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Archive for the ‘Global Warming’ Category

The Other Coal Deaths

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 9, 2010 |

A guest column by Ted Nace of CoalSwarm:

Every day in the United States, on average, 65 people die due to particulates from coal plants. On average, each of these deaths represents 14 years of lost life.

These 65 deaths happen day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. They come in the form of heart attacks, asthma attacks, and respiratory problems.

The problem is that banal phrase: “on average.” There is never a dramatic explosion to point to, no television crew interviewing families. Just a grinding toll of anoymous suffering — 65 human beings, 65 families.

Anger begs for a villain. Our sense of justice needs an arrogant, crude, villain in a mustache. Yet the executives who operate the 600 coal plants that do the killing are smooth, personable, well spoken.

The old coal plants that do the killing could all be shut down using well-demonstrated efficiency programs and commercially available renewable alternatives. (more…)

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Climatology vs Meteorology

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 7, 2010 |

The words sound similar, but are they? Here are the definitions from Webster:

Climatology: the science that deals with climates and their phenomena

Meteorology: a science that deals with the atmosphere and its phenomena and especially with weather and weather forecasting

So even their definitions seem similar, at least on the surface. But as Stephen Colbert points out in this great segment, though Astronomy and Astrology might seem similar as well, they are quite different. Likewise with climatology and meteorology there are important differences that must be clearly understood if man-made global warming is going to be addressed.

Both are defined as “science” and both have schools and degrees associated with them. In truth, however, most of the people we call meteorologists are not scientists. They are news anchors with no advanced degrees of any kind, merely an undergraduate degree in journalism. Take John Coleman for example – the founder of the Weather Channel and much-touted global warming denier. He has no advanced degree of any kind. He is a journalist. Yet, for some reason, his opinion is considered by the general public, and particularly certain information outlets such as Fox News, to be on par with climatologists who have multiple doctorate degrees.

Most meteorologists the general public knows about are simply newscasters, not scientists. They don’t have any greater understanding of climatology than say, me for example. And trying to equate meteorology to climatology is as inappropriate as attempting to equate weather to climate (as many global warming deniers tried to do this past winter with their Snowpocalypse propaganda). Though weather can be affected by climate they are certainly not the same, and certainly need to have any relating trends proven over a multi-year period. If we want information and science, lets stick with the actual scientists and not a bunch of yahoo pundits looking to glorify their position.

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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Texas’ New Technology Implementation Grant Application Period Upcoming

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 6, 2010 |

Have you really really been wanting to get a flywheel energy storage (FES) project going, but were short a million or two?  The window of opportunity to apply for your share of the $3 million available for the New Technology Implementation Grant (NTIG) Program will be opening soon. Now’s your time to shine!

The idea behind the program is to incentive new technology that uses renewable energy and reduces emissions, specifically regulated pollutants from point sources. Ideal applicants would be would be electricity storage projects related to renewable energy like Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), pumped hydropower, sodium sulfur storage batteries, and flywheels — but really any new technology that reduces emissions will qualify! This is by no means free money though, it is a rebate and you must be able to match grant funds with a little moola of your own.

Applicants will have 3 opportunities to cast their line at the big grant fish. After the first go-round, if all of the money has not been granted out to renewable energy storage technologies, advanced clean energy projects (cough cough, clean coal) will have an opportunity to apply. After that application period, if there is any money left, the grant will once again be open to energy storage projects. And next year, they’ll do the whole thing all over again!

The grant is the result of hard-won legislation passed in the spring of 2009.  The original legislation put the pool of money at $10 million, but that amount was cut significantly due to Governor Perry’s attempts to balance the budget out. We’re pretty sad that the Guv cut funds from this program to encourage both Emerging and Advanced technologies, but it certainly wasn’t up to us.  Hopefully Texas entrepreneurs will be able to do well with what is available, and we’ll see new technology supported and significant emissions reductions as a result.

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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Texas Progressive Alliance

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 5, 2010 |

The Texas Progressive Alliance welcomes the start of the new baseball season with another highlight reel of the week’s political activity.

Off the Kuff looked at how voting returns changed in Texas from 2004 to 2008 in the Presidential and judicial races.

Aruba Petroleum: The Epic Fail of the Barnett Shale. Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS now brings you 55 posts to document this failure of epic proportions.

Marshmallow Peeps make sweeping endorsements of Democrats on The Texas Cloverleaf.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wonders why Republicans and Republican suck ups act like bleeping thugs? New Perry appointee, Nueces County DA Jimenez, threw out the board certified attorneys to bring in her cronies and HD 76 rep Norma Chávez is channeling Karl Rove.

The last chapter (?) in the sad saga of Stay Bailey Hutchison is read aloud by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.

Sure April Fools Day is over, but this was funny enough to share again. Sarah Palin to Replace Michael Steele as Chair of the GOP. Bay Area Houston continues to be full of wit.

This week on Left of College Station, Teddy takes a first look at the Bryan mayoral candidates, and this week he will be taking a look at the candidates for College Station City Council Place 2 and Bryan City Council Single Member District 3. Left of College Station also covers the week in headlines.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the GOP’s latest posturing and states that it’s time for Gov. Perry and the Texas GOP to put up or shut up.

