The Anti-Cape Wind Brigade

Klaus, evidently a Cape Wind opponent, left this comment on yesterday's post:

Its really pathetic that Jim Gordon and Cape Wind LLC pretend like they are the victims in this case. The real losers are the people of Massachusetts, who have has this project stuffed down their throats from day one. Cape Wind is a false choice, there are better options, and the Cape Cod Commission has done a fine job in protecting the public trust.

(emphasis added)

Well Klaus, the only problem is I live in Massachusetts. And I support the project fully, as do the majority of my friends.

And according to this poll, the majority of Massachusettians (New Englanders is too broad and Bostonians too narrow) do too.


Dunno about anybody else, but go Sox!

Cape Wind Denied – Because Forms not Filled Out Properly

Cape Cod (TGW) – Two weeks ago this Thursday, the Cape Cod Commission denied Cape Wind a permit to run submarine and upland transmission cables from Nantucket Sound to the mainland power grid.

The commission, in a report, denied the permit ‘without prejudice’, but what was the real reason for the denial?

According to the Cape Cod Commission’s published report:
"Cape Wind had failed to submit information" requested by a subcommittee reviewing the application "in a timely manner" and yet would not agree to “to any further extension of the 60-day decision period.”

Jim Gordon, president of Cape Wind, said, “The commission’s denial, based not on the merits but on claims that Cape Wind provided insufficient information, does not square with the record. Since 2001, Cape Wind has been providing extensive information about these cables to the Cape Cod Commission and state and federal agencies. In fact, in 2005 the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Sitting Board approved Cape Wind’s electric cable because it found that Cape Wind would provide needed renewable electricity, deliver significant air-quality benefits, lower electric costs and increase electric-transmission reliability.”

Cape Wind plans to appeal the ruling, but does that mean they will be able to send in the proper paperwork? Most likely not. But there is still a chance. A Massachusetts state court has already approved the cable, and Cape Wind will probably argue that the state commission overrules a regional commission.

Read the Cape Cod Commission report (PDF)

Residents Forced Indoors as Beijing Fog Turns to Smog

Beijing (TGW) - Beijing’s weather office warned children and the elderly to stay indoors as heavy fog blanketed the city, aggravating the city’s air pollution problem.

"The fog will not only affect the traffic but also harm humans' respiratory system. I suggest old people and children avoid going outdoors or wear a mask," Sun Jisong, the city's chief weatherman, told the official Xinhua news agency.

China has pledged to improve its air quality by the time the 2008 Olympics begin, which it is hosting.

Via :: Reuters

Oil Watch: 10/22/2007 - 10/27/2007 - Prices, Causes, and Effects

Closing price: $91.86 per barrel.

After an all-time high of $92.22, oil settled down $0.36 to $91.86. This is the $90 a barrel analysts have been predicting; where’s the skyrocketing gas prices? Gas remains constant at around $2.80 nationally.

Cause(s):
1. Weak dollar (again)
A lower dollar makes oil cheaper in countries that use other currencies.
2. Nigerian output disruptions
A rebel attack struck an oil rig.
3. Political tensions in the Middle East.
Investors fear new Iranian sanctions could disrupt production in the important exporter, while Turkey still has thousands of troops amassed on Iraq’s doorstep.

Effect(s):
Not much… Gas prices have remained relatively constant, giving consumers no reason to worry until winter comes around and heating oil is needed.

4 Ways Global Warming HELPS the Economy

1. Revive Detroit
Contrary to popular belief, going sustainable could help, not hurt carmakers. If the Big 3 and others are willing to invest and research in renewable technology, they can retake the title as the most important car manufacturers in the world.

2. Create jobs
We need people to build and sustain renewable energy facilities. It's not like wind turbines can't fall apart.

3. Start a scientific boom
Renewable energy is not yet as profitable as investors would like (if it was, we wouldn't still be burning oil). America can take the lead in researching and developing sustainable technologies.

4. Eliminate our dependency on the Middle East and Russia
Russia and dictatorships would lose much much much much much of their influence if we were to stop buying their oil and gas. For example, why would China have any need to block further efforts by the U.S. and Europe to end the genocide in Darfur?

