women became a focus for discussion and prayers.

Chappell Hill Bank Allows Customers to Carry Guns Inside

Climate Change and the Grid

Efforts to enact legislation that would limit carbon emissions have seemingly stalled. So it would appear that new standards to make the transmission wires more amenable to transporting green electrons are untimely. But those who are in charge of ensuring the dependency of the electric grid say that such measures are vital.

Climate of change on White House site

References to a cap on carbon emissions and a campaign pledge to spend $150 billion on clean energy technologies disappeared from the White House website in June — even as the Senate was still trying to pass legislation implementing those priorities.

Coal-fired plant rush burns out; 8 proposals in state hitting the brakes

Three years ago, eight new coal-fired energy plants were proposed in Michigan, causing environmental groups to decry the state's coal rush.

The rush appears over.

Coal-Fired Plants to Get More Oversight

The Obama administration is proposing a new rule to tighten restrictions on pollution from coal-burning power plants in the eastern half of the country, a key step to cut emissions that cause smog.

Delusions Abound on Energy Savings, Study Says

When it comes to saving energy, many Americans seem to get it — and at the same time they don’t get it at all...people are far more likely to focus on switching off lights or unplugging appliances than on buying new bulbs or more efficient refrigerators. But people’s perceptions of the relative savings of various actions are significantly at variance with reality.

Earth Overdraft; On Saturday, We Exceed Nature's Budget

It has taken humanity less than nine months to exhaust its ecological budget for the year, according to data from Global Footprint Network, a California-based environmental research organization.

Embracing the gun

Arizona Residents have the right to carry handguns openly, and starting last month residents who have no criminal records and are at least 21 also are able to carry concealed weapons just about anywhere, without the bother of getting a permit.

The full embrace of firearms is just as fervent to the north in Montana,..

Energy self-sufficiency is closer

U.S. scientists say they've made a discovery that could bring the era of energy self-sufficient homes and small businesses one step closer.

Scientists at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society have reported the discovery of a powerful catalyst that would be a key element in inexpensive solar energy systems that could free homes and businesses from dependence on the electric company, a society release said Monday.

Feeling Abandoned by Congress, State Regulators Push for U.S. Carbon Cap

Congress has "left state regulators in the lurch" by failing to set new national climate policy that could guide regulators' decisions on the fate of coal-fired electric power generators in their states, the new chairman of a task force on climate policy says.

Finding New Ways to Fill the Tank

A lot of problems could be solved with a renewable replacement for oil-based gasoline and diesel in the fuel tank — either a new liquid fuel or a much better battery.

Yet, success in this field is so hard to reliably predict that research has been limited, and even venture capitalists tread lightly. Now the federal government is plunging in...

Five Dangerous Toxins Invading Your Brain

These days, almost 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used just on fields and orchards in the United States — each year. These chemicals not only coat edible products, but also drift into nearby communities.

Following the winds of change

Within weeks a 60-foot tower that could support an electricity-generating wind turbine will be built in the Helena Valley. But there are no plans to put blades on the tower, no plans to connect it to the electrical grid and start harnessing some of the valley's renewable resource.

Franklin Graham Says Obama Was Born Muslim

His father was a Muslim. The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim. His father gave him an Islamic name.

Getting inside the mind of a terrorist to prevent attacks

Recently, students from Northwestern University in Illinois planned a terrorist attack. Researchers from the university were subsequently able to learn details of the attack, even though the students never admitted to anything. How was this possible? Well, essentially, the researchers read the students’ minds. More specifically, they monitored their P300 brain waves...

Gregg warns of 'fiscal calamity' if deficit spending isn't cut

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) this weekend slammed the Democrats for fighting the recession with additional spending, arguing that the nation's enormous debt represents a "fiscal calamity" threatening the livelihoods of generations to come

Hydropower's Turn

Hydropower may be green energy's forgotten cousin. But industry representatives are keen to push it hard now that the U.S. Congress is grappling with energy legislation. They say that hydro holds great potential, noting that despite being an emissions-free source only 3 percent of 79,000 U.S. dams are capable of producing such energy.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People celebrated

People around the globe marked the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People Aug. 9 as the U.S. State Department continued its review of the federal government’s rejection of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Is the Government Lying To You?

There are lies, damn lies, and statistics,” said Mark Twain.

Government statistics seems to fall somewhere between the last two. Why?

Partly because of the statistics we focus on. When the unemployment rate comes out, we always focus on U3: the proportion of the civilian labor force that is unemployed but actively seeking a job, which now shows unemployment at around 10 percent. But U6, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes at the same time, shows unemployment nearing 18 percent.

The reason for the difference is that U6 includes underemployed, marginally attached workers, and discouraged workers. That’s the number that people feel, not U3.

Largest Ocean Energy Device Ever Installed In U.S. Waters Generates Electricity at Design Capacity

...the largest ocean energy "power plant" ever installed in U.S. waters, has successfully generated grid-compatible power from tidal currents at its Cobscook Bay site in Eastport, Maine.

Leading the Smart Grid Charge - August 06, 2010

Regulators and politicians are key players here, but even they have some perverse incentives to maintain the status quo.

Anyone can implement a Smart Grid if the government is going to spend our tax dollars on it or is willing to promise the utilities that if they build it, there'll be legislation to force the un-consulted customer to pay for it.

Marines look to biofuels for energy

The Military Growth Task Force hosted the event to try to grow the biofuels industry to help the military meet its renewable energy targets and to help keep land around its bases rural through farming, said Colleen Roberts, the task force’s communications director.

Market For Water Recycling & Reuse Technologies To Reach $57B In 2015 As Global Demand Intensifies

Demand for water is increasing as the world's population grows, agricultural needs increase and developing nations become more affluent. Unfortunately, there is not an increase in water supply to match this growing demand; in fact, as weather patterns change and water sources continue to be overused, fresh water supplies are decreasing.

'Martian technology' to keep solar panels dust-free

The technology involves placing a transparent, electrically sensitive material deposited on glass or a transparent plastic sheet covering the panels. Sensors monitor dust levels on the surface of the panel and energize the material when dust concentration reaches a critical level. The electric charge sends a dust-repelling wave cascading over the surface of the material, lifting away the dust and transporting it off of the screen's edges.

Mauritania Plants Trees To Hold Back Desert

Mauritania has launched a tree-planting program aimed at protecting its capital from the advancing desert and coastal erosion, a project that could eventually extend thousands of kilometers across Africa.

Next Generation Ethanol is Years Behind Schedule Due to a Lack of Funding

This next generation of ethanol, known as cellulosic ethanol, is a far cry from the highly controversial (and environmentally questionable) corn ethanol that has become so pervasive. Cellulosic ethanol is made from non-food sources including waste agricultural products such as corn stover, wheat straw, and thinned forest residues, as well as purpose-planted non-food crops such as switchgrass and hybrid poplar.

Old-style coal plants expanding

Utilities across the country are building dozens of old-style coal plants that will cement the industry's standing as the largest industrial source of climate-changing gases for years to come.

On Land, Air and Sea, a Retrofit Mission

“We use in the Navy and Marine Corps almost 1 percent of the energy that America uses,” Mr. Mabus said. “If we can get energy from different places and from different sources, you can flip the line from ‘Field of Dreams’ — ‘If the Navy comes, they will build it.’ If we provide the market, then I think you’ll begin to see the infrastructure being built.”

One for the road; Researchers develop biofuel from whisky waste

Researchers have taken two by-products of the whisky-making process and transformed them into an energy dense biofuel that doesn't require vehicles to undergo any modification prior to use.

Primary Energy Overview US

A graphical display of the Overall Energy situation in US.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 082310

Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels for the next three days (24-26 August).The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on day one (24 August), at unsettled to active levels with a chance for isolated minor storm periods on day two (25 August), and at quiet to unsettled levels on
day three (26 August). The increase in activity is due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream.

Researchers develop 'cluster bomb' to target cancer

Although chemotherapy is an effective cancer treatment, it’s shotgun approach also damages healthy cells bringing debilitating side effects such as nausea, liver toxicity and a battered immune system. Now a new way to deliver this life-saving therapy to cancer patients by getting straight to the source of the disease has been developed.

The Kootenai Tribe’s forgotten war

The date was Sept. 20, 1974 when Amy Trice, then chairman of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, declared war on the United States. The tribe only numbered 67. The odds certainly weren’t good but the outcome, now 36 years later, has been very good.

Time for Full Employment to Product an Anti-Inflationary Economy

What every community needs are opportunities for virtually full employment to make, use, and sell enough energy-intensive goods and services to achieve sustainable prosperity. We have proven renewable-energy technologies to enable new ventures in 7,000 communities of about one million persons to facilitate sustainable prosperity throughout the world. 

U.S. Nuclear Waste Panel Slammed for Ignoring Public Fears

The Obama administration's effort to fix the nation's stalled nuclear waste program is focusing so much on technological issues that it fails to address the public mistrust hampering storage and disposal efforts, say 16 social science researchers from across the country.

Why Hasn’t the Stimulus Been More Stimulative?

Talk of the economy slipping back into a recession is rampant. The American Recovery and Reconstruction Act (ARRA) of 2009, aka the stimulus package of approximately $790 billion, was, as its title suggests, supposed to put the economy firmly into a recovery trajectory. But as Obama administration economic guru has said, the economy is having trouble reaching recession-escape velocity. Why hasn’t the 2009 stimulus package been more stimulative?

August 20, 2010

Answer to declining bee population sought in N.D. prairie

These bees will be carefully studied for three years so scientists can better understand what factors play a role in bee health.

API reports surprise oil inventory increase

Washington-based trade group American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday reported a surprise increase in oil and energy products inventories. The API said oil stockpiles increased by 5.86 million barrels on the week ended Aug. 13. Stocks of gasoline rose by 2 million, while stocks of distillates, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by another 2 million.

Appeals court; Stolen Valor Act unconstitutional

The majority said there's no evidence that such lies harm anybody, and there's no compelling reason for the government to ban such lies.

Are solar PV module prices really falling?

Given that feed-in tariffs (FiT) and incentive schemes in major solar PV markets such as Germany are set to continue decreasing, perhaps faster than some might have expected a year ago, it is not a surprise that suppliers are maintaining a strong focus on reducing costs.

