Aug 31, 2006

CHECK IT OUT: GLRPPR web site (www.glrppr.org) update!

The Website of the Month for August is the Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator: http://www.ofee.gov/janitor/index.asp.  (Note: See the highlights of new items added to the Sector Resources and Topic Hubs below for information on a related resource, the Ashkin Group’s new Green Cleaning University.)  The web site of the month for September will be the Green Chemical Alternatives Purchasing Wizard: http://web.mit.edu/ENVIRONMENT/academic/purchasing.html.
 
 
 
Remember: National Pollution Prevention Week is September 18-24.  See http://www.p2.org/p2week/index.cfm for more information.  If you have P2 Week activities that you would like to see added to the GLRPPR online calendar, send an email about the events to Joy Scrogum at jscrogum@wmrc.uiuc.edu.
 
 
Don’t forget to check out the recently released Pollution Prevention for Arts Education Topic Hub ( http://www.glrppr.org/hubs/toc.cfm?hub=509&subsec=7&nav=7 ).  This Topic Hub was developed by GLRPPR, and describes the health and environmental hazards found in art education settings, including the theatrical arts.  Ideas for using pollution prevention in the art classroom, including suggestions for alternative, more environmentally friendly materials and products, are provided.  The contents are applicable to all educational institutions, including K-12, colleges and universities, and informal education programs.  Send comments, questions or suggestions to Carol Knepp at cknepp@wmrc.uiuc.edu.
 
 
 
Other recently released Topic Hubs, developed by other Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) centers, include NEWMOA’S Lead Topic Hub ( http://www.glrppr.org/hubs/toc.cfm?hub=108&subsec=7&nav=7) and PPRC’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Topic Hub ( http://www.glrppr.org/hubs/toc.cfm?hub=1004&subsec=7&nav=7).
 
 
 
A new Sector Resource on Sustainable Product Design has been added to the GLRPPR web site ( http://www.glrppr.org/contacts/gltopichub.cfm?sectorid=140).  If you have suggestions for resources or contacts to include within this Sector Resource, send them to Joy Scrogum at jscrogum@wmrc.uiuc.edu.
 
 
 
A "Recycled-content Products" subcategory has been added to the following Sector Resources: Recycling & Waste Exchange; Consumer Information & Resources; and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP).  See http://www.glrppr.org/contacts/gltopichub.cfm?sectorid=65#174.
 
 
New resources have been linked to in the Topic Hubs and Sector Resources.  Here are a few to check out:
--Electronic Product Assessment Tool (EPEAT): http://www.glrppr.org/contacts/fullrecord.cfm?sectordocid=1525
--Compact Fluorescent Lighting in America: Lessons Learned on the Way to Market: http://www.glrppr.org/contacts/fullrecord.cfm?sectordocid=1527
--Green Cleaning University: http://www.glrppr.org/contacts/fullrecord.cfm?sectordocid=1528
--Green Seal Environmental Standard for Recycled-Content Latex Paint: http://www.glrppr.org/contacts/fullrecord.cfm?sectordocid=1530
--National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program: http://www.glrppr.org/contacts/fullrecord.cfm?sectordocid=1531
--Minnesota Renewable Energy Gateway: http://search.state.mn.us/renewable/
 
 
THANKS JOY!

California Switches to New Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel

SACRAMENTO: California's 1.2 million diesel engines will all emit less pollution when the state completes its turnover to the nation's cleanest diesel fuel on September 1, 2006. The switch to new Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel is in preparation for new, cleaner-operating heavy-duty trucks equipped with advanced emission control systems that debut next January.

ARB Chairman Dr. Robert Sawyer said, "September 1 is an important date for California because we now have the nation's cleanest diesel fuel. This new diesel fuel allows us to proceed with our plans to cut diesel emissions by 85 percent in 2020 and to meet Governor Schwarzenegger's goal of cutting air pollution by one-half."
 
Please consider the following ARB press release announcing the
switch to low sulfur diesel fuel throughout California.  You can
read the release online at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr083106.htm
 

The Terminator puts a "cap" in global warming....

California is set to become the first U.S. state to impose a cap on greenhouse gas emissions. A landmark plan agreed by legislators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would require the state's major industries to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by an estimated 25 percent by 2020.
 
Congrads Calf! As the largest greenhouse gas producing state... this is a major event.

Aug 30, 2006

Green marketing must appear grass-roots driven and humorous without sounding preachy

Citation: “Avoiding Green Marketing Myopia: Ways to Improve Consumer Appeal for Environmentally Preferable Products.” (2006) Jacquelyn A. Ottman, Edwin R. Stafford and Cathy L. Hartman Environment, 48(5), 22-36.

Summary (via Green Clips): In 1960, Harvard business professor Theodore Levitt warned that corporate preoccupation on products rather than consumer needs was doomed to failure because consumers select products and new innovations that offer benefits they desire. Today’s research indicates that many green products have failed because of green marketers’ myopic focus on their products’ “greenness” over the broader expectations of consumers or other market players (such as regulators or activists).

Evidence suggests that green products are able to appeal to mainstream consumers or lucrative market niches and frequently command price premiums by offering five “non-green” consumer values (efficiency and cost effectiveness, health and safety, symbolism and status, convenience and improved performance). A study conducted by the Alliance for Environmental Innovation and household products-maker S.C. Johnson found that consumers are most likely to act on green messages that strongly connect to their personal environments. According to popular culture experts, green marketing must appear grass-roots driven and humorous without sounding preachy.

Thanks Laura B. for somt of todays content!

EPA Commenses Closure of Libraries Amid Protests

Press release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving ahead this summer to shut down libraries, end public access to research materials and box up unique collections on the assumption that Congress will not reverse President Bush’s proposed budget reductions, according to agency documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). At the same time, EPA’s own scientists are stepping up protests against closures on the grounds that it will make their work more difficult by impeding research, enforcement and emergency response capabilities.”

See also: EPA FY 2007 Library Plan (18 pages, PDF)

EPA Requesting MACT rule comments

EPA is requesting comments on some aspects of the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAPs) for new and existing hazardous waste combustors, which were published Oct. 12, 2005. The final technology-based standards that were issued in 2005 reduce emissions of hazardous pollutants, including lead, mercury, arsenic, dioxin and furans, and hydrogen chloride and chlorine gas. The NESHAPs are based on the maximum achievable control technology (MACT) for hazardous waste combustors. These standards are based on emission levels that are already being achieved by the better-performing sources within the group.

