News 2010:

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World CO2 since 1750 (cubic feet)

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February 26, 2010

Another Honda Bombshell; 3R-C single-person electric concept

Honda has released the first details of its new 3R-C - a minimalist urban electric vehicle for one person.

Are you the next victim of suppression?

The fake food "safety" bills pending in the US Senate. There are two of them, and they are linked: S. 501 from Sen. Harkin's committee will criminalize the production of safe, local food, including your own garden, if it is chemical free, organic, and non-Codex compliant.  We have been warning that this was coming for several years.  We wish we had been wrong.  S.3002 from Sen. McCain will give the FDA what it has sought for 15 years: the legal ability to destroy your access to high potency supplements.

AWWA announces emergency preparedness publication for water, wastewater utilities

In the years following the September 11 terrorist attack, water and wastewater utilities have undergone many changes concerning security and emergency preparedness. All of these changes have been compiled, analyzed, simplified, and organized in this comprehensive new book.

Big Fuel Spill In Italy River Po May Be Deliberate

Thousands of tonnes of diesel and other fuel fouled Italy's longest river, the Po, on Thursday after pouring into a tributary from storage tanks in what authorities said could have been a deliberate act of pollution.

Bloom Box fuel cell system could provide clean power to your home, and your car

Bloom Energy has definitely generated some buzz this week with a story on 60 Minutes ahead of the official launch this Wednesday of the Bloom Box – an electricity generating fuel cell box designed to sit in the back yard and provide enough power to reliably, more cleanly and cheaply power a house.

Bloom Energy Unveils Fuel Cells To Power Buildings

Silicon Valley start-up Bloom Energy on Wednesday unveiled a new fuel cell technology that can power buildings, positioning the energy generators as an alternative to the electricity grid.

Questions, however, remain about the long-term adoption and viability of a technology that has been around for decades but has yet to see mass market commercial applications.

Bloom vs. Solar;  Which One Is Best?

Bloom Energy Thursday formally unveiled its energy server, an industrial-strength, solid-oxide fuel cell that can convert natural gas or other hydrocarbons into electricity pretty much on demand.

And in the process, the company has ignited a debate over which of the alternatives to coal, nuclear and centralized natural gas plants might be best. Can we answer it today?

Bottled Water Consumption Growth Slows

Nearly 200 billion liters of bottled water were consumed worldwide in 2008.  Although the figure was up more than 5 percent over 2007, it marks a decline in the growth rate over previous years, which saw annual gains of 6–10 percent.

China has 'No intention' of capping emissions

China has no intention of capping its greenhouse gas emissions even as authorities are committed to realizing the nation's target to reduce carbon intensity through new policies and measures, the country's top climate change negotiators said yesterday.

Climate change bill could still pass US Senate in 2010; Kerry

The US Senate's top negotiator on climate change said Tuesday that there was still tremendous momentum for passing a climate change bill this year, despite conventional wisdom that the Senate had lost its appetite for ambitious Democratic agenda items.

"I'm convinced this can be the year," Senator John Kerry said

Company has plan for small reactors

A San Diego defense contractor has come up with an early design for a compact commercial nuclear reactor that aims to generate power using the nation's stockpile of spent nuclear fuel and other nuclear waste.

Competition to build Alaska mega-pipe heats up

The success of a massive Alaska gas pipeline is believed to depend on the participation of all three North Slope producers, and yet the competition between them is only heating up.

Consumer loans, rebates, tax credits ease sting of green improvement costs

Inland cities and counties expect to spur thousands of energy-efficiency improvements by making more than $225 million available for loans to home and business owners.

Qualifying projects can range from mundane improvements, such as adding insulation to a drafty attic, to costly, as in installing a rooftop solar system.

DDT found in children from Mexico and Central America

Children from several Latin American countries have traces of the pesticide DDT in their blood, according to a study coordinated by the Pan American Health Organization.

Do you believe in global warming?

When it comes to climate change, some look at the facts presented and see a coming catastrophe, others see a hoax. This difference in interpretation, social scientists say, has more to do with each individual's existing outlook than the facts.

Energy Storage; Will We Find the Holy Grail?

We'd all like to see a world powered mostly by renewables. But is it possible? With the right planning, we can develop a lot of intermittent renewables without storage. At some point, however, we'll need both short-term and long-term storage technologies to help stabilize the grid.

Environmentalists say they're tired of being ignored by legislature

In one hearing room, legislators listened to report by a director of the Harvard Medical School warning that coal, from mining to moving to burning, is killing Kentuckians.

EPA Awards $7.8 Million in Grants to Combat Greenhouse Gases

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that 20 U.S. communities, including two Indian Tribes, will receive $7.8 million in grants for projects that will reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs). The funds will help Climate Showcase Communities increase energy efficiency, saving consumers money and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

EU Industry CO2 Fell 11 Percent In 2009; Analysts

Carbon dioxide emissions by companies regulated under the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme fell by 11 percent last year in the wake of the economic downturn, analysts said on Thursday.

EWG Study Finds Hundreds Of Pollutants In Nation's Tap Water

Tap water in many large metropolitan areas is polluted with a cocktail of chemical contaminants. These pollutants usually don't violate any legal standards, but they often come in potentially toxic combinations that raise serious questions about the long-term safety of drinking the water.

Examining water distribution system vulnerabilities

The vulnerability of our distribution systems to disruption and contamination by potential terrorist or malicious acts has been well documented....The most likely scenario for such an attack, in which the goal is to inflict mass casualties, is to orchestrate a simple backflow contamination event.

FACTBOX; Key Dates, Past And Future In Climate Debate

There's no guarantee Congress will be able to finish legislation this year, especially with time dwindling before November elections and other bills taking a higher priority.

Following are some key future dates to watch for

FDA Invades Non-Commercial Amish Farm in PA

In what used to be a free country, it seems the FDA even wants the Amish to stop drinking raw milk. In a total disregard for the process of due law, agents of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came onto the property of Amish farmer Dan Allgyer, without permission and past the "No Trespassing" sign, claiming to be conducting an investigation

Grizzly Bears Move In On Canadian Polar Bear Habitat

Grizzly bears are roaming into what has been traditionally thought of as polar bear habitat in the Canadian province of Manitoba, where they are officially listed as extirpated, new research has found.

Haiti At Risk for More Damaging Earthquakes This Year

Earthquake aftershocks are still being felt in the ruined city of Port-au-Prince - a 4.7 magnitude quake 20 miles away shook the city early Tuesday morning and another of the same magnitude was felt on Monday.

Israel's Holistic Approach to Water Security; First Stage -- Prevention

The September 11th tragedy stood as a wakeup call to many of our global security needs. It became compellingly clear that in order to sufficiently protect all aspects of our lives, we would have to develop corresponding security systems. The aftermath of the atrocities has left the water sector, in particular, extremely susceptible harm.

New Wind Potential Estimates for the US Based on AWS Truewind's windNavigator System

windNavigator, a seamless, high-resolution dataset developed by AWS Truewind, contains detailed wind resource data for points spaced 200 m (650 ft) apart throughout the US. It was created through a sophisticated weather modeling process and fine-tuned using observations from over 1600 wind monitoring stations around the country.

Nuclear Energy's Chances

While the nuclear industry has gotten a second wind, it is still getting sideswiped by opponents. As such, it may be too soon to pronounce its official revival. But the reality is that the energy source has earned bipartisan support. The Bush administration saw it as a way to increase the nation's energy independence while Obama's team mostly views it as a potential tool to combat climate change.

Nuke expert; 'Entergy is worst of worst'

A nuclear power expert who briefed state legislators on the operation of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant last week recommended they vote no Wednesday on continued operation of the plant.

Only Plastic Between Haiti Homeless And Storms

Seasonal rains and hurricanes spell trouble for Haiti in the best of times, but with hundreds of thousands of people living in flimsy makeshift shelters after last month's earthquake, this year the dangers are much greater.

Perennials, Wetland Plants Compared For Ability To Remove Harmful Nitrogen, Phosphorous

Rapid population growth and urbanization have raised concerns over stormwater runoff contamination. Studies on watersheds indicate that excess nutrients, specifically nitrate–nitrogen and soluble reactive phosphorus are found in stormwater runoff in many new urban areas.

Pickens says Alaska pipeline not needed due to shale gas boom

Veteran oilman turned ardent natural gas advocate T. Boone Pickens said Thursday that the development of shale gas plays in the lower-48 states means there is no need to build a pipeline to move gas from the North Slope of Alaska to the US.

Projects across USA turn landfill gas into energy

More communities are turning trash into power.

Nationwide, the number of landfill gas projects, which convert methane gas emitted from decomposing garbage into power, jumped from 399 in 2005 to 519 last year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Public Justice Joins Fight To Protect Citizens From Toxic Sewage Sludge

A "huge loophole" in environmental regulations and inadequate enforcement has left 37 Pennsylvania residents exposed to dangerous sewage sludge from neighboring farm fields in York County, said an attorney for Public Justice, which today joined two lawsuits on behalf of the residents.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 022510

...there will be a chance for C-class flares beginning on day 3 (28 February) Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during days 1 - 2 (26 - 27
February). Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels on day 3 (28 February) due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. The CME mentioned above is not expected to disturb the field during the period.

Report; Copenhagen Accord Pledges Fall Short of Climate Goals

Pledges by 60 countries to cut their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 10 years will not be sufficient to hold global temperature rises to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Response mixed to regulating offshore wind

Even in the chilly world of winter on the Outer Cape, talk of offshore wind turbines can generate some heat.

Running out of juice; Bay Area electric car dealerships

In 2007, Marc Korchin thought he had found his mission in life: To benefit the environment and save his fellow Bay Area residents money by selling zero-emission all-electric cars. Two years later, after burning through his life savings, he was forced to close his Berkeley dealership.

Secret Energy Turbine; rooftop wind power in stealth mode

Few people would argue that having a rooftop wind turbine could help offset your power bills. Your neighbors, however, might not appreciate the sight of a windmill on your roof, nor would they like the sound of its blades whistling through the air. Don’t give up on the idea yet, though, because British inventor Rupert Sweet-Escott has come up with a product that he claims addresses those problems.

Senator McCain Files New Bill That Attacks Your Access to Supplements and Repeals Key Sections of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act

McCain’s bill would wipe out even the minimal protections contained in DSHEA. It would give the FDA full discretion and power to compile a discreet list of supplements allowed to remain on the market while banning all others.

Solar Leaders Warn of Consequences for Arizona's Renewable Energy Industry if HB 2701 is Passed into Law

HB 2701 proposes to replace the existing Renewable Energy Standard (RES) in Arizona with one that would allow utilities to use existing nuclear and hydroelectric power to meet the RES requirements, eliminate distributed generation requirements within the bill and eliminate any interim requirements between now and 2025.

Solar to gain the most into 2011

The use of solar energy in the electric power sector of the United States will grow by 50% from this year into next, according to the latest Short Term Energy Outlook by the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy.

Solar Water Heating Gets Hot in 2010

"Right now, solar water heating systems are not widely used by North American businesses," said Guice. "However, new regulations and legislation in California, Hawaii and other states, combined with changing economics, mean that trend may change this year."

South Carolina To Sue Government Over Nuclear Waste Decision

"South Carolina has a vested interest in insuring that the Yucca Mountain licensing proceedings continue, so that the spent fuel and other nuclear material now being temporarily stored in our state will be safely placed in the Yucca Mountain repository, as mandated by the United States Congress," McMaster said in a statement.

