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Mon, 2011-07-11 15:31 — mdmcdonald
This collaboratory is focused on discussions about Sustainable Energy.

This mission of this collaboratory is to focus on discussions about Sustainable Energy.

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Kathy Gilbeaux Katie Rast Maeryn Obley mdmcdonald
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New USGS Report Links Fracking and Earthquakes

Tue, 2012-04-10 23:18 — Kathy Gilbeaux

by Akhila Vijayaraghavan - triplepundit.com - April 5, 2012

The US Geological Survey (USGS) will be presenting a paper next month at the annual meeting of the Seismological Society of America in San Diego. The paper will directly link an “unprecedented” increase in frequency and magnitude of earthquakes to drilling for oil and gas.

This link is not a new one. The USGS already linked about 50 earthquakes in Oklahoma due to fracking.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - Fracking Update: What States Are Doing to Ensure Safe Natural Gas Extraction

Sun, 2012-04-08 20:38 — Kathy Gilbeaux

By Jacquelyn Pless

Hydraulic fracturing, a technique used to extract natural gas from deep shale formations, has been employed for decades. However, technology advancements are enabling access to vast quantities of previously unrecoverable natural gas in regions where it is not a familiar practice. While some argue that more oversight is necessary to protect public health and the environment, others believe that it’s already adequately regulated. At the federal level, hydraulic fracturing is exempt from the underground injection control program requirements set forth in the Safe Drinking Water Act. Congress is considering legislation known as the FRAC Act though, which would remove this exemption and require public disclosure of chemicals used in fracking. State lawmakers are also exploring more stringent requirements to assure that new natural gas resources are developed safely.

Since October 2010, more than 100 bills across 19 states have been introduced relating to hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. The most active states include New York and Pennsylvania.  This explosion of recent attention is largely attributed to fracking in regions where it is not as familiar to the affected communities, such as in the Marcellus Shale region. 

Map - Fracking Across the United States

Sun, 2012-04-08 19:34 — Kathy Gilbeaux

                           (CLICK ON THE MAP IMAGE BELOW TO GO TO THE INTERACTIVE MAP)

      

The country is in the midst of an unprecedented gas drilling boom—brought on by a controversial technology called hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." Along with this fracking-fueled gas rush have come troubling reports of poisoned drinking water, polluted air, mysterious animal deaths, industrial disasters and explosions. We call them "Fraccidents."

The map below displays a sampling of some of the high profile incidents related to the country's gas drilling boom. Each of the symbols represents a fraccident. Click on any of the highlighted states to learn more about some of the fraccidents in that state, details on the fracking issues facing the state, and resources for getting involved in your local fight against fracking.

You can also visit the state pages directly.

(GO TO THE INTERACTIVE MAP)

Analysis: Shale Oil: from Curse to Cure for East Coast Refiners?

Sun, 2012-04-08 19:16 — Kathy Gilbeaux

A new kind of oil from Texas and North Dakota may rescue some East Coast refiners from the brink of oblivion, providing a local alternative to the costly imported crude that had threatened to put them out of business.

Evidence of new buying interest has emerged this week for two other major plants, potentially saving the Northeast region from a summer fuel squeeze that had unnerved politicians all the way to the White House.

One of those bidders is counting on the boom in light, sweet shale oil to help resuscitate the ailing sector, which has been squeezed between costly, imported light crude, falling gasoline demand and new, more sophisticated overseas rivals.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Algae Is Not Endive: The Future of Biofuels in the United States

Sat, 2012-04-07 23:38 — Kathy Gilbeaux

      

Researchers have developed an inexpensive way of producing microbubbles that can float algae particles to the surface of the water, making harvesting easier, and saving biofuel-producing companies time and money. (Credit: Stéphane Bidouze / Shutterstock)

Source: The Globalist (4 April 2012)

Solar Installations Doubled Last Year, with California Leading the Way

Sun, 2012-04-01 00:34 — Kathy Gilbeaux

         

by Dana Hull- mercurynews.com - March 14, 2012

 

The amount of photovoltaic solar panels installed in the United States more than doubled from 2010 to 2011, representing a historic year for the American solar industry.

A year-in-review report jointly released Wednesday by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research found that 1,855 megawatts were installed nationwide in 2011, up from 887 megawatts in 2010 -- for a growth of 109 percent.

California continued to lead the nation, installing 542 megawatts, accounting for 29 percent of all installations in the country. Next came New Jersey, Arizona and New Mexico.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

U.S. Solar Market Insight™ is a collaboration between the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®) and GTM Research that brings high-quality, solar-specific analysis and forecasts to industry professionals in the form of quarterly and annual reports.

 

Stocks Follow Oil Lower on Reserve Talks

Sat, 2012-03-31 00:52 — Kathy Gilbeaux

A man refuels his car as gas prices are reflected into the windows of the United Oil gas station in Los Angeles, California March 24, 2012.  REUTERS/Bret Hartman

Reuters - by Rodrigo Campos - March 28, 2012

(Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Wednesday as the U.S. and some European governments mulled the release of strategic oil reserves, while commodity-related shares weighed on global equities.

U.S. stocks closed weaker, though far from the day's lows, in the wake of economic data that was slightly below expectations.

France, the United States and Britain are in talks about the possible release of strategic oil stocks to help push fuel prices lower, French ministers said, only weeks ahead of the country's presidential election. Purchasing power is among voters' top concerns.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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New Industry Commitments to Give 15 Million Households Tools to Shrink Their Energy Bills

Mon, 2012-03-26 23:08 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Gavin Starks

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
WASHINGTON, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 22, 2012

New Industry Commitments to Give 15 Million Households Tools to Shrink Their Energy Bills

Washington, D.C. -- Responding to President Obama’s call for an “all-of-the-above” strategy to help consumers reduce their energy costs, the Administration announced today that nine major utilities and electricity suppliers will commit to providing more than 15 million households access to data about their own energy use with a simple click of an online “Green Button.”  By providing consumers with secure, easy-to-understand information about how they are using energy in their households, Green Button can help them reduce waste and shrink bills.

You’re Invited! “Match Making” in the Biofuels Value Chain at USDA

Mon, 2012-03-19 20:13 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Albert Gomez

usda.gov - March 19, 2012

On March 30th, the Department of Agriculture, is hosting a “match making day” at USDA, to promote connections between agricultural producers of energy feedstocks (and their related businesses) with biorefiners seeking to produce biofuels for commercial sale and consumption. Officials from the U.S. Department of Navy, U.S. Department of Energy, and the Federal Aviation Administration will attend, make presentations and answer questions.

As we move forward as a nation, identifying and implementing an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, there are key relationships that will determine our success in the effort to develop and deploy aviation biofuels.  The objectives of this match making session will be to improve awareness and increase understanding of the biofuels supply-chain links between those involved in feedstock production and the processors of that feedstock into biofuels.  This includes logistical challenges, potential roles of service providers, and potential pitfalls.

Startup Converts Plastic To Oil, And Finds A Niche

Mon, 2012-03-19 18:05 — Kathy Gilbeaux

 submitted by Albert Gomez

      

Daniel Robison/WNED  After being delivered to JBI's Plastic2Oil facility, shredded plastic is melted down in a large tank before being vaporized and formed into fuel. John Bordynuik releases some of the substance to check for quality.

by Daniel Robison - npr.org - March 19, 2012

Only 7 percent of plastic waste in the United States is recycled each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. A startup company in Niagara Falls says it can increase that amount and reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil at the same time.

It all starts with a machine known as the Plastic-Eating Monster.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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