By Michael Ricciardi •
December 29, 2009
A scientific team from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, led by Jacquelin L. Gill, chose to analyze fossilized dung samples (known as coprolites) to detect the presence of spores from a dung fungus called Sporormiella. The fungus requires ingestion by animals (herbivores and some birds) as part of its life cycle. The resulting digestion leaves fungal spores in the animals’ dung. The spores are also found in lake sediments where, it has been determined, they end up via [...]
By Jeff Kart •
August 12, 2009
Here’s a feather in the cap of renewable energy supporters.
When the (baseload, coal and nuclear) power went out after storms in Muskegon, a mobile renewable energy unit came to the rescue.
By Dave Tyler •
April 14, 2009
Yes, even the wind power is bigger in Texas. The Lone Star State held the top spot again in the just released American Wind Energy Association’s annual industry report.
In fact, if Texas was its own country it would rank sixth worldwide in production, with 7,118 megawatts installed. Texas added 2,671 MW just last year.
The AWEA report breaks down a record 2008 for wind power in the U.S. The U.S. now ranks ahead of Germany as the world’s top wind power producer. More than 8,500 MW of wind power came online last year, the report says, a more than 50 percent jump in U.S. production.
By Dave Tyler •
January 26, 2009
The town of Lowell, Ind., is examining whether or not to build a $ 200 million plant that would convert garbage into ethanol.
Though such a plant might conjure up visions of the “Mr. Fusion” unit in Doc Brown’s DeLorean, the plants could create 165 permanent jobs and 400 construction jobs in the small town southwest of Gary.
By Becky Striepe •
December 17, 2008
[Creative Commons photo by shoe the Linux Librarian]
An Indiana University study found that urban areas with more green space have healthier kids. Childhood obesity has tripled over the past 30 years in children aged six to 11 and is associated with a number of health risks. Greener neighborhoods could help combat that, according to their findings.
OK, so I haven’t posted a weekly green news roundup in a while, but I’m getting back to making it a regular feature as of today. So what are the green scoops across the U.S. this week? There’s plenty:
- Over in Dallas, for instance, officials and urban designers are gathering today for an all-day “charrette” (or brainstorming session) to figure out what it would take to create a fully sustainable city block. They hope to follow up their meeting with an international competition to design just such a thing. (You can read more here (PDF)).
I wrote my first “Building Bridges” post on a lark: the article I referenced on carbon offsets tied in nicely with ideas about bridging the divide between the environmental community and “Red America” (which tends to distrust, at the very least, environmentalists). Since then, I’ve been digging into existing success stories… and I’d love your input.
For the next round of posts, I’d like to feature “case studies” of “red” communities (and I hate that designation, but it conveys the rights characterization) that are implementing “green” practices. I’m particularly interested in “homegrown” initiatives put forth by local residents, as I think ideas that come from within will get a better reception — we’re all a bit more open-minded about ideas that come from people we know and trust. So far, I know about the following communities:
By Jerry James Stone •
September 23, 2008
In a 390-25 vote, the House approved a measure on Tuesday that will increase protection of the Great Lakes region.
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said today he would create a $5 billion trust fund to restore and protect the Great Lakes, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The fund would pay for efforts to prevent and control invasive species entering the lakes, clean up polluted sediments and help pay for sewer system repairs throughout the area. The program would also create a Great Lakes coordinator position in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Funding for Obama’s Great Lakes plan would come from reversing some existing tax cuts and incentives for oil companies.
By Ariel Schwartz •
June 19, 2008
Sure, it’s easy enough for one person to attempt energy self-sufficiency: put a solar panel on your roof, run your car on biodiesel, and you’re halfway there. But how easy is it for an entire town to become self-sufficient?
That’s the question that Reynolds, Indiana has been trying to answer for the past 3 years. In 2005, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels declared the town to be BioTown, USA—a model of energy self-sufficiency for the state.
The town was chosen mainly because of its small size (pop. 547), excellent rail and road access, and proximity to organic waste (within 15 miles of more than 150,000 hogs). According to the BioTown website, the finished project will showcase efficient methods of converting biomass into energy, use bioenergy to fuel homes and businesses throughout the town, promote alternative energies across the United States, and show that agricultural energy is safe, reliable, and consistent.
These are certainly some lofty goals for such a tiny town, and progress on the project has been slow. In fact, external signs of energy independence in Reynolds have been few and far between. So where does the project stand now?
By Carol Gulyas •
June 1, 2008
Indiana is learning from its fellow “I” state to the west — Illinois — that there are big money and green jobs in wind energy. The Windiana 2008 conference will be held in Indianapolis June 17th and 18th. Said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, in an article in Inside Indiana Business:
“Indiana is on the verge of explosive growth in wind energy…. There is not one single energy issue or
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