News 2011:

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World CO2 since 1750 (cubic feet)

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January 28, 2011

 

Abu Dhabi: Rise of a Renewable Energy Titan?

Oil rich Abu Dhabi sees renewable energy as the theme for the next chapter of its place in history. But writing that chapter has proven a lot tougher than its leaders initially anticipated.

After 2010’s winning year, what about 2011?

There is a special magic that sometimes happens with sports teams, particularly young, struggling teams, when the right group of talented, hungry people, who believe in something come together and, well, make magic happen

American Market Preferred in Global Poll Showing New Confidence

Global investors are taking more risks with their money and targeting the U.S. as one of the best places to put their funds as they grow increasingly confident in the economic outlook.

Americans Are Ramping Up Their Investment Activity and Tolerating More Risk

Despite economic uncertainty, an increasing number of Americans are ramping up their investment activity, when compared to levels seen in May 2010.

American States Can Learn Much From Ontario's "Buy Local" Clean Energy Strategy

...a new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ISLR), details how Ontario’s bold clean energy program -- in just over a year -- has resulted in the promise of 43,000 clean energy jobs and over 15,000 megawatts in applications by clean energy projects

A Nap Can Make You Smarter

...napping an hour can dramatically restore and boost your brain power. Amazingly, they found a nap can actually make you smarter.

An Energy Roadmap

FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY, THE UNITED STATES HAS had access to abundant, reliable and affordable energy needed for America to create the largest and most dynamic economy in the world. However, our great legacy and the promise of future achievements cannot be taken for granted. With half of our annual trade deficit related to energy and 70 percent of our oil coming from foreign sources,..

Arctic Current Warmer Than For 2,000 Years: Study

A North Atlantic current flowing into the Arctic Ocean is warmer than for at least 2,000 years in a sign that global warming is likely to bring ice-free seas around the North Pole in summers, a study showed.

As Expected, U.S. Wind Installations Down 50% in 2010

Hurt by falling natural gas prices, low demand for power and lack of a long-term renewable energy target, the American wind industry saw installations fall almost 50% last year, according to figures released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

Breakthrough promises $1.50 per gallon synthetic gasoline with no carbon emissions

UK-based Cella Energy has developed a synthetic fuel that could lead to US$1.50 per gallon gasoline. Apart from promising a future transportation fuel with a stable price regardless of oil prices, the fuel is hydrogen based and produces no carbon emissions when burned.

Charge: Coal-power pollution often deadly

U.S. coal-fired power plant pollution is linked to the premature deaths of an estimated 8,000 to 34,000 people each year, officials of a non-profit group say.

Chemical Dispersants Used by BP Linger in Deep Sea Plume

Chemical dispersants that BP injected directly into its damaged wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico last year, had still not degraded three months after they were applied, according to the first peer-reviewed research on the fate of the chemicals, published today.

Cleanup of former coal gasification plant to begin

Reminders of the town's past as an industrial powerhouse are about to be unearthed as National Grid looks to clean up by-products left behind from a former coal gasification site.

Danger of Bone Cancer From Fluoride in Toothpaste, Drinking Water

As reported in the January 13, 2011 New York Times, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) warned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the move to phase out a fluoride-based pesticide "could create unintended consequences for public health, food safety, and the economy."

Doctors vs. Gun Owners.....

 

EIA ANALYSIS: US crude stocks up on import surge, drop in inputs

US crude stocks climbed a larger-than-expected 4.836 million barrels the week ending January 21 on an increase in imports and a decrease in refinery inputs, an analysis of the data released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration showed.

Experts: 'Clean' Energy Standard Should Not Include Nuclear, Coal

If Congress and the White House intend to move forward with a "clean energy standard" (CES), it will be a huge contradiction to include nuclear reactors and coal-fired power plants, according to three experts.

Extinction Cascades Can Be Prevented, Scientists Find

Extinction cascades are often observed following the loss of a key species within an ecosystem. As the system changes to compensate for the loss, availability of food, territory and other resources to each of the remaining species can fluctuate wildly, creating a boom-or-bust environment that can lead to even more extinctions.

Glenn Beck to Launch Original Documentary film on Iran's Threat and the Twelfth Imam

On Wednesday morning at 11:30am eastern, I am scheduled to be a guest on Glenn Beck's radio show to discuss an original documentary film, "Rumors of War," that Glenn will launch on Wednesday night.

GOP Energy Plan Takes Shape

An emerging group of Republican leaders in Congress are putting together the elements of a new energy plan to help define a new national energy policy.

Hundreds of Yankton, South Dakota birds poisoned by USDA

It's happened in places like Louisiana, Arkansas and Kentucky. Hundreds of birds mysteriously found dead.

Folks in Yankton, South Dakota, thought they were being added to the list after hundreds of dead birds were found there on Monday.  Turns out the unpleasant feathered discovery has a solid explanation.  They were poisoned.

Legislation would ease way for geothermal

Geothermal developers would have more reasons to locate and start projects on state-owned lands in Idaho, under legislation introduced Tuesday in the House Resources and Conservation Committee.

Little Progress Disposing of 34 Metric Tons of Surplus Weapons Grade Plutonium

Too slow, too expensive, too risky: the multi-billion dollar Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX) program, under construction at the River Site, continues to be controversial. A technology chosen by the States in the mid-1990s to contribute to the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, today it is being held out as a solution for America's energy future

National Organic Coalition 'Gravely Disappointed' With USDA Decision To Allow Unrestricted Planting Of Genetically Engineered Alfalfa

The National Organic Coalition (NOC) today is shocked and disappointed over the decision by USDA Secretary Vilsack to de-regulate Genetically Engineered (GE) Alfalfa.

Nation’s Second Largest Refinery to Pay More Than $5.3 Million Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations

Smog- and asthma-causing emissions to be cut by 8,500 tons per year

New Guide Helps Municipalities Monetize The Value Of Green Infrastructure

Quantifying the economic value of green infrastructure's benefits is the key to helping municipalities adopt this innovative and cost-effective stormwater management approach, according to a new report by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and American Rivers

New melt record for Greenland ice sheet

New research shows that 2010 set new records for the melting of the Greenland, expected to be a major contributor to projected sea level rises in coming decades.

"This past melt season was exceptional, with melting in some areas stretching up to 50 days longer than average...

New study says world can be completely powered by clean energy in 20-40 years

...for these technologies to have an impact they must of course be implemented – and on a large scale. What has been sorely lacking is a plan to accomplish such a Herculean feat. Now researchers from the University of California-Davis and Stanford University have published a study that details one scenario to completely convert the world to clean, renewable energy sources – and they say it could be done in 20 to 40 years using technology available today at costs comparable to fossil fuel-based energy.

New Web-Based Map Tracks Marine ‘Dead Zones' Worldwide

New research by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) identifies more than 530 low-oxygen "dead zones" and an additional 228 sites worldwide exhibiting signs of marine "eutrophication." Eutrophication occurs when water bodies are over-fertilized by nutrients that are washed into surface waters from farms and urban areas.

Obama Calls for 80% "Clean Energy" by 2035

Clean energy advocates applauded the bold initiative, but cautioned against the inclusion of nuclear, clean coal and natural gas in a "clean energy standard."

Obama's clean-energy goals have industry questioning feasibility

President Obama has grand plans for a green nation -- 1 million electric vehicles on the road within four years and clean power sources providing 80% of the nation's energy by 2035.

But a day after getting a surprisingly extensive shout-out in Obama's State of the Union address -- he sees clean tech as the country's best chance to seize its "Sputnik moment" -- industry officials were less than enthused and questioned whether the ambitious targets were even attainable.

Official: Wind farm didn't hurt home values

Lee County's first wind farm doesn't appear to have affected nearby residential property values, the county assessor said Tuesday.

RAND Report Sparks Debate about Advanced Biofuels

This has been a big week for advanced biofuels, but mixed messages about the viability of everything from algae to woody cellulose show the industry is at a crossroads, experts say.

Renewable-energy project funding available

The state of New York has made $250 million in funding available for renewable-energy projects.

Renewables, Nuclear and Clean Coal Battle with Cheap Natural Gas to Fuel Future Power Generation Capacity

With the retirement of aging coal-fired power plants and electricity demand projected to grow by more than 20 gigawatts over the next 25 years, it’s a safe bet that shovels are going to hit the ground for new generation capacity. Where that capacity will come from, and how it will be financed, is a question that has spurred both lively debate and a great deal of confusion among power industry executives.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity was at low levels. Region 1149 (N16W90) produced two C1 flares at 27/1201Z and 27/2003Z. A Type II radio sweep was observed at 27/1208Z, with an estimated velocity of 901 km/s.There remains a slight chance for a C-class flare as Region 1149 rotates off the
limb.The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels, with isolated unsettled
periods at high latitudes.

Rise in Childhood Cancers Parallels Toxic Chemical Proliferation

Bipartisan legislation was introduced in Congress today to help communities determine whether there is a connection between clusters of cancer, birth defects and other diseases, and contaminants in the surrounding environment.

Scientists Find Industrial Pollutants In Eastern Lake Erie Carp

Researchers from Upstate New York institutions, including the University at Buffalo, have documented elevated levels of two industrial pollutants in carp in eastern Lake Erie, adding to the body of scientific work demonstrating the lasting environmental effects of human activity and waste disposal on the Great Lakes.

Speeding Up Mother Nature's Very Own CO2 Mitigation Process

Using seawater and calcium to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) in a natural gas power plant's flue stream, and then pumping the resulting calcium bicarbonate in the sea, could be beneficial to the oceans' marine life.

State touts energy effort

In a move widely expected to invigorate the state's wind power industry, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on Monday announced $250 million in renewable-energy incentives available for developers across the state.

Supreme Court rules for farmers in stray-voltage case

In a ruling on an issue that has long vexed the state's dairy industry, a divided Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that two Wabasha County farmers can seek $4 million in damages from Xcel Energy for damages to their herd through stray voltage.

