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Archive for July, 2011

Far better fuel economy in our future

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , on July 30, 2011 | 2 Comments »

With the backing of major carmakers, President Obama announced a plan to increase the fleet average fuel economy of new cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, nearly double the current levels. The new standards are the result of a compromise with the industry after the White House initially proposed raising the Corporate Average Fuel [...]

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All the world’s a “fracking” stage, and all the men and women merely players

Posted in Air Quality, tagged , , on July 29, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Seems like everyone is jumping onto the “Fracking” bandwagon.  In an earlier blog we talked about the US Department of Energy’s entrance into the “Fracking” fray with Secretary Steven Chu appointing an Energy Advisory Board subcommittee on natural gas, led by former CIA director John Deutch, who plan to have recommendations on the table in [...]

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German low-level radioactive waste – could this be the first wave from outside the US?

Posted in Global Warming on July 28, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Earlier this week, NPR reported on the anticipated arrival of nearly 1,000 tons of nuclear waste from Germany at Oak Ridge, TN. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a plan in June for an American company to import and burn low-level nuclear waste from Germany.  The radioactive residue left over from the process will be sent [...]

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DOE weighing in on the fracking debate

Posted in Air Quality, tagged , , , on July 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

US Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chu may play a role in sorting out the entangled mess of misinformation and spin about the environmental impacts of gas drilling. U.S. gas producers are looking to ramp up industrialization in rural areas outside of some of the nation’s largest cities.  Secretary Chu has indicated that the White [...]

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Coal ash contaminates groundwater at some TVA power plants

Posted in Air Quality, Coal, tagged , on July 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

A report by the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Office of Inspector General found that the groundwater at some coal ash sites is contaminated with arsenic and other toxic pollutants and is a health hazard. Levels at the Gallatin plant site in Sumner County and at the Cumberland site, 50 miles northwest of Nashville, are at [...]

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Congress should vote against reducing a review of proposed pipeline that will run through Texas

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , on July 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

The Terry-Greene Tar Sands Resolution Would Allow Hasty Decision to Be Made Regarding an Oil Pipeline Through Texas  The Terry-Greene Tar Sands Resolution (H.R .1938), which is scheduled for a vote Tuesday, would expedite the approval for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, requiring a decision by Nov. 1 of this year, causing important objections [...]

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Nelson new Chair of PUC

Posted in Energy, tagged , on July 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

According to the Austin Business Journal, Donna Nelson has been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to be chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Ms. Nelson will replace Barry Smitherman in that position.  Smitherman resigned earlier this month and Gov. Rick Perry quickly appointed him to the Texas Railroad Commission. Nelson is a former [...]

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“The Rick Perry Primer”

Posted in Campaign Finance, tagged , , on July 26, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Review Highlights of a Decade of Texans for Public Justice’s Perry-related Research Texas Governor Rick Perry is unknown to much of America.  Texans for Public Justice (TPJ) has followed this politician since he became governor in late 2000, publishing numerous reports on Perry’s politics and policies.  With talk of a Perry presidential campaign escalating, “The [...]

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A Perry EPA, brrrrr . . . cold shivers down my spine

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , , on July 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

The EPA under Perry . . . what would that look like?  I don’t know about you, but that thought sends cold shivers down my spine, even on a 104 degree day. The Austin American Statesman takes a look at what the EPA might become with a Perry White House.  Public Citizen’s own “Smitty” weighs [...]

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LIGHTS, CAMERA, HELP – a cause-driven film festival in Austin featuring “On Coal River”

Posted in Air Quality, Coal, tagged , , , on July 24, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Lights. Camera. Help is a nonprofit film festival dedicated entirely to nonprofit and cause-driven films.  This 3-day event held in Austin Texas, July 28th through July 30th, gives films-for-a-cause the attention they deserve by putting them up on the big screen in a theater setting.  One of the films, On Coal River,  showing at Lights. [...]

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Terrorist threat to utilities, not what we need right now

Posted in Energy, tagged , on July 23, 2011 | 1 Comment »

According to ABC News, a new intelligence report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued Tuesday, entitled Insider Threat to Utilities, warns “violent extremists have obtained insider positions,” and that “outsiders have attempted to solicit utility-sector employees” for damaging physical and cyber attacks. The report goes on to say, “Based on the reliable reporting [...]

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Heat wave and poor air quality, a deadly combination

Posted in Air Quality, tagged , on July 22, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Scorching temperatures continue to bake half the country, as a massive heat wave that has killed at least 22 people nationwide this week leaves twenty-nine states still under a heat advisory. Meteorologists are also warning folks in numerous cities in the northeast that they are under a code red for air quality — designated as [...]

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Kids sue TCEQ to preserve the future and halt climate change

Posted in Global Warming, TCEQ, tagged , , , , , on July 21, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Statewide organizations support youth as they appeal TCEQ decision denying petition to reduce carbon emissions and prevent climate catastrophe Three Texas youth and one young adult filed for judicial review today of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) denial of their petition to force action on climate change. Specifically, the rulemaking petition requests TCEQ [...]

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Austin, TX 100+ degree days finally at an end?

Posted in Global Warming, tagged , , on July 21, 2011 | 68 Comments »

On the last day of September in Austin, Texas, we may have put the 100 degree days behind us.  No guarantees, but unless we have a very late heat wave, yesterday’s 100+ degree day may have set the new record to break of 90 days* of 100+ degree days in 2011. We have also tied [...]

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LCRA meeting in Bay City, July 28th at 6:30 pm

Posted in Coal, Coal Plants, Water, tagged , , on July 20, 2011 | 4 Comments »

According to a Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) press release, there will be a public meeting in Bay City on July 28th at 6:30 pm regarding the White Stallion water contract. The Lower Colorado River Authority will hold a public information meeting in Bay City on Thursday, July 28, on a proposed water contract with [...]

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