$5 billion of the stimulus bill was to weatherize low-income houses. A year later, only 8% of the funds have been disbursed. Many states have met less than 2% of their goals, saving little energy and employing few people. A Energy Department report blamed bureaucratic delays and the recession itself.
Archive for February, 2010
Hiring freezes hamper weatherization plan
Friday, February 26th, 2010U.S. offers solar project a crucial loan guarantee
Friday, February 26th, 2010Just a few days after the Obama administration gave loan guarantees to two nuclear plants in Georgia, it has done the same for a solar plant in California. The guarantee is contingent on the project getting all the needed approvals. Critics want the project moved due to environmental concerns.
Leaving the trash behind
Friday, February 26th, 2010It’s widely known that airplanes spew out a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. Less well known is that airlines generate 7.5 million pounds of trash daily; 75% could be recycled, but only 20% is. Some airports have recycling programs, but each one is different. Read the details in the article.
Utility executives like nuclear power. Climate science, not so much.
Friday, February 19th, 2010A survey of 329 utility company executives, managers and engineers found that most of them were skeptical of climate change, uncertain about the future, and in favor of nuclear energy. It’s not surprising that 70% of the utility industry leaders oppose the climate bill passed in the House, and more than 75% think there’s a future for coal-fired power plants. Nor is it surprising that 52% say the U.S. can’t affort to cap greenhouse emissions, and 44% don’t believe global warming is caused by humans. What is surprising is that only 7 % don’t believe that the planet is getting warmer.
The hidden costs of fossil fuels – and biofuels, too
Friday, February 19th, 2010The National Research Council just reported that the costs of electricity from fossil fuels were $120 billion just on air pollution’s impact on health, not counting the effects of mercury, ecosystem damage, or the climate warming impact of carbon emissions. Natural gas is ‘cheaper’ than coal; ethanol’s hidden costs are similar to coal’s. Cars have hidden costs of $56 billion in damages.
Global weirding is here
Thursday, February 18th, 2010Thomas Friedman writes in the New York Times on “global weirding”, which happens when climates change. Extreme weather events become more common. He wants the climate-science community to meet and publish a simple 50-page report on What we Know, adding the skeptics’ worst errors — and their funding.
Around the redwoods, the fog Is dissipating
Thursday, February 18th, 2010Researchers have found that coastal summer fogs in central California have decreased by about a third since the early 20th century. They don’t attribute the decline directly to climate change, but do suggest that the state’s redwoods, which transpire a lot, may be stressed by lower summer humidity.
Fjords contribute to melting of glaciers
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010Greenland’s glaciers are melting, contributing to a rise in sea levels. What’s more, they are melting faster than before, according to two studies just published. The increase is due to both a warmer atmosphere and a warmer ocean, which melts the glaciers from below. Fjords apur rising sea-levels.
Race is on to develop green, clean technology
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010This New York Times analysis from Davos stresses the importance of developing greener technology, which will reshape the world economy. The winner will dominate that economy, and reap most of the jobs it creates. Its sobering conclusion: “Climate change has become a theater of geopolitical competition.”
China surges past competitors in clean energy technology
Friday, February 12th, 2010China is eating our lunch when it comes to renewable energy technology. If we don’t begin investing a lot more in solar and wind energy, the US will end up replacing dependence on Middle East oil with dependence on Chinese renewable technology.