Green Options

Officials from the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) recently took part in an undercover investigation that revealed the illegal big cat skin and bone trade is still taking place in China despite the fact it is against the law.  The investigation  took place from July 25th and August 19, 2009.  Other rare animal skins, including snow leopards and other big cats, were also being sold. 

Renewable sources of energy are beginning to replace coal power in the U.S.:

Every year the percentage of U.S. electricity generated from renewables has been increasing, according to the latest figures released by the Energy Information Administration in its Electric Power Monthly report.

As a result, by April of 2009, the total was 12.97 percent, with hydropower accounting for 8.73 percent and other renewables like solar and wind 4.24 percent of all U.S. electricity on average among all the states.  Higher wind generation totals in just 4 states accounted for 62.2 percent of the national increase in wind powered generation: Texas, Iowa, New York, and Indiana.

By contrast the percentage of electricity from fossil power is now actually decreasing.

Comparing April 2008 to April 2009, coal-fired generation fell by 20,551 thousand megawatt-hours, or 13.9 percent. Declines in 7 states accounted for 52.3 percent of the national decrease in coal-fired generation: they were Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Texas.

The most recent report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows continued steady growth in electrical production from renewable energy sources, and a growing decline in fossil energy sources, particularly coal.

China has often by-passed the internationally prescribed EIA regulations to go ahead with socially & environmentally sensitive projects. The Chinese government is trying to block public scrutiny of an oil refinery to be set up in wetlands near Hong Kong.

The US Ex-Im Bank and Overseas Private Investment Corp. have agreed to ask for environmental statements from projects which ask for financial aid.

According to a survey published by the EIA, British supermarkets are not doing nearly enough to phase out HFC refrigerants – leakage of which is a significant cause of global warming. The Chilling Facts report names – and shames.

A new report from the United States Energy Information Agency predicts significant increases in word wide energy consumption as a result of economic growth.