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Bush Aims to Slow Mercury Reduction Efforts
WASHINGTON, DC, February 25, 2003 (ENS) - The Bush administration intends to roll back efforts to reduce mercury pollution despite increasing scientific evidence of its health risks, according to public health and environmental advocacy groups.

Critics contend the administration's Clear Skies initiative would allow coal fired power plants, the leading U.S. source of mercury pollution, to emit three times the amount of the toxic substance into the atmosphere than allowed under existing law.

The administration's policy is "outrageous," former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner told reporters at a National Press Club briefing.

"It means more mercury in the air for longer," said Browner, who served as EPA chief from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton.

posted by West 7:37 AM

 

Science Panel Urges Bush to Revise Climate Plan
WASHINGTON, DC, February 26, 2003 (ENS) - A panel of scientific experts has concluded that the Bush administration's plan for studying the causes and solutions of climate change needs "major improvements" if it is to guide the nation's decision makers in addressing this international threat. The National Academy of Sciences panel said today that the proposal "lacks a clearing guiding vision" and will require far more funding than is currently available to be effective.

While the federal government has taken "a good first step" toward better understanding and responding to climate change, the new report from the National Academy's (NAS) National Research Council also said it does not sufficiently meet the needs of decision makers who must deal with the effects of climate change. The committee that wrote the report also noted that the president's fiscal year 2004 budget request appears to leave funding relatively unchanged for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), which wrote the draft plan, despite the important new initiatives called for in the plan.

posted by West 7:35 AM

 

Bush Eyes Public Lands For Renewable Energy
DENVER, Colorado, February 24, 2003 (ENS) - Even as the Bush administration proposes slashing funding for most renewable energy programs in next year's budget, administration officials are touting the untapped potential of renewable energy resources located on millions of acres of federal land.

A new government report finds that "public lands have abundant opportunities for renewable energy development," assistant secretary of the Interior for land and minerals management Rebecca Watson told reporters Friday.

posted by West 9:36 AM

 

Blair Urges 60 Percent Global Greenhouse Gas Cuts
LONDON, UK, February 24, 2003 (ENS) - To stop further damage to the global climate a 60 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 is required, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said today in a major speech on sustainable development in which he committed Britain to the 60 percent cut. Speaking at an event organized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Commission, he set out the case for a new international consensus to tackle key issues of sustainable development like climate change.

Today, Blair and Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson wrote a joint letter to the Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, in his capacity as President of the European Council. In it the two nations confirm their ambition to reduce emissions across the European Union by 60 percent by 2050, and their commitment to policies that will demonstrate how it can be achieved.

posted by West 9:35 AM

 

Green Autos In the Showroom, But Few on the Road
WASHINGTON, DC, February 21, 2003 (ENS) - Americans may be buying record numbers of large, gas guzzling cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, but this does not mean there are not plenty of less polluting options available.

A new guide that offers advice on the environmental friendliness of passenger cars and trucks finds that Americans have increasing choice of less polluting vehicles, even as some automakers fight modest increases to fuel efficiency standards.

The good news is there are an increased number of vehicles that adhere to much tighter emissions standards than those that are federally mandated according to James Kliesch, coauthor of the guide and research associate at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a nonprofit research group.

And hybrids are coming of age, Kliesch said, with three hybrid gasoline electric vehicles currently available.

posted by West 1:41 PM

 

Journey to Planet Earth - Important PBS Special
"Journey To Planet Earth" returns for its second season on Wednesday, March 26, 2003, 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) to explore the delicate balance between people and the world they inhabit. The PBS program is the only primetime television series that deals exclusively with the most critical environmental, political, economic and social issues of the 21st century. The concluding two episodes of the series will air on April 2 and 9, also from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET.

Academy Award winner Matt Damon is the on-air host and narrator of the series. He is also featured on the series PBS website, introducing a variety of special features for students, teachers, community groups, museum educators, and parents.

The first episode, "On the Brink" (3/26), investigates a growing national security threat throughout the world: how environmental pressures can lead to terrorism and regional conflict. This episode was filmed in the politically unstable areas of Haiti, South Africa, Bangladesh, India, Peru and along the United States/Mexico border.