The combustors affected by this rule detoxify waste and recover energy from hazardous waste and include incinerators, cement kilns, lightweight aggregate kilns, boilers and process heaters, and hydrochloric acid production furnaces. EPA estimates about 145 facilities operate 265 devices that burn hazardous waste.

Comments will be accepted for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register.

More information on this rule: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/combust/finalmact/index.htm

Environmental causes popular mainstream media blitz

"In 1989, the environment was really hot, and then other charities, diseases and causes came to the forefront,"   "In the last few years, the environment has come to prominence again,"  "Some of the viewing we used to have was pretty painful. But now, the number has increased and the quality has improved."

"The way our culture operates, people get news from late-night comics and Internet joke sites, so it's inevitable that issues this important will appear in all parts of the culture."

"The public needs to be hit over the head with something seven times before it sinks in, however it is you hit them."

Source: Reuters

Just another example of how delicate the balance of nature is.

There are plans to open 6 million hectares (a hectare is 10,000 square meters) to biofuel plantations in Indonesia, and environmentalists worry that suppliers will burn down trees to clear land for palm oil and sugar fields. Burning down trees that absorb greenhouse gasses would wipe out any climate-change advantage associated with burning cleaner fuels in automobiles.

Just another example of how delicate the balance of nature is. [Source: Reuters via alertnet.org]

Big three will guzzle for awhile

The high-profit margins of SUVs to the much more competitive fuel-efficient segment isn't going to be easy. According to Autodata statistics, currently about 75 percent of Chrysler's sales are from pickups, SUVs and minivans. It's about 66 percent for Ford and 60 percent for GM.
 
It's important that Mr. Lasorda use the past tense here when speaking to the media as he says "prepared a business model" as the development of a new vehicle typically takes 3 years or longer. Jesse Toprak, a analyst at Edmunds, says, "I don't know if they will be able to come out with new products that quickly." The near future for the Big 3 undoubtedly looks bleak.
 
[Source: New York Times via Detroit News]

Miles per Dollar Calculator (MP$)

Why a MP$ calculator?And so now we come back to the original question: Why do we need a miles-per-dollar calculator?
It's simple. It's time that we add a new weapon to our arsenal of thought, a new way of seeing the economy and our shiny new Web 2.0 world. Believe me--when you start thinking about how much money it costs to drive one mile it changes your whole perspective on life. You start to question reality--the world as it really is versus the world as it has been presented to you. And with this changed perspective you might one day even hope to understand "supply and demand." http://www.unfocusedbrain.com/projects/miles_per_dollar/

Aug 29, 2006

AWWA Holiday Drinking Water Factoids

It takes about 4,776 gallons of water to raise a Christmas tree. To raise the 35 million Christmas trees U.S. families enjoy each year, a total of 167 billion gallons is required.

  • If mothers refresh their floral arrangements and flowering plants during the Mothers' Day week, they will use 2,835,000 gallons of water. That's equivalent to the amount needed to supply a week's worth of water to 1,157 households.
  • After Thanksgiving dinner in 1999, 16.4 million Americans will watch football. At halftime, American toilets will flush 16.4 million times and use 48.5 million gallons of water. Water efficient toilets would save us 22.3 million gallons of water. That's the same amount of water needed to fill 1,476 swimming pools.

New efforts aimed at protecting health, environment from discarded household drugs

MADISON - Properly disposing of unwanted pharmaceutical waste will help protect public health and the environment, and local agencies that collect such waste now have new guidance available for ... Read Full Article

Environmental Experts Urge Global Lead Paint Ban

paintCINCINNATI, Ohio, August 24, 2006 (ENS) - Environmental and occupational health experts at the University of Cincinnati, UC, have found that India, China and Malaysia still produce and sell consumer paints with dangerously high lead levels, even on products intended for use by children such as painted playground equipment. Researchers from four countries say that this lead-based paint production poses a global health threat, and a worldwide ban is urgently needed to avoid future public health problems. >>more

U.S. EPA Found Delinquent in Air Toxics Enforcement

 U.S. EPA Found Delinquent in Air Toxics Enforcement
airWASHINGTON, DC, - A federal court has found the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to protect public health from toxic air pollution to be "grossly delinquent." Deciding a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club against EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the EPA to issue dozens of overdue air toxics controls. >>more

New Technique Pegs Air Impact of Small Power Sources

New Technique Pegs Air Impact of Small Power Sources
turbines
IRVINE, California, - As California seeks more sources of clean electric power, researchers at University of California-Irvine have created the first scientific method for predicting the impact on air quality of small-scale generators located close to power users. Power sources include fuel cells, solar photovoltaics, gas turbines, micro-turbine generators and natural gas internal combustion engines. >>more

Student Sustainability Competition for $1.25 Million Now Open

WASHINGTON, DC, August 21, 2006 (ENS) - The federal government is offering $1.25 million in sustainability grants to teams of college students through the agency's People, Prosperity and the Planet, P3, contest, a national student design competition launched in 2004.

Applications are being received for the funds that will enable teams of college students to research, develop and design scientific and technical solutions to sustainability challenges that protect the environment while achieving continued economic prosperity.

EPA will award as many as 50 grants up to $10,000 each to student teams to research and develop sustainable solutions during the 2007-08 academic year.

In spring 2008, the teams will be invited to bring their designs to Washington, DC to compete for EPA's P3 Award, which includes an additional award worth up to $75,000 to further develop and implement the project in the field.

The competition will be judged by the National Academy of Engineering for design innovation and technical merit along with relevant social, economic and environmental considerations that are the keys to sustainable designs.

The P3 competition is open to teams of students attending colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational institutions.

Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged, including representatives from multiple engineering departments and departments such as chemistry, architecture, industrial design, economics, policy, social sciences, business, and communication.

Proposals must reach the EPA by December 21, 2006. Application procedures and materials for this year's grants are found at: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2007/2007_p3_4thannual.html

Details about the P3 competition are at: http://www.epa.gov/P3

"The biggest challenge is that there are more jobs out there for green chemists than there are trained chemists for the jobs,"

"Worldwide, chemistry has not been a popular career choice in recent years. Indeed, a steady decline of chemistry students has prompted concern," Paul Anastas, director of the Green Chemistry Institute in Washington DC and coiner of the term. He is borne out by a 2005 US National Research Council report that identifies a need to increase training in green chemistry — to spur the move away from fossil fuels over coming decades. The report recommends incorporating green-chemistry principles into education materials for students as well as business leaders.

