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Today's News from

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April 27, 2012

 

2 House Democrats Defeated After Opposing Health Law

The defeat of two conservative House Democrats by more liberal opponents in Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary illustrates the strong hold the new health care law still has over committed Democratic voters and foreshadows an even more polarized Congress next year in the aftermath of the latest round of redistricting.

999Bottle tracks your mitigated environmental impact one water bottle at a time

We all know that using a stainless steel or polycarbonate water bottle is much more eco than using (and tossing) a disposable water bottle. It's kind of the trendy thing right now. But do you really know just how much garbage and energy that you're saving the Earth from? With the 999Bottle, it's easy to find out.

Almost Everyone Does This at The Dentist's Office - Why It's a Possible Recipe for Brain Cancer

A study in the journal Cancer shows that people who have had dental X-rays are more likely to develop a type of brain tumor called meningioma than those who have not.

Analysis: Dow's New Corn: "Time Bomb" Or Farmers' Dream?

A new biotech corn developed by Dow AgroSciences could answer the prayers of U.S. farmers plagued by a fierce epidemic of super-weeds. Or it could trigger a flood of dangerous chemicals that may make weeds even more resistant and damage other important U.S. crops.

Or, it could do both.

Appalachian Power seeks to raise Virginia fuel levy

Just as Appalachian Power Co. customers are adjusting to an average 7.4 increase in their electricity bills, another hike could be on the way.
Appalachian announced today that it is seeking to increase the assessment it charges customers to recover higher costs of coal and other fuel.
If approved, the increase would mean another 7 percent increase in monthly bills for residential customers.

Arizona State Attorney General Tom Horne Statement on Supreme Court S.B. 1070 Hearing

The Obama Administration took the outrageous step of suing one of the 50 states for trying to enforce federal law. Arizona has been hit disproportionately hard by illegal immigration and the state had no choice but to pass SB 1070 to protect our own citizens. 

Bee, extinct in the UK to be re-introduced

The return of a bumblebee species extinct in the UK for nearly a quarter of a century has moved a big step forward.

Canadian Solar, ESA Renewables and Zep Solar Complete 1.26MW Rooftop Solar Installation in North Carolina

Canadian Solar, ESA Renewables and Zep Solar, Inc. ("Zep Solar"), today announced the successful completion of a 1.26MW commercial rooftop solar project in New Bern, N.C., that provides clean, renewable solar energy to approximately 100 homes.

Can We Reduce the Ecological Risks of Extended Bioenergy Production?

For years experts have discussed the ecological impact of the extended cultivation of energy crops. Scientists have now developed a computer model that allows assessing the impacts and comparing the effectiveness of strategies for the reduction of risks for biological diversity. Conclusion: The extension of bioenergy leads to problems to biological diversity in agrarian regions. With different accompanying measures, such as the conservation of near-nature areas...

China's Oil Demand Drops in March

China's apparent* oil demand in March rose 3.3% year on year to 40.23 million metric tons (mt), or an average 9.5 million barrels per day (b/d), a Platts analysis of recent statistics released by the Chinese government showed.

Chinese power demand decelerates

The March month figure means that Chinese electricity demand in the first quarter of 2012 was 6.8% higher on year at 1,165.5 TWh.

Chlorine Dioxide

Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) is a powerful and selective biocide which will help remedy oral conditions. You may also benefit from the selective oxidative properties of ClO2.

CISPA passes House in unexpected last-minute vote

Apart from cyber and national security purposes, the bill would now allow the government to use private information obtained through CISPA for the investigation and prosecution of “cybersecurity crime,” protection of individuals and the protection of children. The new clauses define “cybersecurity crime” as any crime involving network disruption or hacking.

Conflict, Drought Put a Million Syrians at Risk of Starvation

Officials with the World Food Programme plan to target 250,000 hungry people per month inside the country until December 2012, based on a request by Syrian Arab Red Crescent to increase emergency food distribution. This would more than double the number of beneficiaries from the 100,000 Syrians now served each month, and the WFP plans to reach 500,000 people in the next few weeks.

Content rights confusion greets Google Drive

Google is already facing spasms of suspicion and confusion as it tries to persuade people to entrust their personal documents, photos and other digital content to the company's new online storage service.

Discovery of Indian artifacts complicates Genesis solar project

The letter from the chairman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes was pleading and tough. It asked President Obama to slow the federal government's "frantic pursuit" of massive solar energy projects in the Mojave Desert because of possible damage to Native American cultural resources.

Doctors

statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.

Dow Solar rolls out Solar Shingles in California and Texas

Installing photovoltaic panels is certainly the most common method of generating solar power on a rooftop, and in fact many people might think it’s the only method. There is, however, an alternative – photovoltaic shingles. It makes sense, when you think about it ... why install weatherproof shingles and solar panels separately, if you could get one thing that combined both?

Eagle Center Struggles To Supply American Indians Rituals

Eagles are sacrosanct for many tribes, and Wiist and his colleagues at the National Eagle Repository provide them with feathers, wings and talons - and in some cases whole carcasses - for religious rituals. But the Indians' demand outstrips the repository's supply.

Each year the repository receives about 2,300 dead bald and golden eagles, gathered by wildlife agents and others. But it gets more than 3,000 requests a year for whole birds or parts. There are some 6,000 entries on the waiting list.

Fault lies beneath Japan nuclear reactor

An active geological fault lies directly beneath one of two reactors at a nuclear power plant in western Japan, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said.

FDA Gives Nanotechnology a Gentle Love Pat

Their latest report says there might be safety concerns but admits to being basically clueless about what, if anything, to do.

Future of trash-to-energy hinges on economics

U.S. companies build some of the best-operating waste-to-energy plants in the world, an expert in the industry said Monday, but they will have to cut construction costs drastically to rival the growth that's happening in other countries.

Grand plans for asteroid mining unveiled by Planetary Resources

“I’m Chris Lewicki, and I’m an asteroid miner!” These were the opening words spoken by the President and Chief Engineer of Planetary Resources Inc., as the asteroid mining company emerged from three years of silent running to outline its plans to begin mining Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) within the decade.

House Democrat asks for review of US coal leasing program

"Coal exports are rising as U.S. electricity producers move away from coal in favor of natural gas and renewable energy," Markey wrote in the letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro. "With such rapid market changes taking place, American taxpayers must be assured they are receiving the full value for energy resources held in the public trust, especially when mining companies are seeking to export hundreds of millions of tons of coal for premium prices."

If you want food security, think potatoes

There's probably no other crop that's so easy to grow productively in so many different climates and conditions. History reveals just how vital the potato has been to humankind - and how important it is to our future.

Inuit Urge Cooperation Between Science and Ancient Wisdom Amid Sobering Arctic Findings

A new study released at this week’s International Polar Year Conference finds the energy dynamics of the Arctic Ocean changing drastically, and in ways not foreseen by previous climate change predictions....Inuit knowledge, ranging from traditional ceremonies, to technologies, to cultural expression and language, provides resources upon which scientific investigators can draw to enhance their understanding of the Arctic

Man who resisted police wins Supreme Court case

The Michigan Supreme Court says people can resist police officers who unlawfully enter their homes.

In a 5-2 decision, the court ordered that charges be dropped against Angel Moreno Junior, a western Michigan man who was accused of obstructing officers at his home in Holland. The officers were looking for someone and tried to enter the home without a warrant.

Lower courts had upheld charges of resisting police, based on a 2004 Supreme Court decision, but justices on Friday said that case was wrongly decided.

Mega dairy vs. Mega Watts

Renewable energy development on farmland is not easy money, and there are many examples where farmers have got it horribly wrong - leading to hugely inflated construction costs - because they did not do their homework.

Message to Congress: Not Picking Energy Winners Should Not Mean Disadvantaging Clean Tech

Continuing in this tradition, we owe it to ourselves to pursue better energy — not just cleaner, but cheaper, more stable and secure, and increasingly more American. Nothing less than our nation’s status as an innovation powerhouse hangs in the balance.

Monitoring Organics in Water for Reuse

Water is used in many industrial processes for a wide
variety of applications including washing, diluting, cooling,
heating, transporting, sanitizing and processing. So much
water is required for these processes that the cost of
the water as a raw material for the plant is becoming an
increasing concern especially with growing water scarcity
around the world.

Nanocrystal-coated fibers show promise for harvesting waste heat

Researchers at Purdue University in the U.S. have developed a new method of harvesting vast amounts of energy from waste heat. Using glass fibers dipped in a solution containing nanocrystals of lead telluride, the team led by Dr. Yue Wu is engineering a highly flexible thermoelectric system that generates electricity by gathering heat from water pipes and engine components.

Netherlands: Fall of Dutch Government a Bad Sign for Europe

The ongoing fiscal austerity debate in the eurozone claimed another victim this week when Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte resigned over his government’s failure to come up with a budget plan for next year. Budget talks collapsed when the parties that make up the ruling coalition failed to agree on committing to policies set by Brussels.

New Study Links Air Pollution And Early Death In The UK

Researchers find car exhaust causes more premature deaths than car accidents

New theory could help clear fusion power hurdle

While solar power harnesses energy produced by the Sun, fusion power seeks to harness the very process used by the Sun to generate a practically limitless supply of clean electricity. Despite decades of research and numerous breakthroughs, “net-gain” nuclear fusion is yet to appear. One of the hurdles is the so-called density, or Greenwald, limit that sees the plasmas within experimental fusion reactors (called tokamaks) spiraling apart and disrupting the fusion process. Now scientists have come up with a new theory as to why this occurs that, if proven, could provide a way to clear the density limit hurdle.

Newt to Newsmax: Romney’s ‘Etch-A-Sketch’ Campaign Won’t Beat Obama

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich charged in an exclusive interview with Newsmax today that Mitt Romney’s “Etch-A-Sketch” campaign strategy will only alienate the conservative base he needs to defeat President Barack Obama in November should he go on to capture the GOP nomination.

Next-gen cargo ships could use 164-foot sails to lower fuel use by 30%

Of the world's nearly 45,000 cargo ships, many burn a low-grade bunker fuel in their engines and produce pollution equivalent to millions of automobiles. To help reduce that toxic load and keep the price of shipping freight reasonable, engineers at the University of Tokyo (UT) and a group of collaborators have designed a system of large, retractable sails...

Northern Canada Feels the Heat: Climate Change Impact On Permafrost Zones

Permafrost zones extend over 50% of Canada's land area. Warming or thawing of permafrost due to climate change could significantly impact existing infrastructure and future development in Canada's north.... "This important research gives strategic assistance in projecting how permafrost may change with the climate, as it pinpoints important characteristics, and demonstrates how these vary from place to place," says Burn. "The response of permafrost to climate change is a critical factor Canadians must anticipate if our northern infrastructure is to be adapted to thawing ground."

On the Horizon: Deeper Wind, Faster Solar

Offshore wind technology is striving to reach new depths while the solar industry is facing a challenge to make rooftop installation easier than ever. Both announcements this week are structured to clear some of the fundamental hurdles facing the wind and the solar industries.

Our Renunciation of Faith

Apostasy is usually thought of as a renunciation of religious faith. However, apostasy can take many forms, which includes a total turning away from principles once professed. We can still claim to be people of faith but deny the inherent power of that faith. Even if we have no religious faith, we can still claim to have principles, but use every means of deception to wiggle around those principles.

Pakistan deports Osama's family to Saudi Arabia

A civil court recently sentenced the widows and two grown-up daughters to 45 days in prison for entering and living in Pakistan illegally. The judge ordered their deportation on completion of the prison term, which began on March 3 when the family was formally arrested.

Peru Says Newmont Shows Will To Improve Gold Project

Newmont Mining has shown its "willingness" to improve the environmental mitigation plan for its proposed gold mine known as Conga, Peru's government said on Monday, as it seeks to overcome opposition to the mine.

Private Water Companies Lobby For More Fracking

The country’s two largest private water utility companies are participants in a massive lobbying effort to expand controversial shale gas drilling — a heavy industrial activity that promises to enrich the water companies but may also put drinking water resources at risk.

Public split over elimination of U.S. energy subsidies, poll finds

The American public is divided about whether to eliminate federal subsidies for any form of energy and is giving less support to nuclear power and U.S. funding of renewable energy, a new poll has found.

Removing Heavy Metals from the Body Is “Dangerous”?

Not only are doctors being advised to reject chelation therapy—they’re being asked to report on their colleagues who practice it.

Report: Duluth has some of the nation's cleanest air

Duluth was one of five municipal areas named in the national report as a "cleanest city" for both ozone and year-round particle pollution.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity was at low levels.  C1 x-ray events at 25/2242Z
and 26/1723Z respectively.  Both had associated CMEs but neither are
expected to be geoeffective.  Three consecutive CMEs appeared Solar activity is expected to remain low with a slight chance for M-class activity for the next three days (27 - 29 April).  Solar wind speeds have steadily decreased from approximately 730 km/s to approximately 560 km/s. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels with isolated active..  CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu

RNC Files Complaint Over Obama Swing State Travel

"Throughout his administration, but particularly in recent weeks, President Obama has been passing off campaign travel as "official events," thereby allowing taxpayers, rather than his campaign, to pay for his reelection efforts," the complaint letter by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus read.

San Onofre not expected to close for good, Edison says

The extended closure of the San Onofre nuclear plant due to safety concerns has led some to speculate -- or hope -- that the plant will be shuttered for good, but the chief nuclear officer for plant operator Southern California Edison said he doesn't believe the problems signal the plant's demise.

Senate approves changes to the U.S. Postal Service

Congress moved one step closer Wednesday to overhauling the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service by approving sweeping reforms to rebalance the mail agency’s finances and help cut the size of its delivery network.

Senate bill would start search for waste storage site

The nation would start looking for one or more temporary storage sites to consolidate its high level nuclear waste under a provision approved by the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday.

Separating fracking from aquifers can eliminate water risk: study

Stopping oil and gas companies from fracking shale rocks within 600 meters of aquifers could virtually eliminate any risk of drilling operations leading to contamination of drinking water, according to a new study led by scientists from the UK's Durham University.

Single-stream credited with diversion jump in Conn.

Single-stream recycling is making a difference in Westport, Conn.

Since the town began a single-stream system in July, recyclable collections jumped 167% and will save the town $220,000, according to WestportNow.com.

Small nukes generate hype, questions about cost

While some utilities are still pursuing full-scale plants, there is a parallel push for smaller reactors that could be easier for utilities to finance and minimize sticker shock for regulators and consumers. But despite a lower total cost, there's no evidence yet that tiny fission factories would be able to produce electricity at a competitive cost in an era of abundant, cheap natural gas.

Solar boom faces challenges

The former head of Charanka village in Gujarat no longer seems to mind the harsh sun. His was a nondescript village until it was identified as a solar hot spot--a region with high "direct normal irradiance levels", according to a 2010 feasibility report prepared by the Clinton Climate Initiative. Charanka has seen a rush of activity since then.

Soros: Europe Facing Soviet-Style Collapse

"Europe is similar to the Soviet Union in the way that the euro crisis has the potential of destroying, undermining the European Union," Soros said at a debate on public policy in Budapest, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Southern Company quickly turning to natural gas over coal

Southern Company's natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plants ran at a 70% capacity factor in the first quarter, reflecting the Atlanta-based utility company's shift toward natural gas.

Study: Single-stream is more wasteful, expensive

Sorted recycling systems win out over single-stream recycling in a head-to-head competition when the municipal playing fields are even, according to a research report that tracked outcomes in United Kingdom markets over a four-year period

Study: Stress Changes Immune System

Changes in social status can alter the immune system, according to a new study of monkeys that researchers say has significant implications for how low socioeconomic status affects human health.

Supporters of coal see 'incredible battle' ahead

What would a world leader do whose country possessed the world's most abundant energy source: 15 times more abundant than any other nation and fully onethird of the global supply; a source directly linked to gross domestic product and economic growth, with production growing steadily cleaner and safer?

Would the leader promote it, ignore it or shut it down?

Syrian activists say government troops executed nine who met with UN monitors

Straining a shaky cease-fire even further, Syrian government troops were accused Tuesday of executing nine activists who met with UN military observers to the central city of Hama.

Tempers flare as Norfolk shifts on coal-fired plant

The City Council majority went from opposing the Surry County coal-fired power plant to possible opposition in a meeting in which tensions ran high.

The energy talent crunch hasn't skipped Alberta, where it might be worse

The worldwide problem of attracting and retaining talent in the energy industry isn't any less acute in Canada, and in particular, Alberta. In fact, Sean McBurney thinks it is worse.

The radical change in Asia's physical coal market

Independent analysis from investment banks and independent market consultants has indicated a major drop in both physical and financial market liquidity.

This drop was as high as 50% in 2011 year-on-year and may indicate that confidence in the current benchmark has considerably weakened.

The True Facts About FEMA Camps - YouTube

This is an entire episode from Jessie Ventura's TV publication.
It runs about 43 minutes.

The Ultimate Off-the-Grid Transportation

The Solar Bike is one of the most versatile modes of transportation you will ever encounter. First and foremost, the Solar Bike is just that - a bicycle. But that's just the beginning. The electric motor (powered by free sunlight) turns an ordinary bike into a versatile, utilitarian means of short-range transportation. It's specially designed to work with our most popular solar generator, the PowerSource 1800 (more about that in a moment).

Toward Energy Literacy

"Energy literacy" and "peak oil literacy" should be requirements for pundits -- and for citizens more generally. I've followed these issues for many years now and it still amazes me how poor the knowledge of energy issues is among even the chattering classes and punditry.

UFO Sightings in Indian Country

Whether early U.F.O. (Unidentified Flying Object) accounts are accurate is open to speculation. However, no one should make the mistake of assuming that U.F.O. sightings over Indian country ended hundreds of years ago. Natives still witness strange, unidentified flying objects in the sky every year.

UK invests heavily in renewables

The UK has seen announcements worth £4.7 billion into renewables, supporting 15,000, in the period April 2011 to February 2012, and more is underway.

