Promoting sustainable shelter in Alaska
From Yale Environment 360, retrieved on Friday, December 20, 2008:
Yale Environment 360 asked a wide-ranging group of environmental activists, scientists, and thinkers to answer the following question: If you were advising Barack Obama, what would you tell him are the most important environmental and energy initiatives that he should launch during his first 100 days?
Click here to read the whole article.
From the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, on Saturday, December 6, 2008:
In early winter 2008, Fairbanks [Alaska] has had some of the worst air quality ever recorded, according to Jim Conner, an air quality specialist for the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
“We exceeded (federal air quality) standards in October this year for the first time,” Conner said. “It looks like we’ll have twice as many exceedances this year, about 50 (days).”
The bad air — caused by tiny floating particles from burned fuels — will lead to the Environmental Protection Agency in December to declare the borough as “out of attainment” of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
This means that Alaskans will have three years to come up with a plan on how to solve Fairbanks’ air problems, or the federal government will draw up a plan for Fairbanks.
Click here to read the whole story.
The Union of Concerned Scientists yesterday (October 15, 2008) released “Coal Power in a Warming World,” which
examines the pros and cons of a proposed technology that would capture coal plant carbon dioxide emissions and store them underground. UCS supports construction of five to 10 full-scale demonstration projects to test carbon-capture-and-storage technology’s ability to cut emissions. The report also says no new coal plants should be built that do not capture and store carbon emissions. The country can meet its near-term energy needs and curb emissions using readily available renewable-energy technologies.
Click here for a link to download the report.
From the L.A. Times, September 24, 2008:
Seven Western states and four Canadian provinces proposed a sweeping regional crackdown on global warming emissions Tuesday in the face of continuing reluctance by the Bush administration and Congress to pass comprehensive climate legislation.The Western Climate Initiative, endorsed by the 11 governors and provincial premiers, aims to slash regional greenhouse gas pollutants by about 15% below 2005 levels in the next 12 years.
“We’re sending a strong message to our federal governments that states and provinces are moving forward in the absence of federal action,” said California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, adding that the effort would spur renewable energy development and create “green jobs.”
The links in this entry are to the official websites of the two leading presidential candidates. For further information about their positions on climate change, the economy and other issues related to sustainable living, click on the “Issues” button on the respective website home pages.*
Click here to read “Cheap, Clean, Secure Energy for America,” Republican John McCain’s views on energy use, alternative energy sources and the environment.
Click here to read “New Energy for America,” Democrat Barack Obama’s views on energy use, alternative energy sources and the environment.
*Publishing these views does not constitute endorsement of any candidates’ views.
From the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer July 23, 2008
Air-quality and health officials said Tuesday that chronic air pollution presents long-term health risks for people in Fairbanks.
They also said they’re still nailing down exactly where the pollution — a mix of soot, dust and other particles — comes from.
Health specialists on the panel, which addressed the Fairbanks North Star Borough’s advisory Air Pollution Control Commission, said the pollution is linked to issues ranging from decreased lung function to heart problems.
Click here to read the full article.
From the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer July 18 2008
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is crunching numbers to study how much greenhouse gas we emit.
The university’s Alaska Center for Energy and Power is conducting the study using a $20,000 grant from the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
The work will serve as a baseline document needed to responsibly advance a proposed coal-and-biomass-to-fuel project, borough Mayor Jim Whitaker said. Whitaker said organizers are committed to reducing the community’s aggregate emissions through that proposed project and its capacity for spinoff energy and heat generation.
Click here to read the full article.
From the Fairbanks Daily Newsminer July 15, 2008
High-ranking federal and state officials will be in Fairbanks this week for an energy summit hosted by borough Mayor Jim Whitaker and U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens to fast-track a plant to turn coal and biomass into power, fuel and heat for Interior Alaska.
Click here to read the full article.