Green Options » Dave Levitan

Green Options » Dave Levitan http://greenoptions.com/author/davelevitan/ Post archive of Dave Levitan Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:40:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en http://greenoptions.com/author/davelevitan/ http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/410dfc7fc7baab46187ff58c0f44e716?s=65&d=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D32 Green Options » Dave Levitan GOP Will Cry in the Corner During Kerry-Boxer Markup http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/31/gop-will-cry-in-the-corner-during-kerry-boxer-markup/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/31/gop-will-cry-in-the-corner-during-kerry-boxer-markup/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:40:46 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/31/gop-will-cry-in-the-corner-during-kerry-boxer-markup/

The spookiest news I’ve heard so far this Halloween is the report from Politico.com that the seven Republican members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will boycott next Tuesday’s planned markup of the Kerry-Boxer climate legislation. Ah yes, the “screw you guys, I’m going home” tactic. How productive.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/31/gop-will-cry-in-the-corner-during-kerry-boxer-markup/feed/ SuperFreakonomics Redux: Even Congress is Riled Up http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/30/superfreakonomics-redux-even-congress-is-riled-up/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/30/superfreakonomics-redux-even-congress-is-riled-up/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:15:26 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/30/superfreakonomics-redux-even-congress-is-riled-up/

Last week I wrote in this space that when faced with a problem (global warming, carbon dioxide emissions) that so clearly requires huge top-down action from governments the world over, what two contrarians write in a book doesn’t exactly bother me that much. It bothers Joe Romm at Climate Progress, clearly, and now, well, I’ve got even less company, because members of Congress are pissed off too.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/30/superfreakonomics-redux-even-congress-is-riled-up/feed/ Can We Really Get Back to 350 ppm? http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/24/350-ppm-climate-change-action/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/24/350-ppm-climate-change-action/#comments Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:49:42 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/24/350-ppm-climate-change-action/

Today is 350.org’s International Day of Climate Action, during which people around the world are trying to call attention to our need to bring the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere back down to 350 parts-per-million (ppm). A noble cause, to be sure — but can we actually do it?

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/24/350-ppm-climate-change-action/feed/ The Super Freakonomics Dust-Up: Who Cares? http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/18/the-superfreakonomics-dust-up-who-cares/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/18/the-superfreakonomics-dust-up-who-cares/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:28:13 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/18/the-superfreakonomics-dust-up-who-cares/

When Joe Romm over at the Indispensable Climate Progress (I capitalize indispensable because the blog should just always be called that) gets going, he really gets going.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/18/the-superfreakonomics-dust-up-who-cares/feed/ Senate Fights For EPA’s CO2 Regulation Power http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/09/26/senate-fights-for-epas-co2-regulation-power/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/09/26/senate-fights-for-epas-co2-regulation-power/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:36:37 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/09/26/senate-fights-for-epas-co2-regulation-power/

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska tried to gut the EPA powers to regulate carbon emissions.

In the midst of a week when climate change finally stole back some of the spotlight that had been hogged by health care reform for months, the Senate fought off a potentially devastating attempt to emasculate the EPA and its recently won power to regulate greenhouse gases.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/09/26/senate-fights-for-epas-co2-regulation-power/feed/ EPA Grants California Fuel Emissions Waiver Request http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/30/epa-grants-california-fuel-emissions-waiver-request/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/30/epa-grants-california-fuel-emissions-waiver-request/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:42:24 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/30/epa-grants-california-fuel-emissions-waiver-request/ $California\'s new emissions standards will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution.$ The Environmental Protection Agency has granted California’s waiver request that will allow the state to enforce strict greenhouse gas emissions standards on cars beginning with the present model year. California first applied for the waiver in 2005, but was denied several years later. Now, the EPA grants the waiver based on the need for California to improve its air pollution conditions.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/30/epa-grants-california-fuel-emissions-waiver-request/feed/ NASA’s James Hansen, Civil Disobedience and Mountaintop Removal Mining http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/24/nasas-james-hansen-civil-disobedience-and-mountaintop-removal-mining/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/24/nasas-james-hansen-civil-disobedience-and-mountaintop-removal-mining/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:03:24 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/24/nasas-james-hansen-civil-disobedience-and-mountaintop-removal-mining/ NASA's Dr. James Hansen was arrested protesting mountaintop removal like this.

NASA's Dr. James Hansen was arrested protesting mountaintop removal like this.

James Hansen is considered the top climate scientist in the United States. He first testified to Congress about the dangers of global warming as far back as 1988, and he has taken up the cause of ending the devastating practice of mountaintop removal coal mining in West Virginia. On June 22 in Yale e360, he published a “Plea to President Obama” on the subject, and yesterday he took it a step further: he joined in an act of civil disobedience by attempting to trespass on the property of Massey Energy near Coal River Mountain in West Virginia, and was arrested along with other protesters including Darryl Hannah and former US Representative Ken Hechler (D-WV).