Speaking Health Truth Carries Jail Time in the US

The FDA and FTC, engaging in their on-going criminal collusions to kill yet another safe and effective technology which people might want to use instead of drugs...

State may shut down five coal-fired power plants

The state will install more pollution controls, eliminate coal use or possibly shut down five coal-fired heating plants, the Wisconsin Department of Administration announced Friday.

The Language of Bees

Bees communicate their floral findings in order to recruit other worker bees of the hive to forage in the same area. There are two main hypotheses to explain how foragers recruit other workers; the "waggle dance" theory and the "odor plume" theory.

Total to invest $20 billion in Nigeria over next five years

"Total has proven reserves in Nigeria's deepwater offshore of 3.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent since discoveries in 2000 and it is the fourth largest oil company in Nigeria," Musa said on the sidelines of an industry conference in Abuja.

U.N. Says Emissions Vows Not Enough To Avoid Rise Of 2 Degrees C

Emission cuts pledges made by 60 countries will not be enough to keep the average global temperature rise at 2 degrees Celsius or less, modeling released on Tuesday by the United Nations says.

U.S. Stands Out For Climate-Change Skepticism

Many Americans are skeptical about global warming and that makes it harder to get a bill through Congress.

"My personal leanings are that it's more cyclical than a permanent trend," said Jimmy Pritchard, a Southern Baptist pastor in a Dallas suburb.

"And I think It's a little presumptuous to put so many resources and energy into something that may change direction in the next few years."

U.S. Utilities Spent $5.3 Billion on Energy Efficiency Programs in 2009

U.S. utility spending on energy efficiency programs reached $5.3 billion, including $4.4 billion for electric energy efficiency programs and $930 million for natural gas programs.

Urban 'Green' Spaces May Contribute To Global Warming, UCI Study Finds

Dispelling the notion that urban "green" spaces help counteract greenhouse gas emissions, new research has found – in Southern California at least – that total emissions might be lower if lawns did not exist.

US gas prices volatile despite good supply, light demand; S&P

Increased production of natural gas from US shale plays and continued light industrial demand may not be enough to ensure stable gas prices, David Lundberg, Standard & Poor's corporate rating director, said on Tuesday.

US lends US$1.4bn for CSP

The three-plant Ivanpah Solar Complex will be located on federally-owned land in the Mojave Desert in southeastern California, near the Nevada border, and could be the world's largest operational concentrated solar power complex.

Utah lawmakers seeking to seize federal land

The proposals from GOP Reps. Chris Herrod of Provo and Ken Sumsion of American Fork seek to use eminent domain to take federal land, with rich coal in the Kaiparowits Plateau inside the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument being among the targets.

Waste_Inbox 022510

On TV these days, trash is a smash. And that can't help but be good for business and the image of the waste industry.

World Warming Unhindered By Cold Spells; Scientists

The pace of global warming continues unabated, scientists said on Thursday, despite images of Europe crippled by a deep freeze and parts of the United States blasted by blizzards....

"January, according to satellite (data), was the hottest January we've ever seen," said Nicholls of Monash University's School of Geography and Environmental Science in Melbourne.

Yankee restarts pipe excavation

Groundwater at Yankee wasn't being monitored for tritium until 2007, when wells were drilled in accordance with guidelines established by the Nuclear Energy Institute following tritium leaks at other nuclear power plants.

February 23, 2010

Advocates envision Texas as solar power leader

The sun could rival the wind as a clean power source in Texas' near future, if the state gets serious about tapping the potential of pollution-free solar energy.

Brighter, whiter clouds could fight global warming

Scientists in the US have been cloud-spotting over shipping lanes and have noticed something more interesting than teddy-bear shapes and faces. They have detected that rising steam from passing ships has caused brightening in the clouds which they theorize alters the reflectivity of the cloud and prevents the energy from reaching the Earth. They propose that if this could be achieved artificially via geoengineering it could be an effective defense against global warming.

Company fined $10 million for 2007 oil spill in S.F. Bay

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston has levied a $10 million fine against the company responsible for the Cosco Busan oil spill in the Bay of San Francisco in November 2007.

Confidence in Scientists Dropping as Result of 'Climategate'

American opinion polls point to a general deterioration in people's faith in science, according to Dr Ralph Cicerone, president of the National Academy of Sciences.

It came after two major public relations setbacks for the global warming gurus.

Could toxins from plantation trees be causing cancer?

A local medical doctor, a marine ecologist, and oyster farmers are raising an alarm that a nearby monoculture plantation of Eucalyptus nitens may be poisoning local water reserves, leading to rare cancers and high oyster mortality in Tasmania. However, the toxin is not from pesticides, as originally expected, but appears to originate from the trees themselves.

"The toxin is actually coming from the monoculture trees...

Engine maker to pay $2.1M penalty, recall 405 engines

Cummins Inc., an engine maker, will pay a $2.1 million penalty and recall 405 engines through a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.

EPA Unveils Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has released an action plan to guide the Obama Administration's historic efforts to restore the Great Lakes.

Gold nanoparticles turn light into electrical current

Turning sunlight into electrical power is all but a new problem, but recent advancements made by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have given a new twist to the subject. While not currently aimed at solar panel technology, their research has uncovered a way to turn optical radiation into electrical current that could lead to self-powering molecular circuits and efficient data storage.

Homeowners go green now, pay later

Putting solar or other green upgrades on homes and businesses is getting less painful in more cities that are rapidly launching programs to enable owners to pay back upfront costs over years.

The programs let property owners borrow money for upgrades, then pay it back over up to 20 years as a special assessment on property tax bills.

Ice Shelves on Antarctic Peninsula Melting Away, USGS Reports

Ice shelves are retreating in the southern section of the Antarctic Peninsula due to climate change, the U.S. Geological Survey announced today in a new report. "This could result in glacier retreat and sea-level rise if warming continues, threatening coastal communities and low-lying islands worldwide," warns the federal government's largest water, earth, biological science and civilian mapping agency.

Invasive Biofuel Crops an Overlooked Danger

The risk that biofuel crops will become invasive and outcompete native species is increasing as more advanced biofuel crops are planted, according to new research into this previously neglected but potentially costly problem.

Key Senator Sees No Quick Move On Climate Bill

Senator Max Baucus, whose committee oversees aspects of climate control legislation, said on Monday there did not appear to be momentum yet for passing a bill.

Senator suggests truce in California's water fight

Senator Dianne Feinstein, who angered environmentalists, fishing groups and other Democratic lawmakers by proposing to divert more water to California's farmers, said on Friday she was working to avoid controversial legislation.

Feinstein's plan would ease Endangered Species Act restrictions to allow more water to be pumped out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta for growers in the state's Central Valley.

Sterling Water And NMSU Revolutionize Desalination

The zero-emission technology can convert saltwater to pure drinking water on a round-the-clock basis – and its energy needs are so low existing solar technology or even the waste heat of an air conditioning system could power it.

Study ranks Kansas 2nd in nation for wind power

For years, Gov. Mark Parkinson has been telling anyone who would listen that Kansas has the third-largest potential in the nation for generating wind power.

Now, he'll have to rewrite his speech.

Kansas is now No. 2 for wind potential, according to data released Friday by the Department of Energy.

Study Shows How Viruses Changed Human Evolution

Italian scientists said on Friday they had found evidence of how viruses helped change the course of human evolution and said their discovery could help in the design of better drugs and vaccines.

They found more than 400 different mutations in 139 genes that play a role in people's risk of catching viruses -- a finding that may also help explain why some people sail through flu season unscathed while others seem to catch every bug around.

Texas Drought Officially Over, Northern Drought Persists

One of the worst droughts in Texas history has officially ended..."The drought began in fall 2007, as an unusually wet year for Texas suddenly turned dry," he said. "The lack of rainfall led to the first drought impacts in late fall and winter of 2007-2008."

The Spanish Presidency; a new window of opportunity for Photovoltaics

In January 2010, Spain assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union,...A new 2010-2014 Energy Action Plan for Europe will be adopted under the Spanish command, envisaging the necessary actions to accelerate the move towards a low carbon economy...

Top Scientists Affirm Consensus on Global Warming

A panel of eminent U.S. and European scientists has confirmed the widespread scientific consensus that the Earth's climate is warming due to human activities, but said they and their colleagues should have responded more quickly and effectively to news of an error in a major climate report and hacked researcher e-mails.

U.S. turns to Sweden as model in nuclear waste storage

If the United States is at a loss over what to do about nuclear waste, it may be time to check out the Swedish model.

Understanding The Secrets Of Water On A Surface

It may seem a harmless question to ask how molecules of water arrange themselves to cover a surface, but the answer has big consequences.

Warning; Consumer Products May Be Harmful to Your Health

Let's face it: The current system for overseeing chemicals used in consumer products is broken.

Last year, Congress banned lead in children's products. But recently, we learned that some manufacturers that phased lead out of children's jewelry are using cadmium, another brain toxin that's a carcinogen to boot. How can we prevent the next chemical crisis from threatening our health and contributing to rising health costs?

Water Users Settle Lawsuits Over Delta Power Plants

The settlement provides for increased monitoring of the aquatic impacts of power plant operations and a specified timeframe to complete consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the impacts of power plant operations on endangered and threatened fish, including the delta smelt.

February 19, 2010

Aspartame has been Renamed and is Now Being Marketed as a Natural Sweetener

Artificial sweeteners especially aspartame has gotten a bad wrap over the years, most likely due to studies showing they cause cancer. But not to worry Ajinomoto the company that makes Aspartme has changed the name to AminoSweet. It has the same toxic ingredients but a nice new sounding name.

Austin Texas IRS plane crash

On a Thursday morning (February 18, 2010) A. Jospeh Stack III posted the following suicide “rant” to a website owned by him that was for his software company Embedded Art. The site has since been taken down by the FBI, but the suicide rant has spread across the internet.

California Legislature Passes Bill to Raise Solar Net Metering Cap

Today the California State Assembly passed AB 510, a bill to raise the cap on a key solar policy called "net metering." Net metering is a simple billing arrangement that allows solar customers to get fair retail credit for the excess electricity their systems generate during daytime hours. Having passed the Senate last week, the bill now only needs the Governor's signature to become law.

Canada's Permafrost Retreats Amid Warming Trend

The permanently frozen ground known as permafrost is retreating northward in the area around Canada's James Bay, a sign of a decades-long regional warming trend, a climate scientist said on Wednesday.

When permafrost melts, it can liberate the powerful greenhouse gas methane that is locked in the frozen soil. The amount of methane contained in permafrost around James Bay is slight compared to the vast stores of the chemical found in ancient, deep permafrost in the Yukon, Alaska and Siberia.

Changing the China Clean-Tech Tone to Cooperative Instead of Combative

Maybe I've been naively won over by the spirit of the Olympics, but the overall U.S. approach to China and anything clean tech or job related needs to change from combative to cooperative. Politicians and pundits alike are seething over a series of perceived U.S. government missteps with respect to foreign companies receiving stimulus funds. But this is only the latest in a misguided American drumbeat toward clean-tech protectionism on one end, and cold-war era zero-sum thinking on the other.

Cherokee Congress foe to retire

Prominent African-American Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., has announced that she’ll retire at the end of this Congress. Watson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, is well-known in Indian country for offering a bill to terminate the Cherokee Nation.