Neil at Texas Liberal wrote about undersea volcanoes in the Gulf of Mexico that shoot out asphalt. Who knew?

WhosPlayin says animal welfare actvists in North Texas are claiming a victory in their fight against puppy mills: After months of weekly picketing by Texans Exposing Petland, the Lewisville, Texas Petland store is closing down.

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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The Decarbonization of America

Posted in Coal, Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , , on April 5, 2010 |

New federal statistics indicate the decarbonization of our nation is starting to happen.  Wind power is on the rise, big time; rooftop solar is coming down in price and large scale utility solar is beginning to be considered.

In 2008, 19,000 megawatts of new generating capacity went online. Around 8,300 megawatts of that were from wind and only 1,600 from coal with much of the rest from natural gas. Over the next few years, utilities are planning to put 27,000 megawatts of capacity on line, only 5,000 of which is coal — and 11,000 of which is wind power.

If solar (both distributed and large scale utility generation) gets a foothold combined with storage in the next several years and we pursue energy efficiency efforts agressively, we could dramatically reduce the need for the development of new fossil fuel generation.

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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Offshore Drilling: Obama’s Black Whale

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , on April 2, 2010 |

Editor’s note: Normally we don’t stray into the political implications of public policy, but after Patrick wrote this  response to President Obama’s new drilling policy we felt it was too interesting to keep to ourselves. So here’s a try at something new: Commentary and Opinion from Patrick Reck.

Wednesday’s announcement by President Obama to expand offshore oil drilling and gas exploration is devastating, especially for a Yankee like myself. I grew up cherishing my yearly family vacations to Ocean City, Maryland and Virginia Beach. Pristine memories of balcony breakfasts at sunrise, pirate mini-golf, and running with kites flying so high that you wonder if the sky is as endless as the sea.

Now, I get waves of nausea thinking that in 10 or 15 years, children will walk down those same beaches and gaze out, not at the brilliance of the colors in the sky and the mystery of where the horizon meets the sun, but at a row of tiny metal cranes, stooping down low to suck black blood out of the Atlantic.

Hopefully the ocean will still evoke profound wonder in developing minds, but will it be the fascination of Copernicus or the madness of Ahab?

“The white whale tasks me; he heaps me. Yet he is but a mask. ‘Tis the thing behind the mask I chiefly hate; the malignant thing that has plagued mankind since time began; the thing that maws and mutilates our race, not killing us outright but letting us live on, with half a heart and half a lung.” (more…)

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They Came From Climate Change

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , on April 2, 2010 |

A report by the National Wildlife Federation warns climate change would spur fire ant invasion as well as allow tiger mosquitoes and other harmful or invasive species to spread farther across the U.S.  There is even the potential for us to see ticks that spread Lyme disease expanding their range, cheatgrass fueling more wildfires and poison ivy causing more rashes in the not too distant future.

Check out the video “They Came From Climate Change”:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odof7-s65XQ&feature=player_embedded]

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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Get to Know an Activist: Melissa Sanchez

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , on April 1, 2010 |

Another beautiful spring day and another bright and blooming Public Citizen Texas staffer to fill your screen. Melissa Sanchez is our administrative assistant and the first face you’ll see when you walk into our Austin office. Melissa is a self-proclaimed woman of many hats. She must wear these hats at home because I’ve never seen her wear one while in the office. Although, when she’s trying to beat the masses, she’s got a pair of cheap sunglasses.

Off Broadway and live in Austin, here is her small screen debut:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKtidHmSZkU]

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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“Climategate” Scientists Slip Tea Bagger Noose

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , on March 31, 2010 |

The first British investigation into the supposed “climategate” emails has largely vindicated the scientists involved, including Phil Jones – head scientist of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia. This further proves, as I’ve said all along, that this “Climategate” is just more inane propaganda being forced down the throats of a bewildered and misinformed public. I don’t as much blame the individuals who go on these denier rants as I do the supposed “news” outlets and politicians that encourage and foster such behavior, reaction and mentality.

Anthropogenic Global Warming is real and happening right now. It is likely the largest crisis and challenge our civilization has ever faced. We need to get serious about solving this problem and we need to have started thirty years ago. But I’m sure all this will accomplish is a flurry of propaganda from Fox News, etc. about how the House of Commons is really the mastermind behind some great globe-wide conspiracy to dupe everyone into believing global warming… yadda, yadda, yadda.

Check out the AP article on CBS for more information. Here are some of the the “conclusions and recommendations” from the House of Commons report:

We therefore conclude that there is independent verification, through the use of other methodologies and other sources of data, of the results and conclusions of the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia.

Even if the data that CRU used were not publicly available—which they mostly are—or the methods not published—which they have been—its published results would still be credible: the results from CRU agree with those drawn from other international data sets; in other words, the analyses have been repeated and the conclusions have been verified.

Critics of CRU have suggested that Professor Jones’s use of the word “trick” is evidence that he was part of a conspiracy to hide evidence that did not fit his view that recent global warming is predominately caused by human activity. The balance of evidence patently fails to support this view. It appears to be a colloquialism for a “neat” method of handling data.

