EC

ec@lists.wvsierraclub.org

2254 discussions

from ScienceDaily e-newsletter: West Virginia chemical spill into Elk River contaminating air and water quality
by Paul Wilson 27 Mar '14

27 Mar '14

West Virginia chemical spill into Elk River contaminating air and water quality<http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/AH7…> Posted: 26 Mar 2014 06:20 AM PDT The complexities and implications of the chemical spill into West Virginia's Elk River keep growing, according to a new study. The lack of data motivated researchers to take on essential odor-related research that went beyond their National Science Foundation Rapid Response Research grant to better understand the properties of the chemical mixture called crude 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, the major component in the crude mix of the spilled chemicals into the Elk River. It is used in the separation and cleaning of coal products. -- 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

1 0

an excellent Fracking cartoon at this link
by Paul Wilson 21 Mar '14

21 Mar '14

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/20/1286006/-Cartoon-All-fracked-up?de… -- 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

1 0

Polar vortex and electric grid reliability
by James Kotcon 18 Mar '14

18 Mar '14

An emerging line from the coal industry and coal-friendly politicians is that the recent cold weather has demonstrated the need for more coal-fired power plants. A recent post from Mark Kresowick of the Beyond Coal campaign (se the link to his blog post below) demonstrates that it was actually the inability of coal plants to operate that contributed to the reliability problems, and the answer is More renewables and EE, not less. You may find this evidence useful in future discussions. Enjoy. Jim Kotcon ________________________________ From: Mark Kresowik <mark.kresowik(a)sierraclub.org> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 10:17 AM To: James Kotcon Cc: Bill Price; David Muhly; David W. Sturm; Gary Nelson; Daniel Chiotos; Kim Teplitzky; Seth Long; Zachary Fabish; Jacob Kornfeld Subject: Re: WV TEAM Call-Back to the usual number 866-501-6174 Access code 33907431892 To Jim's question, below is a recent email/blogpost from me. Half of the plants that were offline during the polar vortex were actually coal plants. FERC is holding a technical conference on April 1st on the topic and we'll have someone there. http://www.pjm.com/~/media/documents/reports/20140109-january-2014-cold-wea… https://www.ferc.gov/legal/staff-reports/2014/01-16-14-bulk-power.pdf http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventDetails.aspx?ID=7272&CalType=%20&Cal… It sounds like there have been a lot of questions about the polar vortex and potential reliability problems with coal plants retiring. Senator Murkowski and others have been calling for Senate hearings, and its a major talking point in utility circles right now. To try and dispel some of these myths there is some helpful information below. Many of the reliability issues during cold snaps are actually caused by coal plants tripping offline. From equipment to coal piles freezing, the 2011 blackouts in Texas and this January's blackout in South Carolina were caused by coal plants unable to operate in cold weather. Coal plants are intermittent, clean energy is variable. Wind and solar variations can be forecast and accounted for, not so for coal and nuclear plants when they shut down abruptly. The other major problem in some regions is gas plants unable to actually get gas because its being used for heating. One solution there is simple: reduce the amount of gas needed. Whatever the problem is for a particular region, the solutions - including those that worked most effectively in the Mid-Atlantic - are actually more energy efficiency, demand response, wind, and solar, not keeping clunker coal plants around. I wrote a blog about this for the Sustainable FERC Project two weeks ago, you can read it here: http://sustainableferc.org/polar-vortex-shows-we-need-more-efficiency-wind-…. We'll try to share some additional information about this topic as it develops, but its actually pretty much the only thing our colleagues at the FERC Project have written about for the last month, so check out the other two blog entries on that site. -- Mark Kresowik Eastern Region Deputy Director Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign mark.kresowik(a)sierraclub.org<mailto:mark.kresowik@sierraclub.org> 202-675-7914 (o) 319-621-7393 (c) 50 F St NW Eighth Floor Washington, DC 20001

