EC December 2015

ec@lists.wvsierraclub.org

5 participants
6 discussions

Fw: [WV Sierra Club Energy Efficiency Leaders] This doesn't really fit into this group, since...
by James Kotcon 17 Dec '15

17 Dec '15

This is important. I am reminded of a story last year when football practice had to be cancelled in Chicago due to high heat in August. When climate change starts to interfere with the WVU Mountaineer football team, we will start to see action on climate change in West Virginia! Jim Kotcon ________________________________ From: Emmett Pepper <notification+zlrdzo1f(a)facebookmail.com> Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 10:12 AM To: WV Sierra Club Energy Efficiency Leaders Subject: [WV Sierra Club Energy Efficiency Leaders] This doesn't really fit into this group, since... Emmett Pepper posted in WV Sierra Club Energy Efficiency Leaders . Emmett Pepper December 17 at 10:12am This doesn't really fit into this group, since this is focused on efficiency, not climate change, but I don't know what the best WV-based climate Facebook group is. Charleston, WV is slated to have the most "danger days" by 2050, due to climate change, according to a report from August comparing 144 cities across the country. I don't remember seeing it in my feed in August, though I may have just not been paying attention. http://grist.org/climate-energy/top-10-cities-facing-the-most-danger-days-d… Top 10 cities facing the most "danger days" due to climate change grist.org Climate change will make danger days a lot more common over the next 15 years. Like Comment Share [https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yk/r/_2faPUZhPI6.png]<https://www.facebook.com/n/?groups%2F273746069448855%2Fpermalink%2F55516804…> Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/n/?groups%2F273746069448855%2Fpermalink%2F55516804…> Emmett Pepper<https://www.facebook.com/n/?emmett.poivre&aref=1450365137249134&medium=emai…> posted in WV Sierra Club Energy Efficiency Leaders<https://www.facebook.com/n/?groups%2F273746069448855%2F&aref=14503651372491…>. [https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-xft1/v/t1.0-1/p100x100/123…]<https://www.facebook.com/emmett.poivre> Emmett Pepper<https://www.facebook.com/emmett.poivre> December 17 at 10:12am This doesn't really fit into this group, since this is focused on efficiency, not climate change, but I don't know what the best WV-based climate Facebook group is. Charleston, WV is slated to have the most "danger days" by 2050, due to climate change, according to a report from August comparing 144 cities across the country. I don't remember seeing it in my feed in August, though I may have just not been paying attention. http://grist.org/climate-energy/top-10-cities-facing-the-most-danger-days-d… [https://fbexternal-a.akamaihd.net/safe_image.php?d=AQCbyEHmnM798uNg&w=158&h…]<http://l.facebook.com/l/rAQGT2xJMAQE2L_RfXhlOpFYhEn7aaiFuYf18j9e58CoTMg/gri…> Top 10 cities facing the most "danger days" due to climate change<http://l.facebook.com/l/QAQECZYHvAQEq6QqzAjFdIQyGv2jZxy9HluusG0Q3suz2Gw/gri…> <http://l.facebook.com/l/QAQECZYHvAQEq6QqzAjFdIQyGv2jZxy9HluusG0Q3suz2Gw/gri…> grist.org Climate change will make danger days a lot more common over the next 15 years. <https://www.facebook.com/n/?email%2Fufi%2Fclick&action=like&target=55516804…> [https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yM/r/aL-TjjYppK9.png] Like<https://www.facebook.com/n/?email%2Fufi%2Fclick&action=like&target=55516804…> <https://www.facebook.com/n/?email%2Fufi%2Fclick&action=comment&target=55516…> [https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yK/r/pydUbhpFodk.png] Comment<https://www.facebook.com/n/?email%2Fufi%2Fclick&action=comment&target=55516…> <https://www.facebook.com/n/?email%2Fufi%2Fclick&action=share&target=5551680…> [https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yU/r/1xTlxxl7Lck.png] Share<https://www.facebook.com/n/?email%2Fufi%2Fclick&action=share&target=5551680…> <https://www.facebook.com/n/?groups%2F273746069448855%2Fpermalink%2F55516804…> <https://www.facebook.com/n/?groups%2F273746069448855%2Fpermalink%2F55516804…> View on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/n/?settings&aref=1450365137249134&medium=email&mid…> <https://www.facebook.com/n/?settings&aref=1450365137249134&medium=email&mid…> Edit Email Settings Reply to this email to comment on this post. This message was sent to jkotcon(a)wvu.edu<mailto:jkotcon@wvu.edu>. If you don't want to receive these emails from Facebook in the future, please unsubscribe<https://www.facebook.com/o.php?k=AS3f6chL3nIXRexi&u=1081364345&mid=52719293…>. Facebook, Inc., Attention: Community Support, Menlo Park, CA 94025 [https://www.facebook.com/email_open_log_pic.php?mid=527192936e09cG40744f79G…]

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Rare earth elements from coal mining waste
by James Kotcon 16 Dec '15