And maybe I'll think of some more in the morning ;D


I apologize for the ongoing light posting. Besides a busy schedule (which lightens up for the next few weeks) I have lime disease :(, so I'm constantly tired and not always able react quite like I might normally. But that should be gone soon as well.

Georgia to Sue Army Corps of Engineers Over Water

Georgia (TGW) – The state of Georgia, still suffering from severe drought, confirmed this week that it will sue the Army Corps of Engineers.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue said Wednesday that the state would like to see the Corps stop using Lake Lanier, at least temporarily, as the primary source of water for Atlanta.

Rainfall in the region is about 15 inches below average.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said, "This is dire, severe, extreme drought."

Outdoor watering is banned in Atlanta and surrounding counties.

"We shouldn't have to fight this out in court," Franklin said Thursday. "We don't want to hurt [the cities and businesses] downstream but we'd like to see some middle ground and hope people would join with us."

Via :: CNN

World Solar Challenge - Solar Car Pictures

Might take a little while to load...

Solar Decathalon Home Building Competition (Pictures)

The Solar Decathlon challenged 20 teams around the world design and build the most attractive and energy efficient solar-powered home.

The homes had to be carbon neutral, without sacrificing comfort, convenience, and aesthetics. Each house had to produce ‘extra’ energy to power a vehicle.

The teams spent 2 years designing and building their homes.

The results are in.



Fifth Place: Madrid Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Web site: http://www.solardecathlon.upm.es/

Although this Universidad is from Madrid, many members are not Spanish. "The points of view from so many countries brought out the best in everyone and inspired everyone to work harder," says Maria Perez, an architecture student.

The team used light construction materials, a double envelope, and phase-change gels in the foundation to regulate temperatures.

Besides that, the home uses electrochromic windows; with a flip of a switch, the glass darkens or clears to block or let sunlight in.



Fourth place: Penn State
Web site: http://solar.psu.edu

"We want to be outstanding representatives for the Penn State community by using the Solar Decathlon as a catalyst to reach our long-term goals," says member Gretchen Miller.

An "Energy Dashboard" monitors and displays energy consumption and production to teach the inhabitants about how they are "spending" their energy. A curtain wall system with PV-powered LED lighting glows in different colors depending on weather forecasts. Pennsylvania bluestone and reclaimed slate shingles provide thermal mass.



Third Place: Santa Clara University
Team Web site: www.scusolar.org

"Our house is dynamically smart. Its computers sense interior and exterior conditions and make automatic adjustments for thermal comfort and efficient energy usage," said Team Manager James Bickford.

The home uses electrochromic windows (see 5th place).

Possibly even more innovative was the insulation; it was made of recycled jeans.

The estimated final cost was $800,000.



Second Place: University of Maryland
Web site: www.solarteam.org

University of Maryland students drew inspiration from leaves. "We see the leaf as nature's most efficient organism," says Brittany Williams, student and one of the leaders of the architectural team.

The team members are especially proud of their smart-house system called SHAC (Smart House Adaptive Control). Two students built a system of sensors to ‘bring the comfort level of the home to the ideal.’ The system monitors humidity, temperature, light, and whether the doors are open or closed-it's a Web-enabled system that can even factor in weather forecasts.

But the most innovative mechanism of the Maryland house is the indoor waterfall. The waterfall is a liquid desiccant wall system that's used to control humidity. The idea has never been used before, the team believes.



First Place: Technische Universität Darmstadt
Web site: http://www.solardecathlon.de/

Nicknamed "Made in Germany", "Made in Germany" was, well, made in Germany at the Technische Universitat Darmstadt.

Really, I couldn’t find anything especially special about this house. It was just all around best built. It incorporated techniques similar to those used in other houses, but there was one concept that boosted this house above the others.

After the Solar Decathlon, the house will return to Germany to be used as a solar power plant

Oil Watch: 10/15/2007 - 10/20/2007 - Prices, Causes, and Effects

This week we begin our weekly series, Oil Watch. We’ll discuss prices, causes, and effects.