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/24/nasas-james-hansen-civil-disobedience-and-mountaintop-removal-mining/feed/ Senate Committee Passes Drilling and Energy Legislation http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/18/senate-panel-passes-drilling-and-energy-bill/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/18/senate-panel-passes-drilling-and-energy-bill/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:05:09 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/18/senate-panel-passes-drilling-and-energy-bill/

Offshore drilling would increase if the Senate bill passes.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved by a vote of 15 to 8 a piece of legislation that would open up huge areas of the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere for drilling of oil and natural gas. It also contains requirements for increases in renewable energy generation, and a number of other energy-related measures, but it seems a sad and regressive alternative to Waxman-Markey, which may reach a floor vote in the House by next week.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/18/senate-panel-passes-drilling-and-energy-bill/feed/ Japan’s Bold New Emissions Target (Note: Not Really Bold) http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/11/japans-bold-new-emissions-target-note-not-really-bold/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/11/japans-bold-new-emissions-target-note-not-really-bold/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:37:40 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/11/japans-bold-new-emissions-target-note-not-really-bold/ $Japan\'s emission cuts target, like that of the US, isn\'t exactly breathtaking.$ As reported today in the New York Times, Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso announced new greenhouse gas emissions targets for the country. Japan will attempt to reduce emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, which is about equivalent to eight percent below 1990 levels. Japan is a participant in the Kyoto Protocols, which was signed in 1990 and calls for a six percent reduction in emissions by 2012. According to the Times article, Japan is finding it difficult to meet that target.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/06/11/japans-bold-new-emissions-target-note-not-really-bold/feed/ Should Environmental Scientists Be Policy Advocates? http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/20/should-environmental-scientists-be-policy-advocates/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/20/should-environmental-scientists-be-policy-advocates/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 23:56:19 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/20/should-environmental-scientists-be-policy-advocates/

Who should be making environmental policy decisions? Politicians or scientist-advocates?

This week on Capitol Hill, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is in the process of thoroughly mutilating some of the science behind climate change and energy independence. With an expected 450 or so amendments to the American Clean Energy and Security Act, it is abundantly clear that politics and segmented interests are shaping what should largely be a scientific plan of action. One could easily ask the question: “Why are politicians doing what a scientist should be doing? Why aren’t the scientists telling us how this should go?” It is a question that has been discussed for decades, if not centuries, and boils down to whether or not a scientist has a duty to be—or to NOT be—an advocate for what he or she studies.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/20/should-environmental-scientists-be-policy-advocates/feed/ Waxman-Markey: What the Big Green Guns Are Saying http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/18/waxman-markey-what-the-big-green-guns-are-saying/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/18/waxman-markey-what-the-big-green-guns-are-saying/#comments Mon, 18 May 2009 15:53:44 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/18/waxman-markey-what-the-big-green-guns-are-saying/

Markup of the ACES bill begin Monday

As discussions open in Congress today surrounding the American Clean Energy and Security Act (the Waxman-Markey Bill), I started to wonder what environmental advocacy groups’ attitudes are about the climate change/green jobs/clean energy/energy independence legislation. Here is a quick rundown of statements from some of the biggest and most influential environmental groups in the country.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/18/waxman-markey-what-the-big-green-guns-are-saying/feed/ Climate Change Bill Has a Coming Out Party http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/16/climate-change-bill-has-a-coming-out-party/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/16/climate-change-bill-has-a-coming-out-party/#comments Sat, 16 May 2009 13:00:14 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/16/climate-change-bill-has-a-coming-out-party/

A long overdue sight in Congress...

Well, I’m guessing they didn’t call it a coming out party. But Democrats in the House of Representatives did unveil the already heavily discussed Waxman-Markey bill on Friday, formally known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act. It is 932 pages long. And no, I haven’t read all of it. So don’t feel too bad.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/16/climate-change-bill-has-a-coming-out-party/feed/ Happy National Train Day! http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/09/happy-national-train-day/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/09/happy-national-train-day/#comments Sat, 09 May 2009 15:00:03 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/09/happy-national-train-day/

The California Zephyr line, from Chicago to San Francisco, is gorgeous.

May 9 is National Train Day, one of my favorite holidays. (Well, since it was created last year, at least.) I find trains to be a particularly great way to travel, for both short and long trips. In fact, I took a 6,000-mile trip around the country in January on Amtrak. It was fantastic. But even if you’re not going to use trains for such purposes, it’s good to keep in mind a few things about rail travel (and rail freight) and how environmentally friendly it is. Well, at least compared to other forms of transportation.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/09/happy-national-train-day/feed/ EPA: May is Sustainability Month http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/08/epa-may-is-sustainability-month/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/08/epa-may-is-sustainability-month/#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 14:00:14 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/08/epa-may-is-sustainability-month/

Years of science, months of sustainability...

In what feels like an extension of Earth Day (Month), the Environmental Protection Agency has declared May to be Sustainability Month. EPA scientists and administrators will engage the public through in-person events and online communication, all aimed at teaching people how to meet “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/08/epa-may-is-sustainability-month/feed/ How to Green Your Cows’ Gas http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/how-to-green-your-cows-gas/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/how-to-green-your-cows-gas/#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 21:02:27 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/how-to-green-your-cows-gas/

Reductions of cow-produced methane could play a big role in mitigating climate change.