Grid Basic on energy storage

Energy storage is economical when the marginal cost of electricity varies more than the energy losses of storing and retrieving it. For instance, 1.2 gigawatt-hours might be stored at night in a pumped-storage reservoir, at a cost of 1.5 cents/kilowatt-hour. The next day, 1 gigawatt-hour might be recovered, and 200 megawatt-hours lost, and sold at 4.0 cents/kilowatt-hour, for a profit of $22,000. If this profit can be realized on most days, and if the storage facility cost less than perhaps $100M, the operator makes a profit.

The marginal cost of electricity varies because of the varying economics of different kinds of generators. At one extreme, water from a dam can go through a turbine for little more than the cost of releasing it down a spillway, so the marginal cost of generation is nearly zero. Coal-fired and nuclear power plants are also low marginal cost generators, as they have high capital and maintenance costs but low fuel costs. At the other extreme, most peaking generators burn natural gas, which is expensive. Operators prefer cheaper electricity, so they run the low-marginal-cost generators most of the time, and run the more expensive ones only when necessary. This is called "economic dispatch".

YIKES! U.S. 3rd in Energy Consumption

The United States uses a lot of energy—nearly a million dollars worth each minute, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. With less than five percent of the world’s population, we consume about one fourth of the world’s energy resources. We are not alone. People in Asia and Europe also use a large amount of energy. The average American consumes six times more energy than the world average. Every time we fill up our cars or open our energy bills, we notice the cost of that energy.

 

Efficiency & Conservation

Energy is more than numbers on a utility bill; it is the foundation of everything we do. All of us use energy every day—for transportation, cooking, heating and cooling rooms, manufacturing, lighting, and entertainment. We rely on energy to make our lives comfortable, productive and enjoyable. To maintain our quality of life, we must use our energy resources wisely.

The choices we make about how we use energy—turning machines off when we’re not using them or choosing to buy energy efficient appliances—impact our environment and our lives. There are many things we can do to use less energy and use it more wisely. These things involve energy conservation and energy efficiency. Many people think these terms mean the same thing, but they are different.

 

Fw: History of NY bill on Green Cleaners

Nationwide, more than 32 million pounds of household cleaning products are poured down the drain each day. Many of these products contain toxic substances that are not processed adequately by sewage treatment plants or septic systems. Studies have shown that many cleaning products in households and offices contain more than 50 potentially harmful and possibly lethal chemicals. Careless or improper use and disposal of these products may threaten individual health or lead to accidental poisoning. Long term or cumulative environmental consequences may also occur, such as contamination of surface and ground water.

Additionally, research has shown that chemical cleaning products can present health concerns because they may contain chemicals associated with eye, skin or respiratory irritation and other health issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that poor indoor air quality, also known as Sick Building Syndrome affects between 30 and 70 million U.S. workers and approximately 37 percent of the population suffers from chemical sensitivities, skin rashes, or allergies.

According to the EPA:

  • Up to 30 percent of all buildings contain indoor air contamination;
  • Indoor pollution costs more than $50 billion in the U.S. alone for healthcare, absenteeism, lost production, and lost revenue;
  • Allergic reactions to "sick" indoor air environments account for more than 10 million workdays missed by U.S. employees each year;
  • Allergic reactions to "sick" indoor air environments keep 10,000 American children out of school each day; and
  • A U.C.L.A. study indicates that "adverse health effects have been identified regarding common chemical ingredients found in 222 cleaning products."
I wonder if they have heard of ESS ;-)
 

Christopher Haase

ESS, Cleaning the world “One Solution at a Time”

 

Environmentally Sensitive Solutions, Inc. 

On the web at: www.neutralsolution.com www.neuhomecare.com www.neutralcleaning.com

 

Air Resources Board verified Johnson Matthey's Partial Particulate Filter

The PCRT Particulate Filter system achieves a 50 percent reduction in particulate matter emissions qualifying it for a Level 2 verification.  Specific engine families and conditions for which the PCRT Particulate Filter system have been approved may be found in the Executive Order which will be posted within 10 days on the ARB website at:
http://arb.ca.gov/diesel/verdev/verdev.htm

ARB Staff Presentation for the August 25, 2006

Gasoline web page recently has been updated with the new information for August 25, 2006 Fuels Workshop has been posted to our gasoline website, please visit:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/gasoline/meeting/2006/mtg2006.htm

OSHA Safety this week

OSHA Revises Respiratory Protection Standards Fire Chief - Chicago,IL,USA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised its standards for ... 23, completes the revision of the reserve sections of OSHA's Respiratory ..
Kraft fined for safety violations
The safety violation was listed as serious. ... From 2000 to Aug. 26, Kraft had been inspected four times and was fined twice, according to OSHA. ...

Airline ground safety under watch Florida Today - Melbourne,FL,USA
Paul Kempinski, director of ground safety for the International Association of OSHA "only comes out when something happens," said Kempinski, who represents ...

Dudley's Disturbing Views on Worker Health and Safety
Former OSHA and MSHA policy analyst Celeste Monforton blasted OIRA nominee Susan ... Courier-Journal for her "disturbing" position on worker health and safety. ...

System built to hide injuries Inside Bay Area - Oakland,CA,USA
Whenever Cal/OSHA safety inspectors arrived on the bridge site, KFM safety managers would offer up a dog and pony show during which they withheld even their ...

This week in Environmental Grants

'Green roof,' stream protection earn funding from bay program
by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit group, and the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program.

Easthampton gets $600,000 in US grants
The Republican - Springfield,MA,USA
The city has been notified it will receive two grants totaling more The second grant - $55,200 from the US Environmental Protection Agency


EPA Awards $50,000 Technical Assistance Grant to Cincinnati ... PRNewswire --
US Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 ...human health and environmental risks posed ..22 Superfund technical assistance grants to community ...

New York Flood Aid Tops $98 Million, Registration Deadlines ...
Community Dispatch (press release) - USA
Assistance Program (ONA), another part of the IHP, provides grants for lost ... $3.3 million was awarded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) forhazardous ...

This week in environmental awards

Nominees sought for environmental awards
San Antonio Express (subscription) - San Antonio,TX,USA
Nominations are now open for the 2007 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. The awards, administered by the Texas Commission on ...


Renowned Environmental Analyst Lester Brown, Celebrity Activist ...
... most influential thinkers" and as "the guru of the global environmental movement" by ... The recipient of scores of awards and honorary degrees, he is widely ...


Indiana Farmers Get Environmental Awards
... Fair Wednesday. Environmental stewardship is the focus of the RiverFriendly Farmer Award, a program established in 1999. It is ...


