April 2011 - EC - lists.bikelover.org

Fwd: Breaking News from InsideEPA.com
by Paul Wilson 29 Apr '11

29 Apr '11

I don't subscribe to this service but thought this story would be of interest to many..... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: InsideEPA.com <epa-alerts(a)iwpnews.com> Date: Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 1:08 PM Subject: Breaking News from InsideEPA.com To: pjgrunt(a)gmail.com [image: InsideEPA.com] <http://insideepa.com/> Breaking News from InsideEPA.com . . . . The stage has been set for one of the most important years of energy policymaking in decades now that the Obama administration is calling on the natural gas to agree to new environmental controls. One key natural gas regulation the administration is developing targets greenhouse gas and other emissions from drilling operations *but EPA has made a deal with environmental lawyers to delay its release until next February.* There is only one way to get to the action before the rules are proposed and that’s InsideEPA.com. We’ll give you a trial subscription free for 30 days<http://insideepa.com/component/option,com_trialuser/code,4282011>to prove it. *Here’s the story:* *EPA Stalls Gas Drilling Air Rules But Consensus Emerges On Methane Limits<http://insideepa.com/Inside-EPA-General/Inside-EPA-Public-Content/epa-stall…> * *And here’s the offer:* Try InsideEPA.com free for a full 30 days and experience our trademark investigative business reporting for yourself. There's no cost, no risk and nothing to lose. Your trial subscription to Inside EPA.com will include regular email updates on emerging regulations for fracking and natural gas drilling. *Sign up right now<http://insideepa.com/component/option,com_trialuser/code,4282011> * * *Now is the best time to subscribe to InsideEPA.com to get the behind-the-scenes story on these upcoming regulations for the natural gas industry, as well as the Obama administration's aggressive agenda on a host of environmental issues, from climate change to water quality regulations. For the past 30 years Inside EPA has been the leading news sources for tracking emerging policy debates at EPA and within the federal government, and our out-ahead coverage on the latest dust-up over fracking builds on that award-winning stature. Regards, The Editors InsideEPA.com/Inside EPA Weekly Report Try InsideEPA.com Today *You can start a 30-day free trial of InsideEPA.com right now* -- it only takes seconds, no credit card is required and you'll receive no bill or invoice. Just click here to sign up today<http://insideepa.com/component/option,com_trialuser/code,4282011> . Customer Service 703-416-8505 iepa(a)iwpnews.com Site Licenses Available Want to share access to InsideEPA.com with your colleagues? We have economical site license packages available to fit any size organization, from a few people at one location to company-wide access. For more information on how you can get greater access to InsideEPA.com for your office, contact our Online Customer Service department at 703-416-8505 or iepa(a)iwpnews.com <+iepa(a)iwpnews.com>. *Mailing address:* 1919 South Eads Street, Suite 201, Arlington VA 22202 *Telephone:* 703-416-8500 or 1-800-424-9068 Please do not respond to this e-mail, as it was sent from an unmonitored mailbox. If you have a customer service inquiry, please contact us at iepa(a)iwpnews.com. If you wish to unsubscribe from InsideEPA.com email notifications please click here<http://iwp.lyris.net/t/44576/762982/77274/0/?3e076d18=cGpncnVudEBnbWFpbC5jb…>. Copyright © 2011 Inside Washington Publishers. All rights reserved. -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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Fwd: Sierra Club Launches Interactive Map of U.S. Coal-fired Power Plants
by Paul Wilson 28 Apr '11

28 Apr '11

fyi, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Oliver Bernstein <oliver.bernstein(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 12:11 PM Subject: Sierra Club Launches Interactive Map of U.S. Coal-fired Power Plants To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)lists.sierraclub.org *Special thanks to Adam Kapp and Megan Siems for all of their programming and research on this project. Thanks also to Ginny Cramer, Adrian Cotter, Mary Anne Hitt, Verena Owen and the Online Organizing Department.* ---------------------------------------- BLOG POST about the new coal map from Mary Anne Hitt -- Grist - http://www.grist.org/article/2011-04-28-is-there-a-toxic-mercury-hot-spot-n… Daily Kos - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/28/971045/-Is-There-a-Toxic-Mercury-H… Compass - http://sierraclub.typepad.com/compass/2011/04/is-there-a-toxic-mercury-hot-… Alternet - http://blogs.alternet.org/maryannehitt/2011/04/28/is-there-a-toxic-mercury-… PRESS RELEASE LINK -- http://sc.org/jRtc5T For Immediate Release – April 28, 2011 Contact: Oliver Bernstein, 512.289.8618 *Sierra Club Launches Interactive Map of U.S. Coal-fired Power Plants* * * *Powerful New Tool Highlights Toxic Mercury Hotspots, Outlines Roadmap for Moving America Beyond Coal* SAN FRANCISCO – After recently celebrating the defeat of the 152nd proposed coal-fired power plant prevented or abandoned in the past decade, the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign announced today that it would shift its focus toward replacing the nation’s existing fleet of dirty coal plants with clean energy sources. A new comprehensive, interactive map<http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/map/>of the approximately 500 existing U.S. coal-fired power plants will help guide concerned Americans and public officials as they seize this historic opportunity to stand up for clean energy. Find the coal plants nearest to you at http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/map/. While the priority for the Beyond Coal Campaign remains opposing the remaining handful of proposed new coal plants, it is the orderly phase-out of the nearly 500 existing coal-fired power plants that will truly protect public health and help avoid irreparable climate disruption. "These aging coal plants – some of which date back to the 1920's – are the largest sources of health-threatening, climate-disrupting pollution and the largest obstacles to a clean energy future," said *Verena Owen, volunteer chair of the Beyond Coal Campaign*. "We begin this exciting new phase of the Beyond Coal Campaign on a strong foundation, having recently won important victories in the Tennessee Valley, Colorado and Washington State." The interactive map announced today <http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/map>allows users to see the dirty coal plants nearest to them, to learn more about the toxic pollution and health threats caused by those plants and to sign up to get involved in the local Sierra Club effort to phase out those coal plants and replace them with clean energy. Just as the Sierra Club used its signature Coal Plant Tracker <http://sc.org/coaltracker> to empower activists and to monitor progress in the effort to prevent new coal pollution, this new tool will play a key role in the fight to phase out coal plants that already exist. The map currently focuses on toxic mercury, an alarming health threat from coal-fired power plants. Because toxic mercury from coal plants gets into local waterways, most states have warnings against eating fish caught locally. New protections proposed last month by the Environmental Protection Agency would reduce toxic mercury by more than 90%, and the Sierra Club is mobilizing Americans in support of the proposed new protections. The mapping tool can evolve as needed to highlight the devastation coal causes throughout its life cycle. For instance, when coal pollution causes air quality to reach unhealthy levels in many towns and cities during the summer months, the map can adapt to highlight the worst emitters of soot and smog. "As major sources of life-threatening mercury, soot and smog pollution, existing coal plants are finally coming under increasing scrutiny," said *Mary Anne Hitt, Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign*. "America can replace dirty coal plants with clean energy solutions like energy efficiency, wind, solar and geothermal to meet America’s energy needs and create jobs. The wind industry already employs more people than the coal mining industry in the United States. As clean energy deployment continues to accelerate nationwide, we can repeat and greatly expand this economic success by moving beyond coal and opening new opportunities for innovation and job creation." The success of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign throughout the past eight years rests largely on the dedicated activists volunteering on the ground in almost every state. “Every day, more Americans join the effort to push for cleaner energy options for their area,” added Owen. ”The Sierra Club is proud to present this new roadmap <http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/map/> to track their successes.” PRESS RELEASE LINK -- http://sc.org/jRtc5T ### -- Oliver Bernstein National Communications Strategist Sierra Club Phone: 512.477.2152 Cell: 512.289.8618 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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Fwd: press on WV DEP appeal of New Hill West victory
by James Kotcon 27 Apr '11