Although Europe accounted for some 82% of solar PV installations in Q2’10, the vast majority of solar modules were supplied by companies recognising their revenues in currencies other than the Euro.

Bankruptcy filings at highest point since 2005

U.S. bankruptcy filings have reached the highest level since 2005, government data released Tuesday show, as the economy slows and the unemployment rate hovers just below double digits.

BIA denies Central Band of Cherokee federal recognition

Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk on Aug. 6 said the federal government would not acknowledge the Central Band of Cherokee as a Native American tribe because it did not provide enough evidence of Native American descent.

BP authorized to replace failed blowout preventer

BP can replace the failed blowout preventer on its ruptured Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico, the top U.S. official overseeing the spill response said on Thursday.

California Pot Initiative (Prop. 19) Still Leading In Latest Poll

Camp for Climate Action Confronts Royal Bank of Scotland

Campaigners with the grassroots group Camp for Climate Action say they are outraged that the bank - one of the world's largest investors in coal, oil, and natural gas - was bailed out last year with £50 billion of public money.

Cherokee Nation councilors support Tohono O'odham Nation

“There are many Indian people in the state of Arizona who do not speak English, or whose first language is a Native language rather than English, who also do not have birth certificates or other documents indicating their citizenship in the United States and who are perhaps under a greater potential of being stopped and harassed on the basis of portions of this bill,” said Councilor Julia Coates, the resolution’s co-sponsor.

Democrat says abolish Freddie, Fannie-FOX

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be abolished rather than reformed as part of the Obama administration's planned overhaul of the government's role in housing finance, Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee, said on Tuesday.

Educational Attainment Worldwide on the Rise

People all over the world are completing more years of schooling than ever. More than 61 percent of individuals 15 or older—just over 3 billion people—finished at least some secondary school during their lifetimes as of 2010. This proportion has risen from 36 percent in 1970 and from 50 percent in 1990.

EIA; U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions to Increase 3.4% in 2010

Carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are projected to increase by 3.4% in 2010 over the previous year, according to a new report by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Employee opens fire on suspects during robbery

Witnesses told police that two black men in their early 20s entered the store and one of them pointed a handgun at two employees while the second jumped over the store counter and demanded cash.

One of the employees apparently drew a handgun and fired multiple rounds at both suspects, according to police. The two men fled and were last seen running west through an open field onto Tabor Avenue

Ex-Bank of England Official; Dumping Bush Tax Cuts May Bring Depression

Many economists are worried about the possibility of a double-dip recession, but former Bank of England official David Blanchflower thinks it could be much worse than that if the Bush tax cuts aren’t extended.

“If we don’t act fast, a plunge into Depression is a growing risk in . . . the U.S.,” he writes in a column on Bloomberg.

Extreme Weather Events Signal Global Warming to World's Meteorologists

Fires across Russia, record floods in Pakistan, a huge Greenland iceberg - this current unprecedented sequence of extreme weather events "matches" scientific projections of more frequent and intense extreme weather events due to global warming, says an organization of meteorologists from 189 countries.

Fate of Universe revealed by galactic lens

A "galactic lens" has revealed that the Universe will probably expand forever.

Federal Task Force Sends Recommendations to President on Fostering Clean Coal Technology

CCS is a group of technologies for capturing, compressing, transporting and permanently storing power plant and industrial source emissions of carbon dioxide. Rapid development and deployment of clean coal technologies, particularly carbon capture and storage (CCS), will help position the United States as a leader in the global clean energy race.

Food Supplies Most At Risk In Afghanistan And Africa

Afghanistan and nations in sub-Saharan Africa are most at risk from shocks to food supplies such as droughts or floods while Nordic countries are least vulnerable, according to an index released on Thursday.

Governor Strickland Helps Dedicate Ohio's Largest Solar Farm

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and other government officials at an event today dedicating the PSEG Wyandot Solar Farm, in Wyandot County, Ohio. The 12-megawatt facility is the largest solar installation operating in Ohio.

Green Cleaning Chemicals Protect Metal From Road And Sea Salt

The new green chemicals protect metal parts, vehicles and machinery from the effects of road and sea salt.

Ground Zero Mosque;  The Real Issue

The proposed mosque near to ground zero is not really a religious institution. It would be -- as many mosques throughout the nation are -- a terrorist recruitment, indoctrination and training center. It is not the worship of Islam that is the problem. It is the efforts to advance Sharia Law with its requirement of Jihad and violence that is the nub of the issue.

How to Exit the Age of Oil; Closing the Renewables Gap

We are living in a time when the theory of unlimited economic growth is running into the reality of limited energy sources. To solve the problem, it is commonly thought that renewables are simply a drop-in replacement for oil, gas and coal – but many experts are warning about the faultiness of that assumption.

Hundreds Bear Arms For 2nd Amendment

Hundreds brought their guns to a Tea Party rally in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday to peacefully demonstrate that the Constitution protects the right to own and carry a firearm.

IEA lifts oil demand forecast but warns on economy

Global oil demand growth will inch higher over the rest of this year and into 2011, but any rise could be eroded if the economy is weaker than forecast, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday.

Iran says sanctions not affecting oil stocks

An increase in Iran's stocks of crude oil is a result of maintenance work at refineries at home and abroad rather than of international sanctions, the Iranian representative in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) stated here on Monday.

Iran says U.S. can participate in Iran's nuclear projects

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that Iran is ready to cooperate with "any country," including the United States, in building nuclear power plants in Iran, local satellite Press TV reported.

Is the Transmission 'Problem' Real?

Aside from policy stability, it's probably one of the most widely-cited problems facing the renewable energy industry: The lack of transmission. But is the problem really as big as we're told? Or are utilities using it as an excuse to get more money for an unnecessary build-out of infrastructure and increase profits?

Missouri renewable energy mandate stirs anxiety, confusion

Promised thousands of clean energy jobs and a reduced dependence on coal, Missourians voted in the fall of 2008 to require AmerenUE and other electric utilities to increase their use of renewable energy.

But persuading the public to embrace clean energy is one thing, writing a set of detailed rules to implement the law is another. After months of debate among utilities, consumer groups and others with competing interests, the so-called renewable energy standard is mired in confusion.

Neighbor praised as 'hero' for shooting alleged thief

The shooting has gotten the attention of many in the neighborhood. Mrs. Ruby Underwood says in her eyes, Gunby is a hero. The almost 90-year-old mother and grandmother says if someone tries to come in her home uninvited she'll be ready too.

New claims for unemployment benefits jump unexpectedly

The Labor Department said Thursday that new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose to 500,000 last week, the highest level in nine months. It marked the third straight week of rising new jobless claims and added to other recent reports suggesting that layoffs are ticking higher even as new hiring remains sluggish.

New images reveal moon isn’t as ‘full’ as it used to be – and could still be shrinking

The moon formed in a chaotic environment of intense bombardment by asteroids and meteors. These collisions, along with the decay of radioactive elements, made the moon hot. The moon cooled off as it aged, and scientists have long thought the moon shrank over time as it cooled...

No health problems from coal ash spill;  Report

People living in the vicinity of the Emory River in Roane County have suffered no serious health effects from the cataclysmic 2008 Kingston coal ash spill and aren't expected to develop health problems in the future, according to a report by medical experts made public today.

Oil plume lingering in Gulf, study confirms

New research confirms the existence of a huge plume of dispersed oil deep in the Gulf of Mexico and suggests that it has not broken down rapidly, raising the possibility that it might pose a threat to wildlife for months or even years.

Oil-Eating Bacteria May Determine Environmental Impact Of Gulf Oil

...oil-eating bacteria are beneficial in helping to clear away the oil. Their activity, however, could eventually pose risks to the Gulf's ecosystem, particularly in the deep ocean. The oil acts as a huge source of food and could produce bacteria "blooms," or massive population explosions. As the blooms die and decay, they remove oxygen from the Gulf water, jeopardizing the health of fish and other aquatic animals.

Protests continue across Lebanon over energy shortages

Angry crowds blocked the streets in Khandaq al-Ghamiq and al-Basta al-Tahta Beirut neighborhoods Wednesday night in protest against electricity rationing, while riots continued in areas in the capital's southern suburbs and south Lebanon.

Solar energy too pricey?

"As a young first-time homeowner, it's challenging to finance these things if you're looking to purchase them outright," Thompson said.

Solar panels add value, reduce monthly costs

...unlike natural gas, city sewer or Internet service, electricity is something you can make yourself, with an initial investment in solar electric panels. There are tax credits available from the state and federal governments, and right now there is a glut of panels on the market, so they are less expensive, thus more cost effective.

Spray-on film turns windows into solar panels

Imagine if all the windows of a building, and perhaps even all its exterior walls, could be put to use as solar collectors. Soon, you may not have to imagine it, as the Norweigan solar power company EnSol has patented a thin film solar cell technology designed to be sprayed on to just such surfaces.

Studies confirm natural gas trucks lead to energy security

The studies confirm that natural gas fueled-trucks can dramatically reduce our dependence on imported OPEC oil, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Taliban wage attacks on Pakistani police as flood crisis continues to devastate country

Pakistan's flood nightmare could be a dream for the Taliban.

As a fifth of the country battles the worst natural disaster in its history, Islamic insurgents have waged attacks on police and civilians, attempting to exploit Pakistan's embattled government.

Timeline of U.S. nuclear reprocessing - FACTBOX

Although no U.S. company now reuses its nuclear waste, the country has a long-running history with the technology. Following are timeline highlights of the U.S. inquiry into reprocessing and events that framed it.

U.S. sets another record for deporting illegal immigrants

However, the number of people that agents caught actually trying to cross the border was down by 23 percent.

Welcome to the Revolution; Emanuel Sachs and Frank van Mierlo

Solar at the cost of coal. Sounds like the punch line to a joke, some might say. How can solar energy–with its reputation for high cost–compete with baseload coal, still the dominant fuel for U.S. electric power generation?

Would-be robbers flee from gun-toting owners

Authorities are still on the lookout for a pair of would-be robbers who were forced to flee a Vinton County store Saturday after its owners and a customer opened fire on them, Vinton County Sheriff's deputies reported.

August 17, 2010

Biologists say coyotes losing fear of humans

Built-In Solar Struggles With Costs, Efficiency

Given their unobtrusive nature, BIPVs were once touted as the next big thing in solar power, but have so far not taken off as expected.