Uncertainty pushing power deals down

According to PwC U.S., North American power and utilities mergers and acquisitions (M&A) declined in the first quarter of 2012 due to uncertainty over the economy.

Slow economic growth; natural gas prices at a 10-year low; ongoing changes to environmental proposals; and the regulatory process of recently announced transactions all contributed to the downturn. Major deals continue to work through the approval process today.

Underutilized sites could unleash gigawatts of clean energy

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are approximately 490,000 sites and almost 15 million acres of potentially contaminated properties nationwide. A new tool from the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) tests these underutilized, contaminated lands for solar and wind energy potential.

US House spending bill would cut DOE renewables, boost nuclear

The US House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday passed on to the full chamber a Department of Energy spending bill that would cut $345 million from the agency's fiscal 2013 budget, providing it with $26.1 billion, and would shift emphasis from renewable energy and energy efficiency to fossil fuels and nuclear power.

US Solar Heads East

The U.S. solar market's centre of gravity is shifting from the southwest towards the east coast and Florida, in particular.

While traditional solar markets have relied on distributed PV for most new capacity, these days it is the centralised large-scale projects that are gaining traction

Venezuela imposes power rationing

Venezuela imposed electrical power rationing nationwide this week, government officials said.

The Ministry of Electricity said "rotating power outages of 20 minutes each" were implemented Monday and Tuesday afternoons, Merco Press reported.

Warm Ocean Currents Eroding Antarctic Ice Shelves

Warm ocean currents flowing beneath ice shelves are the main cause of recent ice loss from Antarctica, concludes a study by an international research team published today. The finding brings scientists closer to providing reliable projections of future sea level rise.

Weight Training Combats Memory Loss

Strength training may help to reverse memory loss in elderly women in early stages of dementia, according to a new study.

What if I told you that the financial crisis WASN’T an accident . . .

Newt Gingrich, Lou Dobbs, Larry Kudlow, John Bolton, Dick Morris, and other champions of freedom have united together to reveal the truth about what happened behind closed doors on Sept. 18, 2008 . . . and how we are in for at least 15 more years of financial reckoning.

Wind power industry warns that tax credit lapse will hurt jobs

The wind power industry says that uncertainty due to Congressional inaction on the extension of a key tax credit set to expire at the end of the year is beginning to cause layoffs.

Wyoming Neighbors Of Chesapeake Well Leak Evacuate

More than 60 residents were evacuated from their homes near a Chesapeake Energy-operated well that leaked natural gas and drilling mud in Wyoming, the company said on Wednesday.

Chesapeake lost control of the well late on Tuesday while installing a casing, which triggered the leak, the company said in a statement. It wasn't clear how much gas or fluid escaped the well. Local TV reports said the sound of natural gas rushing from the ground could be heard miles away.

 

April 24, 2012

 

6 N.J. restaurants join composting program

Six Collingswood, N.J., restaurants are adding food composting to their to-do lists.

$53 Trillion In Infrastructure Needed By 2030 – OECD/Oliver Wyman

A new report released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), written with support from Oliver Wyman, finds that countries need to invest $53 trillion in infrastructure over the next 20 years – the equivalent of three times the European Union’s $18 trillion GDP. Over $11 trillion alone will be required for ports, airports, and key rail routes.

6.6 Mw - NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA

250 more Supervalu stories take aim at zero waste

The Supervalu store chain is stepping up its sustainability efforts.

Africa Sitting On Sea Of Groundwater Reserves

Researchers from the British Geological Survey and University College London have for the first time mapped the aquifers, or groundwater, across the continent and the amount they hold.

"The largest groundwater volumes are found in the large sedimentary aquifers in the North African countries Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Sudan," the scientists said in their paper.

Alaska independent makes North Slope oil discovery

Alaska-based independent Brooks Range Petroleum has made a discovery at its Mustang oil prospect west of the Kuparuk River field on Alaska's North Slope, a company official said Friday.

Brooks believes Mustang will produce about 13,000 b/d at peak and that more than 40 million barrels of oil will be recovered, company chief operating officer Bart Armfield said in an interview.

Americans show strong support for renewable fuels agenda

By an overwhelming majority, American voters are supportive of the key federal policy driving renewable fuel innovation in America today – the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  In a poll commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and conducted by American Viewpoint, 61% percent of adults polled said they supported the RFS. 

Amid debate, waste-to-energy grows

Getting rid of Maine's garbage was easy in 1970, when the first Earth Day was celebrated. Trash was shoved into piles at the town dump and set afire.

The pollution caused by open dumps was one of the driving forces behind Earth Day, and the landmark clean air and clean water laws that followed.

Appraisers differ on turbines' effects

Appraiser Michael Crowley has argued for years that wind farms don't hurt nearby property values. He stuck to that position this week.

Argentina’s Seizure of Oil Giant YPF Sparks Outrage

Argentina has a history of seizing foreign property. In the early 1980s it invaded the Falkland Islands, triggering a war with Britain. Now, it has taken control of YPF, the nation’s largest oil and gas company, which is (or at least was) owned by Repsol, a Spanish energy conglomerate. While blood is not likely to be spilled this time around, LIGNET sees trouble on the horizon for the rapacious, buccaneer Buenos Aires government that shamelessly breaks contracts.

Before there was an oil spill, what was later called Macondo had a rich past

The second anniversary of the April 20, 2010, Macondo oil spill has generated some look-backs and thoughts about lessons learned. But one thing generally not mentioned is that Macondo had a past -- albeit one that was more routine -- before its glaring jump into the history books.

So, of the 6,000 leasing stories in the Gulf of Mexico, this is one of them. The information is culled from records supplied by US offshore leasing agency Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), oil companies and other documents.

Biodegradable fast food containers made from waste straw

Not only are polystyrene fast food containers usually not recyclable, but they also take eons to break down in a landfill, can emit harmful compounds, and require petroleum to create. Using paper is one alternative, but Hong Kong-based company Innovasians is now offering another – 100% biodegradable containers made from waste straw left over after wheat harvesting.

Boulder scientists distinguish sources of CO2 in the air

Boulder scientists have developed a method to determine whether carbon dioxide in the air came from the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, or from a natural process, such as plant or animal respiration.

The results may help scientists better measure the emission rates of carbon dioxide derived from fossil fuels and help policymakers understand how any future regulation of greenhouse gases is working.

California Votes NO on Fossil Fuels

California's Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has determined the state doesn't need to invest in any new fossil fuel plants through 2020, and even beyond that.

Car emissions claim more UK lives than road accidents, study finds

Emissions from cars, lorries, planes and power stations causes 13,000 premature deaths in the UK each year, according to a new study by MIT researchers.

The research team analyzed data from 2005, the most recent year for which information is available. They found that among the various sources of emissions in the country, car and truck exhaust was the single greatest contributor to premature death, affecting some 3,300 people per year.

China-Russia navy drills raise new tensions

CHINA and Russia yesterday launched their first joint naval exercises, raising strange new dynamics in the balance of power in the region that has seen the US and India rattling sabres and tensions rise between China and its neighbours over territorial claims.

Christian Science Monitor: Next Year Could Be 'Taxageddon'

Taxpayers who've filed with the IRS can take a well-deserved breather. But if this year was hard, next year will be a confusing nightmare, as taxpayers, accountants and even the government itself will run into a thicket of confusion on expiring tax cuts in an election season.

The so-called Bush tax cuts are due to expire at the end of the year, just after November's election.

Cleaning could be getting cheaper, with reusable enzymes

Enzymes are catalysts that boost chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reactions to occur. Added to detergents, they help break down the dirt into smaller pieces that can be more easily removed with water. While enzymatic detergents do work better than non-enzymatic ones, they are also more expensive. But what if the enzymes could be reused?

CO2 rules: Now you see ’em, now you don’t

The Environmental Protection Agency’s apparent change of heart on plans to limit greenhouse gas emissions at existing power plants came during a White House review of the agency’s proposed greenhouse gas rule for new plants, according to documents obtained by POLITICO.

A draft version of the proposed rule for new plants’ emissions repeatedly references the agency’s controversial plans to eventually regulate greenhouse gases from existing plants.

But now agency officials say no such plans exist.

Coal-fired retirements while keeping U.S. grid stable is possible

The U.S. may retire up to 50 GW of coal-fired generation without harming system reliability, according to a report from ICF International.

Dalai Lama: Take Care of Our Home

The spiritual leader and Nobel Laureate lamented the short-sightedness that has thus far prevented effective global action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. He noted personal or national interests too often overshadow the bigger threats to our shared interest and shared future.

De Borchgrave: If Socialist Wins France, European Union Will Be 'Irrelevant'

Award-winning journalist Arnaud de Borchgrave tells Newsmax that French President Nicolas Sarkozy will “squeak through” his upcoming election and remain in office, but a Sarkozy loss would lead to a decline of the European Union that could render it “irrelevant.”

Deutsche Bank: Worst of Global Crisis Yet to Come as Rescue Cash Runs Out

The worst may be yet to come in the global financial crisis as the central bank spending that kept defaults low runs out, according to Deutsche Bank AG.

Drastic Changes Needed To Curb Most Potent Greenhouse Gas

Meat consumption in the developed world needs to be cut by 50 per cent per person by 2050 if we are to meet the most aggressive strategy, set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to reduce one of the most important greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide (N2O).

Energy Department Report Finds Major Potential to Increase Clean Hydroelectric Power

The U.S. Department of Energy has released a renewable energy resource assessment detailing the potential to develop electric power generation at existing dams across the United States that aren't currently equipped to produce power. The report estimates that without building a single new dam, these available hydropower resources, if fully developed, could provide an electrical generating capacity of more than 12 gigawatts, equivalent to roughly 15% of current U.S. hydropower capacity.

EPA Publishes National U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the 17th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory. The final report shows overall emissions in 2010 increased by 3.2 percent from the previous year. The trend is attributed to an increase in energy consumption across all economic sectors, due to increasing energy demand associated with an expanding economy, and increased demand for electricity for air conditioning due to warmer summer weather during 2010.

European Court: U.S. Supermax Prison Not ‘Inhumane’

Lawyers for al-Qaida terrorist Abu Hamza and five other men indicted on terror charges argued before a European court that they would face “inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment” if extradited to the United States and jailed at the Supermax prison in Colorado.

Expert: Gas, not EPA, choking coal plants

New regulations for U.S. coal-burning plants can't hold a candle to the "shale-gas revolution" for slowing down the coal industry, an industry expert said.

Industry leaders and a few state officials are saying stricter regulations are choking off the coal industry, stateline.org reported Friday.

For first time since Depression, more Mexicans leave U.S. than enter

A four-decade tidal wave of Mexican immigration to the United States has receded, causing a historic shift in migration patterns as more Mexicans appear to be leaving the United States for Mexico than the other way around, according to a report from the Pew Hispanic Center.

French far-right soars in presidential vote

French far-right leader and National Front Party candidate for the presidential elections Marine Le Pen delivers a speech after the first round of presidential elections, Paris, Sunday, April 22, 2012. French voters defied expectations and handed a surprisingly strong third-place showing to Le Pen, who has run on an anti-immigrant platform aimed largely at Muslims, partial results indicated

Global Warming in a Nutshell

Occasionally it's good to step back from the details of global warming science and offer non-technical visitors a "Global Warming 101" perspective, sort of like The Big Picture, but starting from the very beginning and touching on many aspects of this broad topic. This article was revised and re-posted from Larry's website. The figures supplement the main text with key data, but they are mostly independent and reading the figures is not necessary for understanding the text, and vice versa.

Gulf of Mexico Still Suffering Two Years After BP Spill

Today marks the second anniversary of the blowout of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that claimed the lives of 11 workers and unleashed the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry.

Henry Hub spot gas trading at $1.82/MMBtu, an 11-year low

Several US spot natural gas prices fell to record low averages Friday as a 10-year-low settlement Thursday on the NYMEX May contract combined with a massive storage overhang and lackluster weekend utility demand to yank prices lower at several hubs.

Highest Sales Taxes Are in Alabama

Sales taxes in major American cities range from 10 percent down to zero and can have a significant impact on a locality’s economic competitiveness, according to a new Tax Foundation report.

House Committee Releases FY'13 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill - Slashes Energy Efficiency Budget

The House Appropriations Committee has released its first bill of the 2013 spending cycle - the Energy and Water bill funding the Department of Energy and related agencies. It totals $32.1 billion and contains a 0.3 percent increase from 2012 of $88 million. This represents a cut of $965 million below President Obama's budget request. Funding for DOE alone totals $26.3 billion – a cut of $365 million bbelow last year’s level and $1.8 billion below the President's request.

How Can we Separate Man Made Greenhouse Gases from Those Naturally Occurring?

The separation was made possible by the fact that CO2 released from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas has no carbon-14, since the half-life of that carbon radio isotope is about 5,700 years - far less than the age of fossil fuels, which are millions of years old.

Inflation Formula Critics: 'Real' Rate Over 10%, Unemployment Tops 20%

Bianco said that the U.S. government does have an incentive to favor lower reported inflation because then it saves money on cost of living adjustments, union contracts and inflation-adjusted bonds that are benchmarked to the index.

In Poll, Many Link Weather Extremes to Climate Change

Scientists may hesitate to link some of the weather extremes of recent years to global warming — but the public, it seems, is already there.

Iran Military Says Copying US Drone

Iran's military regularly announces defense and engineering developments, but some analysts are skeptical as to how reliable those reports are.

Iran oil sector hit by 'cyber attack'

A voracious virus attack has hit computers running key parts of Iran's oil sector, forcing authorities to unplug its main oil export terminal from the Internet and to set up a cyber crisis team, according to reports on Monday.

Iraq's prime minister travels to Iran for talks

Iraq's prime minister traveled to Tehran Sunday for top level talks, underlining the close ties between governments of the two countries.

Is Low-Energy Desalination One Step Closer?

A pilot trial of the membrane distillation process demonstrated treatment of industry wastewater producing high quality water using minimal electricity.  

Israel’s IDF Chief: We Are Ready to Strike Iran

The Israeli Defense Forces [IDF] are prepared and ready to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, Chief of Staff Benny Gantz told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper in an interview published Sunday.

“In principle, we are ready to act,” the army chief revealed just ahead of Israel’s upcoming Independence Day, reports Ynet.com. 

Leakage Rates ‘Threaten Green Benefits of Natural Gas’

Failure to reduce methane leaks has the potential to eliminate much, if not all, of the greenhouse gas advantage of natural gas over coal, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Limiting BPA Exposure

The authors concluded: “These results support previous reports of associations between phthalates — and possibly BPA — and altered thyroid hormone levels.”

Phthalates and BPA are found in plastic bottles and other food packaging; these chemicals affect the majority of Americans. Studies have correlated exposure to thyroid dysfunction, abnormal brain development, and weight gain.

Lose Stubborn Fat by Avoiding Estrogenic Foods

Are you still overweight regardless of constant dieting and daily trips to the gym? And if your doctor repeats the same advice about diet and exercise while shaking his head, subtly suggesting you secretly keep a stash of Twinkies in your gym bag, perhaps you should take a look at a diet that's not really a diet at all — the anti-estrogenic diet. Your problem could be that you have a condition called "estrogen dominance." It is caused by your diet, but by a diet high in estrogen, not one high in calories.

Majority ownership stake in coal-fired units bought by APS

APS announced plans in 2010 to purchase the majority ownership in the two units and close down units 1, 2 and 3, in which APS has a 100 percent interest.

My Joy

Standing in my own garden is a joy like none other. It's planted with the best heirloom seeds in the world, and I love to see the rows of sprouts bursting out of the ground. The fruits of my own labor... I can't even tell you how happy I am to inspect my budding plants and dream of what I will do with them when they're full grown.

Nature's billion-year-old battery key to storing energy

Concordia Associate Professor László Kálmán — along with his colleagues in the Department of Physics, graduate students Sasmit Deshmukh and Kai Tang — has been working with an enzyme found in bacteria that is crucial for capturing solar energy. Light induces a charge separation in the enzyme, causing one end to become negatively charged and the other positively charged, much like in a battery.

New motor does without rare earth metals

Japan's Hitachi Ltd. says it's developed an industrial motor without using rare earth metals to reduce dependence on imports of the scarce minerals from China.

New Report Touts Economic And Other Potential Benefits Of Green Infrastructure

Communities looking for the most cost-effective options for managing polluted runoff and protecting clean water should choose green infrastructure solutions, according to a report released today by American Rivers, the Water Environment Federation

New technology shown to minimize brain injuries

When the brain receives a traumatic injury, irreversible damage occurs as the cells at the point of impact die. Injured cells surrounding the area then release toxic substances, which cause the brain to swell. This decreases blood flow within the brain, leading to lower oxygen levels, which in turn leads to more cell deaths. Recently, however, scientists from North Carolina’s Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have developed a new technique, that has greatly reduced the secondary cell deaths in brain-injured lab rats.

New York Draws on Sun's Energy

New York City has long been known as a place of grit and grime.

But Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants the Big Apple to be known for its "green" values and its increasing reliance on clean forms of energy, such as solar power.

New York’s Economy Grows as Carbon Emissions Decline

A new report by Environment New York Research and Policy Center released today highlights how clean energy and environmental policies have helped states reduce global warming emissions while challenging claims that these actions undermine economic growth.  

North America natural gas market swoons anew; prices back to 2001 levels

Natural gas producers are finding themselves the victims of their own success as natural gas prices continue to slide as the market is flooded with gas. Some cash prices reached more than 10-year lows on Friday.

The abundant amounts of gas -- as seen in the record US storage levels -- and resulting low gas prices also don't appear to be going away any time soon, and many in the industry seem befuddled as to what to do in the short-term to use more gas. There are plenty of plans for the future of the industry, but what about the here and now?

No US nuclear waste program, no fee, attorney tells court

The US Department of Energy does not have a spent fuel disposal program and should suspend its collection of a nuclear waste fee until there is a program to spend that money, attorney Jay Silberg told a federal appeals court Friday.

