Center Supports Public Health Insurance Option

Open Letter to President Obama

From Norris McDonald

Please provide America with a public option for people like me Mr. President. The Center supports a public option, but targeted directly to people who cannot get health insurance in the private sector. I have asthma and cannot get private health insurance. A public option would be perfect for people like me. I understand the opposition from people who are happy with their current health insurance. But what about the other 40 million people who are not insured or cannot get health insurance?

America has the best health care system in the world, regardless of comparisons to other countries that do not carry the vast responsibilities and living standards as does the United States. I should have died at least twice when I was intubated in the intensive care unit (ICU), once in 1991 and again in 1996. The American system not only saved my life those two times, but numerous other times when I was on my knees in emergency rooms struggling to get some air into my body. Sometimes with my young son looking on. Yet, even though my son inherited asthma from me as I did from my father, because he is 17, I could get health insurance for him. Of course, there is a $10,000 deductible and it has to be paid before the insurance company will pay the bill. The system is not broken, even though costs for current Medicare and Medicaid need some reform. Tort reform is also needed.

So please Mr. President. Please provide a vehicle for people like me to get health insurance. Such a plan does not have to threaten current insurance policy holders. I hope you will take charge of this issue during your speech on Wednesday. Imagine going into the 2009/10 winter with the H1N1 virus possibly impacting us and not having health insurance.

D.C. Environmental Chief George Hawkins To Lead WASA

George Hawkins, right, Director of the D.C. Department of the Environment and a former official at the Environmental Protection Agency has been hired to be general manager of the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority.

Hawkins, 49, has been Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's point person on environmental issues since shortly after he took office in 2007. The WASA board of directors voted unanimously to hire Hawkins.

Prior to coming to the District, Hawkins was executive director of New Jersey Future, a non-profit organization which, under his leadership, came to be recognized as the state's foremost advocacy group promoting smart growth While there, George worked with Governor Jon Corzine's office to focus development on transit stations and urban areas. Hawkins also previously served as Executive Director of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association and held senior positions with the US Environmental Protection Agency, including Senior Assistant Regional Counsel and Special Assistant to the Regional Administrator. He served Vice President Gore on the National Performance Review, playing an integral role in streamlining and strengthening environmental protection programs at USEPA and OSHA.

George began his career practicing law for the Boston firm Ropes & Gray, and is a member of the Bar in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. George graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1983 and cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1987. Since 1999, George has taught Environmental Law and Policy for the Princeton Environment Institute at Princeton University. George and his wife Tamara have two children.

WASA has an annual operating budget of $360 million. The D.C. Department of the Environment is an $80 million dollar agency with 300 employees. (Wash Post, 9/4/09, DDOE)

Lisa P. Jackson Speaks At Gary, Indiana Rally

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adminstrator Lisa Jackson, right, spoke at a labor/green rally in Gary, Indiana on Tuesday. About 150 people from the manufacturing and environmental communities gathered at McBride Hall, headquarters of United Steelworkers District 7, in support of a clean energy economy and the new jobs that would come with it.

The rally was part of the "Made in America Jobs Tour" organized by the Blue Green Alliance and the Alliance for Climate Protection's "Repower America" campaign. The campaign kicked off Aug. 20 in Cleveland and will travel to 22 states. (photo courtesy: Jeffrey D. Nicholls/Post-Tribune)

The Times of NW Indiana

Gary Post-Tribune

St. Louis Beacon

Cash For Clunkers Replaces 700,000 Gas Guzzlers

The popular 'Cash for Clunkers' program ended its brief run on August 25, and the program is estimated to have removed nearly 700,000 inefficient vehicles from U.S. roads. Officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), the program achieved greater fuel economy gains than originally expected, as consumers chose more fuel-efficient models than were required by the program.

The average fuel economy of the traded-in vehicles, which were crushed, was 15.8 miles per gallon (mpg), while the average fuel economy of the newly purchased vehicles was 24.9 mpg. That's a fuel economy gain of 9.1 mpg, or 58%. (Environmental Expert)

President Obama and Oceans Policy

The Obama Administration is holding and Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting in San Francisco on September 17, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco at Embarcadero Center. This second Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting in San Francisco, California is scheduled for September 17, 2009. The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force is led by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and consists of senior-level officials from Administration agencies, departments, and offices.

The Task Force is charged with developing a recommendation for a national policy that ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes. It will also
recommend a framework for improved stewardship, and effective coastal and marine spatial planning.

Other participants at the San Francisco meetig include: Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Peter Silva, Assistant Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency, Kit Batten, Science Advisor to the Deputy Secretary, Department of Interior, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Herman Shelanski, Director for the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Readiness Division, Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O’Hara, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations

Submit Public Ccomment

The Center participated in an Interagency Task Force on Ocean Policy on coastal community issues that was sponsored by the President's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday, July 24. CEQ and EPA co-chaired the meeting. Four types of groups were invited to this meeting – environmental justice organizations, health organizations, environmental organizations that have a specific focus on coastal community issues, and academics with expertise in coastal issues and included:

African American Environmentalist Association, American Fisheries Society, American Shore and Beach Preservation Association, American Public Health Association, Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM), Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Clean Ocean Action, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, Estuarine Research Center, Gulf Coast Restoration Network, Marine Conservation Biology Institute, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Santa Monica Bay NEP, Trout Unlimited, U of Puerto Rico, Dept of Geography, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

President Obama has issued a Presidential Memorandum that calls for the development of a national ocean policy and implementing strategies. The memorandum will establish an interagency task force that is to recommend within 90 days:

1) A national ocean, coastal and Great Lakes policy that, among other things, protects and maintains these important ecosystems.