Children’s tantrums may be re-classed as psychiatric disorders

There is good news for Big Pharma.
Childhood temper tantrums, teenage irritability and binge eating may soon rate as psychiatric disorders in the US, according to proposed changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the bible of the psychiatric profession.

China to lead global wind energy development

There is good news in the wind for proponents of wind power. Wind turbine capacity has been increasing dramatically, and the unit cost of power generated by wind energy is expected to drop further. Much of this will continue to be credited to China’s efforts, according to a new report from the Global Intelligence Alliance.

Chlorine Dioxide (MMS) Proves To Be Effective Mouthwash

Its clinical efficacies on oral malodor have been evaluated and reported only in short duration trials,moreover, no clinical studies have investigated its microbiological efficacies on periodontal and malodorous bacteria.

Chocolate Reduces Risk Of Stroke

Health Freedom Alliance has showed you the benefits of eating chocolate before but we feel a new study to be presented at American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd annual meeting deserves publication.
The analysis, which involved a review of three prior studies, suggests eating about a bar of chocolate a week can help cut the risk of stroke and lower the risk of death after a stroke.

Cleaner, cheaper fuel from orange peels and newspaper

While it may not quite be the Mr. Fusion energy reactor Doc Brown uses to convert household scraps into power for his time-traveling DeLorean, scientists have found a way to turn discarded fruit peels, newspapers and other waste products into cheap fuel to power the world’s vehicles.

Clean-Tech Jobs

Clean Edge's new clean-tech jobs map highlights the regional and sector diversity of the transition to a clean-tech economy. The map is the latest addition to Clean Edge Jobs

Climate Catastrophe; Surviving the 21st Century

"The catastrophic impacts of climate change are not only going to take place in the distant future. They are taking place now."

The climate, energy, and political catastrophe we are facing is mind-boggling and frightening.   Yet there is still time to save ourselves, to move beyond psychological denial, despair, or false optimism. There is still hope if we are willing to confront the hydra-headed monsters that block our path, and move ahead with a decisive plan of action.

Company, firm plan commercial-scale biodiesel plant

A biodiesel company and a chemical firm are planning a commercial-scale plant to produce biodiesel from paper-industry waste, algae oil and used frying oil in addition to more expensive, traditional feedstock.

Don't call coal ash hazardous waste, Manchin asks EPA

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin is cautioning the Obama administration against "jumping to classify coal ash" as a hazardous waste, siding with power companies who are opposed to the action being considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Economics of Taller Wind Towers

The wind power industry is growing with the trend towards taller towers and larger turbine capacity. Over the past 20 years, the wind energy turbine tower has grown from 40 meters to 90 meters with turbine sizes reaching 2.5 MW. As we progress into the 21st century, the 4.0-MW and 8.0-MW turbine is on the horizon along with towers exceeding 100 meters in height.

Ecuador's Biodiverse Paradise Could Still Be Lost to Oil

Ecuador's innovative plan to keep some 850 million barrels of oil underground and avoid nearly 410 million tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide was heralded as a first step forward for the planetary protection of megadiverse areas.

Energizing Defense Contractors

Defense contractors aren't exactly shooting for the stars. But they are aiming for a greater share of the ever-changing energy business. Their scientific and technical expertise coupled with their well capitalized businesses is giving them an inside track into the world of intelligent utilities, green energy and emissions reductions.

Engine Emissions

Most people are familiar with automobile air emissions. Perhaps one day there will only be electric cars and no car air emissions. But there are many on other engines in use by commercial and industrial operations that may cause air emissions.

FAO Sees Demand, Biofuels, Oil Fuelling Food Prices

Resumed demand for agricultural commodities for food and energy use and higher input costs on the back of rising oil prices may fuel a new food price surge, the United Nations' food agency said on Thursday.

Final Rule Reduces Air Toxics from Existing Stationary Diesel Engines

To meet the emissions requirements, owners and operators of the largest of the engines will need to install emissions controls, such as catalysts, to engine exhaust systems. Emergency engines covered by this rule need to comply with operating requirements that will limit emissions.

Frantic Warning Given Before Blast At Middletown Plant

Minutes before a deadly power plant explosion in Middletown, an employee monitoring natural gas levels discovered a dangerously high concentration and broadcast a frantic radio message urging workers to evacuate.

The warning came too late for five men who were killed and the dozens who were injured...

Grass-Fed Organic Cows Enrich Soil, Improve the Environment, and Make Better Meat

Cattle, particularly cows, have been the target of many environmental groups that believe raising animals for food is contributing to climate change and causing environmental harm. While true about the vast majority of American livestock that are raised using feedlots, pastured animals that are rotated among fields actually help to improve environmental conditions.

How the USDA Came to Adopt the Organic Standards

The USDA rolled out its first proposal for national organic standards in late 1997 and within weeks the verdict was decisive: universal repudiation, to put it mildly. The Department typically received scores, maybe a few hundred public comments on its draft regulations. The torrent of comment on the organic standards poured in by the thousands per day and ultimately exceeded 275,000 with maybe 4 having anything complimentary to say. A realist by nature, USDA Secretary Dan Glickman found religion ...

Iran Accused of Trying to Halt Afghanistan's Salma Dam

Tehran has again been accused of attempting to stop work on an Indian-funded dam project in western Afghanistan, which would reduce the flow of river water into Iran.

Is the biofuel bubble bursting?

Following a production boom from 2000-2008, biofuel is now leaving the R&D stage entering the commercial realm – something that could prune the biofuel company landscape. Lux Research looks into how to make biofuel companies successful.

Kansas companies look ahead to wind energy

The wind energy industry in Kansas is already providing work to 54 companies in the state, and more than 100 others are gearing up to get into the action, according to a new survey.

Out of 200 companies responding to the survey, 27 percent said they already had work in wind energy, and the rest said they were planning or preparing to get some of the work as wind energy develops in the state.

Kyoto Risks Dying, No New Climate Deal In Sight

Efforts to extend the Kyoto climate pact framework risk collapse in a setback to years of diplomatic bargains, as chances fade that the United States will join other rich nations in capping emissions.

Lobsters are dying in Bay of Fundy

Fishermen are furious a pesticide normally used for agriculture ended up in the Bay of Fundy and may have contributed to the death of hundreds of lobsters.

NRC; Tritium guides not enough

Following reports of leaks at nuclear power plants, the NRC created a special task force in 2006 to conduct a lessons-learned review of these incidents, said Jaczko.

The task force made more than two dozen recommendations and many of those have been incorporated in the guidance the NRC provides to plants, he said

Oil Firms Drop Group Lobbying For U.S. Climate Bill

BP and ConocoPhillips will drop out of a group lobbying for the U.S. climate bill as proposed legislation would hurt the motor fuel and natural gas industries, the companies said on Tuesday.

Power plant effort shuts down

Opponents to the Billerica Energy Center, a natural gas-burning power plant proposed for the Billerica/Tewksbury town lines, are breathing easier this month after investors abandoned the project.

S.C. gov, officials blast Obama on Yucca Mtn. decision

Gov. Mark Sanford, two U.S. congressman and other Republicans blasted President Barack Obama this morning for abandoning a plan to send highly radioactive nuclear waste to a disposal site in Nevada -- a move they said will leave the Palmetto State holding tons of high-level nuclear waste.

And if Obama doesn't reconsider the decision, they pledged to support a lawsuit to force the atomic waste disposal site in Nevada to open.

Snowbound dread next BGE bill

As conditions return to normal after historic back-to-back snowstorms, a not-so-gentle reminder of days spent watching television, surfing the Internet and warming by the space heater will be in the mail shortly.

Get ready for your next electric bill.

State of the Clean-Tech Union; Troubled Waters Ahead?

Much as Obama has failed to overcome Republican intransigence and create a ‘post-partisan’ atmosphere, so too have clean-tech advocates (including myself) failed to transform the political debate about clean energy.

Studies Reveal Why Drinking Water Wells Are Vulnerable To Contamination

All wells are not equally vulnerable to contamination because of differences in three factors: the general chemistry of the aquifer, groundwater age, and direct paths within aquifer systems that allow water and contaminants to reach a well.

More than 100 million people in the United States receive their drinking water from public groundwater systems, which can be vulnerable...

The Living Energy Universe, book review

With The Living Energy Universe, Gary Schwartz and Linda Russek explode the popular notion that science and spirituality are forever fated to be at odds. In fact, the University of Arizona scientists' model of Universal Living Memory is permanently reconfiguring both the scientific and spiritual landscape.

The Promise of Shale Gas

Advanced drilling and completion techniques are the critical means by which natural gas developers now hope to probe vast amounts of shale gas, considered by many to be able to fuel much of the country's electric generation for decades to come. But before that aspiration can be achieved, producers must solve the environmental complexities.

The Transition from Standard PV to AC Modules

We are entering the new age of PV systems and it is all about micro-inverters and ultimately, fully integrated PV modules that directly produce AC power.

U, V or W, What Kind of Recovery Can We Expect, and When

Delegates to the just-ended World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, found plenty of positive economic signs -- but not enough to keep them from wringing their hands. The consensus at the five-day gathering called for strong growth in emerging markets like China, India and Brazil, and poor growth in Japan and much of Europe, with the United States somewhere in between. The Forum's official statement called the global recovery "fragile."

U.S. Climate Data Reliable

A study by scientists from the U.S.'s National Climatic Data Center refutes claims from climate change skeptics that data from U.S. weather stations was seriously flawed and exaggerated the rate of temperature increases.

The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, says that U.S. weather stations may have actually slightly underestimated temperature increases.

U.S. Heating Oil Demand Hit By Conservation

A fresh wave of conservation efforts spurred by a government incentive may help to spark another drop in U.S. heating oil consumption and counter a decline in the number of homes switching from the fuel to natural gas.

UCS Factcheck

The overwhelming consensus of more than 1,250 authors and 2,000 scientific expert reviewers from the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as well as 18 American scientific associations, is that global warming is observably happening and a growing threat to our world.

Corporations, front groups, and climate deniers who oppose critical efforts to curb global warming are misleading the public and attacking climate science.

US Mortgage Rates Hover Near Record Lows

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.93 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 18, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 4.97 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.04 percent.

UN Climate Chief to Step Down

Yvo de Boer, the head of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat, has formally announced he'll be leaving the post this July. The decision is widely thought to come from de Boer's deep disappointment with the results of the Copenhagen climate talks, and the nonbinding Accord forged there.

US Federal Reserve Increased the Discount Rate by a Quarter Percentage Point

US railroads warn against GHG laws that would reduce coal use

The top lobbying group for US freight railroads on Thursday warned government policy makers against implementing greenhouse gas laws or regulations that would reduce the country's use of coal, saying such measures would hurt the economy and cost jobs.

The Association of American Railroads estimates the current proposals in Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency could cut the industry's rail revenue by as much $3 billion.

Wind on the Edge

In the past five years, some very inventive startup companies have made a technological leap creating unique urban wind systems that require no towers and fit in beautifully in urban and suburban settings.

Yemen's Water Crisis Eclipses Al Qaeda Threat

Yemeni water trader Mohammed al-Tawwa runs his diesel pumps day and night, but gets less and less from his well in Sanaa, which experts say could become the world's first capital city to run dry.

