
Back in 2005 we posted about a
celeb endorsement of the proposed Long Island Sound wind farm project. The Chairman of Long Island Power Authority, Mr. Kevin Law (pictured) has announced cancellation of the wind farm plans. Apparently, changing cost projections for the wind farm were only reluctantly made public over the last two years. Celebrity endorsements won't help and may hinder a project managed in that fashion. The '
freedom from foreign oil card,' as played in the endorsements did not help either, given that oil has almost nothing to do with electricity generation. Projects that would go up in a public space (in Long Island Sound for example) have to fly on their economic merits and go forward with an open planning process or stakeholders will harden their opposition from the get go.
'
Long Island Power Authority Chairman Kevin Law Wednesday said he will "terminate" a controversial project to install 40 wind turbines off the coast of Jones Beach, dealing a fatal blow to a plan alternately portrayed as an environmental necessity and an economic boondoggle.'
'The decision follows review of a recently completed independent report on the economics of the project showed its costs to be "significantly" higher than traditional forms of energy generation.' Project cost estimates reported in the media range from $700 million to one billion dollars. We have no idea which figure is reliable - that may be part of the problem . Via::
Boston Herald, and
Industrial Wind Action Group and
Newsday and
Cape Cod Times Image credit::
LIPA, Chairman Kevin Law...

Designer (technically still a student designer, at
SCAD) Paul Isabella has an ambitious and pretty impressive portfolio, especially for someone still in school. He's recently updated his site with some fresh new designs, and they look pretty awesome. We like the "Burly Man" chair, a tasty piece of design utilizing our friend bent plywood, the resource-efficient material that can cut back on the use of wood up to 10 times when compared to more traditional furniture-making techniques. Though Isabella doesn't make any overtures about being green or employing sustainable practices in anything he designs, he managed to make it part of the way down the highway to the sustainable zone. Imagine what he could do if he was trying to be green. Get up close and personal with Burly Man, and check out something called "Modfather," after the jump.
::Paul Isabella via
::Josh Spear...

This is about a proposal being made in Idaho, USA, to use the waste heat from a planned nuclear generating station to generate and sell methane (natural gas) made from locally produced cow manure, while commensurately reducing future cooling water impacts on local surface waters. We think public reaction will depend on where folks stand already on the need to protect traditional agricultural values, conserve local surface water resources, and/or better manage manure. Climate Change mitigation doesn't seem like it would be the major factor. But, there's so much going on at once, it's impossible to boil it down to the usual talking points and convey fully what is at stake. Although the pros and cons certainly will try that. See what you think.
In Bruneau Idaho, USA a company plans to build the state's first commercial nuclear power plant with the support of the local dairy industry. "Alternate Energy Holdings, which plans to build a $3.5 billion nuclear power plant in Owyhee County, says it's working on an agreement with dairymen to buy their manure for methane gas production. If the plant is built - and the dairy deal goes through - the project could reduce dairy waste, produce the main component for lucrative natural gas and lessen the amount of water needed to cool the reactor." The gas produced would be sold on the open market....

Think about the reasons that you use energy. At first you might think that you consume power and goods in order to keep you alive and sustain yourself. However, humans could survive with only a small amount of locally grown food, and minimal heating. In fact, most of our energy consumption simply serves to make life better; more comfortable and more enjoyable.
Therefore, the ratio of happiness to power consumption is a useful metric to measure. It isn't the most quantifiable thing, but the New Economics Foundation (Nef) attempt just that with their Happy Planet Index (HPI). They recently published a report that measures people's opinions on how happy they are, their life expectancy and their carbon footprint in order to see if more energy usage means happier citizens. It doesn't....