27 Apr '11

>>> Peter Morgan <peter.morgan(a)apps.sierraclub.org> 4/27/2011 3:12 PM >>> As expected, WV DEP has appealed our win before the WV Environmental Quality Board in which we successfully challenged a CWA discharge permit for a surface mine that failed to contain limits on conductivity, TDS, sulfate, and selenium. I've also heard that the company filed its own appeal, though I have not seen that yet. This Greenwire story puts this case in context of recent EPA action on conductivity. It also includes good quotes from local Sierra Club member Petra Wood. We intend to defend the EQB's good decision. 6. WATER POLLUTION: W.Va. officials bicker over conductivity standard for mountaintop mining (04/27/2011) Manuel Quinones, E&E reporter West Virginia environmental regulators are at odds over setting a water conductivity standard and other safeguards to protect the environment from mountaintop removal mining. The discussion comes amid a White House review of a U.S. EPA interim guidance document setting a federal conductivity standard for reviewing Appalachian mining permits. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is appealing in court a decision by the state's Environmental Quality Board ordering the agency to modify its permit for a Patriot Mining Company Inc. strip mining project in Monongalia County. In issuing its decision, the board sided, at least in part, with environmentalists who urged permit modifications, including a numeric standard for conductivity in nearby waterways. "This particular permit had no limits on conductivity, sulfates, really not much of anything," Petra Wood, a Sierra Club member involved in appealing the permit, said in an interview. At issue is a state National Pollutant Discharge Elimination system or NPDES permit, which EPA reviews. This particular project does not require a Section 404 Clean Water Act permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The Environmental Quality Board -- a panel of five experts appointed by the governor for five-year terms -- did not set the conductivity standard as environmentalists wanted but called on the DEP to include one as part of a revised permit. The decision thrust the board into a national debate over the proper way to examine mining's effects to Appalachian waters. Conductivity is the measure of how well waters can carry an electric charge. An EPA study has found higher conductivity levels downstream from mountaintop mines and valley fills ( <http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2010/04/01/archive/1> E&ENews PM, April 1, 2010). While conductivity is not in itself a pollutant -- a point DEP is stressing in its appeal -- environmentalists and researchers are increasingly using it as a barometer of water health. "The board finds that the mining operation has the opportunity and potential to improve water quality," said Board Chairman Edward Snyder when issuing the ruling last month. "The board finds that there is a strong positive correlation between conductivity and diminishing macro invertebrate community health." But the DEP believes the board overstepped its legal bounds by mandating a conductivity standard. "Neither [the Environmental Quality Board] nor the DEP have the authority to impose a water quality standard that does not currently exist in state law," DEP attorney Jennifer Hughes said in an email exchange. And even though the board's decision applied to a specific permit, DEP officials believe it sets a precedent for future action. "This appeal has never been about this one permit modification," Hughes said. "It has always been an attempt to impose a statewide numeric standard for conductivity through a back-door process." Environmental advocates are dismayed at what they see as the state's assault on efforts to protect the environment from mining. "It's kind of hard to understand in my mind," Wood said. But West Virginia politicians have usually been keen to protect the mining industry, worried about jobs and the economy. "This was the worst ruling I've ever seen out of the Environmental Quality Board as far as a lack of respect for the rule of law," DEP Secretary Randy Huffman told reporter Ken Ward Jr. with The Charleston Gazette. Part of the appeal, pending before the Kanawha County Circuit Court, is the DEP's objection to the board considering EPA's interim guidance and related information, including the agency's study on conductivity, something the Sierra Club highlighted as part of its efforts to modify the mining permit. "DEP believes that, at best, the evidence presented by the Sierra Club demonstrated that there may be a correlation between high conductivity levels and the loss of certain sensitive species," Hughes said. "The evidence did not show that high conductivity levels cause harm to aquatic life." The National Mining Association is fighting the guidance in court, saying it amounts to rulemaking without the agency going through the proper channels, and the state of West Virginia along with DEP are plaintiffs in the case. Earlier this month, the mining group released a study of its own aimed at undercutting EPA's findings. The report, prepared by Denver-based GEI Consultants Inc., questioned EPA's assumptions about aquatic bugs and considered other findings flawed ( <http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2011/04/01/archive/4> E&ENews PM, April 1). Testing conductivity Opponents of EPA's guidance, especially lawmakers in Congress, say commercially sold water like San Pellegrino and Perrier exceed the agency's numeric standard for conductivity. They say it is evidence of the agency's overreach and its agenda to curtail coal mining in Appalachia. "People who are working the mines in my district are very concerned that the waters coming out of the mines have to be better than Perrier," said Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) in an interview earlier this year while pushing a budget rider to stop EPA from enforcing the guidance. The website PolitiFact, which routinely checks politicians' assertions, found that Evian, Perrier and San Pellegrino did in fact exceed EPA's standard. However, scientists and advocates say opponents are missing the point and ignoring the effects of conductivity on Appalachian wildlife. "The science demonstrates that stream life present in waters contaminated by mine waste is killed when salinity levels rise above levels that would not be toxic to humans who may drink such water," EPA spokesman Richard Yost told PolitiFact. "Aquatic organisms and people respond to salinity in very different ways, so it is not technically valid to make direct comparisons between healthy levels of salinity in central Appalachian streams and acceptable levels of salinity in drinking water." ____________________________________ Peter Morgan Project Attorney Sierra Club Environmental Law Program 1650 38th St. Ste. 102W Boulder, CO 80301 (303) 449-5595 x102 (303) 449-6520 (fax) CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL COMMUNICATION/WORK PRODUCT This email may contain privileged and confidential communications and/or confidential attorney work product. If you receive this email inadvertently, please reply and notify the sender and delete all versions from your system. Thank you.