The 12-step Solar Program: Toward an Incentive-less Future

The un-incentivized future approaches, and it is time to call off the hunt for the next big incentive -- because if the solar industry (all technologies) does not, it is surely doomed. Well, maybe doomed is too harsh, disappointed is better. Along with disappointed add chronically over capacity and consistently margin constrained.

The Peak Oil Catastrophe-in-waiting

The United States continues to slumber while a catastrophe lies in wait. Increasing numbers of analysts and policymakers are warning of another super price spike for oil and the likelihood of "peak oil" more generally.

The power to move... out of thin air

Still waiting for the hydrogen economy to ignite and save us from the oil squeeze and environmentally unsustainable fossil fuels?

New Zealand engineer John Fleming is part of an effort to bypass the hydrogen era and go directly to the nitrogen-hydrogen economy.

Turf Battles and Policy Gridlock Continue to Plague Strategic Planning Efforts at Power Companies

There is nothing that paralyzes industry more than uncertainty on impending legislation and regulatory policy. We now face a Democratic administration struggling with a Republican House of Representatives. Looming carbon legislation, as well as new regulations on air emissions, power plant water effluents, and renewable portfolio standards have already resulted in courtroom battles as stakeholders, federal and state regulators all jockey for control. Until these issues are sorted out through policy or mandate, power-industry investment decisions are a risky business and a tremendous challenge for today's utilities.

U.S. Air Force to quadruple solar use

The U.S. Air Force, the No. 1 government buyer of renewable energy, plans to quadruple its on-base solar-energy use in four years, an Air Force official said.

U.S. behind China in wind power energy

China has surpassed the United States in electricity production from wind power, a U.S. trade group says.

US Bond Yields Rise and So Do Mortgage Rates

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.80 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending January 27, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.74 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.98 percent.

US Fed Keeps Nose to the Grindstone to Ensure Sustainable Growth for Economy

Today's Fed statement was largely a repeat performance of mid-December's stance with the long-held range for the fed funds target maintained at 0% to 0.25%, the commitment to buy the entire $600 billion in assets by the end of the second quarter of 2011 reaffirmed and principal payments from maturing securities that the Fed already holds continuing to be reinvested. The tone of the Fed's assessment of the economic outlook was only modestly upgraded from December.

US House cuts budget to 2008 levels, rig inspections could take hit

The US House of Representatives Tuesday fulfilled a Republican pledge to cut federal spending by passing a bill that would to return the government's budget to the fiscal 2008 level.

Veolia Water North America Joins National Call To Action To Prevent Freshwater Crisis

The report was signed by some of nation's foremost organizations advocating for changes in how we consume and manage freshwater, one of the nation's most important and strategic resources.

Volkswagen to unveil 261 mpg XL1 prototype in Qatar

As impressive as that figure is, the company has now managed to squeeze a combined fuel consumption of just 0.9-liter/100 km (261 mpg) with its third-generation VW 1-Litre prototype – the XL1.

Waste_Inbox

Trash System Trashed: A labor-backed advocacy group called the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy released a study yesterday pointing a finger the city's waste disposal system and calling it polluting and wasteful.

Watchdog: Social Security Faces $45 Billion in Debt This Year, Will be Drained by 2037

Social Security's finances are getting worse as the economy struggles to recover and millions of baby boomers stand at the brink of retirement.

Wave and Tidal Energy on the Rise: But Will it Work?

Investment in marine energy technologies is increasing. But with limited success in the sector thus far, it's still uncertain how far that investment will go

Will Squabbling over New Transmission Cost Allocations Squander Big Opportunities for Renewable Energy Growth?

Utilities will spend approximately $56 billion on transmission through 2010. (Edison Electric Institute, 2010)

Would you like statins with that burger?

A study from researchers at Imperial College London seriously suggests that it may be wise for fast food outlets to provide statin drugs free of charge with the condiments, so that customers can neutralize the heart disease dangers of fatty food.

January 25, 2011

 

2010 Hits Top of Temperature Chart

Topping off the warmest decade in history, 2010 experienced a global average temperature of 14.63 degrees Celsius (58.3 degrees Fahrenheit), tying 2005 as the hottest year in 131 years of recordkeeping.pan

Atlantic Weather May Be Key Culprit In Fish Decline

The striped bass is in trouble again.

Battery opportunities coming

job seekers need engineering degrees and experience for more technical jobs or a manufacturing or skilled trades background for production work, according to executives and human resource managers.

Biofuel Jatropha Falls From Wonder-Crop Pedestal

Jatropha, a biofuel-producing plant once touted as a wonder-crop, is turning out to be much less dependable than first thought, both environmentalists and industry players say.

China Continues to Manipulate the United States

China’s president, Hu Jintao, stated this past weekend that the international flexible exchange-rate financial system is unfair and a “product of the past,” and that actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve have led to rising inflation rates in China.

Chinese oil demand: still chugging along

In its recent monthly report, the International Energy Agency said China would see its demand rise 5% to 9.79 million b/d in 2011 from 9.34 million b/d in 2010.

Climate change growing risk for insurers: industry

Scientists say a warmer world will cause more intense drought, floods, cyclones as well as rising sea levels and the insurance industry says the number of weather-related disasters has already soared over the past several decades.pan

Coal Takes a Back Seat

The decision by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative to delay its $6 billion Cypress Creek project threw the future of coal-fired electricity generation into doubt.

Cost Of Natural Disasters $109 Billion In 2010: U.N

Natural disasters caused $109 billion in economic damage last year, three times more than in 2009, with Chile and China bearing most of the cost, the United Nations said Monday.

Cost still a hurdle for biomass energy projects

Under Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, the red carpet was rolled out for initiatives to burn wood and other forms of biomass to produce energy.

Deforestation driving CO2 buildup

"It's a common misconception that the human impact on climate began with the large-scale burning of coal and oil in the industrial era," ...

Driving Straight Into Catastrophe

Despite repeated warnings by environmental and climate experts that reduction of fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is fundamental to forestalling global warming, disaster appears imminent.

EPA Sued Over Pesticides, Endangered Species

Environmental conservation groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday to force it to tighten regulation of pesticide use, arguing that the agency was not consulting wildlife officials

Failed wind projects make builders skittish

From now on, it may cost towns more to build industrial-sized wind turbines.

Fighting the Infection of Cynical Skepticism with Cold Fusion

Given the abundant evidence available, both for cold fusion in general and for the recent Italian 10 kW demonstration in particular, why is it that mainstream science's first reaction has to be crass criticism instead of curiosity and tentative support?

Geothermal energy has potential to save 10 percent energy

Pakistan:The country can save up to 10 percent energy by using geothermal energy for heating and cooling of buildings, which can be used for industrial sector in future.

Globalization on the Rebound Despite National Tensions

A report released yesterday by Ernst & Young in cooperation with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) shows that, after a brief pause in 2009 and a modest rebound in 2010, the world’s 60 largest economies will continue to globalize steadily between now and 2014, driven by the continued global economic recovery, technological innovation and the rise of the emerging market

GMOs: Myths, Falsehoods, Superstitions

GMO’s in India is a sorted tale of corporate aggression and destitute farmers so in debt from season after season of  failed crops that there has been a suicide epidemic as people see no way out of their poverty.

Green jobs continue to grown in California amidst the economic downturn

California's unemployment rate has hovered around 12.4 percent for almost a year. But a new report released late Tuesday shows that green jobs continued to grow amid the downturn.pan

How to move to 100 percent renewables by 2030

What would it take to switch the country’s entire energy infrastructure to renewables like wind and solar by 2030?

Iranian opposition activists hanged for protest footage

Iranian authorities have hanged two men convicted of taking part in protests following the disputed presidential election in 2009.

Justice Dept Makes Defense Of CO2 Rules Top Priority

Defending new regulations on the emission of greenhouse gases will be a top priority for the Obama administration this year as challenges emerge, a senior U.S. Justice Department official said on Thursday.

Less is more for more cost-efficient wind farms

Seeing the 2 bladed fan would have driven him quickly into hysterics.

The answer is a 10 bladed fan in a 12 blade configuration.

Lilly-area bony piles disappearing

Late last year, a Loretto-based trucking company began hauling waste coal to the Colver Power Project plant, which burns the material to generate power for resale.

Moth eye-inspired material boosts efficiency of solar cells

In order for a solar cell to be as efficient as possible, the last thing it should be is reflective – after all, light should be getting absorbed by it, not being bounced off. With that in mind, a few years ago a group of Japanese scientists set out to create an antireflective film coating for use on solar cells.

Naimi sees oil markets in balance, prices stable in 2011

Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali Naimi said Monday that he expected oil markets this year to be in balance and price stability to continue at 2010 levels, though he expressed concern at what he said was pressure exerted on prices by speculators and futures market investors.

Navajo finally getting electricity

Nowhere in America are there more people without electricity than on tribal lands. Despite the fact that the Navajo and Hopi tribes are the major electricity producers for the entire Southwest, nearly 18,000 rural Navajo homes do not have electrification or basic human services.

Nepal blames low rainfall for rolling power cuts

Nepal on Friday said it has had to cut power supplies for 12 hours per day due to falling levels in the reservoirs which feed the country's hydroelectric power plants.

New plants wouldn't mean lower heating bills

If two coal-to-synthetic gas plants are built in the state, Illinois consumers can expect to pay as much as $191 more a year to heat their homes beginning around 2015 and continuing for roughly two decades

New research reveals the root of musical pleasure

We all know that certain pieces of music can evoke strong emotional responses in people. Now, a research team from Canada's McGill University has uncovered evidence that reveals exactly what causes such feelings of euphoria and ecstasy and why music is so important in human society. Using a combination of brain scanning technologies, the study has shown that the same neurotransmitter which is associated with feeling pleasure from sex and food is released in the brain when listening to good music

New Shipping Rules Urged To Avert "Arctic Titanic"

The Arctic Ocean needs tough new shipping rules as a rapid thaw opens the remote, icy region and brings risks of disasters on the scale of the Titanic, politicians and experts said on Monday.n="left"

No New Households, No New Homes

But, let’s take a look at a number you don’t hear much about, especially from the stock-market cheerleaders, that is very telling about the actual state of the economy and why homebuilders are having so much trouble building homes and apartments.