On July 18th, a different kind of chamber of commerce will be born. The all-new “Green Chamber,” as it is to be called, will offer “green-leaning” businesses, locally and nationally, the opportunity to work within the framework of the community of sustainability they believe in. Members will soon have ready access to a wealth of online resources such as detailed membership lists from which to network with those of like interests; organize amongst themselves; post jobs; promote novel ideas and initiatives; and more. According to John Reed, Public Relations Director of
Elevator Communications, “These companies 'walk-the-talk' by making their companies as green as possible. They have a high ethical standard, a larger vision they bring to their business and personal lives.” Perhaps, equally important, it will be each member’s implied duty to promote Chamber membership towards other prospective affiliated organizations....

Researching on one of our primary technical sources, Ebay, we discovered evidence of a long abandoned effort at genetic engineering. Apparently some frankenfarmer long ago came up with way to grow fur in rows...like plants. Kidding. But, no joke, researchers
have actually found a way to insert rice genes into bananas to fend off a plant disease, eliminating the need for a nasty fungicide. 'Without genetic modification, the main food source of many tropical countries is likely to die off, impacting the diet of hundreds of millions more poor people from Brazil to Indonesia.' "...all bananas come from mutant plants discovered some 8,000 years ago, probably in Papua New Guinea. They have been grafted, or cloned, ever since, and developed into dozens of varieties, colors, and sizes."
"Led by Rony Swennen, a team discovered that inserting a gene from rice provides significant protection for the banana with apparently no danger to either humans or the environment. Because the banana is sterile, it can't get loose in the environment, nor is there a seed allowing Monsanto or other corporations to sell it." For his trouble in writing about this, blogger David Ewing Duncan has taken personal criticism. See for yourself. Via:: Techology Review,
David Ewing Duncan's Blog Image credit:: Ebay, sign for sale, anon....

"There has been a double-digit increase [14%] in the proportion of Americans who say environmental problems are a major global threat - from 23 per cent to 37 per cent, according to a comprehensive survey published this week by the
Pew Center in Washington.
The Pew survey bears out the fact that concern about the environment is still sharply lower in the US than in any other advanced industrial country, with the exception of the UK. [italics are ours] In every other Western European country large majorities view global warming as a serious problem, ranging from 57 per cent in Italy to 70 per cent in Spain.
The survey of some 10,000 people worldwide by the Pew Global Attitudes Project found that public opinion in Great Britain mirrors the US view. In the UK, less than half (45 per cent) say it is very serious while another 37 per cent rate it as a somewhat serious concern. In 34 of the 37 countries surveyed by Pew, the United States is named by a majority as the country that is "hurting the world's environment the most.""...

Bring me your poor-performing designs, your tired energy systems and your huddled treehuggers -- it's official (almost), Green is the new Red, White and Blue. It was only in October '06 that the majestic Ms. Liberty
went wind-powered, and now, courtesy July's
New Yorker magazine cover, she promises a better life to all who migrate to the land of the green. However, just beneath her watchful nostrils, by barge and by rail, our city's trash still migrates to landfills in states far-flung such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia -- that's 90% of the 12 tons of daily
refuse. One year ago in July '06, the NYC City Council passed a new
solid waste management plan that although reinstating and expanding recycling of certain materials (as well as eliminating the use of long-haul tractor-trailer trucks accounting for 250,000 or so trips made on the region's highways), did little to address the root generation of non-compostable waste. While the Mayor of San Francisco (a city which has already banned the plastic bag) got with the program again last week
outlawing single-serving water bottles, the five key dimensions of eco-renaissance-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s
PlaNYC include no component to comprehensively re-envision the design of the greenist-city-to-be’s solid waste stream. Kudos to the same Mayor who is responsible for eliminating second-hand-smoke in bars for working toward carbon-reduced skies, but we’re counting the days until the Supreme Court’s ruling premised upon the Interstate Commerce Clause, no longer provides an excuse to provide our neighboring states with second-hand trash. As for that green day when solid waste garbage trucks are few and far between, we’ll just have to use our imaginations along with some fun
video after the jump....