2) A structural framework for coordinated implementation of the policy.

In addition, within 180 days the task force is to recommend a mechanism for effective marine spatial planning, which will help prevent "ocean sprawl" -- as more and more proposals are submitted for offshore energy and other developments in the ocean.

America needs a comprehensive national policy to protect our ocean, coasts and Great Lakes today and for future generations. Our oceans are governed by over 140 laws and 20 different agencies, each with different goals and often conflicting mandates. A national oceans policy can provide the coordinated vision we need to successfully tackle these challenges. Like a Clean Water Act for our water, or a Clean Air Act for our air - a national policy for our ocean, coasts and Great Lakes will establish a national framework for reviving these areas so vital to our environment and economy.

In 2003 and 2004, two national commissions, the Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, called for the establishment of a national policy to better protect our nation's valuable ocean, coasts and Great Lakes. President Obama is showing leadership in taking important steps to develop such a policy.

The Center has been a member of the Marine Fish Conservation Network for many years. (NRDC)

Cash For Appliances Program

Beginning late this fall, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating a $300 million Cash For Appliances Program to boost sales of energy-efficient home appliances. The program authorizes rebates of $50 to $200 for purchases of high-efficiency household appliances. The money is part of the broader economic stimulus bill passed earlier this year. Program details will vary by state, and the Energy Dept. has set a deadline of Oct. 15 for states to file formal applications.

DOE expects the bulk of the $300 million to be awarded by the end of November. (Unlike the clunkers auto program, consumers won't have to trade in their old appliances.) The rebates will help families make the transition to more efficient appliances. Only appliances covered by the Energy Star seal will qualify. In 2008, about 55% of newly produced major household appliances met those standards, which are set by the Energy Dept. and Environmental Protection Agency.

The initiative will help such leading appliance makers as Whirlpool of Benton Harbor, Michigan and North American shipments for its Stockholm-based rival Electrolux, and General Electric. ENERGY STAR qualified appliance categories eligible for rebates include: central air conditioners, heat pumps (air source and geothermal), boilers, furnaces (oil and gas), room air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters.

The federal outlay will piggyback on rebate programs for energy-saving appliances that have existed for years in more than 25 states, but which have largely failed to spur demand. The new funding will be awarded to states and territories, through their energy offices, using a formula set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Each state or territory is required to submit a plan that specifies which ENERGY STAR appliance categories will be included in their rebate program, the rebate level for each product type, how the rebates will be processed, and their plan for recycling old appliances. States and territories must first file an initial application expressing their intent to participate by August 15, 2009, followed by a full application by October 15, 2009. States and territories can use these funds to leverage the utility companies and energy efficiency program sponsors in their area. (YahooNews.com-Business Week, 8/24/09, Saving To Invest)

How Do You Calculate MPG For Hybrid & Electric Vehicles?

How do you measure the efficiency of automobiles in terms of gasoline usage as automobiles increasingly rely on multiple fuel sources, or on electricity alone. How do you give consumers accurate information about the financial and environmental costs of driving?

General Motors (GM) says its Chevrolet Volt will get 230 mpg fuel economy in city driving. But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still finalizing rules for how it will measure fuel economy on the Volt or other cars that can be plugged into an electrical outlet, so manufacturers' claims are not official. The 230-mpg figure for the Volt, which will be able to run on both electricity and gasoline, doesn't provide energy equivalent information for the use of electricity. The Volt's mpg claim is also based only on city driving -- a standard that favors electric cars.

According to GM, the Volt's battery, when fully charged, can power trips of about 40 miles. Battery-fueled trips won't use any gasoline, although they will require electricity. Once the battery runs out, the engine begins drawing on gasoline. So drivers who use the Volt only for short trips, relying only on electricity, in theory could enjoy infinite fuel economy. Meanwhile, drivers who routinely use the Volt for long journeys, where gasoline power would be necessary, would see a far lower fuel economy than the 230 mpg advertised.

According to Nissan, its all-electric vehicle, the Leaf, will get 367 mpg. That number, a combined city/highway figure, is based entirely on converting electricity usage into a petroleum equivalent, because the Leaf won't use gasoline at all. Although the mileage number is lofty, it doesn't mean that operating the Leaf will be seven times as efficient as driving a 50-mpg Toyota Prius hybrid, because electricity costs vary by region and even by time of day. It also is more difficult for consumers to calculate their savings, because electricity costs aren't posted at roadside stations like those for gasoline.

Researchers are struggling to determine the best way to calculate a single fuel-efficiency rating for vehicles that rely on both electricity and gasoline. Should the conversion factor be based on how much energy each fuel source produces? On how much petroleum is required? Or on the level of harmful emissions produced?

