Energy and Climate Change


Can't Afford a Volt? Try a Fuel Conversion System Instead

EPA streamlines regulations for car and truck fuel conversion systems with new options that encourage innovation and maintain air quality protections.

Who's Doing What?

Here's a snapshot of personnel moves, recognition, contracts awards, partnerships, and new company names that were announced in March.

Zhong Lin Wang and a nanogenerator

Georgia Tech Puts the Squeeze on Nano Power

In three to five years, environmental professionals could be using nanogenerators as a power source for sensors used in infrastructure monitoring, according to researchers.

NESCAUM Reports Coal Plants Can Comply with New Clean Air Rules

The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management has released a report that claims pollution control technologies are available and already at work in many plants.

SunDurance Energy Wins Solar Canopy Contract for Medical Center

The $2 million contract, funded at 80 percent with ARRA money, was awarded by The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Proposed Cooling Water Rules Seek Best Technology to Safeguard Fish

In response to an agreement with Riverkeeper, EPA is seeking comment on its proposed regulations to minimize fish impingement and entrainment in cooling water systems.

This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service picture shows the remains of a Golden Eagle killed by a wind turbine.

Why Do Birds Collide with Manmade Objects?

Birmingham study suggests that birds may not be looking at what obstacles are straight ahead and some of them may not be able to slow their flying speed.

Power Profiler Allows Users to See Emissions, Electric Sources

EPA has updated its emissions and generation database, or eGrid, with 2007 data, allowing users to access the information using ZIP codes.



Iodine-131 Levels Still Below Levels of Concern

EPA and USDA are monitoring food, rain, and potable water for levels of radioactivity that may have drifted to the United States from Japan.

Microwave Method Converts Used Motor Oil into Fuel

Researchers at the U.K.'s Cambridge University mixed samples of waste oil with a highly microwave-absorbent material and then heated the mixture to convert nearly 90 percent of the samples into fuel.

Groups Request Info on Reactor Exemptions, Evacuation

Richard Brodsky with Demos, a national policy center, and three other groups have filed Freedom of Information Act requests prompted by the nuclear disaster in Sendai, Japan.

New Artificial Leaf 10 Times More Efficient than Natural Leaf

MIT’s Daniel Nocera said he believes the future world will be powered by photosynthesis and his research has developed one that uses nickel and cobalt to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Proposed Toxics Rule Will Not Compromise Electric System Reliability

The Clean Energy Group, which is a coalition of electric power companies, has reviewed the proposal and says the rule allows for some compliance flexibility.

Turkey Hill Dairy Officially Starts Wind Turbines

The dairy launches renewable energy effort with the start of megawatt wind power project in Lancaster County, Pa.

Solid Waste Privatization Lowers Costs, NSWMA Says

A National Solid Waste Management Association study describes how cities can privatize their garbage collection, disposal, and recycling programs while protecting the environment and often while maintaining employment.

DOE Releases Melter Draft Waste Evaluation for Comment

The draft evaluation shows that the melter meets the criteria for “waste incidental to reprocessing” and may be managed and disposed of as low-level radioactive waste.

Report Charges EPA with False Benefit-Cost Estimates for GHGs

The report says EPA does not consider capital expenditures of manufacturers to meet regulatory deadlines or the basic law of demand ─ that higher prices will reduce demand and economic output.

Kansas' Wind Power May Hold the Key to Preventing Major Power Outages (With Video)

One of Kansas' most abundant natural resources may hold the key to preventing major power outages. A team of Kansas State University engineers is researching ways to use Kansas wind and other distributed energy sources to avoid cascading failures.

USW Honors Japanese Nuclear Workers at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant

United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard issued a statement concerning the workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility in Japan.

Would Your Life Insurance Policy Cover Death by Radiation Poisoning?

The aftermath of Japan's multiple nuclear reactor leaks that were caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, combined with the heightened fear of an unstoppable wind-borne spread of radiation into other countries has some Americans asking, "Would death from radiation poisoning be covered by my life insurance policy?"