Nuclear plant hosts tsunami drill

What would happen if an earthquake took place near the Seabrook nuclear power plant? How would personnel there and emergency management officials from the 23 communities in two states within the emergency planning district respond to such a threat?

Nuclear waste storage possible with current funding, commission says

The report also said the waste program could be implemented using the Nuclear Waste Fund and the fee that every nuclear power plant operator pays into it every year.

Ocean Methane

Methane can be released to the atmosphere from a variety of natural and and made sources. The fragile and rapidly changing Arctic region is home to large reservoirs of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. As Earth's climate warms, the methane, frozen in reservoirs stored in Arctic tundra soils or marine sediments, is vulnerable to being released into the atmosphere, where it can add to global warming.

Oil Spill Fund Audit Finds Underpayments Of $64 Million

An audit of the $20 billion fund for paying victims of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill found "significant errors" that led to about 7,300 claimants who were underpaid receiving an extra $64 million, the U.S. Justice Department said on Thursday.

Peruvians Mount 'Permanent' Protest of Conga Mine

Thousands of Peruvians protesting in the streets of Cajamarca against a proposed gold and copper mine say they will contine their demonstrations every day until the government rejects the development. They fear the surface open pit mine would pollute their water supplies and destroy the region's environment.

“Photochemical upconversion” could allow conventional solar cells to break 40% efficiency

While the overall efficiency of conventional silicon solar cells has continued to improve in recent years, the technology faces a natural theoretical limit at around 33%. This is because the laws of physics prevent the cells from absorbing photons below a certain energy level, meaning that this low-energy light cannot be converted into electricity and is simply lost. Now researchers have found a way join two energy-poor red photons to form a single energy-rich yellow photon, allowing the harvesting of this part of the spectrum currently unused by single p-n junction crystalline silicon solar cells, and potentially enabling a record-breaking efficiency of 40%.

Project to Map ‘Every U.S. Commercial Rooftop’ for Solar Potential

Satellite imagery company GeoEye has teamed up with Geostellar in a partnership that aims to map and catalog the photovoltaic solar potential of every commercial and residential property in the United States.

PSC approves doubling solar incentive funds

The [NY] governor has made expanding the state's solar electric market a major part of his policy agenda this year, calling it the NY-Sun Initiative. Cuomo wants to double the rate of solar installations in the state, which totaled 15 megawatts this year, and then double the rate again in 2013.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity has been at low levels...two C-class events were observed today with associated Earth directed CME's.  chance for M-class x-ray events for the next three days (24 - 26 April).  The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to minor storm levels for the past 24 hoursAn increase to quiet to minor storm levels are expected on day three (26 April) as the two CMEs, observed earlier in the period, are expected to become geoeffective.

Social Security Now Called 'Federal Benefit' Payment/Entitlement!

Have you noticed, your Social Security check is now referred to as a “federal benefit payment"? ...

The folks in Washington have pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madhoff ever had.

Entitlement my ass, I paid cash for my social security insurance!!!! Just because they borrowed the money from the fund - which was promised never to happen - and never paid it back, doesn't make my benefits some kind of charity or handout!!

Study: No Relationship Between Renewable Energy Targets And Higher Electric Rates

Renewable Energy Standards Deliver Affordable, Clean Power; Right-Wing Attacks Are Misguided

Study: Polar Bear Population ‘Not in Crisis’

Climate change doomsayers have for years claimed that declining polar bear populations in the Arctic are a consequence of manmade global warming.

But a new study has found that the bear population in part of Canada is larger than many scientists thought and might actually be growing.

Total Says Gas Leak Cut To A Third After Relief Work

The amount of gas leaking from Total's North Sea Elgin platform has shrunk to one third of the volume it started spewing in late March, after the company started drilling a relief well to control the escaping gas, Total said on Friday.

Tree Disease Threatens $2 Billion California Citrus Industry

California orange and lemon growers are bracing for a deadly bacterial disease that could ravage the state's $2 billion citrus industry after the first infected tree in the state was identified in a suburban Los Angeles yard.

The tree ailment, called Huanglongbing, citrus greening or yellow dragon disease, is usually spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny, aphid-like winged insect that feeds on the leaves of citrus trees.

U.N. to investigate plight of Native Americans for first time

Many of the country’s estimated 2.7 million Native Americans live in federally recognised tribal areas which are plagued with unemployment, alcoholism, high suicide rates, incest and other social problems.

The UN mission is potentially contentious, with some conservatives almost certain to object to international interference in US domestic matters.

U.S. Can Do Good and Do Well by Supporting Sustainable Energy for All

The United States could boost U.S. exports, create good jobs, improve livelihoods globally, enhance energy security and reduce the risk of catastrophic climate change by helping to ensure poor people in developing nations have access to clean energy, according to a new report from the Center for Global Development, released Friday at an event that featured keynote remarks by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

U.S. tariffs on Chinese solar cells fuel debate about green jobs

A simmering trade dispute is highlighting a debate about the kinds of jobs America can sustain in a greening economy.

The Obama administration's recent decision to slap import tariffs on Chinese solar cells was hailed by some domestic solar manufacturers as a victory for job creation, leveling the field while also sending a powerful message to Beijing about monopolistic behavior in crucial industries.

Vibrating magnets for Power

The ferromagnetic material threads at least one conductive wire or wire coil, and couples to at least one source of magnetic induction, and provides an electrical power output driven by the magnetic induction.

Vt. debates letting parents say no to vaccines

"It's a balance between individual rights and our obligations to each other in society," the Democratic speaker said.

For much of the legislative session, Vermont has been embroiled in a debate over whether to end the "philosophical exemption" — essentially a right of refusal for parents who want to enroll their children in school or child care without immunizations.

Welfare Spending Up 41 Percent Under Obama

In 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson declared a “war on poverty” in America, the poverty rate stood at around 19 percent.

Since then, total federal, state, and local spending on anti-poverty programs has amounted to $15 trillion, yet the poverty rate now stands at 15.1 percent, the highest level in nearly a decade.

 

April 20, 2012

 

2 sides stack up the costs of Tenaska plant

How much would a power plant that generates electricity from gasified coal cost consumers and businesses?

That's the question Illinois legislators are asking as they decide whether to commit electricity users to an agreement that would have them purchasing electricity from the plant -- to be built near Springfield by Omaha-based Tenaska Inc. -- for the next 30 year

6.2 Mb - EAST OF SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS

A few observations on the price of oil, one macro, the other micro

Global oil demand growth has slowed to a crawl.  For March, US consumption is down 5% or about 1 million b/d compared to the same month in 2011. China's demand is up a measly 0.2 mbpd (2%).  So, overall, the global economy visibly can't afford oil at the $125/b Brent prices we've seen recently.  In fact, the statistics show that the OECD economies can't even afford $95 oil. Consumers around the globe are giving up.  Far from being addicted to oil, Americans are fleeing the stuff.  That's why prices have been easing on the demand side.

A Friday random walk: gasoline prices, ANWR and idiot-proofing ethanol usage

Retail prices are declining more slowly than the NYMEX contract. The EIA average national retail price for gasoline published April 9 was $3.99/gal; a week later, it was $3.98. The AAA daily average on April 18 stood at $3.89.

Agency looks back at 75 years

The Bonneville Power Administration turns 75 this year.

It's an influential though little-known agency that markets power from 31 federal hydropower dams on the Columbia-Snake River system.

Analysis of US EIA Data: US Crude Oil Stocks Climb 3.856 Million Barrels on Import Uptick

US crude oil stocks rose 3.856 million barrels during the week that ended April 13 as imports to the U.S. rose, data Wednesday from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria discovered in isolated New Mexico cave

The previously unknown strains of bacteria, which have never before been exposed to humans, were found to possess a naturally occurring resistance to multiple types of antibiotics that doctors currently use to treat patients. This means that these forms of bacteria may have been exposed to naturally occurring antibiotics which, in turn could be used against currently untreatable infections.

APS Ranked One of Nation's Top 10 Solar Utilities

With approximately 145 megawatts of solar energy added to its system in 2011, APS beat out more than 240 other utilities for the third place ranking.

Besieged by oil workers, North Dakota town seeks to ban campers

One town smack in the middle of North Dakota's historic oil boom has a plan for getting rid of the "man camps" that have sprung up as laborers pour in: Ban their campers.

Brewer OKs bill allowing schools to offer elective on Bible's influence

Gov. Jan Brewer on Tuesday signed into law a bill that allows schools to offer a course on the Bible's influence on American history and culture.

Brewer vetoes bill allowing guns on public property

Gov. Jan Brewer rebuffed gun-rights advocates by vetoing for a second time a bill to allow guns on public property, and sent a strong message that such a proposal would need wider support from police, cities and the public before she would sign it.

Brewer's veto of the bill, which could have let guns into city halls, police stations, county courts, senior centers, swimming pools, libraries and the state Capitol, was the latest setback for a push to expand the right to carry guns in public places in Arizona.

Brillouin: "Understanding How LENR Works Will Enable Us to Be First"

Robert Godes, inventor of the controlled electron capture reaction (CECR) being commercialized by Brillion Energy Corporation of Berkeley, CA, says that understanding how "cold fusion" works gives them a strong advantage to move ahead of the other players to make it first to market with affordable, clean, distributed nuclear power.

Canada Chops Environmental Reviews, Fires Scientists, Responders

Conservation advocates across Canada are warning today that more environmentally-destructive development will be approved now that the Conservative Harper Government has slashed environmental reviews. In the next 10 years, more than 500 projects representing over C$500 billion in new investments are proposed across Canada.

China asks Manila to withdraw ships from shoal

China and the Philippines have agreed to settle the dispute diplomatically but have insisted on their ownership of the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Two Chinese surveillance ships have been facing off with a Philippine coast guard vessel in the area since last week.

Debunking Energy Myths

All CFLs contain mercury, typically about 4 mg.  Is 4 mg a "small" amount?  ...that doesn’t discount the fact that mercury is harmful. So, does the amount of mercury getting into the environment.  Bottom line: The use of CFLs emits far fewer mercury emissions than the use of incandescent bulbs — even when accounting for the rise of renewable-energy generated electricity.

Donald Sadowy's Liquid Batteries

MIT Professor, Donald Sadowy, has been pursuing a dream of creating a cost-effective liquid battery for grid-level storage. Rather than tap the expertise of professionals in the field, his approach has been to train new students with the task. And they have formed a new company, Liquid Metal Battery Corporation (LMBC) to expedite bringing their successful formula to market. The idea is to be able to make the batteries larger to bring their cost down, rather than making many small batteries and combining them.

Each Side Accuses the Other of Breaking Syrian Cease-Fire

Antigovernment activists in the Syrian conflict accused President Bashar al-Assad’s forces on Tuesday of the most widespread violations of an already fractured five-day-old cease-fire, including the tank shelling of neighborhoods in at least two cities and the use of helicopters to attack suspected rebels in mountainside villages.

Efficiency Programs Spent Well Over $1.1 Billion in 2010 According to ACEEE

States and utilities invested over $811 million in industrial energy efficiency programs in 2010, far exceeding the spending by the federal government and other national-level programs. Nationwide, all industrial energy efficiency programs spent well over $1.1 billion in 2010, according to a new report...

Egypt panel definitively bars 3 president hopefuls

The disqualification of the three diminishes the chances that an Islamist candidate will win the presidency, but there are worries over the fallout from the decision, particularly from the supporters of one of the barred candidates, ultraconservative Islamist Hazem Abu Ismail.

EIA Infographic: Dissecting the U.S. Energy Market

Sales of Fossil Fuel Production on Federal and Indian Lands (graphic)

Electric car-charging stations coming to Walgreens

Walgreens plans to install charging stations at about 800 locations nationwide this year, aiming to become the largest retail host of the chargers nationwide. It wants to offer convenient sites for customers, especially in urban areas where residents may lack a home garage for a plug-in.

Energy bill would keep Yucca open

A bill introduced this month by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) calls for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository in Nevada to remain open.

The bill, H.R. 4301, aims to address the United States' energy demands through a free market "all-the-above" energy strategy that the nation so desperately needs, according to the congressman.

Europe Pledges Hundreds of Millions to Sustainable Energy for All

The European Commission, the EU's executive branch of government, has undertaken to support sustainable energy services to 500 million people in poorer countries by 2030.

Exclusive: UK Has Vast Shale Gas Reserves, Geologists Say

Britain may have enough offshore shale gas to catapult it into the top ranks of global producers, energy experts now believe, and while production costs are still very high, new U.S. technology should eventually make reserves commercially viable.

UK offshore reserves of shale gas could exceed one thousand trillion cubic feet (tcf), compared to current rates of UK gas consumption of 3.5 tcf a year, or five times the latest estimate of onshore shale gas of 200 trillion cubic feet.

Farmers must spend more on herbicides as effectiveness fades

A much-used herbicide, which for years has helped farmers throughout the United States increase profits, is losing its effectiveness and forcing producers to spend more and use more chemicals to control the weeds that threaten yields.

"I've gone from budgeting $45 an acre just two years ago to spending more than $100 an acre now to control weeds," said Mississippi farmer John McKee, who grows corn, cotton and soybeans on his 3,300-acre farm in the Delta.

Farm Group Seeks U.S. Halt On "Dangerous" Crop Chemicals

A coalition of more than 2,000 U.S. farmers and food companies said Wednesday it is taking legal action to force government regulators to analyze potential problems with proposed biotech crops and the weed-killing chemicals to be sprayed over them.

Fast Food Companies Adjust their Salt Content for their Host Countries

Public health advocates have been stressing for years that a reduction in the consumption of fast food in developed countries is necessary. Many fast foods are processed and contain high amounts of sodium that are unhealthy if consumed in excess. A new study has found that public health advocates have been more successful in some developed countries than others. A team of researchers has found that major fast food companies have adjusted the salt content of their products to be in line with the host country's salt reduction initiatives.

Federal spending on cleantech is 'falling off a cliff'

A report to be released Wednesday by scholars at the Brookings Institution and Oakland's Breakthrough Institute warns that federal spending on clean technologies is drying up, with little sign of additional help coming from Congress.

As a result, more cleantech companies are likely to go bankrupt or be consolidated, the study warns.

Five Ways Soda Puts Your Health in Danger

Just 100 years ago, the obesity rate in the United States was less than 5 percent. Now, about two-thirds of adults — more than 190 million Americans — are overweight or obese. What's the difference? Many experts believe it's the amount of sugar in our diets, especially the huge amounts of sugar Americans consume each day in the form of soft drinks — often called liquid candy.

Here's a breakdown of five main ways soda is killing you:

Gulf seafood deformities alarm scientists

Eyeless shrimp and fish with lesions are becoming common, with BP oil pollution believed to be the likely cause.

Have You Priced Fresh Produce Lately?

Have you priced fresh produce lately? A 3-pound bag of citrus will set you back $7 or $8. You'll pay two bucks for a small head of broccoli... over $3 a pound for grapes... a whopping $4 for a skimpy little package of organic romaine... alfalfa sprouts, $4 for a few ounces.

Home sales fall in March, mortgage rates remain low

Americans bought fewer previously owned homes in March, a sober reminder that the housing market remains weak despite mortgage rates that continue to hover near record lows.

India tests long-range ballistic missile

There was no immediate criticism from world powers over the launch, which was flagged well in advance, but China noted the launch with disapproval.
"The West chooses to overlook India's disregard of nuclear and missile control treaties," China's Global Times newspaper said in an editorial published before the launch, which was delayed by a day because of bad weather.

Iran-Saudi oil relations to be affected if overproduction continues

Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Ghasemi said Thursday that Tehran had communicated to OPEC its objection to overproduction by some members, including Saudi Arabia, and warned that relations with the OPEC kingpin would be affected if Riyadh does not comply.

Is asteroid mining in our near future?

The latest effort from James Cameron has all the earmarks of a science fiction movie -- but in real life.

The movie director has joined Google executives Larry Page and Eric Schmidt in backing Planetary Resources, a mysterious company that promises to "create a new industry and a new definition of 'natural resources.'"

Japan installed nuke capacity 46.15 GW after Tepco officially scraps 4 reactors

Tepco's scrapping of the No. 1 460 MW as well as the Nos. 2, 3, 4 reactors at the Fukushima-1 power plant in the northeast, each with a capacity of 784 MW, follows the formal filing of a request under the Electricity Enterprises Law on March 30.

As a result, Japan's installed nuclear power generation capacity now represents 20% of the country's total installed power generation capacity of 225.667 GW. Previously, Japan had total installed nuclear capacity of 48.96 GW over 54 reactors, represented 21% of the the country's previous total installed power generation capacity of 228.479 GW.

Legislators in Arizona are pushing for more state tax cuts

Arizona lawmakers are proposing millions of dollars in tax cuts even as they say the state doesn't have any spare cash and as the biggest tax cut in state history looms in just one year.

Already, Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law tax cuts worth at least $9.8 million a year -- a figure that could grow to $34.8 million depending on how popular a beefed-up tuition tax credit is with Arizona taxpayers.

LENR-to-Market Weekly -- April 19, 2012

Once again, we bring you a compilation of various news items about the various LENR companies since our April 12...

Lewis Lehrman: We Need Gold Standard to Stabilize Dollar

The dollar has lost 85 percent of its purchasing power since the government scrapped the gold standard in the early 1970s, and it's up to Congress to obey the Constitution and bring the system back, says historian and investor Lewis E. Lehrman, author of the book "The True Gold Standard."

Under the current monetary system, where currencies are valued against other currencies under the guidance of central banks, inflation is creating wealth and income disparities.

The gold standard sets the value of a currency against a measure of gold, and supporters say it would prevent governments from spending and borrowing out of their means and bring back a return to stable growth.

Low-cost Wind Energy Comes to Pennsylvania

More and more Pennsylvanians are shopping for the best deal on electricity, and surprisingly, in some areas the cheapest electricity on the market is a 100% wind product. Last year, the Pittsburgh based non-profit organization Citizen Power joined up with TriEagle Energy to offer a 100% renewable wind electricity plan ...