Burning Russia battles to defend nuclear sites

After almost two weeks of fires that have claimed over 50 lives and part destroyed a military storage site, the authorities said they were making progress in fighting fires that still covered 174,035 hectares of land...

The authorities have come under pressure to explain the magnitude of effects of the heatwave, which meteorologists have said is the worst in the 1,000-year history of Russia.

California landmark global-warming law under fire

A November ballot measure that would suspend California's landmark global-warming law could also end up rolling back some of the state's other sweeping environmental standards _ including rules that require utilities to generate a third of their electricity from renewable sources and programs requiring oil refineries to make cleaner-burning fuels.

Can huge Mojave wind farm boost faltering wind power industry

The Alta Wind Energy Center being built by Terra-Gen Power of New York is a major gust of renewable energy. It has 290 wind turbines spread across 9,000 acres 75 miles north of Los Angeles and is expected to serve 275,000 homes – for starters.

If demand stays strong, a second group of 300 turbines is planned for 2015 and later additions could grow the operation to 3,000 megawatts and millions of customers

Canada Tracks BPA Exposure, Finds In Most People

Bisphenol A, a widely used chemical that Canada is banning from baby bottles, is present in the bodies of 91 percent of Canadians, according to a report that shows just how prevalent the controversial chemical is in daily life.

Cause of 2 Illinois nuclear reactor shutdowns is being investigated

Exelon Corp. is investigating the cause of shutdowns Monday morning of two nuclear reactors at Braidwood Generating Station, about 60 miles southwest of Chicago.

Central Hudson and Prism Solar team up to test holographic-enhanced solar technology

It is anticipated that the two holographic systems will generate more electricity than the conventional photovoltaic system under all lighting conditions. Prism Solar's holographic film replaces most of the silicon cells required in a solar module to result in a module that is about half the cost of a conventional one.

China's Opportunity

If energy consumption is a major standard by which to judge economic prowess, then China has joined the big leagues. The International Energy Agency now reports that China has surpassed this country to become the world's biggest energy consumer.

Climate Change Has Animals Heading for the Hills

Chipmunks, mice and squirrels are heading for the hills, perhaps chased to higher elevations by a changing climate, scientists report.

Corals Bleached and Dying in Overheated South Asian Waters

The rapidly rising temperature of south Asia's Andaman Sea has triggered coral bleaching and die-off that scientists working in Indonesia are calling one of the most rapid and severe coral mortality events ever recorded.

Drought in Russia; Floods in Pakistan and China; High Temps in the U.S. Consistent with Climate Change Projections

A number of extreme weather events have been happening around the world this summer, including record flooding in Pakistan that has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced millions of others; the worst drought in Russia in decades, which has triggered wildfires and doubled the daily death rate in Moscow to about 700; and torrential rains in China, which have caused massive flooding and triggered landslides that have killed more than 3,000 people.

Effects of Climate Change Today

During the past 100 years, the world's surface air temperature increased an average of 0.6° Celsius (1.1°F). This may not sound like very much change, but even one degree can affect the Earth.

Few Chernobyl Radiation Risks From Russia Fires

Fears that fires scorching forests polluted by Chernobyl fallout may propel dangerous amounts of radioactivity into the air are overblown, scientists say, and the actual health risks are very small.

First Solar Radiation Storm of Solar Cycle 24

On Saturday, August 14, 2010 a small solar flare erupted on the Sun at about 6am EDT.  Associated with this flare was a coronal mass ejection (CME) that was partially directed towards the Earth.  Also associated with this event was a S1 or minor solar radiation storm

Food Insecurity Rising in America

Food insecurity is on the rise. In 2008, 14.6 percent of U.S. households fell into the food-insecure category at some point during the year—the highest rate since the Department of Agriculture started recording stats in 1995.

Gas Is Really Costing Us About $15 a Gallon

It is not a new idea to suggest that the true costs inherent in many economic pursuits have been unfairly socialized. Nor does this notion apply only in moments of crisis. Economists give the name "externalities" to costs associated with a business that are not reflected on the balance sheet of that enterprise or in the prices of its products, but rather are borne by society at large.

Global Warming Bringing More Extreme Heat Waves

Temperatures are breaking records along eastern and southern portions of the U.S. and more extremely hot summer days are in store for every part of the country if global warming continues unabated says National Wildlife Federation, which just issued an update to its heat waves report. The analysis comes days after the U.S. Senate’s leadership shelved comprehensive climate and energy legislation this summer.

Grid stays cool despite summer heat

Power companies are not sweating the hot weather.

Electricity demand is up from last year, utilities say, but the need is nowhere close to maxing out available capacity.

Gulf oil spill raises fears about economic future for Mexico

The Mexican government hasn't said much about the BP oil spill. Some analysts tie the reticence to an awareness that the spill holds worrying implications for Mexico's economic future.

Ignoring the Obvious; The Floods and Fires, the Droughts and Disasters Will Continue

The rainy season is under way but the rains around the capital of Niamey have been torrential and persistent. It's not what is needed. The water is not nourishing the soil. It's washing away the crops. It's washing away homes. It is destroying lives.

Kerry Bill Would Extend Tax Incentives

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) has introduced new legislation to extend tax incentives for the renewable energy industry for an additional two years.

Meeting at FERC's Place

Keeping those air conditioners flowing is a summer necessity. But getting the most out of them has become national priority. The long-term goal is to equip utilities and consumers with the technologies they need to make better energy decisions.

Mexico’s Presidents Are Considering Legalizing Drugs – Will the U.S. Join the Debate?

The question of whether legalizing drugs would help reduce the killings in Mexico has made front page news this week and is causing unprecedented debate around the world.

Neighbors say wind energy has its price

Unfortunately, said Ebertz, the turbines also produce enough noise to chase her from the garden -- and most nights, disturb her sleep.

 "Sometimes it sounds like a racetrack, or a plane landing," she said. "You wouldn't believe how loud it gets."

New Maplecroft Index Rates Pakistan And Egypt Among Nations Facing 'Extreme' Water Security Risks

A new report evaluating the water security of 165 countries has rated the supply of clean, fresh water to the societies and businesses of 10 nations at "extreme risk."

New method to predict how nanoparticles will react in the human body

At the nanoscale chemistry is different and nanoparticles don’t behave like normal particles. Nanoparticles tend to be more chemically reactive than ordinary-sized particles of the same material making it hard to predict how they will act under different conditions and raising serious questions about the use of such particles – particularly inside the human body.

Nuclear recycling; Debate over what to do with spent fuel

...after one use in a reactor, about 95 percent of the material used to produce nuclear fuel still contains energy value, leaving the question of whether that remaining fuel could be reused.

Obama acts as clean-tech venture capitalist

Meet the country's venture capitalist-in-chief, President Obama. By the end of 2011, the White House plans to channel more than $50 billion to thousands of clean-technology companies through tax credits, low-interest guaranteed loans, and grants.

Obama Gets a Menu of Climate Actions He Can Take Without Congress

President Obama could invoke strong climate policies, like gasoline carbon limits, without congressional input before world leaders convene this fall to negotiate an international global warming treaty, a research group says in a plan provided to the administration.

Pakistan floods drown economy hopes

The floods scouring through Pakistan, in a catastrophe that may be bigger than the combined effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 Kashmir and 2010 Haiti earthquakes, are throwing into doubt all forecasts for an economy already struggling to survive amid terrorism, high inflation and widespread grinding poverty.

Panel calls for giving property owners a stake in wind farms

A task force is recommending that wind farm developers in Wisconsin offer to make payments to homeowners who live near the projects.

Personal security devices will create a stilted society...

It won’t be long before we have always-on video cameras operating in all our social spaces.

Imagine living in a world where nearly every conversation, every meeting, every step you take in the physical world is recorded and archived in the cloud.

Recycling Land for Green Energy Ideas

Thousands of acres of farmland here in the San Joaquin Valley have been removed from agricultural production, largely because the once fertile land is contaminated by salt buildup from years of irrigation.

But large swaths of those dry fields could have a valuable new use in their future — making electricity.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 080210

Solar activity was low. Region 1099 (N17W84) produced several B-class flares and also a C1 flare with an alpha magnetic configuration.  Solar activity is expected to be very low with a chance for C-class flares. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet to unsettled with isolated active periods on days one and two (17 - 18 August) in response to the CME observed on 14 August.

Researchers use rocket science for sustainable waste treatment process

Rocket engines are generally not thought of as being environmentally-friendly, but thanks to a newly-developed process, we may someday see them neutralizing the emissions from wastewater treatment plants. The same process would also see those plants generating their own power, thus meaning they would be both energy-neutral and emissions-free.

Rising Temperatures Raise Food Prices; Heat, Drought, and a Failed Harvest in Russia

During the two month span between June 9th and August 9th, the world price of wheat jumped by 66 percent. The USDA’s August estimate will show the world harvest shrinking further. But by how much? And how will it affect world grain prices?

Solar industry pleads Obama to help restore loan guarantees

Solar industry officials are pleading with President Obama to restore billions of dollars in renewable energy loan guarantees that Congress is at least temporarily cutting to pay for emergency education and Medicaid help to states and other policy priorities.

Solving the world's hunger and obesity crises together

We have since sold more than half a million bags around the world and donated close to $6 million to provide more than 55 million school meals to children and raise awareness about a crucial humanitarian issue.

But here at home in America, it's hard not to notice a different food-related problem: obesity.

It's affecting everyone, from small children to the elderly, and it's growing.

South Korea's Four Rivers Dam Construction Rolls Over Opposition

South Korea's government-mandated US$20 billion Four Major Rivers Restoration project rolls on despite massive opposition from provincial leaders, civic groups, the intellectual community, clergy, educators, and the media.

The Tea Party Rescues America

For a decade, the left owned the streets...Now, finally, conservatives are answering with their own grass roots efforts in the Tea Party movement.  Tea Party activists are bringing the battle to stop big government spending and taxes to the streets and parks of America.

The Union of Concerned Scientists is urges implementation of National Oil Savings Plan

But plugging the Deepwater Horizon well won’t solve the bigger problem of which the BP disaster is only one symptom: our nation’s debilitating addiction to oil.

