News 2010:

Footnote:  We always attempt to get the news to you AND obey copyright laws.  We apologize if, in our haste to get the news out, we miss a notice that it was copyright protected. We are a non-profit foundation therefore  we do not reprint for profit.  Our sole motivation is to keep our public informed.  If you have an article reprinted here and desire us to eliminate it, just let us know and we will immediately delete it, without question, with apologies.  arizonaenergy on copyright law   FAIR USE NOTICE

*******************************************************

 

##

World CO2 since 1750 (cubic feet)

*******************************************************

May 28, 2010

Abandoned landfill owner ordered to remove scrap tires

The owner of an abandoned landfill in Ohio is being ordered to remove about 6,250 scrap tires, the state Environmental Protection Agency said.

BP says expects to restart top kill pumping overnight

BP looks to resume pumping overnight Thursday in its so-called "top kill" attempt to plug the leaking blowout preventer at its Macondo well in the US Gulf of Mexico, Doug Suttles, the company's exploration and production chief operating officer, told reporters

BP says tricky deep-sea oil plug plan on track

BP Plc said an ambitious deep-sea operation to choke off a gushing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico was proceeding as planned on Wednesday, while President Barack Obama cautioned Americans there was no guarantee it would work.

Chinese wind turbine manufacturer plans Dallas office, production facilities

Dallas has lured one of China's top wind turbine manufacturers to the Uptown area and a production facility somewhere in the city limits is very likely to follow, officials said Tuesday.

Coal advocates defend 'black jobs'

 "I have nothing against green jobs, have no idea what green jobs are, but we like our black jobs."

Coastal Birds Carry Toxic Ocean Metals Inland

A collaborative research team led by Queen's University biologists has found that potent metals like mercury and lead, ingested by Arctic seabirds feeding in the ocean, end up in the sediment of polar ponds.

Defend Climate Science

For centuries science has made the world better for all of us. It’s made our food, our air, and our water safer. It’s made our lives healthier, more productive, and efficient. Science has brought us many of the conveniences we take for granted in our day-to-day lives.

But recently, science, especially climate science, has become a political football.

Discovery May Lead To Safer Drinking Water, Cheaper Medicine

A discovery that may pave the way to helping reduce health hazards such as E. coli in water could also make chemicals and drugs such as insulin cheaper to produce and their production more environmentally friendly.

Dozens of UGI workers to go out with the coal

UGI's last coal-fired power plant in Northeastern Pennsylvania will go off line Friday, leaving nearly 40 employees out of work.

Earth in the Balance; 7 Crucial Tipping Points

Humans must stay within certain boundaries if they hope to avoid environmental catastrophe, a leading group of environmental scientists says. Crossing those limits may not rock the Earth itself, but would lead to harsh consequences for human existence on the planet as we know it.

Federal standard for renewable energy sought

The U.S. wind industry "is on the edge of explosive growth," but for that to become reality Congress must adopt a national standard calling for a specific percentage of electricity to come from wind power and other renewable sources, American Wind Energy Association Executive Director Denise Bode said today.

Global Floating Ice In 'Constant Retreat'; Study

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

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

Government Warns Of Worst Hurricane Season Since 2005

In its first forecast for the storm season that begins next Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast 14 to 23 named storms, with 8 to 14 developing into hurricanes, nearly matching 2005's record of 15.

Three to seven of those could be major Category 3 or above hurricanes, with winds of more than 110 miles per hour (177 km per hour)..

Government Workers Tasked With Gulf Oil Industry Oversight Accepted Gifts

Staffers in the the Lake Charles, Louisiana district office of the Minerals Management Service accepted sport event tickets, lunches, and other gifts from oil and gas production companies and used government computers to view pornography, finds a report by the Department of the Interior Inspector General released today.

Groundwater used for public supply contains contaminants, USGS study finds

More than 20 percent of untreated water samples from 932 public wells across the nation contained at least one contaminant at levels of potential health concern, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Gulf oil spill disaster; a closer look at the clean-up options

The Associated Press recently reported that BP has received over 10,000 suggestions for dealing with the disaster, and is looking into approximately 700. Many businesses have also taken this opportunity to promote their oil-spill-clean-up products, in hopes that they will be used in the Gulf. What follows is a look at some - but by no means all - of those products, and what they would supposedly do to the oil.

Gulf Oil Spill; NSF Awards Rapid Response Grant To Study Microbes' Natural Degradation Of Oil

The massive release of oil from the Deepwater Horizon incident on April 20, 2010, has led to an unprecedented use of oil dispersants, which include a mix of surfactant compounds designed to dissolve oil and to prevent slick formation

...Previous research has shown mixed effects, however, of these surfactants on degradation of oil. Little is known about the effects on the ability of microbes that live in the Gulf to naturally degrade the hydrocarbon compounds found in crude oil.

How Grazinglands Influence Greenhouse Gas

Grazinglands represent one of the largest land resources in the world, yet their role as net sinks or sources of greenhouse gases is essentially unknown. Previous research has emphasized the role of grazing management on the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide as soil organic carbon. However, there is a lack of information regarding how grazing management impacts the flux of two potent GHGs, nitrous oxide and methane.

Importance of transparency stressed to US nuclear waste panel

Though the administration is moving toward termination of the Yucca Mountain project, the US will eventually need a repository to dispose of radioactive waste even if spent reactor fuel is reprocessed and used to make new nuclear fuel.

Instability in Financial Markets Overseas Lowers US Mortgage Rates Here

Israel's Holistic Approach to Water Security; Protection and Detection

...many worldwide utilities and water companies have turned to Israel for its expertise in both water management capabilities and security tactics, in order to tackle the issues of water security

Jay Rockefeller proposes two-year halt to EPA rules on emissions

...moving Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., to accelerate his push for more definite action -- a proposed two-year hiatus for the EPA to regulate emissions at stationary sources as a safeguard for West Virginia's coal industry.

Which means a hands-off attitude to coal mining installations and power plants, provided the Rockefeller bill clears Congress.

Mediterranean Sea Getting Saltier, Hotter

The Western Mediterranean Sea is heating up and getting saltier, a new study finds.

Each year the temperature of the deep layer of the Western Mediterranean increases by 0.0036 degrees Fahrenheit (0.002 degrees Celsius), and its salt levels increase by 0.001 units of salinity, researchers monitoring the sea found. The change is consistent with the expected effects of global warming.

Millstone reactor restarted after unplanned shutdown

Millstone owner Dominion has fixed a malfunctioning valve in a steam generator at the Unit 2 reactor that led to an unexpected manual shutdown over the weekend.

More Than One-Third of Americans are Less Trusting of Financial Institutions Than a Year Ago

New Global Alliance Formed to Undercut Illegal Logging

To reduce trade in illegally harvested wood, a global initiative was launched today in Washington that brings together conservation groups, government agencies, corporations and business associations with a stake in promoting legal forest product supply chains.

NRC denies request for VY shutdown

Hodes had asked the NRC to prevent Yankee from restarting after its current refueling outage until the removal of tritiated water from the ground is completed.

Obama Restricts Oil Drilling in Alaska, East Coast, Gulf of Mexico

In view of the ongoing oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, President Barack Obama today extended for another six months a month-long moratorium on new deepwater drilling permits that was due to expire on Friday.

Perma-Fix successfully treats tritium-contaminated waste

The demonstration showed that tritium-containing waste streams that also contain hazardous waste components can be safely managed with "minimal to no release of tritium using non-thermal treatment processes."

The system captures tritium and allows it to be managed separately as a low-level radioactive waste, the company said.

Pickens encouraged by Obama’s call for more natural gas in transport

“The President’s statement indicates that he clearly understands the national security and economic threats associated with our escalating dependence on foreign oil. He has pledged to get America off Middle East oil in ten years, and his recognition of natural gas as a domestic transportation fuel, particularly in heavy duty fleet applications, is the only way we can meet that goal.

Proposition 16 would make it more difficult to follow Lodi's footsteps

Lodi did it. Stockton considered it. And a south San Joaquin County water district is fighting for it.

But local agencies across California will find it more difficult to launch their own electric utilities if voters next month approve Proposition 16. The measure, supported financially by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., would require a two-thirds vote before any local takeover of an electric utility could take place.

Pure platinum alternative promises breakthrough in fuel cell technology

One of the most expensive elements used in most fuel cells is platinum, but now researchers have created a unique core and shell nanoparticle that uses far less platinum, yet performs more efficiently and lasts longer than commercially available pure-platinum catalysts at the cathode end of fuel cell reactions.

Raid at Eagle Rock

Loonsfoot was one of three women who set up the encampment April 23 protesting the arrest three days earlier of environmentalist Cynthia Pryor and hoping to protect Eagle Rock from the Eagle Project nickel and copper mine. Despite federal treaties that allow Ojibwa to hunt, fish and gather on the Yellow Dog Plains, the state of Michigan leased the land to Kennecott to open a sulfide mine.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 052710

Solar activity has been very low. No flares were observed during the period.The geomagnetic field is
expected to be predominately unsettled to active with a chance for minor storm levels on day 1 (28 May). Unsettled to active levels are expected on day 2 (29 May).  ...as a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream becomes geo-effective.

Residents have no voice in fate of water use

A 41-member Blue Ribbon Panel on Water Sustainability is looking at future water demands across the state. It is comprised of state and federal officials as well as representatives from trade associations, utility corporations, cities and counties, agriculture trades, corporations and developers - and not one represents Northeastern Arizona.