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Fwd: Hydrofracking Team Call tonight
by Paul Wilson 27 Apr '11

27 Apr '11

anybody planning on being on this call? thx, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sierra Club Activist Network <community.manager(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 12:46 PM Subject: Hydrofracking Team Call tonight To: pjgrunt(a)gmail.com Paul, you have a group bulletin from *Hydrofracking Team<http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Hydrofracking_Team> *. *Visit Hydrofracking Team.<http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Hydrofracking_Team> * Message:Don't forget to join the Hydrofracking Team on our biweekly call, tonight at 5pm PT/8pm ET! National Conference Calls 1 (866) 501-6174 Hydrofracking Team code: 900 367 87 337 # *Call Agenda: * Introduce David Meiser as Team co-leader Welcome new members Gasland House Parties Frac Act, Natural Gas Act State bans vs moratoria ------------------------------ *Visit Hydrofracking Team.<http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Hydrofracking_Team> * ------------------------------ Reply? Or other thoughts? If you have questions about the bulletin CONTENT, please visit the group's page and leave a comment<http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Hydrofracking_Team>, or contact the group owner. *Technical Issues?* Please reply to this message (or email community.manager(a)sierraclub.org) if you have questions or problems with the bulletin itself. If you want to stop getting email, you can either leave (unjoin) or set your email preferences<http://connect.sierraclub.org/editor/app/group/managegroupmembership.aspx?O…> . -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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WVDEP appeals major water quality ruling for New Hill mine/ash dump
by James Kotcon 27 Apr '11

27 Apr '11

>From Coal Tattoo. JBK WVDEP appeals major water quality ruling April 26, 2011 by Ken Ward Jr. Well, WVDEP Secretary Randy Huffman called it the worst ruling I’ve ever seen out of the EQB as far as a lack of respect for the rule of law, so it probably is no surprise that the agency has appeal the state Environmental Quality Board’s decision in the case over International Coal Group’s New Hill West surface mine in Monongalia County. I’ve posted a copy of the WVDEP appeal, filed in the circuit court of Kanawha County, here. Among other things, WVDEP lawyers argue in the appeal: The board’s findings that numerous scientific studies have shown that declines in stream macroinvertebrate communities directly downstream of surface mining operations are caused by the combined effects of heightened concentrations of ions was clearly wrong in the view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence in the record.

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Re: [EC] interesting energy reading
by James Kotcon 23 Apr '11

23 Apr '11

am more than a little concerned about the Obama Administration's continued emphasis on nuclear and "Clean Coal" technologies, but if he is successful in cutting tax subsidies for fossil fuels by $46 billion, that would go a long way toward letting the market lead us to a clean energy future. I am also impressed by their predictions of 6 cents/kwh for residential solar power by 2030. If that happens, coal is done, because when a home solar panel is cheaper than coal, no one will be investing in coal. Our emphasis shjpould be on shutting down the old dinosaurs over the next ten years. JBK >>> Daniel Soeder 04/22/11 5:29 PM >>> Two fossil energy-related reports came my way today that I wanted to pass along. The final report and recommendations from the commission that reviewed the Macondo well disaster (i.e. Deepwater Horizon - BP) in the Gulf last year is available at http://www.oilspillcommission.gov/final-report. It makes for some very sobering reading - even the cover photo is dreadful. The second report is the "Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future" from the White House, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/blueprint-secure-energy-future. This is the plan that the federal government will be expected to follow for energy R&D under the Obama Administration. Cheers! - Dan Soeder

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Fw: iMatter March May 8th
by Jim Sconyers 20 Apr '11

20 Apr '11

Fascinating initiative. Anyone interested in putting one together in WV? Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Sarah Hodgdon <sarah.hodgdon(a)SIERRACLUB.ORG> To: CCL-CHAPTER-CHAIRS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Sent: Wed, April 20, 2011 6:44:27 PM Subject: iMatter March May 8th Hello, I wanted to alert your chapter to an inspiring and exciting organization that the Sierra Club is supporting called iMatter. iMatter is an organization that is mobilizing youth (primarily aged 13-18) to raise awareness about climate change. Their large out-of-the-gate action is a youth-led march happening across the globe on Mother's Day, May 8, 2011. The event is gaining momentum with nearly 60 marches already planned around the world. The attached spreadsheet is the confirmed list and more marches are being added every day. Check here for the most recent additions near you: http://imattermarch.org/march/find-march/ If you're interested in getting involved with iMatter, either to identify a host, help drive attendance or just help support a march organizer with your guidance and expertise (remember - all marches are lead by youth) please feel free to contact Andrew Peake at andrew(a)kvgw.orgor (530) 574-3803. More information can be found on iMatter's website at http://imattermarch.org/ Please forward this email within your chapter. Best, Sarah Hodgdon 415-977-5541 828-423-7590 (cell) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CCL-CHAPTER-CHAIRS list, send any message to: CCL-CHAPTER-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/

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Feds, wind sector agree to regional Habitat Conservation Plan for 8 states
by Frank Young 19 Apr '11