1 1

MIT Researchers Ready Renewable Energy Storage Technology
by Duane 12 Mar '14

12 Mar '14

http://ecowatch.com/2014/03/10/bill-gates-backed-mit-researchers-ready-to-c… MIT Researchers Ready Renewable Energy Storage Technology By Brandon Baker, EcoWatch.com, March 10, 2014 A group of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say that liquid metals could provide the solution to a solar energy challenge—ensuring that the power is available at all times. The researchers are working on commercializing liquid-metal batteries that can store energy for less than $500 per kilowatt-hour. The group launched a startup company, Ambri Inc., and believes it found an alternative to the water systems that comprise about 95 percent of the country’s energy storage capacity. “If we can get liquid-metal batteries down to $500 a kilowatt-hour, we’ll change the world,” Donald Sadoway, chief scientific adviser at Ambri, told Bloomberg. MIT researcher Donald Sadoway says a new storage technology could change renewable energy. Video screenshot credit: Ambri Inc. That figure—about one-third the cost of some battery technologies—would enable wind and solar project developers to bring energy to the grid all times, increasing its reliability, the researchers say. By comparison, AES Corp., the largest operator of power-storage systems, sells its systems to utilities and developers for about $1,000 per kilowatt, according to Bloomberg. The company plans on installing its first two prototypes at a Massachusetts military base and a Hawaii wind farm by this time next year, if not earlier. Of course, it helps to have financial backing from billionaires like Bill Gates and Vinod Khosla. Gates gave the group seed funding back in 2011. Last month, Ambri won a $250,000 grant from New York state to develop and test a prototype battery with Con Edison Inc. “The liquid metal battery technology performs like both a tractor and a race car,” according to Ambri’s website. “It can respond to regulation signals in milliseconds and it can store up to 12 hours of energy and discharge it slowly over time.” Sadoway said he’s not concerned with lithium-ion batteries, deeming them a better fit for cars and portable devices as opposed to the large storage systems that feed the grid. “Lithium-ion plants are too expensive to build and it makes no sense to string a bunch of these tiny things together,” he said. He added that the batteries will be able to be delivered on a truck, instead of the pumped-hydro systems that require a hill, a hydropower plant and a lot of water. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are 23.4 gigawatts of pumped-hydropower capacity in operation, compared to about 304 megawatts of battery storage. “Ours won’t have any geographical constraint,” he said. Sadoway and the researchers founded Ambri in 2010. Visit EcoWatch’s RENEWABLES page for more related news on this topic. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

1 0

Re: [EC] Republicans for EE
by James Kotcon 10 Mar '14

10 Mar '14

FYI: Congressman McKinley co-sponsored this one, and his statement on it is at: http://mckinley.house.gov/press-releases/house-passes-mckinley-bipartisan-e… Another more descriptive article from Bloomberg is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-06/house-passes-energy-efficiency-bil… JBK ________________________________ From: Chuck Wyrostok <wyro(a)appalight.com> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2014 2:01 PM To: 'StacyGloss'; James Kotcon Subject: repubs for EE Does this mean they're against coal consumption??? ~(;>) http://grist.org/climate-energy/house-republicans-just-passed-a-good-enviro… Chuck Wyrostok Outreach Organizer Sierra Club, WV Chapter T: 877 252 0257 E. outreach(a)marcellus-wv.com<mailto:outreach@marcellus-wv.com> www.marcellus-wv.com<http://www.marcellus-wv.com/> Water is Life...Keep It Clean Whenever there is a huge spill of solar energy, it's just called a nice day.....

1 0

FW: AEP proposes Mitchell transfer to Wheeling
by James Kotcon 07 Mar '14

07 Mar '14

FYI. They're Baaaaack! JBK ________________________________ From: James Kotcon Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 8:58 AM To: Mark Kresowik; Daniel Chiotos Cc: Zachary Fabish; kim.teplitzky(a)sierraclub.org; Bill Price; David Muhly; David Sturm; Seth Long; Gary Nelson; Jacob Kornfeld Subject: RE: AEP proposes Mitchell transfer to Wheeling Nice catch. The Mitchell transfer was not mentioned in other news articles about the rate increase. JBK ________________________________ From: Mark Kresowik <mark.kresowik(a)sierraclub.org> Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 6:42 AM To: Daniel Chiotos Cc: Zachary Fabish; kim.teplitzky(a)sierraclub.org; Bill Price; David Muhly; David Sturm; James Kotcon; Seth Long; Gary Nelson; Jacob Kornfeld Subject: AEP proposes Mitchell transfer to Wheeling They're coming back at it, this time proposing a transfer just to Wheeling so they don't need VA approval. http://www.statejournal.com/story/24884039/appalachian-power-wheeling-power… On Mar 6, 2014 9:40 AM, "Daniel Chiotos" <daniel.chiotos(a)gmail.com<mailto:daniel.chiotos@gmail.com>> wrote: Just to check, any expectation of a) when the WV Supreme Court will issue an opinion and b) when FirstEnergy would then submit their energy efficiency plan? http://wvmetronews.com/2014/03/05/supreme-court-hears-dispute-over-harrison… -- Cheers, Danny Chiotos 304-886-3389 (c) 304-535-8150 (h) 1603 W Washington St Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