The second episode, "Seas of Grass" (4/2), examines the devastating environmental, political and economic effects of the degradation of the world's grasslands, which make up 30 percent of Earth's land surface. The program was filmed on the pampas in Argentina, the steppes of Mongolia, the savannas of Kenya, the plains of South Africa and the prairies of North America.

The third episode, "Hot Zones" (4/9), rounds out the series by examining how recent trends in globalization and the altering of ecosystems have led to dramatic increases in the spread of infectious diseases. The program was shot in Kenya, Peru, Bangladesh, New York City and along Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, where changing climates, uncontrolled development and loss of natural habitat have led to an upsurge of infectious diseases.

For more information about the "Journey To Planet Earth" series, visit the PBS website at www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth/ or contact Melanie Wood at (202) 364-0055 or mwood@screenscope.com.

posted by Lorenzo 2:20 PM

 

Opinion: Restructuring the Energy Economy
WASHINGTON, DC, February 20, 2003 (ENS) - The key to restoring climate stability is shifting from a fossil fuel based energy economy to one based on renewable sources of energy and hydrogen. Advancing technologies in the design of wind turbines that have dramatically lowered the cost of wind generated electricity to the point where it can be used to produce hydrogen from water, along with the evolution of fuel cell engines, have set the stage for a dramatic restructuring of the world energy economy. The good news is that this shift is under way. The bad news is that it is not happening nearly fast enough to avoid a climate disrupting buildup in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. http://www.earth-policy.org/Indicators/indicator5.htm

posted by West 7:59 AM

 

Canadian Colleges to Teach Renewable Technologies
OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada, January 27, 2003 (ENS) - The Canadian government has partnered with the countries community colleges for a new national training program in renewable energy, such as wind, solar, earth and biomass. Canada is contributing C$148,000 to this initiative this year as part of its commitment to positioning Canada as a world leader in innovation and learning, and as a magnet for talent and investment. �This innovative program demonstrates our commitment to encouraging the deployment of renewable energy technologies,� said Minister of Natural Resources Herb Dhaliwal. �We need a training infrastructure in place as more Canadians choose renewable energy technologies to reduce energy costs and to help decrease greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.�

posted by West 7:58 AM

 

Kinkos Invests in Green Energy
DALLAS, Texas, February 13, 2003 (ENS) - Kinko's, Inc. has increased its projected annual use of green power by 37 percent to about 11.2 million kilowatt hours (kWh). The move is part of the office supply company's ongoing efforts to integrate sustainable business practices into its operations. "Caring for the environment is part of Kinko's culture and our core values. Our recently adopted Kinko's Global Commitment is driving us to identify and integrate more sustainable business practices," stated Larry Rogero, director of environmental affairs for Kinko's. "Using renewable power is a necessary step for our business to take on its journey to becoming a more sustainable business. This action delivers the lasting environmental, economic and social benefits derived from using clean, renewable and locally produced energy."

posted by West 7:53 AM

 

U.S. Industry Pledges Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Cuts
WASHINGTON, DC, February 13, 2003 (ENS) - Top officials from the Bush administration are showcasing a list of voluntary industry commitments to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases as evidence that the President's plan to combat global climate change is working. Critics belittled the administration's claims and its voluntary plan, calling it reckless, and warning that it is likely to increase, rather than reduce, greenhouse gas emissions. "Voluntary goals for reducing global warming pollution make no more sense than voluntary standards for drinking water or toxic cleanup," said Katherine Silverthorne, director of World Wildlife Fund's U.S. climate change program. "With public health and safety and our environment at risk, failure to establish legally binding reduction targets is simply irresponsible."

posted by West 7:43 AM

 

Utilities Push for Huge Fee Increases On Solar Energy Users in California
California's powerful private utilities - Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric - are lobbying the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to approve a new solar tax equivalent, known as "exit fees", which would dramatically increase the costs of using solar energy for utility customers. The proposal would give utilities the right to install meters that measure solar production on privately owned solar energy systems and increase the cost of this solar energy for customers by up to 40 percent. . . . If the utilities get their way, exit fee charges - ranging from 2 to 5 cents per kilowatt-hour - will be charged to electricity generated by privately owned solar energy systems. The utilities want to use these fees to reduce the debt California incurred from buying lots of expensive (and dirty) power during the energy crisis. . . . What you can do Send a copy of the attached letter [click on link above] to protest the proposed solar exit fees and urge the California Public Utilities Commission and Governor Gray Davis to do everything to continue promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in California.