19 Apr '11

Wind Energy SmartBriefThis does not include West Virginia. I would think that HCPs are location and habitat dependent. I wonder if a "regional" HCP that covers 8 states would be effective in all areas of those states. But it is a start. To my knowledge, USFWS has not yet developed an HCP for any clusters of wind turbines anywhere. - Frank ----------------------------------- Today, a group that includes the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and USWFS, signed an agreement to develop a plan that will outline measures to conserve threatened and endangered species that may be affected by wind farm developments. In particular, the plan calls for conservation of Indiana bats as well as other protected species in eight states including Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/04/18/wind-industry-takes-step-to-protect-wild… ----- Original Message ----- From: Wind Energy SmartBrief To: fyoung(a)mountain.net Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 3:14 PM Subject: Feds, wind sector agree to create conservation plan for 8 states Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/cSiHCazNzuBZcUsKCicPfDCicNjCwJ April 19, 2011 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise News for wind power professionals and advocates Industry Update a.. Feds, wind sector agree to create conservation plan for 8 states The American Wind Energy Association and wind-power companies have signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create a habitat-conservation plan for protected species that may be at risk from wind projects in eight states. "It is the industry's expectation that development of the regional HCP will streamline the permitting process, allowing effective conservation of wildlife and easing the service's administrative burden while also allowing for more wind energy to be deployed nationally," said John Anderson, director of siting policy for AWEA. DomesticFuel.com (4/18) a.. Joint venture plans to invest $6.3B in Australia's renewables market A joint venture involving Australia-based CBD Energy, China Datang Renewable Power and Baoding Tianwei Baobian Electric is planning to invest up to $6.3 billion over eight years in renewables projects in Australia. AusChina Energy Group is seeks 33% of Australia's renewable-energy market by developing wind, solar-thermal and energy-storage facilities, according to documents submitted to the Australian Stock Exchange. Bloomberg (4/19) a.. Strong U.S. market boosted EDP Renewables' output capacity in Q1 EDP Renewables said its output capacity in the first quarter rose 21%, to 4,421 gigawatt-hours, helped by strong U.S. performance. The company's U.S. output capacity reached 2,430 GWh in the first quarter, up 37% from the same period in 2010, EDPR said. Europe grew in the first quarter by 7%, to 1,985 GWh, the firm added. Reuters (4/18) a.. Other News a.. State Grid Corp. of China added 33.16 GW of installed wind-power capacity in Q1 Reuters (4/18) a.. Singapore-based Keppel wins more than $50M contract for offshore North Sea project Today (Singapore) (4/19) Enterprise Asset Management: Running Smarter Buildings By using IBM Maximo solutions, facilities have been able to move from a preventative maintenance system to a predictive maintenance system, enabling true efficiencies throughout the organization. In this video from IBM, learn how to run your building smarter and in turn, create innovation for your organization and end consumers. Project Focus a.. Salazar approves construction of Cape Wind project Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today the approval of the final construction and operation plan for the 130-turbine Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound off Massachusetts. Federal regulators issued the final permits for the offshore wind project in January, allowing developers to proceed to the construction phase. Cape Wind said construction could begin in autumn. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (4/19), Google/The Associated Press (4/18) a.. Ore. wind project secures $500M investment from Google, others The proposed Shepherds Flat Wind Farm near Arlington, Ore., has secured a $100 million investment from Google and $400 million from Sumitomo Corp. of America and Tyr Energy. The wind farm, which could become the world's biggest when construction is finished next year, is expected to deliver 845 megawatts of electricity, or sufficient supply for more than 235,000 houses. Google's investment in Shepherds Flat is part of the company's clean-energy outlay of more than $350 million. The Oregonian (Portland) (4/18), Google/Agence France-Presse (4/18) a.. Pattern Energy, Samsung acquire land for wind project in Canada Pattern Energy Group and Samsung have purchased land hosting wind projects by Suncor Energy and Northland Power in Ontario. The acquired properties will be included by Pattern and Samsung in their 270-megawatt South Kent Wind Farm, they said. "Pattern and Samsung will be able to accelerate the development of [Suncor and Northland's] projects by combining them with our nearby South Kent Wind Farm and its transmission connection," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. Bloomberg (4/18) The Plum Card® RETURN PROTECTION . If a store or vendor won't return an eligible item you purchased with your Card, we'll refund your purchase price up to $300 per item (excluding shipping and handling), up to $1,000 per account each year. Plum Card® from American Express OPEN. Apply Now. Economy, Energy & Trends a.. Obama expected to tout renewable-energy plans in town-hall meetings President Barack Obama is expected to tout the importance of renewable energy in his debt-reduction strategy during three town hall meetings this week, one each in Virginia, California and Nevada. In the meetings, Obama is expected to discuss his plan to continue making "the smart investments needed to create jobs and grow our economy," according to a White House statement. Las Vegas Sun/The Policy Racket blog (4/18) Help protect your employees by managing business travel risks with Zurich's white paper 'Managing the Risks of Business Travel: What every business needs to know'. Click here for the FREE download! Policy Watch a.. Rep. Upton: Environmental goals should go along with economic ones The goal of keeping the country's air and water clean does not need to go against the preservation of jobs and improvement of the economy, writes House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich. Republicans are working on an energy policy that would reconcile economic and environmental objectives, Upton says. "We can do that with three sensible goals: stopping government policies that are driving up energy prices, expanding U.S. energy production to lower costs and create more jobs, and promoting an 'all of the above' strategy to increase all forms of U.S. energy," he writes. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (4/15) a.. Proposal to raise utility rates for renewables irks Fla. governor Florida Gov. Rick Scott raised concerns about state legislative proposals that would allow utilities to charge ratepayers as much as $1.5 billion over four years to offset the cost of renewable-energy projects. The bills would require utilities to prove that the projects are cost-effective. A spokesman for Florida Power & Light said the cost to customers would be less. The Palm Beach Post (Fla.)/Sun Sentinel (4/18) Featured Content a.. A Closer Look: Industry Trends & Women-Owned Businesses American Express OPEN a.. A Closer Look: State Trends & Women-Owned Businesses American Express OPEN a.. A Closer Look: Economic Clout & Women-Owned Businesses American Express OPEN a.. State And Local Tax Surprises For Your Small Business Barbara Weltman a.. Unconventional Measures Of Customer Service Excellence Julie Rains AWEA News a.. SMALL & COMMUNITY WINDPOWER 2011: Reserve a booth AWEA is accepting abstracts for the AWEA SMALL & COMMUNITY WINDPOWER conference taking place in Des Moines, Iowa, Sept. 15 to 17. Get more information and submit an abstract -- deadline to submit is April 20. Reserve your booth. The online floor plan and booth sales are now officially open and there are many great booth locations available. Learn more about AWEA -> AWEA Home | AWEA and Wind News | Events | Take Action SmartQuote Never say a humorous thing to a man who does not possess humor. He will always use it in evidence against you." --Herbert Beerbohm Tree, British actor These stories were selected and summarized by independent editors at SmartBrief Inc., not by AWEA's staff, and do not represent AWEA positions. They reflect the variety of daily coverage of American wind power. This SmartBrief was created for fyoung(a)mountain.net Subscriber Tools Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Account Executive: Diana Angel (202) 470-1146 a.. Download Media Kit Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including: a.. Industry Home b.. Readers' Choice c.. Search d.. Archive e.. Get this RSS Feed f.. Publish your Press Release Recent Wind Energy SmartBrief Issues: a.. Monday, April 18, 2011 b.. Friday, April 15, 2011 c.. Thursday, April 14, 2011 d.. Wednesday, April 13, 2011 e.. Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Lead Editor: Bryan McBournie Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information

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The Court and Global Warming
by Frank Young 19 Apr '11

19 Apr '11

BlankThis had been beyond my radar until today. "The case about global warming scheduled to be argued on Tuesday before the Supreme Court is a blockbuster. Eight states — from California to New York, plus New York City — sued six corporations responsible for one-fourth of the American electric power industry’s emissions of carbon dioxide." http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/opinion/19tue1.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

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Perdue Says He Will Lead on Shale
by James Kotcon 18 Apr '11

18 Apr '11

Perdue Says He Will Lead on Shale April 17, 2011 By JOSELYN KING Political Writer , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register WHEELING - West Virginia's next governor must take the lead in making certain the state and its residents reap the benefits of Marcellus Shale drilling, State Treasurer John Perdue said in Wheeling on Saturday. Perdue, a current Democratic candidate for governor, addressed a town hall meeting at the Stone Church Volunteer Fire Department, where nearby roads show the negative effects of trucks transporting natural gas from drilling sites. He criticized three other candidates in the race - present acting governor Earl Ray Tomblin; acting Senate President Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall; and House Speaker Richard Thompson, D-Wayne - for the failure of legislation to regulate Marcellus Shale drilling to pass into law at this year's regular legislative session. Perdue, 60, a native of Boone County, said he comes from coal country and the state's first "gold mine" of coal. "Coal is important to West Virginia," he said. "I'm you're treasurer. I would never deny that. But what do we have left of coal today? Thirty to 35 years? It doesn't take long for that to go. When it comes to Marcellus Shale - the next 'gold mine' that God has blessed us with - we're putting the cart before the horse." He noted it was "arguably the most important issue in the state" that the West Virginia Legislature address the issue of Marcellus Shale when members met earlier this year. "At the end, when the bell rang, they weren't there for you," Perdue said. "They walked away. If I'm governor, I'm going to say, 'We're going to stay here until we get those checks and balances in place. We're going to stay here until we protect the people and their rights.'" He said if he had similarly failed to do his job as treasurer, "You would be running me out of office." "Leadership comes from experience," Perdue said. "It comes from someone who understands how to put the checks and balances in place ... and solve the problems for the people of this state. "We have to make sure we do this one right. Big Daddy (the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.) is no longer here to bring millions and millions of dollars from the federal government to help us with our infrastructure and the future of this state. The federal government is broke, bankrupt." West Virginia needs a long-term plan to maintain and improve its infrastructure - including roads, water and sewer lines, and broadband Internet access, Perdue said. And to pay for this, he proposes the state set aside some tax revenues resulting from Marcellus Shale. Addressing other issues, Perdue called for a moratorium on utility rates. He noted "people are struggling to pay utility bills bigger than their car payments." He also suggests a change in the composition of the state Public Utilities Commission. Currently the commission's three members are all Kanawha County residents, Perdue said, and he would like to instead see members representing each of the state's three Congressional districts. Democrats seeking the governor's office in the May 14 special primary election are Perdue, Tomblin, Kessler and Thompson, as well as Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and Charleston resident Arne Moltis. Republicans in the race are former Secretary of State Betty Ireland, current state Sen. Clark Barnes of Randolph County; Delegate Mitch Carmichael, of Jackson County; former Delegate Larry Faircloth of Berkeley County; Putnam County Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia; and businessmen Bill Maloney and Ralph William Clark and Cliff Ellis, all of Monongalia County.

