Staying the Course Against Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
Profiles of two long-time activists fighting mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia.
Profiles of two long-time activists fighting mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia.
Over Half of Germany’s Renewable Energy Owned By Citizens & Farmers, Not Utility Companies
A democratic shift in control of energy production is well underway in Germany.
As Air Toxics Rise, Some Coal-Fired Plants Don’t Mind Stricter Pollution Control
A Constellation Energy power plant.
Some environmentalists said the new data show why the EPA should swiftly move to release a long-anticipated environmental assessment of dioxin, the first installment of which the agency plans to issue this month. EPA officials say they will issue a report addressing dioxin’s non-cancerous effects first and then later release a cancer-related report.
Some industry groups, including the American Chemistry Council, have urged the EPA to hold off issuing the report in what the trade association’s president and chief executive, Cal Dooley, has called “a piecemeal fashion.” Chemical manufacturers accounted for nearly 64 percent of total disposal of dioxins in 2010, though they reported a 7 percent decrease from 2009 to 2010.
There has been much industry opposition to EPA initiatives reducing pollution and toxics, including the cross-state air pollution standard. The EPA rule meant to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, was stayed by a court order, delaying their implementation. Groups including the National Mining Association and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers fought implementation, calling the rule overreach.
However, the New York Times reports how one coal-fired power plant has been able to install cleaner technology to meet state and EPA standards. Constellation Energy’s Vice President for Environmental Compliance Paul Allen explained they had ample time to update technology to meet new rules: ““When we started making plans for this project, we did it with the expectation that there would be a federal regime, and we still have that expectation.”
When coal and utilities last fought cleaning power plants, citing concerns about reliability, Allen similarly determined “It’s entirely possible to comply with these rules and remain a profitable company.”
Steelers’ Jerome Bettis Pushes For Air Toxics Reduction Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency released the public service ad former Pittsburgh Steelers star Jerome Bettis yesterday. Bettis advocates for the new mercury and air toxics reduction rules for power plants. Bettis points out in the ad that he is one of 26 million Americans who have asthma, which is one of the respiratory illnesses linked to the emissions. With the new rules on emissions in place, it could help prevent hundreds of thousands of illnesses each year. Bettis asks the public to “join me and EPA to help tackle asthma and air pollution.” Watch:
Renewable Energy Now Provides More US Power Than Nuclear
The latest figures from the EIA show renewable energy sources overtaking nuclear power in the US, through the first nine months of 2011.
Dam Breaks In Brazil: 13,000 Homeless, At Least Eight Dead
Water burst through a Brazil dam yesterday, in northern Rio de Janeiro, causing a declared state of emergency in 66 towns as they try to evacuate citizens from the floods and landslides. Local media report nine dead, and some 13,000 displaced by the disaster. Flooding, a common threat from the increasingly heavy rainfall in southeast Brazil, has affected 2 million people nationwide this year.
A Reuters video shows flooding up to homes’ rooftops:
The disaster comes almost a year-to-date after one of Brazil’s worst floods in its history, which killed more than 900 people and left 31,000 displaced.
Dam Breaks In Brazil: 13,000 Homeless, At Least Eight Dead
Water burst through a Brazil dam yesterday, in northern Rio de Janeiro, causing a declared state of emergency in 66 towns as they try to evacuate citizens from the floods and landslides. Local media report nine dead, and some 13,000 displaced by the disaster. Flooding, a common threat from the increasingly heavy rainfall in southeast Brazil, has affected 2 million people nationwide this year.
A Reuters video shows flooding up to homes’ rooftops:
The disaster comes almost a year-to-date after one of Brazil’s worst floods in its history, which killed more than 900 people and left 31,000 displaced.
‘Range Anxiety’ Versus Reality – Why EVs Haven’t Won Our Hearts and Minds
The average American driver, Census figures say, goes about 32 miles on any given day. Why, then do we obsess over EV range?
No Pants Subway Ride: Thousands Expected To Turn Up Worldwide
For those who have always wanted to ride the subway in your underwear, here's your chance.
Next Metro Stop… Gaza City?
Palestinian artist Mohammed Abusal envisions an underground metro system to solve some of congested, polluted Gaza's environmental woes.
