Top Stories
Lenders Back Off of Environmental Risks.—reliability
high.
"After years of legal entanglements arising from environmental messes
and increased scrutiny of banks that finance the dirtiest industries,
several large commercial lenders are taking a stand on industry
practices that they regard as risky to their reputations and bottom
lines. In the most recent example, the banking giant Wells Fargo noted
last month what it called 'considerable attention and controversy'
surrounding mountaintop removal mining, and said that its involvement
with companies engaged in it was 'limited and declining.' " Article
gives other examples. Miners and others deny any impact. " 'While some
banks no longer provide financing for companies conducting surface
mining, there are many who will,' Mr. Hendriksen [of Massey Energy]
said. 'We have and will continue to replace their services with
alternate bank providers with little difficulty.' " From The
New York Times. [Is this about risk
management on the part of banks, or are they concerned about dirt by
association?]
U.S. to propose labeling greenhouse gases
from cars.—reliability high.
"The labeling proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of Transportation would allow consumers to compare cars in
terms of emissions blamed for warming the planet and to see how far
they could drive on new technologies and traditional gasoline engines.
... The labels would include comparisons across all types of vehicles
including electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid cars. The EPA and the
DOT will propose two label designs for comment." See Reuters
article.
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
Biofuel demand driving Africa 'land grab' :
report .—reliability high.
"Biofuel demand is driving a new "land grab" in Africa, with at least
5 million hectares (19,300 sq miles) acquired by foreign firms to grow
crops in 11 countries, a study by an environmental group said on
Monday. The contracts by European and Asian companies for land to grow
sugar cane, jatropha and palm oil to be turned into fuel will involve
clearing forests and vegetation, taking land that could be used for
food and creating conflicts with local communities, Friends of the
Earth said in the study. ... 'The competition for land and the
competition for staple food crops such as cassava and sweet sorghum for
agrofuels is likely to push up food and land prices,' the study said."
Story at Reuters.
PDF of the study here.
[Unintended
consequences of European policies stimulating demand for biofuels.]
Hot Water, Lights and AC as a Service.—reliability
high.
"You really don’t need to own your light bulbs. You don’t even need to
lease them. You just need the light that emanates from them. That is
the premise underlying a new crop of startups such as Skyline
Innovations and Metrus Energy that hope to transform energy efficiency
and building management through creative financing, service contracts
and software." See Greentech
Media.
Review Finds Flaws in U.N. Climate Panel
Structure.—reliability high.
"The review committee’s major recommendation is that ... the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change should become a more
professional organization, paying salaries to its top management. ...
The committee noted that some climate panel leaders had been criticized
for public statements perceived as advocating specific policies.
'Straying into advocacy can only hurt I.P.C.C.’s credibility,' the
report said." From The New
York Times. PDF of report here.
Small Businesses Add Solar to Save Money.—reliability
high.
"Small businesses across the nation are installing solar power systems
as a way to offset higher electricity costs and make a little profit on
excess energy produced. As an example, L. Liberato Steel Fabricating in
Pennsylvania has installed a 602-panel, 141-kilowatt rooftop solar
photovoltaic system that will help the steel fabricator cut its
electric bills and generate excess electricity for an additional
profit, reports The Mercury Business." Other examples. See Environmental
Leader.
Government and
Regulation
Judge quashes Cuccinelli subpoena of U-Va.
records.—reliability medium.
"An Albemarle County Circuit Court judge has set aside a
subpoena issued by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to the
University of Virginia seeking documents related to the work of climate
scientist and former university professor Michael Mann. Judge Paul M.
Peatross Jr. ruled that Cuccinelli can investigate whether fraud has
occurred in university grants, as the attorney general had contended,
but ruled that Cuccinelli's subpoena failed to state a 'reason to
believe' that Mann had committed fraud." See Washington
Post blog. [Cuccinelli
asserted that because of alleged doubts about climate change, Mann
might have committed fraud by taking state money to study it. The AG
wanted email records from U. Virginia. The judge said he would need a
better basis for his fraud theory. Cuccinelli may try again. It's a
little scary when the Attorney General can go after a scientist and an
institution if he doesn't like the results they are getting.]
Science and
Economics
New Study Links Toxic Pollutants to Canadian
Oil Sands Mining.—reliability high.
"a new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences is backing the position of the Native Canadians. Led by
several University of Alberta researchers, the study found that unusual
levels of lead, mercury, zinc, cadmium and other toxic pollutants were
found near oil sands mining sites or downstream from them. The levels
exceeded federal and provincial government guidelines." See New
York Times Green blog. Abstract and access here.
[Previous article
on polycyclic aromatic compounds from the mines here.
"These results indicate that major changes are needed to the way that
environmental impacts of oil sands development are monitored and
managed."]