Major Closures for First Solar, Sunpower

First Solar closing a German plant and idling 4 production lines in Malyasia. SunPower also shutting down part of its overseas operations.

Two American solar heavyweights built on overseas manufacturing are scaling back operations in an effort to keep up with a shifting landscape.

Measuring Microplastics in their Final Resting Place

Recycling plastics have become much more popular around the world, but large amounts are still thrown away. Through the power of wind, gravity, and moving water, much of the globally produced plastics find their way into the oceans. But the plastic bottles we see washing up along the shoreline only tell a small fraction of the marine plastics story. Most plastic debris in the ocean are nearly invisible to the naked eye. These are known as microplastics, and they are far more dangerous to oceanic wildlife than larger plastic debris. After previous studies on this subject have failed to estimate the extent of microplastic pollution in the ocean, a team of researchers has proposed a new set up guidelines for their recording and characterization.

Millions of Families Are Facing Eviction

"There's likely to be millions of more families evicted from their homes because of nonpayment on their mortgages," Shiller tells CNBC.

The economy is still lagging and jobs demand weak.

"Our sweaty palms is the symptom we have right now and it's not encouraging. The employment population ratio is kind of stuck at a bottom at 58.5 percent. That's a sign that while the unemployment rate is down, jobs aren't there and that is a chronic, smoldering problem that is weighing on people's psyches," Shiller adds.

New Los Angeles Sewage Treatment Prevents Carbon Emissions

In Los Angeles, city engineers and policy makers are taking an innovative approach to treating waste and protecting water. In the past, the city relied exclusively on trucking waste to Kern County for treatment. Groundbreaking technology has moved Los Angeles away from traditional methods of waste storage and treatment. New methods are lowering green house gas emissions and reducing the risk of water contamination.

No quick fixes in short-term for US natural gas glut: executives

Noting the record amounts of gas in storage and still being produced at prolific rates in various parts of the US, speakers at the LDC Gas Forum Southeast in Atlanta said most of the expected increase in gas demand will not be online for several years.

Remember the Old Phrase “Buying a Pig in a Poke”?

In 2010, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued an Invasive Species Order (ISO), ostensibly to “help stop the spread of feral swine and the disease risk they pose to humans, domestic pigs, and wildlife as well as their potential for extensive agricultural and ecosystem damage.” So far, it sounds OK. But the swine in question are identified by such ubiquitous characteristics (mainly hair color) that most any open-range pigs, especially heritage or “old world” breeds—often being raised on small family farms—will now be defined as illegal “invasive species” and thus unjustly threatened with eradication. The order went into effect April 1, 2012.

Renewables Expand 27% Since 2008, Now 12% of Domestic Energy Production

According to the most recent issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through December 31, 2011, renewable energy sources expanded rapidly during the last three years while outpacing the growth rates of fossil fuels and nuclear power. Between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011, renewable energy sources (i.e., biofuels, biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) grew by 27.12%.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity was low. The largest event of the period was a C7 x-ray flare at 19/1126Z associated with Types II and IV radio sweeps and a non-Earth-directed CME. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on day 1 (20 April) with a chance for brief active levels due to a recurrent solar sector boundary crossing. Quiet levels are expected during days 2- 3 (21 - 22 April).

Report: US Re-takes Lead In Clean Energy Race from China, But Not For Long

...the United States invested the most in Clean Energy of any country in 2011, retaking the lead from China, which had held the top sport for the last two years.  But the US’s resurgence is more likely to be a blip than a trend.

Rivers flowing into ocean a power source?

A new kind of generator could supply electricity for more than a half billion people using energy from rivers flowing into oceans, U.S. researchers say.

The process, called pressure-retarded osmosis, requires no fuel, is sustainable and releases no carbon dioxide, researchers from Yale University reported in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Solar shakeout deepens with layoffs of 2,000

Solar shakeout deepens with layoffs of 2,000

The U.S.-based maker of panels is the latest victim of an oversupply that has bankrupted companies.

Special Investigative Report: Will GMOs Really Feed the World?

That’s what genetic engineering advocates claim. But science (and a shocking number of developing-world suicides) debunk this myth.

Survey: ´Green guilt´ is on the rise

A new survey commissioned by Call2Recycle shows that 29% of respondents suffer from "green guilt" -- knowing they could and should do more to help preserve the environment, the company said.

That´s more than double the percentage of folks who felt guilt in 2009...

Survey says extreme greens do more harm than good

Specifically, dumpster diving for clothes, food and other times was listed by 68% of the respondents as being "too green." Another biggie listed by 53% of the respondents was reusing plastic bags, even when dirty, to avoid waste.

While a majority of folks say green can go too far, 71% of those responding also said they embrace green living and make an effort everyday to live greener.

The Pending Subsidy Cliff, And the Way Out

It's a daunting reality, yet one that's been years in the making. And it's a scenario that's shaping up from the wind-swept coasts of California to the solar rooftops of New Jersey. The renewables industries — all of them — are not only approaching a subsidy cliff. They already have one foot dangling over the edge.

Total starts drilling first relief well on North Sea gas blowout

French oil major Total has begun drilling the first of two relief wells as part of operations to halt its three-week old blowout and gas leak at its Elgin platform in the UK North Sea, the company said Wednesday.

In a brief update, Total said drilling rig Sedco 714 has spudded the first relief well but did not say when the drilling began.

Total has said the relief wells are expected to take up to six months to intercept and plug the leaking G4 well if a planned well kill operation from the platform is unsuccessful.

Twisting in the Wind

For a while now, we’ve been hearing that the key to energy independence lies in increased funding for renewable energy and clean energy technology. There have certainly been plenty of lofty promises and ambitious proposals at local, state, and federal levels. And there have been setbacks too, with Solyndra and the Fukushima power plant perhaps the most high-profile examples of clean energy mishaps. But as gas prices escalate and emerging economies in India and China push up demand for fossil fuels, it seems logical that there’s a place for renewable energy and clean tech at the power table. 
So shouldn’t the money follow?

U.S. Caps Emissions in Drilling for Fuel

The rule is the first federal effort to address serious air pollution associated with the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which releases toxic and cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and hexane, as well as methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

U.S. overtakes China in clean energy race

According to a new report from Pew Environment Group, the United States has reclaimed first place in the global clean energy race. The U.S. has trailed China since 2009.

The U.S. invested $48 billion in clean energy in 2011, a 42 percent increase over 2010. Total U.S. installed renewable energy capacity in the U.S. at the end of 2011 was 93 GW -- second to China.

US senator warns that Fukushima plant cleanup is too slow

In a letter to the Japanese ambassador to the US, Ichiro Fujisaki, the Oregon Democrat said that a plan by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) to remove the fuel rods from storage pools at the coastal reactor site over the next 10 years could prove disastrous.

US Wind Industry Installed More Than 6.8 Gigawatts in 2011, According to AWEA

The U.S. windindustry’s 2011 Annual Market Report indicates that American wind power ended another strong year of double-digit growth. The market report also indicates that wind power has become one of America's fastest growing sources of Made-in-the-USA manufacturing jobs, and that the cost of wind has droped.

Wayseers Movement

Many of you in our free energy audience likely fit that description, and you might find hanging out there to be a good experience in cross pollinating with others of similar ilk. Help spread the news of emerging free energy technologies poised to change the landscape for good, empowering the individual while rendering the corrupt powers that be obsolete.

Wind power sagging

Only months after Coconino County's first major wind energy farm got up and running this winter, the utility buying its power says more wind farms here are unlikely -- at least for now.

Cost is the bottom line, with the sun beating the wind on both equipment prices and time-of-day power production.

Wind turbine to harvest energy and water from desert air

Eolewater's WMS1000 wind-driven water-harvesting system uses on-board cooling units to chill the air until its moisture condenses

 

April 17, 2012

 

6.5 Mw - VALPARAISO, CHILE

7.0 Mw - EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G.

7 Signs Your Blood Sugar Is Out of Control

We love our sweet treats, yet we’re also told sugar is bad for us. In fact, CBS News recently had Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigate this issue and interview some of America’s most respected scientists.

2012 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners Risk Their Lives

The Goldman Environmental Foundation today announced the six winners of the 2012 Goldman Environmental Prize, people who protect the environment and their communities, often at risk of their lives.

Amazon Indigenous Groups Fight New Law That Would Allow Foreign Companies on Their Land

It has been said that oil and gas companies follow a bible of sorts here in the jungles of Peru, a universal playbook of their most effective methods for convincing locals that a project will bring them development or—if the locals can’t be convinced of that—to get their way through less benign tactics.

Americans Eat the Cheapest Food in the World, But What is It Really Costing?

  • In 2010, Americans spent just over 9 percent of their disposable income on food (5.5 percent at home and 3.9 percent eating out); this is less than half or more of most any other country on the planet
  • The “faster, bigger, cheaper” approach to food production that the United States has mastered is unsustainable and is contributing to the destruction of our planet and your health
  • Easy access to cheap, poor-quality food is contributing to the rising rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other chronic disease
  • Nearly all cheap processed foods in the United States contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients and come from confined animal feeding operations, which contribute to environmental destruction, animal cruelty and the spread of antibiotic-resistant super-germs
  • To protect your health and the environment, strive to make 90 percent of your diet non-processed, whole organic foods; it may cost more to eat this way initially, but the amount it will save you in the long run is immeasurable

America's Financial Doomsday

An historic, world-changing event is about to crush the U.S. economy and stock market.
It will destroy the income, savings, investments and retirements of millions of Americans.
It will plunge vast numbers of families into the nightmare of poverty ... hunger ... and homelessness.

Analysis: Obama's "Green Jobs" Have Been Slow To Sprout

Three years after Obama launched a push to build a job-creating "green" economy, the White House can say that more than 1 million drafty homes have been retrofitted to lower heating and cooling costs, while energy generation from renewable sources such as wind and solar has nearly doubled since 2008.

A New Appreciation of Bumblebees

Yes, your bumblebees ARE good pollinators! There are many vegetable and fruit plants where the pollen is down deeper, and the honeybee’s proboscis (a long, slender, hairy tongue that acts as a straw to bring food and water to the mouth) is not as long as a bumblebee’s. The pollen is further down in the flower than his proboscis can reach. That’s where your bumblebees come in. They can reach the pollen-containing interiors of deep flowering fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries. In addition, your hummingbirds are pollinators as well, especially of red flowering plants.

As natural gas drops below $2, what does it mean for power?

Coal will fuel about 38% of US power supply this year, the Energy Information Administration says this week -- a somewhat dramatic drop of about 10% from last year and double the decline EIA had projected earlier. Natural gas-fired generation, in bold contrast, will rise a whopping 17% or so this year, almost double the increase the agency had estimated.

It goes without saying that the reason is natural gas.

Benefits vary for electric cars

The Union for Concerned Scientists said in a new study that a gasoline-powered hybrid car would have less harmful global warming emissions than a similar-sized electrically powered car if that car was charged with electricity created at a heavily polluting power plant.

The study said 45 percent of the country has electricity generated by a mix of sources that would tip the scales toward an electrically powered car.

Digital Printing Technology Aiding Counterfeiters

“The widespread use of personal computers and advancements in digital printing technology has provided more individuals the opportunity to manufacture a passable counterfeit note with relative ease,” Government Security News reports.

The magazine refers to a “tidal wave” of counterfeiters making bills with a computer and digital printing.

Does Fracking Cause Earthquakes?

There are plenty of reasons to worry about fracking—groundwater contamination, methane leaks, that flaming tap water thing. But can it really cause earthquakes? That's the question the US Geological Survey set out to answer after a spate of tremors in the Midwest—an area not usually known for earthquakes—alerted scientists to the possibility that some of them might be man-made.

Dole recalls bagged salads for salmonella risk

Dole Food Co.'s fresh vegetables division is recalling 756 cases of bagged salad, because they could be contaminated with salmonella.

The bags of Seven Lettuces salads were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

‘Dumb Law’ Blocking Promising New Fuel Source

At issue is the production of ethanol, which is added to gasoline purportedly to reduce pollution and reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil.

This year Americans will use 14 billion gallons of ethanol, made from 5 billion bushels of corn — one third of the total U.S. crop — grown on 33 million acres of farmland. And since 2005, when Congress required that ethanol be added to gasoline, U.S. corn prices have tripled, according to Forbes, contributing to higher food prices across the board.

Economic Malaise Slowing Americans’ Movement

It’s a notable consequence of the slow economic recovery in the aftermath of the recession: Americans are increasingly staying put.

“Domestic migration” — the movement of Americans from one county to another within the United States — was down sharply last year, according to new figures from the Census Bureau.

Electric Vehicle "Greenness" Varies Greatly by Region

Electric vehicles in general are a great step in reducing emissions that cause global warming. The emissions from a gasoline-powered car are always greater than the emissions created to charge an electric vehicle. However, a new analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) suggests that the "greenness" of electric vehicles is not uniform across the country. They break down the country into regions that are good, better, and best for electric vehicles. Note there is no "bad" region in the country because electric vehicles outperform gasoline vehicles everywhere.

Greenland's ice cover appears to be sliding into the ocean

Like snow sliding off a roof on a sunny day, the Greenland Ice Sheet may be sliding faster into the ocean due to massive releases of meltwater from surface lakes, according to a new study by the University of Colorado Boulder-based Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences.

Hotel reports success from food composting program

Trash collections were cut in half at the Hilton Garden Inn in Devens, Mass., thanks to a food composting program launched by its kitchen staff.

The kitchen went from four trash collections per month to two and now uses an on-call trash removal service...

Inteligentry and Manufacturers Gearing Up for Noble Gas Engine Roll-out

For those of you not familiar with this technology, it is an engine that runs on what John calls a "plasmic transition" process using noble gases to create the plasma, with a coil around the cylinder to control the plasma, and a high voltage spark (actuator) to initiate the process. The fuel is essentially free, both because so little is consumed over time, and because the fuel is inexpensive. Also, because it has fewer moving parts and its power density is greater, the engine itself is much less expensive to build than the engine it would be replacing.

Japan's Tsunami Debris Expected to Hit U.S. Shores

The tsunami touched off by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011 swept about five million tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean, according to the Japanese government. About 70 percent sank off shore, leaving 1.5 million tons floating, Japanese officials say, but there is no estimate of how much debris is still floating today.

Les Banki on the Secret of Achieving Overunity with Hydroxy Using Injectors

Famous HHO researcher points out that the function of fuel injectors in relation to their function when hydroxy in the gas state is run through them needs to be appreciated and understood for successful operation.

Little Colorado Water Rights Bill Met With Protests From Navajo and Hopi Communities

Protests on the Navajo Nation have been in high gear ever since last week, when tribal members and activists got wind of a proposed settlement that aims to help quantify Navajo water rights on the Little Colorado River.

Trouble is, many Navajo citizens believe the settlement may actually erode the tribe’s sovereignty when it comes to maintaining a safe and sufficient future water supply.

Natural Oil Seep Caused Gulf Of Mexico Sheen: BSEE

An oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico last week came from a natural sea floor seep and not from Royal Dutch Shell offshore production platforms, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said on Monday.

New Navy center identifies energy savings

Northwest bases, already dominating Navy energy-saving awards, have pulled out the big anti-consumption gun.

Obama betrays the left; cheers continued expansion of drug war, criminalization of plant-based medicine

If you happen to need even more evidence that President Obama has gutted his campaign promises and betrayed not only the left but also African Americans who enthusiastically supported his election, he has just gone public with his support for the continued war on drugs. Keeping marijuana criminalized, it seems -- and keeping more African Americans in prison -- is a top priority for the Obama administration.

Obama Streamlines Oversight Of Shale Gas

President Barack Obama streamlined oversight of the natural gas drilling boom on Friday as his administration faced increasing pressure to allow exports of the fuel as supplies swell.

Obama issued an executive order creating an interagency group to oversee development of natural gas, building on a pledge he made in his State of the Union address in January to support the industry while increasing safety.

Oil and coal-backed groups far outpace Obama, allies on energy ads

Energy has become a touchstone issue in the presidential race, and groups backed by oil and coal dollars have spent far more money on ads bashing the president's record than the Obama campaign and its allies have spent defending it, according to a new analysis by the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning Washington think tank.

Puberty Before Age 10: A New ‘Normal’?

Puberty, Once the Norm at Age 15, Now Occurring in 7-, 8- and 9-Year-Olds

Regarding Navajo Water Rights

...when two esteemed Republican Senators take time out of their busy schedules to visit the Navajo Nation in order to persuade tribal leadership with millions of dollars worth of development aide and other goodies, one has to assume something else is happening. In fact, a lot is happening here, and it is important that the Navajo people understand some of the larger issues influencing this settlement.

Regulation of coal ash ponds like Plant Scherer's is minimal

The federal government regulates coal ash ponds only through their permits to release wastewater into public rivers or streams. Any further regulation is left up to states.

Georgia requires nothing additional until the ponds are closed. Only then is groundwater testing required.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity was moderate during the past 24 hours. An M1 flare was observed.  A filament erupted...The associated CME is not expected to be geoeffective.  The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet for the next three days (17-19 April).

Safeway says no

Signature gatherers hoping to qualify an initiative that would require the labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms have reported confrontations with the managers of local Safeway supermarkets.

Satellite Mapping Pinpoints Penguin Population

The good news was that the team found the Antarctic emperor penguin population numbered about 595,000, nearly double previous estimates.

But the bad news was that some colonies have disappeared altogether due to changing weather patterns and the long-term future of the birds is far from assured.

Scientists Denounce NASA’s ‘Unproven Remarks’ on Global Warming

Fifty top scientists, astronauts, and engineers who have worked for NASA are attacking the space agency’s stance that manmade carbon dioxide is responsible for global climate change.

Seabed turbines will harness tidal power

ScottishPower is testing a 100ft tidal turbine on the seabed off Orkney. The one megawatt device is capable of powering 500 homes. When the trials are completed by the end of this year, it will be transferred to a deep channel between Islay and Jura off the west of Scotland. It will then be part of a pounds sterling 40 million group of ten turbines capable of powering all the 2,500 homes and five distilleries on Islay.