Pesticides give rise to mutant bed bugs

Bedbugs are coming back with a vengeance, and a new study out of Ohio State University says that pesticides and insecticides are at least jointly responsible for spawning a new breed of mutant bedbugs that is genetically-resistant to the very chemicals commonly used to eradicate it.

Politicians Ignoring Citizens Call for Freedom of Food and Natural Health Products

Who will speak for the citizens of the United States if not our elected officials? Last year, anyone concerned about their health and access to nutritious food and natural medicine watched in horror as the government passed landmark legislations that will give them unconstitutional jurisdiction over essential items for a healthy life.

Poll: Gold To Hit $1,520 as Economic Fears Linger

Gold should build on last year's stellar gains in 2011 to hit record highs, boosted by low interest rates, dollar weakness and lingering worry over growth in major economies, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.

Raw Milk Dairy Farm Fights Back and Wins!

With all the troubles that raw milk producers have had recently as the FDA hones in on the rise of its sale, it is certainly refreshing to see a win on the side of food freedom.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Region 1147 produced a few low-level B-class flares and remains an Hsx-alpha group..  slight chance for an isolated M-class flare.The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels, with isolated unsettled levels possible at high latitudes, for the next three days (25-27 January)..

Ruiz, Champion of Mayan Rights, Dies at 86

Well into the 20th century, the Maya of Mexico and Central America were forced to work as virtual slaves—deforesting their own lands, no less, as well as working in the mines and the fields.

Secretary Chu Announces New Efforts to Promote Clean Energy in Tribal Communities

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today two new initiatives to promote tribal energy development and continue strengthening the partnership between the Department of Energy and tribal nations.

Seoul's Living Light installation informs on city's air quality

Situated in Peace Park, just across from the World Cup Stadium in Seoul, stands a functional art installation that lets citizens know about the quality of air in their city. The Living Light canopy consists of blocks representing each section of the city where an air monitoring station is situated.

Solar industry running out of subsidies

Despite four years of economic malaise, Californians have been installing solar panels at the speed of light, pushing down subsidies and creating turmoil in the solar installation industry, according to some industry observers.

Southern Company and Ted Turner Energize Cimarron Solar Facility

The clean and plentiful sunshine of New Mexico is now producing electricity for some 9,000 homes as the Cimarron Solar Facility has begun commercial operation. At 30 megawatts, Cimarron is among the nation's largest solar photovoltaic plants.

States take lead in efforts to fight climate change

Now that 2010 has gone down as one of history's hottest years, many states are choosing not to wait for Congress to tackle global warming and are taking their own steps to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

Stratospheric Warming linked to our weather

Meteorologists at Freie Universität have found a correlation between warming in the stratosphere and cold or warm winter periods. They observed that there is an increased number of stratospheric warmings, when the heat flow from the North Atlantic into the atmosphere is increased. Trends for winter temperatures can be derived from these new findings

Texas lieutenant governor weighs bill to retire coal-fired plants

Texas Lt Gov David Dewhurst, a Republican, is developing a plan to provide financial and regulatory incentives for retiring some of the state's oldest and least efficient coal-fired power plants

U.N. Climate Plans Said Too Narrow To Save Forests

World efforts to slow deforestation should do more to address underlying causes such as rising demand for crops or biofuels, widening from a U.N. focus on using trees to fight climate change, a study said Monday.

 Waste_Inbox

The Waste Hits The Fan: The city of Columbus is withholding sewer service from the developer of a proposed casino until casino officials allow the city to annex the site on which the facility is to be built.

Some Himalayan glaciers advance, despite warming

Some Himalayan glaciers are advancing despite an overall retreat, according to a study on Sunday that is a step toward understanding how climate change affects vital river flows from China to India

Will giant mixers keep nuclear waste stable?

It sounds like a sci-fi thriller: Dangerous gases build up in a giant drum of nuclear waste. It explodes and spews contamination, threatening workers or the public. Or it cripples a facility that cost taxpayers $12.2 billion.

January 21, 2011

 

After tragedy, Arizona eyes more gun rights

Arizona has become a national leader in the gun rights movement in recent years as the state enacted law after law to protect the people's right to bear arms nearly anywhere, at anytime.

Ambitious project to green the desert to begin in Jordan

The Sahara Forest Project’s (SFP) first facility will be located on a 2,000,000 square meter (21,527,821 sq. ft.) plot of land in Aqaba, a coastal town in the south of Jordan where it will be a test bed for the use of a combination of technologies designed to enable the production of fresh water, food and renewable energy in hot, arid regions.

A New Energy Storage Option: Gravity Power

Pumped storage hydro uses gravity to store energy that is sourced from the grid by raising water to a higher altitude, creating potential energy. That potential is then converted to electricity when the water returns to its original level, passing through a turbine on the way. Storage capacity can be increased by adding mass and/or the storage height.

Arizona transforms into national leader in energy conservation

Arizona will dramatically reduce its energy use, pioneer a new business model for state utility companies and save ratepayers billions of dollars, thanks to new policies passed by Arizona’s public utility commission, national energy and environmental groups said in a joint statemen

Battery recycling up 10.1% in 2010 for Call2Recycle

Call2Recycle collected 6.7 million pounds of rechargeable batteries for recycling last year, a 10.1% increase from previous years.

The batteries were collected from a network of 30,000 retail stores, business locations and municipal drop sites, the company said.

CO2 Ocean Sequestration

The oceans contain around 36,000 gigatons of carbon, mostly in the form of bicarbonate ion (over 90%, with most of the remainder being carbonate).

Inorganic carbon, that is carbon compounds with no carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds, is important in its reactions within water. This carbon exchange becomes important in controlling pH in the ocean and can also vary as a source or sink for carbon.

Deputies: Clerk with Sword Stops Robbery Suspect

Investigators say the clerk pulled out a samurai sword, and chased Vinson out of the store into the parking lot. After a scuffle, authorities say the clerk made an attempt to corner Vinson, but the suspect was able to get away.

Don't Worry About Rare Earths

There are 17 elements classified as Rare Earths. Rare Earths aren't really rare. It's just rare to find them in commercial-grade ore.

Energy summit offers green ideas

Energy is the second biggest expenditure in school budgets today, so school officials are looking for ways to make buildings more energy efficient as a means of cutting expenses.

European Supergrid Slowly Coming into Focus

infrastructure and unlock gigawatts of wind power capacity.

Experts push for renewable energy

That's the message some businesspeople and energy experts sent during a briefing Wednesday in the General Assembly Building.

It can cost consumers a little less to run solar water heaters built into their homes than to run the heaters on conventional energy, said Etan Gumerman, a Duke University researcher.

Fluoride In Water Linked To Lower IQ In Children

Is this the end of water fluoridation?

Fluoride is added to 70% of U.S. public drinking water supplies.

France plans underwater nuclear reactor

Engineers have been working on plans to create a capsule-shaped reactor that would be moored on the sea floor several miles off the coast, the company said.

Gravity Power’s New Take on Pumped-Hydro Energy Storage

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is really the only large-scale electricity storage technology widely used today, with over 120,000 megawatts of capacity worldwide. There's just a few hundred megawatts of other energy storage technologies deployed globally in the form of compressed air storage, sodium-sulphur, lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, and redox flow batteries. 

'Killer paper' could prolong shelf life of foods

Silver is a known killer of harmful bacteria, and has already been incorporated into things such as antibacterial keyboards, washing machines, water filters, and plastic coatings for medical devices. Now, scientists have added another potential product to the list: silver nanoparticle-impregnated “killer paper" packaging, that could help keep food from spoiling.

Latin American wind takes shape

Despite major regional diversity, there appears to be a growing will among Latin American policy makers and business leaders to make countries in the region a much more attractive proposition for renewable energy developers. Wind power in particular has the advantage that it's a good fit for hydropower – Latin America's primary electrical generation method.

NASA images reveal consistent climate warming among different temperature records

Four different global temperature records show the Earth is warming.

Nigeria woos bidders for state-run power company

Nigeria has began to solicit bids for the nation's decrepit power grid, an offer that could be worth billions for private investors and that many hope will end frequent blackouts and erratic service in Africa's most populous nation.

No 'smart' alternative

Central Maine Power Co. is rejecting calls to allow some customers to opt out of its "smart meter" installation program.

Pirates seized record 1,181 hostages in 2010

Pirates took a record 1,181 hostages in 2010 as ship hijackings in waters off Somalia escalated, a global maritime watchdog said Tuesday.

Solar PV installations reached 17.5 GW in 2010

Solar PV installations could see double-digit growth in 2011, to reach 20.5 GW and take the total installed capacity to 58 GW by the end of the year.

Tame Inflation Figures Leave Mortgage Rates Mixed

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.74 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending January 20, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.71 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.99 percent.

The Wind Industry Blows Steadily Over to Asia

The 90's was the decade of German dominance in wind. The 2000's saw the emergence of America as a leader in installations. And as the new decade unfolds, the balance of power is shifting to China.

To Grid or Not to Grid, That is the Question

In some ways, what solar does is help make the grid obsolete, at least in the way we've thought of it – as the be-all and end-all of an electric-powered lifestyle.

Trump: It’s ‘Impossible’ for US to Compete With China

The United States can't compete with China and should consider taxing Chinese imports to level the playing field, says real-estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump.

A tax on Chinese imports would enable the U.S. to repay Chinese lenders and would create jobs.

On the flip side, just the mere threat of such a tax would force the Chinese to unveil more favorable trading terms with the United States.

US gas market oversupplied in 2011, to average $3.94/MMBtu: Barclays

While gas prices may fall as low as $2/MMBtu this year, analyst James Crandell said power generators switching to cheaper gas from coal will provide the buffer that prices need to stay in the $4/MMBtu range

US propane, propylene stocks drop 5.4 million barrels: EIA

Total US propane and propylene inventories fell 5.4 million barrels during the reporting week ended January 14, according to data released Wednesday by the US Energy Information Administration.

