Archive for August, 2007

PA: Solar project breaks new ground

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“By the second quarter of 2008, the nation’s fourth-largest solar power facility will be operational at a 16.5-acre facility adjacent to the GROWS landfill in Falls. Once the Exelon-Epuron Solar Energy Center is up and running, the approximate 16,500 solar panels — with a little help from the sun — will generate 3,700 megawatt hours […]

Canada: Greenpeacers arrested for stopping ship

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“A Greenpeace protest that disrupted coal delivery to a local power plant and saw three activists charged with mischief has ended peacefully. … Five activists initially boarded the Algomarine in a bid to delay the delivery of nearly 30,000 tonnes of coal and draw attention to the issue of global warming, said Greenpeace spokeswoman Joslyn […]

Ford looking at soy-based foam for automobiles

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“Scientists at Ford Motor Company have formulated the chemistry to replace 40 percent of the standard petroleum-based polyol — used to create the foam used in vehicles for seat cushions, seat backs, armrests and head restraints — with a soy-derived material. Many in the automotive industry are experimenting with a 5 percent soy-based polyol. ‘Five […]

CA: Conservation curbs energy crunch

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“California residents and businesses turned off lights, air conditioners and machinery Thursday to help the state weather an electricity shortage caused by soaring temperatures and high demand. The state’s largest energy consumers had been notified that they might have to go dark to help prevent blackouts, but the mandatory interruptions at industrial, commercial and retail […]

TN: Pols support openness at nuke site operations

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and U.S. Rep. David Davis said Wednesday they support openness at a nuclear fuel processing plant where a national secrecy policy prevented the public from learning about a potentially lethal uranium spill in 2006. ‘What we are doing is balancing the national security interest with the community’s right to know interest. […]

“If you were really green, you would have walked here”

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“The headline refers to a sign that appears as you drive (or as I drove, in a huge white pickup truck) into the Playa at five miles an hour, and it’s not a bad summary of the enviro discussion here at Burning Man. How can you really be green at an event you have to […]

Trading Forest Carbon: The Panacea or Pipe Dream to Address Climate Change

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“In ‘Trading Forest Carbon: A Panacea or Pipe Dream to Address Climate Change’ PERC research fellow Brandon Scarborough takes a detailed look at the efficacy of employing forests and markets for sequestered carbon in the United States to address rising CO2 levels. This publication provides a thorough explanation of the forest carbon cycle and the […]

Offsets aren’t enough

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“Texas is not a painless place to rein in polluting industries, and battles fought in court can be insanely expensive, with victories far from guaranteed. I’m not suggesting that stopping mighty coal is another easy day in the office. But giving coal the green light should never be done, even on the hardest terrain. No […]

Presidential policy papers

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“Last week I received calls from two presidential campaign policy advisors; one Democrat, the other Republican. Each expressed interest in environmental position papers for their candidates. They hope their perspectives on Green issues will appeal to voters, especially those in Western states. Both parties need help—but in opposite directions. Republicans need sensitivity to Green issues, […]

Gas tax hikes only fuel the problem

Friday, August 31st, 2007

“The country’s transportation infrastructure has received long-overdue attention in the wake of the tragic bridge collapse in Minnesota. Throwing more money at the problem is the immediate impulse of many commentators and politicians. Unfortunately, highway funding at the federal level is rife with abuse, diversion, and mis-prioritization, mostly because of the practice of earmarking — […]