David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, has made environmental issues the keystone of his election campaign. Unfortunately his attempts to promote his greener side seem to constantly
backfire. He started biking to work, but received negative press when it emerged that he had a car follow him to carry his documents. He
attempted to install a wind turbine at his London home, but had to pull it down after it was found to contravene planning regulations. He has also made heavy use of Web 2.0 sites like YouTube to spread his green message, which also seems to have been a dismal failure.
According to HippyShopper, nobody seems interested in Cameron's regular WebCameron videos. Clips of the Tory leader explaining how he will create fairer aviation taxes are losing out to cutesy videos of animals holding hands. You can't blame them, the sample that HippyShopper have included in their post is hardly riveting. ::
HippyShopper...

Amy Winehouse is a potato and a winner. O.k., so she's a bit of a
drunk too... She came first in the Starchy Gallery's Potato Day competition. Second prize was Mr. T and then there was Bob Marley, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Britney, Helen Mirren, Dolly and the madness continues on. Held in January,
Potato Day celebrates the range and diversity of British potatoes--over 100 varieties in all their glory. As part of the festivities, there was a contest for best-dressed celebrity potato. The top three winning entries are decided by public vote and all the entrants are displayed in the Starchy Gallery--a window in a local art gallery. It's a bit of a comment on the nature of today's celebrity culture as well as an exercise in democracy and, when the chips are down, a place to look for a giggle. ::
The Starchy Gallery...

Currently, New Hampshire is the only state in the northeastern United States that has not passed some form of renewable portfolio standards legislation. However, that may change soon. Last week, the New Hampshire House voted decisively in favor of a bill that would require electric companies to include a percentage of the electricity they sell from renewable and low-emission sources. The bill will now go before a state Senate committee for review before it is introduced to the Senate floor. New Hampshire governor, John Lynch, had previously established a non-binding goal of getting 25 percent of the state’s energy from clean, renewable sources by the year 2025. The governor announced that he would sign this bill into law. See also
::Minnesota Sets Pace for Renewable Energy and
::Renewable Portfolio Standards... So Far...

Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, recently offered a warning that environmentalism and measures to curb climate change are a threat to human freedom. When I read these and other similar statements, my initial thought was to write a scathing assessment of his remarks. On second thought, I realized such outlandish ideas might not even warrant a response. But I thought our readers might be entertained by the following quotations. Enjoy. “The biggest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy and prosperity at the beginning of the 21st century is not communism or its various softer variants. Communism was replaced by the threat of ambitious environmentalism.” “While some deserts may get larger and some ocean shores flooded, enormous parts of the earth (could become) fertile areas able to accommodate millions of people.” Finally, Klaus called environmentalism a “religion based on political ambition rather than science.”...

Last week, IBM announced that it would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7% from 2005 levels by the year 2012. The commitment was made as part of the company’s participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘Climate Leaders’ program. To date, the ‘Climate Leaders’ program has enlisted more than 100 companies to set similar voluntary reduction targets. IBM’s most recent goal follows an earlier pledge in which the company successfully reduced its emissions by 6.2% from 2002 levels in 2005. The technology giant plans to achieve further reductions through improved energy efficiency in its offices and limited use of perfluorocompounds in semiconductor manufacturing. My, how times have changed since the IBM 5120 (pictured above) was introduced. See also
::A Personal Computer for the Planet...

The Sacagawea dollar coin was introduced in 2000 to replace the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which (being Canadian, I didn’t know) was often confused with the quarter because of its color and feel. The newer coin is a golden color with no ribbing along the sides to prevent confusion, just like the
Presidential coins introduced this year by the
US Mint . When the coins were introduced, Michael Claus, W. Reid Shepherd and Brandon Wayne at
Michigan State University asked “is one form of the dollar better for the environment? If the coin dollar is better, should we replace the paper dollar with its coin equivalent? If the paper dollar is better, and Americans trust the paper dollar more than the coin, wouldn't it be prudent to stop introducing new coins into the American economy?” Their answer: the coin is better. ...