February 16, 2010

Airborne laser succeeds in first lethal intercept experiment

Laser guns have been a staple of science fiction for decades, but in reality their use is generally restricted to sighting, ranging and targeting applications. But that is all set to change. For the first time an airborne laser (ABL) weapon mounted aboard a modified Boeing 747 has shot down a ballistic missile launched from an at-sea mobile launch platform off the central California coast.

Alzheimer's breakthrough - diagnosis in minutes

Finland's VTT has developed a rapid image analysis method to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease in just a few minutes. The accuracy of the analysis is comparable to manual measurements made by skilled professionals, which are currently considered the most reliable method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The accurate and rapid analysis method is well suited for clinical use.

California leading charge to electric cars

Environmentally sensitive California is likely to be the national testing ground for electric cars, industry observers said.

Could we go green on the installment plan?

Rather than using the funds to pay for sidewalks, streets or other public infrastructure improvements the way an LID would, the Green District would help individuals mitigate the up-front costs of energy projects on their private homes.

Crude rises by over $1/b on weaker dollar and firmer equities

Crude futures were higher during morning trade as a weaker dollar and firmer equity markets helped support the crude complex, sources said.

Decline in fog threatens California's redwoods

A surprising new study finds that during the past century the frequency of fog along California's coast has declined by approximately three hours a day. .."As fog decreases, the mature redwoods along the coast are not likely to die outright, but there may be less recruitment of new trees; they will look elsewhere for water, high humidity and cooler temperatures,"

Despite Rain, California Still Fighting Over Water

Drastic cutbacks in irrigation supplies this year alone from both state and federal water projects have idled about 23,000 farm workers and 300,000 acres of cropland, according to University of California at Davis researchers.

"The unemployment rate is 40 percent in some valley towns and people are standing in bread lines," Feinstein said in a statement released through her office.

EU on track to meet 20% renewable energy target by 2020; EWEA

The EU is on track to meet or slightly exceed its target of generating 20% of primary energy production from renewables by 2020 according to an assessment of national forecast documents, the European Wind Energy Association said Tuesday.

Evidence of Rapid Sea Rise Found in Coastal Cave in Mediterranean

University of Iowa researchers said that studies of the mineral, calcite — deposited by sea water on the inside of a seaside cave, like rings on a bathtub — showed that roughly 81,000 years ago sea levels jumped by more than 6 feet a century during a warm period, and then dropped during a subsequent cooling cycle at a similar rate — 66 feet per 1,000 years. CO2 levels during that period were lower than they are today, but temperatures rose because the Earth’s orbit placed it in a position where it received more of the sun’s energy...

Federal stimulus funds jump-start state solar-financing program

What's likely to become the nation's largest solar loan program is in line for $16.5 million of stimulus funds, setting the stage for potentially hundreds of millions of dollars for small energy projects across California, including Santa Cruz County.

Four States And 43 California Localities Join Whistleblower To Sue Formosa Plastics And JM Eagle For Inferior PVC Pipe Used In Water And Sewer Systems

The "qui tam" (whistleblower) lawsuit was unsealed earlier this week and announced today after the states and other government entities investigated the allegations and elected to intervene in the case, which is filed in federal district court in Los Angeles.

"The decisions by so many states, cities and water districts to join this case show just how serious these allegations are,"..

FutureGen's Restoration

A critical clean coal project could kick in early this year. FutureGen, which got its start in 2003 but which lost steam late in the Bush administration, purports to be a near zero-emissions power plant that seeks to capture and bury carbon dioxide.

Growing workers for a green economy

What exactly is the "green economy" and what kinds of jobs are a part of it?

A report released Thursday by the state's Department of Labor Center for Workforce Research and Information sets out to answer those and other questions amid what it describes as growing demand for renewable and efficient energy solutions.

Largest Companies Fall Short In Managing, Disclosing Water Scarcity Risks

Despite growing water-scarcity risks in many parts of the world, the vast majority of leading companies in water-intensive industries have weak management and disclosure of water-related risks and opportunities...

New bioactive nanomaterial enables humans to grow new cartilage

...researchers at Northwestern University are the first to design a bio-active nanomaterial that promotes the growth of new cartilage in vivo and without the use of expensive growth factors.

New Effort To Revive U.S. Biodiesel Credit

Senate leaders have dropped from a jobs creation bill a U.S. tax credit for biodiesel, creating uncertainty for biodiesel makers, who say they need the incentive to keep running.

New error in UN Climate report

A background note by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said a 2007 report wrongly stated that 55 percent of the country was below sea level since the figure included areas above sea level, prone to flooding along rivers.

Nubrella - the hands-free space helmet-like umbrella

The Nubrella wearable umbrella--There are, admittedly, several problems with traditional umbrellas. For one, the area of maximum coverage, the middle, is occupied by the pole. For two, they have a way of catching the wind and sometimes even popping.

Obama Administration Creates New National Climate Service

To meet a "rising tide" of millions of requests for information about climate change annually from both public and and private sectors, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke says he will create a Climate Service line office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA.

Power plant opponent fighting to the end

As recently as last spring, Kennon was determined to outlive plans for the plant, a 270-megawatt generator that opponents complained would belch pollution into the farming valley and put 80 coal and lime trucks on local roads every day.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 021510

Region 1048 (N21E50) produced a low-level C-class flare early in the period. Solar activity is expected to be low during the period with a chance for an isolated M-class flare from Region 1048.  ACE solar wind data indicated an interplanetary shock passage at approximately 15/1725Z. This was followed by a weak geomagnetic sudden impulse at 15/1832Z (02 nT, Boulder USGS magnetometer). The shock was likely associated with the M8/CME event of 12 February.

Smart meters coming, whether consumers want them or not

"It's just basically the privacy issues," he said. "I don't like anybody knowing when you're home, when you're not home."

Studies Reveal Why Drinking Water Wells Are Vulnerable To Contamination

All wells are not equally vulnerable to contamination because of differences in three factors: the general chemistry of the aquifer, groundwater age, and direct paths within aquifer systems that allow water and contaminants to reach a well.

More than 100 million people in the United States receive their drinking water from public groundwater systems...

U.S. To Offer 37 Million Offshore Acres For Oil Drilling

The U.S. Interior Department on Thursday issued the final terms for leasing almost 37 million acres in the central Gulf of Mexico to energy companies so they can drill for oil and natural gas.

The area to be leased may hold up to 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of gas, according to the department, which is also shortening the time that companies would have to develop the tracts.

February 12, 2010

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Dips Below 5 Percent Again

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.97 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 11, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 5.01 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.16 percent.

2010 US Water & Sewer Outlook is Stable

Despite concerns related to the current economy and longer-term industry-wide capital pressures, Fitch Ratings' outlook for the U.S. municipal water and sewer systems is stable.

A Battle Cry For The Nutrient Warriors

In July 2009, a group of more than 70 leading nutrient removal experts gathered at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, DC. The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) brought the group together for a workshop to assess the status of our battle to keep excessive nutrient levels from claiming the health of our natural water resources.

A clean energy gold rush

Of the 10 largest wind power companies in the world, the United States has one - General Electric. Of the world's 10 largest solar companies, we have two - First Solar and SunPower - but almost all their manufacturing is in Asia. Hydropower and geothermal companies are also located in the Far East.

Activists' appeal to put wind rules in spotlight

A new state law aimed at speeding up wind energy development will be tested for the first time today in an appeal before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

The central issue is whether the state Department of Environmental Protection relied on flawed studies and ignored evidence about the potential effects of noise generated by large wind turbines when the agency approved the proposed Rollins Wind Project in eastern Maine.

An Oil-Less Recovery Dims The Future For Oil

The world may lose its taste for oil long before oil itself runs out, if the trend in the West becomes global.

Demand for oil may well have peaked in the developed world, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday, postponing further any possible supply crunch. But emerging nations still want more, the IEA said.

Arctic Could be Ice-Free in future Summers

Are warming conditions in the Arctic unprecedented in Earth’s history? It turns out that they are not. The Earth’s climate has gone through warming and cooling times in the past as can be seen in the fossil record that shows tropical species in regions now too cool to support them.

Asian Carp Invade Lake Michigan

For the first time, genetic material from invasive Asian carp has been detected within Lake Michigan, scientists with the University of Notre Dame's Department of Biological Sciences reported Wednesday....

The fear is that the large, voracious fish could consume all the food in the Great Lakes ecosystem, potentially causing the lakes' lucrative fishing industry to collapse.

Auto Industry in Turmoil, but Chinese Production Surges

The year 2009 was one of deep crisis for large parts of the world’s automobile industry, with production and sales that plunged in many countries, factory closings, job loss, and a reshuffling of the leading producers.

Baltic Leaders Underline Pledges To Clean Up Sea

Regional political leaders on Wednesday underlined their commitment to clean up the Baltic Sea, which has been polluted for decades and is set to become a major oil and gas thoroughfare in the coming years.

Bernanke on Federal Reserve's Exit Strategy

The following testimony by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke before the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Biodiesel as an Alternate Fuel

Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil or animal fat based diesel fuel consisting of long chain alkyl is typically made by chemically these oils with an alcohol. Biodiesel is meant to be used in standard diesel engines and is thus distinct from the vegetable and waste oils used to fuel converted diesel engines. Biodiesel can be used alone, or blended with petrodiesel.

British Columbia Bans Mining, Drilling in Flathead River Valley

Mining and drilling for oil, gas and coal will be banned in the Canadian portion of the Flathead River Basin, under a new partnership with the state of Montana ...

Business coalition pushes solar energy in Texas

A business organization is pressing for the state government to expand its solar power goals to make Texas a national leader in solar energy.

Texas has the largest potential solar capacity of any state in the country but is tied with Wisconsin for ninth place in the use of solar power...

Carbonate Veins Reveal Chemistry Of Ancient Seawater

The chemical composition of our oceans is not constant but has varied significantly over geological time. In a study published this week in Science, researchers describe a novel method for reconstructing past ocean chemistry using calcium carbonate veins that precipitate from seawater-derived fluids in rocks beneath the seafloor.

Clean Diesel Technology Helps Meet Current And Any Future Ozone Clean Air Standards

"While the merits of reducing the allowable levels of ozone in the atmosphere are now under considerable debate, there is no debate about the progress and importance of clean diesel technology in meeting the nation's clean air goals," said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of DTF...

Climate Catastrophe; Surviving the 21st Century by Ronnie Cummins and Will Allen

"The catastrophic impacts of climate change are not only going to take place in the distant future. They are taking place now."

Commissioners voice opposition to transmission lines

Young County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to oppose a proposed transmission power line near the city of Graham.

Commissioners said they were not opposed to the line itself but did not want to see the line built near Graham...

Drilling may have caused Indonesia mud volcano

A team of scientists said in a report on Friday that they had found the strongest evidence yet linking a devastating mud volcano in Indonesia to drilling at a gas exploration well by local energy firm PT Lapindo Brantas.

East Coast utilities, railroads prepare for more snow

Officials from both companies said in recent days that while the snow has slowed deliveries, coal shipments were made to some mid-Atlantic utilities Monday. A Baltimore coal port owned by Consol Energy was expected to reopen Tuesday.

Ending Yucca nuke waste project will be costly, 'imprudent'; NWSC

Customers of nuclear utilities have already paid $33 billion, including interest, into a federal trust fund to bankroll the civilian nuclear waste program that the US Department of Energy now plans to end this fiscal year.