A recent study by Canadian researchers published in the Journal of Animal Science indicate that by fine-tuning the balance of starch, sugar, cellulose, ash, fat and other elements of cattle feed, methane production by the cows can be reduced by as much as 25 percent. If such a move could be implemented on a broad scale, it could be an immensely important piece of the emission reduction puzzle. Cattle farming accounts for as much as 18 percent of the total greenhouse gases emitted worldwide, according to a 2006 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/05/07/how-to-green-your-cows-gas/feed/ EPA: Pick 5 For the Environment http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/27/epa-pick-5-for-the-environment/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/27/epa-pick-5-for-the-environment/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:08:42 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/27/epa-pick-5-for-the-environment/

The Environmental Protection Agency has launched an interesting campaign aimed at increasing citizens’ active efforts to help the environment: Pick 5 for the Environment. The idea is for people to choose five broad actions out of 10 listed on the EPA’s site to commit to, thus improving one’s overall environmental footprint. Don’t choose six, though; that’s one too many.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/27/epa-pick-5-for-the-environment/feed/ Emission Free: 5 Huge Renewable Energy Projects to Watch For http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/23/emission-free-5-huge-renewable-energy-projects-to-watch-for/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/23/emission-free-5-huge-renewable-energy-projects-to-watch-for/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:51:21 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/23/emission-free-5-huge-renewable-energy-projects-to-watch-for/

A wind farm in Germany

In February, President Obama called for a doubling of the US renewable energy capacity within three years. Yesterday, Obama visited a wind energy company in Newton, Iowa and again emphasized the importance of new forms of power generation:

“Now, the choice we face is not between saving our environment and saving our economy. The choice we face is between prosperity and decline. We can remain the world’s leading importer of oil, or we can become the world’s leading exporter of clean energy.”

With billions in stimulus dollars heading toward improving the electricity grid and building sustainable energy infrastructure, emission-free power may be coming to your neighborhood sooner than you think. Here are five of the biggest, most ambitious projects that are in the pipeline, both in the US and elsewhere.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/23/emission-free-5-huge-renewable-energy-projects-to-watch-for/feed/ The Big Picture: Activity on Climate Change is Heating Up http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/22/the-big-picture-activity-on-climate-change-is-heating-up/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/22/the-big-picture-activity-on-climate-change-is-heating-up/#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:55:21 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/22/the-big-picture-activity-on-climate-change-is-heating-up/

Taking a step back makes the picture a bit brighter.

Okay, it’s Earth Day and everything, so maybe I’m imagining things, but it certainly feels like the renewable energy/carbon emissions/let’s-fix-global-warming conversation has picked up steam dramatically in the last couple of weeks. I thought it might be nice to take a step back and review where things stand in Washington and elsewhere.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/22/the-big-picture-activity-on-climate-change-is-heating-up/feed/ Time to Spend That Volcano Monitoring Money! http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/12/time-to-spend-that-volcano-monitoring-money/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/12/time-to-spend-that-volcano-monitoring-money/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:17:47 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/12/time-to-spend-that-volcano-monitoring-money/ Mount Redoubt in Alaska erupts in 1990

Mount Redoubt in Alaska erupts in 1990

The U.S. Department of the Interior reports that they will start spending the stimulus money granted them in February, and among the $140 million-worth of projects is $15.2 million for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s favorite activity: volcano monitoring!

This has been covered before, but it’s too good to let go easily. The complete disregard for actual science shown was thrown back in Jinda’s face immediately, but the volcano gods joined in only a month later when Alaska’s Mt. Redoubt erupted. Residents of the area had been warned two months earlier than eruption was pending, and perhaps as a result there were no major incidents when the volcano finally blew. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said that the Alaska Volcano Observatory’s “top priority is to prevent repetition of the incident that occurred during Redoubt’s eruption 19 years ago, when a Boeing 747 passenger aircraft strayed into an ash cloud and nearly crashed.” Eh, who needs monitoring, right?

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/12/time-to-spend-that-volcano-monitoring-money/feed/ The Financial Angle: Environmentalism Still Driven By Money http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/09/the-financial-angle-environmentalism-still-driven-by-money/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/09/the-financial-angle-environmentalism-still-driven-by-money/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:04:30 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/04/09/the-financial-angle-environmentalism-still-driven-by-money/ Greening your home can make you some money.

Greening your home can make you some money.

The stimulus package approved in February contains items aimed at making everyone an environmentalist. Well, let’s say practical environmentalist. By offering tax incentives for a variety of home greening initiatives, Congress managed to both raise and lower my spirits around environmental issues: it’s great that people will have reason to save energy and live more efficiently, but I hate that the reason has to be money before anyone pays attention.

As reported in the New York Times, the green measures homeowners can take and get paid for it include home-shell improvements like better windows and insulation all the way up through solar cells on rooftops and buying a hybrid vehicle. Overall, individual tax payers can earn up to $1,500 in tax credits for these types of initiatives.

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