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WSJ.com - House Democrats Say Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids Contain Toxic Ingredients
by william.depaulo＠gmail.com 17 Apr '11

17 Apr '11

*Please note, the sender's email address has not been verified. You have received the following link from william.depaulo(a)gmail.com ******************** If you are having trouble with any of the links in this message, or if the URL's are not appearing as links, please follow the instructions at the bottom of this email. Title: WSJ.com - House Democrats Say Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids Contain Toxic Ingredients This article will be available to non-subscribers of the Online Journal for up to seven days after it is e-mailed. Copy and paste the following into your Web browser to access the sent link: http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMail… Copy and paste the following into your Web browser to SAVE THIS link: http://www.savethis.clickability.com/st/saveThisPopupApp?clickMap=saveFromE… Copy and paste the following into your Web browser to forward this link: http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=forward&etMailT… ******************** Email pages from any Web site you visit - add the EMAIL THIS button to your browser, copy and paste the following into your Web browser: http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=browserButtons&…" ********************* Instructions: ----------------------------------------- If your e-mail program doesn't recognize Web addresses: 1. With your mouse, highlight the Web Address above. Be sure to highlight the entire Web address, even if it spans more than one line in your email. 2. Select Copy from the Edit menu at the top of your screen. 3. Launch your Web browser. 4. Paste the address into your Web browser by selecting Paste from the Edit menu. 5. Click Go or press Enter or Return on your keyboard. ********************

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Fwd: Huge Clean Air Victory -- TVA Phasing Out 18 Coal Plants
by James Kotcon 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

>>> Oliver Bernstein <oliver.bernstein(a)SIERRACLUB.ORG> 4/14/2011 11:50 AM >>> *HUGE news! Congrats to everyone who worked so hard on this.* http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=203101.0 For Immediate Release – April 14, 2011 Contacts: Shannon Andrea, National Parks Conservation Association, 202.365.5912 Tiffany Schauer, Our Children's Earth Foundation, 415.596.5576 Oliver Bernstein, Sierra Club, 512.477.2152 *Blockbuster Agreement Takes 18 Dirty TVA Coal-Fired Power Plant Units Offline;* * * *Southeastern U.S. Takes Huge Step to Slash Air Pollution Thanks to Pressure from Environmental Groups, State and Federal Officials* CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board of directors approved a landmark agreement today with three citizen groups, four states and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), marking one of the largest pollution reduction agreements in the nation’s history. This agreement requires TVA to phase out 18 units at dirty, coal-fired power plants and install modern pollution controls on three dozen additional units, thanks to more than 11 years of pressure from environmental groups, Southeastern states and the EPA. The blockbuster agreement – which includes the affected states of Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee – represents the largest ever reduction in air pollution in the Southeastern United States. This agreement permanently retires an unprecedented 2,700 megawatts of dirty coal-fired electricity and will drastically reduce TVA’s emissions of dangerous sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and carbon pollution. Clean Air Task Force estimates that coal-fired power plants in the region cause more than 1,800 premature deaths and more than 2,400 heart attacks each year in the four-state region, and are a major source of area air pollution woes. TVA’s coal plants are also responsible for visibility problems and acid rain damage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country's most visited national park. "For decades, the Smoky Mountains has suffered from a slow motion crisis," said *Don Barger, senior regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association*. "Air pollution from TVA’s coal-fired power plants has degraded scenic vistas, damaged plant species, and impaired human health. Today’s settlement halts that trend and sends us in the right direction." The settlement, approved today in conjunction with TVA charting out a new course as laid out in its new 10-year Resource Plan, represents a welcome change in focus for the federally owned utility. Under the agreement, TVA will modernize its aging infrastructure, invest in clean energy and slash its pollution. Specifically the settlement agreement requires TVA to reduce pollution at its 59 coal-fired power generating units, phasing out 18 of those units no later than 2018. This phase-out represents a major victory for clean air and public health, with 10 units at TVA’s Johnsonville Plant in middle Tennessee to be taken offline, along with two units at the John Sevier Fossil Plant in eastern Tennessee and six units at the Widows Creek Fossil Plant in northern Alabama. The John Sevier Fossil Plant and Widows Creek Fossil Plant are some of the oldest units in the TVA system, dating back to the early 1950's, and have never upgraded with modern pollution controls. In addition, the agreement also requires TVA to invest $350 million in the four states of Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee on additional air pollution-reduction projects over the next five years, including funds to help consumers and business cut their energy bills, support local businesses that are creating jobs in local clean energy projects and cut carbon pollution. "There is a demonstrated link between pollution and asthma in children," said *Tiffany Schauer, Executive Director of Our Children's Earth Foundation *. "Thanks to today's action, every family in Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee can breathe a little easier." This agreement resolves a series of legal challenges against TVA brought by the environmental groups and the four states. The legal actions stemmed from allegations that TVA had unlawfully extended the life of its coal plants without installing modern pollution controls, otherwise known as the New Source Review program. "Today's landmark agreement is a game changer for how we power our homes and businesses in the Southeast, said *Mary Anne Hitt, Director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign."* By phasing out the most dangerous coal plants and charting a course focused on less pollution and more clean energy, TVA is demonstrating that we don’t have to choose between clean air and affordable energy – we can and must have both." The plaintiff groups – National Parks Conservation Association, Our Children's Earth Foundation and the Sierra Club – are represented by George Hays, William Moore, Wade Davies, Reed Zars, and Mike Costa. For a copy of the settlement agreement please contact Oliver.Bernstein(a)sierraclub.org. ### -- Oliver Bernstein National Communications Strategist Sierra Club Phone: 512.477.2152 Cell: 512.289.8618 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/

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all WV reps sign on to coal ash bill
by Grubb, Karen 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