The Department of Energy has come up with guidelines that draw from several competing approaches. Citing those guidelines, Nissan says 82 kilowatt hours of electricity are the equivalent of one gallon of gasoline for the all-electric Leaf. Using the same standard, the GM Volt's city fuel economy could drop to about 130 mpg, if the car's expected electricity consumption were factored in. (WSJ, 8/26/09, Graphic Courtesy WSJ)

Harold Ford, Jr. on the Climate/ Energy Legislation

HAROLD FORD JR.

Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council

President Obama can pass energy legislation this year, but to do so he needs to absorb four lessons from the health-reform debate.

First, write the bulk of the energy bill with the input of Congress. Despite recent dips, Obama's favorable ratings are high enough to enact reform. Having served in Congress, I respect and admire the Democratic leadership, but the country wants the president to lead on his top priorities.

Second, he should own energy. He did as a candidate; he should as president. Control the debate and don't lose control. The country voted for change; give it to them. Regrettably, the health-reform debate has been about "death panels" and "higher taxes," instead of real talk of insurance reform, cost containment, more access for those who don't have insurance and incentives for preventive care. Obama needs to seize the debate and make it about fewer wars over oil, lower gas and electricity prices, and more jobs for Americans.

Third, settle on better language than "cap and trade" and climate change. These abstract labels don't resonate in Kansas. Some analysts have projected that the House energy reform bill will cost each U.S. household $175 a year. That's a small price to prevent today's 13- and 14-year-olds from having to go to war in the Middle East in 10 years to protect oil, which we should drastically reduce our dependence on.

Finally, lead by example. Get on the road and sell energy reform. Practice conservation in the White House. Launch a national competition in public schools that encourages energy conservation. And tell the country why this is important to keep America safe and growing. (Wash Post, 8/23/09)

Types of Mercury Lamps

Mercury is used in a variety of light bulbs. Mercury is useful in lighting because it contributes to the bulbs' efficient operation and life expectancy. Fluorescent and other mercury-added bulbs are generally more energy efficient and last longer than incandescent and other equivalent forms of lighting. While the bulbs are being used, the mercury within them poses no health risk.

Fluorescent lamps operate at a very low gas pressure. They produce light when an electric current passes between two electrodes (also called cathodes) in a tube filled with low-pressure mercury vapor and inert gases, such as argon and krypton. The electric current excites the mercury vapor in the tube, generating radiant energy, primarily in the ultraviolet (UV) range. The energy causes a phosphor coating on the inside of the tube to "fluoresce," converting the UV light into visible light. Changing the composition of the phosphor powder inside fluorescent tubes changes the spectrum of light produced. Mercury is present in the lamp in both the phosphor powder and in the vapor.

Figure 1

Figure 1: Illustration of the components of a fluorescent lamp and how they work
Photo Source: Northeast Lamp Recycling, Inc.

Fluorescent lamps require a ballast, which is a device used to provide and control the voltage in the lamp, and stabilize the current in the circuit. Fluorescent lamps are more energy efficient than incandescent light bulbs of an equivalent brightness because more of the energy input is converted to usable light and less is converted to heat. They also have a longer lamp life.

Depending on the type of fluorescent lamp, they can contain a wide range of mercury, from greater than 0 up to 100 milligrams (mg). According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), about half of the fluorescent lamps manufactured by their members and sold in the U.S. contain 5 to 10 mg of mercury; while a quarter contain 10 to 50 mg.

The typical types of fluorescent lamps include: linear (straight), U-tube (bent), and circline (circular) fluorescent lamps/tubes; bug zappers; tanning lamps; black lights; germicidal lamps; high output lamps; cold-cathode fluorescent lamps; and compact fluorescent lamps.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) use the same basic technology as linear fluorescent lamps, but are folded or spiraled in order to approximate the physical volume of an incandescent bulb. Screw-based CFLs typically use "premium" phosphors for good color, come with an integral ballast, and can be installed in nearly any table lamp or lighting fixture that accepts an incandescent bulb. Pin-based CFLs do not employ integral ballasts and are designed to be used in fixtures that have a separate ballast. Both screw-based and pin-based CFLs are used in commercial buildings. Residential use of these types of bulbs is growing because of their energy efficiency and long life.

Individual CFLs generally contain less than 10 mg of mercury, with a significant portion (two-thirds) containing less than 5 mg. A small percentage of CFLs contains between 10 and 50 mg of mercury.

(Source: NEWMOA, Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association)

Nuclear Industry Loses Another Giant: Angie Howard

Angelina 'Angie' S. Howard, left, retired as vice president of the nuclear industry's Washington, DC-based association, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), on May 15, 2009. Prior to joining NEI, Howard was vice president and director of industry relations and information services for the Atlanta-based Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. Before joining INPO in 1980, Howard worked at Duke Power Co. from 1969 to 1980.

Howard was a very good friend to the Center and AAEA. She was always open and helpful to our efforts to achieve a nuclear power renaissance. Clearly the renaissance movement is hurt by her retirement. We could call on Howard anytime and anyplace and she welcomed our participation. We will miss you Angie. Feel free to contact us anytime.

Angie went out of her way to accomodate us when a leading representative of China's nuclear R& D program was in Washington, DC to brief the Department of Energy. At our request, she quickly arranged a meeting at NEI so that Dr Yujie Dong could brief NEI on Tinghua Univesity's nuclear power plant research [see video below].