Senate Blocks Buffett Rule 30% Minimum Tax on Top Earners

The 51-45 vote today in Washington fell short of the 60 needed to advance the measure. President Barack Obama has been campaigning for the legislation across the country, maintaining it's unfair that some high-income taxpayers can use deductions and preferential tax treatment of investment income to pay lower tax rates than some middle-income wage earners do.

Standing Up And Staying Put: Two Decades of Protesting the Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo

Major League baseball is a game of hallowed traditions. For the Cleveland Indians, the traditional throwing out of the first pitch every season is accompanied by a few other time-honored rituals, which include throwing out insults to Native Americans, some of whom come to the team’s stadium each spring to protest the team’s name and its cartoonish logo and mascot, Chief Wahoo.

Stand-your-ground the rule in state, courts affirm

The stand-your-ground doctrine, which has vaulted into national prominence with the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, isn't limited to the two dozen states that have passed laws since 2005 expanding the right to use deadly force in confrontations.

It's also the rule in California, by court decree.

Syrian opposition delegation holds talks in Moscow

Hassan Abdul-Azim, head of the opposition National Coordination Body, said their meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and other Russian diplomats was "impressive and positive."

Abdul-Azim said the talks confirmed that "Russia, China and international community represent the strong basis to stop violence and death of civilians and solve the crisis peacefully."

Tar Sand oil update

You might not know this, but Canada has oil reserves of 170 billion barrels, more than Iran and Nigeria combined. This fact is not widely known since much of that oil has been considered "not economically recoverable," lying deep underground in a mixture of bitumen, a thick, tarry substance, sand and water known as oil sands or tar sands. Development of these tar sands, located near the Athabasca River, by Suncor Energy, began in the 1960s but has been conducted at a relatively small scale because of the costs involved. Only recently, with declining supplies and increasing prices have attempts begun to try and ramp up production, especially after PetroChina acquired a 60 percent interest in two major wells in Alberta in 2009. This was followed in 2010 by Sinopec paying $4.65 billion for a 9 percent stake in Syncrude Canada Ltd.

This is the Way the World Ends

Death and destruction don't necessarily come about by an asteroid colliding with the Earth, an extra-terrestrial invasion, or all-out nuclear war.

Sometimes, the death of a civilization is much less dramatic.

UN: Meat Consumption Must be Cut to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

According to the UN, the attitude towards meat consumption has to change, and people must cut back. This is a necessary step in reducing one of the most potent greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide (N2O). A recent study by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that the developed world needs to cut its meat consumption by 50 percent per person by the year 2050.

US, Canadian gas storage operators say capacity is becoming scarce

With US and Canadian gas stockpiles entering injection season at record highs, there is little storage operators can do to prevent levels from testing facility limits, except to hope for production cuts or significant summer utility demand, sources said.

U.S. Forest Service Spends $40.6 Million for Lands in 15 States

The U.S. Forest Service is investing $40.6 million to acquire 27 pieces of land in 15 states that the agency says will help safeguard clean water, provide recreational access, preserve wildlife habitat, enhance scenic vistas and protect historic and wilderness areas.

U.S. Senator Worries Tribal Courts Will Imprison ‘Any American’

In short, Hutchison appears to be making it seem as if innocent Americans will wrongly suffer in tribal courts under the legislation. But what the senator doesn’t note is that the ‘any American’ she is referring to would have to commit serious crimes against Indians in order to be prosecuted in tribal court—and even then, would have protections under the proposed legislation.

World's Most Efficient Wind Turbine to Make European Debut at 50-Megawatt Fina Enerji Project in Turkey

The 50-megawatt Tayakadin project supports the Turkish government's plans to increase the country's wind energy production to 20,000 megawatts by the year 2023. Turkey has one of the most favorable locations in Europe for wind energy development, with a potential wind generation capacity of about 48,000 megawatts. Much of that potential remains untapped, as the country's existing wind farms produce about 1,800 megawatts.

WSJ: Real Unemployment Rate 11.8 Percent

He looks at the issue in terms of the labor force participation rate. That measures the percentage of working-age Americans, excluding those who are in jail or the military, who are “participating” in the work force. That includes both people who have a job and those looking for a job.

Your garden is starving

America's soil no longer delivers the nutrients plants need. Blame modern farming, backyard overplanting, or even your local soil conditions: The fact of the matter is that each crop season offers your plants - and by extension, your family - less nutrition than the year before.

 

April 13, 2012

 

6.2 Mw - NEW IRELAND REGION, P.N.G.

6.9 Mw - GULF OF CALIFORNIA

7.0 Mw - MICHOACAN, MEXICO

8.2 Mw - OFF W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA

8.7 Mw - OFF W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA

5 Foods That Sell Out First In A Crisis

True story:

People waited in line for over an hour at a Burger King… every day. Just for a chance at a sandwich. It was after Hurricane Charley hit Orlando, FL. Power was out for two weeks or more.

And when Hurricane Ike hit Louisiana? One man wrote he was shocked at what he saw at his local Wal-Mart:

Air Conditioning and Pollution Are Making Us Fat

In the battle over Americas expanding waistline, much of the emphasis is on diet and exercise. A study suggests other potential causes, including too much air conditioning, should be studied as well.

Antibiotics and Your Gut

The term dysbiosis refers to a condition in which the body has an imbalance of microorganisms. It occurs most commonly in the gastrointestinal tract, which contains a host of different microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, fungi, and even parasites.

Autism Diagnoses Have Risen by 78% over the Last Decade

How many children must be sacrificed before we get honest answers?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a new report that says 1 in 88 American children has some form of autism spectrum disorder—a 78% increase compared to a decade ago. Boys are five times more likely to have autism than girls.

Big Pharma Whistles, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Comes Running

The DEA is enabling—even encouraging—a generation of opiate addicts, while the FDA tries to quash safe and helpful supplements like DHEA.

California's charging stations deal has industry in an uproar

A proposed $100 million settlement with the California Public Utilities Commission that requires NRG Energy to build a network of electric vehicle charging stations has caused an uproar within the electric vehicle community over concerns that NRG will become the default provider of charging stations throughout the state.

China Developing Super Electromagnet Pulse Bomb To Use In War Against U.S.

China is gearing up for war against the United States and their top weapon is a super electromagnetic pulse bomb that can blanket the U.S. and send America back to the dark ages in less than one second.

Past reports from Chinese military websites and Asian newspapers have outlined a several attacks that China could launch to win a war against the more technologically and militarily advanced United States.

These strategical attacks, as a MITRE research report reveals,  are part of an arsenal known as  shashoujian or the assassin's mace.

Climate Change Effects on Long-Term Plant Growth in Arizona

Climate change around the world is not predicted to be uniform. Most places will get warmer, some will get more rain and others will get less. For areas of Arizona, warmer temperatures are expected to provide a boost in plant growth caused by a longer growing season and more carbon dioxide in the air. However, a new study from Northern Arizona University suggests the contrary. Warming temperatures will cause an initial boost in plant growth, but will quickly diminish over the years. This may lead to significant deterioration in future plant growth.

Compound found in red wine could help fight obesity

Piceatannol results from the conversion of resveratrol – a compound found in red wine, grapes and peanuts that is also thought to combat cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases. When resveratrol is converted into the piceatannol compound, which naturally occurs after consumption, the compound has the ability to delay fat cell growth.

Connecticut details $1 billion investment in clean energy

Connecticut's public works regulator plans to distribute $720 million to zero-emissions, renewable-energy generation and $300 million to low-emissions generation over the next several years, detailing for the first time how the state will spend more than $1 billion of required investments in commercially generated renewable power.

Conservative groups urge governor to veto alternative energy incentives

Conservative activists on Tuesday urged Gov. Rick Scott to veto an energy bill pushed by a fellow top Republican, saying the measure violates free market principles by providing tax incentives to solar, wind and biofuel companies.

Dental X-rays Linked to Brain Tumors

People who received frequent dental X-rays in the past, especially "bitewing" exams, more than double their odds of developing the most common type of brain tumor, says the results of a new study published in Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society.

Dong to Invest $795 Million in Fossil-to-Biomass Conversions, Further Denmark's Renewable Goal

Denmark has long been a renewables pioneer, and it furthered its reputation with the announcement of a bold plan: It will produce one third of its power from renewable sources by the end of the decade and 100 percent by 2050. With full government support, Denmark hopes to avoid future energy price fluctuations.

Do You Ever...

Do you ever shake your head, roll your eyes, and ask yourself, "What has happened to this country?"

Our government has run up the credit cards to the tune of $15,000,000,000,000 with no way to pay it back. Foreclosures this year will again hit record numbers. Higher education costs have spiraled out of control, but despite the high price tag, millions of Americans with college degrees are unemployed or underemployed.

FDA: Animal Antibiotics Endanger Humans

The Food and Drug Administration called on drug companies Wednesday to help limit the use of antibiotics in farm animals, a decades-old practice that scientists say has contributed to a surge in dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria.

FDA wants limits on antibiotics given to animals

The government wants meat and poultry producers to stop giving antibiotics to their animals to make them grow faster.

The reason: Dangerous bacteria that can kill people have been growing resistant to the drugs, which can leave humans at risk of getting infections that can't be controlled.

Forests and the Health of the Planet

The health of our forests directly impacts the health of the planet. The importance of forests to the Earth’s ecosystems cannot be overstated. Research shows that forest die-offs are on the increase and this troubling trend is being linked to global warming. Heat and water stress associated with climate change are making forests vulnerable to insect attacks, fires and other problems.

For Navajo Nation Citizens, Finding Unrelated Mates Within Tribe Becoming Difficult

Navajo Nation tribal member Kelvin Long, 36, chuckles at the memory: He’d taken a year off from work, and a would-be co-worker lured him back by inviting him to a meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona—with the promise that there would be lots of beautiful women. “I went, and I fell in love. There were all these brilliant, beautiful, determined women. Unfortunately, it turned out they were all related to me through clan.”

Gold nanostars deliver drugs directly to cancer cell nucleus

While effective at killing cancer cells, chemotherapy is currently a shotgun approach that can also harm healthy cells and cause serious side effects in patients. The ability to deliver drugs directly into cancer cells would provide a more targeted approach to more effectively treat the disease with lower doses of drugs and less side effects. Researchers at Northwestern University are claiming to be the first to develop gold nanostars that provide a much more precise approach by delivering a drug directly to a cancer cell’s nucleus.

Grassland Preservation

For plains Tribes, the preservation of grasslands is crucial to the survival of our culture. Its unique configuration of Native plants and grasses provide us with medicine, tools, shelter, and food.

Greece, Italy See Solar as Path to Economic Stability

In places like Africa and India, solar energy has long been hailed for its ability to raise standards of living and boost developing economies. For two established members of the European Union, it may have the power to restore international confidence.

Gun-grabbers around the globe believe they have it made

Disguised as an “International Arms Control Treaty” to fight against “terrorism,” “insurgency” and “international crime syndicates,” the UN Small Arms Treaty is in fact a massive, GLOBAL gun control scheme.

Harness the Global Energy Landscape

This 2012 edition has been expanded from previous editions to include major power producing countries and global energy consumers set in the context of key infrastructure such as LNG terminals, oil refineries, oil & LNG ports, oil pipelines, and coal export terminals.

How to Make Your Own Homemade Organic Insecticides and Pesticides

As I was watering the garden this morning, and carefully inspecting the plants, I noticed the first signs of aphids in the peppers! Given the mild winter, I fear that we may have trouble with pests this year — and that’s just the reality of growing your own. While there are many, many commercially-prepared products that sit on the shelves of my local nursery…I am committed to natural gardening (and saving money); therefore, I have learned how to make my own organic insecticides using the contents of my kitchen!

Give these simple recipes a go if you find an unwanted insects crawlin’ around your precious plants.

Indian Ocean quakes cause panic, little damage

Before officials announced the threat had passed without major incident, two powerful earthquakes and their subsequent tsunami alerts sparked a few hours of panic and concern in countries across the Indian Ocean Wednesday.

Jobless claims unexpectedly rise last week

New claims for unemployment benefits rose last week to their highest level since January, a development that could raise fears the labor market recovery was stalling after job creation slowed in March.

Keyser wind turbines will be muffled

Edison Mission Group will install noise abatement equipment at its Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage located on Green Mountain, according to a news release.

Live Feed of Bald Eagle Mother and Her Chicks

It’s Friday and just like these bald eagle chicks we’re ready to leap out from behind our desks and soar into the weekend! Watch this live feed of a beautiful bald eagle mother take care of her adorable, newly born chicks:

Loss of Northern Hemisphere Carnivores Distresses Ecosystems

Across the Northern Hemisphere, populations of moose, deer, and other large herbivores now far exceed their historic levels and are disrupting ecosystems, finds a new survey on the loss of large predators, particularly wolves.

Malthusian Forecast

Malthus was a gloomy 18th century economist who put forth the idea that the planet was overpopulated. He believed that population growth would always outpace the earth's ability to produce food. Robert L. Heilbroner summarizes Malthus's view:

Instead of being headed for Utopia, the human lot was forever condemned to a losing struggle between ravenous and multiplying mouths and the eternally insufficient stock of Nature's cupboard, however diligently that cupboard might be searched. (The Worldly Philosophers, p. 78)

North Korea Missile Launch is Extortion Attempt

North Korea hopes to achieve multiple aims with its planned missile test, which it claims is the launch of a satellite, says Mark Groombridge, deputy editor of LIGNET.com and an expert on nonproliferation. Not only does the test commemorate the 100th birthday of the “great leader,” Kim Il Sung, but it also is meant to demonstrate to the world that his grandson, 28-year-old Kim Jong Un, is firmly in control of the military. And it is also to keep up appearances — to maintain North Korea’s threatening posture and policy of global extortion to extract food aid and other assistance from the international community.

North Korea: Satellite fails to enter orbit

North Korea acknowledged in an announcement broadcast on state TV that a satellite launched hours earlier from the west coast failed to enter into orbit. The U.S. and South Korea also declared the launch a failure.

Not All Garden Seeds are Created Equal

Seed packet displays seem to have popped up everywhere, but you need to give them a wide berth. Most of those seeds are going to give you more disappointment than anything else.

After all, what is a seed packet? It's a promise. A promise of a great garden.

The bright blossoms and plump vegetables on most seed packets are little more than marketing lies.

Oregon climate scientists get their turn on global warming

About 300 people gathered in a Portland State University ballroom Tuesday night to hear three Oregon climate scientists make their case that increases in manmade greenhouse gases are driving climate change.

Pakistan: Reaction to Bounty Reveals Thin Support for U.S.

The United States is bleeding allies in Pakistan and nothing, it seems, can stop this ominous development – not even a $10 million award offered for the capture of terrorist Hafiz Mohammed Saeed. The bounty the United States placed on Saeed, in fact, has evoked a hostile response from Islamists across Pakistan, revealing the depth of anti-Americanism in the country and perhaps the eclipse of Washington’s influence in Pakistan.

Polar Bears Have Symptoms Of Mystery Disease: U.S. Agency

Symptoms of a mysterious disease that has killed scores of seals off Alaska and infected walruses are now showing up in polar bears, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said on Friday.

Poll finds support for fossil, renewable energy

Politicians on all sides of the nation's energy debate can find things to ponder in a new poll that suggests Americans are inclined to develop natural gas resources and build a disputed oil pipeline from Canada, but also want the government to support renewable energy.

Regulations could render coal plants useless by 2030

New federal regulations won't close plants that burn coal to generate electricity, but they will make building new plants impractical after 2030, local power companies believe.

The regulations that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on March 27 limit emissions from new plants of carbon dioxide, a gas that is building up in the atmosphere and linked to global warming and other climate changes.

Rena Owners Charged in New Zealand Grounding, Aft Section Sinks

Maritime New Zealand has charged the owner of the cargo vessel Rena after the ship ran aground on Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga last October. The grounding unleashed New Zealand's biggest maritime environmental disaster as least 350 tonnes of oil and hundreds of containers spilled into coastal waters.

Renowned anti-nuke activist visits Columbia

Helen Caldicott's eyes flashed as she explained why she thinks the U.S. -- and South Carolina -- should stop using nuclear power. ..Power plants at Fukushima began leaking radiation after an earthquake and tsunami, but the plants remain disabled today and leaks are a major threat, said Caldicott, a physician who is convinced the radiation will make the Japanese sick over time.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity has been at very low levels for the past 24 hours, multiple B-class x-ray events.  Multiple CMEs were observed during the period but none appear to be Earth directed.  The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels over the past 24 hours.  Characteristics of an anticipated high speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole were observed by the ACE spacecraft, with subsequent elevated geomagnetic levels here at Earth.

Saudi Arabia: Burning fuel in an overheating market

Saudi Arabia, the world's energy powerhouse, took a concrete step this week to try to reduce the amount of fuel it burns to generate electricity and desalinate sea water. It completed a pilot project to use solar power instead of fuel for water desalination and plans to expand the use of solar-powered generators in an effort to curb domestic consumption of oil that could
otherwise be exported.

Saudi Arabia's Naimi on Seoul visit says not happy with high oil prices

"We are seeing a prolonged period of high oil prices," Naimi said in a statement issued by the Saudi Arabian embassy during his private visit to the South Korean capital Seoul. "We are not happy about it. [Saudi Arabia] is determined to see a lower price and is working towards that goal," he said.

Shell Says Gulf Of Mexico Sheen Dissipating

Royal Dutch Shell said an oil sheen near two of its offshore Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas platforms was dissipating Thursday, and it was "very confident" its installations were not to blame.

The Hague-based company said the "orphan spill," estimated to be about six barrels of oil, was breaking up. Shell said it would continue to monitor the sea floor with a pair of underwater robots.

Some Power Plants not so green

For years, the Environmental Protection Agency has publicly identified facilities that create traditional pollution in cities across the nation.