McKinley Introduces Coal Ash Legislation with Bipartisan, Cross-Industry Support Apr 7, 2011 Issues: Economy and Jobs<http://mckinley.house.gov/issue/economy>, Energy<http://mckinley.house.gov/issue/energy> McKinley Introduces Coal Ash Legislation with Bipartisan, Cross-Industry Support Freshman lawmaker aims to strip EPA power to regulate coal ash as hazardous Washington, DC - Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV) introduced legislation (H.R. 1391) late Wednesday evening that would prohibit the EPA from moving forward with plans to classify fossil fuel combustion waste, also known as coal ash or fly ash, as a hazardous waste under subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Regulating coal ash, which is recycled into dry wall and concrete and widely used in schools, homes and public buildings such as the one housing EPA itself, as a hazardous waste would trigger a large increase in disposal expenses for coal-fired power plants and other coal ash generators, likely increasing energy costs for manufacturers and consumers. Ten Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee - including Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Chairman Emeritus and senior Republican on the committee - and three Democrats signed on as original co-sponsors of H.R. 1391<http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/D?d112,d111:1:./temp/~bdQ2Id:dbs=y:…>. West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall is one of those Democrats, and Reps. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Bob Gibbs of southeast Ohio are also among the original co-sponsors. A broad cross-section of companies and organizations representing various industries have also endorsed the bill (see below). In a floor speech Thursday, McKinley discussed the economic harm that would be caused if the EPA's plans on coal ash are not stopped. For video of McKinley's speech as delivered, click here<http://www.youtube.com/user/RepMcKinley?feature=mhum>. "Fly ash is an unavoidable byproduct of burning coal to produce electricity, and the EPA has repeatedly studied and approved its beneficial use prior to President Obama," McKinley said. "Not only would the EPA's plan reduce demand for coal - by design to be sure - but it would also increase costs for dozens of industries, having a ripple effect that would ultimately destroy jobs and raise electricity prices. Recycled fly ash helps to keep electric generation costs down which in turn keeps electricity affordable for consumers. If the EPA persists with its plans to designate fly ash as a hazardous material, the expense of handling the material will increase logarithmically and so will our energy prices. Why would this administration want to increase the cost of electricity on our senior citizens, hospitals, schools and working families? By increasing the cost of power, it causes the price of producing American-made products to increase and puts America at a severe disadvantage against our foreign competition. President Obama's relentless 'War on Coal' has now expanded to include the many industries and consumers that depend on coal. It's critical that we stop the EPA now, and that's why I'm proud to introduce this bill with bipartisan support." McKinley's legislation has been referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill is similar to one of McKinley's amendments, #217, to the long-term continuing resolution passed by the House in February. The amendment overwhelmingly passed the House<http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll136.xml>, with 19 Democrats in support. Organizations and companies supporting McKinley's legislation include: American Coal Ash Association AEP First Energy Allegheny Power National Rural Electric Cooperative Association National Mining Association American Public Power American Municipal Power American Road & Transportation Builders Association Citizens for Recycling First National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Ash Grove Resources ASK Chemicals Beneficial Reuse Management Boral Material Technologies CERATECH, Inc. Charah, Inc. Clayton Engineering and Consulting, LLC DC Goss LLC Electric Energy, Inc Essex Cement LLC Full Circle Solutions Gypsoil, LLC Headwaters Resources Intermountain Power Agency John Ward Inc. LB Industrial Systems Muscatine Power & Water National Gypsum Company Phoenix Cement Company PMI Ash Technologies Public Service of New Hampshire Richard W. Goodwin Environmental Engineering Rosenmerkel Engineering SEFA Group Separation Technologies LLC Southern Illinois Power Cooperative Sphere One, Inc. Taulbee Chemical Consulting, LLC Titan America LLC USC Technologies U.S. Minerals, Inc.

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Fw: Lawsuits challenge waste dumping by gas drillers
by Frank Young 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

BlankTrying again.- Frank -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 13, 2011 Lawsuits challenge waste dumping by gas drillers By Ken Ward Jr. The Charleston Gazette CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal judge in Wheeling this week issued a temporary restraining order against Chesapeake Energy in one of three pending cases that challenge widespread waste-dumping practices of northern West Virginia's growing natural gas industry. U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp blocked Chesapeake from hauling contaminated soil out of a waste pit it built on a Wetzel County couple's property while the couple pursues its demand for a more comprehensive cleanup plan. Larry and Jana Rine allege that Chesapeake unlawfully disposed of drilling wastes in the pit, then buried it and planned to leave it on a 210-acre property the Rines use as a part-time home and hunting camp at Silver Hill, east of New Martinsville. Now, they allege, the company is using repair of a slip on its well pad as an excuse to haul away the wastes and potentially cover up what was really dumped into the pit. Preliminary testing found the soil contained diesel fuel, benzene and a variety of other contaminants, court records show. Complete article at: http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201104131039?page=1

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Fwd: Studies Say Natural Gas Has Its Own Environmental Problems (Attn: T. Boone
by James Kotcon 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