16 Dec '15

FYI. Acid Mine Drainage may be valuable feedstock. JBK See more at: http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2015/12/14/wvu-leads-efforts-to-study-recovery-of… West Virginia could become one of the country's significant sources for rare earth elements, the "vitamins of modern industry," without the expense or environmental cost of opening new mines. Last week, the United States Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, or NETL, selected West Virginia University to conduct a $937,000 research project in support of DOE's program to Recover Rare Earth Elements from Coal and Coal Byproducts. Rare earth elements, or REEs, are chemical elements in Earth's crust that are essential ingredients in modern technologies such as cell phones, rechargeable batteries, DVDs, GPS equipment, medical equipment and many defense applications. Conventional rare earth extraction grinds large volumes of hard rock and removes rare earths through acid extraction. The process is energy intensive, disturbs large areas of pristine land, and generates large volumes of toxic tailings. Because of this and the cost of developing domestic sources, the U.S. imports nearly all of its REEs. There are other methods for obtaining REEs. Some coal-related waste streams are enriched with REEs, sparking interest in evaluation of these wastes as a potential domestic supply. WVU's project, "Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Mine Drainage," brings together academia, state regulators and industry to collaborate on finding a successful recovery technology for total REEs from acid mine drainage, or AMD. Paul Ziemkiewicz, director of the West Virginia Water Research Institute and principal investigator for the project, and co-investigators Xingbo Liu, professor of mechanical engineering, and Aaron Noble, professor of mining engineering, will test different sources of AMD solids and methods for extracting valuable REEs. The team has already identified solids precipitated during treatment of AMD, as an enriched source of REEs, particularly the more valuable, heavy elements. AMD is a waste stream generated by Appalachian coal mining that is created when sulfide minerals in rocks are exposed to air and water. Active coal mines are required to treat this water resulting in the precipitation of AMD solids which must be disposed of. In Pennsylvania and West Virginia alone, it is estimated that AMD generates more than 45,000 tons of total REEs per year or about three times the current U.S. demand for total REEs. The team will work with industry partners Mepco Inc., Consol Energy and Rosebud Mining as well as the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Special Reclamation to not only identify enriched AMD solids but to develop ways to integrate rare earth extraction with their current mine drainage treatment operations. WVU's approach capitalizes on the fact that acid mine drainage is an existing source of acid which extracts rare earths from coal-related rock. As the coal industry treats this acid water to meet regulatory requirements it generates huge volumes of solids which require disposal. "Those solids are our feedstock," Ziemkiewicz said. "And in a sense, it's already pre-processed." Liu and Noble will develop ways to further concentrate REEs so that it can supply the metal refining industry. No new mines will be needed to generate this domestic supply of rare earths, and rejects will be returned to the AMD treatment plant's disposal system requiring a negligible environmental footprint. -

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from ScienceDaily e=newsletter: Fracking plays active role in generating toxic metal wastewater, study finds
by Paul Wilson 16 Dec '15

16 Dec '15

Fracking plays active role in generating toxic metal wastewater, study finds <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151215134653.htm> Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:46 AM PST The production of hazardous wastewater in hydraulic fracturing is assumed to be partly due to chemicals introduced into injected freshwater when it mixes with highly saline brine naturally present in the rock. But a new study investigating the toxic metal barium in fracking wastewater finds that chemical reactions between injected freshwater and the fractured shale itself could play a major role. <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=e40…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=e40…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=e40…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=e40…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=e40…> I posted this on the Marcellus Campaign Facebook page, but think it is important enough to spread around via other lists etc. fyi, paul w. -- Paul Wilson Project Healing Waters Fly-fishing Sierra Club Military Outdoors 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 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 JUSTICE, ONLY JUSTICE, SHALT THOU PURSUE. Deuteronomy 16:20

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from Jim Hightower in Otherwords
by Paul Wilson 09 Dec '15