This week in EPA Environment and Conservation

EPA | NSW Department of Environment and Conservation incorporating ...
New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation incorporating Environment Protection Authority. A comprehensive source of information

Dismal radon report card in schools
... Q&A on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Web ... mitigation in five schools that registered readings well above EPA guidelines during ...

Australia Gorgon Partners Confident of Green Light
... "Forty years of successfully protecting the environment on Barrow management plan gives us confidence we will be able to respond to the EPA's residual concerns ...

Don't Tread on Me: Are the Attacks on Carpets Justified?
... exhaustive studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that contradict emitters of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor environment. ...

Largest biodiesel production facility in New England one step ...
When something is better for the environment at a marginal cost - it ... has 12 to 20 percent fewer emissions, White said, citing an EPA report. ...

EPA and partners bringing clean water to Colorado's farm ...
Health and Environment, the Colorado Rural Water Association, the property owner, the operator of the camp, and the affected farm workers. EPA helped install a ...

Pollution in the Water, Lawsuits in the Air
Washington Post - United States
... EPA spokeswoman Jessica Emond said the agency works hard to monitor all pollution. "EPA is committed to protecting public health and the environment by ...

WASA to challenge EPA lead fine
Water Technology Online - Latham,NY,USA
EPA's response to WASA's efforts to cooperate and meet and exceed customer expectations in the regulatory environment in which we ...


Wastewater groups ask Supreme Court to reverse DC decision
... The EPA´s approach of using seasonal or annual averages allows for large short-term pollution peaks that can kill fish and harm the environment, they argued. ...

Process Safety Notices this week

Safety minister sticks to his guns Victoria Times Colonist - Victoria,BC,Canada
... be taken off Canada's list of terrorist organizations, Public Safety Minister Stockwell ... They said that would help the Middle East peace process by facilitating ...

A Safety Net for San Diego's Homeless Collapses
... supporter. Bilbray's staff is working on the car-donation issue, but it could require passage of legislation, a slow process. He ...

Keep safety a city priority (The Coloradoan - Fort Collins,CO,USA)
officers are once again asking residents to help us keep public safety priority No ... to actually read the amendment, where they'll see that the process we create ...

New Drug Safety Bill Introduced in Senate
... "We believe FDA's rigorous review process is critical to ensuring American patients receive ... "Clearly, the US safety record is unmatched: Fewer than 3 percent ...


Spilling safety details (Kenai Peninsula Online - Kenai,AK,USA)
... the assets are over-designed for today's rates and thus safety margins are ... spill prevention regulations began about two years ago and the process has been ...


Waste reduction efforts

HAZRED reaches important milestone (MRW - London,MRW,UK)
... The Environment Agency-led project has appointed 12 specialist advisors to work with 120 businesses under the hazardous waste reduction plans it is set to ...

MD says yes we can to Langdon trash plan (Calgary Country - Cochrane,Alberta,Canada)
... "Bag limits are proven to increase waste reduction and recycling ...Materials such as hazardous waste, oversized items, liquids, recyclables, construction and ...

Out of sight, out of mind (Colorado Springs Gazette - Colorado Springs,CO,USA)
... state health officials on radiation safety - everything from hazardous waste facilities to ... 2004, it adopted an ordinance requiring radon-reduction systems in ...

Hazardous materials teams with the Des Moines Fire Department were called... to give back to their community through beautification, waste reduction and recycling ...

New scheme offers businesses help and advice on hazardous waste
... HAZRED is designed to demonstrate the benefits of setting hazardous waste reduction targets and developing waste reduction plans in partnership with those ...

Recycling Grants Offered (Kansas City infoZine - Kansas City,MO,USA)
... and education for source reduction, waste minimization and ... reduce the need for new solid waste facilities ... Household hazardous waste and waste tire projects have ..

Environmental issues bring out differences in governor's race

Detroit Free Press - United States
Republican challenger Dick DeVos say the state must help companies by streamlining environmental requirements and finding ways to promote jobs while still ...

GREED AND SCANDAL RULE GULF COAST RECOVERY EFFORTS

OpEdNews - USA
... hit the Gulf Coast, it exposed more than poverty, environmental fragility and ... the company develop contract bids for Katrina reconstruction jobs,

Hazardous waste site news

Hazardous waste drive might include tires Flint Journal - Flint,MI,USA
... junk tires. The tire collection is being planned for Oct. 14 during an annual household hazardous waste collection. The waste collection ...

The Green Line: Welcome to the world of hazardous waste ... El Universal Online - Mexico
... of the world that guarantees public information about hazardous releases from ... inputs, decide the appropriate location for a toxic waste confinement, target ...


Hazardous Waste News Brief: EPA Requests Comments on Portions of ... Autochannel (press release) - USA
... comments on some aspects of the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAPs) for new and existing hazardous waste combustors, which were ...


SMEs offered free advice on hazardous waste Environmental Data Interactive - UK
Organisers of a project providing free advice to small businesses on how to reduce their hazardous waste production - and save money - is looking for firms to ...


Stricter rules for hazardous waste Hindu - Chennai,India
Bangalore: Industries generating hazardous waste have to now comply with stricter regulations notified by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. ...

SSRC hosting hazardous waste collection in Weymouth October 21 Weymouth,MA,USA
... not accepted include industrial waste, radioactive materials, pathological and medical waste, pressurized gas cylinders ... Latex paint is messy, but not hazardous. ...

Hazardous waste pick-up sites KHQA - Quincy,IL,USA
The Illinois state EPA says they will once again sponsor a collection point for people who need to get rid of household hazardous waste. ...


Hazardous waste facility to be closed one day Times-Standard - Eureka,CA,USA
The household hazardous waste collection facility operated by Humboldt Waste Management Authority will be closed Sept. 9. ...

Bush-Coke-Pepsi Triumvirate Under Fire in India

NEW YORK, New York, August 24, 2006 (ENS) - The Bush administration is facing fierce criticism across India for backing the Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola companies in their fight with local authorities and consumer groups.

Last week, the two multibillion dollar soft drink giants were forced to wind up their operations in the state of Kerala over charges of selling substandard products that could pose health risks.

The cola companies are already facing full or partial bans in six other Indian states as a result of a growing nationwide campaign by environmental groups and local communities.

Researchers at the Center for Science and Environment, an independent group based in New Delhi, say they have conducted various studies that clearly show pesticide residues in Coca-Cola and Pepsi products in India were 24 times higher than European Union standards.

drinking

Man in India drinks a Coca-Cola. The company says the soft drinks are safe, but seven Indian states have imposed bans on Coke and Pepsi products. (Photo courtesy Coca-Cola India)
Both companies have categorically denied this charge and asserted that their products are safe and pose no risk to human health.