WikiLeaks cables: Iran has cleared major hurdle to nuclear weapons

Tehran has 'technical ability' to make highly enriched uranium, say experts, as efforts turn to disrupting supply of other materials

Clean Edge Jobs

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January 18, 2011

 

A Lot of What We Do Impacts the Sea

Habitatalteration, simply put, is a change to a particular environment. What is unclear from its designation, however, is the adverse affect changes — big or small — have on the broader environment and related plant and animal life. According to The Nature Conservancy, habitat alteration, along with invasive species, are the two main causes of fish extinction

Am I living on a different planet to these anthropogenic global warming nuts?

There is no massive ice melt taking place except on the Western fringes, 90% of ice sheets are thickening and the same per-centage of glaciers are growing.

(Editor: Included for perspective.)

Amount of carbon absorbed by ecosystems each year is grossly overstated, says new study

According to a new paper published in Science, current carbon accounting methods significantly overstate the amount of carbon that can be absorbed by forests, plains, and other terrestrial ecosystems. That is because most current carbon accounting methods do not consider the methane and carbon dioxide released naturally by rivers, streams, and lakes.

Analysis: Roaring Fossil Fuels Outpace Green Energy

Fossil fuel investments will continue to outstrip low-carbon alternatives this year, darkening a sector struggling to shake off the financial crisis and sagging political momentum on climate change.

Arizona Senator Allen Pushes for Potash Mining

Natural wealth lies underground in Navajo and Apache counties.

It isn't gold or silver or even buried treasure but potash, an essential crop fertilizer.

Australia Floods Sweep South, Trail Of Disaster Grows

Australian floods wreaked fresh havoc on rural communities in the south on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction across four states, at least 17 dead and the prospect of reconstruction of historic proportions.

Bill that would circumvent EPA coal permits to be introduced

A West Virginia bill to be introduced early this week aims to give a state agency the power to grant some coal mining permits and circumvent stalling by the EPA.

China's President: Dump Dollar for Yuan as Global Currency

On the eve of a U.S. visit, Chinese President Hu Jintao made the boldest statement yet on the future of the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency, calling the current global monetary exchange system “a product of the past” while promoting his own country’s currency as a replacement.

China unveils $600M of U.S. deals ahead of Hu visit

A Chinese trade mission has signed $600 million in deals with U.S. companies ahead of President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington this week and a separate delegation will look into other opportunities, the government said Tuesday.

Cold Fusion getting hot with 10kw heater prepping for market

Italian inventor, Andrea Rossi, claims to have an industrial product ready to manufacture that produces large amounts of energy reliably, safely, and much cheaper than coal or natural gas power.  It utilizes the fusion of hydrogen and the common element nickel at relatively low temperatures.

Congress May Not Be So Ready To Fund S. 510 After All!

According to Food Safety News, "Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA), the new chair of the appropriations subcommittee overseeing the budgets for FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is still seriously questioning whether the new law deserves funding, considering the national debt that is spiraling out of control.

El Nino Seen Triggering Next World Warmth Record

Last year tied with 2005 as the warmest on record, according to U.S. agencies, but is likely to be overtaken soon by the next year with a strong El Nino weather event, experts said on Thursday.

Ex-employee: DEP ignores own ash rules

A Schuylkill County hydrogeologist said a state agency for which he used to work ignores its own policies when permitting strip mines to be filled with coal ash.

Follow the leader: SARTRE road train technology successfully demonstrated

Reading the morning paper while behind the wheel of your car might sound like surefire recipe for disaster, but in the not-too-distant future it might just become a safer and more economical option than actually doing the driving yourself.

Ford’s home EV charging station stacks up against competitors

Home charging stations aren't included in the purchase price of the growing numbers of electric vehicles from major automakers, so unless you live next door to a public charging station or are one of the 4,400 Volt owners to snap up a free one from GM, you’ll be forced to shell out some extra cash if you want a faster charging option than is possible with the included 120-volt cable. At least Ford’s home charging station for its new Focus Electric is shaping-up to be little cheaper and more flexible than some competitor offerings.

Fruit fly research could lead to simpler and more robust computer networks

Over the years science has gleaned an enormous amount of knowledge from the humble fruit fly.

Herman Cain: Blacks Finally Hearing Truth on GOP

African-American voters are finally getting the facts about the Republican Party and beginning to turn away from their traditional pattern of voting for Democrats, Atlanta talk radio host Herman Cain tells Newsmax.TV. The former CEO said talk radio has been key to this transformation and that is why liberals are seeking to resurrect the Fairness Doctrine.

Higher Commodity, Food Prices May Spur Inflation

Rising wholesale prices for food and energy are putting pressure on manufacturers and retailers to pass higher costs to customers. It's a trend that could raise inflation in the United States and slow economies in Asia and Latin America.

How Green Jobs Are Fueling The Recovery

Creating new well-paying jobs to spur the economic recovery remains a central concern globally and in the US. The Great Recession has left many professionals and their families struggling to make ends meet for over two years. This jobless recovery is likely to be the longest recovery since the Great Depression.

IEA chief warns of tighter oil market in 2011

International Energy Agency chief Nobuo Tanaka warned on Monday of tighter oil supply over the next year, thanks to a more robust global economic recovery and declining oil inventories in the industrialized world.

It has begun.. Arctic Apocalypse

So many people have been yelling the warning… but the world has not taken heed.

This is not fear mongering this is fact. The earth changes we will experience in the next 2 years are going happen 100 times faster than the most pessemistic appraisals. The web-bots have pointed to a Global coastal event, Remote viewers have seen it and the Super Rich are getting ready. We are now at the tipping point.

Mudslides Kill More Than 525 People in Brazil

At least 527 people have lost their lives as mudslides brought down by weeks of rain struck three towns in the Serrana region of southeastern Brazil on Wednesday. The death toll is expected to rise when search and rescue teams reach remote villages cut off by the slides.

New RNC Boss Priebus Vows to Fix Steele's Damage

The new Republican Party chairman's celebration may be short-lived.

From the get-go, Reince Priebus faces a ton of tough tasks in the wake of Michael Steele's troubled tenure.

New Term "Atmospheric Rivers" Tells of Shifting Ocean and Jet Stream Currents

A recent article published January 15th by NOAA speaks of a super-storm threat to California. Scientists say a plausible super-storm that could devastate California would be fed by an "atmospheric river" moving water at the same rate as 50 Mississippi rivers discharging water into the Gulf of Mexico.

Official says Abu Dhabi committed to clean energy

The dean of a research institute at the core of Abu Dhabi's green-energy city said Sunday the government remains firmly committed to renewable power after recent shifts in the ambitious project's goals.

Oil prices on the up as OPEC rolls into 2011

OPEC started 2011 with two clear warnings, one from the International Energy Agency and one from the US Energy Information Administration, as oil prices continued to climb, repeatedly breaking upward through fresh two-year highs.

OPEC says oil market fundamentals don't explain price surge

Oil market fundamentals do not fully explain the recent surge in crude prices to their highest levels in more than two years, OPEC said January 17, insisting that a combination of high inventories and ample surplus capacity ensured "an adequate cushion of supply” to meet market needs.

Petition to Fully Repeal Obamacare

Republicans are pushing the vote to repeal Obamacare on Wednesday.

This is a critical time in our nation’s history, as Obamacare will . . .

Providing Home Where Buffalo Roam Stirs Battles

For the first time in more than a century, wild buffalo from the nation's last purebred herd will be permitted to roam free in Montana outside the bounds of Yellowstone National Park.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity remained at very low levels. Occasional B-class flares were observed...The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels for the next three days (18-20 January)..

Scandinavian Sea May Get Too Warm For Cod

Climate change could make a sea in southern Scandinavia too warm for Atlantic cod and rising water temperatures may be stunting the growth of young fish, a study showed on Monday.

Southern Nuclear pushing for nuclear waste disposal

Southern Nuclear, the company that operates Farley Nuclear Plant in Houston County, wants the federal government to make good on a decades-old promise to create a centralized nuclear waste storage facility.

The Earth's shrinking snow and ice cover may increase the rate of Global warming

Shrinking ice and snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere is reflecting ever less sunshine back into space in a previously underestimated mechanism that could add to global warming, a study showed.

The 'Food Bubble' is Bursting, Says Lester Brown, and Biotech Won't Save Us

For years -- even decades -- Earth Policy Institute president and Grist contributor Lester Brown has issued Cassandra-like warnings about the global food system. His argument goes something like this: Global grain demand keeps rising, pushed up by population growth and the switch to more meat-heavy diets; but grain production can only rise so much, constrained by limited water and other resources. So, a food crisis is inevitable.

Victims of tax fraud family hit hard by IRS

At least one local couple is expecting a foreclosure notice any day. The IRS has garnished their wages and even tried to get at their 401K.

Water, Food, And Energy Shortages Pose Increasing Threat To Economic Growth, Concludes World Economic Forum Report

There is a serious risk that the world will experience significant water, food, and energy shortages over the next ten years, and it is likely that economic growth will suffer as demand for basic resources soars.

World Future Energy Summit 2011 opens to optimistic message from UN Secretary General

Many of the world’s foremost influencers and thought leaders on renewable energy, including heads of state, policy makers, government officials, business leaders, technologists, financiers and academics have travelled from all over the world to Abu Dhabi to debate, discuss and promote the challenges and solutions relating to the world’s energy needs.

Yucca Mtn. appeal will be heard in March

A federal appeals court will begin hearing oral arguments on March 22 in a lawsuit brought in part by Aiken County against the Department of Energy for stopping plans toward a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

January 14, 2011

 

2010 Ties For Warmest Year, Emissions To Blame

Last year tied for the warmest since data started in 1880, capping a decade of record high temperatures that shows mankind's greenhouse gas emissions are heating the planet, two U.S. agencies said.

