Wednesday, 06 Jun 2007

Glade Runners

Florida utilities commission rejects Everglades-area coal plant

The Florida utilities commission voted unanimously yesterday to reject a proposal for building the nation's largest coal-burning power plant there. The $5.7 billion project, put forth by Florida Power & Light Co., was booted primarily on economic grounds. But since it would have been located near the Everglades, and was all coaly, opponents rejoiced. "The Public Service Commission today made the right decision for the environment, the right decision for the Everglades, and the right decision for Florida," said Gov. Charlie Crist (R). Stephen Smith, head of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said, "It is time that FPL get serious about investing in energy efficiency and clean energy which will not threaten the future health and safety of their customers." Oh Stephen, you card. FPL protested that pollution controls would have made the facility "one of the cleanest coal plants in the nation." It has five days to ask the commission to reconsider and 30 days to appeal to the state Supreme Court.


As the protests that began this weekend continue, the long-awaited G8 summit kicks off today in Germany. Will the world's richest countries be able to surmount their differences and agree on a climate-change plan? Will the violence of some protesters detract from the peaceful message of thousands of others? Will anyone be able to massage some sense into George Bush? Michael Levitin reports from the scene.

Well, Uh, At Least No One Got Zero?

California, Vermont, Connecticut top ranking of energy-efficient states

Less than a week after California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) declared at an economic summit in Canada that clean energy is becoming the basis for "a new gold rush," his all-star state has topped an energy-efficiency ranking issued by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Looking at eight factors, including transportation policies, building codes, spending on efficiency programs, and tax incentives, ACEEE -- also known for its "Green Book" ranking of vehicles -- developed a 44-point scale on which California scored 33 points, tying with Vermont and Connecticut for first place. North Dakota bottomed out the list with a pitiful 0.5 points. Noting the national disparity, ACEEE is calling on Congress to enact federal efficiency requirements. Says Deputy Director Bill Prindle: "Given the stakes that we as a nation face -- global warming and energy security -- it's not sufficient to let a few visionary states lead while the rest of the nation lags."


Say the word "solar panel," and most people picture the clunky, chunky photovoltaic grids that grace many a rooftop. But there's a new brand of PV in town: thin-film panels that are flexible and increasingly fashionable. How are they made, and how are they used? Advice maven Umbra Fisk offers an array of details.

That's It, We're Not Washing Our Undies Anymore

Groups ask U.S. EPA to ban chemical in detergent that feminizes fish

Your detergent gets your clothes clean, sure -- but does it feminize your trout? Five green groups and a labor union are petitioning the U.S. EPA to ban a family of chemicals used in cleaning products that have been linked to gender changes in fish. Each year, the U.S. produces about 400 million pounds of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates, much of which ends up in waterways by way of sewers. In lab tests, the endocrine disruptors have been shown to cause male fish to develop female characteristics; finned fatales have also been found in the wild. While the effects on humans aren't known, the groups -- led by the Sierra Club -- say the environmental risks are "unreasonable." Some major companies, including Unilever and Procter & Gamble, have stopped using the chemicals, and Wal-Mart has asked its suppliers to phase them out as well. The EPA, which is instituting its own voluntary "Safer Detergents" program, has 90 days to respond to the petition. We'll give you one good guess on the outcome.