Dr. Yujie Dong is the Director of the High Temperature Reactor Design Division, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology (INET) at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Dr. Dong is leading the team that is developing the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR). His team has built a functioning PBMR research reactor about 40 miles northwest of Beijing near the Great Wall. Center President Norris McDonald and Center Vice President Derry Bigby were graciously briefed, entertained and given a tour of the PBMR in 2007.

Dr. James J. Markowsky Confirmed as DOE's Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy

Dr. James J. Markowsky, left, was confirmed by the Senate on August 7, 2009, as the 11th Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy. As Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Dr. Markowsky will serve as the primary policy advisor to the Energy Secretary and the department on issues involving federal coal, oil, and natural gas programs, including extensive research and development efforts in those areas.

His responsibilities will include management of the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the Home Heating Oil Reserve, coordinating and implementing the Fossil Energy elements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, managing the FutureGen project, and overseeing the Fossil Energy organization of over 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative staff throughout the nation.

Dr. Markowsky began his career with American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEP) in 1971 as a Senior Engineer in AEP’s Mechanical Division. In 1977, he was named Program Manager for AEP’s pressurized fluidized bed combustion development program.
From 2004-2005, Dr. Markowsky was the President of Research and Development Solution, LLC, where he was involved in providing technical support services, including R&D technology, project, and operations planning and analysis to DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Dr. Markowsky holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Pratt Institute, master’s degrees from Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a doctorate from Cornell. (DOE)

Cash For Clunkers: Congress Is Selling Cars, Passes Bill

The Senate, on a vote of 60-37, just put $2 billion more into the government's "Cash for Clunkers" program to extend the popular trade-in arrangement until Labor Day. Congress appropriated $1 billion in mid-June, which was meant to stimulate the economy and get people to turn in their gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient vehicles, but itran out of funds in days instead of by Nov. 1. Last week, the House hastily approved an additional $2 billion for the program. The White House backs extending the program and President Obama will sign the bill into law ASAP. Under the program, consumers can turn in their clunkers for a voucher worth up to $4,500 toward a new vehicle.

The Transportation Department put out new figures showing that a total of 184,304 trades had consumed $775.2 million of the $1 billion originally appropriated. The Toyota Corolla is the No. 1 selling new car under the clunker program.

Forty-five percent of the new car sales are from the Big Three American automakers. General Motors was the most popular choice, with 18.7 percent of the buyers choosing one of its vehicles, followed by Toyota with 17.9 percent and Ford with 16 percent. After the Corolla, the top-selling new vehicles are the Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Toyota's Prius and Camry. Of the new vehicles not manufactured by the Big Three, according to a preliminary analysis by the Transportation Department, "well over half" were made in United States. Of the trade-ins, more than 80 percent are trucks, the government said, with Ford's Explorer and F-150 pickup topping the list. The average miles per gallon of the new vehicles is 25.3, compared with the trade-ins that average 15.8 miles per gallon. (Wash Post, 9/9/09)

Sotomayor (68-31) and Cash For Clunkers approved on the same day. See? The Congress is being very productive.

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Need To Be Restructured

The Center long ago recommended that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be broken up into 20 competing smaller companies. Now it appears that the Obama adminstration is taking our advice. The Obama administration, through its White House's National Economic Council, is considering a preliminary proposal to overhaul of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by striping them of hundreds of billions of dollars in troubled loans and create a new structure to support the home-loan market.

The bad debts the firms own would be placed in new government-backed financial institutions -- so-called bad banks -- that would take responsibility for collecting as much of the outstanding balance as possible. What would be left would be two healthy financial companies with a clean slate.The "bad bank" would be a depository for Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's toxic assets.

Then the government could create new companies that would attract private investment in support of mortgage finance. Options for the "good banks" include consolidating the firms into one government agency, leaving mortgage finance to private banks or maintaining a hybrid model.

Fannie and Freddie were effectively nationalized in September 2008 amid a market meltdown that revealed much of their holdings to be troubled. The government has since pledged more than $1.5 trillion, including $85 billion in direct aid, to keep the mortgage market working through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Federal Reserve has bought well over $1 trillion worth of mortgage-related securities and debt from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That further helped to lower interest rates on home loans. The government also has pledged up to $400 billion in direct investments in the firms. (Wash Post, 8/6/09)

Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Bail Out Bill Signed By President Bush

Net Metering Backed Securities

Energy Information Administration: Climate Bill Will Cost Postage Stamp Per Day By 2030

A new analysis by the Energy Information Agency EIA confirms findings by earlier reports from the Congressional Budget Office and the Environmental Protection Agency that the Waxman-Markey energy and climate legislation will cost Americans roughly the same as a postage stamp a day. The EIA analysis projects an increased cost of about $83 (adjusted for inflation) by 2030 -- or roughly 23 cents a day. (DOE)

The EIA Report

USEC: Gets No DOE Loan Guarantee - Halts Uranium Plant

The American Centrifuge Plant was to include approximately 11,500 AC100 machines that were to be housed in existing buildings at the Piketon, Ohio site, below right.

USEC Inc, the nation’s only domestic uranium enrichment firm, will halt its half-finished $5 billion uranium enrichment plant in Ohio. USEC needed a $2 billion Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee to proceed with construction of its American Centrifuge Plant, located on land leased from DOE in Piketon, Ohio. USEC has spent $1.5 billion on the project, which is meant to replace the aging enrichment plant that USEC leases from DOE in Paducah, Ky.