Are Superconductors Finally Coming of Age?

Every technology must compete against an incumbent: Transistors fought vacuum tubes; optical fibers fought copper wires in communications; and today, superconductors are facing off against copper cables in the electricity transmission space.

Australian Floods Could Send Food Prices Soaring

The worst flooding in the Australian state of Queensland in 50 years could push up the nation's fruit and vegetable prices by as much as 20 to 30 percent, lifting inflation and potentially dampening retail spending.

Beekeepers Fume at Association's Endorsement of Fatal Insecticides

Britain's beekeepers are at war over their association's endorsement for money of four insecticides, all of them fatal to bees, made by major chemical companies.

Bill would count existing dams as renewable energy

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it easier for utilities to meet the standard for renewable energy production, a proposal that conservationists say would make the standard meaningless.

Brain Diseases Now on the Rise

...brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's now occur:

  • Earlier in life . . .
  • More frequently . . .
  • To a much more severe degree . . .

Buy American Policy for Solar -- Who Cares?

A lot of energy has been devoted to the "Buy American" clause in a bill signed by President Obama last week that requires the Defense Department to buy U.S.- made solar panels. It's a sexy subject because it stirs passionate debates about fair trade and protectionism and how China's growing political and economic clout is scaring a lot of people.

Cape Wind Completes Permitting Process

Cape Wind completed its Federal permitting process today with the receipt of a final permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), continuing the project's forward progress to creating jobs and increasing energy independence from the 468 megawatt offshore wind farm.

Clean Energy to open compressed natural gas station

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. will build and operate a new fast-fill compressed natural gas fueling station in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., for the Atlantic City Jitney Association.

Coal plant rejection shows dilemma

It highlighted the Catch-22 facing developers of this new breed of power plants: The steep price of building so-called clean coal plants deters investment -- but the cost won't come down until companies can prove the technology works, which requires actually building and operating plants.

Concentrating Solar Thermal Power, Distributed

When discussing centralized v. decentralized solar power, there’s an inevitable comparison between solar thermal electric power and solar photovoltaic (PV).  But the fact is that solar thermal power – or concentrating solar power (CSP) – can also be done in a distributed fashion.

Debt-Limit Chickens Face Chop

Unless House Republicans want to trigger a civil war within their party, they must accompany any expansion of the debt limit with serious cuts in spending. While the old, complacent GOP establishment would have gone along with a clean debt-limit bill, the new, fiery Tea Party folks won't have it.

Dust levels in Earth's atmosphere contribute to climate change

The amount of dust in the Earth's atmosphere has doubled over the last century, according to a new study; and the dramatic increase is influencing climate and ecology around the world.

Electrifying New Way To Clean Dirty Water

University of Utah researchers developed a new concept in water treatment: an electrobiochemical reactor in which a low electrical voltage is applied to microbes to help them quickly and efficiently remove pollutants from mining, industrial and agricultural wastewater.

"End of Days" bird kill just a fraction of real death toll

There are many human-related causes of bird mortality including buildings, outdoor cats, pesticides, communication towers, automobiles, wind farms, and lead poisoning from spent ammunition and lost fishing tackle."

EPA Monitoring Shows South China Sea Not Polluted

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of the Executive Yuan said the first successful marine water quality monitoring it conducted in the Spratly Islands in September 2010 showed that water quality at all monitoring points around Taiping Island and Central Reef are qualified with Taiwan's A type standards of marine environmental quality, making it an unpolluted sea area.

e-Waste Recycled Entirely Within The United States

In response to news reports, about e-waste recycling programs sending their waste to China for processing, the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County announced today that all of the e-waste collected at the weekly Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors sponsored Household Hazardous/E-Waste (HHEW) Collection Events is, and has been, recycled entirely within the United States.

Experts say simple actions can help save energy

If buildings are living organisms, as energy-efficiency gurus like to say, then the Portland Opera's three-floor headquarters and rehearsal space in Southwest Portland is bipolar, vacillating between frenetic activity and somnolence.

Household Sewage: Not Waste, But A Vast New Energy Resource

In a finding that gives new meaning to the adage, "waste not, want not," scientists are reporting that household sewage has far more potential as an alternative energy source than previously thought. They say the discovery, which increases the estimated potential energy in wastewater by almost 20 percent, could spur efforts to extract methane, hydrogen and other fuels from this vast and, as yet, untapped resource.

Industry "high" on US oil drilling and horizontal rigs

Oil rig drilling in the US is climbing into the stratosphere while hitting another new high, while horizontal drilling for both oil and natural gas has become not only the preferred drilling direction but broke usage records last week, according to the venerable Baker Hughes rig count.

Inflation Growing in Emerging Markets

Emerging-market stocks are slumping into the New Year as food and energy inflation hit hard, especially in frothy Southeast Asia.

Key Trends for the Oil & Gas Sector in 2011

“There is a definite change on the horizon in the oil and gas sector that mirrors the larger economy”

Moody's, S&P May Downgrade U.S. Debt Rating

Moody's said that the U.S., along with Germany, France and the U.K., risks losing its "Aaa" rating if health care and pension subsidies aren't reined in.

New laws increase solar availability

A new law signed into effect at the beginning of the year allows consumers to take advantage of solar panel energy, even if they do not have solar panels on their property.

Oil prices on the up as OPEC rolls into 2011

OPEC started 2011 with two clear warnings, one from the International Energy Agency and one from the US Energy Information Administration, as oil prices continued to climb, repeatedly breaking upward through fresh two-year highs.

"The oil import bills are becoming a threat to the economic recovery. This is a wake-up call to the oil consuming countries and to the oil producers," Birol said.

Palin Blasts 'Reprehensible Blood Libel' Over Arizona Shooting

“After this shocking tragedy,” says Palin, “I listened at first puzzled, then with concern, and now with sadness, to the irresponsible statements from people attempting to apportion blame for this terrible event."

RealtyTrac: Foreclosure Filings May Jump 20 Percent This Year as Crisis Peaks

The number of U.S. homes receiving a foreclosure filing will climb about 20 percent in 2011, reaching a peak for the housing crisis, as unemployment remains high and banks resume seizures after a slowdown, RealtyTrac Inc. said.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity remained very low. Region 1146 (N23E06) is the only spotted region on the visible disk.  Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels.  Geophysical Activity Forecast: Geomagnetic field activity is
expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for days one and two (14
- 15 January) as a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS)
becomes geoeffective.

Scientist developing self-healing biorenewable polymers

Materials that can repair themselves are generally a good thing, as they increase the lifespan of products created from them, and reduce the need for maintenance.

Scientists See Climate Change Link To Australian Floods

Climate change has likely intensified the monsoon rains that have triggered record floods in Australia's Queensland state, scientists said on Wednesday, with several months of heavy rain and storms still to come.

Searching for sense in insanity

Loughner had been invited to attend a “Congress on the Corner” event held by Giffords in August 2007 at the Foothills Mall in Tucson. Investigators found that Loughner had written “I planned ahead,” and “My assassination” and “Giffords” along with what appears to be Loughner’s signature on an envelope he had in a safe at his home.

Solar-power buildup going large-scale across Arizona

Solar-power arrays have sprouted up on rooftops and parking garages across Tucson and Arizona.

Solar-wise California friends aim to light up African villages

Electric power. We flip a switch, turn it on, take it for granted. The lights, the microwave, the flat-screen TV; and now the Leaf or Volt or some other electric car.

But in Africa, electricity remains a rare, hard-earned luxury. Blackouts as long as 12 hours are common, even in the large cities, while homes in villages far off the grid are warmed by wood fires and glow to kerosene light.

'Superstreet' concept shows promise in real-world test

No left turn. That is the simple concept behind the Superstreet traffic design which promises significantly faster travel times, plus a drastic reduction in auto-collisions and injuries. These superstreets are ground level streets – not raised freeways or highways – that allow for greater volume of thru-traffic by re-routing traffic from side streets that would normally be trying to get across the main road.

Texas loses another round in fight over EPA regulation of greenhouse gases

Texas lost a third round Wednesday in its legal fight to halt federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

Texas had asked the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to block a program that awards construction permits to major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, such as cement kilns and oil refineries. Every other state has begun the permit program or allowed EPA to award permits for them.

Tidal power plant proposed for New York's East River

Here's exciting news for anyone who's been watching the fledgling efforts to promote tidal power in the U.S.: A New York energy company that has been testing tidal power in the East River has filed a formal application to install 30 underwater power turbines in the East Channel of the river.

To Save the States Let'em Declare Bankruptcy

Facing huge budget difficulties, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been showing other states how to survive -- namely, by taking on the government-employee unions.

Truth-in-Labeling Campaigns in Being Formed

"If you put a label on genetically engineered food you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it."

US Beige Book, Economic Activity “Continued to Expand Moderately” from November to December

...characterized U.S. economic activity as continuing to “expand moderately” during the reporting period. Overall conditions and activity were noted to have improved by some degree in all 12 districts, a step up from the last report in which two Districts cited “mixed” business conditions. 

US DOJ says oil spill 'top enforcement priority' in 2011

Investigating and litigating the Gulf of Mexico spill will be the "top enforcement priority" in 2011 for the US Department of Justice's environment and natural resources division, Ignacia Moreno, an assistant attorney general, said Thursday.

US drilling in 2010 still well below elevated 2008 levels, says API

US oil and natural gas drilling in 2010 rose over the previous year but still remains "far" below the high-flying levels seen in 2008, according to the American Petroleum Institute's 2010 Quarterly Well Completion Report for fourth quarter 2010, released Tuesday.

Waste_Inbox

Ultimate Ultimatum: The city of Austin, Texas, is creating a reality TV show aimed at urging residents to reduce the amount of trash they generate.

What to Learn from Florida’s Mortgage Meltdown

If anyone wants to see a real live mortgage meltdown in progress, they should visit Florida where, according to the American Securitization Forum, more than 50% of securitized non-agency Florida residential mortgages are greater than 60 days past due. 