Russia's Medvedev Has Rift With Putin Over Ecology

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's government on Thursday for ignoring environmental problems, and said he was ready to throw the weight of his presidency behind the issue.

Security -- The Missing Link to a Resilient Water Supply

Due to the catastrophe that would ensue if our nation's water supply were compromised, security for water distribution networks should be a top priority for all suppliers. A loss or contamination of water can quickly lead to large-scale emergencies and even deaths. Because it is part of our nation's critical infrastructure and is crucial for our survival as a people and a nation, the water supply is at high risk for being attacked by terrorists either physically or over the Internet via cyber attack.

Solar PV could overshoot Mediterranean Solar Plan 20 GW target

That is the conclusion following a two-day conference on the Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP) where representatives from 43 Mediterranean countries discussed the potential for solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity in the region.

Stanford Scientists Confirm That Polluted Groundwater Flows From Coastal Septic Systems To The Sea

Faulty septic systems have long been blamed for polluting some of California's most popular beaches. Yet few scientific studies have established a direct link between septic systems and coastal contamination.

Now, in the first study of its kind, Stanford University researchers have tracked a plume of polluted groundwater from a septic system to one of Northern California's top recreational beaches.

Support the Free Speech About Science Act and restore freedom of health speech

The Alliance for Natural Health, a nonprofit organization committed to protecting access to natural and integrative medicine, has recently come up with a Congressional bill designed to stop government censorship of truthful, scientific health claims about natural foods and herbs, and restore free speech to natural health. The Free Speech About Science Act (FSAS), also known as HR 4913, will allow manufacturers and producers to reference peer-reviewed, scientific studies that highlight the health benefits of a particular food or herb that they grow or sell.

TEP Signs Agreements for Nearly 160 Megawatts of Renewable Power Projects

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has agreed to purchase the output of 10 new solar power systems, a landfill gas generation project and a new wind farm that together would generate nearly 160 megawatts (MW), enough renewable energy to power more than 30,000 Tucson homes.

The yogurt cure; Probiotics are good for our digestion. But they can also combat flu, allergies and bad breath

Most of us know something about the good bacteria (probiotics) in our stomachs, thanks to advertising. Two million of us now consume them in the form of drinks, yoghurts, powders and capsules. Science has come to accept there is some truth in the enthusiastic claims made for probiotics that they help fight ‘bad’ bugs in your gut and improve intestinal health.

Three US senators plan to introduce electric vehicle bill Thursday

Three US Senators on Thursday plan to offer legislation aimed at getting electric vehicles on the road in the near term.

Top 10 Surprising Results of Global Warming

You've probably heard about the global warming song and dance: rising temperatures, melting ice caps and rising sea levels in the near future. But Earth's changing climate is already wreaking havoc in some very weird ways. So gird yourself for such strange effects as savage wildfires, 25-mile long icebergs, disappearing lakes, freak allergies, and the threat of long-gone diseases re-emerging.

U.S. energy secretary to visit UMaine

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has accepted an invitation from Sen. Susan Collins to visit the University of Maine to learn more about its offshore, deepwater wind energy research program, Collins' office said today.

Unleashing the Wind Tiger

India has featured as one of the world's top five countries for wind power development for years. Will new policy initiatives open up India's wind sector?

Wind power's future lies with Congress, industry leaders say

Make no bones about it: Leaders in the fast-growing U.S. wind power industry believe that their prospects for success are tightly intertwined with policy decisions made in Washington, especially by Congress.

World Warms As Public Cools To Climate Action

Their doubts may be quietly sapping the will of governments and companies to cut greenhouse gas emissions after the Copenhagen summit in December failed to agree a treaty meant to slow more droughts, floods and rising seas, analysts say.

May 25, 2010

A New Source Of Dioxins; Anti-Bacterial Soap Combining with Chlorine in Wastewater Sewage Plants

Manufacturers have been adding the germ fighter triclosan to soaps, hand washes, and a range of other products for years. But here's a dirty little secret: Once it washes down the drain, that triclosan can spawn dioxins.

A Strategic Proposal to Combat Strategic Residential Mortgage Defaults

More and more we are hearing that occupants of residential real estate with mortgages far in excess of the current market value of the real estate are choosing to default on those mortgages. It is not that they do not have the income to keep current on their principal and interest payments. Rather, they have made a calculation that it would take many years for the value of their properties to rise back to the amount outstanding on the mortgages of these properties. So, some have simply stopped sending in their monthly P&I payments...

Alliant's president says no more coal plants ... for now

Alliant Energy is giving up on the idea of building more coal-fired power plants "for the time being," Alliant chairman, president and chief executive Bill Harvey said Thursday.

As wind power booms, so do the challenges

On a blustery spring day, these turbines can crank out more than twice the power of the Northwest's sole nuclear power plant. Then, on hot days in the summer, when the winds go still, the output plunges.

Biodiesel From Sewage Sludge Within Pennies A Gallon Of Being Competitive

Existing technology can produce biodiesel fuel from municipal sewage sludge that is within a few cents a gallon of being competitive with conventional diesel refined from petroleum...

Biomass Industry Sees 'Chilling Message' in EPA's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule

U.S. EPA's final rule determining which sources will be subject to greenhouse gas permitting requirements does not exempt biomass power, a decision that has raised concern in the biomass industry.

Biomass to Utility Pole Mounted Solar

Long before carbon cap-and-trade or renewable energy mandates became part of the utility lexicon, California was out in front developing green energy. California is still way out in front in one important way, but there are plenty of followers, with utilities everywhere building and buying renewable energy assets from coast-to-coast.

Biomass challenge

The plant should be a national model for alternative energy. Using waste salvaged from sawmills and logging operations in northeast Washington and southern British Columbia, it produces electricity for nearly 40,000 homes.

Instead, the Kettle Falls operation is an example of a cruel irony facing the Northwest biomass industry:

BP says rate of oil collection continues to vary

BP said Monday the rate of oil collection from the leaking Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico ranged between 1,360 b/d and 3,000 b/d over the period May 17-23, and that the rate of gas collected ranged from 4,000 Mcf/d to 17,000 Mcf/d. The company pegged the cost of the response to the spill to date at $760 million.

Brent futures hit 3-month low as European gloom feeds through

Global crude benchmarks were sharply lower in European morning trading Tuesday as bearish sentiment from concerns about the health of the Spanish economy and the eurozone as a whole fed through into the energy markets.

Certainty vs. Uncertainty; Understanding Scientific Terms about Climate Change

To most of us, uncertainty means not knowing. To scientists, however, uncertainty is how well something is known. This is an important difference, especially when trying to understand what is known about climate change.

Chevron Asks Ecuador Court To Dismiss Key Expert

Chevron Corp, which is in the throes of a multibillion-dollar pollution lawsuit in Ecuador, has asked courts there to disregard an environmental expert who has said the company should pay $27 billion in damages for polluting the Amazon rain forest.

Coal miner says mine a 'ticking time bomb'

West Virginia coal miners and family members told U.S. lawmakers Monday conditions were bad before an explosion that killed 29 miners last month.

Commerce Department Report Lays Foundation for Measuring Green Economy

The U.S. Commerce Department's Economics and Statistics Administration has released a new report "Measuring the Green Economy," which provides an initial step toward measuring the size and composition of the emerging green economy and the number of green jobs it has created.

Contaminants In Groundwater Used For Public Supply

More than 20 percent of untreated water samples from 932 public wells across the nation contained at least one contaminant at levels of potential health concern, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Doctrine of Discovery resolutions presented to USET, NCAI

A former Penobscot Indian Nation chief is calling on national indigenous organizations to repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and all laws and policies based on it.

Drilling Permit Decision Comes After Salazar Report

The decision on whether the Interior Department will resume issuing offshore drilling permits will be made after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar sends his report on the BP oil spill to the White House, a department official told Reuters on Monday.

Earthwatch expeditions - 40 years of 'citizen science'

It can be extremely frustrating, watching the destruction of our environment and not being able to do a thing about it. Sure, you can give money, write letters and take part in rallies, but... wouldn’t you rather be out there on the front lines, where you could physically help save the threatened habitats, animals and cultures? Well, you can

EPA, U.S. Coast Guard Provide Dispersant Updates

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry held a press conference call today to discuss BP’s use of dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico.

Era of unlimited government arrives

"Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business," President Calvin Coolidge told journalists in March 1929.

If Coolidge suddenly sprang to life today, he would look around and drop dead.

Genetically Modified Soy Linked to Sterility, Infant Mortality

"This study was just routine," said Russian biologist Alexey V. Surov, in what could end up as the understatement of this century. Surov and his colleagues set out to discover if Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) soy, grown on 91% of US soybean fields, leads to problems in growth or reproduction. What he discovered may uproot a multi-billion dollar industry.

Governor Bars Most Raw Milk Sales in Wisconsin

If you're looking to buy raw milk, don't rely on "America's Dairyland."

Governor's office bottles up ban on mercury pollution at plant

Efforts by the state Department of Environmental Conservation to ban mercury-tainted coal fly ash used by a Ravena cement plant have been bottled up for more than 19 months in a special regulations review office of Gov. David Paterson.

Israel Begins Five Day Nationwide Drill to Prepare for War

Israelis on Sunday began a massive nationalwide home front exercise to prepare for the possibility of a major with Iran, Syria, and/or Lebanon.

Israel estimates government revenue from gas reserves at $16 bil

The Israeli government's potential revenue from the country's natural gas reserves stands at $16 billion, according to a research paper released Sunday.

