From Science
Science 8 January 2010:
Vol. 327. no. 5962, pp. 148 - 149
"Clearly, current attempts to regulate MTM/VF (Mountain Top Mining/Valley Fill) practices are inadequate. Mining permits are being issued despite the preponderance of scientific evidence that impacts are pervasive and irreversible and that mitigation cannot compensate for losses. Considering environmental impacts of MTM/VF, in combination with evidence that the health of people living in surface-mining regions of the central Appalachians is compromised by mining activities, we conclude that MTM/VF permits should not be granted unless new methods can be subjected to rigorous peer review and shown to remedy these problems. Regulators should no longer ignore rigorous science. The United States should take leadership on these issues, particularly since surface mining in many developing countries is expected to grow extensively."
Read the entire article here.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
University of Wisconsin Biomass Power Plant Update
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel Online
"A state-funded, $250 million project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison aims to convert a coal-fired power plant on campus to one that primarily burns biomass such as tree trimmings and crops, ideally becoming a model for how the state can reduce its carbon output and its dependence on fossil fuels.
But the massive venture - accounting for nearly one-fifth of the state's capital budget during the 2009-'11 budget period - faces considerable hurdles."
Read the entire article here.
"A state-funded, $250 million project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison aims to convert a coal-fired power plant on campus to one that primarily burns biomass such as tree trimmings and crops, ideally becoming a model for how the state can reduce its carbon output and its dependence on fossil fuels.
But the massive venture - accounting for nearly one-fifth of the state's capital budget during the 2009-'11 budget period - faces considerable hurdles."
Read the entire article here.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Free Webinar: Scouting for Residential Electricity Savings
Live webinar | Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. (includes live Q&A)
from the Energy Center of Wisconsin
REGISTER HERE Clean Energy Webinar Website
from the Energy Center of Wisconsin
REGISTER HERE Clean Energy Webinar Website
Presented by Scott Pigg, Principal Project Manager and Ingo Bensch, Senior Project Manager; Energy Center of Wisconsin
U.S. households are plugged in—there are now about 25 consumer electronic products in every household, compared with just three in 1980. A year-long field study in Minnesota sheds new light on the make-up of this growing electrical load and behavioral opportunities to curb the growth.
In this webinar, co-principal investigators Scott Pigg and Ingo Bensch present results from "Plugging into savings," a field research project funded by the Minnesota Office of Energy Security and Minnesota Power Company. Scott and Ingo will share results on:
- in-home metering data on active-mode and standby power draws and electricity consumption for more than 700 devices in 50 homes;
- prevalence of opportunities to reduce electricity waste (such as enabling computer power management), with estimated savings;
- interview results about what consumers are willing (and unwilling) to undertake in the way of in-home savings strategies; and,
- implications for energy efficiency programs.
Gain insights to help residential energy consumers manage their plugged-in electronics and slay their energy vampires.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Scientists Call for End to Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
From Yale Environment 360:
"Mountaintop removal coal mining is causing “pervasive and irreversible damage” to Appalachian forests and streams and the federal government should stop issuing permits for new mines, according to a report issued by 12 environmental scientists. The report, published in the journal Science, reviewed recent studies of the damage caused by mountaintop removal mining and found that the practice releases large amounts of toxic chemicals into streams, harming fish and birds and contaminating human drinking water supplies. The scientists said state and federal regulators have been paying surprisingly little attention to the damage caused by mountaintop removal mining, which involves blasting the tops off mountains to mine coal seams below, then dumping mining debris into streams." Read the entire post.
"Mountaintop removal coal mining is causing “pervasive and irreversible damage” to Appalachian forests and streams and the federal government should stop issuing permits for new mines, according to a report issued by 12 environmental scientists. The report, published in the journal Science, reviewed recent studies of the damage caused by mountaintop removal mining and found that the practice releases large amounts of toxic chemicals into streams, harming fish and birds and contaminating human drinking water supplies. The scientists said state and federal regulators have been paying surprisingly little attention to the damage caused by mountaintop removal mining, which involves blasting the tops off mountains to mine coal seams below, then dumping mining debris into streams." Read the entire post.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Rare Earth: Necessary for Alternative Power, But Mined Destructively
Two recent reports (below) highlight the necessity of rare earth for alternative energy production. Unfortunately the mining of these elements, mainly in China, come at a heavy environmental and human cost.
"Some of the greenest technologies of the age, from electric cars to efficient light bulbs to very large wind turbines, are made possible by an unusual group of elements called rare earths. The world’s dependence on these substances is rising fast. Just one problem: These elements come almost entirely from China, from some of the most environmentally damaging mines in the country, in an industry dominated by criminal gangs." From the New York Times, Dec. 25, 2009 (complete article)
"It doesn't look very green. Rare earth processing in China is a messy, dangerous, polluting business. It uses toxic chemicals, acids, sulfates, ammonia. The workers have little or no protection. But, without rare earth, Copenhagen means nothing. You buy a Prius hybrid car and think you're saving the planet. But each motor contains a kilo of neodymium and each battery more than 10 kilos of lanthanum, rare earth elements from China." From Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News shown on the PBS Newshour Dec. 14, 2009 (video and transcript of this report)
"Some of the greenest technologies of the age, from electric cars to efficient light bulbs to very large wind turbines, are made possible by an unusual group of elements called rare earths. The world’s dependence on these substances is rising fast. Just one problem: These elements come almost entirely from China, from some of the most environmentally damaging mines in the country, in an industry dominated by criminal gangs." From the New York Times, Dec. 25, 2009 (complete article)
"It doesn't look very green. Rare earth processing in China is a messy, dangerous, polluting business. It uses toxic chemicals, acids, sulfates, ammonia. The workers have little or no protection. But, without rare earth, Copenhagen means nothing. You buy a Prius hybrid car and think you're saving the planet. But each motor contains a kilo of neodymium and each battery more than 10 kilos of lanthanum, rare earth elements from China." From Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News shown on the PBS Newshour Dec. 14, 2009 (video and transcript of this report)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
UW-Oshkosh plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025
UW-Oshkosh (UWO) has developed a plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2025. UWO is one of about 110 colleges to produce a Climate Action Plan as part of the American Colleges and Universities Climate Commitment, but only 5 percent of those have aimed for carbon neutrality by 2025.
UWO was one of four UW System campuses selected by Governor Jim Doyle in 2006 to work toward replacing all fossil fuels for heating and electricity, the University was able to utilize a state-funded Energy Independence Study in developing its plan.
Read more at: http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20091207/OSH1003/912070562
courtesy of the Oshkosh Northwestern
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Fair Trade Market at UW-La Crosse
Today is the second day of the Fair Trade Market at UW-L in the Port O' Call room in Cartwright Center. It will be open until 5:30 p.m. with a wide variety of Fair Trade merchandise for sale. You can read more about it in this La Crosse Tribune online article.
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