Saturday, April 26, 2008

Energy policy: Nuclear From The High Country News: "It's been three decades since a nuclear power plant has been built in the United States. Now, under the 2005 Energy Policy Act, the Energy Department is working hard to lure new proposals, adding billions in tax breaks and 'cost overrun guarantees' and streamlining its licensing process with four ready-to-use designs, early site permits and a combined construction permit and operating license. The 104 nuclear power plants currently in the U.S. generate about 20 percent of the nation's electricity. Some Energy Department plans call for as many as 50 new nuclear plants by 2020, producing 50,000 megawatts. Twenty-two applications are currently on file with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including proposals for plants in Utah and Idaho. Nuclear weapon development is ramping up as well, with a budget next year of $6.6 billion." "cc" 9:58:47 AM     100s of EPA scientists report pressure to skew findings From The Environmental News Service: "Hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency scientists say they have been pressured by superiors to skew their findings, according to a survey released Wednesday by an advocacy group. The Union of Concerned Scientists said more than half of the nearly 1,600 EPA staff scientists who responded online to a detailed questionnaire reported they had experienced incidents of political interference in their work...Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., in a letter sent Wednesday to Johnson, called the survey results disturbing and said they "suggest a pattern of ignoring and manipulating science." He said he planned to pursue the issue at an upcoming hearing by his Oversight and Government Reform Committee where Johnson is scheduled to testify." "2008 pres" 9:50:06 AM     Climate Change: The earth is a beautifully complex system Scientists from NOAA are reporting that levels of greenhouse gases rose in 2007, according to The Denver Post. From the article: Worldwide emissions of two major greenhouse gases -- carbon dioxide and methane -- jumped dramatically in 2007, according to a federal study released Wednesday. The preliminary findings by scientists at the Boulder-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration based on 60 sites around the world add to concerns global warming may be occurring more rapidly than predicted. The amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the primary driver of global warming, rose by 0.6 percent, or 19 billion tons last year, NOAA said. Carbon dioxide is produced primarily by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil, and it has been accumulating at an accelerated pace since the 19th century, researchers say. Methane - an even more potent greenhouse gas - jumped by 27 million tons after nearly a decade with little or no increase. Scientists suspect that industrialization in Asia and the unprecedented thawing of permafrost in the Arctic are releasing ever-increasing amounts of the gases into the atmosphere. "I think the biggest question right now is whether what we're seeing in 2007 is a response to climate change in Arctic regions. The Arctic is full of permafrost, and there is a lot of carbon in permafrost, both carbon dioxide and methane," said NOAA atmospheric chemist Ed Dlugokencky. "cc" 7:46:47 AM

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