Kevin Costner may hold key to oil spill cleanup

The " Kevin Costner solution" to the worsening oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may actually work, and none too soon for the president of Plaquemines Parish.

Mass. to designate ´no discharge´ area in North Shore

All of the coastal waters of the North Shore area of Massachusetts would be designated "no discharge" areas for boat sewage, according to a proposal before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Nations Honor Ancestors, Gather Apology

An unprecedented gathering of leaders from multiple Native American nations yesterday participated in A Time of Rededication and Story-Telling event...

Prior to A Time of Rededication and Story-Telling event there was an official presentation and reading of The Resolution of Apology to Native Peoples by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), co-hosts of the day’s events and co-authors of the resolution, which took place in the Congressional Cemetery chapel.

NOAA; Warmest April Global Temperature on Record

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for both April and for the period from January-April, according to NOAA. Additionally, last month’s average ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for any April, and the global land surface temperature was the third warmest on record.

NRC worker questioned its oversight of Besse

Their fears were confirmed when an inspection showed Davis-Besse's old reactor head had been put back into service in bad shape in 2000, so weak that it nearly burst apart in early 2002 because of acid that had eaten away most of its steel. That kept the plant offline until 2004, its longest outage.

On Private Discrimination

It’s true that a strict libertarian or free-market perspective might prevent the government from interfering when individuals choose to act in a discriminatory fashion. This may make people uncomfortable. But, as Mr. Paul pointed out, the very idea of freedom requires us to tolerate certain decisions that we might find distasteful,..

President's Anti-Cancer Panel Recommends Home Filtered Water

In its official annual report, the President's Cancer Panel is recommending that people use home filtering devices to decrease exposure to cancer-causing agents.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 052410

The latest analysis indicated its signature as a partial halo CME. A long duration B1 flare at 24/1446Z was also associated with this event. Solar activity is expected to be very low with a slight chance for a C-class flare..The geomagnetic field is expected to be predominantly quiet for the first two days (25-26 May). Unsettled to active conditions, with isolated minor storm levels, are expected on day three (27 May). This increase is expected due to the CME activity of 23-24 May.

Salazar vows to keep BP on schedule in Macondo solution

US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar angrily denounced BP on May 23 and vowed to force the company to meet its deadlines for killing its runaway Macondo exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico.

Scientists Reveal Glyphosate Poisons Crops and Soil

Glyphosate-tolerant (GT) crops have spread rapidly around the world since they were introduced in the US in 1996, and are now planted on 85 percent of the global area growing genetically modified (GM) crops [1]. Concomitantly, glyphosate (commercial formulation Roundup), promoted as safe for health and the environment, became the most widely used herbicide in the world.

Sen. Shelby Slams Census Bureau for Allowing Sex Offenders to Go Door-to-Door

After two cases of alleged criminals going door-to-door to take surveys, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby said Monday that the U.S. Census Bureau must do more to prevent hiring census takers with a criminal background.

Senate Climate Bill Cuts Aid To Global Forests

The climate bill unveiled in the U.S. Senate last week cuts funds to projects protecting tropical forests that also are inexpensive ways to reduce global pollution and keep U.S. power bills affordable, environmentalists and electric utilities said on Monday.

Stealth IRS changes mean millions of new tax forms

The massive expansion of requirements for businesses to file 1099 tax forms that was hidden in the 2,409-page health reform bill took many by surprise when it came to light last month. But it's just one piece of a years-long legislative stealth campaign to create ways for the federal government to track down unreported income.

Supplanting the US Constitution; War, National Emergency and 'Continuity of Government'

In July 1987, during the Iran-Contra Hearings grilling of Oliver North, the American public got a glimpse of “highly sensitive” emergency planning North had been involved in. Ostensibly these were emergency plans to suspend the American constitution in the event of a nuclear attack (a legitimate concern). But press accounts alleged that the planning was for a more generalized suspension of the constitution.

Tesla and Toyota begin working together

Partnering with the world's largest automobile manufacturer gives Tesla immense credibility and the security to purchase a new factory. For Toyota, it sures up its ability to compete in the EV market, at the same time as winning a few cool-school points by partnering with the trendy, publicity-savvy Tesla brand.

The European Experience

Europe's utility regulatory model is now unfolding. But the process hasn't been an easy one as commissioners there have wrestled with how to dislodge national interests.

This Week in Germany

This week, Chancellor Merkel addressed the Bundestag, calling on the representatives of the German people to green-light Germany's share of the 750-billion dollar bailout package for the Eurozone, which they later passed.  She uncharacteristically raised the specter of failure of European integration, one of the core pillars of Germany's post-war economic policy, but assured that this would not happen.

Tribal Entrepreneur Provides Renewable Energy in the West

PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, SD – The power of the sun is being harnessed to warm-up the homes of tribal members throughout the Dakota plains and bring much-needed heat and jobs to tribal reservations.

U.S., Mexican Leaders Say No to Gulf Oil, Yes to Renewables

Due to the ongoing Deepwater Horizon oil spill, President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon have agreed to seek a moratorium on oil exploration and production near the Western Gap of the Gulf of Mexico, where the two countries share a maritime border.

Waste_Inbox 052510

he Associated Press reports today that Congress is getting ready to quadruple a tax levied on oil producers to help finance cleanups of oil spills, from 8 cents to 32 cents a barrel. The revenue goes into a Coast Guard fund to help pay for remediation of spills in waterways such as the Gulf of Mexico.

Western China; The Internet is restored, but repression continues

For 10 months, starting from the July 2009 unrest in Urumchi, the Chinese government kept the people of East Turkestan isolated from the rest of the world with a comprehensive communications lockdown that not only blocked the Internet, but also affected telecommunications. During those 10 months, a great deal of information about the events of July 2009 was never allowed to surface, and the world was left with a Chinese government account that in no way can be considered impartial.

What’s big, risky, and losing billions?

THIS WEEK, the Senate rejected a $400 billion cap on the taxpayer bailout of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal National Mortgage Association, better known as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The decision may ensure that the two firms’ collapse will be the most costly event of the economic downturn.

White House to propose more nuclear, renewable loan guarantees

The Obama administration plans to expand the US Department of Energy's loan guarantee program, making an additional $9 billion available for nuclear projects and another $1 billion for renewable energy projects...

Will the BP Oil Spill Be the Spark?

"The fact that 11 human beings were killed in the Deepwater Horizon explosion (their bodies never found) has become, at best, an afterthought. BP counts its profits in the billions, and, therefore, it's important. . . This is the bitter reality of the American present, a period in which big business has cemented an unholy alliance with big government against the interests of ordinary Americans who, of course, are the great majority of Americans. The great majority of Americans no longer matter." -Bob Herbert, "More Than Just An Oil Spill," NY Times, May 22, 2010

May 21, 2010

2010 On Track To Be Hottest Ever; U.S. Climate Data

This year is on track to be the hottest ever after data published by America's climate agency this week showed record global temperatures in April and the first four months of 2010.

Are Americans Addicted to Oil?

Or is it simply cheap and useful?

Arizona threatens Los Angeles with power cut over boycott

A top official in the U.S. state of Arizona in charge of utilities has threatened to cut off power it supplies to Los Angeles if the city fails to reconsider its decision which was reached last week to boycott the state over its controversial new immigration law, FoxNews.com reported on Wednesday.

"Doggone it -- if you're going to boycott this candy store ... then don't come in for any of it," Gary Pierce, a commissioner on the five-member Arizona Corporation Commission...

Automobile computer systems successfully hacked

The alarming number of safety recalls appearing in headlines of late is worrying enough. Now researchers have shown that it's possible to take away driver control of a moving vehicle by remotely hacking into relatively insecure computer systems common in modern automobiles.

BP accused of cover-up

The U.S. government Thursday accused energy giant BP of falling short in the information it has provided about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, in a clear sign of Washington's growing frustration with BP's handling of the spiraling environmental disaster.

BP collecting 2,000 b/d of leaking Gulf oil

"We are just saying that we are working a 5,000 b/d leak and we know that 2,000 b/d are going into a ship," said a BP spokeswoman who refused to provide her name after accepting a phone call for information at the company's joint command center with the US Coast Guard in Robert, Louisiana.

Brazil to Maintain Renewable Energy

The 2010/2019 Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan, which sets targets concerning growth of the demand and supply of energy resources over the next ten years, will aim to continue implementing renewable energy sources in the country.

California's global warming law could cause businesses to flee state, report says

A state law that requires power plants, factories and other businesses to cut greenhouse gas emissions could cause energy prices to rise and prompt businesses to delay expansion or flee California, according to a study by the state Legislative Analyst's Office.

CalTrans Approves Highway Widening Through Ancient Redwood Grove

The highway project also is opposed by local residents, business owners, conservation and Native American groups, and economists as unnecessary and damaging to the state park, the venerable old-growth grove and its wildlife, tourism, and the coastal communities of Humboldt County.

Caring for Creation

When did you first decide to live a greener, more sustainable life? Maybe it was when you became a parent, or read an ingredient label on your food. Maybe it was when you saw the Gulf of Mexico transformed into an oil slick. Or maybe it was when you first heard your religious leader talk about caring for the planet. If it was the latter, you're not alone.

Changes in the Utility World

The recession's end is signaling the beginning of changes in the utility world. Declines in demand along with those of whole electric prices are prompting companies to revise their business strategies.

Chevy, GMC Announce CNG and LPG Vans for Fleets

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) powered versions of the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans will be offered to fleet and commercial customers beginning later this year, General Motors Co. announced Monday.