posted by Lorenzo 11:36 AM

 

Bush Hydrogen Initiative Faces Many Obstacles
WASHINGTON, DC, February 6, 2003 (ENS) - President George W. Bush promoted his hydrogen fuel initiative today as critics continue to blast the plan as a smokescreen for the administration's rejection of environmentally friendly policies. Conservation groups argued that the United States would be better served if the White House supported available technology to boost fuel efficiency and reduce air pollution, rather than depending on an unproven science.

The president called on Congress to rally behind his initiative, which would provide some $1.2 billion to fund hydrogen fuel cell research over the next five years. The money would fund research into the use of hydrogen fuel cells to power automobiles, as well as studies of how to create, store and transport hydrogen fuel.

"Hydrogen fuel cells represent one of the most encouraging, innovative technologies of our era," Bush said in a speech today at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. "And as I said in my State of the Union, the idea is to see that a child born today will be driving a car, as his or her first car, which will be powered by hydrogen and pollution free."

"It won't be easy to get there because there are obstacles," the president added. "It's important for the American people to know. There are obstacles to overcome. I wouldn't be proposing this initiative if I didn't think we could overcome the obstacles."

But the obstacles are formidable. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is far from a cost effective means to power automobiles, and the challenge of replicating the century old U.S. transportation infrastructure, now centered on the internal combustion engine, is daunting.

"President Bush's new, 'big' idea allows this former Texas oil man to give the auto and oil industries exactly what they want - an opportunity to continue to profit from highly inefficient, polluting cars," said Dr. Brent Blackwelder, president of the conservation group Friends of the Earth. "Any increase in funding for cleaner cars must be viewed as part of a much broader budget context that is terrible news for the environment."

The total of $1.2 billion the president has proposed would add $720 million over the next five years to existing funding for hydrogen research. Critics argue that this falls far short of what would be needed to speed up development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

(BLOGGERS NOTE: 1.2 billion over five years is negligible in comparison to the 30 billion or so in subsidies that the oil industry receives annually from the Federal Government. There's the smokescreen. Bush is buying more time for the combustion engine.)

For example, according to industry analysts, it cost Ford Motor Company some $2 billion to develop the Ford Taurus - a new model of an automobile based on the existing gasoline engine.

The White House estimates that at least 12 more years of research and testing are needed to determine if hydrogen fuel cell technology is commercially viable for automobiles. Mass production is not foreseen until at least 2020.

The president's proposal, said Senator Byron Dorgan, "amounts to little more than small steps toward a very big and important goal."

Dorgan, a Democrat from North Dakota, said he plans to introduce legislation next week calling for an investment of $6.5 billion over 10 years.

Defining Clean Energy

While most groups agree that the environmental promise of hydrogen fuel cells is remarkable, critics argue the president is being disingenuous in his presentation regarding the nascent technology.

Electricity from hydrogen fuel cells is created through a chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen that produces clean water vapor as its sole emission. This was a central point in the president's address.

"Eliminating pollution from cars will obviously make our air healthier," Bush said. "Hydrogen power will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping this nation take the lead when it comes to tackling the long term challenges of global climate change."

But environmentalists argue that hydrogen fuel cells are only as clean as the fuels used to produce them, something the president did not discuss.

"The administration plan completely misses the environmental promise of hydrogen fuel cells when it seeks to use outdated and polluting coal and nuclear power to generate hydrogen," said Katherine Silverthorne, director of the World Wildlife Fund's U.S. Climate Change Program.

The president's plan provides funds to research how existing energy sources can be used to create hydrogen fuel, including $19.6 million to study the creation of hydrogen from gasoline.

"That's like trying to lose weight by running to McDonald's," said Daniel Becker, director of the global warming and energy program at the Sierra Club. "Hydrogen fuel cells will play a key role in a clean energy future, but the president's plan won't get us there."

posted by West 7:16 AM