That means that at least 50% of all borrowers included in the data didn’t make their mortgage payments in November and December. 

In my world, a 50+ percent non-payment rate qualifies as a bona fide “melt-down”.

Why India Will be a Leader in CSP

Over the last couple of years, there has been very little talk of India becoming one of the biggest markets for concentrating solar power (CSP). Today, however, many factors are coming together which show me that the country will start to lead the industry.

Wind power growing in Texas

Wind power continued as a growing force in electricity production in Texas in 2010, accounting for 7.8 percent of generation for the power grid operated by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages 85 percent of the state's electric load.

January 11, 2011

 

60% of Private Businesses and Private Lenders Say an Increase in the $14.3 Trillion US Federal Debt Ceiling Would Be Detrimental to the Economy in the Next 12 Months

“Small businesses and lenders who serve small businesses have had to deal with the economic reality of limited borrowing and lending for the last three years. They may feel that a similar reality has eluded the Federal government and it is time to start owning up.”

Alternative energy generating jobs in Ohio

Ohio's manufacturers have embraced alternative energy, with 169 businesses making materials used to produce solar or wind energy, according to a new analysis by the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

Aspens bust, diseased mice boom

Recent diebacks of aspen trees in the U.S. West may end up increasing the risk posed by a lethal human pathogen, a new study suggests.

Christians Face Surge of Violent Attacks in Middle East

It is not receiving nearly enough attention in the mainstream media, but a disturbing development is underway in the Middle East: followers of Jesus Christ in the epicenter have endured a dramatic surge of violence and persecution at the hands of religious and political extremists in recent weeks and months.

Climate 3000

What if this and that... The art of prediction is one that often fails and only the test of time will show who is right and who is wrong. Climate models use quantitative methods to simulate the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice.

Court Rules in Favor of Free Speech for Natural Supplements

The FDA has been controlling the market of natural supplementation and vitamins, suppressing free speech by not allowing suppliers and manufacturers to state the potential health benefits of a product on its label. A federal case brought against the FDA by Alliance for Natural Health-USA (ANH-USA) and other plaintiffs have made some powerful headway against the agency this gag order and the emerging science behind healthy foods and dietary supplements.

DEFENDING THE FDA

“In case you are having trouble getting lawyers to volunteer to defend the FDA, it’s not that hard, really, for a well-trained lawyer to set aside his or her feelings, thoughts and humanity to just express the client’s inner truth. Sort of like channeling… Their case is practically ready-made, they’d just need to fill in the details. Basically it boils down to the following, which came to me in a dream… where I thought I saw a 40-foot stone owl in some dark Grove somewhere, acting as the FDA’s counsel and intoning…”

GE Alfalfa’s Devastating Environmental Impact Statement—and USDA Still Wants to Deregulate

The USDA is ready to deregulate GE alfalfa, even though the EIS raises grave concerns. There’s still time to stop it—if we act quickly!

Gerald Celente looks to 2011 free energy breakthroughs as the beginning of a new revolution

The free energy community has a lot more than just a small solution to a bunch of major problems. It could mark a major turning point in human destiny. It can bring profound hope, which itself has tremendous value in bolstering the human spirit.

Iran Has Enough Enriched Uranium to Build 4 Nuclear Bombs

Why then does likelihood of war between Israel and Iran seem to be declining for 2011?

Jemez Pueblo, Santa Fe National Forest sign historic pact

Just days after President Barack Obama announced U.S. support for the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the White House Tribal Conference Dec. 16, the Pueblo of Jemez and the Santa Fe National Forest entered into a historic agreement that gives the Jemez nation decision making powers over its aboriginal lands and provides a model implementation of the indigenous human rights document.

JPMorgan: Surging Food Prices Fueling Global Inflation

Rising food prices are stoking global inflation with many agricultural commodity markets driven higher by bad weather in key producing countries, a senior trader at JPMorgan said.

Judge Rules Parent Give Vaccine to Child or Face Jail Time

How free can a country be when a parent is forced to make a choice of either poisoning their child or being sent to jail, even threatened to have the child taken from them? In a disturbing case of judicial over-reaching, Michelle Cochrane was sentenced to make that choice by Jackson County, MI, Judge Susan Beebe; get your 2 year old vaccines, or else!

Mass Wildlife Die-Off Events

On New Year's Eve, over 3,000 red-winged blackbirds inexplicably plummeted to their deaths from the skies over Arkansas. They may have struck something while in the air such as lightning or hail. It is also possible that the ground itself caused their deaths, and they were merely rendered unconscious while flying by some mysterious force.

Mediterranean Sea may be polluted with 250 billion microplastics

The 2010 scientific expedition undertaken by the European program called Mediterranean En-Dangered (MED) reveals that 250 billion microplastics could be found in the Mediterranean Sea.

New California Governor Jerry Brown Calls for Feed-in Tariffs to Develop Distributed Generation

In an undated posting on Governor Jerry Brown's campaign web site, the then candidate called for building 12,000 MW of distributed generation out of 20,000 MW of new renewable generation.

New US congressman sees public outcry over higher gasoline prices

Higher prices for gasoline are likely to prompt Americans to demand that the federal government provide more access to oil and natural gas reserves onshore and offshore, a former oil industry executive and new member of Congress said Sunday.

No Debt Limit Expansion without Spending Cuts!

Every Republican member of Congress should sign the following pledge, being promulgated by Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform:
 
"I promise not to vote for any expansion of the federal debt limit unless it is preceded or accompanied by significant cuts in federal spending."

Obamacare Is In Serious Jeopardy

The Republicans are planning to stop Obamacare in its tracks, and the vote may come as early as Wednesday.

Obama Eyes Internet ID for All Americans

Government monitoring of what Americans are doing in cyberspace has moved a bit closer to reality, as President Barack Obama announces plans to hand over authority to create an Internet ID for all Americans to the U.S. Commerce Department, a White House official tells CBS News.

Obama's State Dept. Removes Mother, Father From Passports

In what seems to be a diplomatic effort at extreme political correctness and a nod to gay rights groups, the Obama administration is removing the words “mother” and “father” from U.S. passport applications and replacing them with “gender neutral” terminology. Mom and dad will now be referred to rather coldly as “parent one” and “parent two.”

Outgoing Mossad Chief Says Iran Won't Have Nuclear Weapons until 2015:  Good News.  Is he right?

Based on  discussions with numerous U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials and analysts, I concluded that the prospect of war between Iran and Israel in the first six months of 2011 had diminished and that there was a growing sense that the West’s covert war to slow Iran’s bid for nuclear weapons was working. 

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity remained very low with occasional low-level B-class flares.  Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet levels.

Snowball Earth Was Dotted With Puddles

About 2 decades ago, scientists coined the term "snowball Earth" to describe a period about 700 million years ago when glaciers apparently smothered the planet even at latitudes near the equator. However, new evidence from ancient rocks bolsters the notion that some of the world's seas remained unfrozen during this global deep freeze, striking a blow against the controversial idea that the planet was completely swaddled in ice at the time.

Solar Off to a Good Year, New Projects to get Sited, Funded

The solar industry is off to a good year. Not only have state and federal regulators given many proposed projects the go-ahead but federal lawmakers have also extended some critical tax breaks that make the financing of those deals possible.

The Fed as the Guarantor of Asset Values

With the Fed’s successful attempts to boost the stock and bond markets using quantitative easing (buying government bonds with printed money) they have increasingly taken on the role of a guarantor of the asset values of stocks and bonds.

The Future of Food Riots

If all the food in the world were shared out evenly, there would be enough to go around. That has been true for centuries now: if food was scarce, the problem was that it wasn't in the right place, but there was no global shortage. However, that will not be true much longer.

There Are No Politics in Murder

The conventional wisdom of the media establishment that strident and outspoken political debate catalyzes violence is an absurdity!  Telling people to "kill pigs" as the sixties radicals did, in fact, encouraged violence.  But vigorous political debate and strongly or even passionately held views have nothing whatever to do with the decision of some nut to kill a Congressman or a president.

The Treasury Bond Bust is Just Beginning

I like to follow financial commentary, just to get a feel for psychology.
What I found interesting is that on the recent small climb in rates to 3.50 percent to from 2.70 on the 10-year Treasury bond, many were talking about good value in Treasurys.

US Does Not Have Infrastructure to Consume More Ethanol, Study Finds

The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a Purdue University study.

Waste_Inbox

electronics recycling in Wisconsin, which recently became the 24th state to ban or restrict disposal of electronic devices in landfills. The main message of the piece is that Wisconsin´s new law is creating a bonanza for companies involved in the recycling chain

WE ACCUSE THE FDA!

Dr. Ron Paul: the FDA engages in “abuse of power…”

You of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) leadership are little more than political hacks, which means that you are little more than prostitutes for the Multi-National Corporate Persons who would poison you and your children while they poison us and ours.

Wyo uranium industry bullish amid rising price

The uranium industry is striking a bullish tone amid resurgent prices and a welcoming atmosphere in the top state for uranium reserves.

Companies touted plans to mine more uranium in Wyoming during a Wyoming Mining Association news conference Thursday.

 

January 7, 2011

 

Action Alert—Now the FDA Is Going After Vitamin C!

The FDA has just notified small pharmacies that they will no longer be allowed to manufacture or distribute injectable vitamin C—despite its remarkable power to heal conditions that conventional medicine can’t touch.

American Lung Association Selects Eleven Biggest 'Clean Air' Events Of 2010

The American Lung Association has released its list of eleven biggest 'clean air' events of 2010. Eight events marked milestones that provide greater protection from dangerous air pollutants, while three represented delays that have life-threatening consequences.

API ANALYSIS: US crude stocks drop in steep, but seasonal, decline

US crude stocks dropped a steep 7.511 million barrels to 337.057 million barrels with a sharp decline in imports contributing to the inventory draw the week ending December 31, an analysis of the oil data released Tuesday by the American Petroleum Institute showed.