China companies bulk up on crude as Japan, S Korea shed stocks

Commercial crude inventories in China climbed by 15.5% in the first four months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 2009, while oil companies in Japan and South Korea were shedding their stocks, according to a research report by an energy industry consultancy.

Congress Should Investigate EPA’s Armed Raids, Gestapo Tactics

A few weeks ago I had dinner with Jim Knott from Northbridge, Massachusetts, and I couldn’t believe the horror story he told about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its Gestapo approach to law enforcement.

'Direct Potable Reuse' As A Source Of Water Supply

a white paper that identifies 10 key issues that need to be addressed by regulatory agencies and water utilities in California interested in pursuing direct potable reuse — or, the introduction of highly-treated recycled water into a drinking water distribution system — as a viable option to satisfy the State's future water demands

Environment Lawsuit; MMS Waived Oil Safety Rules

In a 2008 notice to oil companies with drilling leases off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama -- areas now threatened by the spill from the BP Deepwater Horizon rig -- the agency known as MMS waived requirements for documentation on what would be done in case of a blowout or a "worst-case scenario" spill, the lawsuit said.

EPA approves cleanup plan for TVA coal ash spill

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a plan for removal and cleanup of the December 2008 coal ash spill at Tennessee Valley Authority´s Kingston fossil fuel plant.

EPA mandate New renovation rules to push up costs

Renovation companies nationwide are preparing for a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mandate beginning April 22 and local experts say homeowners should be prepared to see a higher bill because of it.

The new rules will require builders to send in their application to the EPA to become a certified firm and each employee must get his or her certified renovator status, which requires an eight-hour training course and passing an exam.

EPA Posts Underwater Dispersant Monitoring Data

As the dispersant is used underwater, BP is required to do constant, scientifically rigorous monitoring so EPA scientists may determine the dispersant’s effectiveness and impact on the environment, water and air quality, and human health. EPA is posting the information BP collects during the monitoring to ensure the public has access to this data.

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing action plans developed by 16 electric utility facilities with coal ash impoundments, describing the measures the facilities are taking to make their impoundments safer.

EPA;  BP Must Use Less Toxic Dispersant

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a directive requiring BP to identify and use a less toxic and more effective dispersant from the list of EPA authorized dispersants. Dispersants are a chemical used to break up oil into small droplets so that they are more easily degraded.

Feds tell court they can decide what you eat

Attorneys for the federal government have argued in a lawsuit pending in federal court in Iowa that individuals have no "fundamental right" to obtain what food they choose.

Floridians left hanging on solar rebates

Thousands of homeowners and business owners who installed solar systems expecting to be reimbursed for the costs from the Florida Solar Rebate Program could be left footing the bill, if state lawmakers don't fund the program.

Former US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham Makes Urgent Call for Collaboration to Address National Energy Challenges, Avoid Consequences

The United States faces serious consequences if it continues current energy consumption without developing alternative energy sources, new technology and increased efficiency, according to former U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, who served as the keynote speaker at an energy symposium today in Austin, Texas.

Global Fish Production Continues to Rise

This is a 1.27 percent increase from 2007 production levels. Aquaculture contributes nearly half of the fish produced worldwide and is expected to catch up to wild capture by 2012. Overall, 77 percent of fish production is for human consumption; the remainder is used for non-food production

Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill In The Loop Current

Scientists monitoring the U.S. oil spill with ESA's Envisat radar satellite say that it has entered the Loop Current, a powerful conveyor belt that flows clockwise around the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida.

Haitian Farmers Commit to Burning Monsanto Hybrid Seeds

“A new earthquake” is what peasant farmer leader Chavannes Jean-Baptiste of the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) called the news that Monsanto will be donating 60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid corn seeds and vegetable seeds, some of them treated with highly toxic pesticides. The MPP has committed to burning Monsanto’s seeds, and has called for a march to protest the corporation’s presence in Haiti on June 4, for World Environment Day.

Joined at the Hip, the US-China Clean Energy Relationship

The study looks beyond the headline investment figures and finds there to be little zero-sum competition between the two nations and, in fact, the two countries will need to cooperate in many ways in order to meet their respective carbon reduction goals.

Key critics of Arizona immigration law admit not reading it

President Barack Obama and his administration began blasting Arizona's controversial immigration law the day Gov. Jan Brewer signed it. But over the past week, a growing list of top administration officials, including Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, acknowledged that they haven't read the legislation.

Last call for appliance rebate program

Three months after it was launched, New York's appliance rebate program has worked its way through more than $16 million in federal funding, and is winding down.

Letter From Secretary Napolitano and EPA Administrator Jackson to BP CEO Tony Hayward

Below is a link to a letter from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to BP CEO Tony Hayward.

Nanotechnology; New Threat to Organic Foods

Nanotechnology, the process of manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular level, has no place in organic food. Like genetic modification, it is the antithesis of the organic concept.

New York midwives lose right to deliver babies at home

As residents of the world’s consumer capital, New Yorkers can have anything delivered to their door at any time. They can have their hair cut in the living room, have champagne and caviar rushed to them on a whim, enjoy a shiatsu massage in their own bed or invite a clairvoyant to predict their future from Tarot cards laid out on the kitchen table. But there is one thing that is currently unavailable for delivery to those who live in this most can-do of metropolises. Women can not legally give birth at home in the presence of a trained and experienced midwife.

Nigeria secures $23 billion refinery deal

After years of seeking international investment for its refining sector, Nigeria has finally secured a major deal with a Chinese company for the construction of three new refineries in the West African country at a cost of some $23 billion.

No safety concerns despite mishap at Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant

During a test of the plant's emergency core cooling system Sunday, the water level inside the reactor vessel was set to a higher level than usual and some water entered a steam line, according to spokesman Laurence M. Smith.

Plant officials are investigating why the water level was set at that level, Smith said this morning.

NREL Study Shows Power Grid can Accommodate Large Increase in Wind and Solar Generation

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) today released an initial study assessing the operational impacts and economics of increased contributions from wind and solar energy producers on the power grid.

Ohio Coal-Fired Power Plant Shuttered in $16 Million Settlement

As part of the settlement, American Municipal Power will spend $15 million on an environmental mitigation project and pay a civil penalty of $850,000, the Justice Department and the EPA announced today.

/Oil Spill; NOAA Doubles Gulf Fisheries Closure Area

Effective tonight, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is nearly doubling the size of the area closed to fishing in the Gulf of Mexico due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Onondaga Nation and environmental partners win prestigious EPA award

“Today we honor those who advocate for a better environment, and give their time and energy to make the world a healthier and cleaner place,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck

Preliminary Findings Regarding the Market Events of May 6, 2010

This report to the Committee reflects the preliminary findings of the Commissions’ respective staffs resulting from their ongoing review of the events of May 6.

PSNH's use of coal drains green funds

New Hampshire spent $133 million buying coal to create electricity in 2008, with $79 million of the amount going to the nations of Colombia and Venezuela, according to a new report that argues the figures show the economic advantage of energy efficiency and alternative energy.

"Importing coal to produce electricity is a drain on state economies...

Raising Efficiency and Productivity of Large-scale Energy Storage Systems (Part 2)

The traditional form of pumped hydraulic storage involved pumping water to higher elevation during off-peak hours. Another form of pumped storage that has been subject to extensive research and includes proposals for future development involves moving seawater between the ocean and land depressions..

Rats on junk food pass cancer down the generations

Genes may not be the only way cancer passes down the generations. Feeding pregnant rats a fatty diet puts both their daughters and granddaughters at greater risk of breast cancer.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 052010

The geomagnetic field has been quiet to unsettled with one isolated active period at 20/0300Z. Solar wind data from ACE indicated a steady decay in velocity from 525 km/s to 475 km/s.  Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected on days two and three (May 22-23) as the coronal hole high speed stream subsides.

Reviving Climate Legislation

Just when the global warming debate starts to simmer, the reintroduction of legislation has caused it perk back up. Three senators across the great political divide have produced a bill that they think can win the votes to reach the president's desk.

Russia still most reliable gas supplier for Europe; Eurogas head

Even though a broad energy mix is fundamental for industrial and private consumers, Russia needs to be assured that the EU is fundamentally interested in Russian supplies, Dispenza said.

Sacramento mayor launches 'green initiative'

Johnson's plan calls for a regional green authority to coordinate efforts already under way to attract green firms to the region. The initiative also calls for public outreach efforts to promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.

SAIC YeZ Concept Car inhales C02, emits oxygen

The idea behind the YeZ Concept is that it will photosynthesize, absorbing carbon dioxide from surrounding air and emitting oxygen back into the atmosphere.

Saudi eyes big jump in renewable output by 2020

Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia believes renewable sources could account for up to 10 percent of its power output by 2020 with prices coming down and a regulatory framework in place, an executive from state oil giant Saudi Aramco said.

Schooling fish inspire new approach to wind farming

Schooling fish, it turns out, have a lot to teach us about setting up wind farms. That’s the conclusion reached by John Dabiri, a fluid dynamics expert from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). One of the biggest current problems with wind farms is the large land area that they require - if you place the turbines too close to one another, they will be adversely effected by each other’s turbulence. By applying principles learned from observing fish, however, Dabiri thinks he might have found a solution.

Seneca to Obama; ‘You betrayed our trust’

The Seneca Nation of Indians welcomed President Barack Obama to Buffalo with protesters in the street and a full page ad in the local newspaper saying he broke his promise to honor treaties when he signed a law that will devastate the Indian tobacco trade and put thousands of people out of work in Western New York.