Energy Committee: As I think about this, I believe that this Cornell study adds weight to our call for a moratorium on drilling Marcellus until adequate regulations are in place. The quote from Dave Hawkins of NRDC in the article below emphasizes that this is only one study (although NRDC has a reputation for trying to find business-friendly solutions) and the gas industry simply does not recognize this as a problem. What is becoming clear is that the amount of gas that leaks during fracking is substantial, that capturing at least part of that gas is technically possible and may be profitable, and that the states with the strongest air regs require the equipment that will significantly reduce the air emissions. Since West Virginia has no air regs on gas drilling at all, and negligible regs on compressors, pipelines, tanks, etc., we are in a worst-case situation. Hence, a conservative, prudent, reasonable, and scientifically-defensible approach is to put a moratorium on new well permits until we identify the kinds of regulations needed to protect the environment, and this should include requirements for appropriate pollution control equipment to limit air emissions using the Best Available Control Technologies. Jim Kotcon On 4/12/11, Edward Mainland <emainland(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/business/energy-environment/ > 12gas.html?_r=1&ref=business > > April 11, 2011 > Studies Say Natural Gas Has Its Own Environmental Problems > By TOM ZELLER Jr. > New York Times > > Natural gas, with its reputation as a linchpin in the effort to wean > the nation off dirtier fossil fuels and reduce global warming, may not > be as clean over all as its proponents say. > > Even as natural gas production in the United States increases and > Washington gives it a warm embrace as a crucial component of America’s > energy future, two coming studies try to poke holes in the > clean-and-green reputation of natural gas. They suggest that the rush > to develop the nation’s vast, unconventional sources of natural gas is > logistically impractical and likely to do more to heat up the planet > than mining and burning coal. > > The problem, the studies suggest, is that planet-warming methane, the > chief component of natural gas, is escaping into the atmosphere in far > larger quantities than previously thought, with as much as 7.9 percent > of it puffing out from shale gas wells, intentionally vented or flared, > or seeping from loose pipe fittings along gas distribution lines. This > offsets natural gas’s most important advantage as an energy source: it > burns cleaner than other fossil fuels and releases lower carbon dioxide > emissions. > > “The old dogma of natural gas being better than coal in terms of > greenhouse gas emissions gets stated over and over without > qualification,” said Robert Howarth, a professor of ecology and > environmental biology at Cornell University and the lead author of one > of the studies. Mr. Howarth said his analysis, which looked > specifically at methane leakage rates in unconventional shale gas > development, was among the first of its kind and that much more > research was needed. > > “I don’t think this is the end of the story,” said Mr. Howarth, who is > an opponent of growing gas development in western New York. “I think > this is just the beginning of the story, and before governments and the > industry push ahead on gas development, at the very least we ought to > do a better job of making measurements.” > > The findings, which will be published this week, are certain to stir > debate. For much of the last decade, the natural gas industry has > carefully cultivated a green reputation, often with the help of > environmental groups that embrace the resource as a clean-burning > “bridge fuel” to a renewable energy future. The industry argues that it > has vastly reduced the amount of fugitive methane with new technologies > and upgraded pipe fittings and other equipment. > > Mark D. Whitley, a senior vice president for engineering and technology > with Range Resources, a gas drilling company with operations in several > regions of the country, said the losses suggested by Mr. Howarth’s > study were simply too high. > > “These are huge numbers,” he said. “That the industry would let what > amounts to trillions of cubic feet of gas get away from us doesn’t make > any sense. That’s not the business that we’re in.” > > Natural gas is already the principal source of heat in half of American > households. Advocates like the former oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens have > also long sought to promote it as a substitute for coal in electricity > generation or gasoline in a new generation of natural gas cars. And the > development of new ways to tap reserves of natural gas means production > is likely to increase sharply. > > Two weeks ago, President Obama included natural gas in his vision for > America. Clark Stevens, a White House spokesman, said that the > administration’s energy priorities were not about picking one energy > source over another, but about diversifying the nation’s energy mix. > “This process will continue to be based on the best science available > to ensure our energy sources, including our nation’s natural gas > reserves, are developed safely and responsibly,” Mr. Stevens said on > Friday. > > The ability to pull natural gas economically from previously > inaccessible formations deep underground has made huge quantities of > the resource available in wide areas of the country, including Texas, > Louisiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Wyoming and Colorado. > > Such unconventional gas production accounts for nearly a quarter of > total production in the United States, according to the latest figures > from the Energy Information Administration. That is expected to reach > 45 percent by 2035. > > But the cleanliness of natural gas is largely based on its lower carbon > dioxide emissions when burned. It emits roughly half the amount of > carbon dioxide as coal and about 30 percent that of oil. > > Less clear, largely because no one has bothered to look, are the > emissions over its entire production life cycle — that is, from the > moment a well is plumbed to the point at which the gas is used. > > Methane leaks have long been a concern because while methane dissipates > in the atmosphere more quickly than carbon dioxide, it is far more > efficient at trapping heat. Recent evidence has suggested that the > amount of leakage has been underestimated. A report in January by the > nonprofit journalism organization ProPublica, for example, noted that > the Environmental Protection Agency had recently doubled its estimates > for the amount of methane that is vented or lost from natural gas > distribution lines. > > Chris Tucker, a spokesman for Energy in Depth, a coalition of > independent oil and natural gas producers, dismissed Mr. Howarth as an > advocate who is opposed to hydraulic-fracturing or “fracking,” a > practice associated with unconventional gas development involving the > high-pressure injection of water, sand and chemicals deep underground > to break up shale formations and release gas deposits. Mr. Howarth said > his credentials as a scientist spoke for themselves. > > Mr. Howarth included methane losses associated with flow-back and > drill-out processes in hydraulic fracturing and other unconventional > gas drilling techniques. > > The study combined these emissions with studies of other methane losses > along the processing and distribution cycle to arrive at an estimated > total methane loss range from 3.6 to 7.9 percent for the shale gas > industry. > > The researchers include a recent study from the Goddard Institute for > Space Studies at NASA suggesting that an interaction of methane with > certain aerosol particles significantly amplifies methane’s already > potent greenhouse gas effects, particularly over a 20-year time > horizon. When all is factored together, Mr. Howarth and his colleagues > conclude that the greenhouse gas footprint of shale gas can be as much > as 20 percent greater than, and perhaps twice as high as, coal per unit > of energy. > > David Hughes, a geoscientist and research fellow at the Post Carbon > Institute, an energy and climate research organization in California, > used Mr. Howarth’s research as part of a broader look at natural gas as > a substitute for coal in electricity generation and oil in > transportation. > > Mr. Hughes’s full report is scheduled to be released in May, but in a > draft version shared with The New York Times, Mr. Hughes suggested that > while natural gas would play an important role in the nation’s energy > mix, both cases were practical impossibilities. > > “I think it’s going to be very challenging, to put it mildly, to ramp > up shale gas production by fourfold, which is the federal government’s > projection for 2035,” Mr. Hughes said. “I’m not saying it can’t be > done, but if it was done, the amount of drilling you’re looking at to > make that happen is staggering.” > > Mr. Hughes, using Mr. Howarth’s calculations, also concludes that > replacing coal with natural gas for base load electricity production > will most likely make greenhouse gas emissions worse. It would be > better, he argues, to improve energy efficiency, rely on natural gas in > niche vehicle markets and balance continued construction of wind and > solar power to produce electricity. > > David Hawkins, the director of climate programs with the Natural > Resources Defense Council, said that much could be done by regulators > to nudge drillers to capture more of the fugitive methane, but that it > is often more economical for industry to simply let it escape. > > Mr. Hawkins also said that too little was known about just how much > methane was being lost and vented, and that studies like Mr. Howarth’s, > while needed, relied on too slim a data set to be considered the final > word. > > “This is a huge and growing industry, and we just don’t have the > information we need to make sure that this resource is being developed > as cleanly as it can be,” Mr. Hawkins said. > > “We view his shining a flashlight into this dark closet to be a > service,” Mr. Hawkins added, “but the flashlight is still a dim one, > and we still can’t see everything in the closet.” > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Fw: ANNOUNCEMENT: small grant application now available
by pjgrunt＠gmail.com 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

Fyi, Paul Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Verena Owen <verena_owen(a)PRODIGY.NET> Sender: "Announcements from the National Coal Campaign team." <COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG> Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:58:23 To: <COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG> Reply-To: Verena Owen <verena_owen(a)PRODIGY.NET> Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT: small grant application now available Below please find the new application form for the Beyond Coal Campaign's small grant program. There is money still available. Verena Owen ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ BEYOND COAL SMALL GRANT Small grant money is available at two levels: up to $5000 and up to $10,000 to Sierra Club entities: chapters, groups or ad hoc teams, to work on Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign priorities: 1. Stop construction of new coal-fired power plants (incl. coal-to-liquid and coal-to-gas) 2. Replace 500 existing coal-fired power plants with clean energy no later than 2030 3. Keep the massive US coal reserves underground and out of world markets Preference will be given to creative projects that cover a geographical or content area where the Beyond Coal Campaign has not put enough resources yet. We are looking especially for ideas that enable Club activists to work on the Club-wide strategies: 1. Confront the dominance of coal and oil on the American economy, politics, and our environment. 2. Cultivate an activist base that is capable and willing both to take action at the Sierra Club’s behest and also to self-organize within their networks. 3. Build powerful alliances with those communities that have a vested interest in the success of a clean energy economy, including clean-tech businesses and entrepreneurs, people of color groups, organized labor and low-income organizations. Reimbursement will be directly to Chapters; reimbursable items are limited to C3 and non-staff time expenses. There is no deadline for applying. All projects must have prior Chapter approval. Please fill out the below application and send to Judy.Hofrichter(a)sierraclub.org NAME OF PROJECT AND CHAPTER: WHO: is applying: name of entity; names, email, phone number of team member(s) WHAT : do you want to do: Briefly first describe the problem and what you want to see happen and then share your project idea. Show how the project can help achieve your outcome. HOW : How will your project further the goals of the Beyond Coal Campaign? How will you use some the Club strategies outlined above? WHEN : Please give a start date, important milestones, and an end date. HOW MUCH: What is your budget and what will the money be spent on? Does your budget cover the entire project or please list who will cosponsoring it. You will be required to use a budget template. If you apply for the second level of funding, up to $10,000, you will also be required to develop an MOU and a work plan. REPORT: A written, video and/or oral report or reports will be required. Please identify the responsible person. Name, email, telephone. ALL materials produced (fact sheets, post cards, t-shirts, etc) for a project MUST HAVE C3 approval from Sierra Club compliance prior to distribution. Please identify the person responsible: Name, email, telephone Note that HELP is available for the asking, contact Judy Hofrichter . Once an application is accepted as complete, a decision takes 2-4 weeks. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

