Environmental Justice & Sustainability

The Union Concerned Scientists issued an argument by argument debunking of the "Global Cooling" section of the new book, SuperFreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. The chapter's positions are typical of those used bythe global climate denier movement to stall action on climate solutions like clean energy, renewable power and more sustainable business practices.

UCS spokesperson, Aaron Huertas, says the book "features a chapter that grossly mischaracterizes climate science." 

The conversion of the Riverside coal-burning power plant, operated by Xcel Energy, from coal to natural gas will be commemorated tomorrow at a public ceremony on site in Northeast Minneapolis. Riverside is located on the Mississippi River between North and Northeast Minneapolis. The coal plant has been operating since 1911 and was the largest single source of air pollution in Minneapolis.

Changes made to the way the plant operates and the switch from dirty coal to more clean burning natural gas will cut dangerous air pollution substantially:

Sulfur dioxide (SO2)  is a precursor to fine particulates, which can cause people to develop asthma and aggravate existing lung and circulatory problems – cut 99%.
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) or smog will damage lung tissues, causing asthma attacks and other health problems – cut 96%
Particulates or soot, which are linked to lung and circulatory system problems – cut 86%
Mercury, a potent neurotoxin which can lead to developmental problems in kids and the reason every body of water in Minnesota is under a fish consumption advisory – cut 100%

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today launching a new evaluation of the human health effects of the pesticide atrazine. According to an agency press release, "EPA will evaluate the pesticide’s potential cancer and non-cancer effects on humans," including "the most recent studies on atrazine and its potential association with birth defects, low birth weight, and premature births." Based on the findings, EPA says it will decide whether to keep the old standards or formulate new ones to better protect public health.

Atrazine --an endocrine disruptor sold as Lariat, Bicep and Shotgun-- is one of the most widely used agricultural pesticides in the U.S. The pesticide is now so commonly found in groundwater, lakes and rivers that technicians use its absence as a red flag that a water test has been botched.

Dr. Tyrone Hays, atrazine expert, says he's pleased by EPA's action. "I was very happy to see this response from the EPA. It is a clear indication that the new administration will finally start to emphasize environmental health, public health, and good science."

MINNEAPOLIS, MN.///September 30, 2009///Minnesota’s Congressional delegation is hearing today from a diverse group of 16 Minnesota organizations – including Clean Water Action, Environment Minnesota, Sierra Club North Star Chapter and the Minnesota Peace Project – that strongly oppose any effort to open the door to the reprocessing of radioactive waste from Prairie Island and other nuclear reactors when Capitol Hill considers climate and energy legislation.

This fall the Senate is expected take up a climate and energy bill that would establish a new agency within the Department of Energy to administer federal loan guarantees for private "clean" energy projects. The bill, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009 (S.1462), was passed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in June.

The proposed new agency, the Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA), would offer a range of financing options, including direct loans, letters of credit, loan guarantees and insurance for energy production, transmission and storage projects that emphasize so-called "breakthrough" technologies to reduce Global Warming emissions and energy consumption. Renewable energy, advanced nuclear, and coal carbon capture and storage projects all would qualify for assistance.

Ottertail Power-- proposer and developer of the multi-utility coal power proposal Big Stone II-- today announced its withdrawl from the project. This news means the coal plant expansion project is likely dead.

Big Stone is an existing 300 megawatt coal burning power plant at Milbank, SD on the Minnesota-South Dakota border. It neighbors Big Stone Lake, a recreational lake that the Minnesota DNR spent millions rehabbing to improve fishing, boating and wildlife habitat. Ottertail and partner utilities from Minnesota  and the Dakotas proposed building a new coal-burning power plant on the existing site, which would have doubled power generating capacity to 500-600 MW.

Local residents and pro-environment advocates spent years opposing the project, which they said would increase air pollution, mercury contamination in Big Stone Lake and would use billions of gallons of water from limited local resources. Big Stone opponents urged the utilities to build renewable power generation like wind or solar instead of investing in coal.

According to Failure to Yield,  a 2009 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), biotechnology industry claims about higher crop yields are not verifiable. “Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase US crop yields,” says UCS.

Pressure on farmers to provide cheap, adequate amounts of food is accelerating due to climate change, increasing population, demand for biofuels and the global economic downturn. The public response of biotechnology companies like Monsanto is that they are willing and able to feed the world. The promise of rapid, high-tech improvements in plant genetics to deal with new agricultural challenges is the main PR line of biotech giants.

Expect a long afternoon Tuesday when the state Public Utilities Commission tries to sift through the competing claims and objections between Dakota Rural Action and lawyers for TransCanada over the company’s proposed XL crude-oil pipeline. The issue before the commissioners Tuesday is whether to give DRA more time to submit pre-filed testimony.