Sewer overflows to cost Kansas City $2.5B

The City of Kansas City, Mo., has agreed to make extensive improvements to its sewer systems, at a cost estimated to exceed $2.5 billion over 25 years, to eliminate unauthorized overflows of untreated raw sewage and to reduce pollution levels in urban stormwater, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

Solar Industry Poised to Create 200,000 Jobs with Key Tax Policies

The study found that extending the TGP by two years and including solar manufacturing in the industry's existing tax credit would add 200,000 new domestic jobs to the solar workforce and supporting industries in the U.S. Additionally, it would result in 10 gigawatts (GW) of new solar installations by 2016 -- enough to power 2 million homes.

Spring is Starting Earlier; How Does This Seasonal Shift Affect Plants and Animals?

To counter those who deny and distort climate science, UCS has launched a major initiative to refocus America's attention on the impacts of climate change and the urgent need to rein in global warming pollution. Today, we bring you one in a series of stories about climate science by climate scientists

Stopping the Green Police

"Paper or plastic?" the attractive, young checkout girl asks her customer.

"Plastic," he replies.

Out rush men in uniform. Busted by the police – the Green Police. "You picked the wrong day to mess with the ecosystem, Plastic Boy."

THE GREEN GESTAPO

Our environmental laws were supposed to protect the land, air and water by stopping big polluters. But that's not how it turned out. Large corporations have staffs of attorneys and deep pockets. They pay the fines as just another cost of doing business, or pay off politicians. But small business owners and average citizens don't have the resources to fight or bribe city hall, so they end up as the primary victims of bad laws.

The next di$a$ter

The Federal Housing Administration, which insures home mortgages, not only failed to learn the lessons of the subprime meltdown, it's been doubling down on failure. As a result, this taxpayer-backed agency is headed for disaster.

The Secret Plan to Crack Down Even Harder on Raw Milk in MA--Part of CDC's National Plan

Why is the public health establishment making Massachusetts, a small dairy state that has had no illnesses attributable to raw milk in well over a decade, a new battleground in the ongoing raw milk war?

The ups and downs of dams

THE trouble with water is that it is all politics, no economics...Rich countries build sewers, drains, dams, reservoirs, flood defences, irrigation canals and barrages to avoid such problems. Poor countries, with some exceptions, notably China, find large projects much more difficult.

A small dam is relatively cheap to construct: modest reservoirs known in India as tanks used to be built and maintained by local villagers.

The Warm Ocean

Often when going to the beach the common complaint is that the ocean is too cold. They appear to be warming up a bit. The upper layer of Earth's ocean has warmed since 1993, indicating a strong climate change signal,..."We are seeing the global ocean store more heat than it gives off," said John Lyman, an oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA)

Toxic Sludge Is Good for You?

Deep down in the sewer system lies a toxic menace that grows larger with each passing day, waiting to rise up and wreak havoc on society. No, it's not some deranged underground monster. It's something far scarier (for utilities anyway) – Grease.

Each year, water utilities spend hundreds of millions of dollars dealing with sewer grease, a rancid mixture of fats, grease and oils that erode wastewater treatment pipes, clog the system and cause environmentally-hazardous back-ups.

Toyota gets Tesla stake, Tesla gets Toyota factory

Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp is taking a $50 million stake in California electric carmaker Tesla Motors, which will take over a closed San Francisco-area Toyota plant for its all-electric sedan, the companies said on Thursday.

Tribal energy legislation inches forward

Indian leaders have been presenting serious tribal energy proposals before Congress for over a year. Definitive legislation has yet to be offered, but policy makers say they are close.

U of M Study Finds Rising Levels Of Dioxins From Common Soap Ingredient In Mississippi River Sediments

Specific dioxins derived from the antibacterial agent triclosan, used in many hand soaps, deodorants, dishwashing liquids and other consumer products, account for an increasing proportion of total dioxins in Mississippi River sediments, according to University of Minnesota research.

U.S. Institute of Medicine Study Urges New Approach to Regulating Supplements – Big Pharma Influenced Doctors Get it Wrong Again

The U.S. Institute of Medicine represents the heart of the medical establishment. Congress listens to it. The President listens to it. The FDA listens to it. Unfortunately the Institute of Medicine decided to go beyond the technical questions posed and instead chose to recommend a new approach to regulating supplements. A lot of what the IOM said was wrong,...

U.S. probes another BP rig, seeks MMS shakeup

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Tuesday the U.S. government was investigating another big BP oil rig while admitting his agency came up short in preventing the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

UN Security Council Readies Lame, Toothless Sanctions on Iran, but Tehran is Still Building the Bomb; God help us all.

One day after Iran and Turkey announced an agreement in the hopes of thwarting any international economic sanctions against Iran, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a 10-page resolution with new sanctions had just been agreed to by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council

Underwater footage of oil flow now streaming live

Today BP launched a live webcam of the riser flow.

BP has been providing a live feed to government entities over the last two weeks -- including the US Department of the Interior, US Coast Guard, Minerals Management Service (MMS) through the Unified Area Command center in Louisiana -- as well as to BP and industry scientists and engineers involved in the effort to stop the spill.

US Housing Starts Post Another Solid Gain in April, Permits Fade

Housing starts rose 5.8% in April to 672,000 at an annualized rate, beating expectations for a 650,000 annualized pace. This marked the second consecutive month of decent increases with March's level revised up to 635,000 (from 626,000) although February's pace was revised lower to 605,000 from 616,000. Permits, however, softened to 606,000 at an annualized rate, 11.5% lower than in March

US Long- and Short-Term Mortgage Rates Fall Again This Week

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) yesterday released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.84 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending May 20, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 4.93 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.82 percent. Once again, the 30-year FRM has not been lower since the week ending December 10, 2009, when it averaged 4.81 percent.

US Prime Auto Loan ABS Improve to Pre-Crisis 2007 Levels

The strong seasonal benefits of tax refunds and better recovery rates on repossessed vehicles have led to a 30% decline in delinquencies and losses on U.S. prime auto loan ABS through the first four months of 2010, according to Fitch Ratings.

Using CPV to deliver fresh water

Could a combination of concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) and micro-generation provide clean, fresh water to places where it is needed most?

Utility charged in bird deaths

A 1995 study estimated that 300 or more birds a year are killed or injured by streetlights and utility wires, said David Henkin, a lawyer for Earthjustice.

Waste_Inbox 052010

Waste companies are increasingly not just the folks who pick up the trash. More and more, they're playing a social role as law enforcer.

Where the Wind Blows and Sun Shines

A comparative analysis of state renewable energy standards.

What follows is an assessment of how different states have structured their RES programs, what similarities they share and what differentiates them.

Utility Workforce of the Future

The movement toward clean energy and smart grid technology, along with the emphasis on energy efficiency, is transforming the utility industry from an engineering-centered enterprise to a marketing-centered one and demanding whole new skill sets from its workforce.

May 18, 2010

Africa's Lake Tanganyika Warming Fast, Life Dying

Africa's lake Tanganyika has heated up sharply over the past 90 years and is now warmer than at any time for at least 1,500 years, a scientific paper said on Sunday, adding that fish and wildlife are threatened.

Anatomy Of The Gulf Oil Spill; An Accident Waiting to Happen

The oil slick spreading across the Gulf of Mexico has shattered the notion that offshore drilling had become safe. A close look at the accident shows that lax federal oversight, complacency by BP and the other companies involved, and the complexities of drilling a mile deep all combined to create the perfect environmental storm.

Arctic Team Reports Unusual Conditions Near Pole

A group of British explorers just back from a 60-day trip to the North Pole said Monday they had encountered unusual conditions, including ice sheets that drifted far faster than they had expected.

The three-member team walked across the frozen Arctic Ocean to study the impact of increased carbon dioxide absorption by the sea, which could make the water more acidic and put crucial food chains under pressure.

BP determined to stem and clean up Macondo oil spill; executive

UK-based oil major BP is determined to clean up the oil spill from the Macondo well in the US Gulf of Mexico, David Eyton, BP group vice president for research and technology, said Monday

BP moves on next step to halt leaking oil

With one-fifth of the runaway Macondo exploration well's Gulf of Mexico leakage diverted into a siphoning tube, BP moved ahead May 17 with work on its next step for stopping the Macondo leak this week by clogging its malfunctioning blowout preventer.

BP Says Turns Corner In Oil Spill

Energy giant BP said on Monday it had "turned the corner" in a weeks-long effort to contain an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico even as the company faced fresh questions about its industry safety record.

Clean Edge Jobs

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

Cleaner-burning coal plants part of future

Most discussions of Ohio's energy future will come to the uncomfortable moment when somebody mentions "clean coal."

For some people, the term is laughable. To others, it is an essential part of what lies ahead.

Is "clean coal" a form of advanced energy? Under Ohio law, the answer is yes.

Coast Guard And EPA Approve Use Of Dispersant Subsea In Further Effort To Prevent Oil From Reaching U.S. Shoreline

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced they have authorized BP to use dispersants underwater, at the source of the Deepwater Horizon leak.

Coast Guard Sees Less Threat Of Huge Oil Landfall

The oil slick from the huge uncontrolled spill in the Gulf of Mexico has broken into smaller parts, and while potentially catastrophic, may pose less threat of a massive landfall, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen said on Friday.