DOE “encouraged USEC to withdraw its application for loan guarantee funding,” which DOE provides to various types of energy projects with clean air properties.

DOE will offset the job losses at the 750-employee centrifuge construction effort by spending $150-$200 million more to accelerate cleanup efforts at the contaminated Piketon site.

Last month, USEC’s government service division reached an agreement with Duke Energy, Areva, UniStar Nuclear Energy LLC and a local development group to pursue construction of a new nuclear power plant at Piketon. The new reactor project is unaffected by DOE’s loan guarantee decision. Three companies with potential interest in USEC assets are Urenco—the German-Dutch-UK uranium enricher—Areva, and EnergySolutions, the diversified Utah-based nuclear cleanup firm.

Meanwhile, USEC’s main competitors, Urenco Ltd., Areva and General Electric, are moving to build enrichment plants in the United States.Urenco is building a uranium enrichment plant in Eunice, N.M., and Areva has applied for a DOE loan guarantee for a new plant it plans to build at Idaho Falls. GE has teamed with Japan’s Hitachi and Canada’s Cameco Corp. in a laser enrichment plant to be built in Wilmington, N.C. (The Energy Daily, 7/29/09)

CFTC: Speculators Caused Oil Price Spike Last Summer

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will issue a report in August that points to speculators as playing a significant role in driving up oil prices last year. Even though last year the CFTC said oil-price swings came primarily from swings in supply and demand. Financial investors (sepculators) bet on the direction of commodities prices by buying contracts tied to indexes. Due to the misguided assessment last year, CFTC will probaly adopt new rules to limit the amount of investments in commodities by big institutions betting on their direction purely for financial gain.

This speculation is usually normal on Wall Street, but the problem is that speculators should not make it more costly for consumers to access heating oil, gasoline, food and other essentials. Proponents of index speculation say these parties have added liquidity to markets. They blame price fluctuations on supply and demand and say attempts to regulate speculation are foolhardy and could drive investors to less-regulated venues. Investors may also buy derivatives, not directly traded on futures exchanges, that let them make contrary bets to offset their risks. Crude-oil prices surged in July 2008 to a record $145 a barrel, then dropped to about $33 in December. Oil now trades at around $68 a barrel. (WSJ, 7/28/09)

Center Supports The Clean Water Protection Act, H.R. 1310

The Center opposes mountaintop removal.

The Clean Water Protection Act, H.R. 1310, was introduced by Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) on March 4, 2009 and amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to define "fill material" to mean any pollutant that replaces portions of waters of the United States with dry land or that changes the bottom elevation of a water body for any purpose and to exclude any pollutant discharged into the water primarily to dispose of waste.

For years, the Clean Water Act allowed for the granting of permits to place 'fill material' into waters of the United States, provided that the primary purpose of the 'filling' was not for waste disposal. The intention was to prevent industries such as coal mining from using the nation's waterways as waste disposal sites. That changed in 2002, when the Army Corps of Engineers, without Congressional approval, altered its longstanding definition of 'fill material' to include mining waste. This change accelerated the devastating practice of mountaintop removal coal mining and the destruction of more than 1,200 miles of Appalachian streams.

H.R. 1310 restores the original intent of the Clean Water Act to clarify that fill material cannot be comprised of mining waste. The legislation has 154 cosponsors and has bipartisan support. (ILoveMountains.org)

3rd Hearing in 2009 on Kingston Ash Accident

The Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment met on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 to consider the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Ash Slide. The subcommittee received testimony from representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the TVA Office of Inspector General, and engineering firms.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive updates as to the status of the Kingston ash slide cleanup efforts, and also analysis of the root cause of the Kingston surface impoundment collapse. The subcommittee is chaired by Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tx), right.

Hearing Link

Witness Panel

The Honorable Mathy Stanislaus

Mr. Tom Kilgore

Mr. William H. Walton, P.E., S.E.

The Honorable Richard Moore

Mr. William S. Almes P.E.

$25 Billion To Help GM Recover & Produce Efficient Cars

General Motors Company (GM) has applied for more than $10 billion in Department of Energy funds, according to a spokesman for the company. Such loans would further extend the taxpayer commitment to GM's reorganization. The Treasury Department has already committed at least $50 billion in direct bailout funds to GM, and billions more to its affiliates, such as supplier Delphi Corp. and lender GMAC LLC through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The DOE has thus far withheld putting funds into GM because of the auto maker's bankruptcy and financial troubles. Securing those funds are a component of GM's shorter-term liquidity assumptions and is factoring into its plans in order to meet its capital requirements in the future.
The DOE has offered as much as $25 billion in assistance to auto makers trying to build and develop more fuel-efficient products. Ford Motor Company and other auto makers have been granted such funds, even though GM and Chrysler have not due to concerns related to those companies' viability.