Torture a hallmark of Phoenix's drug kidnappings

Ferocity is often a hallmark of the abductions taking place in this south Arizona city of 1.5 million that serves as a prime transshipment point for drugs and human cargo

Tucson, AZ, USA; SOLON And TEP Bring 1.6MW Solar Power Plant

The University of Arizona will host the 1.6 MW single-axis tracking system at UATechPark's SolarZone, a 200 acre project that brings industry, research and solar demonstration components into a solar integration center. TEP will own and operate the solar production facility.

Turning anger into action

In collaboration with Native women’s advocacy groups, Angela MacDougall (foreground) is among women leaders demanding investigations and justice for thousands of missing and murdered women

U.S. Mayors Continue Press toward a Green Economy

First funded under last year's Economic Recovery Plan and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program is a newly-created program conceived by the Conference of Mayors designed to assist mayors in reducing city energy use and climate emissions.

U.S. Unsure if Cloned Meat has Been Sold in North America

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on Tuesday said he doesn't know whether cloned cows or their offspring have made it into the North American food supply.

World’s Largest Tidal Turbine will generate enough power for 1,000 homes

The unveiling of the AK1000 was shortly followed by an announcement by Scottish Power that it has plans to install hundreds of tidal turbines in the coming years.

August 13, 2010

30-Year, 15-Year US Fixed-Rate Mortgages Drop Again

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.44 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending August 12, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 4.49 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.29 percent.

2009 a Year of Growth, Challenge for U.S. Wind Power; Report

The U.S. wind power industry had a record-setting year in 2009, adding 10 gigawatts of new capacity and securing $21 billion in investments, a new DOE report shows. The cumulative wind power capacity grew 40% despite the economic turmoil throughout the year...

A Boom Sustained

Even after it has given a hint of what it can do for the economy, the wind power industry is still awaiting a clear policy signal. Here's what that signal needs to look like.

A Contract with American for 2010

Republicans should embrace specific ethical reforms, which they should showcase in their campaign advertising in 2010.

Activists storm field, crush GM maize

A group of 70 no global activists on Monday staged a lightening strike against a field of genetically modified (GM) maize, crushing all the plants and effectively preventing their harvest.

Afghan army reaches enlistment goal ahead of schedule

Gen. David Petraeus congratulated the Afghan Ministry of Defense on Wednesday for reaching its goal of having 134,000 trained national army soldiers -- two months ahead of schedule.

Petraeus, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, said the growth of the national army is encouraging as Afghan troops work together with coalition forces to "achieve our common goals in the new Afghanistan."

America's first public-use quick-charge station for electric vehicles opens

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski plugs in the all-electric Nissan LEAF to the nation's first publicly available quick-charge station at Portland General Electric headquarters in Portland, Oregon

Analyzing Coal's Future

Carbon capture could become commercial within 10-15 years. And while it holds the potential to significantly cut heat-trapping emissions, it may be noticeably more expensive than current technologies and thereby cause consumers to pay more.

APS to Develop Largest Solar Power System on U.S. Government Property

Arizona Public Service Co. will own and operate a new 15-megawatt photovoltaic power plant to be built at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz. APS has hired SunPower Corp. to design and construct the solar plant, which is expected to come online in summer 2011. It will be the largest solar installation on U.S. government property.

ARS; Blending Wind and Solar Meets Peak Energy Demands

In parts of Texas and California, a good match between renewable energy production and peak energy demands could be obtained by combining wind power with solar power, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist.

Australia Can Easily Cut CO2 And Keep Growing -Business

Australia, one of the world's top carbon polluters, can cut carbon emissions by at least 15 percent by 2020 without hurting its economy, business leaders at a climate conference said on Thursday.

Battle Against Chicken Factory Farms Making Progress

“Concessions by farmers in this state [Ohio] to sharply restrict the close confinement of hens, hogs and veal calves are the latest sign that so-called factory farming — a staple of modern agriculture that is seen by critics as inhumane and a threat to the environment and health — is on the verge of significant change.

Can Washington Sabotage Your Retirement?

Politicians have a way of making dire predictions of what will happen if this legislation passes or that policy isn’t approved. It is important to be aware and involved in the issues. But when it comes to your investments, it’s more important to tune out the talking heads and focus on your long-term goals.

Cancer cells feed on fructose, study finds

Pancreatic tumor cells use fructose to divide and proliferate, U.S. researchers said on Monday in a study that challenges the common wisdom that all sugars are the same.

Tumor cells fed both glucose and fructose used the two sugars in two different ways, the team at the University of California Los Angeles found.

Children dying while predators roam free

Convicted sexual predator Martin Tremblay is still roaming free after two teenage girls died in March – one at his home – after being given a lethal mix of alcohol and drugs within hours of their deaths.

China Pulls the Plug

CONSUMER ALERT; EPA Advises Care When Selecting Pesticides for Bedbug Control

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to alert consumers that there has been an increase of individuals or companies who offer to control bedbugs with unrealistic promises of effectiveness or low cost.

Dodd-Frank Act Mandates New Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation Requirements

...many key elements of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act have been passed on to regulators. Their true nature will emerge only with time.

The Act does little to streamline oversight activities, while the biggest problem may prove to be 'regulatory creep'.

Double Dip Recession Tops European Business Leaders Concerns

The survey of over 100 European business leaders revealed nearly 30% see a fall back into recession as the biggest potential risk facing the global economy in the second half of 2010. Other risks facing the global economy cited in the survey included sovereign debt default (19%), market volatility (9%) and a future banking crisis (9%).

Electric cars; 30 Silicon Valley charging stations will get upgrades

Expecting a surge of consumers buying new electric-powered vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, California is recharging the infrastructure needed to power the cars in Silicon Valley and elsewhere in the state.

Energy storage system to top up peak electricity supply

The amount of power drawn from the electricity grid can vary greatly at different times of the day. It usually peaks in the early evening for a couple of hours after the mass exodus from school and work, while short-lived spikes are also common after major televised sporting events, during commercial breaks and in the morning hours. This can cause headaches for energy companies as they struggle to match supply with demand. But researchers have now found a way to manage these short-lived draws on the electricity grid far that could halve the fuel needed.

EPA Proposes Rules on Clean Air Act Permitting for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing two rules to ensure that businesses planning to build new, large facilities or make major expansions to existing ones will be able to obtain Clean Air Act permits that address their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

EPA Publishes Latest Data On Industrial And Toxics Releases In The U.S.

The database contains environmental release and transfer data on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical categories reported to EPA by more than 21,000 industrial and other facilities.

Extreme Weather Plagues Farming, Talks Flounder

Global wheat markets reeling from Russian droughts, thousands of cattle killed by heat in Kansas, and countless crop acres wiped out by floods in Pakistan are glimpses of what can be expected as the world struggles to battle climate change.

Faulty valve causes North Anna leak

A faulty valve in a coolant system component resulted in a leak at North Anna Power Station, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The leak Thursday was noted as an "unusual event" in an NRC report Friday.

Federal Task Force Sends Recommendations to President on Fostering Clean Coal Technology

In February 2010, the president charged the task force with proposing a plan to overcome the barriers to the widespread, cost-effective deployment of carbon capture and storage within 10 years, with a goal of bringing five to 10 commercial demonstration projects online by 2016.

Female Infants Growing Breasts; Another Disaster From Hormones in Milk Production

First Satellite Measurement Of Water Volume In Amazon Floodplain

For the first time, scientists have been able to measure the amount of water that rises and falls annually in the Amazon River floodplain....accounts for only 5 percent of the water flowing through the Amazon River every year, and it is a much smaller amount than researchers were expecting to find in the largest drainage basin in the world.

For God's Sake, Leave a Trace

Fracking for Natural Gas and Oil May Have Broken the Law

Companies injected diesel in 15 states, but locations are unknown.

Free and Low-Cost Solar Energy

If solar electricity or solar water heating isn't your cards right now, there are plenty of other ways to take advantage of the sun’s energy—for little or no money.

Giant iceberg a drifting menace

An island of ice more than four times the size of Manhattan is drifting across the Arctic Ocean after breaking off from a glacier in Greenland.

Potentially in the path of this unstoppable giant are oil platforms and shipping lanes, and any collision could do untold damage. In a worst-case scenario, large chunks could reach the heavily trafficked waters where another Greenland iceberg sank the Titanic in 1912.

Government office seeks national approach for e-waste

The Government Accountability Office has issued a new report on electronic waste recycling, looking to see if a national, Basel Convention-compliant approach would be preferable to the state-by-state approach currently being developed in the U.S

Greenland ice sheet faces 'tipping point in 10 years'

Scientists warn that temperature rise of between 2C and 7C would cause ice to melt, resulting in 23ft rise in sea level

Gun rights activists square off with Royal Oak over 'no guns' policy at Arts, Beats, and Eats

Local gun rights activists have attended the last three Royal Oak city meetings to bring attention to what they believe is unlawful firearms ban.

The controversy is over a “no-firearms allowed” clause in the contract between The City of Royal Oak, the site of the festival...

How to Make the Most of Solar Power

The solar panel is used as a component in a larger photovoltaic system to offer electricity for commercial and residential applications. There are many methods available to try to increase their output. There is now a new entrant to the realm of solar panel accessories that is said to increase panel performance while decreasing costs.

Idaho residents weigh in on Areva's uranium plant proposal

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission should not have allowed Areva to level land, build roads and connect power lines to their proposed uranium enrichment plant before an environmental review is completed on the $3.3 billion facility, said Snake River Alliance energy policy analyst Liz Woodruff.

Is it killed yet? BP testing the well today

BP began a pressure test on the Macondo well this afternoon to determine if cement from last week's static kill spread far enough to make make final cementing through a relief well unnecessary.

Israel Versus Iran and the Point of No Return

For the Obama administration, the prospect of a nuclearized Iran is dismal to contemplate -- it would create major new national-security challenges and crush the president's dream of ending nuclear proliferation," writes reporter Jeffrey Goldberg...

It’s Time for the FDA to End the Overuse of Antibiotics on Farms

A human health crisis is brewing on our nation’s farms. An estimated 70 percent of antibiotics used in the United States are fed to animals that are not sick, a practice that breeds antibiotic-resistant bacteria and causes costly, painful, and sometimes deadly human diseases.