1 0

FW: Coming to Morgantown! Energy Efficiency for Commercial & Government Buildings Workshop
by Frank Young 27 Feb '14

27 Feb '14

_____ From: Angela Shock [mailto:Angela.Shock@mail.wvu.edu] Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2014 12:06 PM To: Angela Shock Subject: Coming to Morgantown! Energy Efficiency for Commercial & Government Buildings Workshop Coming to Morgantown, March 25, 2014! Workshop on Energy Efficiency Best Practices for Commercial & Government Buildings Where: WVU Alumni Center Time: 8:30am-4:30pm Sponsored by: Industries of the Future-WV, WVU Industrial Assessment Center and the West Virginia Division of Energy Registration: $30 (Lunch and coffee breaks provided) Who should attend: Building Managers, Operators, and Maintenance Personnel <http://www.iofwv.nrcce.wvu.edu/news/articles/2014/Buildings%20Save%20the%20 Date.pdf> Conference Information and Agenda <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/energy-efficiency-in-commercial-government-bui ldings-morgantown-tickets-10530847047> Conference Registration <http://www.iofwv.nrcce.wvu.edu/news/articles/2014/INSTRUCTOR%20BIOGRAPHIES. pdf> Instructor Information Angela Shock Program Coordinator Industries of the Future-WV National Research Center for Coal and Energy P.O. Box 6064 Morgantown, WV 26506-6064 304-293-6520 Direct 304-293-7150 Main 304-293-3749 Fax

1 0

Fwd: [Coal Volunteers List] Join us FRIDAY: "Briefing on New Sierra Club Poll of West Virginians on Water Pollution and Coal Industry"
by Paul Wilson 27 Feb '14

27 Feb '14

fyi, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Becki Clayborn <becki.clayborn(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 3:10 PM Subject: [Coal Volunteers List] Join us FRIDAY: "Briefing on New Sierra Club Poll of West Virginians on Water Pollution and Coal Industry" To: #Coal <coal-list(a)sierraclub.org>, #Coal-Volunteers < coal-volunteers-list(a)sierraclub.org> Briefing on New Sierra Club Poll of West Virginians on Water Pollution and Coal Industry Join us on FRIDAY February 28th at 2:30pm ET / 1:30pm CT / 12:30pm MT / 11:30pm PT Earlier this week, the Sierra Club released the results of a new poll of West Virginia voters measuring their opinions on clean air and water safeguards in the wake of last month's coal chemical spill in the Elk River. The poll revealed new findings that show that West Virginians think the spill is a "wakeup call" that the state needs stronger protections and better enforcement to protect air, water and public health. This briefing will discuss the new Hart Research Associates poll of West Virginia voters following last month's chemical spill. Polling experts will be available to answer questions about the poll methodology, results and implications for federal actions to protect the nation's waterways. <https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/689583975> WHO: Mary Anne Hitt, Director, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Jay Campbell, Senior Vice President, Hart Research Associates Grace McRae, Senior Polling and Research Strategist, Sierra Club Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/689583975 *Title:* Briefing on New Sierra Club Poll of West Virginians on Water Pollution and Coal Industry *Date:* Friday, February 28, 2014 *Time:* 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM CST After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. *System Requirements* PC-based attendees Required: Windows(R) 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Mac(R)-based attendees Required: Mac OS(R) X 10.6 or newer Mobile attendees Required: iPhone(R), iPad(R), Android(tm) phone or Android tablet -- ***Represented by John Muir Local 100*** Becki Clayborn Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Internal Capacities and Communications Coordinator Chicago, IL 312-251-1680 x123 630-881-3480 (cell) -- To access the Beyond Coal Campaign Resource Portal, go to: https://sites.google.com/a/sierraclub.org/beyond-coal-resource-portal/ To sign up for this list, email becki.clayborn(a)sierraclub.org with the subject and message "SUBSCRIBE #coal-volunteer" --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "#Coal-Volunteers" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coal-volunteers-list+unsubscribe(a)sierraclub.org. To post to this group, send email to coal-volunteers-list(a)sierraclub.org. -- 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