"The character of the slick has changed somewhat, it is disaggregated into smaller patches of oil," said Allen, who is leading the response to contain what could be the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

D-Drive redux; about that holy grail thing

The key problem here is that the D-Drive's control shaft needs to be driven at variable speeds in order to effect the final ratio - so effectively, you need a variable drive motor attached to the D-Drive before it actually works.

Defend Climate Science

For centuries science has made the world better for all of us. It's made our food, our air, and our water safer. It’s made our lives healthier, more productive, and efficient. Science has brought us many of the conveniences we take for granted in our day-to-day lives.

But recently, science, and especially climate science, has become a political football.

DOE says Yucca Mountain repository 'not an option'

The Department of Energy is moving quickly to shut down the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear repository to the concern of Reps. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., and Jay Inslee, D-Wash.

DvD Forecast - 10 Year Monthly Forecast of US Treasury Yields and US Dollar Interest Rate Swap Spreads

Today’s forecast shows 1 month Treasury bill rates peaking at 5.193% in April, 2017 and the 10 year U.S. Treasury yield at 5.482% on April 30, 2020. The forecasted U.S. Treasury yield on April 30, 2020 is up 19 basis points from last week.

EPA Adds More Than 6,300 Chemicals and 3,800 Chemical Facilities to Public Database

The Envirofacts database is EPA’s single point of access on the Internet for information about environmental activities that may affect air, water and land in the U.S and provides tools for analyzing the data.

Finger pointing aside, BP violated pledge to protect the environment from harm

Perhaps most extraordinary was BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward's interview with a small group of reporters last week. He admitted that BP had not had the technology available to stop the leak. In "hindsight," he was reported to have said, it was "probably true" that BP should have done more to prepare for an emergency of that kind.

"Probably true?"  How could anything be more obvious? As for "hindsight?" What about foresight?

Gulf Looks To Science To Turn Desert To Farmland

Gulf nations hope science will turn desert areas into arable land to boost food security and avoid the risks inherent in buying farmland abroad, industry insiders said Monday.

Farming in the Gulf battles against little water supply, high soil salinity and extreme heat. But many of the countries in the region have the cash to adopt expensive solutions that others could not.

In solar power, N.J. shines

Because of its successful rebate and incentive programs, the state has more solar electricity -- 128 megawatts as of December -- than any other state but California, and was second in installations last year.

Instant Information About Water Conditions; Ask The River To Text You A WaterAlert

Now you can receive instant, customized updates about water conditions by subscribing to WaterAlert, a new service from the U.S. Geological Survey. Whether you are watching for floods, interested in recreational activities or concerned about the quality of water in your well, WaterAlert allows you to receive daily or hourly updates about current conditions in rivers, lakes and groundwater when they match conditions of concern to you.

Israel Opens Largest Desalination Plant Of Its Kind

An Israeli consortium unveiled the world's largest reverse osmosis desalination plant on Sunday in the coastal city of Hadera, hoping to help alleviate the arid country's water shortage.

Listeroil Engines and the EPA

Compliance is achievable. The fees and the certification procedure annually is another matter entirely. Here are a few EPA fee schedules and the certification procedure. Notice that the application fee is now over $2200.00 and the annual permit is around half a million. Like I said, its all about the money. If you think this is bad wait until Cap and Trade kicks in!

Major US Municipality Default is More Likely than a Sovereign Debt Default Globally

Amid the economic turmoil in Greece, more restructuring experts believe that a major U.S. municipality default is more likely than is a sovereign debt default at some point in 2010 or 2011. Some 90% of restructuring pros polled last week predicted a major U.S. city will default this year or next, versus 63% who anticipate the default of a country in the same time period...

Nasty bacteria get gagged with plastic

Everyone knows that when certain bacteria are present in an environment, they can cause infections. These infections can take the form of diseases such as bubonic plague, cholera, leprosy, and tuberculosis. The problem isn’t simply that the bacteria are present, however, it’s that they communicate with one another - essentially coming up with a battle plan.

OPEC volumes fall in April as bad weather hits Iraqi supply

Excluding Iraq, the so-called OPEC-11 -- the 11 members bound by production quotas -- increased output by 40,000 b/d to 26.89 million b/d.

Iraqi supply, estimated at 2.32 million b/d, was down by 130,000 b/d because of bad weather.

Proposals may close coal-ash ponds

Power companies face shutting down coal-ash ponds at their plants amid rising concerns about toxic threats to groundwater.

Research Links Pesticides With ADHD In Children

A new analysis of U.S. health data links children's attention-deficit disorder with exposure to common pesticides used on fruits and vegetables.

Researchers identify new low-cost catalyst for hydrogen production

To make sunlight practical as a dominant source of energy a viable storage technology needs to be developed. One promising area of research is imitating the process of photosynthesis to separate the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water to create hydrogen fuel.

Salazar names top officials to lead reform of US MMS

Salazar proposed the reforms in the wake of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico and the resulting oil leak. MMS has come under intense criticism in the wake of the disaster for being too lax in its enforcement of safety regulations because of its close relationship with the oil industry.

U.S. Clears a Test of Bioengineered Trees

Federal regulators gave clearance Wednesday for a large and controversial field test of genetically engineered trees planned for seven states stretching from Florida to Texas.

The test is meant to see if the trees, eucalyptuses with a foreign gene meant to help them withstand cold weather

U.S. Government Report;  Israel has 122 Trillion Cubic Feet of Natural Gas Offshore

Israelis for years have lamented that if God wanted to bless them with a "promised land" He could have given them the oil-rich Arabian peninsula. Thus the report has become big news in the Israeli media and the energy industry

US Gulf relief well blowout preventer installed; second well spudded

The agency also said the second relief well spudded Monday morning and "has progressed hundreds of feet into the seafloor," according to a statement released by the Joint Information Center.

Utility costs to keep rising with no relief in sight

Charges for utilities continue to rise in Santa Fe with no relief in sight.

What's worse for the cost of living here is that some rates already hiked in recent years are scheduled to keep climbing, and others could jump even higher depending on policy decisions.

May 14, 2010

72-Hour 'Grab-and-Run' Survival Kits

These short-term emergency kits, also known as “grab-and-run kits,” should be readily accessible and cover the basic daily needs of your family for a period of at least three days.

Aikido-Ai Memorial Weekend Retreat at Mt. Baldy

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

Air Quality Awareness Week Focuses on Reducing Exposure to Ozone, Particle Pollution

EPA, state and local air agencies across the country are marking Air Quality Awareness Week by reminding Americans to stay "Air Aware" to reduce their exposure — and their contribution — to air pollution.

Alaska governor signs bill creating tax credits for gas storage

Alaska Governor Sean Parnell on Wednesday signed into law a bill to provide state tax credits for developers of natural gas storage facilities and expand an existing producer tax credit for well work and other in-field capital expenses outside the state's North Slope.

Algae Advances As A 'Green' Alternative For Improving Water Quality

Algae — already being eyed for biofuel production — could be put to use right away to remove nitrogen and phosphorus in livestock manure runoff, according to an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist. That could give resource managers a new eco-friendly option for reducing the level of agricultural pollutants that contaminate water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

America's Gone Nuts on Prescription Drugs

Nausea, anal leakage, dysplasia, and temporary blindness are not just great name choices for late 80's heavy metal bands -- they are but a few of the little prices Americans are willing to pay each time they swallow a magic pill designed to help them lose weight, gain confidence, stop shaking or become the proud owners of medically-induced erections.

Australian solar shines in 2009

In 2009, 80 MW of grid-connected solar power was installed in Australia. This is over four times the 19.7 MW installed in 2008, which itself was 3.6x the 5.4 MW installed in 2007 (Figure 1). Can Australia continue this trajectory and install 326 MW in 2010?

Brewer axes renewable energy legislation

With the stroke of her pen, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer gave the Yuma County Board of Supervisors what they wanted.

Late Tuesday, on the last day for the Governor to sign bills into law, Brewer vetoed House Bill 2502, a bill that would have provided for the valuation for utility-scale solar plants in the same manner as agricultural property.

Canadian Legislators Grill BP Over Arctic Drilling

Exasperated Canadian legislators grilled the head of BP Plc Canadian unit on Thursday, concerned about the risks of the company's plans to drill in Arctic waters after the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Climate bill's nuclear incentives should spur more reactors; NEI

The US nuclear power industry welcomed incentives for new reactors in a climate bill unveiled Wednesday, and a lobbyist said the industry got virtually everything it wanted in the proposed legislation.

Coast Guard presses MMS on Gulf of Mexico blowout

The chief drilling engineer for the Minerals Management Service, New Orleans Office, said May 11 that the agency has no role in certifying blowout preventers, a statement that seemed to surprise Coast Guard Captain Hung Ngyuen, co-chair of a joint investigation of the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon.

Crisis, Contagion and Bailouts, What's Next for the European Union?

European financial officials finally got out in front of swift-moving market developments this week by launching a huge $960 billion (750 billion euro) financial stabilization plan -- exceeding most expectations -- to bail out Greece and ensure the viability of the European Monetary Union, at least for now.

Depleted uranium delay proves costly for Energy Department

Delaying Utah-bound depleted uranium will cost the U.S. Energy Department up to $12 million.

That's the upper estimate agency officials shared recently with a citizens' advisory board in South Carolina during an update on the disposal of 15,600 drums of DU. Those 55-gallon containers were slated to be buried in the EnergySolutions landfill in Tooele County before Utah Gov. Gary Herbert asked the Energy Department for a delay.