The government's new "cash for clunkers" program is fueling hopes that it will generate enough interest to lift auto sales. According to the Department of Transportation, nearly 16,000 auto dealers signed up to participate in the program since Friday, the first day that the government made available cash vouchers for trading in old cars for more fuel-efficient ones. (WSJ, 7/27/09)

Cardin & Alexander Seek To Ban Mountaintop Removal

Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md), left, and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn), right, have introduced legislation (Alexander-Cardin Appalachian Restoration Act- S. 696) to ban mountaintop-removal coal mining. They hope to stop the removing ountaintops in West Virginia and Kentucky and prevent a resurgence of the practice in Tennessee. Tennessee produced 2.3 million tons of coal last year, compared with 158 million tons in West Virginia and 120 million tons in Kentucky.

The bill would effectively end mountaintop removal by amending the Clean Water Act to prohibit the dumping of mining waste in streams. It would allow other types of open-pit, surface mining.

The Center opposes mountaintop removal and supports the Alexander-Cardin legislation.

Alexander has introduced legislation with Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.) to reduce the sulfur, nitrogen and mercury emissions of coal-burning power plants, which provide about 60 percent of Tennessee's power. Alexander supports coal and has described it as "an essential part of our energy future," and he has pushed for "a mini-Manhattan project" for research into carbon capture and sequestration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants. Alexander is also a big proponent of nuclear power, which provides a third of Tennessee's energy. He also supports wind energy in general, but opposes proposals for wind farms in the Appalachian Mountains. (Wash Post, 7/26/09)

Price of Natural Gas and Coal

Today, natural gas for August delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 14.5 cents to settle at $3.695 a million British thermal units. This is still 60% lower than a year ago.

The front-month Nymex contract for Central Appalachia coal is trading around $45 a ton, down 50% from a year ago.

EPA's Jackson Announces Associate Administrators

U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has announced three key appointments to the senior staff at EPA: Lisa Heinzerling, who has been named Associate Administrator for the Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI); David McIntosh, who has been appointed as Associate Administrator for the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations (OCIR); and Seth Oster, who recently assumed the position of Associate Administrator for the Office of Public Affairs (OPA). All three appointments are effective immediately.

Ms. Heinzerling, right, has spent the past months as Administrator Jackson's chief advisor on climate issues, helping move EPA's efforts forward at a critical time. At OPEI, Ms. Heinzerling will also continue to play a role advising Administrator Jackson on climate matters.

Mr. McIntosh, left, has spent the past months working as a principal advisor to Administrator Jackson on legislative climate issues, and now assumes overall responsibility for government relations at the national, state and local levels. He has an extensive background on Capitol Hill and on environmental and energy issues generally.

Mr. Oster, right, brings to the EPA and the Office of Public Affairs broad experience from both inside and outside of government. In directing the work of OPA, he will play a vital role in leading EPA's efforts to reach out to new communities and constituencies, promoting environmental education initiatives and generating public support for EPA’s mission. (EPA)

Is Copenhagen Becoming A Warm Up Act?

The delay in the U.S. Senate until September to consider climate change legislation combined with significant environmental group opposition to Waxman/Markey [American Clean Energy & Security Act (ACES)], is setting up the stage for the U.S. to not have a legal framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions going into the international climate change meeting in Copenhagen in December.

US Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing, right in photo, believes the Copenhagen talks won't fail, but told Platts.com that they "will likely be inadequate." Pershing's comments [summarized] before the Committee on America's Climate Choices, which Congress directed the National Academy of Science to convene:

Instead of December's meeting in Copenhagen, Pershing expects real components of climate change to come from 2010 meetings, likely to be held in Mexico. Recommendations from Copenhagen, however, should provide what Pershing called "real space for doing an agreement." Whatever results from global climate talks, Pershing expects it be different from the Kyoto Protocol's reliance on a central authority to assign greenhouse caps. Instead, the next global plan likely would begin with development of various domestic plans, which ultimately would be amassed into a single global deal. The U.S. can't look to blame the world for lack of progress on climate talks. Indeed, the lack of comprehensive climate legislation in the U.S. has other nation's holding their cards. It's generally agreed that the U.S., as the biggest emitter, must take the lead. Then, the U.S. must reach an agreement with China, which is not far behind the U.S. in emissions.

[Photo: Pershing on right with his boss, U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern]

(EnvironmentalLeader.com, 7/14/09)

[Pershing Remarks at June 12 Bonn Meeting]

Waxman Markey Cap & Trade Superior To Price & Tax

Some environmental groups and climate activists* recently held a briefing in Washington, DC to express their support for an energy price increase and tax bill instead of a climate bill. Their bad idea for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) is to raise the price of electricity through increasing taxes on it and redistributing money back to the public. Huh? Why not just reduce taxes? And pass the much superior Waxman/Markey climate legislation [passed House 219-212], which puts a cap on CO2 emissions. Admittedly Waxman/Markey is not perfect but it is a great start on reducing emissions that cause climate change. The Center opposes using unreasonable price increases as a conservation tool. The Senate needs to pass an improved version of Waxman/Markey and forget about price shocking and taxing our way into societal chaos.

The energy price increase and tax activists believe cap-and-trade tries to hide the carbon price, which gives opponents license to make outrageous claims about its cost. So the activists promote a fictitious 'revenue-neutral carbon tax,' which they believe would provide a clear price signal. Everything is wrong with this approach. It would increase prices on everything and then, according to its proponents, redistribute revenues back to the public to offset price increases and higher taxes. In reality it would speed us into double digit unemployment, interest rates and create out of control inflation. The plan is a prescription for years of recession and quite possibly depression.