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Rockefeller needs thank you
by Jim Sconyers 12 Apr '11

12 Apr '11

Forwarded from WV Sierra Club webpage <below>. Senator Rockefeller voted right - to continue to enable the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases. Please call and thank him. 202-224-6472 "Senator" Manchin voted wrong - to take away the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gases. Please call and let him know you are disappointed that he feels burning West Virginia coal is more important than protecting the health of all humans and the future of the Planet. 202-224-3954 "Our Senator Rockefeller voted against removing the power from the EPA to regulate Greenhouse gases. I believe this is a time we need to call and thank him for taking this action, and remember our other senator who voted to take this power away from the EPA." Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last.

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Fwd: Clean Energy Webinar Invite
by Paul Wilson 08 Apr '11

08 Apr '11

fyi, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Verena Owen <verena_owen(a)prodigy.net> Date: Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 9:00 PM Subject: Clean Energy Webinar Invite To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)lists.sierraclub.org Friends, We hope you can join us for our first Beyond Coal Webinar on Monday, April 11 at 8 PM ET /7 CT/ 5 MT/ 5 PT. Members of the Beyond Coal Campaign's leadership team will present how the Campaign is working to replace coal with clean energy and energy efficiency. There will be an overview, a presentation and time for Q and A. You need to register in advance and space is limited! Please go here to reserve your seat: *https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/530765040* After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. PRESENTERS: Mary Anne Hitt, Director, National Coal Campaign. Vanessa Pierce, Deputy Director, Beyond Coal Campaign Verena Owen, Volunteer co-lead Dick Fiddler, coal leadership team member TECHNICAL ISSUES: First time Webinar participants: Don't worry, this is easy! Please log into the webinar 5-10 minutes before the call to ensure that you are able to see the presentation when we begin. In testing the system, we found that Google Chrome required some additional effort. We recommend logging in using Firefox or Internet Explorer. Finally, if you are unable to get the technology to work, you can simply join the conference call and follow the presentation manually. We will send out the call-in number shortly before the call. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer See you Monday, Mary Anne, Vanessa, Verena and Dick - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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Fwd: Explore Appalachia's Enchanted Flatlands.....
by James Kotcon 01 Apr '11

01 Apr '11

You will want to open the photo too! JBK >>> Jeff Schmidt <jeff.schmidt(a)sierraclub.org> 4/1/2011 12:47 PM >>> Happy April Fool’s Day!! Exploring Appalachia's Enchanted Flatlands April 1, 2012 Photo: Alice McKeown Trip Number: 124001a Price: $4,111 (12-15) Deposit: $400 Capacity: 15 Leader: Don Blankenship Highlights: · Explosions · Toxic rubble · Buried streams · Monster trucks & exhaust Includes: · Guides, cooks, lobbyists, and all equipment for the ride · Ride in stretch Hummer · Non-local, factory-farmed food Itinerary | Accommodations | Equipment | References | Leader The Trip Photo: Alice McKeown This exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime foray will take you into the ripped-open heart of some of the most recently exposed scenery in Appalachia. Your friendly trip leader will provide nonstop tutorials on the hidden beauty (and intense profitability) of a once-lush mountain that's just been blown to smithereens. In your two days amid the magnificent rubble, you will experience the awesome silence of a newly buried stream. Gaze in disbelief as a toxic rainbow slick dances atop a sun-dappled waste pond. Playfully dive for cover as a herd of monster coal trucks rumbles past. And then, just when you think you've seen it all, witness the wonder of an explosion lofting ancient and precious forest habitat into the bright Kentucky sky. The shockwave will reverberate forever in your soul. Up to Top Itinerary Day 1: We meet you at the airport in our special stretch Hummer and travel directly to the site of a thriving mountaintop-removal coal mine. The drive itself is often a thrill as we plow through a line of hippie protestors at the gate. Some of them are pretty smelly, so keep those windows rolled up! Once inside, no lollygagging. We immediately don our hazmat suits and wade into the waste pond, a rich stew of heavy (we prefer "precious") metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and selenium. The day ends with a long, hot shower and scrub-down in our relaxing decontamination chamber. Day 2: We journey to the site of a stream that's been forever preserved beneath the rich overburden produced by ripping apart pristine forest habitat. It's not an arduous journey, because such waterways abound: more than 2,000 miles of degraded streams in Appalachia alone! Many people weep with joy at the sight of this cornucopia of environmental destruction. Getting There The trip begins with pick-up from Frankfort, KY. The leader will provide guidance and contact information for a recommended travel agent who can arrange flights from your home city once you are approved for the trip. Up to Top Accommodations and Food Photo: Alice McKeown Double-occupancy rooms are included with the trip. Our hotel features rooms with private baths, hot showers, and decontamination facilities. It's centrally located within walking distance of formerly hilly terrain. Up to Top Trip Difficulty If you're not much of a hiker, don't worry: All mountainous terrain has been repurposed and horizontally optimized for retail and commercial development. Up to Top Equipment and Clothing A detailed equipment list will be sent to approved trip participants. Hazmat suit will be provided, but you will need to bring your own waterproof and chemical-resistant footwear as we will be fording some seriously degraded waterways. Up to Top References Books: The following books should give you a feel for what the trek will be like. Your local library is also a good resource. a.. Barton, Joe, Cry, the Beloved Mountaintop Removal b.. Donahue, Tom, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Guide to Winning Friends and Influencing Politicians c.. Gingrich, Newt, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Mercury in My Water Maps a.. Available at any service station. Be sure not to get a topographical map -- it will be out-of-date after the first dynamite blast. Conservation Coal is not yet critically endangered in America, but failure to destroy the mountain habitats that shelter it could lead to its extinction. Already, many majestic old-economy power plants on which coal depends have been shut down because they were unable to adapt to clean-energy standards. Coal extraction is also seriously threatened by clean-water standards, public-health concerns, and common sense. Up to Top Trip Price This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader. See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner. The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

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EC April 2011