Energy Department pulls water applications for Yucca rail line

In what is the strongest sign to date that it will abandon the Yucca Mountain Project, the Department of Energy on Tuesday withdrew 116 water applications it had filed with the State Engineer for building a rail line to haul nuclear waste to the mountain from Caliente.

Energy-efficiency bill would give a $2,500 tax credit

Trade unions like it. Republicans like it. Democrats have signed on. It would put people to work. It would help the environment...

The bill would give Georgia residents up to a $2,500 state income tax credit for the purchase and installation of water-saving plumbing and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.

Environmental Exposure to Hairspray, Lipstick and Pollution Can Trigger Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease afflicting more than 2 million Americans.

The disorder causes your body's own immune system to attack your joints, leading to pain, deformities and a substantial loss of mobility.

Finding cause of fatal power plant blast may be 'slow'; official

It may be days before investigators can pinpoint the cause of Sunday's fatal explosion at a natural gas- and fuel oil-fired power plant that was under construction in Middletown, Connecticut, a deputy fire marshal on the scene said Tuesday.

"We still don't know what happened. It is going to be a slow methodical process.

Geothermal company ready to drill

Vulcan Power Co., a Bend-based geothermal energy company, expects to start construction on its first power plant within the year in Nevada.

Growth Spurt Expected

Stop the transmission lines. That's the decision by some major utilities, which reached their conclusion based on the fact that the demand for power has slowed and reduced the sense of urgency needed to get their projects built.

Habit-learning Device Could Reduce Energy Bills

Smart control units that learn householders' energy habits and provide immediate feedback on consumption could give home energy savings of up to 20% without compromising comfort.

How Far the Sun?

Scientists have long studied how variations in Earth's orbit relate to ice ages, cycles of glacier building and retreat, and even mass extinctions.

The idea that cyclical variations in Earth's orbit can cause major climate changes was first proposed by astrophysicist Milutin Milankovitch. The main variables are eccentricity, obliquity and precession.

How to Reduce the Fumes

A fresh coat of paint can change a room from dreary to divine. Stains, sealants, caulks, and adhesives help you build everything from a new bathroom to a bookcase. But all these useful products can also introduce unhealthy chemicals into your home and your body.

Ice truck enters VY with no inspection

Though spokesmen from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon said there was no danger to the plant's reactor building, a man who delivered a truckload of ice to the plant said he was astounded when he was waved through the front gate two weeks ago without being searched.

IEA sees oil demand gloom lifting, but more pain for refiners

The outlook for oil demand is becoming increasingly positive, but that is not likely to translate into good news for refiners for several months at least, according to the latest prognosis for world oil markets from the International Energy Agency.

Light and Power changes course on fly ash dumping

A plan to dump fly ash from the Lamar Re-powering Project in the municipal landfill has been scrapped after Thursday's meeting between representatives from Prowers County, the city of Lamar, Lamar Light and Power and area residents.

Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges; Start With Science

"Science is a cornerstone for sound decision making," said Marcia McNutt, USGS director. "Today's complex, interrelated natural resource issues — such as climate change, energy conservation and development, and water quality and availability — demand that policy makers and managers start with timely, unbiased science. The President's budget supports that vital perspective."

MIT Short Courses

Courses offered by MIT Professional Education - Short Programs are designed by MIT faculty to connect busy professionals in industry to late breaking knowledge at MIT. Certificates and CEUs granted.

Munro Helps EPA Forecast the Real Cost for Greener Engines

"Yes, we all want greener engines and less pollution, but we have to be sensitive to the costs or people just won't buy it," said Joe Feord, VP of Business Development at Munro & Associates. "The EPA wants to make real sure that they understand the real costs for new technology before they make any statements.

OPEC; Onward and upward

The gap between OPEC's official 24.845 million b/d target and what it's actually producing continues to widen. Platts estimates that actual output in January exceeded the target by more than 1.9 million b/d.

Project aims to convert grease into power

Grease and fat collected by local restaurants may soon be generating energy to power the city of Santa Barbara’s wastewater plant, potentially cutting down electricity costs and eliminating the need to truck the waste to distant facilities.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 021110

Region 1046 (N23E15) intensified during the period, producing a C1.1/sf flare at 11/1941Z, the largest event of the period. A well defined, recurrent, southern extension coronal hole is nearing 20E...there is a chance for an isolated M-class event during the
period (12-14 February).The geomagnetic field is expected to be unsettled on day 1 (12 February).

Saudi crude exports to US fall to 837,000 b/d in November; EIA

Late 2009, Saudi Arabia gave up its oil storage lease at the St Eustatius terminal in the Caribbean to Petrochina.

The transfer of a lease held by the Saudis since the mid-1990s looked like the latest indication of a diminishing commitment to the US market.

Shifting gas supply leads to higher prices in US West

A significant shift in natural gas supply sources and new pipeline capacity over the past two years reversed West-to-East price relationships beginning last summer -- a trend that analysts expect will continue this year.

Simplifying solar power installation

AC Solar Technology's Blue Leaf 210W AC module, which is essentially a small solar electrical system...

The Blue Leaf module essentially removes the direct current portion. It has no DC wiring or components and uses AC from the modules to the power grid, according to a company news release. It has a single AC line leading from the inverter on the back panel. It's like an extension cord, Harris said.

Solar anti-reflective coating system optimised

The solar anti-reflective coating system boosts light transmission of solar glass sheets by around 4%, leading to improvements in solar module efficiency.

State officials urge more renewable energy

Wisconsin state officials visited three local businesses Monday as a way to extol the virtues of Gov. Jim Doyle's "clean energy jobs" bill.

The proposal -- Senate Bill 450 and Assembly Bill 649 -- calls upon the state to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2025.

'Storage community' to AWEA; Thanks for nothing

One thing that kind of oozed out of a Houston meeting this week attended by some hard-core supporters of electricity storage: a certain animosity toward the American Wind Energy Association.

Storm Runoff And Sewage Treatment Outflow Contaminated With Household Pesticides

Pyrethroids, among the most widely-used home pesticides, are winding up in California rivers at levels toxic to some stream-dwellers, possibly endangering the food supply of fish and other aquatic animals, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Southern Illinois University (SIU).

The Government’s Continuing War on Raw Milk

When the current phase of a nearly century-long government campaign to convince American consumers to abandon raw milk launched in 2006, heavy-handed intimidation tactics were the order of the day.

The Tale of The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes, as well as other aquatic systems, have seen the accidental import of many invasive species. Some, as it turns out, are stronger than the native forms which dramatically changes local conditions and not always for the good.

TREXA announces pricing details for DIY electric car

“The only way to reduce cost of electric drive technology is through competition and innovation," says TREXA’s CEO, Seth Seaberg. If we are to make a real difference, there must be a groundswell of hundreds, even thousands of new companies competing to develop the clean transportation solutions of tomorrow

Tritium levels are unchanged

State health officials reported Monday that tritium levels at Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant monitoring wells remained comparable with testing reported during the weekend....

According to the health department, the concentrations of tritium -- a nuclear fusion by-product that occurs naturally in very low concentrations -- indicate more than one source is leaking the contaminated water into the ground.

U. geophysicist ready to try storing CO2 underground

No one knows whether injecting carbon dioxide underground will fix global climate change, but Brian McPherson is determined to discover if it's technologically feasible at test sites in central Utah.

And if carbon sequestration is possible, another big question is whether it will make any difference in reversing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

UK taskforce warns of 'peak oil' hitting UK economy by 2015

A UK industry group Wednesday warned of the dangers to the country's economy from peak oil, which it said could occur by 2015 with production plateauing at "less than" 95 million b/d.

Waste_Inbox 021110

The death and destruction in Haiti are beyond are comprehension. We say that, we know that, but it truly is.

Now the small Caribbean nation is dealing with tens of thousands of dead. But it also is dealing with a staggering amount of collapsed buildings, in part because the country couldn't afford to build or reinforce them as more earthquake-resistant. Communication, security, leadership -- they are all starkly absent because they weren't that strong to begin with.

February 9, 2010

‘How Fish Oil Unlocked My Autistic Son’

Maria’s son John Paul, was diagnosed as autistic when he was three, plunging his parents into a four-year nightmare. He had both a severe language disorder - unable to say more than two words - and learning disabilities which stopped him from communicating with the outside world. It was a casual chat with another mum from her son’s school which led to a new approach in helping John Paul.

2010 State of the Indian Nations presented

“I am pleased to report that the state of Indian nations is strong – and we are growing stronger every day. At the same time, we have much work to do, and now is the time to take action.

Americans See Environment as Alternative Fuel Source for Economic Growth

Americans are hopeful that the environment will help rescue the struggling economy, according to the results of the third-annual survey on environmental investing released by Allianz Global Investors.

Arctic climate changing faster than expected

Climate change is transforming the Arctic environment faster than expected and accelerating the disappearance of sea ice, scientists said on Friday in giving their early findings from the biggest-ever study of Canada's changing north.

The research project involved more than 370 scientists from 27 countries who collectively spent 15 months, starting in June 2007, aboard a research vessel above the Arctic Circle. It marked the first time a ship has stayed mobile in Canada's high Arctic for an entire winter.

Biodiversity loss matters, communication is crucial

Communicating why biodiversity loss matters for people is essential for reversing it.

The failed UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December could hardly have been a less promising prelude to the International Year of Biodiversity, which opened last month (January).

As with climate change, the threat of large-scale biodiversity loss — and the need for global political action to stop it — is growing every day.

Boulder smart grid costs blow up, PUC orders more transparency

Xcel Energy has begun charging customers across the state to recoup some of the skyrocketing costs the company has incurred building its smart grid project in Boulder.

Can the myth of clean coal become a reality?

A step beyond scrubbing power plant emissions of harmful chemicals, the clean coal projects are aimed at removing carbon dioxide -- a gas produced from the burning of fossil fuel and blamed in many scientific circles for global warming.

Cancer and pesticides; victims fight for justice

After long battles, three farmers in France have won legal claims that their cases of cancer and Parkinson's disease were caused by working with pesticides. Now they want to help others fight similar cases

Chemical Exposure Linked to Attention Deficit Disorder in Children

Scientists at Mount Sinai School of Medicine reported that mothers who had high levels of phthalates during their pregnancies were more likely to have children with poorer scores in the areas of attention, aggression and conduct.

China says water pollution double official figure

A new Chinese government survey of the country's environmental problems has shown water pollution levels in 2007 were more than twice the government's official estimate, largely because agricultural waste was ignored.

Coulomb Technologies gets funding for electric car charging stations

The director of the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" is now filming the sequel, "Revenge of the Electric Car." Just a hunch, but Tesla Motors could be cast as the dashing protagonist, while Better Place might be up for best supporting actor.

Countries Submit Emission Goals

The climate change accord reached at Copenhagen in December passed its first test on Monday after countries responsible for the bulk of climate-altering pollution formally submitted their emission reduction plans, meeting the agreement’s Jan. 31 deadline.

Crude futures higher on weak dollar not fundamentals; traders

Crude futures were higher during Tuesday morning trading with primary support coming from the euro-dollar trade, market sources said.

"Right now I don't see anything in terms of fundamentals that is really supporting crude..

Despite millions in tax credits, wind energy firms aren't hiring

Despite the Obama administration's efforts to create jobs making wind turbines in America, some companies say that sluggish demand for wind energy is holding them back.