Lebanese Small businesses hit hard by electricity cuts

The Lebanese have survived wars, assassinations and even the global financial crisis. But one thing the citizens of this country can't cope with is the endless electricity rationing which has plunged the country into darkness for the past 20 years.

Making bio-oil more efficient than diesel

Bio-oil could become a more efficient source of renewable energy with a potential of replacing fossil fuels such as diesel, according to a £1.4 million project.

N.Y. nuclear risk assessment described

U.S. researchers have announced an improved method of predicting where people might be exposed to radiation from nuclear waste disposal sites.

Nationwide Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Would Increase Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Study Finds

The implementation of a nationwide low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) in the United States would increase global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 19 million metric tons each year – contradicting the claim of LCFS advocates that the standard would reduce such emissions – according to a study issued today.

NPPD head; Wind not enough to sustain state's energy needs

If the Nebraska landscape was covered with wind farms, the energy produced would not sustain the state's energy needs, according to Ron Asche during a presentation Tuesday to the Columbus Noon Rotary.

Nuclear panel members reject calls to recuse selves from Yucca vote

Offsetting greenhouse gas emissions using charcoal

According to a new study, as much as 12 percent of the world’s human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could be sustainably offset by producing biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from plants and other organic materials. That’s more than would be offset if the same plants and materials were burned to generate bioenergy, says the study.

Oneida Nation dispossessed of right to reclaim land or compensation

If an appeals court ruling stands, Indian nations may not be able to reclaim their illegally taken ancestral lands or receive compensation for their loss, because it would be too disruptive to those who are currently occupying and benefitting from the land.

OPEC pumps 29.22 mil b/d in July, up 100,000 b/d

Crude production from OPEC's 12 members rose by 100,000 b/d to 29.22million b/d in July, a Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials and analysts showed August 6.

Our children aren't sleeping and we're medicating them

A new survey of child psychiatrists indicates that insomnia is a major problem among children in mental health treatment and at least a quarter of these patients are given sleep medication.

Pakistan Superflood Leaves Millions Destitute, Hungry

While assistance is being provided to hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis affected by the country's worst flooding within memory, the United Nations humanitarian office says relief supplies are reaching only a fraction of the millions who need help.

Panel gets clear message; Rid Maine of nuclear waste

It has been 14 years since the Maine Yankee nuclear plant generated a watt of electricity. Everything is torn down. All that remains on the grounds are 64 airtight steel canisters, most filled with highly radioactive fuel rods and housed in concrete casks.

Photovoltaic solar power gaining momentum with utilities

Photovoltaic solar power gaining momentum with utilities Research undertaken by Gartner, Inc. and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has revealed that utilities are becoming increasingly interested in procuring photovoltaic (PV) solar power generation systems and PV is one of the leading technologies considered for near-term renewable energy by utilities.

Raw and Organic Almonds Lawsuit Scores Its First Major Victory

A group of almond growers has been fighting for three years to keep their almonds from being adulterated against their will. Now their plea will finally be heard in federal court.

From 2001 to 2004, there was a string of salmonella outbreaks in California that were linked to almonds. In response, the Almond Board of California made a deal with the US Department of Agriculture.

Reinventing the City

Our cities play a vital role in the quest to achieve global ecological sustainability. They are the largest contributors to greenhouse gases and climate change. However, if we can achieve sustainable construction and use of urban infrastructure, our cities could become a critical leverage point in global efforts to drastically reduce emissions and avoid the social and economic costs associated with climate change, as well as enhance energy security and resilience in the face of high fossil energy prices.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 081310

Solar activity was very low. Region 1098 (N14E14) produced two low-level B-class flares.  Solar activity is expected to be very low, with a chance for a C-class flare. Geomagnetic field activity is
expected to be quiet until late on day three (15 August). Unsettled to active levels are expected late on day three due to a coronal hole high-speed stream.

Russia Says Fires Burn Chernobyl-Tainted Forests

Fires have scorched forests contaminated with radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, a Russian forestry official said on Wednesday, but it was unclear how dangerous the smoke might be.

Russians Suffer Deadly Fires, Heatwave, Magnetic Storm

The temperature soared to 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit, on the streets of Moscow today, and coupled with smog from wildfires and a magnetic storm from solar radiation, is creating a public health emergency.

Russia's Fires Cause 'Brown Cloud,' May Hit Arctic

Smoke from forest fires smothering Moscow adds to health problems of "brown clouds" from Asia to the Amazon and Russian soot may stoke global warming by hastening a thaw of Arctic ice, environmental experts say.

Russia's peatland fires seen burning for months

Some of Russia's smog-causing peatland fires are likely to burn for months, part of a global problem of drained marshes that emit climate-warming greenhouse gases, experts said on Wednesday.

Scientists Find New Superbug Spreading From India

A new superbug from India could spread around the world -- in part because of medical tourism -- and scientists say there are almost no drugs to treat it.

Tehran storing 35 million barrels of crude oil on 18 tankers at sea Iran struggling to find buyers for some heavier crudes

Iran, the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter, is storing 35 million barrels of crude oil at sea on 18 tankers as it struggles to find buyers for some of its heavier crudes, broker E.A. Gibson said on Friday.
Oil exports are the country’s key revenue earner and trade sources have said Iran is looking to store increasing amounts of crude at sea as stocks build up

The Fish May Now Return

The Gulf of Mexico has been a problem for fishing and other marine life even since the BP oil spill earlier this year. Things are looking up finally. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has just reopened 5,144 square miles of Gulf waters to commercial and recreational finfish fishing.

Top 10 Reasons to Use Organic Cosmetics

U.S. Bailout Program Helps Foreign Countries; Report

The $700 billion U.S. bailout program launched in response to the global economic meltdown had a far greater impact overseas than other countries’ financial rescue plans did on the U.S., according to a new report from a congressional watchdog.

Billions of dollars in U.S. rescue funds wound up in big banks in France, Germany and other nations.

U.S. researchers urge federal nuclear waste panel to address public mistrust

A group of U.S. researchers have urged a special White House panel on high-level radioactive waste to shift its attention from technical issues to the public mistrust hampering storage and disposal efforts.

UNFI implements hydrogen fuel cell technology at Florida distribution center

United Natural Foods has announced that the hydrogen fuel cell technology project at its Sarasota, Florida distribution center is complete and is fully operational.

Designed to improve efficiency, productivity and reliability, 65 GenDrive fuel cell powered lift trucks have reportedly been mobilized at the Sarasota distribution facility.

US Trade Deficit Soared in June

What's happening with PV module costs, pricing?

With volumes and utilizations on the rise, Wilkinson sees another drop in module production costs in 3Q10 -- but that will shift the cost burden back up the chain to materials suppliers. As wafer supplies stay tight, look for higher materials prices, especially for crystalline silicon (c-Si) cell makers who don't already have a presence in that part of the chain, he says.

Why China Has Already Overtaken The U.S. In Cleantech

It's been fashionable to debate whether China will some day surpass the U.S. in clean technology. Yet, after reviewing some of the metrics that really matter, one could conclude that it already has.

World 2009 CO2 emissions off 1.3 percent; institute

Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2009 fell 1.3 percent to 31.3 billion tonnes in the first year-on-year decline in this decade, German renewable energy institute IWR said on Friday.

World's Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generator Set to Deploy

It's the size of a tractor trailer, it's on wheels and completely transportable, with the capacity to power a small town. And now the world's largest hydrogen fuel cell - one of the world's cleanest and greenest sources of energy - will soon be on its way from Burnaby, B.C., to Eastlake, Ohio for a five year trial run - the first ever deployment of its kind.

August 10, 2010

3-day Solar-Geophysical Forecast

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on day 1 (10 August) due to the expected arrival of the CME observed on SOHO EIT on 07 August.

Abandon Earth or Face Extinction, Stephen Hawking Warns -- Again

It's time to abandon Earth, warned the world's most famous theoretical physicist.

In an interview with website Big Think, Stephen Hawking warned that the long-term future of the planet is in outer space.

Accusations Of Denial As Fires And Smoke Kill In Russia

Moscow doctors said they were wary of diagnosing patients with heat and smoke-related illnesses out of fear they will lose their jobs, hinting at Russia's long record of covering up the impact of disasters.

Many Russians have criticized the government's slow response to the peat and forest fires that have engulfed swathes of Russia and left a harmful smoke cloud that has choked the capital for several days.

The opposition accused authorities of being in denial.

Analysis; Pakistan Floods, Russia Heat Fit Climate Trend

Devastating floods in Pakistan and Russia's heatwave match predictions of extremes caused by global warming even though it is impossible to blame mankind for single severe weather events, scientists say.

BP Says Macondo Oil Well to Be Permanently Sealed This Month

The company has drilled more than 12,000 feet below the seabed to intercept Macondo at its base and is about 85 feet (26 meters) from its target. The drillers should reach Macondo between Aug. 13 and Aug. 15 as they run ranging tests to ensure the bore is on course, BP spokesman John Curry said yesterday.

BP's Macondo Fate Echoes That Of Fictional City

The name BP Plc gave its Mississippi Canyon 252 prospect in the Gulf of Mexico -- Macondo -- could have foreshadowed disaster long before a blowout and deadly explosion unleashed enormous environmental, economic and political consequences.

Chevron Urges Arbitration In $27 Billion Ecuador Case

Chevron Corp urged a federal appeals court not to force it into Ecuador's courts to defend a $27.4 billion lawsuit alleging its oilfields polluted the Amazon rainforest and sickened thousands of Ecuadorians.

Coal-to-gas switching won't affect near-term gas demand; Bentek

While the large-scale move to natural gas-fired generators from coal-fired ones in 2009 was an indicator of long-term power trends in the US, it will be some time before that change is visible in increased gas demand, Bentek said in a report

Council asks for water supply designation

The Town of Taylor sits atop the Coconino aquifer, one of the best water sources in Arizona but the town, with the other communities in Navajo and Apache counties stand to lose this valuable resource.

Many areas of the state, including the Phoenix area, Flagstaff and Prescott are already feeling the lack of water for their communities.

Deep, Open Ocean Is Vastly Under-Explored, Study Finds

New research from the University of Sheffield has discovered that the deep open ocean, by far the largest habitat for life on Earth, is currently the most under-explored area of the sea, and the one we know least about.