1 0

FW: U.S. Electricity Use is Declining and Energy Efficiency May be a Significant Factor
by James Kotcon 26 Feb '14

26 Feb '14

FYI. JBK ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jennifer Miller <jen.miller(a)sierraclub.org<mailto:jen.miller@sierraclub.org>> Date: Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 10:58 AM Subject: Fwd: U.S. Electricity Use is Declining and Energy Efficiency May be a Significant Factor To: CONS-FRED(a)lists.sierraclub.org<mailto:CONS-FRED@lists.sierraclub.org> "Most significant causes for decline in energy use in the US were energy efficiency programs and policies, warmer weather, changes in gross domestic product (GDP), and changes in electricity prices." [logo] NEWS RELEASE Media Contact: Patrick Kiker pkiker(a)aceee.org<mailto:pkiker@aceee.org> 202.507.4043<tel:202.507.4043> U.S. Electricity Use is Declining and Energy Efficiency May be a Significant Factor U.S. electricity sales peaked in 2007 and have been declining modestly since then. Sales in 2012 were 1.9% lower than 2007 sales, and sales in the first ten months of 2013 are below the same period in 2012. While the economic recession is an obvious explanation for the decline in sales in 2008 and 2009, it is much less clear why sales have continued to decline since then, even as the economy began to recover. While some observers have attributed this stalled growth to the ongoing effects of the "Great Recession," other observers suggest other factors may have played a role, such as erosion of manufacturing, more efficient buildings, lighting and appliances and increased use of on-site generation. ACEEE has just completed an analysis on electricity-use trends since 1993 and we looked at changes in sales over the 2007-2012 period in particular. We found that no single factor can explain the change in electricity use over the 1993-2012 period. The factors that appear most significant were energy efficiency programs and policies, warmer weather, changes in gross domestic product (GDP), changes in electricity prices, and long-term trends... To continue reading the blog post visit: http://aceee.org/blog/2014/02/us-electricity-use-declining-and-ener<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Juzlrl_YxM-aafPC76ksrCCPdYowh_4IqVy8Qf-iozlx…> To read the white paper visit: http://aceee.org/white-paper/low-electricity-growth<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Juzlrl_YxM-PDagP0bJNc9dY2IH2fVvPhq1MNSsBs5Di…> About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org<http://aceee.org/> . ### . Forward email<http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=4rt7cun6&m=1011065179711&ea=j…> [http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/SafeUnsubscribe_Footer_Logo_N…]<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001QKZ15G27mHOwq-0UltPLdE0e-…> This email was sent to jen.miller(a)sierraclub.org<mailto:jen.miller@sierraclub.org> by aceeenews(a)aceee.org<mailto:aceeenews@aceee.org> | Update Profile/Email Address<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&mse=001QKZ15G27mHOwq-0UltPLdE0e-…> | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001QKZ15G27mHOwq-0UltPLdE0e-…>(tm) | Privacy Policy<http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp>. ACEEE | 529 14th Street., N.W. | Suite 600 | Washington | DC | 20045

1 0

FW: Famous Potatoes Considering giving EPA the Heave-Ho
by James Kotcon 21 Feb '14