Energy-generating sOccket soccer ball scores a goal in off-grid villages

What kid doesn’t like kicking around a soccer ball? Imagine if this fun activity could also provide enough energy to power something useful in a modest off-grid African village, like a reliable light to cook by or an emergency mobile phone.

EPA Announces New Support for Sustainable Communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced three steps to support communities’ efforts to provide their citizens’ with economic opportunity while reducing impacts on the environment.  The actions will encourage state and local government to make their communities more sustainable by strategically aligning their environmental, transportation and housing investments.

Federal investigators turned away from plant explosion site

"Around noontime [EST], the team went to the entrance and were turned away by the local police chief," Horowitz said. "He asserted it was a crime scene."

Five Dead in 'Blow Down' Explosion at Connecticut Gas Plant

The explosion sent a fireball higher than the stacks of the nearly completed Kleen Energy Systems power plant on River Road. Black smoke rose hundreds of feet into the air over the snow-covered ground. Now, the $1 billion, 620-megawatt power plant is just a shell.

Global oil prices to rise, weak refining to continue; Barclays

Global oil prices are set to strengthen while refining margins will remain weak over the next several years, Barclays Capital said in its Global Energy Outlook Monday.

Growing the Green Evolution

American energy policy is a bit stop and go. While it's now centered on going green, the signals coming from Washington are always yellow and continually making participants hesitant to commit to long-term projects.

Investigation Chief; Swine Flu Pandemic Was A Hoax

Council of Europe chair says pharmaceutical companies conspired with WHO to make vast profits from fake hysteria.

Loss Of Species Hits Economy; New U.N. Goals Needed

Losses of animal and plant species are an increasing economic threat and the world needs new goals for protecting nature after failing to achieve a 2010 U.N. target of slowing extinctions, experts said Friday.

Losses of biodiversity "have increasingly dangerous consequences for human well-being, even survival for some societies," according to a summary of a 90-nation U.N. backed conference in Norway from February 1-5.

More than 'China factor' behind coal spike

Cold weather and the approach of the Lunar New Year saw international seaborne coal prices spike in early January 2010.

The 'China factor' is a major contributor, but not the only cause. Exports from key producers are constrained, demand widespread, while India, China and Russia are suffering internal transport problems.

New wind power tops all other sources in 2009

Wind and solar technology made up over half of Europe’s new electricity generating capacity in 2009, as the number of new coal and nuclear facilities fell

Nuclear energy firms seek more than loan guarantees for revival

Raising the amount of federal loan guarantees available for new nuclear plants is just part of what the industry wants Congress to do to spur its revival.

Pew Environment Report Says Melting Arctic Could Cost $2.4 Trillion by 2050

The Pew Environment Group today released a report that for the first time quantifies the global cost of the Arctic’s declining ability to cool the climate, indicating that the rapid melting of the region could carry a minimum price tag of $2.4 trillion U.S. by 2050.

Poor Give Muted Backing To Copenhagen Climate Deal

A "Copenhagen Accord" for fighting climate change has won only half-hearted support from major emerging nations led by China and India, leaving question marks over a pact they agreed with the United States.

Power rates could go up 33%; New plant expected to reduce costs

Mississippi Power Company revealed late Thursday a glimpse of how building a $2.8-billion Kemper County lignite coal power plant would affect power bills in the state, including the Coast.

Report analyzes utilities

A newly-formed municipal utility, however, will likely have higher rates than existing municipal utilities because they will be saddled with higher levels of debt, according to the 61-page report.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 020810

Solar activity was moderate.  Region 1045 (N23W17) produced three M-class events in the last 24 hours.The largest event was a M4.. Solar activity is expected to be moderate with M-class flares likely. The geomagnetic field is expected to be predominantly unsettled with isolated active conditions for the next three days (09-11 February).  These conditions are forecast due to the recent CME activity.

Sanders Introduces Major Solar Energy Initiative

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate's green jobs subcommittee, today introduced legislation with nine cosponsors to encourage the installation of 10 million solar systems on the rooftops of homes and businesses over the next decade.

Saving money in York with geothermal energy

Geothermal heat pumps think they're in Florida in the winter and Alaska in the summer, according to Dave Yates, of F.W. Behler, a York plumbing, heating and air conditioning company.

The systems use the earth's steady temperature of about 55 degrees for heating and cooling, he said.

Solar Startup Teams Up With Battery Maker

The move seeks to solve a challenge faced by the emerging renewable energy sector: how to store electricity generated by wind and solar so that the clean power is available and reliable when the wind is not blowing or sun is not shining.

Tibet Temperatures Hit Record High In 2009

Temperatures in Tibet rose last year to the highest level since records began for the remote Himalayan region, which scientists say is particularly vulnerable to global warming, state media reported on Friday.

Transmission Strains

The strains to our transmission system have been evident for some time.

"The U.S. transmission system is under tremendous strain and only marginally stable," Wayne Brunetti, the former chief executive officer of Xcel Energy, observed in 2002. "It was designed as a regional system and has been forced to function as a national system, a function for which it was not designed and does not handle very well."

U.S. lagging in race for clean energy

...while the United States is making progress in what he called a clean-energy revolution, other countries are leaving us behind.

"We are moving forward, but they are racing," Sandalow said.

U.S.D.A. Plans to Drop Program to Trace Livestock

Faced with stiff resistance from ranchers and farmers, the Obama administration has decided to scrap a national program intended to help authorities quickly identify and track livestock in the event of an animal disease outbreak.

US Navy to halve fossil fuels by 2020

The US Navy is to halve its use of fossil fuels by 2020 among a number of clean energy measures across the armed forces flagged in a major defence review paper released this week. On the way to the 2020 target, the Navy plans to deploy a “green” strike group by 2016 which will operate entirely without fossil fuels.

US Payroll Employment Disappoints Yet Unemployment Rate Sank

Disappointingly, job declines continued into January falling 20,000 in the month with the drop in December deepened to 150,000 from the previously estimated 85,000 decline.

Utilities plan to make coal ash impoundments safer

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said 22 electric utilities have detailed their plans to make coal ash impoundments safer.

Water At Core Of Climate Change Impacts; Experts

The main impact of climate change will be on water supplies and the world needs to learn from past cooperation such as over the Indus or Mekong Rivers to help avert future conflicts, experts said on Sunday.

Desertification, flash floods, melting glaciers, heatwaves, cyclones or water-borne diseases such as cholera are among the impacts of global warming inextricably tied to water. And competition for supplies might cause conflicts.

White House budget would kill $38.8B in tax breaks for oil, gas and coal industry

The tax effort is sure to prompt outcry from industry groups, which have long argued that ending the subsidies will stymie investments in domestic energy production.

Why Small Organic Farming Is Indeed Radical (and Beautiful)

The radical idea behind by organic agriculture is a change in focus.  The new focus is on the quality of the crops grown and their suitability for human nutrition.  That is a change from the more common focus on growing as much quantity as possible and using whatever chemical techniques contribute to increasing that quantity.

Yucca Mountain seen as possible reprocessing site

A devastating blow last week to a plan to bury nuclear waste under Yucca Mountain has bolstered another controversial idea: reprocessing nuclear waste at the same location on the Nevada Test Site.

February 5, 2010

About 46,500 customers still have no electricity in Oklahoma

More than 5,000 utility customers still don't have electricity in Chickasha and Altus, department spokeswoman Michelann Ooten said in a news release. More than 4,000 are still without power in Lawton, and at least 2,000 customers have no electricity in Hobart, Marlow and Duncan.

As Climate Talks Stumble, U.N. Process in Question

A key deadline for countries to submit emission reduction goals to the United Nations as part of the recently negotiated Copenhagen Accord passed last Sunday. The U.N. received commitments from 55 nations, but 139 countries remain unsupportive of the political statement, leading the international body to push back the commitment deadline indefinitely

Bill aims to boost customer-generated electricity

Nebraska- State Sen. Arnie Stuthman's bill to raise the limit on customer-generated electricity has kindled discussion regarding agricultural based alternative energy options in the state.

Boardman coal-burning power plant may have a future after all; biomass

Portland General Electric has three options for its Boardman power plant: close it, stop burning coal there, or make costly upgrades to clean up emissions.

Clean Tech Sector Wants Long Term Support From Obama

Clean technology companies welcomed hundreds of millions of dollars for the sector in the Obama administration's proposed budget released on Monday, but called for more long-term support from the U.S. government for the emerging industry.

U.S. President Barack Obama's new budget includes nearly $2.4 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, an increase from $113 million in the previous budget.

Cocaine, Spices, and Hormones Now Being Found in Drinking Water

A University of Washington research team recently released the results of a study it conducted on contaminant residue in the waters of Puget Sound in Washington State. Various spices, flavorings and other substances are being identified as making their way out of water treatment plants and back into the world's water supply.

Crafting National Standards

Renewable energy is making a gradual presence in this country. But the key question facing U.S. lawmakers is whether to mandate broad portfolio standards or whether to continue giving the states the authority to determine such measures.

Crude lower as US Dollar Index hits 6-month high

Crude futures were lower in European morning trading Thursday, curtailing a three-day rally that saw the ICE Brent contract trade close to $77.00/barrel, as a stronger dollar and weaker equity markets helped push oil values below overnight settles.

CSP plant opens in Arizona

“Maricopa Solar represents a genuine breakthrough in solar energy and demonstrates that Dish Stirling solar power is now ready for commercial deployment in the US and around the world.

DOE warns of power supply shortfall in Philippines

The Department of Energy (DOE) has warned of a power supply shortfall in the country this year as the El Nino dry weather phenomenon threatens to pull down water levels, thus jeopardizing the availability of electricity especially in the Philippines' second biggest island.

Does Anyone in Washington Know What Needs to Be Done to Create Jobs?

This is a question that I often get as I speak to groups around the country. Based on the ADP monthly survey of employment, small- and medium-sized firms (less than 500 employees each) are the fount (or black hole, as of recent months) of jobs in the U.S. economy (see Chart 1). So, rather than asking Washington career politicians what it takes to create more jobs, why don’t we poll small businessmen and businesswomen?

El Niño is expected to continue at least into the Northern Hemisphere spring 2010

El Niño impacts are expected to last into the Northern Hemisphere spring, even as equatorial SST departures decrease, partly due to the typical warming that occurs between now and April/May

Environmental group; Uranium mines a threat

A proposal to mine uranium could contaminate drinking water from the Roanoke River, an environmental group warned Monday as it placed the river basin on a top 10 list of endangered areas in the South.

EPA Releases Electric Utility Plans to Improve Safety of Coal Ash Impoundments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released action plans developed by 22 electric utility facilities with coal ash impoundments, describing the measures the facilities are taking to make their impoundments safer.

Federal Council Links Wildlife Conservation, Hunting, But Conflicts Persist

Hunting and conservation are linked in the newly created Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council announced today in Washington by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer.

Geithner on Recovery and Job Creation

The U.S. economy is still in the midst of one of the most challenging periods in our nation's history. We have pulled back from the brink of financial collapse and a historic recession. The overall economy grew at an annual rate of 4 percent over the last six months of 2009, but millions of Americans remain out of work...