As part of an ongoing effort to gather information, New York City’s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, will take a sustainability tour of Miami this afternoon. Bloomberg continues to seek ideas as he prepares to unveil his Plan NYC 2030, a blue print for long-term sustainability in New York. The Mayor is scheduled to ride and tour specific sections of Miami’s public transportation system. In addition, Bloomberg will visit the campus of the University of Miami Medical School, which has integrated several green building principals. The day’s activities will culminate with a meeting between Bloomberg and the Miami Green Commission. Unfortunately, the Mayor was unable to schedule a ride-a-long with Miami’s top cops, Sonny and Rico. See also
::Bloomberg To Create NYC 'Office of Sustainability' and
::Seen in New York: Clean Air Hybrid Electric Bus...

The Krill is Gone. Readers of Canada's National Newspaper were challenged to change the title or lyrics of well-known songs so that they would refer to
climate change. The winner was Wake up! Little Tsunami! Wake Up! June is a Bust All Over, Where Have all the Species Gone and the theme from Emission Impossible, were suggested. Lots of sun songs: Another Sun Bites the Dust, We'll Singe in the Sunshine and You are the Sunscreen of My Life. Then there was: Sweat, Georgia Brown, and O Solar Mio. Ouch! To make matters worse: Stand by Your Fan, and Come Fry With Me. Hum along to: Hot town, summer in the city/ Have to wear a space suit, isn't it a pity. Car themes: Hybrid Mustang Sally and She’ll have fun, fun, fun till her daddy takes the T-bird away for emissions testing. Another howler: Miami lies under the ocean, oh bring back Miami to me. And we end with: It’s De-frosting, it’s De-icing, it’s De-pressing. ::
Globe and Mail ...

As American colleges and universities prepare to start the Spring Semester, it is an opportune time to discuss the growing list of academic opportunities that are developing around issues of environmental sustainability. The catalog of available courses and areas of study goes well beyond the traditional options such as ‘Environmental Science’ that have long since been a staple at institutions of higher education. A brief internet search will yield a vast and diverse list of undergraduate and graduate-level programs of study that are intended to educate the next generation of environmental leaders.
For example, Columbia University’s ‘School of International and Public Affairs’ offers a
MPA in Environmental Science and Policy. The 12-month program integrates environmental science with policy analysis and management principles. Through its
Earth Institute, Columbia offers degrees in numerous other areas including: International Energy Management and Policy, Climate and Society, Earth Resources Engineering, and Earth and Environmental Science Journalism. As previously stated, these are just a few of the many opportunities for those interested in pursuing course work related to the environment. In fact, we would like to hear from our readers about any relevant programs and experiences. Leave a comment, and help inform those who might wish to pursue a similar path of higher learning. ...

Just in case you missed this one when it first started doing the rounds of the blogsphere. Take the world’s most efficient transport and give it a petroleum- based power boost. Err. Even if it gets, as claimed, 240km (150 miles) to the gallon, we remain wrinkle browed. Especially as the rider has to fork over somewhere around $1,200 to $2,900 USD, so they can strap a a possible 9 kg (20 lb) lump to their back. Apparently you adjust your speed (up 55 kph or 35 mph) by flexing the attached glove. If we set aside our sensible caveats (OH&S, fiscal and environmental), it does look like a heap of fun. It did, at least, make us smile.
::Personal Propulsion, via
Metro....

According to a Regional USEPA Office-issued press release, a Vishay Intertechnology Company site in Columbus, Nebraska USA (pictured) is ‘getting the lead out’ of its manufacturing process. The lead solder phase out is being done as a industry/government partnership project. Coincidence or not, getting the lead out of consumer electronic devices is a RoHS regulation-driven necessity in Europe: a fact that made it interesting to see the
US-EPA press release wording. As posted to the US EPA Regional Office website in Kansas City, the phase out of lead solder was accomplished through, “
The National Partnership for Environmental Priorities Program (NPEP) [which] encourages public and private organizations to form
voluntary partnerships with EPA that reduce the use or release of any of 31 Priority Chemicals (PCs)”. Note our bold emphasis of the word “voluntary.”...
We'll be working on better category archives soon. In the meantime, take a look at the
if you really want to dig around, or use the search box at the top of the page.