However, they have failed to convince local health officials in many parts of the country. The cola companies have been ordered by the Indian Supreme Court to reveal the contents of their products within the next six months.

The state of Karnataka has initiated a lawsuit against Coca-Cola after its own tests confirmed high levels of pesticides in the drinks.

Those campaigning against the cola operations in India say they are furious over the U.S. government's refusal to consider local environmental concerns and its seemingly unconditional support for the two companies.

"The U.S. government should let the Indian government decide what is safe for the Indian public," said R. Ajayan of the Plachimada Solidarity Committee in Kerala, in response to a senior U.S. trade official's criticism of India's action against the companies.

"This is a setback for the Indian economy," Franklin Lavin, the U.S. undersecretary for international trade, told Agence France Press in an interview following the Kerala ban on Coca-Cola and Pepsi products.

"In a time when India is working hard to attract and retain foreign investment," Lavin said, "it would unfortunate if the discussions were dominated by those who did not want to treat foreign companies fairly."

Lavin, a former U.S. ambassador to Singapore, who has also held senior management positions at Citibank, is due to lead a business delegation to India in November to explore new investment opportunities.

Activists charge that the cola companies are trying to use political influence in India to avert the ban on the sale of their products and that Lavin's comments demonstrate the Bush administration's efforts to favor those who financed its election campaigns in the past.

In 2004, the George W. Bush presidential campaign received more than $380,000 from Coca-Cola and its affiliates, according to the India Resource Center, an international campaign group that works with local activists.

"Coca-Cola has strategically bought its way onto the good side of the Bush administration," said the Center's Amit Srivastava, "which is now returning the favor for the financial support."

Lavin has accused India of treating U.S. companies "unfairly," but activists like Srivastava think that is not true.

"It is ridiculous," he says, "It's the other way round."

Srivastava and others say this is not the first time U.S. officials are intervening on behalf of Coca-Cola and that their actions in the past leave no doubt that they are willing to discount human rights when commercial interests are at stake.

drinks

Soft drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsico in India (Photo courtesy CSE)
In 2002, for example, when Coca-Cola sought a waiver of the company's mandatory public listing in India, a condition that had been placed on its entry into the country, some senior U.S. officials left no stone unturned to seek a favorable action from Indian officials.

"I understand this is the second time that Coca-Cola's waiver request has been denied," said William Lash, then assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, in a letter to the Indian authorities.

"I find it to be very unfortunate," he added, "not just for the company, but also for India's investment climate."

The Indian government ultimately approved the waiver request.

Activists say the U.S. perception of "investment climate" as represented by both Lash and Lavin is not shared by most Indians who care foremost about local communities and the environment.

"American companies cannot get away with exploitation of natural resources or subversion of the standardization process in the name of foreign investment," says Nandlal Master of Lok Samiti, a community organization in India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh.

In the area of Mehdigang in Uttar Pradesh, local activists like Master who have challenged Coca-Cola say they are facing severe water shortages and pollution as a result of the company's bottling operations.

Sawai Singh, who works with a local community group that has challenged the Coca-Cola operations in Kala Dera in the state of Rajasthan, seems no less resentful of foreign companies' presence.

"Maybe it is time for the U.S. to reduce its investment," he says. "The U.S. companies have gobbled up many Indian owned companies. They have destroyed livelihoods for a large number of Indians."

{Published By Haider Rizvi in cooperation with OneWorld Network.}

Shift from hard drives to flash may have environmental benefits

A leading technology research group says flash, or solid state memory drives may soon replace the standard hard drives in laptops. Over the past few years, flash memory technology has been claiming an increasingly sizeable share of the market, particularly in the form of USB drives. According to the Gartner Group, the NAND flash market has grown from 1.56 billion in 200 to 11.42 billion in 2005, with even higher projections for the next two years. This summer, Samsung set a new bar by releasing computers that utilize flash memory storage, negating the need for traditional magnetic disk media. The implications of a shift for laptops are significant for a number of reasons including changing performance demand, market trends and investment opportunities. Unconsidered at this point, but nonetheless compelling, is the possible environmental impact of such a transition.
 

Deep Doggs on climate change

The Sept, 06 special issue of Scientific American, titled Energy's Future Beyond Carbon, gives a great in-depth analysis of the latest and greatest in renewable energy options and provides an extensive analysis on the realities of human-induced climate change.

Here are links to some of the articles SCIAM has posted on-line as freebies:

A Climate Repair Manual
Global warming is a reality.
Innovation in energy technology and policy are sorely needed if we are to cope
By Gary Stix

The Nuclear Option
A threefold expansion of nuclear power could contribute significantly to staving off climate change by avoiding one billion to two billion tons of carbon emissions annually
By John M. Deutch and Ernest J. Moniz

Palm oil soon to top price increases of crude oil...

The palm oil prices rose 17 percent in the past year, and are expected to rally 20 percent in the next six months, with new factories being announced on a daily basis. The growth is spurred mainly by alternative fuel use. While the success is a clear indication of the growth in biofuels demand and usage, growing the feedstock at the expense of an existing ecosystem, like virgin rainforest, would have a negative overall impact on the environment.

[Source: Bloomberg.com]

Chrysler introduces E class diesel

Chrysler hopes to be successful with the introduction of the E320 CDI, equipped with what it calls "Clean Diesel Technology". The market for fuel-sipping diesel powered cars in Japan is expected to grow significantly with growing oil prices, and the goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. To further help the diesel engine's case in Japan, it is priced 20 percent cheaper than gasoline.

[Source: Reuters]

U.S. automakers stalled on fuel efficiency

William O'Keefe says U.S. automakers are using their "green" E85 campaigns to divert attention from a generous federal tax loophole that is creating an artificial market for ethanol.

He notes that there are estimates that E85 production can rise to 18 billion gallons by 2015. But because ethanol contains less energy than gasoline, only 11 billions of gasoline will be saved. That's less than seven percent of the project gasoline supply.

O'Keefe says the future of ethanol can't depend on corn, but even if all other forms of biomass were turned into fuel, the net result wouldn't be a third of the demand for transportation fuel in this country.

He points to the marketing advantage of pushing E85 when the automaker's real motivation is gaining CAFÉ credits

O'Keefe says there are more readily available technologies that can improve fuel mileage by 20 percent and notes that Asian automakers "seem to understand this."

[Source: The Washington Times]

5 % of Domestic Well Water below quality levels

Organic compounds rarely exceeded drinking water standards; however, atrazine, metolochlor, simazine, MTBE and chloroform were all detected in more than 5 percent of the wells sampled.