Genetically Modified Forest Planned for U.S. Southeast

International Paper and MeadWestvaco are planning to transform plantation forests of the southeastern U.S. by replacing native pine with genetically engineered eucalyptus

Glacier-Melting Debate Highlights Importance Of Satellites

The intense public debate on how rapidly the Himalayan glaciers are retreating highlights the necessity for the constant monitoring of glaciers worldwide by satellites.

Since glaciers are among the most reliable indicators of climate change and because they can have a major influence on water availability, knowledge of the recent changes and future behaviour is of great interest for climate scientists and governing bodies.

Global crude prices drift lower following Thursday's plunge

Global crude futures drifted lower in European morning trading Friday following Thursday's 5% plunge--the steepest one-day drop since July.

Green jobs lag behind training, some say

Training for green jobs in Michigan may be getting ahead of the job market, where environmentally friendly jobs are still scarce, various observers say.

"A training program doesn't create a job,"...

Green Power Goal To Add More Jobs, Study Suggests

A national mandate requiring utilities to generate 25 percent of power from sources such as wind and solar energy by 2025 will create three times more jobs than weaker measures Congress is considering, a study released by renewable energy advocates said on Thursday.

How to Feed the Billions

Sometime around 2050, there are going to be nine billion people roaming this planet two billion more than there are today. It's a safe bet that all those folks will want to eat. Still, not everyone's convinced that feeding nine billion people is a totally impossible task.

How Will Upcoming U.S. Rules Affect Biofuels?

U.S. environmental regulators are expected to issue new rules that could fine tune targets for alternative motor fuels like grain-based ethanol and advanced biofuels to be blended into the country's petroleum mix.

Iranian researchers invent nanoabsorbent to remove heavy metals from wastewater

Iranian researchers have synthesized a silica nanopore and modified its structure to absorb more heavy metals from industrial wastewaters.

Mortal Threat to Organics; GMO Seed Contamination

Biodiversity, already decaying fast as a result of climate change and intensive farming, is under further threat by genetic modification (GM) of seeds, says a leading German ecological activist.

Genetic modification of seeds is dangerous, "since it is at the beginning of the agricultural chain, and can spread all over," says Benedikt Haerlin...

Nein, danke for cap-and-trade

Carbon cap-and-trade started the year with somewhat of a dark aura, with President Barack Obama not even using the contentious phrase in his State of the Union address. He supports the market approach to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but he may have been wise to eschew the terminology, which has taken on some political toxicity. And a little news out of Europe this week couldn't help.
 

New England Coalition seeks to close VY

The New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution, which is opposed to the relicensing of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, is asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shut the plant down until the source of a leak of tritiated water can be found.

New Orleans trash entrepreneur subject of reality show

An hour-long pilot of the show featuring his company, "Trashmen," is scheduled to air at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on Feb. 11.

Nigeria oil output rises to 2.2 million b/d

Nigeria's oil production has risen to about 2.2 million b/d after an amnesty agreement with militants allowed the country to pump more oil, but inadequate funding for joint-venture projects remains an issue, oil minister Rilwanu Lukman was reported as saying January 29.

No nuclear repository, no waste fee collection; Georgia PSC

Georgia ratepayers should not have to pay into the Nuclear Waste Fund, given the Obama administration's planned termination of the Yucca Mountain repository project, the Georgia Public Service Commission said.

NRC Sends Special Inspection Team To Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Plant Near Columbia

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has dispatched a Special Inspection Team to the Westinghouse commercial nuclear fuel plant near Columbia, S.C., to review the circumstances associated with a Jan. 24 event involving a spill of about 200 gallons of wastewater containing ammonia and low levels of uranium.

NYC Finance Forum Turnout Shows Growing Interest in Geothermal Energy

The United States is the largest producer of geothermal energy in the world, but one theme cropping up across sectors of the industry is simply that more needs to be done. Upfront costs tend to be high, but support from federal agencies combined with a marked rise in development in recent years renders a situation increasingly appealing for investors interested in payoffs from this trusted baseload renewable energy resource.

Obama Advances Biofuels as U.S. Misses Production Targets

At the same time, the administration released the first report of the Biofuels Interagency Working Group showing that the country is falling short of biofuel production targets mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Obama Announces Steps to Boost Biofuels, Clean Coal

At a meeting with a bipartisan group of governors from around the country, the President laid out three measures that will work in concert to boost biofuels production and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. 

Ohio utility tests combinations of biofuels to power facility

Dayton Power and Light has started a pilot program testing different combinations of biofuels to determine if the renewable energy could someday power its coal-fired generation plant in Manchester, Ohio.

Overpowering light bills coming due after January's big chill

This year's string of unusually chilly days and nights has sent customers' residential electric bills soaring, sometimes doubling and tripling the average bills, power company officials say.

Oxford homeowners sell solar power to the grid

Think of solar panels on a home, and the first image to come to mind may be a log cabin far from the nearest power line.

Lowry and Marla Lomax's expansive, two-story colonial in one of Oxford's historic neighborhoods -- a literal stone's throw from the University of Mississippi campus -- doesn't quite fit the stereotype.

President Increases Ocean Renewable Funding $40 Million Sought for Clean Sustainable Ocean Renewables

President Obama's FY'2011 Budget proposal includes $40.5 million in funding for marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy-an increase of $10.5 million over the $30 million proposed by the President in FY'2010.

Renewable energy jobs and the future

The number of clean-energy jobs in the U.S. would more than double by 2025 if the nation adopts a plan to get 25% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, says a report backed by energy firms.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 020410

No spots have been reported. There is a coronal hole visible in the northeast sector of the disk.The geomagnetic field is expected to remain quiet for day 1 (5 February). An increase to unsettled with a slight chance for active conditions is expected on day 2 (6 February), and unsettled to active conditions with a slight chance for minor storming is expected on day 3 (07 February). The increase in activity is forecast due to possible effects from the CME observed on 02 February

Running barefoot lessens impact - but don't throw your shoes away just yet

New research has backed up the findings of another study we covered recently on Gizmag which found the average modern running shoe causes significant damage to the knees, hips and ankles compared to running barefoot. The new study found that people who run barefoot land on the ball or middle of the foot. This mitigates the potentially damaging impacts that can be equivalent to two or three times their body weight that shoe-wearing runners, who generally land on their heels, subject their bodies to.

Saudi Arabia to Use Sun, Not Oil, to Desalinize Its Water

Up to now, the more than 28 desalination plants scattered around the Kingdom have had to rely of fossil fuel, most notably fuel oil, to provide to power to run the equipment used to extract salt and other minerals from sea water.

Scant Arctic Ice Could Mean Summer 'Double Whammy'

Scant ice over the Arctic Sea this winter could mean a "double whammy" of powerful ice-melt next summer, a top U.S. climate scientist said on Thursday.

"It's not that the ice keeps melting, it's just not growing very fast," said Mark Serreze, director of the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Scientists Unite To Combat Water Scarcity; Solutions Yield More Crop Per Drop In Drylands

As rapidly increasing water scarcity threatens to aggravate the effects of climate change on agriculture in the dry areas of the Middle East and other developing countries, scientists launched this week an ambitious seven-country project, which offers new hope for farmers in the face of acute and growing water shortages.

Senior US Oil and Gas Executives Expect Increased Employment for Upstream Sector this Year

Half of U.S. oil and gas senior executives expect to increase employment this year and two-thirds believe that the recession burdening 2009 will end this year, according to Grant Thornton LLP’s eighth annual Survey of Upstream U.S. Energy Companies.

Solar brings jobs to Arizona

Amonix announced a solar manufacturing facility in Arizona creating 167 jobs this month; Tempe-based First Solar had earnings of US$1.4 billion in the first 9 months of 2009; and Suntech Power Holdings is expected to announce a solar manufacturing facility near Phoenix.

Solar glazing chases sun from dawn until dusk

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) or concentrating PV technologies aren't new, but the ability to concentrate and maximize the capture of energy by tracking sunlight from dawn to dusk is.

Stronger National Renewable Electricity Standard Needed for Significant Clean Energy Job Stability and Growth

CEOs representing America’s renewable energy industries announced a major new study showing that a 25% by 2025 national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) would support hundreds of thousands of new American jobs and prevent a near-term collapse in some industries.

The Hidden Life of Garbage

This is a short 19-minute documentary about recycling and waste in the U.S. based on the book of the same name by Heather Rogers. The film has great facts and a funny archive. It exposes the often magical (but false) feeling we get from 'helping the earth' by 'recycling' It also points out the real problems: over-production and industrial pollution.

Top Obama Administration Officials to Promote Sustainable Communities, Environmental Justice at Smart Growth Conference

“EPA, HUD and DOT are working together to rebuild our foundations for prosperity, a process that starts with rethinking the ways our communities grow,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “The interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities is working to give our communities what they need to grow and thrive with economic resilience and environmental sustainability.”

U.S. Households Struggle to Afford Food

Nationwide polling found 18.2 percent of households reported "food hardship" -- lacking money to buy enough food -- in 2009, according to the group. That is higher than the government's "food insecurity" rating of 14.6 percent of households, or 49 million people, for 2008

US gasoline crack spreads weaken, while Europe, Asia rise on supply tightness

Gasoline crack spreads in the US have diverged from European and Asian cracks in recent weeks, as high inventories and low demand have put downward pressure on the US. The rest of the world's gasoline markets are looking more bullish, with crack spreads in both Europe and Asia on the rise.

US Geothermal Industry Hits 3-GW in 2009

The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is reporting that geothermal energy supplies a total installed capacity of 3,152.72 MW to the United States, in states including Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

US Long-Term Mortgage Rates Remain Stable and Low

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS)in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.01 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 4, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 4.98 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.25 percent.

US senators introduce mercury, S02, NOx emissions bill

US senators Tom Carper, Democrat-Delaware, and Lamar Alexander, Republican-Tennessee, on Thursday introduced legislation to tighten limits on sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants nationwide starting in 2012 and require at least a 90% reduction in mercury emissions from coal- and oil-fired generation for the first time.

Waste_Inbox 020310

The Baltimore Sun reports that Baltimore County began single-stream recycling yesterday.

And the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that North Philadelphia yesterday launched the RecycleBank recycling awards program, and that program will expand to the rest of the city over the next few months.

While job numbers proliferate, is 196,000 a good one?

The consulting firm Navigant said Thursday that by its estimates there are 196,000 people in the US currently employed in the renewable electricity industry.

White House creates US clean coal taskforce

The task force is charged with developing a plan within 180 days on how CCS can be deployed nationwide within 10 years, with a goal of bringing five to 10 commercial demonstration projects online by 2016.

Winning Battles But Losing the War on Invasive Alien Species

Invasive alien species are one of the top three threats to the biodiversity of life on Earth, according to the first assessment report on invasives in 57 countries coordinated by the Global Invasive Species Programme, GISP.

World Future Energy Summit

The emirate of Abu Dhabi -- one of the world's leading oil and gas producers -- has its focus on the future. A post-oil future. Abu Dhabi has started to put into practice a bold commitment to renewable and sustainable technologies that will enable it to continue as an energy leader after oil has declined.

February 2, 2010

‘Indian country’ – more than just geography

A three-judge appellate panel in April 2009 upheld the EPA’s 2007 decision that HRI’s proposed in situ leach mine was inside “Indian country” as legally defined and therefore would be permitted and regulated by EPA and not the state, an assertion disputed by HRI.