Department of Energy and Beacon Power Finalize $43 Million Loan Guarantee for Flywheel Project

"It is the continued development of new energy technologies, like the fly-wheel system designed by Beacon Power, that will move our nation forward towards a clean energy economy.

Ecuadorian government cracks down on Native leaders

An acrimonious relationship between Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa and Native leaders took a turn for the worse in July when the government charged Delfin Tenesaca, Puruha Kichwa and Marlon Santi, Shaur, the presidents of the country’s largest indigenous organizations, with terrorism and sabotage.

Enbridge Set To Replace Pipe On Michigan Line

Enbridge Inc could begin replacing a section of damaged Michigan pipeline as early as Monday evening, but it still has no estimate on when it could restart the line, which ruptured last month and spilled more than 800,000 gallons of oil.

EPA Develops Innovative Software To Secure Nation's Water Supply

Scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have collaborated in developing innovative water quality software that enhances a water system's ability to detect when there has been intentional or unintentional contamination.

EPA Sets First National Limits to Reduce Mercury and Other Toxic Emissions from Cement Plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing final rules that will protect Americans’ health by cutting emissions of mercury, particle pollution and other harmful pollutants from Portland cement manufacturing, the third-largest source of mercury air emissions in the United States.

Expanded use of refrigeration process benefits natural gas industry

“Through the use of this process, Black & Veatch has been an early implementer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a means for making natural gas available for market. We are working with several clients to implement PRICO in both onshore and offshore applications.”

Five Myths About the GOP That Just Won’t Die

A big part of the reason is voter dissatisfaction with the Republican Party. And a major reason for that dissatisfaction is that over the years voters have been fed numerous lies by Democrats and the mainstream media to discredit the GOP.

Flash Floods Inundate Central Europe

Heavy downpours on Saturday caused rivers to overflow their banks and a dam to burst, submerging Bogatynia and other towns in the southwest corner of Poland and killing at least three people, Polish officials said on Sunday.

Food vs. Fuel – A Reversal by the World Bank

In a 180-degree turn from its previous position, the World Bank now says that spikes in grocery prices from 2007 to 2008 were not the fault of ethanol and other biofuels. The World Bank’s new report concludes exactly what Growth Energy has been saying for the last two years: the food-versus-fuel debate is myth.

Four States Get 10 Percent of Energy from Wind

Four U.S. states generated more than 10 percent of their in-state power production from wind energy in 2009, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Frank sets hearing on SEC FOIA flap

...he will hold a hearing on language in the recent financial re-regulation bill that gives the Securities and Exchange Commission new exemptions from the Freedom of Information Act.

Green living; Off the grid families pioneer sustainable energy lifestyles

Once on the fringe, about 750,000 off the grid American households pioneer green living by tapping sustainable energy from the wind, sun, and earth.

Huge ice island calves off Greenland glacier

An ice island four times the size of Manhattan broke off from one of Greenland's two main glaciers, scientists said on Friday, in the biggest such event in the Arctic in nearly 50 years.

Iran uses new machines to enrich uranium; IAEA

Iran has used a second set of centrifuge machines to enrich uranium to 20 percent purity at its Natanz facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said.

Is It Even Possible to Get the Entire World to Carbon Zero by 2050?

To avoid the worst effects of climate change, scientists say we must cut world-wide global warming emissions by at least 50 percent. The United States is currently the second largest contributor to these emissions—so we have a lot of cutting we need to do. Thankfully, the Union of Concerned Scientists found that we can cut U.S. heat-trapping emissions by at least 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050 and many of the technologies needed to make this happen already exist today.

McCain, Coburn release oversight report on wasteful stimulus projects

Michigan Oil Spill Caused By 5-Foot Tear In Pipeline

Oil that fouled a Michigan river system spewed from a rip less than five feet long in an Enbridge Inc pipeline, a company executive said on Saturday after crews extracted the ruptured piece.

Mining Michigan Part 2; Native Americans make the stand and bear the brunt

Why would the State refuse the gentle use of the land to its indigenous peoples but allow its destruction by a corporation known for environmental destruction and human rights abuses? Well, the answer of course, is profit. Profit has always trumped the treaties our government has made with Native Americans.

Moscow Smoke Pollution Worst In Eight Years

Air quality levels in Moscow tumbled to an eight-year low on Wednesday as the Russian capital was blanketed in thick smoke from forest and peat fires, said Moscow's state agency for monitoring air pollution.

A heatwave has engulfed central parts of European Russia since mid June, pushing temperatures to the highest levels since records began and sparking forest fires that have killed at least 48 people.

Oil Spills and Disasters

The following list includes major oil spills since 1967. The circumstances surrounding the spill, amount of oil spilled, and the attendant environmental damage is also given.

Platts Survey; OPEC Pumped 29.22 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Per Day in July

The 12-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) crude oil production output averaged 29.22 million barrels per day (b/d) in July, up 100,000 b/d from an estimated 29.12 million b/d in June, according to a just-released Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials and analysts.

Prayer and Health

Findings from a new international study of healing prayer suggest that prayer for another person's healing just might help -- especially if the one praying is physically near the person being prayed for.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 080910

Solar activity is expected to be very low. However, there is a chance for a C-class flare. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels, with an isolated active periodThe greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels today. CME was associated with the M1/2f flare  Quiet to unsettled levels are expected on day two (11 August) due to the expected arrival of a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream.

Researchers regenerate nerve connections after spinal injury

...a new approach has, for the first time, induced robust regeneration of nerve connections that control voluntary movement, showing the potential for new therapeutic approaches to paralysis and other motor function impairments and offering hope to sufferers.

Russian forest fires to exacerbate global warming - ecologists

High carbon dioxide emissions from forest fires raging across Central Russia could speed up the global warming process, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) ecologists said.

Study Examines Link between Executive Pay and Company Performance at 10 Top American Cities

Research released by BDO examined the link between executive pay and company performance in 10 cities across the US. Surprisingly, the CEOs of companies with the best performance – expressed by total shareholder return year-over-year – did not necessarily receive the highest pay increases.

Texas To Break Power Use Record Again Due To Heat

After setting an all-time electric use record on Wednesday, the Texas power grid operator forecast that milestone would fall Thursday afternoon as consumers continue to crank up their air conditioners to escape the sweltering heat.

US Personal Income and Spending Hold Steady in June

Want Grass-Fed Meat to Replace Factory Farming? There's One Important Thing You Need to Do

Everything at the ranch seemed as it should be according to Mother Nature."  

Everything, it turns out, except the bottom line

Will We Find the 'Black Swan' of Clean Energy?

This is a unique time in history for energy inventors and entrepreneurs. As the need for clean, scalable sources of energy becomes more important, investors are looking for unique "Black Swan" technologies that could revolutionize the sector. The trouble is, they're not exactly easy to find (or create)

Zen and the art of saving the planet

He has set up an eco-friendly village and is a best-selling author. Tomorrow, this green crusader will fill the Hammersmith Apollo with fans. But Thich Nhat Hanh is no rock star – he's a Zen master.

August 6, 2010

3-day Solar-Geophysical Forecast issued Aug 04

chance for an isolated C-class flare...Activity is forecast to increase to active to minor storm levels with a chance for major storm levels beginning midday on 05 August due to the expected arrival of a CME associated with a large filament disappearance on 01 August. Activity is expected to decrease to unsettled to minor storm levels on day 2 (06 August) as the CME passage continues. A further decrease to quiet to unsettled levels is expected on day 3 (07 August).

Are Our Oceans Dying?

Phytoplankton has declined 40% in 60 years as figures reveal Earth has been getting hotter since the Eighties

Bisphenol A Linked With Decreased Sperm Quality, Quantity

In one of the first human studies of its kind, researchers have found that urinary concentrations of the controversial chemical Bisphenol A, or BPA, may be related to decreased sperm quality and sperm concentration.

BPA mimics the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects, say critics of the chemical.

BPA is most commonly used to make plastics and epoxy resins used to line food and beverage cans, and people are exposed primarily through diet...

Bold Gestures and Small Changes

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), 39% of US energy consumption can be attributed to residential and commercial buildings. With more than a third of our energy resources gobbled up by structures large and small, it makes sense to employ stricter building guidelines so that our future homes and offices can be more energy—and economically—efficient. The question is—can we start small or should we aim big?

BP Completes Cementing Macondo Oil Well From Top

BP completed a cement plug at the top of its Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico, sealing off the source of millions of gallons of oil spewed into the sea after a drilling rig exploded in April.

BP gusher stopped, most remaining oil degrading naturally

The study concludes that the vast majority of the oil from the BP oil spill has either evaporated or been burned, skimmed, recovered from the wellhead or dispersed much of which is in the process of being degraded. A significant amount of this is the direct result of what the report terms the robust federal response efforts.

Chinese missile could shift Pacific power balance

Nothing projects U.S. global air and sea power more vividly than supercarriers. Bristling with fighter jets that can reach deep into even landlocked trouble zones, America's virtually invincible carrier fleet has long enforced its dominance of the high seas.

China may soon put an end to that.

Chinese super-buses glide over traffic

The Straddling Bus...Say what you will about China, but this is a country that knows how to get things done. It has no choice – its hand is being forced by its massive and rapidly urbanizing population.

Climate Models and Warming

Climate models use various methods to simulate the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice. All climate models take account of incoming energy as short wave electromagnetic radiation, chiefly visible and short wave infrared, as well as outgoing energy as long wave infrared electromagnetic radiation from the earth. Any imbalance results in a change in temperature.

Coal companies to form opposition to anti-coal incumbents with political group

An email recently published from a company official at International Coal Group indicates some coal companies may have plans to form a group to "defeat anti-coal incumbents" in the upcoming election.

College to be first 'grid positive'

A California college says it is set to become the nation's only grid-positive college, producing more energy from its own on-site solar power than it uses.

Congressional Members Intensify Hydraulic Fracking Probe

Members of Congress sought records on Monday from 10 oil and gas producers about the safety of their hydraulic fracturing methods. The controversial, but rapidly growing, means of extracting natural gas has been implicated in a growing number of water pollution cases.

