What the Frack? Natural Gas from Subterranean Shale Promises U.S. Energy Independence--With Environmental Costs [Slide Show]: Scientific American: "Ultimately, however, shale gas extraction—and the hydraulic fracturing that goes with it—will have to be done right. 'If something comes out that you're poisoning the population, it's going to be a very bad thing,' Ireland notes.
The EPA anticipates finishing its latest study of the practice by 2012. 'Six months ago, nobody knew that facilities like this would be spewing benzene,' Tillman notes. 'Someone could come in here and look at us and say, 'You know what? They've sacrificed you. You've been sacrificed for the good of the shale.''"
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Energy Star program is under fire - MarketWatch
Energy Star program is under fire - MarketWatch: "To test the Energy Star program, the GAO created fake products, including a gas-powered alarm clock and an air cleaner that was actually a space heater with a feather duster and fly strips taped to it.
The Energy Star program approved both products, thus revealing the program's lax standards and controls, the GAO said."
The Energy Star program approved both products, thus revealing the program's lax standards and controls, the GAO said."
Fuel Economy Drives Auto Industry Mergers | BNET Auto Blog | BNET
Fuel Economy Drives Auto Industry Mergers BNET Auto Blog BNET: "A recent survey of 200 top auto industry executives about the future of the car industry by consulting firm KPMG found that 72.5% felt that merger & acquisitions activity is going to increase in the next five years. That’s up 25% from just two years ago, when under half of executives polled felt that way. The same poll found that 94% felt that MPG was going to be the most important business driver in the coming years."
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Report: Clean tech investment set to soar 35 per cent this year - 30 Mar 2010 - BusinessGreen.com
Report: Clean tech investment set to soar 35 per cent this year - 30 Mar 2010 - BusinessGreen.com: "A report earlier this year by the Cleantech Group suggested that while venture capital investment in clean tech firms fell 33 per cent last year to $5.64bn (£3.76bn), the sector fared better than many other industries and has overtaken biotech and IT as the largest venture capital investment categories."
Outlook brightens as solar industry reports record 2009 - 31 Mar 2010 - BusinessGreen.com
Outlook brightens as solar industry reports record 2009 - 31 Mar 2010 - BusinessGreen.com: "The trade association said that global installed capacity grew by 6.4GW to a total of 20GW last year, as the sector rode out the economic downturn."
UN suspends latest carbon credit verification firms - 30 Mar 2010 - BusinessGreen.com
UN suspends latest carbon credit verification firms - 30 Mar 2010 - BusinessGreen.com: "The UN's carbon offsetting scheme has become mired in yet more controversy after the panel overseeing the initiative suspended its third auditor in 15 months.
The executive board in charge of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) last week suspended Germany's TUEV SUED and also partially suspended Korea Energy Management Corporation, after spot checks undertaken at their offices revealed procedural breaches."
The executive board in charge of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) last week suspended Germany's TUEV SUED and also partially suspended Korea Energy Management Corporation, after spot checks undertaken at their offices revealed procedural breaches."
Air quality co-benefits should be considered in climate policies on Environmental Expert
Air quality co-benefits should be considered in climate policies on Environmental Expert: "In addition, there are barriers to including air quality co-benefits in international policy regimes. Countries may adopt divergent priorities on climate change and air quality. For example, developing countries might value avoided climatic damage as a co-benefit of their pursuit of air quality improvement, while developed countries might focus on climate impacts directly, with improved air quality as an ancillary benefit.
The study highlights a number of advantages to considering air quality in climate change debates. Firstly, including air-quality co-benefits reduces the cost of climate policy for wider society. Also, improved health through better air quality is more evident on a local, near-term level than climate change, which tends to be regarded by many as a long-term, future issue with many uncertainties. This integrated approach could be used to engage stakeholders who are reluctant to pay for mitigation actions or who are unmotivated to avoid climate damage. For example, developing countries might have stronger incentives to participate in international agreements when air quality co-benefits are included with climate benefits. Accommodating diverse preferences about whether to prioritise climatic or air quality benefits will require a high degree of flexibility in the international climate regime."
The study highlights a number of advantages to considering air quality in climate change debates. Firstly, including air-quality co-benefits reduces the cost of climate policy for wider society. Also, improved health through better air quality is more evident on a local, near-term level than climate change, which tends to be regarded by many as a long-term, future issue with many uncertainties. This integrated approach could be used to engage stakeholders who are reluctant to pay for mitigation actions or who are unmotivated to avoid climate damage. For example, developing countries might have stronger incentives to participate in international agreements when air quality co-benefits are included with climate benefits. Accommodating diverse preferences about whether to prioritise climatic or air quality benefits will require a high degree of flexibility in the international climate regime."
US confirms delays to EPA emission crackdown - 30 Mar 2010 - BusinessGreen.com
US confirms delays to EPA emission crackdown - 30 Mar 2010 - BusinessGreen.com: "The agency confirmed yesterday that the new permitting requirements would not come into effect until January 2011."
Home of the Future: Solar Roof, Batteries Included | BNET Energy Blog | BNET
Home of the Future: Solar Roof, Batteries Included BNET Energy Blog BNET: "Every solar installer I’ve spoken with agrees that including solar panels in the home reduces the overall cost for solar, with estimates ranging from about 20 to 30 percent of the price. That’s taken not from the cost of the solar panel, but from what’s charged for installation, which typically comes to about half the end cost of adding solar to existing homes."
Why Is Google Building a Free Broadband Network? | BNET Technology Blog | BNET
Why Is Google Building a Free Broadband Network? BNET Technology Blog BNET: "Just this week, the House Internet Subcomittee took its first glance at the FCC’s proposal for free national WiFi, carried on a slice of free radio spectrum vacated by TV; public consciousness of the plan is growing."
Monday, March 29, 2010
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