A Super Solar Flare

...telegraph systems worldwide went haywire. Spark discharges shocked telegraph operators and set the telegraph paper on fire. Even when telegraphers disconnected the batteries powering the lines, aurora-induced electric currents in the wires still allowed messages to be transmitted.

"What Carrington saw was a white-light solar flare—a magnetic explosion on the sun,"

Algal power not so green after all, yet

Unlike maize, soya beans and oilseed rape (canola), algal farms don't take up valuable farmland, so algae-based biofuels don't threaten food supplies. However, Andres Clarens at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville has modelled the environmental impacts of algal farms and concludes that they require six times as much energy as growing land plants - and emit significantly more greenhouse gases

At Davos, a bit of talk about jobs, China, a climate bill

According to Duke Energy's Jim Rogers, the greenhouse gas conversation among world business leaders at Davos last week took a turn much like the one Congress and President Obama took this month: It's all about jobs.

Battle for the soul of organic dairy farmers goes on behind the scenes

There is a battle going on in the White House for the very soul of the organic dairy movement—and possibly over the future of small family-operated dairy farms—and you don’t even know it.

Belo Monte dam approved in Brazil's Amazon

Brazil's government has granted an environmental license for the construction of a controversial hydroelectric dam in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the Environment Minister said on Monday.

Beyond Potable; Global Water Group Introduces Next-Generation, Modular Desalination System

An advanced, modular desalination and water purification system – originally designed for the US Military and disaster relief – is now available for municipalities, industrial customers and other users, says Global Water Group, Inc., Dallas, TX-based manufacturer of advanced water processing systems.

Calera and Novacem use concrete to capture CO2

Concrete seems pretty inoffensive. It just looks like mud, and appears to do nothing except sit there and harden. The fact is, though, concrete is the world's third-largest source of man-made carbon dioxide. Its production process accounts for at least 5% of the CO2 our species pumps into the atmosphere annually. Apparently, however, it doesn't have to be that way.

Can nuclear waste be handled safely?

Can science and technology provide safe methods to handle the waste from nuclear power plants? That's the question a blue-ribbon panel convened by the Obama Administration Friday (Jan. 29) must answer within two years.

China, Germany join hands to build low-carbon town

Two well-known German green construction companies signed cooperation accords Friday with a local management department in eastern China's Jiangsu province to help build a 100,000-people low-carbon demonstration town on the southern bank of the Yangtze River.

China's Green Tech Revolution

Targeting mainland China with his energy-saving inventions, Peter Fung and executives like him have their eye on the hottest competitive advantage around: an ambitious government with deep pockets.

"State support is the thing that drives companies like us to seek our luck in China,"...

Clean Tech Sector Wants Long Term Support From Obama

Clean technology companies welcomed hundreds of millions of dollars for the sector in the Obama administration's proposed budget released on Monday, but called for more long-term support from the U.S. government for the emerging industry.

U.S. President Barack Obama's new budget includes nearly $2.4 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, an increase from $113 million in the previous budget.

Climate Change Linked to Bigger Waves off Pacific Northwest

The highest waves off the Pacific Northwest coast in any 100-year period could reach a maximum of 55 feet, at least 40 percent higher than estimates made as recently as 1996, according to scientists from an Oregon university and an Oregon government agency.

Could another Carrington Event destroy our economy?

Could another Carrington Event destroy the economy or worse, destroy civilization, as we know it today. The Carrington Event was nothing more than a solar flare that hit the Earth in 1859. It just happened to be the strongest solar flare to possibly ever hit the planet and the strongest seen and recorded.

Developer says wind power a Texas natural

Ian Hatton, the CEO and founding director of the company that wants to build a wind farm off South Padre Island, says he doesn't want to force anything down anyone's throat.

Disclosing Carbon Risks

The ultimate fate of carbon policies may be up in the air. But utilities and industrial enterprises are still under pressure to report their climate-related activities to investors.

Energy guru; Use efficiency, renewables, not nukes

Energy thinker Amory Lovins will speak at Salisbury's Catawba College on Feb. 23. Lovins is co-founder of Rocky Mountain Institute, a "think-and-do tank" that applies market-based solutions to efficient use of resources. Time magazine last year named him one of the world's 100 most influential people. He talked with energy and environment writer Bruce Henderson; comments are edited for clarity and brevity.

Energy reports compare you with neighbors

More than 1 million U.S. households now receive reports on how their energy consumption compares with their neighbors as utilities encourage conservation, some with smiley faces for those doing well.

EPA targets chemical often dumped in Chicago sewers

Alarmed by research linking chemicals used to make Scotchgard and Teflon to cancer, liver disease and other health problems, the federal government spent the last decade pressuring manufacturers to phase out the stain-resistant compounds.

But scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently discovered that a different industry — metal plating — is dumping high levels of the chemicals into sewers in Chicago and Cleveland, and likely is doing the same thing in scores of other cities.

EPA’s Budget Proposal Seeks Efficiencies, Increased Environmental Protection

“To meet our environmental challenges and ensure fiscal responsibility, we’re proposing targeted investments in core priorities.  This budget cuts spending while promoting clean air, land and water, growing the green economy and strengthening enforcement,” said Administrator Jackson.

For transmission planning, a job description and a half

One of the most interesting jobs available right now in Washington may be director of the Eastern Interconnection States Planning Council. Who will be interested? One of cynical bent might say: people inclined toward self-punishment.

Honda's next gen solar-powered hydrogen fuel cell station for home use

Honda has begun work on a smaller solar hydrogen station prototype intended for use as a home refueling appliance. Capable of an overnight refill of fuel cell electric vehicles it is designed to be a single, integrated unit that will fit in the user's garage.

Illinois 'clean coal' plants await their fate

The projects -- FutureGen and Taylorville Energy Center -- aspire to be among the most advanced, cleanest coal-fueled power plants in the world, proving that the nation's vast coal reserves can be put to use while sharply curtailing emissions of heat-trapping gases linked to global warming.

The projects rely on technologies that are more expensive and relatively untested ...

IMF Chief Proposes $100 Billion Annual Fund to Tackle Climate Change

The head of the International Monetary Fund today proposed to create a multi-billion dollar Green Fund that would provide the financing that countries need to cope with climate change and move to a low-carbon growth model.

Investigators Analyze Plastic Soup in World's Five Oceanic Gyres

Marine scientists set sail from Bermuda on Thursday to document the extent of plastic pollution in the North Atlantic Gyre, a swirling vortex of ocean currents in the northern Atlantic Ocean. The scientists and crew are aboard the 72-foot sloop Sea Dragon sailing across the Sargasso Sea to the Azores Islands.

Is Iron The Culprit In Algae Blooms? Study Probes Link

Australia's own distinctive red soils could play a part in the formation of the stinking swathes of blue-green algae often shovelled off east coast beaches in summer.

Kamakura Reports 9th Improvement in Corporate Credit Quality in Last 10 Months

Kamakura Corporation announced Tuesday that the Kamakura index of troubled public companies improved in January for the ninth time in the last ten months. The index declined from 11.07% in December to 10.23% in January.

Major Emitters Set Carbon Goals After Copenhagen

Fifty-five countries accounting for almost 80 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions have pledged varying goals for fighting climate change under a deadline in the "Copenhagen Accord," the United Nations said on Monday.

Neanderthal and Climate Change

Climate change, we're told, poses the single gravest threat to the survival of our species. This may have been one of the causes of the demise of the Neanderthal. Some evidence had suggested that they had survived in what is now called Spain or Iberia longer than other lands.

Obama Budget Drops Revenue Outlook For Carbon Trade

The White House on Monday dropped prospects for revenue from a climate cap-and-trade system opposed by many lawmakers, but its proposed budget still called for a "market-based" policy to fight climate change.

Obama Budget Seeks To End Oil, Gas Subsidies

The Obama administration on Monday asked Congress for a second time to end some $36.5 billion in subsidies for oil and gas companies, saying it would help fight global warming.

Obama would end nuclear waste project in fiscal 2011

"The administration has determined that Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is not a workable option for a nuclear waste repository and will discontinue the program to construct a repository at the mountain in 2010," the administration said in its fiscal 2011 budget proposal.

Obama's Challenges

With that comes the challenge of how to enact what he and his supporters have determined to be the country's greatest priorities. To that end, Obama has not forsaken the issues to which he got elected. Instead, he has chosen to extend a hand to Republicans and Independents and offer them a chance to influence the course of history.

Rethinking the politics of food

An alternative food politics means that we must begin by expanding the circle of decision-making and ensuring that multiple and varied voices are heard. This is not accomplished through symbolic events or publicity stunts. New stakeholders must participate at all levels from the local to the international…It is time for a new politics of food, one that starts from the bottom up not the top down.

Saudi crude exports to US fall to 837,000 b/d in November; EIA

Saudi Arabian crude exports to the United States fell to 837,000 b/d in November from 938,000 b/d in October, an apparent continuation of a trend that saw volumes from the kingdom dip to a 22-year low of 745,000 b/d last August, official US data released late Thursday show.

Study; Increasing Alternative Energy Will Bolster PA Economy

A new study released today shows that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could experience a financial windfall over the next 17 years as a result of increased clean energy development.

The Sea's Ups And Downs

The sea level in Israel has been rising and falling over the past 2,500 years, with a one-meter difference between the highest and lowest levels, most of the time below the present-day level. ... "Rises and falls in sea level over relatively short periods do not testify to a long-term trend. It is early yet to conclude from the short-term increases in sea level that this is a set course that will not take a change in direction," explains Dr. Sivan.

To Curb Climate Change, We Need to Protect Water

It is widely acknowledged that greenhouse gas emission-fueled climate change is having a profound and negative impact on fresh water systems around the world. Warmer weather causes more rapid evaporation of lakes and rivers, reduced snow and ice cover on open water systems, and melting glaciers.

What is less understood is that our collective abuse and displacement of fresh water is also a serious cause of climate change and global warming.

Today is World Wetlands Day

For more than 25 years, February 2nd has been designated as World Wetlands Day. Wetlands are under-appreciated in many areas. First we have to drain the swamps, is still a common approach to development in many areas. This approach, of course, is actually a bad idea, a very bad idea, since wetlands, besides being important to the species that live there, are important groundwater recharge areas.

US Mortgage Rates Flat This Week

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.98 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending January 28, 2010, down slightly from last week when it averaged 4.99 percent.  Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.10 percent. 

US president's call for new nuke reactors generates mixed reviews

US President Barack Obama's endorsement of nuclear power in his State of the Union address Wednesday generated predictable responses from the nuclear power industry and advocacy groups.

Will it be possible to feed nine billion people sustainably?

Sometime around 2050 researchers estimate that the global population will level-out at nine billion people, adding over two billion more people to the planet. Since, one billion of the world's population (more than one in seven) are currently going hungry—the largest number in all of history—scientists are struggling with how not only to feed those who are hungry today, but also the additional two billion that will soon grace our planet.

Wyoming Vulnerable to Water Scarcity as Planet Warms

Wyoming's water resources are vulnerable to climate change because Wyoming is a dry state, a headwaters state, and a state that relies on mountain snow as its main source of surface water, concludes a report by University of Wyoming scientists released today.

Yucca Mountain's Dead. Next? Expert Panel Examines Nuclear Waste Options

The U.S. Department of Energy announced today the formation of a blue ribbon commission to evaluate policy options for a safe, long-term solution to America' growing piles of spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants and high-level radioactive waste from U.S. defense programs.