Since the water quality of domestic wells is not federally regulated or nationally monitored, this study provides a unique, previously nonexistent perspective on the quality of the self-supplied drinking water resources used by 45 million Americans in the United States.


The newly released study on the chemical contamination of self-supplied domestic well water is featured in the August issue of science journal the Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation a publication of the National Ground Water Association; access this article and data from http://health.usgs.gov/.

Aug 28, 2006

Ethanol alternative could be food-grade alcohol

Iowa researchers are developing a possible use for corn-based ethanol in food-grade alcohol that could be used in drugs as well as drinks and personal-care products. Two professors said a relatively small added expenditure may be needed to remove many impurities from the fuel version to purify it enough for food use, but it would offer an alternative market for ethanol if gas prices decline.


Full read here MSNBC /Associated Press (8/27)

Why most buy hybrids... couldn't resist they love gadgets!

Huge amounts of hollywood "Green SMUG"!

My thoughts: People mainly buy cars because they are "in", cool or their favorite color (85% of market). Guilt, politics and “green wash” marketing are now pushing consumers into a more gluttonous situation of “just throw out your SUV and buy our new model”. This just pushes the old car into a “used market” of less fortunate. Not removing a problem just moving it (like our manufacturing burdens to the East).

Limiting consumption is the ONLY cure for a sustainable future on Earth.

The real key is eliminating the 30 million smog vehicles on the road buy giving TAX incentive to IMPROVE current vehicles by retrofitting with electric, CNG, duel fuel or pneumatic drives.

I learned this stuff nearly 15 years ago…. unless someone has changed math, the law of constants or physics… “wasting less, conserves more”, and anyone can do that.

Anyone can make a difference: ride your bike, walk, try carpooling (remove 4 cars at once). The point is to just do something positive. If we all work together, it is still possible in our lifetime.

Thanks for listening to positive change ;-) Chris




Now you can read the comments by William Wineke of MadTown Wisconsin.


William Wineke stated; " To be honest, saving the planet didn't enter my considerations at all."

"I am insufficiently worried about the environment, global warming and the rise of Arab terrorists. Not only that, I poke fun at those who are.", "I wanted at least a few weeks of high gasoline prices so I could feel superior to the little people who have to drive normal autos." I have to admit, I did also poke a little fun at the pretensions of those of us who select "smug" cars and feel superior to those lesser beings in sport-utility vehicles. And, I guess, I did suggest there might be something a little odd about the U.S. government giving me a tax break so I could purchase a foreign auto."




From: madison.com |Hybrid Hubbub In Overdrive

More green Gluttony hype here (Really, I am a cool earth lover, this week - remeber the 60's)

Aug 27, 2006

Petrol vs BioHemp (Best Bio Fuel since 1903)

Can be Procured Domestically:
no yes
Renewable Resource:
no yes
Biodegradable:
no yes
Dangerous to Handle and Store:
yes no
Could Provide Economic Gain to American Farmers and Industry:
no yes
Contributes to Global Warming:
yes no
Toxic Byproducts of Emission:
yes no
Contributes to Sulfur Pollution (acid rain):
yes no
Procurement Pollutes Local Environment:
yes no
Highly Toxic to Humans and Other Animals:
yes no

Hemp Biodiesel vs Diesel: Compiled from: Greenfuels and NBB

Overall ozone (smog) forming potential of biodiesel is less than diesel fuel. The ozone forming potential of the speciated hydrocarbon emissions was nearly 50 percent less than that measured for diesel fuel.1

Sulfur emissions are essentially eliminated with pure biodiesel. The exhaust emissions of sulfur oxides and sulfates (major components of acid rain) from biodiesel were essentially eliminated compared to sulfur oxides and sulfates from diesel.1

Criteria pollutants are reduced with biodiesel use. The use of biodiesel in an unmodified Cummins N14 diesel engine resulted in substantial reductions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Emissions of nitrogen oxides were slightly increased.1

Carbon Monoxide: The exhaust emissions of carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) from biodiesel were 50 percent lower than carbon monoxide emissions from diesel.1

Particulate Matter: Breathing particulate has been shown to be a human health hazard. The exhaust emissions of particulate matter from biodiesel were 30 percent lower than overall particulate matter emissions from diesel.1

Hydrocarbons: The exhaust emissions of total hydrocarbons (a contributing factor in the localized formation of smog and ozone) were 93 percent lower for biodiesel than diesel fuel.1

Nitrogen Oxides: NOx emissions from biodiesel increase or decrease depending on the engine family and testing procedures. NOx emissions (a contributing factor in the localized formation of smog and ozone) from pure (100%) biodiesel increased in this test by 13 percent. However, biodiesel's lack of sulfur allows the use of NOx control technologies that cannot be used with conventional diesel. So, biodiesel NOx emissions can be effectively managed and efficiently eliminated as a concern of the fuel's use.1

Biodiesel reduces the health risks associated with petroleum diesel. Biodiesel emissions showed decreased levels of PAH and nitrited PAH compounds which have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds. In the recent testing, PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, with the exception of benzo(a)anthracene, which was reduced by roughly 50 percent. Targeted nPAH compounds were also reduced dramatically with biodiesel fuel, with 2-nitrofluorene and 1-nitropyrene reduced by 90 percent, and the rest of the nPAH compounds reduced to only trace levels.1

Environmental & Safety Information:

Acute Oral Toxicity/Rates: Biodiesel is nontoxic. The acute oral LD50 (lethal dose) is greater than 17.4 g/Kg body weight. By comparison, table salt (NaCL) is nearly 10 times more toxic.1

Skin Irritation: A 24-hr. human patch test indicated that undiluted biodiesel produced very mild irritation. The irritation was less than the result produced by a 4 percent soap and water solution.1

Aquatic Toxicity: A 96-hr. lethal concentration for bluegill of biodiesel grade methyl esters was greater than 1000 mg/L. Lethal concentrations at these levels are generally deemed "insignificant" according to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) guidelines in its Registry of the Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances.1

Biodegradability: Biodiesel degrades about four times faster than petroleum diesel. Within 28 days, pure biodiesel degrades 85 to 88 percent in water. Dextrose (a test sugar used as the positive control when testing biodegradability) degraded at the same rate. Blending biodiesel with diesel fuel accelerates its biodegradability. For example, blends of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel fuel degrade twice as fast as #2 diesel alone.1