09 Dec '15

Put This Coal Kingpin in the Stocks Disgraced CEO Don Blankenship won’t serve more than a year for effectively killing 29 of his workers. By Jim Hightower <http://otherwords.org/authors/jim-hightower/> [image: Jim Hightower] <http://otherwords.org/authors/jim-hightower/> Disgraced coal baron Don Blankenship didn’t get what he deserves in his recent federal trial. But he richly deserves what he got. “Guilty <http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151203/GZ15/151209810/1419>,” declared all 12 West Virginia jurors, who convicted this arrogant and avaricious former CEO of Massey Energy of willfully conspiring to violate America’s mine safety laws. As a result of that conspiracy, 29 miners were essentially murdered by the corporation in a horrific explosion deep inside Massey’s Upper Big Branch coal mine back in 2010. Blankenship — a multimillionaire right-wing ideologue, union-buster, and political heavyweight — ran the doomed mine as a lawless operation. This kingpin of King Coal relentlessly put profit over people, recklessly endangering miners. He made Upper Big Branch one of the most dangerous workplaces in the country, [image: Powered by Pollution, an OtherWords cartoon by Khalil Bendib] Powered by Pollution, an OtherWords cartoon by Khalil Bendib But coal is indeed king in West Virginia, where the royals can count on being coddled <http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/09/blankenship-trial-king-coal-wes…>. Thus, Blankenship faces a maximum of just one year in prison. And his diamond-studded legal team intends to have the jury’s unanimous verdict tossed down the dark shaft of judicial favoritism for the rich. What the mining baron deserved was to be put in stocks and subjected to a steady stream of derision from the families of mineworkers who were hurt, sickened, and even killed to haul up coal so Blankenship could live in luxury. He escaped that justice, but he’ll never shake off the guilty judgment of the jurors. The month-long, widely covered trial fully documented the rank immorality of this man and his ill-gotten fortune. Blankenship undoubtedly thinks he got away with murder. But in the court of public opinion, he’s turned his name into a four-letter word. OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker. He’s also the editor of the populist newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown <http://www.hightowerlowdown.org/>, and a member of the Public Citizen board. OtherWords.org <http://otherwords.org/>. Tagged: coal <http://otherwords.org/tag/coal/>, corporate crime <http://otherwords.org/tag/corporate-crime/>, Corporate Greed <http://otherwords.org/tag/corporate-greed/>, Massey coalmine <http://otherwords.org/tag/massey-coalmine/>, West Virginia <http://otherwords.org/tag/west-virginia/>, workplace safety <http://otherwords.org/tag/workplace-safety/> -- Paul Wilson Project Healing Waters Fly-fishing Sierra Club Military Outdoors 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 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 JUSTICE, ONLY JUSTICE, SHALT THOU PURSUE. Deuteronomy 16:20

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Fw: Invitation to Webinar: Energy Efficiency and the Clean Power Plan
by James Kotcon 09 Dec '15

09 Dec '15

I will be at a Marcellus workshop, but ti would be great if someone form the EECT could participatye in this webinar and report back what you learned. Synapse Energy is a consulting firm we have used in some past PSC cases, and they are rapidly gaining a national reputation as the go-to guys for this kind of stuff. It is credible, detailed, and very specific technical information delivered in a format that is easy for lay people like us to use. JBK ________________________________ From: Synapse Energy Economics <messenger(a)webex.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 11:45 AM To: James Kotcon Subject: Invitation to Webinar: Energy Efficiency and the Clean Power Plan [https://synapse-energy.webex.com/ec3000/downloadServlet/emailImage?USID=5a4…] Energy Efficiency and the Clean Power Plan Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 Time: 2 PM EST Duration: 1 hour Energy efficiency is widely recognized as an abundant and low-cost option for complying with the requirements of EPA's Clean Power Plan. Whether states choose a mass-based or a rate-based approach to compliance, energy efficiency should be the primary strategy for complying with the Clean Power Plan.<http://synapse-energy.com/about-us/blog/does-energy-efficiency-have-role-ma…> However, concerns about fairness between customer types-those who participate in programs and see immediate reductions in bills and those who do not-create a barrier to widespread implementation of efficiency programs. Synapse will release a factsheet and accompanying report next week that discuss strategies to increase customer participation, enhancing fairness. [http://www.synapse-energy.com/sites/default/files/synapse-header-logo.png]<http://synapse-energy.com/about-us/blog/does-energy-efficiency-have-role-ma…> Does Energy Efficiency Have a Role in Mass-Based Clean ... Yes, it does. Unfortunately, some confusion persists about how energy efficiency measures can be applied to mass-based compliance within the Clean Power Plan. Read more...<http://synapse-energy.com/about-us/blog/does-energy-efficiency-have-role-ma…> We invite you to join us for a webinar discussing these strategies and how states can leverage funds generated by Clean Power Plan compliance to further implement efficiency. Jennifer Kallay and Kenji Takahashi, Synapse experts on energy efficiency, will present and answer questions from participants. This webinar is free and open to the public. To register for the online event: ------------------------------------------------------- 1. Go to https://synapse-energy.webex.com/synapse-energy/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb66d4e4… 2. Click "Register." 3. On the registration form, enter your information and then click "Submit." Once the host approves your registration, you will receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event. Please note: The webinar software does not support computer audio on Mac computers. If you plan to use a Mac, please call into the conference line provided when you join the event. When calling in to the conference line, please enter the attendee number displayed under the access code. ------------------------------------------------------- For assistance ------------------------------------------------------- You can contact Synapse at: webinar(a)synapse-energy.com

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from ScienceDaily e-newsletter: Benefits and trade-offs of low-carbon energy
by Paul Wilson 02 Dec '15

02 Dec '15

Benefits and trade-offs of low-carbon energy <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151130125019.htm> Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:50 AM PST Policymakers, industry and government officials will have to invest US $2.5 trillion for electricity generation over the next 20 years. A new report presents the environmental costs and benefits linked to different renewable energy sources, and makes one thing abundantly clear: anything is better than coal. <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=V7O…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=V7O…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=V7O…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=V7O…> <http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment?a=V7O…> -- Paul Wilson Project Healing Waters Fly-fishing Sierra Club Military Outdoors 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 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 JUSTICE, ONLY JUSTICE, SHALT THOU PURSUE. Deuteronomy 16:20

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