Closing price: $88.60 per barrel.

Oil prices skyrocketed this week to over $90 a barrel, before coming down slightly. Meanwhile, gas prices have stayed relatively steady.

Cause(s):
1. Weak dollar
A lower dollar makes oil cheaper in countries that use other currencies.
2. Turkey-Iraq tensions
Iraq is still the 14th largest oil producer.

Effect(s):
Stock market rattled

Report: Australia to be Hit Harder by Global Warming

Australia (TGW) - Global warming is going to take a heavy toll on Australia, already one of the driest parts of the world, according to a new report released by scientists at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO).

Australia is likely to be hit harder because it is already dry there.

The key findings of the report include that by 2030, temperatures will rise by about 1 degree Celsius over Australia – a little less in coastal areas, and a little more inland - later in the century. If emissions are low, warming of between 1 ºC and 2.5 ºC is likely by around 2070, with a best estimate of 1.8 ºC. Under a high emission scenario, the best estimate warming is 3.4 ºC, with a range of 2.2 ºC to 5 ºC.

The report also indicates there will be changes in temperature extremes, with fewer frosts and substantially more days over 35 ºC.

Temperatures have already increased .9 degrees Celsius since 1950.

At low emissions of greenhouse gases, warming of between 1 degree Celsius and 2.5 degrees was expected by 2070, with a best estimate of 1.8 degrees, Whetton said.

At high emissions, the best estimate was warming of 3.4 degrees, in a range of 2.2 degrees to 5 degrees.

Other findings include increased droughts, increased evaporation rates, increased high-fire danger, stronger cyclones, and continued sea level rise.

Via :: Reuters :: CSIRO Press Release

Virgin Atlantic to Test Biofuel Powered Airplane

Boston (TGW)- Virgin Atlantic Airways hopes to test a biofuel-powered jet in earlier 2008, owner Richard Branson said this week.

Virgin Group hopes to provide clean fuel for buses, trains and cars within three or four years, Branson told a Mortgage Bankers Association meeting in Boston.

"Early next year we will fly one of our 747s without passengers with one of the fuels that we have developed," Branson told the annual conference.

Branson, a billionaire, promised last year to spend all of profits from Virgin Atlantic on combating global warming. He also created Virgin Fuels, which he has invest $400 million in.

Branson also said ethanol is likely to be unfeasible, as it freezes at 15000 feet, but proposed some alternatives, such as butanol.

Via :: Reuters

Blog Action Day Linkathon!

Blog Action Day is today! Well, this blog already writes about the environment a lot (every post, actually), so today I thought I'd just link to many of the great other environmental posts.


DeSmogBlog: Questionable funding uncovered in the Al Gore UK High Court Case

The Daily Green: Grease 2010: Green Cars are Tomorrow’s Hot Rods

Celsias: Toyota in the Hot Seat

BIOstock Blog:Ending Obstructive Environmental Lawsuits

Environmental Graffiti: SimCity Adds A Global Warming Threat

Treehugger:Key Green Algal Genome Provides Insights into Carbon Capture, Better Biofuels Production

The Environmental Blog: Environmental Impact of Disposable Diapers

Alternative Energy Investing: Investing In Renewable Energy 101

About My Planet: Borrowing into Tomorrow

Green Business: Airline Goes Carbon Neutral

Fuel Ghoul: A Whale of a Cover Up: Pacific Oil Spills

BioFuels Digest: Mozambique green lights 30 Mgy sugar ethanol project, but is it wise?

Local Warming: SEC: consider investment risk from AEP settlement

The Ecoist Abode: Europe addressing climate change city by city

Polar Warming: Trouble at the dinner table?

Hydrogen POWER: Riding On Hydrogen In New Zealand

Hydrogen Cars and Vehicles Blog: Hydrogen Fueling Station for Show Me State

[POLL] Should Al Gore Run for President?

Should Al Gore run for president?
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Can Democracy Solve Climate Change?

Matthew Eckel over at Rational International has an insightful post in which he asks, can democracy solve climate change?

Definitely a recommended read.