Flash Point: The flash point of a fuel is defined as the temperature at which it will ignite when exposed to a spark or flame. Biodiesel's flash point is over 300 deg. Fahrenheit, well above petroleum based diesel fuel's flash point of around 125 deg. Fahrenheit. Testing has shown the flash point of biodiesel blends increases as the percentage of biodiesel increases. Therefore, biodiesel and blends of biodiesel with petroleum diesel are safer to store, handle, and use than conventional diesel fuel.1

Ethanol:

Although the concept of ethanol as a fuel began as early as the first Model T car designed by Henry Ford, American usage of ethanol-blended gasoline did not begin until the late 1970s. Environmentally, the use of ethanol blends has since assisted in reducing carbon monoxide emissions as mandated by the U.S. Clean Air Act of 1990.2

Hemp Ethanol vs Petrol:

Net Reduction in Ground-level Ozone Forming Emissions: Ground-level ozone causes human respiratory problems and damages many plants but does nothing to increase ozone concentration in the stratosphere that protects the earth from the sun's ultraviolet radiation. There are many compounds that react with sunlight to form ground-level ozone, which, in combination with moisture and particulate matter, creates 'smog', the most visible form of air pollution. These compounds include carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, benzene, and nitrogen oxides (nitrous oxide and nitric oxide).2

In an effort to reduce automobile emissions that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, the highly populated state of California has legislated stringent automobile emissions standards. Several Canadian urban centers record similar hazardous exposures to carbon monoxide, especially during late fall and winter, and would be out of compliance if Canada implemented air quality legislation equivalent to the U.S. Clean Air Act. In Canada, southern Ontario, southern British Columbia, and parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are prone to smog. Using oxygenated fuels, such as ethanol, is one way of addressing the issue of air pollution.2

The net effect of ethanol use results in an overall decrease in ozone formation. The emissions produced by burning ethanol are less reactive with sunlight than those produced by burning gasoline, resulting in a lower potential for forming the damaging ozone. In Canada, where the volatility of ethanol blends must match normal gasoline, the ozone forming potential of ethanol blends is even lower than in the U.S., where ethanol blends are allowed to have increased volatility.2

Reduction in Harmful Greenhouse Gases: The 'Greenhouse Effect' refers to the Earth's atmosphere trapping the sun's radiation. It is a term often used synonymously with 'Global Warming', which refers to the increasing average global temperature, arising from an increase in greenhouse gases from industrial activity and population growth. Greenhouse gases contributing to the Greenhouse Effect include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxide.2

The term 'Climate Change' refers to a wide range of changes in weather patterns that result from global warming. A substantial increase in the Earth's average temperature could result in a change in agricultural patterns and melting of polar ice caps, raising sea levels and causing flooding of low-lying coastal areas.2

The use of ethanol-blended fuels such as E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) can reduce the net emissions of greenhouse gases by as much as 37.1%. Ethanol-blended fuel as E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline) reduces greenhouse gases by up to 3.9%. By the year 2010, the reductions for E85 and E10 are projected to be 44.5% and 4.6%, respectively. This represents only a small percentage of the total greenhouse gas reduction required from the Kyoto Protocol. It is expected that once ethanol is made from cellulose, the greenhouse gas emissions reductions will further improve. Hemp produces four times as much cellulose per acre than trees.2

Emissions Reductions from Using Ethanol-Blended Fuels:

Reduction in Net Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions: Use of 10% ethanol-blended fuels results in a 6-10% net reduction of CO2. The carbon dioxide released from ethanol production and use is less than that absorbed by the plants and soil organic matter used to produce ethanol. The carbon dioxide produced during ethanol production and gasoline combustion is extracted from the atmosphere by plants for starch and sugar formation during photosynthesis. It is assimilated by the crop in its roots, stalks and leaves, which usually return to the soil to maintain organic matter, or in the grain, the portion currently used to produce ethanol. Over time, the organic matter breaks down to CO2, but with the implementation of conservation measures, such as reduced tillage, the soil organic matter will build up. Therefore, by increasing its organic matter content, the soil acts as a significant sink for carbon dioxide.2

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's):Volatile organic compounds are highly reactive in the atmosphere, and are significant sources of ground-level ozone formation. Because ethanol oxygenates the fuel, there is approximately a 7% overall decrease in exhaust VOC's emitted from low-level ethanol-blended fuels relative to conventional fossil fuels. In high level blends, the potential for exhaust VOC reduction is 30% or more. 2

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Particulates: As ethanol contains no sulphur, and because it promotes more complete fuel combustion, blending gasoline with ethanol would reduce any potential for these emissions and the adverse effects of sulphur. In diesel engines, where SO2 and particulates are of concern, the use of ethanol-blended diesel or neat ethanol shows a significant reduction in these emissions. 2



From Hempcar.org

Pipe Dreams - Hemp Powered Car Put Man In Jail

"Nakayama, 39, driving around Japan in a car powered by hemp oil, hawking dope-derived products? "

It's also his green light to proselytize on behalf of hemp.


"There is no other plant with such a broad variety of uses," he says. Among them: clothing, soap, fuel, paper, building materials, medicine, liquor and, using flour from the inside of seeds, noodles. Nakayama sells a handful of such goods to bring in $3,300 a month in revenue. He lives modestly in a yurt, a giant Mongolian tent, on Oshima, an underdeveloped island an hour and a half by boat from Tokyo. "The business will get big later, after I have finished promoting hemp," he says. Meantime he is lobbying the government to turn Oshima into a special hemp zone to promote tourism and sustainable development and, he argues most improbably, to help prevent abuse.


Pipe Dreams - Forbes.com

Money flowing to new ideas in energy - The Boston Globe

Venture funding spikes to $445.1m

Start-ups working with solar, battery, hydrogen, wind, and fuel cell technologies raised $445.1 million in venture funds nationally in the first six months of this year, 56.1 percent more than the $285.2 million raised by such companies in all of 2005, according to figures newly compiled by the National Venture Capital Association trade group.

Capital read here

Funny Energy Star TV Commercials

The static one is pretty funny. This one is not bad either. "US EPA Energy Star programs and products help save the environment and save consumers money by using less energy through advanced design or construction." » original news



By linton on VideoHuggs

Xcel to save $251 million in energy costs


Colorado customers of Xcel Energy Inc. are expected to save about $251 million in energy costs over the next 20 years through the use of wind energy vs. natural gas-fired power plants. Colorado has about 282 megawatts of wind-generated power on its system today and another 775 megawatts of wind power are expected to be online by Dec. 31, 2007. » original news


Thanks Hugg ;-)

DOE predicts gasoline shortages

The U.S. Department of Energy report directly addressed the concept of peak oil and how to deal with it. Peak oil means oil production is maximized and supply goes down from that point forward. Coupled with a surge in demand from countries like China and India, some energy experts say this could be a problem for America's economy.