Critics of CRU have suggested that Professor Jones’s use of the words “hide the decline” is evidence that he was part of a conspiracy to hide evidence that did not fit his view that recent global warming is predominantly caused by human activity. That he has published papers—including a paper in Nature—dealing with this aspect of the science clearly refutes this allegation. In our view, it was shorthand for the practice of discarding data known to be erroneous. We expect that this is a matter the Scientific Appraisal Panel will address.

The evidence that we have seen does not suggest that Professor Jones was trying to subvert the peer review process. Academics should not be criticised for making informal comments on academic papers. The Independent Climate Change Email Review should look in detail at all of these claims.

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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Corpus Christi Residents Can Breathe a Short, but Clean, Sigh of Relief

Posted in Coal, Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 30, 2010 |

This week the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality received a recommendation from two administrative judges denying the air permit for the proposed Las Brisas Energy Center in Corpus Christi.  The decision is a ray of hope in the battle to prevent the petcoke plant from showering the citizens of Corpus Christi with harmful pollutants including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and lead.

Set to be built in the Inner Harbor of Corpus Christi, the petroleum coke-fired power plant would cost nearly $3 billion.

Petcoke piles along the ship channel in Corpus Christi

The recommendation was issued following two weeks of testimony and nearly two months of private deliberation between the judges.  Reasons for their decision against the permit were that the company:

  • failed to perform analysis on maximum achievable control technology to be used for its boilers
  • failed to properly account for second emissions
  • failed to properly account for emissions from material handling
  • improperly adjusted the moisture content of the petroleum coke handled at the Port of Corpus Christi in violation of state and federal guidance, resulting in unreliable emissions modeling (more…)

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Get to Know an Activist: Citizen Sarah

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , , on March 29, 2010 |

Have you ever wondered, “who is that citizensarah who writes so many engaging and informative articles on Texas Vox?”

Well, today is your lucky day because I had a chance to temporarily slow down our queen blogging bee to ask her a few questions and learn about all the other things she does at Public Citizen. Take a spring break and enjoy this web of honey-comb goodness.

(Watch out: we may have another super hero on our hands.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_A26g8bCYA]

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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Party In The Dark During Earth Hour

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , , , , on March 26, 2010 |

Worried about your environmental impact? This Saturday, March 27th at 8:30pm is your chance to participate with millions of people around the world during Earth Hour.

“What do I have to do?” Simply turn off the lights for one hour.

During this hour we can universally flip the switch on dirty air, foreign oil, and the impact that we have on climate change. This is a chance where we can all work together and have a positive impact while protecting not only our future but the future of the Earth.

“What am I going to do in the dark for an hour?” I am glad you asked. Here are some simple ideas:

  1. Invite your friends over for an Earth Hour Party
  2. Have a candlelight dinner with your family
  3. Set up camp in your home and share scary stories
  4. Meditate – the calmness is the perfect environment for meditation
  5. Take a walk under the moonlight
  6. Gaze at the stars

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5WYlqD8mR0&feature=player_embedded]

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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Licensing Board to Hear Oral Arguments on STP Application April 7th in Bay City, TX.

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , on March 26, 2010 |

An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) panel will hear oral argument regarding a hearing in the South Texas Project Combined License (COL) proceeding on April 7 in Bay City, Texas. The ASLB is the independent body within the NRC that presides over hearings where the public can challenge proposed licensing and enforcement actions. (more…)

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NRG’s investment in STP contributes to stock downgrade

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , on March 26, 2010 |

According to the Wall Street Journal, Citigroup has downgraded shares of NRG Energy (NRG) to “Hold” from “Buy” and cut price targets to $25 from $27 on the stocks. Shares of NRG today are off 34 cents, or 1.6%, at $20.83.

Citigroup analyst Brian Chin warns that NRG’s investment in the South Texas Plant (STP) nuclear power plant expansion continues to consume resources without a clear indication from the U.S. Department of Energy that they will receive a loan guarantee for the plant, impacting investor enthusiasm.

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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Increasing Attacks Against Science

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , on March 22, 2010 |

Ya’ll have heard of the “climategate” and other recent, escalating attacks against global warming science, and the scientists behind it. Though these attacks are getting more frequent and belligerent in nature some people are fighting back with cool heads and cold hard facts. Deniers rely on misinformation and cherry picking so much that they have made it into a new art form, but the truth is a hard thing to ultimately dodge.

Here’s the latest “Climate Crock of the Week” from Peter Sinclair. His video series is fantastic and probably one of the best resources out there for getting the down-low on the latest nonsense being spouted by FOX news or their affiliated denier zealots. He breaks down the denier myths and even uses their own references against them – showing everyone what the real science says.

Check it out, and check out his YouTube Channel for the rest of his videos. His blog can be seen here. He has also just started a video series called “Renewable Energy Solution of the Month” as a partner series to his “Climate Crocks” for some alternative, solutions-oriented messaging. Check them all out!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp-iB6jwjUc&feature=digest]

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By promoting cleaner energy, cleaner government, and cleaner air for all Texans, we hope to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper. We are Public Citizen Texas.

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