Think Outside the Bottle Hosts Events Across the Country

Launch Day events across the U.S.:

Austin, TX
When: October 10th , 2007, 10:30 am

Where: City Hall Plaza, Austin, TX.

Who: David Foster, environmental expert from Austin's Clean Water Action
Rev. Paul Collinson-Streng, the Lutheran Campus Pastor at Lutheran Campus Ministry

What: Religious groups, environmental and corporate accountability organizations, and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to "think outside the bottle." At the event, community leaders will take the Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands) and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source. Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water. By ending city bottled water purchases, Austin can solidify its place as the emerging Greenest City in the US.

Contact: Daniel Gradess, Corporate Accountability International - Office: (512) 236-0774, Cell: (347) 721-726
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Click here for the Austin Press Release

Baltimore, MD
When: 11am, October 10th

Where: Lake Montebello, intersection of Lake Drive and Erdman Ave

Who: Keith Losoya, Exec Director of Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance
Aaron Mintzes, Clean Water Action
Jenna Garland, Corporate Accountability International

Contact: Jenna Garland, Corporate Accountability International - (410) 467-2528

Boston,MA
When: Wednesday, October 10th, 11:00am

Where: Boston City Hall Plaza

Who: James W. Hunt, Environment and Energy Services, Office of the Mayor
Katherine Manzier, CEO, Bella Luna Restaurant
Lisa Fuller, CISPES-Boston (Campaign In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador)
Deborah Lapidus, National Organizer, Corporate Accountability International

What: Religious groups, environmental and social change organizations, and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” At the event, community leaders will take the Think Outside the Bottle Pledge, opting for tap water over bottled water, and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water.

Contact: Liz Gary, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 747-4382
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Chicago, IL
When: 10:00 AM, October 10

Where: Navy Pier Filtration Plant, 500 East Grand

Who: Member of Eigth Day Center for Justice
Alderman George Cardenas, 12th Ward
Rose Lattyak, Corporate Accountability Member

What: Religious groups, environmental and corporate accountability organizations, and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” At the event, community leaders will take the Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands) and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water.

Contact: Elizabeth Martin-Craig,Corporate Accountability International - (312) 291-0696 ext. 214
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Click here for the Chicago Press Release

Minneapolis, MN
When: Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 10:00am

Where: Steps of City Hall, Minneapolis

Who: Jeremy Hanson, Communications Director, Mayor Rybak’s office
Liz Larson, Macalester College
Pete Williams, St. Olaf College
Amber Collett, Corporate Accountability International

What: Corporate Accountability and Minnesota student groups are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” At the event, we will be announcing high profile pledge signers and inviting citizens to participate in a Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands) and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water. Minneapolis is a leader in the Midwest on environmental initiatives and the collapse of the 35 W bridge further highlights the importance of investing in public infrastructure and as the City of Lakes, water is a vitally important resource for the city to protect.

Contact: Amber Collett, Corporate Accountability International- (612) 379-5745
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Oakland, CA
When: 11am, October 10

Where: Outside city hall, downtown Oakland

Who: Andy Katz, Board of Directors, East Bay Municipal Utilities District
Nancy Skinner, Board of Directors, East Bay Regional Park District
Kent Lewandowski, Executive Committee Chair, Sierra Club, Northern Alameda Chapter
Adam Scow, Activist, Food and Water Watch
Rachael Goodyer, Corporate Accountability International

What: Environmental and corporate accountability organizations, religious groups and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” At the event, local officials and community leaders will take the Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands) and offer brief comments. This is ahead of the state deadline for the “The Bottled and Vended Water Accountability Act”, SB220 introduced by California State Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) this Sunday.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water.