"The world is consuming more oil than it is finding, and at some point within the next decade or two, world production of conventional oil will likely peak," the report says.


"It is important to note that initiation of all of the options simultaneously does not even satisfy half of the U.S. liquid fuels requirements prior to 2025," the report says. "If the peaking of world conventional oil production occurs before 2025, the U.S. may not have a choice in terms of a massive national physical mitigation program."

Read full report here (thankS Joe - AutoGreenBlog!)

Fast-Growing Trees Could Take Root as Future Energy Source


Photo courtesy of Jake Eaton, plant materials manager, Potlatch Corp.
A tree that can reach 90 feet in six years and be grown as a row crop on fallow farmland could represent a major replacement for fossil fuels.

Purdue University researchers are using genetic tools in an effort to design trees that readily and inexpensively can yield the substances needed to produce alternative transportation fuel. The scientists are focused on a compound in cell walls called lignin that contributes to plants' structural strength, but which hinders extraction of cellulose. Cellulose is the sugar-containing component needed to make the alternative fuel ethanol.


The Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research is funding a $1.4 million, three-year study by Purdue faculty members Clint Chapple, Richard Meilan and Michael Ladisch to determine ways to alter lignin and test whether the genetic changes affect the quality of plants used to produce biofuels. A hybrid poplar tree is the basis for the research that is part of the DOE's goal to replace 30 percent of the fossil fuel used annually in the United States for transportation with biofuels by 2030.



Full read here

Wisconsin Air Quality Advisory In Effect

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an air quality advisory for nine counties in Southeastern Wisconsin effective from 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 26, 2006 until noon, Sunday, August 27, 2006. The counties covered by this advisory are Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee, Jefferson, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha.

The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of fine particles in the air. Fine particle pollution is composed of microscopic dust, soot, liquid droplets and smoke particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and outdoor fires. Current weather conditions leading to this advisory are a stagnant and humid air mass.

The Air Quality Index is currently in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups and others, including people who are not in sensitive groups but who are engaged in strenuous activities or exposed for prolonged periods of time. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an air quality advisory is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.

There are several actions the public can take to reduce their contributions to this regional air quality problem.

      • Reduce driving when possible and don’t leave vehicle engines idling.
      • Postpone activities that use small gasoline and diesel engines.
      • Avoid burning leaves, brush, grass or wood.
      • Practice electrical energy conservation.

For current air quality readings in your area, call the Daily Air Hotline at: 1-866-DAILY AIR (1-866-324-5924).

Aug 26, 2006

Biofuel rush risks gasoline hike, forest damage

Heightened political worries about climate change, energy security and soaring oil prices have triggered a race to produce the alternative fuel, made from sugars, cereals and vegetable oils, as rules are enforced stipulating the minimum amounts that must be blended with fossil fuels.



A key threat of high biofuel costs is a pump price hike. In the United States this year law-changes requiring greater blending sparked an ethanol shortage and cost surge which refiners passed on at the pump. Problems loom at the production end too. The difficulty for refiners is matching these targets without harming the environment through deforestation. "


As capacity explodes the expected forest clearance could release a surge of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, environmental campaigners say. "Otherwise they'd be selling gasoline at an eye-watering loss,"



"the costs of an EU ethanol shortagewould be passed on to the consumer because retail markets are so tight,"


The hitch is that the explosion in capacity taps sources like Indonesia and Brazil, where new palm oil and sugar plantations could threaten rainforests.


Burning them would more than wipe out any climate change advantage. Malaysia is due to start selling a 5 percent palm oil-diesel blend at domestic pumps in October, while Indonesia -- which plans to open six million hectares to biofuel plantations -- has set a 10 percent biofuels target by 2010.


"We've seen the rate of deforestation in the Amazon," said leading environmental campaigner George Monbiot. "Who's to stop them from clearing land for palm oil? Who's going to blow the whistle?" It is a problem the oil industry says it is taking seriously. "It's very difficult for us to police and enforce compliance with national law," Messen said.


Better news on the way
"Such environmental problems could have a longer-term fix, from as early as 2010, as refiners research alternative biofuel feedstock, using for example the shrub Jatropha which can grow in semi-arid areas, or waste like straw and woodchips."

Reuters AlertNet -Source

Japan to use Wood chips to power 40,000 vehicles in biomass fuel initiative

"The Environment Ministry said Thursday it will launch a project to mass produce environmentally friendly biomass fuel made from materials like wood chips to power about 40,000 motor vehicles annually in metropolitan areas."

Colorado is worried about spewwing gas (CO2)

I love putting science and politics in "back 2 back" posts...

It really makes truth surface.


"In Colorado, we produce more carbon dioxide, the major heat-trapping gas, than do 174 of the world's 212 nations," said Stephen Saunders, president of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization. "What we do matters."


"Global warming not only affects our atmosphere, it affects our water, our snow, our tourism and in many ways,

Full media news link here

Very hot debate in deeed!

Ayone one going to "digg" this one?


Study suggests humans are not a major cause of global warming


"The global warming debate seems ripe for a big injection of honesty. Scientists should make clear when they are speaking as scientists and when they are merely sharing political opinions like any other citizen."

Link to full "story" here...



"Honesty should be one global warming policy we all can agree upon"
--- David Ridenour is vice president of The National Center for Public Policy Research (www.nationalcenter.org)

The August 17th edition of Rachel’s Democracy & Health News reprints the testimony of Michael P. Wilson before the U.S. Senate Committee on Senate Env

"The U.S. private sector is simply not investing vigorously enough in cleaner technologies, such as green chemistry, that are likely to mark the next era of innovation and growth in the global chemicals market. With very few exceptions one can still earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at U.S. universities without demonstrating even a rudimentary understanding of how chemicals affect human health and the environment."

Read full U.S. Senate hearing here

California never to "practice" thier preachy ;-(


California fails to curb its oil addiction, no luck with alternative fuels thus far: "'For a quarter century, California has pursued petroleum-free transportation more doggedly than any other place in the U.S. It has tried to jump-start alternative fuels ranging from methanol to natural gas to electricity to hydrogen. None has hit the road in any significant way. Today, the state that is the world's sixth-largest economy finds itself in the same spot as most of the planet: With $75-a-barrel oil, and increasing concern about the role fossil fuels are playing in global warming, 99% of its cars and trucks still run on petroleum products.' "