21 Feb '14

Hope you enjoy the story below from Idaho. I particularly enjoyed the comment from our Arizona Chapter lobbyist at the end. Jim Kotcon ---------- Forwarded message ---------- On 2/20/2014 4:07 PM, Anne Woiwode wrote: --------------------------- cc:Mail Users----------------------------- ** Remember to DELETE the 'Sender: ...' lines above before REPLYing ** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Zack -- I sure hope you are enjoying your tenure in the statehouse in Idaho!! http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/20/3312831/idaho-nullifying-epa-re… Idaho Bill Would Get Rid Of All EPA Regulations In The State<http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/20/3312831/idaho-nullifying-epa-re…> By Katie Valentine<http://thinkprogress.org/person/kvalentine/>[http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/themes/tp4/images/bird_blue_16.png]<https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=KatieRValentine> on February 20, 2014 at 3:07 pm An Idaho lawmaker is seeking to strip the EPA of its authority in the state, enabling the Gem State to be free of all EPA regulations other than those approved by Congress. A new bill<http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2014/H0473.htm>, introduced by Idaho Rep. Paul Shepherd (R-Riggins), declares that the EPA’s regulatory authority is unconstitutional and violate’s the U.S. Constitution’s “true meaning and intent as given by the founders and ratifiers.” For that reason, if the bill was passed, the the EPA’s authority would “not be recognized by this state, is specifically rejected by this state and shall be considered null and void and of no force and effect in this state.” The bill was introduced in response to complaints from some Idaho gold dredgers, who have said<http://magicvalley.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/gold-miners-ask-state-t…> a new Clean Water Act permitting system in the state qualifies as federal overreach. Under the system, which operates similarly to a fishing licence, the rock and sand sucked up by dredgers and expelled back into the river are classified as pollutants. Dredging, even at a small scale, can lead to increased erosion<http://rogueriverkeeper.org/what-we-do/hot-topics/impacts-of-suction-dredgi…> in a stream and can alter habitat for fish and other aquatic life. But though the bill was in response to the dredgers’ complaints, Shepherd made it clear that it wasn’t just the Clean Water Act provision he was looking to sack. “It appears the EPA bureaucracy has an agenda in its interpretation of what pollution is,” he said<http://lmtribune.com/blogs/political_theater/article_84048246-8f58-11e3-af7…>. “They’re saying if you pick up sand with a suction dredge, run it through and dump it back in the water, that’s pollution. It’s pretty much shutting (the dredgers) down. That’s the main thing driving this, but the bill pertains to any regulations not approved by the people.” Shepherd said that the bill would’t nullify any regulations that have been approved by Congress, but Congressional approval isn’t part<http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/basics-regulatory-process> of the EPA’s regulatory process. Lawmakers on the national stage have called before for Congressional oversight on EPA regulations — Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced last month<http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/17/3173161/mcconnell-tactic-revers…> that he wants to force a vote on the EPA’s regulations on coal-fired power plant emissions, and earlier this month, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) announced<http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/10/3272871/ted-cruz-energy/> new legislation that would force Congress to vote on all EPA regulations. But some in Idaho — Republicans included — are questioning<http://lmtribune.com/blogs/political_theater/article_84048246-8f58-11e3-af7…> whether Shepherd’s bill will really make a difference in the state. “How does it protect miners from the federal government imposing a fine (for a pollution discharge), since that process can go through federal court?” Rep. Lynn Luker asked<http://lmtribune.com/blogs/political_theater/article_84048246-8f58-11e3-af7…>. “I’m struggling to see how, in practical terms, this will protect our businesses.” Idaho isn’t the first to introduce a bill seeking to nullify EPA regulations. Last month, 37 Arizona lawmakers<http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/arizona-state-lawmakers-want-to-nulli…> went further than Shepherd, introducing a bill<http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/51leg/2r/bills/sr1003p.pdf> that would nullify all EPA regulations in the state. That bill relies<http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/196898-arizona-bill-wo…> on the reasoning that the Tenth Amendment overrides federal environmental regulations. -- Anne Woiwode, State Director, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter<http://www.michigan.sierraclub.org/> 109 E. Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906 anne.woiwode(a)sierraclub.org<mailto:anne.woiwode@sierraclub.org> office: 517-484-2372 x 11<tel:517-484-2372%20x%2011> Support the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter<https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=6760&6760.dona…> - protecting, exploring and enjoying Michigan since 1967 ________________________________________________________________ Sandy Bahr sandy.bahr(a)sierraclub.org 5:49 PM (23 hours ago) [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif] [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif] [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif] to CONS-FRED [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif] I was glad to see that AZ got proper recognition at the end of the article. We did put the AZ in crazy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-FRED list, send any message to: CONS-FRED-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG<mailto:CONS-FRED-signoff-request@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

1 0

Jump to page:

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

EC