Dangerous Heat and Severe Weather. Solar Flare and Tropical Storm Colin

Excessive heat warnings and advisories are in place across much of lower and mid Mississippi river valleys and into the Tennessee valley. Expect heat indices to range from 110 to 115 degrees. It’s not out of the question to see isolated areas approaching 120°heat index. It will also be hot and humid across the southeast and Mid-Atlantic States today prompting heat advisories to be posted throughout these regions.

Dissecting the U.S. Wind Market

California Doing business in the U.S. wind market is a tumultuous affair. After a number of years of high growth, the wind industry is facing a down year, partly due to the lack of consistent policy. As wind professionals watch the space with uncertainty, it's more important than ever to have a grasp on the many moving parts behind the market's expansion and retraction.

Ecuador Agrees to Keep Amazon Eco-Treasure Free of Oil Drilling

The first of its kind in the world, the deal signed Tuesday in Quito leaves an estimated 846 million barrels of crude oil in the ground beneath Yasuni National Park in exchange for payments to the government of Ecuador in compensation for foregone revenue.

EPA Announces $16 M In Brownfields Funds To Clean Up Communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced more than $16 M in supplemental funding for cleanup efforts at contaminated sites known as brownfields...Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

EPA Obtains Changes To West Virginia Coal Mine Permit To Significantly Protect Water And Environment

The key changes include reductions to stream impacts, protection of water quality through a strict conductivity level, enhanced mitigation and restoration, and reduction of cumulative impacts. EPA also reached an agreement with the company related to sequencing of valley fill construction

EPA Takes Penalty Actions Against 10 Wastewater Treatment Plants For Clean Water Act Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it has recently filed administrative penalty complaints against 10 publicly owned wastewater treatment plants (POTWs) operated by nine municipalities in Pennsylvania for failing to comply with the Clean Water Act.

Final Kill of BP Oil Well Within Reach

The "static kill" procedure begun yesterday to prepare for sealing BP's blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico has been successful, according to the company and National Incident Commander retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen.

Five Solar Myths You Should Not Believe

Myth #1: Solar is only good in warm climates.

Myth #2: You still need fossil fuel energy as a backup even after you install solar panels.

Myth #3: Going solar means going without modern conveniences.

Myth #4: Solar power is not ready for mass consumption.

Myth #5: Making solar panels takes more energy than it could ever produce.

Hawaii ideal for ocean-based renewable energy plants

The Earth’s oceans are continually heated by the sun, creating a temperature difference between deep and shallow water. This temperature difference contains a vast amount of solar energy, which can potentially be harnessed to generate electricity. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), involves placing a heat engine between warm water collected at the ocean’s surface and cold water pumped from the deep ocean.

Judge Restores Federal Protection for Northern Rockies Wolves

A federal judge today ruled that gray wolves in Montana and Idaho must be granted the same protections under the U.S. Endangered Species Act as apply to gray wolves in Wyoming.

La Niña conditions are expected to strengthen and last through the Northern Hemisphere winter 2010-11

Nearly all models predict La Niña to continue through early 2011. However, there is disagreement among the models over the eventual strength of La Niña.

Looking Beyond the Climate Bill Disaster

In the wake of the acknowledged failure of the global climate talks in Copenhagen last December, the outlook for a meaningful global climate-change agreement and price on carbon is grim indeed.

Missouri vote puts health care back in crosshairs

Missouri voters' overwhelming opposition to requiring nearly all Americans to buy health insurance puts one of the least popular parts of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law back in the political crosshairs.

NASA Langley Campaign To Improve Air Quality Monitoring By Satellites

The campaign will employ NASA aircraft to make a series of flights, with scientific instruments on board to measure gaseous and particulate pollution, beginning in 2011.

Natural Gas Use Falls But Renaissance Is in the Pipeline

Widespread economic contraction in 2009 caused the largest recorded annual decline in global natural gas consumption: a 2.1 percent drop to 103.8 trillion cubic feet (tcf). Gas consumption fell even more than coal and oil use did, reflecting the fact that energy consumption in North America and Europe—the largest gas consumers—fell sharply in response to the recession...

Nearly 3/4 of BP spill oil gone from Gulf

Nearly three-fourths of oil from the BP spill is gone from the Gulf of Mexico, with 26 percent remaining as a sheen or tarballs, buried in sediment or washed ashore, U.S. scientists said on Wednesday.

Nickel and selenium could be used for cheaper, more efficient solar cells

In two just-released studies, scientists have announced new ways of making solar cells less expensive and more efficient. In one of the projects, researchers from the University of Toronto demonstrated that nickel can work just as well as gold for electrical contacts in colloidal quantum dot solar cells. In the other, a team from California’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory added selenium to zinc oxide, dramatically increasing the oxide’s efficiency in absorbing solar light.

NOAA; Impact of spill to linger for decades

A top government scientist says the impact of the Gulf oil spill on wildlife is likely to linger for decades.

NREL Solar Technology Will Warm Air at 'Home'

Although having fresh air inside a building always is desirable, drawing fresh air into a building on a crisp winter day can mean huge amounts of energy is required to heat that air to make it feel comfortable. In fact, 13 percent of the energy used in the U.S. goes to heating residential and commercial buildings.

Air Collectors Are Simple, Elegant Solutions

NRG cuts spending on nuclear plants until federal loan guarantee is in place

Petraeus issues new directive for troops in Afghanistan

"We must continue -- indeed, redouble -- our efforts to reduce the loss of innocent civilian life to an absolute minimum," the directive states in part. "Every Afghan civilian death diminishes our cause. If we use excessive force or operate contrary to our counterinsurgency principles, tactical victories may prove to be strategic setbacks."

Policymakers recognise peak oil threat, now they need to deal with it

Most officals in both Europe and the UK still believe peak oil is a problem the markets will solve.  That's a dangerous game to play with our energy supplies, says Lionel Badal.

Rebalancing the World's Energy Portfolio

The U.S. has taken a shortsighted approach to "financing" our energy future for decades. We are rapidly depleting our energy capital of oil, gas and coal at greater rates each year, and giving very little thought to the long-term (20-50+ years) consequences.

Rocky Flats Nuclear Site Too Hot for Public Access, Citizens Warn

Citizens who are critical of the federal government's cleanup at the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons site say they found breathable plutonium in soil samples taken near the shuttered plant.

Sewage-cleaning device produces electricity, too

The units would be populated with Shewanella oneidensis, one of several types of bacteria that can break down organic matter in sewage, producing electrons and protons. If the sewage is placed between electrodes with the bacteria present, this process can be harnessed to generate an electrical current.

Social Security to pay out more in 2010 than it takes in

Social Security intake from tax revenue will fall below program costs this year. In annual reports on the fiscal health of Social Security and Medicare, Obama administration cites 'work left to do.'

Texas Defies EPA on Regulation of Greenhouse Gases

Texas officials warned U.S. EPA this week they won't change or reinterpret their air pollution laws to comply with federal greenhouse gas regulations, arguing that the Obama administration's climate rules are illegal.

The Coming Catastrophe;  State Governments

As Congress reconvenes next week to pass a $26 billion bailout of state and local governments entombed in their own deficits, we witness a foretaste of the crisis that will be the central event of the first half of next year: the collapse of state governments.

Third Round of Climate Talks Begin in Bonn

The third round of UN climate change negotiations this year kicked off on Monday with representatives from 178 governments meeting in Bonn, Germany.

Top 5 Social Security Myths (sic)

...some powerful people keep spreading lies about the program to scare people into accepting benefit cut

U.S. researchers claim solar enegy advance

Scientists say a new process utilizing both the light and heat of solar radiation could double the efficiency of electricity-generating solar panels.

Unilever Stalks its Customers with GPS Trackers Secretly Placed in Laundry Detergent Boxes

The household cleaning product giant Unilever has secretly placed GPS tracker transmitters in laundry detergent boxes to track consumers to their homes. With an array of electronic sensors, team of Unilever agents can now pinpoint the exact location of the GPS trackers and walk right up to your front door.

US ISM Non-manufacturing Index Shows Service Sector Expanded in July

The ISM non-manufacturing index indicated that the sector grew for the seventh consecutive month with the pace of expansion unexpectedly increasing, as shown by the index rising to 54.3 in July from 53.8 (a reading above 50 indicates the sector is generally expanding).  Market expectations going into today’s report were for a slight decline to 53.0. The employment sub-index moved into expansionary territory for only the second time in 32 months, rising to 50.9 from 49.7 in the previous month.

Whats in your city’s water?

Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained from state water officials.

More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present in any amount.

Who's Running The Ship? What's The End Game?

On August 5th, Senate Democrats dropped $1.5 billion of stimulus funding for renewable energy and electric transmission loan guarantees to help offset a $26 billion state aid bill that is set for a floor vote today

August 3, 2010

2010 Green Scissors Campaign Seeks to Cut Federal Budget for Biofuels, Agriculture, and Other Areas

Green Scissors 2010 targets four major areas for budget cuts: energy, agriculture and biofuels, infrastructure, and public lands.

ACC requires 22% energy-use cut by 2020

State regulators approved rules Tuesday requiring utilities to cut their customers' annual energy use by at least 22 percent by 2020 -- among the highest such standards in the nation.

The Arizona Corporation Commission approved the rules unanimously, despite objections from utilities including Tucson Electric Power Co. that the goal will be hard -- if not impossible -- to reach.

Alberta Hides Dirty Truth as US Demands Tar Sands Facts

In recent weeks a number of well-informed U.S. Congressmen along with the Environmental Protection Agency have been asking some uncomfortable questions about a large metallic snake connected to the tar sands, Canada's largest single growing source of extreme climate-warming gases

America Loves Living Off The Grid

The idea of living "off the grid" has wide appeal in America, where "rugged individualism" seems genetically implanted in "the people." Who doesn't want to cut the umbilical cord to the oil, gas and electric utility? Who doesn't want people to just leave them alone?

Billions Wasted in Mexico Pushing Failed U.S. Drug War Tactics

A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) makes painfully clear that the U.S. is wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on the drug war in Mexico, with little oversight, instead of investing in proven strategies to reduce drug demand and weaken Mexico's powerful drug cartels.

Boeing Sugar Volt looks to the skies in the year 2035

Although the theme of AirVenture 2010 was "Salute to Veterans," the future of air travel was also brought to the fore – and that means electric airplanes.

