From Trash to Treasure: The Future of Syngas

Lisa Wojnovich — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:00:14 +0000

The renewable energy startup Ze-gen, Inc., has put a new spin on an old technology. Before the advent of the electric light bulb, many cities used coal gasification to provide fuel for their street lamps, and as the costs of oil and natural gas soar, many are reconsidering this old method in the hopes of providing cheaper sources of fuel. But there is a downside. Gasification works by using heat to convert solids into gas, and as we all know, burning coal tends to release large quantities of carbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming.

However, Ze-gen has come up with an alternative solution. Instead of using coal, which has numerous detrimental environmental effects, they are using garbage — waste that would otherwise be destined for landfills. For about two years now at a demonstration facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the company has been injecting what it terms biomass, organic waste from construction sites as well as municipal sources, into a vat of molten scrap metal.

Cars Are Hurting Our Children: Air Pollution and Infant Health

Jennifer Lance — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:38:31 +0000

A recent paper in the National Bureau of Economic Research titled “Air Pollution and Infant Health: Lessons from New Jersey” examined a large sample size of infants and mothers. Using information from air quality monitors near children’s residences, researchers discovered “consistently negative effects of exposure to pollution, especially carbon monoxide, both during and after birth.” This really doesn’t come as any big surprise to me, but research like this is important in substantiating why we need stricter clean air regulations.

Green Options » CO

From Trash to Treasure: The Future of Syngas

Cars Are Hurting Our Children: Air Pollution and Infant Health