EIA Examines the Impacts of Alternate Future Scenarios on Energy Trends

How will various scenarios for future economic growth and energy policies affect the projected U.S. energy use in 2035? That's a question that DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) attempts to tackle in its May 11 release of the full Annual Energy Outlook 2010.

Envoy; US may have no climate bill by Cancun talks

Washington's special climate envoy conceded Monday the U.S. may not have a climate and energy bill in place when the next major global warming conference is held in Mexico late this year, but insisted the legislation is not crucial to those talks.

First Hole in North Pole Ice Drilled by Explorers

A group of Arctic explorers has made the grueling journey to the North Pole and drilled a hole in the ice to take the first ever sample of ocean water at the pole in an effort to better understand the impacts of climate change.

Genes Explain Why Tibetans Thrive In High Places

Researchers have identified two genes that appear to explain why Tibetans are able to live comfortably in rarefied air at very high altitudes.

Genetically Modified Foods; More Reason to Avoid Them; Why They Threaten Organic Agriculture

If you doubt that Genetically Modified (GM) foods threaten your body, here is a recent report from Russian biologists. They conducted what they thought would be a “routine” study of the long-term effects of the consumption of GM soy feed among a hamster population.

Global Leaders Meet to Collaborate on Energy Efficiency Goals

Leaders from 15 countries, the European Commission, and the United States gathered on May 11 for the first policy meeting of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC). The group sought to forge partnerships among governments to combat climate change, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and boost the global clean energy economy.

Gulf Gusher Dwarfs Previous Estimates, BP Will Inject Junk to Plug It

Scientific analysis of a new video released Wednesday by BP shows oil and gas spilling from the broken Deepwater Horizon wellhead on the the Gulf of Mexico seafloor at a much higher rate than previously estimated.

Hard Exercise Can Prevent Cell Death

Every day our bodies are dying, or rather, our millions of cells are dying. Fortunately they do not all die at once, and there is always another cell to take its place. What if people could stop their cells from dying? Wouldn't that be the same as eternal life? Well that is not possible, so the best people can do is delay the cellular inevitable. To do so merely entails exercise...

Haven't We Learned, Yet?

Since we are now in the midst of one of the biggest oil spills in U.S. history and just a few weeks after the deaths of 29 West Virginia coal miners, I believe it is time to reflect upon where the politicians of both parties are trying to redirect the country.

Homeowners fight to go green

It's a scene that's being played out across the country. As homeowners increasingly seek to turn to green practices such as using clotheslines instead of dryers or moving to solar or wind power, they are finding those plans in conflict with the rules of homeowners associations that encourage conformity in order to maintain property values.

Invitation to, the 13th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum

Below please find an announcement about, and invitation to, the 13^th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum to be held in the U.S. Capitol on May 27.

Keep Waxman’s Anti-Supplement FTC Language Out of The Senate Bill!

(Section 4901) slipped at the last moment into the House Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 4173). This “below the radar” provision is intentionally written in unintelligible legalese that can barely be deciphered by a legislative or legal expert...

Lab Tests Find Toxic Chemicals in Popular Perfumes

Top-selling fragrance products used by both women and men contain at least a dozen "secret" chemicals not listed on labels, finds a new analysis by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of health and environmental groups.

The analysis shows that the 17 products tested contained, on average, 14 chemicals not listed on labels due to a loophole in federal law that allows companies to claim fragrances as trade secrets.

Land for carbon storage a challenge

Pennsylvania has the underground storage capacity to hold more than 300 years' worth of carbon dioxide extracted from coal-fired power plants in the state at a cost competitive with carbon storage systems worldwide, a state official said Tuesday.

The state's problem in developing what's known as carbon capture and sequestration on a commercial scale, which proponents say could create jobs, is that no single land owner controls a sufficient geographic area to move a project forward.

Mexico Eyes Up To 10 New Nuclear Plants By 2028

Mexico may build up to 10 new nuclear power stations by 2028 under one scenario being evaluated by the state electricity monopoly, the company said in a presentation on Wednesday.

Monsanto's Deadly Gift of 475 Tons of Genetically-Modified Seeds to Haitian Farmers

Haiti's earthquake on 12 January this year has been a lucky business break for some. The transnational firm Monsanto is offering the country's farmers a deadly gift of 475 tonnes of genetically-modified (GM) seeds, along with associated fertilizer and pesticides, which will be handed out free by the WINNER project, with the backing of the US embassy in Haiti.

Natural Gas Vehicle News, Information and Campaigns

Americans are increasingly realizing the value and potential of natural gas fuel for vehicles* and momentum for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) is building -- in government, with fleet owners and individual consumers, and with those concerned about energy security and the environment.

Neanderthals Live On In Some Of Us; DNA Study

Neanderthals and modern humans interbred, probably when early humans first began to migrate out of Africa, according to a genetic study released on Thursday.

New Senate Climate bill unveiled

Senator John Kerry ratcheted up the fight to pass legislation to combat global warming on Wednesday, unveiling a bill as the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster complicates the measure's already difficult prospects this year.

New Study on Milk Quality Runs Away from Its Own Findings

In fact, this study actually confirms what several other studies have found - organic milk contains significantly higher concentrations of health-promoting fatty acids, especially during the times of the year when cows are feeding on lush pastures.

Open Letter from Natural Solutions Foundation

...to join us in promulgating and promoting an urgently needed Amendment to the Constitution of These United States to ensure and protect, now and for the duration of the Republic, the right of each individual to make his/her own health choices unencumbered or circumscribed by corporate or state interference.

Organic Practices can Feed the World

"why can't organic agriculture feed the world?" That question was the genesis of a multi-year, multidisciplinary study to explore whether we could, indeed, feed the world with organic, sustainable methods of farming. The results? A resounding yes.

Pest Munches Up China Fields After GM Crop Sprays Halt

China started growing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton in 1997 because it gave better yields and stood up to bollworms, but a key fallout has been a thriving population of mirid bugs, which were earlier just an insignificant pest.

Pitching hydrogen power

In an outbuilding at the far end of Roane County Industrial Park, down a rutted driveway and behind a rehabbed, early 1800s-era log cabin, a local entrepreneur is testing a new technology he believes will be a game-changer when it comes to clean power production.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 051310

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels on day 1 (14 May). Field activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels during days 2 - 3 (15 - 16 May) due to a coronal hole high-speed wind stream.

Russian - Turkish - Syrian Alliance Growing

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev just completed an historic three-day tour through Syria and Turkey. It was the first visit by a Russian leader to Damascus since the end of the Cold War. His top agenda items arms sales and helping both countries build nuclear power facilities.

Scientists Decry 'Assaults' On Climate Research

More than 250 U.S. scientists on Thursday defended climate change research against "political assaults" and warned that any delay in tackling global warming heightens the risk of a planet-wide catastrophe.

Settling Coal Ash Controversy

The controversy surrounding coal ash may finally settle. National regulators have issued a proposal and have given industry three months to respond -- one that presents two distinct possibilities while still allowing the beneficial reuse of the coal combustion byproduct in such things as cement.

Show Me the Money

Sales of new and existing homes soared in March, and a rise in pending home sales contracts suggests the strength will carry over through the spring.  Just as occurred last fall, the impending expiration of the homebuyers’ tax credit has prompted a flurry of last-minute transactions.  The key question is, how much will sales drop off in its aftermath?

Silent Spring For Mongolians After Winter Kills Herds

The bitter winter killed an estimated 8 million animals, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), leaving exhausted, poverty-stricken herders struggling to survive and increasing demands on Mongolia's already-stretched national budget.

Solar to make up to 25% of global energy production by 2050 - IEA

Solar electricity could represent up to 20% to 25% of global power production by 2050, with solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) generating 9,000 TWh, according to recent analyses by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Taking Grid Energy Storage to the Edge

The concept of storing electricity generated in a utility grid has been tried since the beginning of the power industry. In the U.S., large-scale storage projects flourished in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s as utilities added 18 GWs of pumped hydro facilities to support the rapid build out of the fleet of nuclear power plants across the nation.

The Arizona Natural Gas Coalition Commends Senators Kerry and Lieberman for Newly Introduced

The Arizona Natural Gas Coalition has announced its support for the American Power Act introduced today by U.S. Senators John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman. A major provision of the proposed legislation would double the current federal tax credits that are available for the purchase of natural gas-powered fleet vehicles for the next 10 years.

Time for Full Employment to Product an Anti-Flationary Economy

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

Transocean Aims To Cap Rig-Related Damages

Transocean Ltd, owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded and sank last month killing 11 people, wants to limit its liability for the accident to about $27 million, according to a U.S. court filing on Thursday.

With analysts anticipating many years of legal jostling related to the Horizon disaster, Transocean is seeking to set an upper limit on the damages that might arise from more than 100 lawsuits already filed against the company.

TVA Activates 300 Megawatts of Renewable Wind Power

Brisk winds across the Illinois plains are now blowing clean, renewable energy into the Tennessee Valley Authority service region.
On Tuesday, May 11, TVA began transmitting to its customers 300 megawatts of renewable wind power received from Iberdrola Renewables Inc.'s Streator Cayuga Ridge wind park in Livingston County, Ill.

Universal 4Mbps broadband comes with a US$23.5 billion price tag

The developed world is fast heading towards a globally networked information economy. Any government that fails to recognize that high-speed Internet access is fundamental to future economic growth and prosperity runs the risk of quickly ending up on the wrong end of a digital divide. While this applies to countries as a whole it also apples to residents within a country...