Although the Waxman-Markey critics believe that approach would fail to reduce CO2 emissions enough to prevent catastrophic warming, they should understand that it does not matter what we do if India and China do not reduce their emissions. We need to serve as an example for India and China. Moreover, Western nations need to show goodwill in this area to emerging nations.

Critics believe the trading component of cap-and-trade -- buying and selling permits to release CO2 -- would also create a trillion-dollar market in carbon futures and derivatives that could crash financial markets again. We disagree. We believe it would create a vibrant global competition for installation of innovative technologies.

* Friends Committee on National Legislation, Progressive Democrats of America, The Clean Coalition, Price Carbon Campaign, Dr. James Hansen, climate scientist; Dr. Robert Shapiro*, Co-founder and Chairman of Sonecon and the U.S. Climate Task Force, and former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce; Cecil Corbin-Mark, Deputy Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Co-Coordinator of Environmental Justice Leadership Forum on Climate Change; Professor Janet Milne of Vermont Law School, contributing author of "The Reality of Carbon Taxes in the 21st Century," Brent Blackwelder, President of Friends of the Earth, moderated. The briefing was hosted by the Carbon Tax Center, Climate Crisis Coalition, and Citizens Climate Lobby. (Earth Times, 7/13/09, Climate Crisis Coalition; Citizens Climate Lobby; Carbon Tax Center)

Senate E & NR Committee Examines Mine Reclamation

The hearing received testimony examining S.796, Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009 and S.140, Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 2009. Excerpt from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, right, at the hearing:

Balance is also an important concept as we discuss reform of the Mining Law of 1872. While the responsible development of our mineral resources is critical to both our economy and our environment, this statute has not been updated in 137 years. In those years, much has changed. It is time to ensure a fair return to the public for mining activities that occur on public lands and to address the cleanup of abandoned mines. We must find an approach to modernize this law and ensure that development occurs in a manner consistent with the needs of mining and the protection of the public, our public lands, and water resources. It is time to make reform of the Mining Law part of our agenda of responsible resource development.

Much has been said about the role the General Mining Law of 1872 played in settling the western United States, how it provided an opportunity for any citizen of the country to explore public domain lands for valuable minerals, to stake a claim if the mineral could be extracted at a profit, and to patent the claim. Numerous commodities are mined, under the authority of the General Mining Law, to provide the raw materials essential for the manufacturing and building industries. According to the BLM, the 5-year average for new mining claims staked annually under the law is approximately 76,000, with a current total number of claims at nearly 400,000. These claims generated almost $60 million in federal revenue-- mostly from the fees collected by BLM -- in fiscal year 2008.

Our domestic gold mining industry alone directly or indirectly creates more than 66,000 jobs and nearly $2 billion in earnings annually. The U.S. is the second largest producer of gold and copper in the world, and the leading producer of beryllium, gypsum, and molybdenum. In my view, our own security depends on maintaining a viable domestic mining industry. Metals and minerals are also needed to support development of renewable energy. As the U.S. Senate undertakes reform of the 1872 Mining Law, patent reform, and the environmental consequences of modern mining practices must be addressed in meaningful and substantive ways. In addition, the American taxpayer should receive a fair return for the extraction of these valuable resources and should expect the federal government to develop a reliable process providing for the cleanup and restoration of lands where the responsible party is unable or unavailable to do so, including a Good Samaritan provision.

Senate E & PW Committee Climate Change Hearing

Note: Consideration of climate/energy legislation has been delayed for consideration until September.

The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee held a hearing today entitled, “Transportation’s Role in Climate Change and Reducing Greenhouse Gases.”

Panel 1:

The Honorable Ray LaHood Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation
The Honorable Regina McCarthy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation U.S. EPA

Panel 2

Ralph Becker Mayor Salt Lake City, Utah
David Bragdon President Portland Metro Council
Steve Winkelman Director of Adaptation and Transportation Programs Center for Clean Air Policy
Ray Kuntz Chief Executive Officer Watkins and Shepard Trucking

G8 Supports Emissions Cuts: Developing Countries Object

The G8 agreed last week at its annual summit to support a goal of cutting global emissions by 50% by 2050 and of reducing emissions in wealthy countries by 80%. The problem though is that the G8 failed to get developing countries to accept an emissions reductions target of 50% by 2050. Representatives from emerging nations have expressed frustration that developed countries have not committed to mid-term targets or pledged financial or technological transfer to developing nations. The emerging nations believe the proposed long-term targets are meaningless. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticized leaders for failing to make deeper commitments. (Frank Maisano, 7/13/09)

Stephen Chu and Gary Locke Go To China For Energy

Energy Secretary Steven Chu, left, and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, right, are vidsiting China this week to discuss building a China-US clean energy center. It would be the first nation-level center between China and the US to promote the use of clean energy. The two secretaries will highlight the potential for mutually beneficial relationships in the clean energy sector and opportunities for American green technology companies to get business in China. Priorities will include clean coal technology, carbon capture and storage, a smart grid, hybrid and electric vehicles, energy efficiency and renewable energies.