This is different.

Greenhouse gas emissions do not immediately threaten the health of people living nearby. But they do contribute to climate change, a less direct but more widespread health problem that could, for example, increase the risk of heat-related illness and death, EPA says.

Soros: Euro Crisis Has Entered ‘More Lethal Phase’

“Far from abating, the euro crisis has recently taken a turn for the worse. The European Central Bank relieved an incipient credit crunch through its longer-term refinancing operations. The resulting rally in financial markets hid an underlying deterioration; but that is unlikely to last much longer,” he wrote.

Special Warning: Washington is preparing to confiscate your wealth

An historic, world-changing event is about to crush the U.S. economy and stock market.
It will destroy the income, savings, investments and retirements of millions of Americans.
It will plunge vast numbers of families into the nightmare of poverty ... hunger ... and homelessness.

State slows new TEP efficiency programs

Consumer rebates among areas delayed by concerns over cost

There will be no new energy-efficiency programs for Tucson Electric Power Co. customers - at least for the time being.

State regulators delayed action Friday on a year-old proposal that would have greatly expanded things like rebates for energy- efficient lighting, amid concerns over the cost of the state- mandated programs.

States seek to ease financing for energy-efficient upgrades

Several states are experimenting with an "on-bill" financing program that aims to spur investment in energy efficiency for homes and businesses, including owners who lack capital.

Millions of New Yorkers are stuck on an energy-finance treadmill. They manage to meet their monthly expenses, but they can't afford home upgrades that would save energy and lower costs.

Study: Allowing More Salmon to Spawn Creates a Win-Win for Humans and Ecosystems

Salmon spend most of their lives in the ocean, but return to their birthplaces in freshwater streams to spawn the next generation. These annual migrations up and down the inland rivers are well known and play a significant role in the ecosystem, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. However, there is a concern that humans are harvesting too many salmon, not allowing enough to return upstream to reproduce. This leaves little for the species which depend on the salmon runs such as grizzly bears. A new research study suggests that more Pacific salmon should be allowed to spawn in coastal streams, which would create a win-win for humans and the natural environment.

Two years on, the seven lessons to be learned from Deepwater Horizon

As the second anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster approaches, an industry representative Wednesday touted gains made since the oil spill, while a former federal regulator cautioned that more needs to be done to make exploration safe, especially in frontier areas.

UK ministers eye Iceland’s volcano-powered electricity

Electricity generated from Iceland’s huge resource of volcanic geothermal energy could be imported into the UK, helping it reach its renewable energy targets, ministers said yesterday.

Waste To Power Program Becomes Blueprint For Communities Nationwide

The East Bay Municipal Utility District unveiled its newest green technology recently. A state-of-the-art turbine nearly doubles the utility's capacity to produce clean energy from waste previously thought to be too gross, too toxic and too difficult to manage. Now, communities across the nation are following EBMUD's lead and developing similar programs to convert wastes into renewable energy.

Xtreme Power Guns For Electric Car, Neighborhood Energy Storage Markets

Xtreme Power, which has shown considerable success in selling its energy storage systems and services to utilities, is now eyeing the electric car market and developing not just a battery system for it but the entire drivetrain.

 

April 10, 2012

 

62 Yellowstone Bison Freed on Indian Reservation in Montana

After five years in quarantine captivity, 62 Yellowstone bison, one of the most important biological and cultural species in North America, will live on the tribal lands of the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. The Fort Peck Reservation is home to two separate American Indian nations, each composed of numerous bands and divisions.

Ahmadinejad says Iran can survive without selling oil for years

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran had enough foreign currency reserves that it could survive without selling a single barrel of oil for three years.

Americans for Sheriff Joe

Barack Obama, George Soros, “La Raza” and the entire liberal political establishment has launched a multi-million dollar campaign to destroy “America’s Toughest Sheriff.”
They are spending millions of your tax dollars in an effort to place federal bureaucrats as “monitors” in his Maricopa County office -- to stop him from doing the job voters elected him to do!

"Anonymous" says plans more attacks against China sites

The activist hacker group Anonymous plans to launch further attacks on Chinese government websites in a bid to uncover corruption and lobby for human rights, a member of the group said on Monday.

Anonymous, a loosely knit group that has attacked financial and government websites around the world, hacked into Chinese government websites last week, defacing several, media reports said.

Apache, Gila continue to lag in latest health ranking of counties

Arizona continued to fall well short of national averages on a range of health indicators, from the prevalence of fast-food restaurants to the availability of primary care physicians and the teen birth rate, according to a national health report Tuesday.

Arizona's solar energy plans vex military

A solar tower nearly twice the height of the Empire State building. Hundreds of spinning 200-foot-tall wind turbines. A 500-mile high-voltage power line from central New Mexico to southern Arizona.

Autism and Disappearing Bees: A Common Denominator?

...as participants in modern society we are all now exposed to over 83,000 chemicals from the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and the consumer products we use.  Pregnant women and their children have 100 times more chemical exposures today than 50 years ago.  The average newborn has over 200 different chemicals and heavy metals contaminating  its blood when it takes its first breath. 158 of them are toxic to the brain.  Little wonder that rates of autism, attention deficit and behavioral disorders are all on the rise.

BBC Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity

This BBC documentary does an excellent job of reviewing the fascinating history of electricity and its many key players of the past two centuries. It's astonishing how rapidly the technology unfolded and how radically it changed how we live. So will it be with Free Energy.

Below Average Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast

The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season will be "below average" with 10 tropical storms, four of which will strengthen into hurricanes, Colorado State University forecasters predicted on Wednesday.

Two of those will become major hurricanes with winds of at least 111 miles per hour, the team founded by forecasting pioneer William Gray said.

Big crowd at wind debate no surprise for Whiteside County

Debates over wind turbines can be passionate.

Neighbors often don't want turbines nearby. Others make money for leasing their land to wind companies.

Calif. deaths ´a wake-up call´ for composters

The agency said Community Recycling neglected to set up safety procedures that could have saved 16-year-old Armando Ramirez and his 22-year-old brother Eladio Ramirez, after the two were overcome on Oct. 12 by lethal gases including hydrogen sulfide inside a drainage pipe on the company´s property.

California Charges Forward on EVs

As you may have seen, California Governor Jerry Brown announced a $120 million settlement last week with utility company NRG. The funds will be used to develop a large scale infrastructure effort for electric vehicles. This statewide charging network will include at least 200 fast-charging stations and another 10,000 plug-in units at 1,000 locations across the state.

Carbon Dioxide Helped End Last Ice Age: U.S. Researchers

Planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions - similar to those caused by burning fossil fuels and other human activities now - helped heat the planet and end the last ice age some 11,700 years ago, scientists reported on Wednesday.

E-Cat Weekly

This week's highlights include: Brillouin Energy Corporation looking to begin licensing LENR boiler technology within a year; discussion of Rossi's interview on OilPrice.com; Dr. Miley's March 23 lecture, "A Game-Changing Power Source Based on Low Energy Nuclear Reactions" and it's lack of coverage.

Environmentalists feeling burned by rush to build solar projects

The conservancy intended that the land be protected forever. Instead, 12 years after accepting the largest land gift in American history, the federal government is on the verge of opening 50,000 acres of that bequest to solar development.

EPA faces suit from 11 groups over coal ash

Eleven environmental organizations are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to force it to better regulate toxic coal ash and citing recent groundwater contamination at 29 coal ash dump sites in 16 states, including two in Western Pennsylvania.

Europe's Envisat Shows Rapid Antarctic Ice Shelf Loss

As the Envisat satellite marks 10 years in orbit, the European Space Agency says the instruments onboard continue to observe the rapid retreat of one of Antarctica's ice shelves due to climate change.

Expect more online attacks, Anonymous hackers say

The hacking group Anonymous says it will launch online attacks every weekend, following claims it disrupted access to the Home Office website.

Farmer warms up to solar energy

For decades, Daryl Guentzel has used the sun to produce his harvest. Soon he'll be harvesting the sun itself.

"I don't have a lot of great intelligence," the Eagle Lake farmer says, "but I can add."

Frost threatens early blooms

Paul Brace turned from a blooming plum tree, took a few steps and pinched an emerging bud on a nectarine branch.

“Everything is a month early,” said Brace, whose family has operated a 140-acre orchard about 6 miles northeast of Dallas since 1828. “Nothing compares with this. It is, like, once in a hundred years.”

Government Drops Water Pollution Charges Against Range

The Environmental Protection Agency, in another retreat in its oversight of hydraulic fracturing, dropped allegations that Range Resources Corp polluted drinking water in Texas while drilling for natural gas.

The EPA on Friday said it would no longer pursue a lawsuit that alleged Range's drilling had polluted drinking water Parker County, Texas. The suit would have made Range fix wells it claimed were polluting the water.

Melting Arctic May Redraw Global Geopolitical Map

If, as many scientists predict, currently inaccessible sea lanes across the top of the world become navigable in the coming decades, they could redraw global trading routes -- and perhaps geopolitics -- forever.

Melting Glaciers are Causing the Matterhorn to Come Apart

According to a new study, the melting glaciers are causing large chunks of rock to be dislodged and tumble down the mountain. The deluge of water is penetrating cracks and fissures high up the mountain. The yearly freeze-thaw cycle causes these fissures to expand until entire boulders come loose of the Matterhorn and fall down its rocky slopes.

Monsanto Threatens to Sue Vermont over GMO Labeling Bill

Despite overwhelming public support and support from a clear majority of Vermont's Agriculture Committee, Vermont legislators are dragging their feet on a proposed GMO labeling bill. Why? Because Monsanto has threatened to sue the state if the bill passes.

More nuclear capacity to be out for refueling in 2012 than 2011: data

Nearly 1,150 more megawatts of nuclear capacity will be taken out of service in refueling outages in 2012 than in 2011, according to Platts data.

But much less capacity will be missing in the first half of the year, and much more in the second half, than during the same periods of 2011.

New funding offered to solar companies

Solar energy companies may be able to receive additional funds from the Department of Energy after the department announced last week that eligible companies could apply for new funding.

NRDC Report Reveals 29 States Unprepared For Growing Water Threats To Economy, Health

Only nine states have taken comprehensive steps to address their vulnerabilities to the water-related impacts of climate change, while 29 states are unprepared for growing water threats to their economies and public health, according to a first ever detailed state-by-state analysis of water readiness released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Obama Diverts $500M to IRS to Implement Obamacare

About $500 million is being diverted — outside the normal appropriations process — to the Internal Revenue Service to help implement President Barack Obama's healthcare law, The Hill reports.

The IRS is responsible for several key provisions of the new law, including the unpopular individual mandate, which calls for the IRS to administer  subsidies to help low-income people pay for insurance, which are set up as tax credits. The healthcare law also includes a slew of new taxes and fees, some of which are already in effect, including fees on drug companies and insurance policies, The Hill reports.

Obama's classmate speaks out

Barack Hussien Obama is no fool.  He is not incompetent. To the contrary, he is brilliant.  He knows exactly what he's doing. He is purposely overwhelming the U.S. Economy to create systemic failure. Economic crisis and social chaos -- thereby destroying capitalism and Our country from within.

Ohio man gets prison for failing to clean up illegal landfill

An Ohio man accused of running an illegal landfill and not cleaning up the site after being ordered to do so was sentenced to three years in prison, the Environment Crime Task Force of Central Ohio announced.

Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer

For the devout, there never has been any question — prayer has the power to heal. Now, more and more medical research from leading hospitals and universities across the United States has shown conclusively that a belief in God really is good for you, and can make you healthier, happier, and induce you to live longer to boot.

Raising Dam Would Drown Sacred Site

For thousands of years, Winnemem Wintu once lived at their village of Kaibai along the flats of the then powerful McCloud River outside Redding in Northern California.

Rasmussen: Supreme Court Ratings Jump

Just before the highly publicized hearing on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s healthcare law, ratings for the U.S. Supreme Court had fallen to the lowest level ever measured by Rasmussen Reports. Now, following the hearings, approval of the court is way up.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity has been at low levels for the past 24 hours with two C-class events observed. Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a slight chance for C-class flares for the next three days...The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels on day one (10 April)and at quiet to unsettled levels on days two and three (11-12 April), as possible CME effects and the arrival of elevated solar wind from a favorable positioned coronal hole arrive.

Ruling in federal raw milk case may boost producer sales

Nebraskans who sell raw milk may see a boost in out-of-state business.

A federal judge in Sioux City, Iowa, has thrown out a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ban on bringing unpasteurized raw milk across state lines.

Sail slow to keep fuel low: How the shipping industry is coping with costlier bunker fuel

As bunker fuel prices remain close to all time highs achieved in mid-March, shipping companies are struggling to stay afloat amid rising fuel costs and an oversupply of ships.

Solar-cooking pioneer prized sustainability

Kerr, who died April 2 in Taylor, a few miles north of Show Low, is being remembered today as one of the pioneers of the current solar-cooking movement. She was 86. The design Kerr came to improve has been used by solar enthusiasts across the country and by refugees across the world, including Kenya and New Zealand.

Solar plant operator goes bankrupt

The operator of a proposed Riverside County solar energy plant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week, citing financial difficulties from its German parent company.

Solar supply shines past demand in Pennsylvania

Three years ago, the solar power industry in Pennsylvania took off. Residential and small business customers tapped into the growing number of incentive programs that made it more affordable to install solar panel arrays, eliminating their monthly electric bills.

Spring has Sprung, it's getting warmer

Across the country, more than 7,700 daily temperature records were broken last month, on the heels of the fourth warmest winter on record.

Study: Millennials care less about the environment

Contrary to widespread belief, high school seniors and incoming college freshmen care less about conserving energy or taking personal action to help the planet than previous generations, according to a recent study that analyzed 40 years of research.

Syria: Regime fires over borders with Lebanon, Turkey

"Syrian forces opened fire across two tense borders Monday, killing a
TV journalist in Lebanon and at least two people in a refugee camp in
Turkey on the eve of a deadline for a cease-fire plan that seems all
but certain to fail. Across Syria, activists reported particularly
heavy violence with more than 125 people killed in the past two
days."

Syria Sets Conditions on Withdrawing Troops

Observers said that divisions within the opposition will make it hard to secure the guarantees requested by the government.

Many rebel groups are homegrown, with no command and control, making it nearly impossible to implement an across-the-board commitment to lay down arms.

The Arctic is getting more militarized

Norwegian and Russian energy relations might be put at risk when it comes to the exploration and acquisition of untapped energy resources in the Arctic with both countries increasing their militarisation in the area, according toStratfor an Austin, Texas-based global intelligence company providing geopolitical analysis and commentary.

The Economics of EPA Regs

With the presidential election paring down to two candidates, the subject of environmental regulations and economic implications is building up. A new report by a non-partisan think tank is now forewarning the electorate to disregard the political rhetoric and to ask more critical questions.

They loom, but no layoffs at Vestas

The warning has had Colorado's two senators -- Michael Bennet and Mark Udall -- scrambling to find some legislation they could attach the wind-power amendment to, but the results have been uniformly dismal. Four major pieces of legislation have been passed or debated in the Senate since January and the wind-power credit was either ignored or rejected.

Unexplainable, Inexcusable

For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress.  Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws.  The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform... in all of its forms. 

US 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Ticks Down to 3.98 Percent

Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) last week released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing average mortgage rates changing little from the previous week with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remaining just below 4.00 percent for the second consecutive week.
News Facts

Using Free Energy Environmentalism to Defeat the New World Order

Radical environmentalism has been pushed by the corrupt establishment as a reason to promote global enslavement to better control the masses. By supporting the emergence of free energy technologies because they resolve environmental and energy problems, humanity can simultaneously be freed from the conspirators.

Vitamin B12 Boosts Brain Power

B-vitamins are vitally important for brain function. Vitamin B12, in particular, has been shown to have many positive effects on brain function. I have personally found that vitamin B12 therapy helps patients suffering from fatigue, memory decline, Alzheimer’s, and depression.

Warmest March On Record Across Half The U.S., Expert Says

Last month was the warmest March on record across half of the United States with summer-like temperatures providing some welcome news to the country's farmers and clothing retailers, a weather expert said.

What Public Employee Unions are Doing to Our Country

Who is Managing Whom?

Let me start with the relationship between government employee unions and our elected officials. On paper, it is true, mayors and governors sit across the table from city and state workers collectively bargaining for wages and benefits. On paper, this makes them management—representing us, the taxpayers. But in practice, these people often serve more as the employees of unions than as their managers. New Jersey has been telling here. Look at our former governor, Jon Corzine.

 

April 6, 2012

 

Anti-green bill up for vote in Ariz. House

The Arizona state Senate has passed a bill that would end government funding for energy efficiency and sent it to the House.

The bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Judy Burges, would bar the state and its counties and cities from accepting funds to be used for implementation of the U.N. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

Appeals Court Calls President's Bluff on Obamacare

President Barack Obama’s attack on the Supreme Court appeared to backfire Tuesday, when the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order giving the Justice Department until noon Thursday to state whether the administration truly believes courts lack the authority to strike down mandates that they determine are unconstitutional.

BP says US holds advantage in advanced fuels as long as mandate remains

By tinkering with the US renewable fuel mandate before it runs its course, Congress would squander the global competitive edge in advanced biofuels that the law has helped the country quickly and unexpectedly acquire, the chief executive of BP Biofuels said Wednesday.

Brazilian Judge Suspends Dam License, Upholds Indigenous Rights

A federal judge has suspended the construction license of the Teles Pires hydroelectric dam in the Brazilian Amazon, saying the permitting process violated the rights of indigenous people protected under the Brazilian Constitution.

China Builds Scores of Dams in Earthquake Hazard Zones

More than 130 large dams built, under construction, or proposed in western China's seismic hazard zones could trigger disasterous environmental consequences such as earthquakes and giant waves, finds a new report from the Canadian watchdog group Probe International.

The report shows that 98.6 percent of the dams being constructed in western China are located in high to moderate seismic hazard zones.