Australia Floods Cause "Catastrophic" Damage

Australia's record floods are causing catastrophic damage to infrastructure in the state of Queensland and have forced 75 percent of its coal mines, which fuel Asia's steel mills, to grind to a halt, Queensland's premier said on Wednesday.

Backers flock to see returned Iraqi cleric

Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, center, is surrounded by supporters in the Shiite city of Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011. Al-Sadr, who led several Shiite uprisings against American forces in Iraq before going into exile in neighboring Iran almost four years ago, has returned to Iraq, officials said Wednesday.

Barron's: US Will See Run on Treasurys, Hyperinflation

Investors in U.S. debt around the world are worryingly near a "psychological breaking point" that could force a "run on the bank" against Treasurys.

Challenging the plants

Many of Western Pennsylvania's 16 coal-fired power plants have been charged repeatedly for violations of their air or water pollution permits and paid relatively small penalties, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette review of federal and state environmental agency data.

Climate change and volcanoes: local eruptions, global effects

Our world is dotted by various cones and calderas in and around the multiple plate boundaries that crack their way through our planet's outer shell like the ones in a dropped china plate. Along with earthquakes, these zones of tectonic activity produce most of the world's volcanoes

CO2 could be used in 'green' plastic production

xcess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has certainly become an environmental concern in recent years, but researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology are now experimenting with a process that uses CO2 to process plastic products in an environmentally-friendly fashion.

Coal plant bill fails in Illinois Senate

A bill which would have authorized construction of a $3.5 billion clean coal technology plant in Taylorville has failed in a vote in the Illinois Senate.

County looks to rope wind tax deal

Wind Capital Group's Lost Creek wind farm could play a significant role in the finances for some DeKalb County tax districts this year.

Creating "Future Proof" Solar

Will solar panels be able to self-replicate? Will power electronics make it easy to swap in more efficient panels? Here's a look at some big ideas for the future of solar energy.

From pines to prairie? Arizona’s forests susceptible to fire, beetles

Drivers headed northwest along U.S. Route 180 from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon travel through an eerie landscape amidst the otherwise lush and verdant Coconino National Forest.

Future Cost of Energy Production from Renewables

Given the fact that the world markets are so highly dependent on fossil fuels and that the costs of these are becoming epileptic, for economies and consumers, the outlook for renewable looks promising.

Gas from the Past: Biogas 101

Most people who follow renewable energy have heard of biogas by now, yet the origins and uses of biogas remain mysterious to many. Biogas is unusual in that its use predates the use of fossil fuels. In fact, it is older than fossil fuels completely. The microorganisms that create biogas are among the oldest life forms on earth, over three billion years older than the plants and animals that became today's fossil fuels. Biogas not only provides excellent, clean-burning energy that can replace fossil fuels in the future, but in many places it already is.

'Green' consulting firms in demand

"As I was researching it, looking at how I could help my own family, it struck me that there wasn't a one-stop spot to help people figure out what they could do," said Carter...

Hot Button Issues In Energy

Huge questions loom over the world of energy in 2011.

How they are handled will determine the fate of multi-billion dollar energy corporations, the pocketbooks of consumers, the fortunes of the overall economy and the quality of the environment.

How to answer the claims of a Climate Change Sceptic

Perhaps you have a friend, a work colleague or even a family member who still isn’t convinced about Climate Change? Well help is now at hand!

Below is a complete listing of the articles in "How to Talk to a Climate Sceptic," a series by Coby Beck containing responses to the most common sceptical arguments on global warming.

Iraqi Efforts Rebuild Babylon & Draw Tourist to Hebrew Prophet Ezekiel's Tomb Focus of New York Times

This week the New York Times published an intriguing article on Iraqi efforts to preserve, protect, restore and rebuild the ancient city of Babylon...

 

Issa, House GOP Preparing Major Investigations of Obama Administration

President Barack Obama and the Democrats will face a newly invigorated House Republican leadership this week with sweeping plans for congressional investigations into a wide range of issues.

La Niña is expected to continue well into the Northern Hemisphere spring 2011

The current ENSO model forecasts have not changed significantly compared to last month. La Niña is currently near its peak and is expected to persist into the Northern Hemisphere spring 2011 at a lesser intensity.

Life on this Earth Just Changed

The North Atlantic Current is Gone

EDITOR:  We've been waiting for this report for a while now.

Macondo disaster could repeat if reforms not adopted: US commission

The blowout of BP's Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico last April was due to a "failure of management" on the part of BP, Transocean and Halliburton, as well as a failure by government regulators, and could occur again if significant reforms are not adopted, the National Oil Spill Commission has concluded.

Memo: Fox News reporters ordered to promote Climategate conspiracy theory

In a memo obtained by Media Matters, Fox News Vice President Bill Sammon ordered his reporters last year to question global warming, citing conspiracy theories about climate scientists based on hacked emails. Weeks before the leaders of the entire world gathered to address global warming pollution in Copenhagen...

New dyes to benefit solar electricity and hydrogen fuel production

Researchers at the University of Buffalo have announced a breakthrough that promises to improve both solar energy and hydrogen fuel production

NYC residents face fines for improper bedding disposal

New York City residents now face a $100 fine if they don’t fully encase their discarded mattresses and box springs in plastic.

Obama signs legislation to improve food safety

President Obama signed into law Tuesday legislation that represents the first major overhaul of the nation's food-safety infrastructure since 1938, but the presumed incoming Republican chairman of the agriculture subcommittee says he may not fund it.

Once again, Cushing crude oil stocks rise

The spread between Brent and WTI always has been a key industry benchmark. Traditionally, WTI was more than Brent, but this is no longer the case. In fact, WTI has now declined to about $5/b less than Brent, a tremendously wide gap.

Queensland supply disruptions reverberate across US coal markets

Rain and severe flooding in Queensland, Australia, have driven international seaborne metallurgical and thermal coal prices higher, boosting US prices in an already tight global marketplace.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity was at very low levels during the period with only a few low-level B-class events observed.  a chance for C-class activity  The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels all three days of the forecast period (06 - 08 January).

Researcher: Pacific garbage patch´s scope overblown

A researcher funded by the National Science Foundation say claims about the scope of the Pacific Garbage Patch are greatly exaggerated.

Those claims include that the patch spreads plastic contamination over an area twice the size of Texas, that plastic outweighs plankton in the areas and that the amount of contamination has been growing tenfold each decade since the 1950s.

Ron Paul Warns of 'Cataclysmic' Economic Crisis

Former presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul warned Wednesday that even if Republicans fulfill their pledge to slash $100 billion in federal spending, the United States still only has a one in 10 chance to avert an economic catastrophe.

'Self-repairing' solar cells described

U.S. researchers say they've produced a new class of solar cells that can repair themselves much like plants do through photosynthesis.

By using carbon nanotubes and DNA...

Siegel Up at Night Fearing Catastrophes

Influential economist Jeremy J. Siegel says he remains a long-term bull on the stock market, but he points to several “scary scenarios” that keep him awake at night.

So Cal Motors up for the Electric Car

As the Motor City in Detroit undergoes real changes, Energy Central decided to check into Southern California to see how the electric vehicle is unfolding there.

Surprise U.S. jobs surge boosts economic outlook

* Private U.S. employers added 297,000 jobs in December
 * Sharpest jump on record, eclipsed economists' estimate
 * Stocks pare losses; U.S. dollar extends gains

'Toilet To Tap' Wastewater To Potable -- What Can You Do To Ensure Your Water Is Safe?

Water conservation and reclamation continues to be a topic in the news. The United Nations predicts that severe water shortages affecting at least 400 million people today will affect 4 billion people, more than half of humanity, by 2050. Prevention of the looming water crisis should receive top priority, according to UN Secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon.

To Retrofit or Retire Coal Plants

Coal's future is directly correlated to the development of new technologies that scrub it of all harmful emissions as well as those that would capture and bury carbon emissions. That's what a broad task force has concluded.

Tough mining law survives court test in Kentucky

U.S. mine regulators scored a victory this week over big coal producer Massey Energy Co. in federal court and say they are poised to use a long-ignored portion of mine safety law to haul operators of other troubled mines into court.

U.N. group warns of potential 'food price shock'

For the 1 billion people living on less than a dollar a day, the world's worst food crisis in a generation is a matter of survival.

US Debt Soars Past $14 Trillion, Fast Approaches Ceiling

The U.S. national debt has surpassed $14 trillion for the first time ever, the Treasury Department reports. Just seven months ago, the country's national debt hit $13 trillion and is presently on track to break the $14.294 trillion debt ceiling signed into law by President Barack Obama in February.

US Fed More Confident in Economic Recovery, But Risks Remain and Progress Limited

The minutes of the December 14, 2010 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting provided a slightly more upbeat assessment of the near-term outlook. Although given that the improvement was considered "modest", little change to the statement was deemed necessary, and the Fed remaining comfortable with the range of 0% to 0.25% for the fed funds target and keeping the program to buy $600 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds intact.

US House Republican power shift could impact US energy, climate policy

Republicans took control of the US House of Representatives Wednesday and their dual goals of slashing federal spending and eliminating what they call "job-killing" government regulations could significantly alter US energy and climate-change policy.

Waterways Contribute To Growth Of Potent Greenhouse Gas

Nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, has increased by more than 20 percent over the last century, and nitrogen in waterways is fueling part of that growth, according to a Michigan State University study.

YOU... and a WHALE

This is a story for our times, bringing together how we can "right" our relationship with all life and receive one of the greatest gifts in return - gratitude.  PLEASE READ THIS!!!

 

January 4, 2011

 

13 moon

A calendar unites the people and the land.
Rich in celebration and tradition, calendars have long served as the centerpoint of culture.

2010: A Precedent-Setting Year In the Fight Against Coal

It was another tough year for the coal industry. In the last 25 months not one coal-fired power plant broke ground for construction in the United States. In 2010 alone a total of 38 proposed plants were erased from the drawing board, the most ever recorded in a single year.