BP aims to plug gulf oil well for good with two-pronged 'kill' shot

Concealed weapons permits, applications skyrocketing

Donna Jankowski loads the clips of her compact Springfield Armory 9mm during practice at the Ocala Sportsman Association range in Silver Springs Shores on Wednesday July 28, 2010. Up until a year ago, Donna had never shot a firearm. Because of crime she said joined the range learned how to shoot and has really enjoyed the experience.

Dead Zone as Big as Massachusetts Along Coast of Louisiana and Texas, Scientists Say

The annual summertime dead zone caused by low oxygen levels in water along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline this year is twice as big as last year's, stretching 7,722 square miles across Louisiana's coast well into Texan waters, scientists with the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium announced Monday.

Duke won't build near sacred site

Duke Energy won't build an electrical station near a sacred Cherokee Indian mound, possibly ending a months-long conflict in the N.C. mountains.

EPA Rejects Claims of Flawed Climate Science

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today denied 10 petitions challenging its 2009 determination that climate change is real, is occurring due to emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities, and threatens human health and the environment.

Ethanol subsidy renewal in doubt

The sultry days of July in the nation's capital haven't been kind to Iowa's biofuels industry.

The ethanol industry is fracturing and under attack inside and outside the Capitol.

Floods Stir Anger At Pakistan Government Response

Islamist charities, some with suspected ties to militants, stepped in on Monday to provide aid for Pakistanis hit by the worst flooding in memory, piling pressure on a government criticized for its response to the disaster that has so far killed more than 1,000 people.

Garbage Islands Threaten China's Three Gorges Dam

Thousands of tons of garbage washed down by recent torrential rain are threatening to jam the locks of China's massive Three Gorges Dam, and is in places so thick people can stand on it, state media said on Monday.

GM increases production capacity of Chevy Volt by 50 percent

The auto-maker has now announced it will increase U.S. production capacity of its “extended range electric vehicle” by 50 percent, from 30,000 units to 45,000 units, in 2012.

Gulf Of Mexico 'Dead Zone' Overlaps BP Spill Zone

This year's low-oxygen "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the largest ever, about the size of Massachusetts, and overlaps areas hit by oil from BP's broken Macondo well, Louisiana scientists report.

Gulf of Mexico Has Long Been a Sink of Pollution

Now that the oil on the surface appears to be dissipating, the notion of a recovery from the spill, repeated by politicians, strikes some here as short-sighted. The gulf had been suffering for decades before the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20.

Here comes the sun; Solar power's price is now within reach

2010 just might go down as the year solar energy gained mainstream acceptance.

International Ice Core Team Hits Bedrock in Greenland

Next to Antarctica, Greenland is home to the largest ice sheet on Earth. Scientists in the frigid north of this enormous island have achieved quite an accomplishment by drilling all the way to the bedrock under the ice.

Internet gets security upgrade

The organization that oversees the Internet's unique identifier naming system has joined forces with the U.S. Department of Commerce and secure infrastructure specialist Verisign Inc. to try and make our online lives a little safer.

Israel urges Abbas to restart peace talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday to restart peace talks with Israel, saying he hopes Abbas "will accede not only to my call, but to that of many in the international community."

Kamakura Troubled Company Index Shows Continued Improvement in Credit Quality in July

Kamakura Corporation announced Tuesday that the Kamakura index of troubled public companies improved again in July, falling 0.58% to 9.63%. The index has now improved in 13 of the past 15 months. Kamakura’s index had reached a recent peak of 24.3% in March, 2009

Kirkpatrick condemns Senate, calls on house leadership to restore border security funding

"Is it any wonder why Arizonans are so fed up with Washington on border security? This funding is critical to the planned security surge along the border. While we need far more manpower and resources than this plan would provide, it would be a first step in the right direction. Now instead of joining the House in increasing the commitment to better protect border communities, the Senate is actually standing in our way.

Net zero, infinite possibilities; Santa Rosa Beach home a green energy trailblazer

When it came to constructing their Santa Rosa Beach home, John and Shirley Leeper said no comfort or beauty was sacrificed to get to net-zero.

In fact, it was "a lot of fun."

New process that harnesses heat energy could double efficiency of solar cells

Researchers at Stanford University have come up with a way that could more than double the efficiency of existing solar cell technology and potentially reduce the costs of solar energy production enough for it to compete with oil as an energy source. Instead of relying solely on photons, the new process, called “photon enhanced thermionic emission,” or PETE, simultaneously combines the light and heat of solar radiation to generate electricity.

New research shows real government subsidies for clean and dirty power

New research shows real government subsidies for clean and dirty power

New startup uses Internet to predict the future

There’s no doubt that most people would like to know the future. It’s a desire that has kept palm readers, astrologists and tealeaf readers in business for hundreds of years. Now there’s a company called Recorded Future that says it can use information scoured from tens of thousands of websites, blogs and Twitter accounts to predict the future.

No RES in Energy Bill! As Reports Circulate, AWEA Puts Out All-Call for Action

AWEA responded with great concern to reports that a high-profile Senate energy bill being drafted will not contain a renewable electricity standard (RES).

NOAA; Past Decade Warmest on Record According to Scientists in 48 Countries

Earth has been growing warmer for more than fifty years

Nuclear Energy Loses Cost Advantage

Solar photovoltaic systems have long been painted as a clean way to generate electricity, but expensive compared with other alternatives to oil, like nuclear power. No longer. In a “historic crossover,” the costs of solar photovoltaic systems have declined to the point where they are lower than the rising projected costs of new nuclear plants, according to a paper published this month.

Pakistan Flood Toll Exceeds 1,500 as Officials Struggle to Reach Survivors

Pakistan’s deadliest floods in decades killed more than 1,500 people and overwhelmed government efforts to provide aid, officials and relief workers said.

Plutonium at nuke plant?

... plans to use mixed uranium-plutonium oxide, a processed version of weapons-grade plutonium, at TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Limestone County.

The goal of the program is to dispose of plutonium in ways that prevent it from being used in weapons. The nation has about seven tons of plutonium from the core of nuclear weapons that no longer are used for national defense.

Proposal supports ‘cultural genocide’

Almost 50 years after the termination era ended, a New York state legislator has reintroduced the idea with a recommendation to terminate the Unkechaug Nation.

Renewable Energy at the Tipping Point

No longer a mere suggestion of what might be, renewable energy is hitting a tipping point, with far-reaching implications. For the first time, understanding the scale and patterns of renewable energy development has become essential to any full analysis of trends that will shape the global energy economy and the health of the planet.

Renewable Power Users and Sources

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable as opposed to fossil fuels for example which once gone are gone. In 2008, about 19% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.2% from hydroelectricity.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 080210

Two B-class flares were observed, one of which was produced..chance for an isolated C-class flare..Geophysical Activity Forecast: Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on day 1 (03 August) due to the arrival of the first of two CMEs observed on 01 August..slight chance for major storm on days 2 - 3 (04 - 05 August) due to the arrival of the second slower CME

Russian Patriarch Prays For Rain As Wildfires Rage

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill asked Russians to pray for rain on Sunday as wildfires raged across the European parts of the vast country, sweltering since June in an unprecedented heat wave.

The hottest weather since records began 130 years ago has withered crops and pushed thousands of farmers to the verge of bankruptcy.

Surveillance; two rare glimpses into who's watching you, and how

If it hasn't become apparent to you yet, you are living in an age when your every online step is being monitored. The notion of communications privacy has been steamrolled in the interests of security, and the occasional tiny chance we get to peek back at the people who make it their business to watch us is truly frightening.

The Tea Parties and the Future of Liberty

Toyota Pushes Back U.S. Prius Production By Years

Toyota Motor Corp has pushed back plans to build its Prius in the United States by as much as six years, with a top executive saying U.S. production is likely to start only when the best-selling hybrid is remodeled.

U.S. military chief warns of attack option against Iran

America's top military chief has warned that the country has a plan to attack Iran.

While admitting that going to war could destabilise the Middle East, Admiral Mullen said the risk of allowing the Iranian regime's atomic ambitions to continue unchecked was unacceptable.

U.S. Regulators Lack Data on Health Risks of Most Chemicals

This summer, when Kellogg recalled 28 million boxes of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops and Honey Smacks, the company blamed elevated levels of a chemical in the packaging.

Dozens of consumers reported a strange taste and odor, and some complained of nausea and diarrhea. But Kellogg said a team of experts it hired determined that there was "no harmful material" in the products.

Federal regulators, who are charged with ensuring the safety of food and consumer products, are in the dark about the suspected chemical, 2-methylnaphthalene.

Urine eyed as possible power source

British researchers say they are looking at urine as a possible energy source for fuel cells that could power autonomous robots.

US House Approves Oil Spill Reform Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would impose new safety regulations on the offshore oil-drilling industry.

Using Biofuel Tax Credits to Achieve Energy and Environmental Policy Goals

The federal government supports the use of biofuels--transportation fuels produced mainly from renewable plant matter, such as corn--in the pursuit of national energy, environmental, and agricultural policy goals. Tax credits encourage the production and sale of biofuels in the United States, effectively lowering the private costs of producing biofuels, such as ethanol or biodiesel, relative to the costs of producing their substitutes--gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, federal mandates require the use of specified minimum amounts and types of biofuel each year through 2022. Together, the credits and mandates increase domestic supplies of energy and reduce U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases, albeit at a cost to taxpayers.

Veterans find some peace where the river runs deep

Far from the battlefield but still in pain, they seek refuge

Veto likely on bills blocking EPA regs

The coal-state proposals, which would block the Environmental Protection Agency's authority for two years, would undercut what is widely seen as Obama’s alternative climate policy, now that Congress has punted on cap-and-trade legislation for the year.

Water rights attorney addresses issue of local water rights

...issues surrounding claims by Native-Americans to approximately 4-5 times the actual availability of water in the Little Colorado Basin will likely take as much time if not longer once all of the different Congressional and State Legislative steps come into play.
     Native-Americans claim they have reserve rights to ground water in the Little Colorado Basin but there is some gray area in defining exactly what surface or ground water is and who has the rights to that water by law.

Wind Drives Growing Use of Batteries

On the cutting edge of a potential solution is Hawaii, where state officials want 70 percent of energy needs to be met by renewable sources like the wind