Coal Demand Likely To Be Impacted By Tough New Carbon Emission Limits

The Coal Mining Industry faces another struggle as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) imposes limits on carbon emissions on all new U.S. power stations. The new limits would effectively bar the building of any new coal plants.

Coral Links Ice Sheet Collapse to Ancient 'Mega Flood'

Coral off Tahiti has linked the collapse of massive ice sheets 14,600 years ago to a dramatic and rapid rise in global sea-levels of around 14 metres.

Previous research could not accurately date the sea-level rise but now an Aix-Marseille University-led team, including Oxford University scientists Alex Thomas and Gideon Henderson, has confirmed that the event occurred 14,650-14,310 years ago at the same time as a period of rapid climate change known as the Bølling warming.

Could this Simple Vitamin Help Treat Psychotic Disorders Better than Drugs?

A growing trend of drug misuse is alarming medical experts, policymakers, and patient advocates.

In recent years, there has been a massive increase in off-label use of a class of drugs called "atypical niacantipsychotics."

EIA analysis: a big jump in crude stocks

Both the weekly Energy Information Administration and American Petroleum Institute inventory report this week reported significant jumps in US crude oil inventories

US crude oil stocks climbed 9 million barrels for the week that ended March 30 on a surge in imports, mainly from Iraq, and an uptick in refinery run rates, data Wednesday from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed.

GOP: Obama Warning to Supreme Court 'Unprecedented'

Republicans have taken sharp issue with President Barack Obama’s warning to the Supreme Court on the Obamacare case, charging that the president is seeking to “intimidate” the high court.

Obama warned on Monday that a rejection of his healthcare reform law would be an act of “judicial activism” that Republicans claim to oppose.

Health Care Without Harm Praises EPA For Greenhouse Gas Standards

GHG Must Be Reined in to Protect Human Health, Cohen States

Health Care Without Harm praised the Environmental Protection Agency for its first-ever first Clean Air Act standard for carbon pollution from new power plants.

Heat-trapping atmospheric nitrous oxide traced to fertilizer use

Since 1970, nitrous oxide concentrations have increased by 20 percent, from below 270 parts per billion to more than 320 ppb. After carbon dioxide and methane, nitrous oxide (N2O) is the most potent greenhouse gas, trapping heat and contributing to global warming. It also destroys stratospheric ozone, which protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Here's Why The Reports About Russian Troops In Syria Are Very Misleading

Given that Russia has today decided to approve UN and Red Cross-led efforts to control the violence in Syria, this story confused us — Russia seemed to be sending mixed messages.

How a Grassroots Rebellion Won the Nation's Biggest Climate Victory

Activists have imposed a de facto moratorium on new coal—and beat the Obama EPA to the punch...

Stopping new coal plants may be "the most significant achievement of American environmentalists since the passage of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act," says one activist.

Industrial poultry about to get even crappier — literally

One of the most quoted lines from Eric Schlosser’s now famous book, Fast Food Nation, comes from the chapter about pathogens in ground beef. Without mincing words, he wrote: “There is shit in the meat.”

Well, that phrase may be relevant again if the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) moves forward with plans to privatize part of its meat and poultry inspection program.

Kamakura Releases Jarrow and Li Study of the Yield Impact of the Fed’s Quantitative Easing Program

The study estimates an arbitrage-free term structure model that explicitly includes the quantity impact of the Federal Reserve’s trades on Treasury market prices.  This allows the authors to estimate both the magnitude and duration of the quantitative easing price effects.  The authors conclude that the short to medium term forward rates in the U.S. Treasury market were reduced but that the quantitative easing program had little if any impact on long term forward rates, contrary to the Fed’s stated intentions of the quantitative easy program.

L.A. Council shines light on solar power

A pilot program that would pay residents and businesses to sell solar-generated power back to the city received City Council approval on Tuesday.

The long-debated feed-in tariff program would generate 10 megawatts of power for the Department of Water and Power -- enough to supply about 10,000 households -- and take effect in the coming months. The $3 million a year program will help the utility develop a pricing plan for how much residents would be reimbursed for creating solar energy.

La Niña is expected to transition to ENSO-neutral conditions during April 2012

All of the Niño indices have warmed considerably during the last two months, Significant anomalous low-level westerly winds developed in the western tropical Pacific in late March.

Mars, Moon, Star Regulus Cavort in Colorful Triangle April 3

The moon is at it again, this time cuddling in a brilliant triangle with two other bright lights, Mars and the star Regulus at about 9 p.m. on April 3.

Melting Arctic Ice May Usher in New Era of Geopolitical Conflict

Countries of the Far North are set to be the new players in the emerging Arctic frontier. The polar ice cap is melting at much faster rates than previously predicted, and may be completely ice free by the summer of 2040 or sooner. There are vast untapped resources in the Arctic Ocean such as new shipping lanes, fishing grounds, tourism, and it is believed to contain the largest of the world's remaining energy reserves. This year has brought about a frenzy of oil and gas exploration which will only increase as the ice recedes. The coming summer will bring an even more intense search for resources. Cooperation will be required among the northern nations to avert territorial disputes and conflicts at the top of the world.

Nuclear UAV drones could fly for months

Nuclear-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that would increase operational flight durations from days to months are a technological possibility today, according to a feasibility study undertaken last year by Sandia National Laboratories and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation. A nuclear power supply would additionally double the availability of electrical power to onboard systems, including weaponry, the study found.

Nuclear waste storage possible with current funding, commission says

The commission’s Draft Report to the Secretary of Energy suggested seven key elements in approaching nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities, including forming a single-purpose organization to develop and implement a nuclear waste program; long-term support for research, development and demonstration on advanced reactor and fuel cycle technologies that may offer substantial benefits to available technologies and related workforce; and international leadership in addressing global non-proliferation concerns and to improve the safety and security of nuclear facilities and materials worldwide.

Pickens plans 377 MW Texas wind farm

Pickens will connect the farm to a transmission line that is expected to be completed in early 2013. In 2007, Mesa announced plans for a 4 GW Pampa wind farm in the Texas panhandle. Two years later, the company put the project on hold due to a lack of adequate power lines.

Power lines a threat to Texas bald eagles

At least seven bald eagles have died from encounters with power lines in East Texas, an alarming increase for the rebounding species, wildlife officials say.

Collisions or electrocutions involving power lines killed birds in six Texas counties, they said.

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Solar activity is expected to be low with C-class flares likely for the next three days (06-08 April).  The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels for the past 24 hours with minor to severe storm periods at high latitudes.  The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on day one (6 April) due to the weak CME that was associated with the filament eruption

Russia Troops In Syria? Report Claims Military Unit Arrives At Syrian Port

According to ABC News, Russian news reports claim that an Iman tanker carrying an "anti-terror squad" from the Russian Marines has arrived in Syria.

Al Arabiya writes that DEBKAfile, an open-source military intelligence website based in Israel, has reported that two Russian ships have arrived in Syria's port of Tartus.

However, ABC also points out that Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has denied the reports.

Shake It Off: Earth's Wobble May Have Ended Ice Age

The last big ice age ended about 11,000 years ago, and not a moment too soon — it made a lot more of the world livable, at least for humans.

But exactly what caused the big thaw isn't clear, and new research suggests that a wobble in the Earth kicked off a complicated process that changed the whole planet.

Solar Leases Attracting New Demographic

The sun is shining on homeowners in less affluent neighborhoods who are discovering they can afford solar energy after all - by leasing rather than buying the panels on their roofs.

The new business model lets homeowners save money the very first month, rather than breaking even a decade after an initial investment of $5,000 to $10,000.

Solar Moves Into CPV's 'Sweet Spot'

Solar project planned at Juma site

A site in the Yuma area will become home to the first solar plant on state trust land in Arizona.

When completed, the 35-megawatt Foothills Solar Plant will serve Yuma-area customers, generating enough power for approximately 8,750 homes.

Solving the next energy crisis, a million houses at a time

Did you know that U.S. energy security is as easy as weatherstripping your house?

It’s time to update how we think about national energy issues. And better architecture is the key.

Study: US Obesity Worse Than Thought

Obesity in the United States may be even worse than initially believed, according to a new study in PLoS One journal.

According to the study's findings, the widely used body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight, has allowed the United States to underestimate its obesity crisis. A BMI between 25 and 30 is classified as overweight, and 30 or more as obese.

Study: U.S. West must replace coal power

"Decarbonization of the electric power sector is critical to achieving greenhouse gas reductions that are needed for a sustainable future," Daniel Kammen, a researcher in UC Berkeley's Energy and Resources Group, said. "To meet these carbon goals, coal has to go away from the region."

Surprise: Antibiotics May Be Contributing to the Obesity Epidemic

Microbiologists at New York University have published a new study that says the overprescribing of antibiotics could be making us fat! Researchers fed infant mice low doses of penicillin; after 30 weeks, penicillin-fed mice were between 10 and 15 per cent bigger and twice as fat as drug-free mice.

Sustainable Seafood Guide: How to Save the Seas with Your Diet

Maybe you have heard that eating beef is one of the biggest contributors to your carbon footprint, much more so than driving. However, if you are like many of us, you may not have thought about how eating seafood affects the environment. Whether you live by the coast or thousands of miles from the nearest shoreline, the biggest impact you have on the oceans is through your diet. Beyond its health benefits and its cultural significance, there is no denying how delicious lobster with freshly-squeezed lemon tastes on a hot summer day. With a seemingly (and deceptively) abundant supply of inexpensive seafood, it can be hard to say no to that double order of fish tacos. But can the seas really provide an endless bounty of food?

Syria forces hit rebels, Russia scorns opposition

Syrian forces pressed a crackdown on rebel bastions on Thursday despite a truce pledge, with more than 40 people reported killed, as Russia said the opposition would never defeat President Bashar al-Assad's army even if "armed to the teeth."

The Hour of Darkness That Circled the Globe

Earth Hour 2012 organizers are jubilant today after a satisfyingly successful global event on March 31. Lights went out at 8:30 pm local time as Earth Hour circled the world through a record 150 countries and territories, with 6,494 towns and cities participating.

Organized by the global conservation organization WWF, Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

US House committee subpoenas DOI Gulf moratorium documents

The US House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee subpoenaed the Obama administration Tuesday for documents related to the temporary ban on deepwater oil and natural gas drilling the White House instituted following the 2010 Macondo blowout.

US Suffering Worst Economic Recovery in History

Economies normally snap back when recovering from recessions, but that hasn't been the case this time around.

From 1947 to 2007, the average annual growth rate for the U.S. was 3.4 percent, Lazear writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

What to Make of the New Autism Numbers

The latest statistics on autism prevalence are scary: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disorder now affects, with varying degrees of severity, one in 88 children, and one in 54 boys. That represents an estimated 78 percent increase since 2002, the government agency reported last week. The CDC was quick to downplay the most dramatic possible interpretations of these findings, even as Mark Roithmayr, president of the advocacy group Autism Speaks, rushed to label them evidence of “a national emergency in need of a national plan.”

Why Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer to Global Warming

Despite the triple meltdown at Fukushima—which has driven tens of thousands of Japanese from their homes, cast radioactive fallout across the U.S., and will likely cost the Japanese economy ¥50 trillion, or $623 billion—many desperate Greens now embrace nukes. They include Stewart Brand and George Monbiot. What drives these men is panic—a very legitimate fear that we will trigger self-fueling runaway climate change.

Will Millions of Newly Insured Patients Under Healthcare Reform Actually Be Insured?

Most of the recent discussion is about whether all or part of the Healthcare Act will get through the Supreme Court. But let’s assume for a moment that it does.
What then? Will the newly insured actually get coverage? It would seem that they would: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) proposes to spell out in considerable detail exactly what coverage private insurance companies must provide. There won’t be any difference in anybody’s coverage—right? Wrong!

Wind Tops 10 Percent Share of Electricity in Five States

A new picture is emerging in the U.S. power sector. In 2007, electricity generation from coal peaked, dropping by close to 4 percent annually between 2007 and 2011. Over the same time period, nuclear generation fell slightly, while natural gas-fired electricity grew by some 3 percent annually and hydropower by 7 percent. Meanwhile, wind-generated electricity grew by a whopping 36 percent each year. Multiple factors underlie this nascent shift in U.S. electricity production, including the global recession, increasing energy efficiency, and more economically recoverable domestic natural gas. But ultimately it is the increasing attractiveness of wind as an energy source that will drive it into prominence.

Wooden batteries: A solution to sustainable electricity?

No, we’re not going to be cutting down trees for batteries now. What researchers have discovered is that the biological waste products from making paper can actually be used to produce cathodes in rechargeable batteries.

WSJ: Fed Buying 61 Percent of US Debt

The Federal Reserve is propping up the entire U.S. economy by buying 61 percent of the government debt issued by the Treasury Department, a trend that cannot last, Lawrence Goodman, a former Treasury official and current president of the Center for Financial Stability, writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion article published Wednesday.

"Last year the Fed purchased a stunning 61 percent of the total net Treasury issuance, up from negligible amounts prior to the 2008 financial crisis," Goodman writes.

 

April 3, 2012

 

6.3 Mw - OAXACA, MEXICO

687,000 U.S. High-Tech Jobs Lost in a Decade

A new study released by the National Science Board (NSB) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) raises concerns about the global leadership of the U.S. in Science and Technology investments. The report also highlights massive job losses in high-tech.

After failing to reach goals, California attempts to jump-start its 'Hydrogen Highway'

Eight years ago, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger drove a hydrogen-powered Toyota Highlander to UC Davis and, with TV cameras running, promised to build a "hydrogen highway" to help usher in a green revolution in California.

Schwarzenegger signed a plan to build 50 to 100 hydrogen fueling stations by 2010 with state funds and money from oil companies. The plan was mostly hype: Schwarzenegger had announced it without having any binding agreements from oil companies -- and they backed out. Today, only six hydrogen fueling stations statewide are open to the public.

But now...

Alternative Uses for Coal Stuck in Neutral

Applying new technologies is admirable. But sticking businesses with huge bills to pay that progress is not. That’s what Exelon and other critics are saying about a proposed plant to convert coal to a synthetic natural gas.

Analysis: Food Security Focus Fuels New Worries Over Crop Chemicals

Scientists, environmentalists and farm advocates are pressing the question about whether rewards of the trend toward using more and more crop chemicals are worth the risks, as the agricultural industry strives to ramp up production to feed the world's growing population.

Anti-Nuclear Activists Say Summit Ignores True Nuclear Security

President Barack Obama says the United States is committed to developing new technologies to produce peaceful nuclear energy. He made these remarks on Monday at the start of a nuclear security summit in Seoul, South Korea. But one year after the disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex, concerns about the safety of nuclear power linger on. Some activists, though, say there is no form of safe nuclear power.

Arizona Solar Energy Production Increased By 333 Percent In 2011

Arizona ranks third in the nation in terms of solar system installation, according to the 2011 U.S. Solar Market Insight Report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Governor Jan Brewer announced March 22.
More impressive, Arizona’s energy production from photovoltaic systems jumped from 63 to 273 megawatts between 2010 and 2011: a tremendous 333 percent rate of growth. Arizona now trails only California and New Jersey in terms of solar megawatt production...

'Bacterial Shock' To Recapture Essential Phosphate

Researchers at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) are developing a novel biological process to remove extracted phosphate from wastewater – where it ultimately ends up after manufacturing. Dr John McGrath who is leading the project explained, "Phosphate in wastewater is a pollutant that causes increased growth of algae and plants, reducing the oxygen available for aquatic organisms. This is known as eutrophication and poses the single biggest threat to water quality in Northern Ireland and indeed globally."

Baghdad Reprimands Kurds for Halting Oil Production and Allowing Fugitive VP to Leave Country

Tensions between the Kurdish Regional Government and Baghdad were heightened today after the Kurds halted foreign oil exports and allowed the fugitive vice president to leave the country. At least five Iraqis were killed and four more were wounded in unrelated violence.

Bill protecting state parks from budget sweeps wins approval

A bill that would protect Arizona State Parks’ revenue from any further legislative sweeps was on its way to Gov. Jan Brewer’s desk Monday after winning approval from the Senate.

HB 2362 would allow the agency to keep all revenue raised through gate and concession fees at its 29 parks that are open to the public. The bill was introduced by Rep. Karen Fann, R-Prescott, whose district is home to five state parks.

Brazil Puts Expats On Notice With Chevron Charges

Brazilian criminal charges against energy industry employees over an oil spill have made foreign workers leery of new legal risks, but so far concerns seem to be outweighed by the lure of good-paying jobs and a famously laid-back lifestyle.

The big question among expatriates is whether last week's charges against Chevron Corp, Transocean and 17 of their staff are political grandstanding in a country actively seeking foreign expertise to help develop its newfound oil riches, or a real risk of doing hard time.

California affirmative action ban upheld by federal court

California’s ban on using race or gender as a factor in college admissions survived another legal challenge Monday when a federal appeals court upheld the law passed by state voters more than 15 years ago.

CEOs at Odds over Nuclear Energy Future

Even nuclear energy pros are divided. While none of them doubt either the safety or the reliability of the current plants, they are split as to whether future facilities will figure prominently into this country’s generation portfolio.

Clothes Made with Synthetic Fabrics Are Polluting the Ocean

While synthetic fabrics are washed they shed bits of plastic that can end up in the oceans.  Manufacturers are not required to test fabrics for their environmental impact.  More than 65 percent of plastic in the ocean is in bits that are less than a millimeter thick.

Scientists have found an unexpected source for the rising load of tiny plastic bits in the oceans: Washing machines.

Colorado Governor Suspends Controlled Burns After Deadly Wildfire

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper suspended prescribed burns used to mitigate fire danger on Wednesday after a controlled blaze apparently ignited a wildfire west of Denver that killed an elderly couple and destroyed some two dozen homes.