Agricultural discovery could mean more biomass from the same sized field

Biofuel derived from crops such as switchgrass certainly holds promise, although some critics maintain that such crops use up too much agricultural land – land that could otherwise be used for growing food crops. A genetic discovery announced this Tuesday, however, reportedly allows individual plants to produce more biomass.

Alternative energy world applauds tax breaks

Earlier this month, as Congress argued over tax cuts, Georgia's energy industry quietly kept its fingers crossed.

Energy-related tax benefits were also in the tax deal that Congress eventually approved, said Stephen Smith, director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Australian military flies in flood relief supplies

Military aircraft flew supplies to an Australian town slowly disappearing under floodwaters, as authorities warned on Monday that record floods that have devastated the northeast were far from over.

Buffett's MidAmerican Orders 258 Siemens Wind Turbines

MidAmerican Energy and Siemens Energy, Inc. have entered into a turbine supply agreement for 258, 2.3-megawatt turbines – a total of 593.4 megawatts, which is enough to power 190,000 homes. The turbines will be erected in Cass, Adams, Marshall, Calhoun and Adair counties during 2011.

Can the Washington state meet its mandate to find alternative energy sources?

The first target is a year away, and no one is clear how to meet it, or even to measure progress. The legislature could tweak the 2006 law that created the requirement, but previous attempts have hit political walls.

Climate PR effort heats up

Hey America! Are you ready to get wonky on global warming?

After a year that started with fallout from the “Climategate” e-mail release, saw the cap-and-trade bill die in Congress, and ended with a gang of Republican climate skeptics winning House and Senate seats, global warming experts are going back to basics.

Cobell lawyers say they deserve more

Lawyers for the Indian plaintiffs in the Cobell settlement have taken to court to argue that the many millions they are scheduled to receive is too little, but they’ll take it if they can get it.

Commentary - A Year in Review, 2010

2010 was one of those rare fascinating years in which many economists found out that the theories they had been taught at university were so far from reality that they had to backtrack on many of their predictions within a few days of issuing them

Deepwater Wind Farm to Use New Design

A Rhode Island company is planning to use a relatively new design for offshore wind platforms to build a large wind farm 18 to 27 miles off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Did You Know...

... In one year the moon circles the earth 13 times in one year?
... In the current global standard calendar, a month doesn't correspond to one natural cycle?

Do you live on the wrong side of the power line?

In choosing where to live, Arizonans generally consider school district boundaries, relative property tax rates, crime statistics, and the like. One factor that ought to figure into the decision is which utility company supplies the power.

Economic Outlook 2011, Inching Our Way Toward Recovery

For all the complexities and undeniable risks in the current macroenvironment, the outlook is reasonably upbeat. Continued, if slow, economic growth will raise earnings and, in time, gradually will begin to improve the labor market. Inflation, though a longer-term risk, will remain well contained in the coming year.

Electric vehicle survey reveals consumer preferences

Almost every day, we hear about advances in the development of practical electric cars. Those advances won’t mean much, however, if no one is buying the things.

Environmentalists: EPA overstated coal ash benefits

The Obama administration has greatly overstated the possible economic benefits of recycling toxic coal ash, a move that is delaying -- and could possibly scuttle altogether -- tougher regulations on the handling and disposal of power plant wastes, according to a report from a coalition of environmental groups.

Factory Farms Massing in Missouri, Kansas, New Report Says

In Greeley County in western Kansas, voters last week overturned a 12-year-old referendum that prohibited large hog farms from locating there.

Florida Algae-preneurs - Making Fuel from Algae

Some Florida businesses are squeezing a trickle of fuel from algae, claiming they can help power the world. But right now, a few expensive drops in the bucket are all they have to show.

Fluoride In Water Linked To Lower IQ In Children

Exposure to fluoride may lower children's intelligence says a study pre-published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a publication of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (online December 17, 2010).

From greenhouse gases to green agenda: 5 energy issues to watch

It’s been a dynamic past 12 months on the energy front. The massive Gulf oil spill dominated much of the news cycle. And while Democratic efforts to pass comprehensive climate change legislation in the Senate failed, the Obama administration is moving ahead with plans to use its existing powers to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Fully Operational: Oklahoma Welcomes Wind Power

Just seven months after breaking ground on construction CPV Renewable Energy Company has announced that the Keenan II wind farm is now fully operational and is feeding renewable, clean energy to the electric grid in Oklahoma.

Gas in Texan water wells may not be from Range activities: official

Despite a December order by the US Environmental Protection Agency, methane gas found in two private water wells in Parker County, Texas, might not have come from nearby natural gas wells drilled by Range Resources, a local water quality official said Monday.

Global Geothermal Capacity 120,000 MW By 2015

According to the report, Global Geothermal Power and Heat Pump Market Outlook: (2010-2015), with 37% of the world's geothermal energy supply, Europe is the current geothermal market world leader followed by the Americas and Asia.

Government Policies Can Shift Southern US from Coal to Renewable

It is widely agreed that strategies addressing climate change through the adoption of renewable energy technologies cannot succeed without the active participation of governments and regulators. While it has been estimated that 80 percent of investment in renewable energy technologies will come from private sources, it is unlikely that such large-scale commitments on the part of private investors will occur without strong signals of support from policymakers.pan

Gram for Gram, Solar Is Ten Times More Powerful than Nuclear

An novel way of comparing solar power with nuclear power finds that solar easily bests nuclear. Ken Zweibel has an analysis at The Solar Review that compares the two kinds of electrical energy, in terms of how much power is packed into each gram of its respective material: cadmium telluride, versus uranium.pan

How much pollution does a volcano produce?

Volcanoes emit CO2 and SO2: carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide are the main gases that might be construed to cause global warming or pollution. Volcanoes emit around 100,000,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. Compare that to man-made emissions of CO2 which comes to about 10,000,000,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. So volcanoes emit around 1/100th of CO2 that we do and are therefore insignificant in terms of global warming.

Japanese scientists produce artificial palladium

Japanese researchers have used nanotechnology to develop a process which resembles something out of a 16th Century alchemy textbook. Although not producing gold, as was the aim of the alchemists, the scientists have discovered a technique that allows otherwise inert elements to be combined to form new intermediate alloy-elements.

Kiss your 100-watt lightbulb goodbye

Californians can start saying goodbye to traditional 100-watt incandescent light bulbs now that the state has become the first in the country to require a new standard for the screw-base bulbs.

'Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics'

During the past few weeks, numerous politicians stated that the recent passage of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, which extends all of the Bush-era tax cuts for the next two years, will cause the U.S. federal budget deficit to rise by more than $700 billion during the next 10 years.

National Grid switches on three Massachusetts solar plants

When combined with the already-completed Whitinsville/Sutton, Mass. installation the projects in Revere, Haverhill and Everett will generate a total of 3.4 megawatts of solar power, thereby eliminating a collective 3.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year, the company said.

Natural Disasters Claimed 295,000 Lives Last Year

Natural disasters killed some 295,000 people around the world last year, "an exceptionally high number of fatalities," according to one of the world's largest insurers.

New yeast strain produces ethanol more efficiently

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers are using the tools of synthetic biology to engineer new microbes as an alternative to yeast that can quickly and efficiently forment complex sugars into advanced biofuels.

No Coal-Fired Power Plants Built in Past Two Years

The Washington Post has announced that in 2010, not a single new coal-fired power plant was constructed in the United States. This marks the second year in a row in which this has occurred.

On Eve of New Climate Regs, A Primer, Part II: Lawsuits

A number of suits challenge the nascent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) effort to reduce greenhouse emissions, but the agency has actually been prodded into action by lawyers from states and environmental groups from the other side.

Peru Natives once again resort to river barricades to protest

Peruvian Native groups have in the past three months retaken efforts in the Amazon to prevent the transit of ships as their means to push for several demands in the first intensification of such actions since similar blockades of rivers and roads in June 2009 led to fighting with police that caused 34 deaths.

President Obama under pressure to deliver on climate

Jan. 2 isn’t just your ordinary Sunday.

It’s the day the Obama administration will officially start regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and critics have issued dire predictions of economic destruction.

Projects raise concerns for marine life

Without maps or GPS, great white sharks travel thousand of miles round-trip from California to Hawaii or Australia to South Africa.

Removing Barriers to Renewable Energy

Senator John Thune had a challenge for renewable energy developers the other day - to work to remove regulatory barriers to clean energy development. The problem would have widespread support in any forum since projects take years to develop and exorbitant costs drive up project prices and delay deployment.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity remained at very low levels.  Geomagnetic field activity is
expected to be at quiet levels during days 1 - 2 (04 - 05 January).

Shortening Off-Shore Wind Approvals

A federal effort to spur offshore wind power now aims to guide developers through the process in about two years.

Solar and water mix well in valley

In the two years since a series of solar plant proposals have come forward in the San Luis Valley, concerns with their potential water use havesubsided.

Solar Off to a Good Year

The solar industry is off to a good year. Not only have state and federal regulators given many proposed projects the go-ahead but federal lawmakers have also extended some critical tax breaks that make the financing of those deals possible.

'Stand Your Ground' cases on the rise

A decade-old law that gives criminal immunity to some people who defend themselves with knives, fists, sticks or guns is rearing its head more frequently in Volusia County courtrooms.

U.S. Threatens WTO Action On China Rare Earth Curbs

China has refused repeated U.S. requests to eliminate export restraints on rare earths that have rattled its trading partners, the U.S. Trade Representative's office said on Thursday.

Wall Street’s Fatal Defect

The fate of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will be center stage in January when the Obama administration makes its required Congressional recommendations about what to do about the two companies.

Waste_Inbox

It´s a Gas: The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is installing an anaerobic biodigester and power generator to convert food and yard waste into heat and electricity for the campus

White House Wants to Raise Federal Debt Limit

[editor's note: Why is it always prospectively a "crisis"
or "catastrophe" to limit government spending in any way, but business
as usual to steal double-digit percentages of incomes from their
actual earners? - TLK]

 

Previous news

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