December 5, 2007

Water resources across the Southeast are being re-evaluated as an historic drought reigns over the region. Because utilities use more fresh water than any other entity, they are coming under increasing scrutiny.

The problem is that droughts across the United States have decreased the pool of water now available to all concerns. Not only do utilities use it. So does big industry and small residential households. To compound the matter, the demand for electricity in this country is expected to rise by 2 percent a year over 20 years. Governments and businesses alike are now calling for concerted conservation efforts. Another approach being pushed is the development of new utility technologies that require less water.

December 3, 2007

Almost everyone is familiar with "Kyoto." But in due time, the name "Bali" will eclipse that 1997 global warming pact. While the Kyoto Protocol set the stage to curb greenhouse gas emissions through 2012, the next phase of negotiations will carry on until 2050. The initial discussions will begin this December in Bali, India.

The United Nations has set the stage, having just released its findings on climate change. The study, written by more than 2,500 scientists from around the globe who were appointed by their respective governments, is definitive in its determination that humans are causing rising temperatures that could lead to environmental devastation. It lays the blame on excessive use of fossil fuels by power plants and major industry.

The historic renovation has begun at 1215 Ludington Street in Escanaba, which will house the home office of Michigan GREEN when completed. The 100-year old structure, to be known as the Michigan GREEN Building, has undergone façade repairs to make it weathertight, replacement of first floor windows and doors, and a new coat of paint utilizing a color scheme reflecting the historic era of the building. The façade renovation was made possible, in part, through a $10,000 grant provided by the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority.

November 28, 2007

Union Drilling says that its natural gas drilling fleet consists of 71 land-based rigs. It is predicting business will boom in all of its service territories from the Appalachian Basin through the Arkoma Basin in Arkansas and Oklahoma and into the Forth Worth Basin -- all containing rich sources of conventional and unconventional natural gas.

The company is one of dozens angling to get more access to natural gas reserves in the United States. The industry's arguments today have more resonance and namely that the demand for natural gas is greater than available supplies, causing prices to rise. But, their points are well-taken because of improvements in drilling technologies that are reported to leave a much smaller footprint in the communities in which they operate.

Governor says addressing environmental challenges can provide economic opportunity
Nov, 14 2007

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today took a number of actions designed to both mitigate the impact of global climate change in Michigan and capitalize on the economic opportunity that addressing those changes will present for the state.

By executive order, Granholm created a Michigan Climate Action Council to develop a comprehensive climate action plan for the state.  The plan will provide recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Michigan and will build upon previous measures to reduce the state's reliance on energy sources from outside its borders.  By executive directive, the governor also directed her administration to do all it can to reduce its own energy consumption.  In addition, Granholm announced that she will join governors from other Midwestern states tomorrow to adopt a regional platform for energy security and climate stewardship.

"Citizens across the country are grappling with the impact of global warming, the nation's reliance on foreign oil, the rising costs of fuel, and the impact those things have on both our environment and our economy," said Granholm.  "Working to reduce global warming can both put people to work and protect our environment."

November 26, 2007

It is election season and the rhetoric in the air may not be healthy for the nuclear industry. The sector is getting it from all sides, with some on the right arguing that too many subsidies exist while some on the left are saying it is still unsafe.

It all means that nuclear energy could get burned before it would rise from the ashes. With ample uranium to feed the proposed plants and with relatively no harmful emissions associated with it, the nuclear sector is poised to respond. But legal and financial impediments are still combining to add extraordinary risks.