Urge Your Senator to Support Nuclear Weapons Treaty

On May 13, the Obama administration submitted the New Strategic Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) to the U.S. Senate. To take effect, the treaty must be supported by a two-thirds majority of senators—a difficult challenge given the current hyper partisanship in Washington.

US Climate Bill on Life Support for 2010

Prospects for passing a climate bill in 2010 have gone from slim to almost none, after the legislation's co-sponsor Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) withdrew his support on April 24. The remaining co-sponsors, Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lieberman (I-CT), were forced to cancel an April 26th unveiling ceremony. Senator Graham is protesting a recent decision by Democrats to address immigration reform before the climate and energy which would effectively kill the climate bill's prospects for 2010.

US Mortgage Rates at Lowest Level in Six Weeks

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 5.00 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending May 6, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 5.06 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.84 percent.

Video; Is Steve Durnin's D-Drive the holy grail of infinitely variable transmissions?

Steve Durnin's ingenious new gearbox design is infinitely variable - that is, with your motor running at a constant speed, the D-Drive transmission can smoothly transition from top gear all the way through neutral and into reverse. It doesn't need a clutch, it doesn't use any friction drive components, and the power is always transmitted through strong, reliable gear teeth. In fact, it's a potential revolution in transmission technology

Want to safely break down eco-unfriendly plastic? Try fungus

Bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, isn’t something you want leaching into the environment. It’s the compound in polycarbonate plastic that has been suspected of causing health problems since the 1930’s, and that more recently got people all over the world throwing out their plastic water bottles. When polycarb is broken down in the recycling process, or even when it’s just left in the dump, its BPA content is released. Where it ends up is a question that has a lot of people worried. A new study, however, indicates that fungus could be used to keep BPA at bay.

May 11, 2010

Air, Water Issues Behind Legal Challenges to Georgia Coal Plants

The petitions object to the classification of the 1,200 megawatt Longleaf power plant in southwestern Georgia's Early County as a "minor source" of pollution, while the other proposed coal-fired plant, the 850 megawatt Plant Washington in Sandersville, central Georgia, is classified as a major source.

Bacteria in mud could power fuel cell

A D-cell battery has about 1 watt of energy, or enough to run continuously for about an hour, A microbial fuel cell could provide the same energy continuously for nine months or longer, The Office of Naval Research said in a release Thursday.

Battlefield injuries could be treated with light

There are quite a few bits of “future tech” in the various Star Trek series that are a little hard to believe, and the device their medics use for treating cuts is definitely one of them... they just shine the gizmo on a wound, and it instantly heals up. C’mon, that could never work! Or could it? The US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) is now developing technology that could treat airmen’s battlefield injuries with - you guessed it - light.

BP seeks solution after dome problem occurs

BP Plc engineers will search for a solution on Sunday after suffering a setback in an attempt to contain oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico with a huge metal dome, dashing hopes for a quick, temporary solution to a growing environmental disaster.

Broccoli 'could aid breast cancer fight'

The vegetable, already hailed as a so-called "superfood", contains a chemical capable of targeting the cells which fuel the growth of tumours. A component of broccoli called sulforaphane targets and kills cancer stem cells as well as preventing new tumours from growing, according to researchers at the University of Michigan

Cement Or Casing Cause Of Rig Accident; Transocean

The "root cause" of the Gulf oil rig explosion was the failure of the cement or casing to plug BP's underwater oil well, Transocean Ltd said on Monday in testimony prepared for congressional hearings set for Tuesday.

Codex Corruption; Experience It For Yourself!

You are about to read a verbatim report which only the presence of Natural Solutions Foundation at Codex makes possible.

Corporate America Supports Most Financial Regulatory Reforms

Corporate America favors the proposed financial reforms, and additionally, across all 8 reforms about which they were queried, only 28% of senior executives, on average, believe the proposed legislation will have a negative impact on the U.S. economy.

Disturbing Questions Remain about GM Flax Contamination

Last September, the Flax Council of Canada (FCC) announced that an unapproved variety of genetically modified flax was detected in food products in Europe. The GM flax variety was identified as FP967 or "Triffid," which had been developed in Canada, but was never commercialized and has been illegal to grow in Canada since 2001. Since the initial announcement last September, GM flax contamination has been reported in 35 countries.

EPA unsure of coal ash rules

Two coal ash dumps in Northampton County may face new federal scrutiny under a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the toxic by-product created from burning coal.

Though months after it was first promised, the EPA's proposal still does not dictate how the ash will be regulated, prompting a struggle between the power and coal industries and environmental groups.

EPA Updates BP Spill Website with Information on Dispersants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday posted information on BP’s use of dispersants to its oil spill response website.

Fannie Mae's MyCommunity Mortgage

Unfortunately, lending to people without the ability or willingness to payback homeloans is not sustainable, something that seems obvious now, but try telling that the Boston Fed or the American Economic Review in the 1990s.

GMO Crops Fail, Cost More, Increase Toxin Use

 The United States FDA approves GMO foods and feeds without any safety testing of significance. Early on in the process of releasing GMOs, the company which owns the patented gene provides the FDA with whatever edited data it chooses to show that the organism in is “safe”, no matter how weak, contrived or meaningless that data is.

Got Raw Milk! Rally on Common Touts Unpasteurized Variety

Milk was on tap at the Boston Common this morning, but it wasn't any supermarket or corner store brand. This milk was raw -- from a dairy cow transported to the park in a trailer.

Gulf oil spill spreads west toward Texas

WITH PICTORIAL ESSAY OF INCIDENT

The spill is spreading west, further from Florida but toward the important shipping channels and rich seafood areas of the Louisiana shoreline, where fishing, shrimping and oyster harvesting bans have been widened.

Hydrogen's Limits

Whole Foods Market, Inc. is aggressively trying to cut its energy consumption. Among its strategies is installing hydrogen-powered fuel cells at certain of its locations to supply anywhere from 50-90 percent of its electricity. The same system can also be used as backup power in case those stores should get cut off from the grid.

Israel Primed for War with Iran says Vice Prime Minister

There is no doubt that the technological capabilities, which improved in recent years, have improved range and aerial refuelling capabilities, and have brought about a massive improvement in the accuracy of ordnance and intelligence,"...

Moody’s Analytics Report Finds US Private Firm Default Rates Trending Downward for First Time Since 2007

Moody’s Analytics announced the release of its bi-annual “Middle Market Risk Report” analyzing trends in the U.S. private firm credit market. The report’s findings show that U.S. private firm default rates decreased in the fourth quarter of 2009 for the first time since 2007. This change, however, may not indicate an improvement of the credit environment, as banks are moving borrowers to non-pass risk grades at a much faster rate than at any other time during the past ten years.

New metamaterial could lead to more efficient solar cells

Metamaterials are manmade substances designed to do some very weird things that natural materials don’t. The path of a beam of light through a natural material like glass is predictable, but scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have engineered an optical material that bends light in the wrong direction.

New Ontario program will help communities develop clean energy projects

Communities across Ontario will be able to benefit from a new program designed to make it easier to plan, develop and bring to life small-scale renewable energy projects.

No end in sight to spill as BP costs mount

BP Plc said on Monday it had incurred $350 million in costs so far from the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as fears mounted of a prolonged and growing environmental and economic disaster.

Obama's State Department Pledges to Step Up Its Cheerleading for Monsanto and GMOs

Noting Turkey's recent ban on biotech food imports and India's rejection of biotech eggplant cultivation, Fernandez said the State Department is "working to overcome these obstacles."

Oil market speculators may spark new volatility says OPEC

Record high long positions by oil market speculators could trigger a new wave of volatility just when the outlook for the energy market has improved following the financial crisis when prices nose-dived, Hassan Qabazard, the head of OPEC's research division, said Tuesday.

Once again, US oil exports explained... poorly

The US does export petroleum molecules. But it almost rarely does it in the form of crude. But the US exports a fair amount of other things.

Pentagon Focused On Developing Alternative Energy

Top U.S. defense officials and executives from the petroleum, alternative fuels and renewable energy sectors are meeting outside Washington this week to address new technology developments and initiatives such as the Pentagon's work on developing biofuels to power military aircraft.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 051010

The visible disk remained spotless.  The geomagnetic field was quiet.  The geomagnetic field is expected to be at predominately quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active periods

Restless Plates in the Peruvian Andes

The Earth's crust is restless, constantly in motion, and earthquakes represent the most violent shifts. However, even when there are no earthquakes, the tectonic plates have the ability to creep unnoticeably.

Root Cause of the Oil Spill; Out-of-Control Corporations and Public Officials

The organic future is post-petroleum.  Disasters like this (and recent coal mine tragedies) remind us of the extreme and dangerous methods people use to obtain our environmentally destructive fuels.  Just as the oil industry is poorly self-regulated and often ignores precautionary principles, so is industrial chemical-intensive ("conventional") agriculture.  The time is now for the organic revolution!

Santa Fe sets PACE for solar installations

Santa Fe County is playing guinea pig for cities and counties statewide to finance solar installations on homes and businesses.

Science Closing in on Mystery of Age-Related Memory Loss, Says UAB Neurobiologist

The world's scientific community may be one step closer to understanding age-related memory loss, and to developing a drug that might help boost memory.

Scientists create organic 'molecular computer'

Researchers from Japan and the Michigan Technological University have succeeded in building a molecular computer that, more than any previous project of its kind, can replicate the inner mechanisms of the human brain, repairing itself and mimicking the massive parallelism that allows our brains to process information like no silicon-based computer can.

Stronger evidence pollution damages heart; report