Contact: Rachael Goodyer, Corporate Accountability International - (510) 809-7353
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Click here for the Oakland Press Release

Portland, OR
When: 12:00 pm, October 10

Where: Central Library, US Bank Meeting Room 801 S.W. 10th Ave

When: Tom Long, President, Citizens For Safe Drinking Water
Student Activists and Leaders
Nicholas Carby-Denning, Corporate Accountability International Spokesperson

What: Water, environmental and corporate accountability organizations, and students are launching a pledge drive that asks city officials to “think outside the bottle.” The event will launch a mass national consumer action of thousands pledging to drink tap over bottled water. Here in Portland the Think Outside the Bottle campaign is calling on the mayor Tom Potter and commissioner Randy Leonard to stand behind Portland’s tap water over bottled water. At the event, students and community members will take the Tap Water Challenge (think The Pepsi Challenge, but with tap water and leading bottled water brands), discuss local concerns and offer brief comments.

Why: For months the momentum has been growing for cities to cancel bottled water contracts and prioritize investment in public water systems. The groundswell has resulted from widespread consumer concern over the waste stream of plastic bottles. Media reports have also focused on how bottled water can cost thousands of times the price of tap water, even though up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source . Buoyed by these concerns, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has pledged to support municipal water systems and analyze the amount of waste caused by bottled water. Events around the country are calling on people to choose public tap water over bottled water.

Contact: Nicholas Carby-Denning, Corporate Accountability International - (203) 645-7536
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International - (617) 695-2503

Anti-Bottled Water Campaign to Go Live!

Yesterday I received this email from the Think Outside the Bottle campaign, a campaign this blog has been actively involved in (see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and finally here. Whew.):



Hello,

This summer Jane Olszewski, an intern with Corporate Accountability International emailed you to draw your attention to the Think Outside The Bottle campaign. Thanks to blogs like yours the campaign has received a lot of media attention and has been a great success. As you may know one the highlights came in late July when PepsiCo finally changed the label on their Aquafina bottled water to acknowledge it comes from a public water source.

Because you have shown passion and dedication for this very important cause, I wanted to contact you on behalf of Corporate Accountability International and the Think Outside The Bottle campaign to let you know that Wednesday, October 10th is our official pledge launch. We have a website at http://www.thinkoutsidethebottle.org/ to serve as a central source for news and information about the campaign and the issues that we want to address. The website will be going live on Wednesday.

On the morning of October 9th we will be having a national press call to get information to media outlets across the country. On October 10th we are hosting events all around the country to promote the campaign and support strong public water systems. It is also very important for us to keep the blogging community informed about the campaign’s progress and to let people know about the pledge, which can be signed at http://www.stopcorporateabusenow.org/campaign/think_outside_the_bottle_pledge. The website also has a pledge kit to promote hands-on local activism in every community.
We appreciate your participation in the campaign so far, and it would be great to have your continued involvement. Would you be interested not only in signing the pledge, but also posting about it and letting your readers know about this next stage of the campaign?

As the pledge launches this week there are many major opportunities for change on the horizon. We already have a number of activists, schools, community groups, companies, and organizations that are taking part and your help would be very much appreciated. Please feel free to look around the website and let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks very much for your time,

Nick Romanow
Campaigns Intern



If you’re interested, check out the campaign website.

China, Maker of 70% of the World's Lightbulbs, to Phase out Incandescent Lightbulbs

China (TGW) – China, which makes 70% of the world’s lightbulbs, has agreed to start promoting more energy inefficient lightbulbs.

The transition could be made in the next 10 years, said Monique Barbut, chief executive officer of the Global Environment Facility.

"We are starting a world campaign to ban all inefficient lightbulbs," Barbut said at the Reuters Environmental Summit in Washington. "And China has just agreed."

Australia is one of a very small number of developed countries that has already agreed to phase out incandescent lightbulbs.

China’s program will be formally announced in December.

Via :: Reuters

Recyclable Wind Turbines?

Denmark (TGW) - In order to have truly green wind turbines, turbine developers need to consider recycling old turbines, according to Danish researchers.

In order to assess the true environmental impact of wind turbines, their life after death must be taken into account.

Most wind power surveys have not taken into account the removal of old turbines.

"Because the wind-turbine industry is relatively young, there is only a limited amount of practical experience on the removal and recycling of wind turbines," researcher Dannemand Andersen says, "It is likely to take more than 20 years before a substantial amount of practical experience regarding the dismantling, separation, recycling, disposal, etc., of wind-power systems is gained."