Most of the events will be in Beijing, but additional travel is scheduled outside the capital city. One event is visiting China's landmark Future House Community Project, established as part of that nation's ongoing effort to address its environmental problems and skyrocketing energy demand. Future House demonstrates the latest advances in energy efficiency, environmental compatibility, and sustainability. Future House USA is one of ten homes, each being built by a different nation, begun in conjunction with the 2008 'Green' Olympics, held in Beijing. Included in the technology at Future House is a state-of-the-art geothermal heat pump system developed, manufactured and installed by ClimateMaster of Oklahoma City, OK, in the USA. ClimateMaster is the global leader in the design and manufacture of water-source heat pumps, the core technology used in geothermal heating and cooling systems. (China Daily, 7/13/09, Frank Maisano, 7/13/09)

Larry Irving Joins Hewlett-Packard

Larry Irving, left, will join computer services company Hewlett-Packard Co. on Sept. 8 as vice president of global government affairs. He was an assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information under President Bill Clinton and oversaw the National Telecommunicatiosn and Information Administration. For the past 10 years he ran his own consulting firm, which offered strategic planning and consulting services to domestic and international telecommunications and information technology companies, non-profit organizations and foundations.

Mr. Irving will supervise the worldwide government affairs operation from Washington. He will be responsible for shaping public policy and building relationships worldwide with government officials, community leaders, non-governmental organizations and business partners.

Mr. Irving iss credited with coining the term "digital divide." Early in his career his legislative affiars director for the late Congressman Mickey Leland.

Mr. Irving holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northwestern University ourside Chicago and is a law graduate of Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., just down the road from HP’s world headquarters. Mr. Irving was president of the Stanford Law class of 1979. (The Washington Times, 7/13/09, Photo courtesy TWT)

Hidden Health Hazards in Your Business

Most people are aware of the health dangers of outdoor air pollution, but don't realize that air pollution in their homes, offices, and schools also can have significant health effects. However, recent studies have shown that people are exposed to higher concentrations of air pollution for longer periods of time inside buildings than outside them. The fact is, indoor air pollutant levels may be two to five times higher, and occasionally up to one hundred times higher, than outdoors.

Indoor Air Pollutants

Indoor air pollutants come in all different forms, and many of the more hazardous environmental contaminants go unseen and unnoticed. Elements such as VOCs, formaldehyde, and even mold growing from structural leaks, can all lead to health hazards. Some common known sources of air pollution include:

Asbestos - Building materials, such as insulation containing asbestos are known to be hazardous to health. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can still be found in many older homes. Inhaling tiny asbestos fibers can increase the risk of lung cancer and other lung diseases. Pipe coverings, flooring, shingles and roofs are likely places to find asbestos.

VOCs - Paints containing VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), get released into the air as paint dries. While long term effects are still unclear, the EPA has concluded that some VOC’s are suspected carcinogens.

Formaldehyde - Furnishings, including flooring, wet or damp carpets, and cabinets or furniture made from certain processed wood products. Many products also include formaldehyde According to the EPA, formaldehyde

Structural leaks - Rain and high humidity can bring moisture indoors, creating dampness, mold and mildew. Mold aside, dampness alone is associated with higher risk of wheezing, coughing and asthma symptoms. Check your roof, foundation and basement or crawlspace once a year to catch leaks or moisture problems and route water away from the building's foundation.

Ventilation - Proper ventilation is one of the best ways to improve air quality, (provided that the outside air is not worse than indoor air). High levels of moisture in your home increase dampness and the growth of mold, which not only damage your home but threaten health. Dampness and mold are linked to increased wheezing, coughing and asthma attacks in people with allergies.

Flooring - Avoid using carpet whenever possible. Carpet traps unhealthy particles -- including chemicals, dust mites, pet dander, dirt and fungi - and vacuuming can make them airborne. If you do have carpets, use a HEPA (high efficiency particle air) vacuum cleaner to ensure better air quality. Hard surface flooring, like wood, tile or cork can be readily cleaned by damp mopping.

The Solution

Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate pollution sources or reduce their emissions. Some sources, such as those containing asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed. Other sources, like gas stoves and furnaces, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions. Banning smoking near exits and substituting less toxic cleaning supplies, art materials, and paints also can reduce indoor air pollution.

Improving ventilation is another approach to lowering concentrations of indoor air pollutants. Fans that exhaust to the outdoors can be used in bathrooms, kitchens, laboratories, copy and print rooms, and cleaning-supply storage rooms. Some buildings need additional outdoor air brought in by way of fans, open windows, or improved ventilation systems.

Air purifiers also can improve indoor air quality. Furnaces and portable air cleaners can filter particles out of the air in homes. Gaseous contaminants can be removed by more sophisticated filtering. Air purifiers vary in their ability and range, with commercial air cleaners covering an expanse of 1000 feet and removing biological contaminants. For compact office settings, there are room air filters can be equally as powerful for smaller settings, such as 400 sq. feet, and can come equipped with both HEPA and carbon filters

In the long term, people exposed to indoor air pollution may develop cancer, respiratory diseases, or heart disease. For this reason, it becomes all the more critical to do everything in your ability to safeguard your health and the longevity of your employees. It is also a common known fact that healthier employees are more productive. As such, an investment in the air quality of your employees is an investment in your business.

By: Air Purifier Home