Computer outperforms humans at detecting lies, by watching the speaker's eyes

If the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey taught us anything, it’s that computers know when we’re telling a lie. While that may not actually be the case for most computers in real life, it could be if they’re running a program created by scientists from the University at Buffalo. Building on a previous psychological study, the team produced software that allowed a computer to assess a speaker’s eye movements, to determine whether or not they were telling the truth in a prerecorded conversation. It turns out that the computer was able to correctly able to spot their lies with 82.5% accuracy

Data reveals changes in power generation mix during Obama Administration

Between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2011, renewable energy sources – biofuels, biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind – grew by 27.12 percent. By comparison, during the same three-year period, total domestic energy production increased by just 6.72 percent with natural gas and crude oil production growing by 13.66 percent and 14.27 percent respectively. During the same period, nuclear power declined by 1.99 percent and coal dropped by 7.16 percent.

Diane Sawyer reporting on U.S. bridge projects going to the Chinese... NOT Americans.

The bridges are right here in the U.S. and yet Obama has approved for Chinese contractors to come in and do the work. What about jobs for Americans???   Watch this video. It doesn't take long to view.   This one should be tough for the supporters of the current regime to swallow....AND it comes from ABC NEWS...no Snopes or Wikileaks on this one!!

Employment Situation Summary

The number of unemployed persons, at 12.8 million, was essentially unchanged in February. The unemployment rate held at 8.3 percent, 0.8 percentage point below the August 2011 rate.

EPA Takes Critical First Step to Tackle Global Warming

On March 27 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft standards that will limit carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act. Carbon pollution from power plants contributes to global warming, endangering our health, our environment, and drastically altering our climate. By placing the first ever nationwide limits on carbon pollution from new power plants, these historic standards are a critical step to reducing the effects of global warming and protecting public health.

EU Push For Ocean Energy Set To Fall Short

Europe's wave and tidal power technology is likely to disappoint EU expectations for 2020 and take over a decade to contribute to energy supply in a significant way, even though it is chalking up rapid growth and drawing in big industrial investors.

Eurozone Periphery Governments "Encouraging" Banks to Buy Sovereign Debt

Bloomberg: “There’s a moral hazard element to this,” Ken Wattret, chief European economist at BNP Paribas SA in London, said in a telephone interview. “The ECB is clearly worried that in some countries the lower the risk premium on sovereign debt, the less urgency there will be to make some changes.”
The ECB should be concerned. The Eurozone periphery governments are effectively telling their banks: don't worry about your customers for now. We ARE your main customer. Get your 1% 3-year ECB loans and buy our government debt - keep the rates low.

Fear grows in O.C. cities near San Onofre nuclear plant

Concern over the safety of the San Onofre nuclear power plant is growing among Orange County cities closest to the facility, which has been shut down since January because of system failures.

Officials in nearby San Clemente and Laguna Beach -- both within 20 miles of the San Onofre facility -- have registered their fears after significant wear was found on hundreds of tubes carrying radioactive water inside the plant's generators.

Flare On Total's Elgin Platform Extinguished: CEO

While Total had dismissed the risk of a blast, one engineering consultant warned that Elgin could become "an explosion waiting to happen".

Options to extinguish the flare had included dropping water from a helicopter or spraying nitrogen overhead to starve the flame of oxygen. In the end, the flare went out by itself.

Fort Hood turns on solar field, generates renewable energy

After a year of planning and construction, Fort Hood and Universal Services Fort Hood Inc. activated a solar field of nearly 3,000 photovoltaic panels.

'Ghost Ship' Off Canada Heralds Arrival Of Tsunami Debris

An empty Japanese fishing boat drifting off the coast of western Canada could be the first wave of 1.5 million tons of debris heading toward North America from Japan's tsunami last March.

Global Payments: Data breach is contained

Global Payments, a third-party payments processor to Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards, reiterated that while customer data may be at risk, the data breach has been “contained to the best of our ability.” Overall, 1.5 million accounts may have been affected.

GM says sales of fuel-efficient cars jumped in March

Look to General Motors' March sales numbers to see how Americans are adjusting to higher gas prices.

The once truck-centric Detroit automaker says that combined sales of its 12 vehicles that achieve an Environmental Protection Agency estimated 30 mpg or better on the highway topped 100,000 last month, the highest total in company history.

Governor Pat Quinn Rolls Out Nation’s Largest Electric Vehicle Fast-Charging Network

Governor Pat Quinn and representatives from the Illinois Tollway, 350Green LLC and 7-Eleven, Inc. announced yesterday the availability of the nation’s largest network of fast-charging electric vehicle (EV) stations. As part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to increasing sustainability across Illinois, the initiative will support the use of electric vehicles and create jobs in sustainable transportation. Motorists can charge an electric vehicle in under 30 minutes using the current fast-chargers at 7-Eleven sites at four Tollway Oasis locations, and will soon be able to charge vehicles at all seven Tollway Oases.

Groups Seek Fuller Disclosure Of Fracking In Wyoming

Environmental groups are asking a state court to force Wyoming to provide a more complete list of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a drilling technique vital to natural gas and oil production in the state.

Harnessing Your “Prepper” Strength When People Call You Crazy

The world likes to call free thinkers crazy. Dare to act on your thoughts by preparing yourself for a world where governments don’t function and societies break down, and you’re well and truly nuts. You must be one of those freaks who sees a conspiracy around every corner or a kook living in some alternative reality. Can’t you just act normal?

ITNS To Patent Proprietary Technology That Magnetizes Salt To Revolutionize $95B Water Desalination Industry

With EMFT, salt can be controlled and extracted from water and soils to enhance desalination, agricultural, and irrigation processes. The EMFT would allow plants to absorb nutrients more effectively, providing agricultural industries an advantage in crop production.

Just how much oil is coming out of federal waters?

And, for those keeping score, the revised data show that crude oil production on federally administered lands rose in the first three years of the Obama administration: from 575 million barrels in 2008, the last of the George W Bush years, to 646 million barrels in 2011.

Lesson on Your Social Security Card

Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn't know this. It's easy to check out, if you don't believe it. Be sure and show it to your family and friends. They need a little history lesson on what's what and it doesn't matter whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are Facts.

Lost: $450 Billion, Missing Since 2007

Have you seen this $450 billion?

That’s not exactly the kind of statement you’re going to see on the side of a milk carton anytime soon. And yet, for retirees and Baby Boomers nearing retirement, it’s important to know about this missing money.

This missing money isn’t from losses in the stock market. It isn’t from some financial fraud at a Wall Street bank. It’s the annual income lost by bondholders courtesy of today’s ultra-low interest rates. And, as we know, the Federal Reserve is looking to keep those rates low for another year and a half.

Mankind Kept 2011 Global Temperatures Near Record-WMO

Human activity kept global temperatures close to a record high in 2011 despite the cooling influence of a powerful La Nina weather pattern, the World Meteorological Organization said on Friday.

On average, global temperatures in 2011 were lower than the record level hit the previous year but were still 0.40 degrees Centigrade above the 1961-1990 average and the 11th highest on record, the report said.

Man whose WMD lies led to 100,000 deaths confesses all

Defector tells how US officials 'sexed up' his fictions to make the case for 2003 invasion

Mediterranean Solar Plan: drifting off the radar

The Mediterranean Solar Plan’s objective of generating 20GW of renewable energy by 2020 looks remote as North Africa rebels and Southern Europe collapses. But it is not dead yet.

Mississippi Court Ends Global-Warming Suit

A federal judge in Mississippi has ended a long-running suit that attempted to hold a selection of U.S. utilities and coal and oil companies responsible for flooding damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr., in a decision released yesterday, dismissed Comer vs. Murphy Oil with prejudice, meaning it can’t be refiled or reconstituted. The decision should serve to preclude, other similar lawsuits accusing companies of emitting global-warming gases that cause damaging weather patterns.

New Power Outage Map Goes Live

After much preparation to prove its capability, Oncor is launching a new interactive outage map in order to give customers what they've asked for - more information about power outages during storms. The new, enhanced outage map pinpoints the loss of power down to a customer's neighborhood. Interactive real-time outage information is available through this map either online or on your mobile device 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

NRC officials get an earful

"We wouldn't allow this plant to continue to operate if we did not think they were operating safely," Pilgrim's senior resident inspector for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Max Schneider said during an open house held by the agency Thursday night at Plymouth Town Hall.

But residents of Plymouth and Cape Cod weren't buying that assessment.

NRC wants more information about concrete condition at Seabrook Station

Federal inspectors have confirmed a concrete condition found in an underground tunnel at Seabrook Station poses no immediate safety threat, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is calling for more information about how the issue will be managed in the future.

Pesticides linked to honeybee decline

The first study conducted in a natural environment has shown that systemic pesticides damage bees' ability to navigate. Common crop pesticides have been shown for the first time to seriously harm bees by damaging their renowned ability to navigate home. The new research strongly links the pesticides to the serious decline in honey bee numbers in the US and UK — a drop of around 50 per cent in the last 25 years. The losses pose a threat to food supplies as bees pollinate a third of the food we eat such as tomatoes, beans, apples and strawberries.

Plan Now For Climate-Related Disasters: U.N. Report

A future on Earth of more extreme weather and rising seas will require better planning for natural disasters to save lives and limit deepening economic losses, the United Nations said on Wednesday in a major report on the effects of climate change.

Poll: Minority approve of Obama energy policy

A new poll finds that President Obama’s approval ratings on energy policy are much worse than the marks he receives on environmental protection.

Presidential Race Vital to Coal's Carbon Emissions, EPA Ruling Part of Coal's Concerns

The 2012 presidential election will determine whether the country continues to travel its current route or whether it takes a different direction. No issue is more notable than the future of coal-fired electric generation that now comprises about 45 percent of the market

Rampant Water "Pillage" Is Sucking Yemen Dry

With a belch of acrid, greasy smoke and a jolt that shakes its moorings, the pump on Yemeni water farmer Jad al-Adhrani's plot of land roars to life, and the race to squeeze the last drop of water out of Yemen's parched earth resumes.

Renewable Energy Experiences Explosive Growth During First Three Years of Obama Administration

Between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011, renewable energy sources (i.e., biofuels, biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) grew by 27.12%. By comparison, during the same three-year period, total domestic energy production increased by just 6.72% with natural gas and crude oil production growing by 13.66% and 14.27% respectively. Moreover, during the same period, nuclear power declined by 1.99% and coal dropped by 7.16%

Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity

Earth-directed CME, associated with a filament eruption near N26E14,
became visible.  Solar activity is expected to be very low with a chance for C-class activity for the next three days (03-05 April).  The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet on day one (03 April). Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected on days two and three (04-05 April) due to a coronal hole high speed stream becoming geoeffective early on 04 April followed the next day by the arrival of the weak CME associated with this morning's filament eruption.

Sandia simulation suggests sunny skies for fusion reactors

In the beginning, there was the thermonuclear bomb - mankind had harnessed the energy of the Sun. Confident predictions abounded that fusion reactors would be providing power "too cheap to meter" within ten years. Sixty years later many observers are beginning to wonder if billions of dollars of effort has been lost in digging out dry wells. Now a new simulation study carried out at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, suggests that magnetized inertial fusion (MIF) experiments could be retrofitted to existing pulsed-power facilities to obtain fusion break-even.

Scarce Resources To Slow Low-Carbon Growth: Study

Dwindling supplies of metals, water and biomass could slow the deployment of clean energy technologies by 2035, a study by research organization the Stockholm Environment Institute and by business initiative 3C showed on Tuesday.

Scientists Clone the Survivors of Dutch Elm Disease

"This research has the potential to bring back the beloved American elm population to North America," said Prof. Praveen Saxena, a plant scientist who worked on the project with Prof. Alan Sullivan, both with Guelph's Department of Plant Agriculture. "It may also serve as a model to help propagate and preserve thousands of other endangered plant species at risk of extinction across the globe."

Scientists Pin Down Historic Sea Level Rise

Sea levels have increased on average about 18 centimetres (7 inches) since 1900 and rapid global warming will accelerate the pace of the increase, experts say, putting coastlines at risk and forcing low-lying cities to build costly sea defenses.

Scientists last month said that thinning glaciers and ice caps were pushing up sea levels by 1.5 millimetres a year, and experts forecast an increase of as much as two metres by 2100.

Senate Republicans Agree to End Big Oil Subsidies After Watching Polar Bear Film

In an stunning reversal, Senate Republicans have accepted President Obama's call to end tax breaks for the oil and gas industry, reversing a procedural vote on Thursday that had killed the Mendendez Bill (S. 2204 - Repeal Subsidies and Tax Breaks for the Big 5 Oil Companies), introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). On Thursday, the bill was defeated by a vote of 51-47, nine votes short of the 60 required to pass.

Senators--and others--speculate about speculators' role in rising oil prices

Congressional hearings often earn their reputation as forums for political posturing. Lawmakers read mini-speeches veiled as questions and then give witnesses little or no time to respond.

Sick and Sicker

...if the Supreme Court doesn't resoundingly strike Obamacare down and toss it into the dung heap where it belongs. It's going to be a long wait until they offer their decision on whether or not a government bureaucrat has the right to tell you what, where, and how much health care you can obtain. Now is not the time to sit back and say nothing. These nine justices need to know what the American people think about this draconian law that steals essential freedom from each and every one of us.

Sprite Season Begins

The first sprites of summer are starting to appear in the skies of North America. The strange thing is, summer is almost three months away. "Sprite season is beginning early this year," says Thomas Ashcraft, who photographed these specimens on March 30th from his observatory in New Mexico:

Texas Wins Court Battle with EPA Over Pollution Permits

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has handed Texas a victory over the Environmental Protection Agency over the agency's disapproval of Texas' pollution rules related to power plants.

The Price of Nationhood

Too many tribal governments lack any sense of nationhood because their own people do not buy in. The reason is corruption, sometimes real and sometimes perceived, but which it is does not matter. If your own people are not willing to risk everything from their property to their lives—exactly as the founders of the U.S. did—in defense of nationhood, then tribal government becomes like the proverbial car-chasing dog. If you catch the car, then what?

Trees or Vegetables?

We want to buy seeds and have a garden that will produce plenty of food for us to eat, can, and store. The problem is we live in a mostly wooded area and finding a place to put the garden where there will be enough sunlight is an exercise in futility. We have cut down a few trees but don’t want to cut down any more than we have to.

Two-In-One Device Uses Sewage As Fuel To Make Electricity And Clean The Sewage

Scientists recently described a new and more efficient version of an innovative device the size of a home washing machine that uses bacteria growing in municipal sewage to make electricity and clean up the sewage at the same time.

Unity Should Benefit All

My message has been and will continue to be that American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations, in the interest of unity and just plain good economic sense, must pass and enforce Indian and Native Preference in procurement, contracting and hiring.

USNRC approves new SCE&G nuclear units in 4-1 vote

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Friday approved licenses for South Carolina Electric & Gas and partner Santee Cooper to build and operate two new nuclear generating units at their Summer station.

Wind Energy Headed for a Fall Regardless of Tax Policy

Even with an extension of a tax credit for wind development, installations will fall precipitously in 2013, a renewable energy investment expert told a Senate committee.

Wind tax credit bites dust again

The outcome was expected, but it marks the fourth time this year that wind-power supporters failed to get the tax credit passed in the Senate.

Wind turbines create windfall for counties, townships

The wind turbines scattered across southwest Minnesota have made a tremendous economic impact on the region, from construction crews settling in our communities to payments made to landowners for easements. Perhaps the greatest economic impact, however, is now being seen in counties where turbines harness the wind and convert it into kilowatt hours.

With Fossil Fuels in the Spotlight, Clean Tech Hums Along

Oil sands, shale gas, pipelines, and gasoline prices are clearly dominating the headlines as we enter the second quarter of 2012. But with the energy spotlight mostly elsewhere, clean tech is showing signs of market momentum – and signs of emergence from the dark shadow cast, mostly unfairly, by the Solyndra bankruptcy last fall. Come to think of it, maybe having the spotlight elsewhere isn’t such a bad thing.

You Can Plant Tomatoes in the Same Place Next Year in Your Garden

It is true that you need to rotate crops in order to keep pests and fungi under control. However, you don’t have to skip two or three years and go without your tomatoes! You don’t say whether you’ve been experiencing any particular types of problems or not, or if you’re mainly looking at it from a good stewardship perspective.

 

 

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for News of February 2010 go to: News_Feb10

for News of January 2010 go to:  News_Jan10

for News of December 2009 go to: News_Dec09

for News of November 2009 go to: News_Nov09

for News of October 2009 go to:  News_Oct09

for News of September 2009 go to:  News_Sep09

for News of August 2009 go to: News_Aug09

for News of July 2009 go to:  News_Jul09

for News of June 2009 go to: News_Jun09

for News of May 2009 go to: News_May09

for News of April 2009 go to:  News_Apr09

for News of March 2009 go to:  News_Mar09

for News of February 2009 go to: News_Feb09

for News of January 2009 go to:  News_Jan09

for News of December 2008 go to:News_Dec08

for News of November 2008 go to: News_Nov08

for News of October 2008 go to: News_Oct08.

for News of September 2008 go to:  News_Sep08

for News of August 2008 go to:  News_Aug08

for News of July 2008 go to:News_July08

for News of June 2008 go to:  News_June08

for News of May 2008 go to:  News_May08

for News of April 2008 go to: News_Apr08

for News of March 2008 go to: News_Mar08

for News of February 2008 go to:  News_Feb08

for News of January 2008 go to:  News_Jan08

for Current Events go to:  Events

for News of 2008 go to:  News_2008

for News of 2007 go to:  News_2007

for News of 2006 go to:  News_2006

for News of 2005 go to:  News_2005

for News of 2006 go to:  News_2006

for News of 2005 go to:  News_2005

for News of 2004 go to:  News of 2004

for Events of 2008 go to:  Events of 2008

for Events of 2007 go to:  Events of 2007

for Events of 2006 go to:  Events of 2006

for Events of 2005 go to:  Events of 2005

for Events of 2004 go to:  Events of 2004

for News and Events of 2003 go to  News and Events Archive 2003

 

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