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Archive of Environment on Thursday October 29, 2009
TX: West Texas town recasts itself as wind-power hub
ROSCOE, Texas -- The dust has barely settled since this month's completion of the world's largest wind farm here, but the shoots of a "green" economy are already emerging among the cotton fields that have long been the staple of this West Texas rural community. Read More
AK: Allen gets 3 years in prison, $750,000 fine
As some of his family dabbed tears from their eyes, Bill Allen, a one-time Alaskan of the Year and employer of thousands of Alaskans, at last stood before a judge to face his punishment Wednesday. Read More
AZ: Land-sale proceeds use questioned
Lawyers are seeking to prevent the use of state-trust land sales to fund the State Land Department, saying it represents an unconstitutional taking of money designated for schools. Read More
CO: Ritter says Xcel exceeded solar expectations with new renewable plan
Xcel Energy Tuesday released an ambitious plan to achieve the state-mandated Colorado Renewable Energy Standard (RES) of 20 percent of the utility's energy base load from renewable sources by 2020. Read More
DE: State's auto industry plugs in to the future
Working-class Delaware came out in force Tuesday to celebrate Fisker Automotive's plans to buy the vacant Boxwood Road plant near Newport and return the state to the business of building cars, potentially creating thousands of jobs in the process. Read More
DE: Federal loan to fund Wilmington solar power project
The city of Wilmington is receiving a low- or-no-interest loan from the federal government to undertake a project that will use solar energy to power the municipal complex on Wilmington Avenue. Read More
DE: Sludge recycler closes facility
A long-troubled Wilmington sludge recycling operation has shut down, a move that could add millions to regional wastewater treatment costs and chew up precious northern Delaware landfill space. Read More
FL: Cash cow or curse? Drilling experts offer familiar promises, warnings
Offshore drilling would bring 20,000 new jobs and $2 billion a year to Florida, or it would doom a $60-billion-a-year industry that draws millions of tourists to Florida's pristine beaches. Read More
GA: Congressmen urge governors to work on settling tri-state water feud
WASHINGTON -- With the clock ticking toward a court-imposed deadline in the tri-state water wars, members of Congress are growing increasingly frustrated -- and concerned -- that the governors of Georgia, Alabama and Florida aren't working quickly enough toward a settlement in the case. Read More
ID: Soon, 'smart meters' will blanket Valley
The era of the meter reader is coming to a swift end in the Treasure Valley. Read More
ID: Mine company eyes exploratory drilling in SE Idaho
POCATELLO, Idaho — A Canadian company is seeking permission to conduct some exploratory drilling in phosphate reserves located in two roadless areas in southeastern Idaho. Read More
IL: Illinois farmers more environmentally friendly
A new study released Wednesday by the Illinois Department of Agriculture found 49.9 percent of Illinois cropland was farmed with a conservation tillage system in 2009. Read More
KS: Transmission line project critical to Kansas wind future, governor says
Kansas has the potential to produce up to 10,000 megawatts of wind power, but for that to happen the state needs transmission lines. Read More
ME: PUC doubts $1.5B line upgrade
Maine can have a reliable power grid for substantially less money, and with far fewer transmission towers and substations, than the $1.5 billion project Central Maine Power Co. is proposing, Public Utilities Commission staff has concluded. Read More
NC: NC governor declares I-40 rock slide an emergency
Gov. Bev Perdue on Wednesday declared the Interstate 40 rock slide an emergency in the hope of getting the federal government to pick up the repair bill. Read More
ND: Spring storm costs top $78 million
Gov. John Hoeven says the cost of temporary levees, debris removal and other repairs from last spring's storms and flooding in North Dakota has topped $78 million and he's asked the White House to reimburse 90 percent of the costs. Read More
ND: ND is now 4th biggest oil-producing state
North Dakota has surpassed Louisiana as the fourth-largest oil-producing state in the nation, the U.S. Energy Department says. Read More
NE: Resolution on Niobrara River waits in limbo
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission announced a plan Wednesday for advancing a three-year effort to protect flows in the Niobrara River for fish, wildlife and recreation. Read More
NH: NH House kills home heating date change bill
New Hampshire's House has killed a bill that would have shortened the time fuel dealers have to offer pre-buy contracts. Read More
NH: N.H. lead program stymied
The number of lead inspections done by the state could be cut in half, after two of four state inspectors were laid off from the state's childhood lead poisoning prevention program. Read More
NV: Reid announces grant to modernize energy grid
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has announced Nevada will receive a $138 million stimulus grant to modernize the electric power and natural gas delivery systems in the Silver State. Read More
NY: PCB dredging stops for now
FORT EDWARD, N.Y. -- Reports on five months of cleanup on Hudson River due before work is expected to resume in 2011. Read More
OH: Ohio universities focusing on advanced energy
The state is asking eight Ohio universities to share their knowledge about advanced energy in an effort to help the state emerge as a world leader in the field and create a "green-collar" work force, officials announced Wednesday. Read More
OH: Ohioans get new forest in Vinton County
In a $15.1 million deal many years in the making, Ohio will tap state, federal and private dollars to buy the state's largest tract of privately owned forest. Read More
OH: Fluorescent-bulb effort will be voluntary, utility says
Consumers would no longer have to participate in an Ohio utility's program that effectively forced them to buy overpriced energy-efficient light bulbs, under a revamped proposal the company presented to state regulators yesterday. Read More
OR: Killer foam -- Was it a freak event or a warning?
A simple organism that killed thousands of seabirds in Oregon and Washington has stunned scientists who are combing through clues in hopes of unraveling its mystery. Read More
OR: Second chance for Willamette Falls Locks, an Oregon treasure
WEST LINN -- As workers prepared to replace the biggest gate of the Willamette Falls Locks this month, Congress approved more than $900,000 to keep the 136-year-old facility open. Read More
OR: Court backs those who protested salvage logging after Biscuit fire
People against logging old growth forests won an Oregon Court of Appeals ruling Wednesday that struck down a state law on grounds it treats an environmental dispute differently. Read More
PA: Pa. museum seeks funds to pay to build mastodon exhibit
Can't find the right holiday present for that special someone? Read More
SD: Missouri River group to discuss purposes for dams
An association of states and tribes along the Missouri River meets Thursday and Friday in Fort Pierre, and one discussion topic is an old law. Read More
SD: State becoming more energy efficient
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- South Dakota moved from 47th to 36th in this year's American Council for Energy Efficiency Economy survey, and Public Utilities Commission Chairman Dusty Johnson says it's a validation of state policy the last couple of years. Read More
US: EPA finds manganese threat at 2 schools
Regulators have found high levels of neurotoxic manganese in the air outside two schools in Ohio and West Virginia, the latest results of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to check for chemicals outside schools across the nation. Read More
VA: Families face ruin dealing with Chinese drywall
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. -- Homeowners in 27 states now complain that the drywall emits a corrosive gas that damages household electrical systems and causes respiratory problems. Read More
WY: Gov -- Wind energy needs same rules as other energy producers
Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Wednesday he hopes the Legislature next year develops some way to get revenues from development of wind resources in the coming decades. Read More
WY: Gov stresses need for wind energy revenue
The Legislature next year should develop a way to generate revenue from wind energy, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said today. Read More |
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