Colorado and Texas to Require Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals

http://www.treehugger.com/fossil-fuels/colorado-and-texas-require-disclosure-fracking-chemicals.html

Article by: Rachel Cernansky

Caption: This picture shows what the land looks like around where fracking occurs.

Summary: This article is basically saying that Colorado and Texas need to send in a report of all the chemicals put into the ground prior to fracking. It was also stated that Texas will publish all fracking chemicals on a website. The EPA recently admitted that fracking chemicals are responsible for aquifer contamination in Wyoming. Basic environmental protections such as the Clean Air and Safe Drinking Water Acts haven't helped much because the oil and gas industry is exempt from these laws.

Opinion: I think it is a good idea that the states of Colorado and Texas are requiring that all fracking companies put in a report of the chemicals that they put into the ground. I also think it is completely rediculous that oil and gas industries are exemt from the Clean Air and Safe Drinking Water Acts because they are affecting other states aquifiers not just their own.

Questions:

1) Do you think that the oil and gas industry should be put under the Clean Air and Safe Drinking Water Acts?

2) Could this be happening in other states as well?

3) are their alternate ways to get natural gas besides fracking?

Wind Power Produces Just 4-14% Emissions of Fossil Fuels Even with Manufacturing & Decommissioning

 Caption: This shows an off-shore wind farm, which emits less fossil fuel than on shore wind farms.

http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/wind-power-emissions-4-14-percent-fossil-fuels.html

 This article talks about how even wind power is creating emissions.  Newspapers through out the country are stating that Wind Turbines are emitting 4-14% of fossil fuels.  The fossil fuel emission comes from the manufacturing and installation of the turbine.  But Treehugger is saying that wind turbines that are off shore emit fewer fossil fuels versus those that are on shore.  They are not saying that you shouldn't use wind energy because it is more efficient than regular energy.        

I think that this is a shock to most people, it was to me.  I have always believed that all alternative energy was 100% good for the environment, I never thought that it could cause pollution.  I was also a little shocked to find out that the off shore wind turbines create less pollution than the ones that are on shore.  Finally, I was amazed that there are actually off shore wind farms.

QUESTIONS:

1) Are you surprised that wind power actually creates pollution?

2) Do you think other types of alternative energy create fossil fuel emission?

3) Would you still use this after learning that they pollute?

                     

Shocking Revelation: EPA Declares 'Fracking May Be To Blame For Causing Groundwater Pollution'

by Kyle Taylor

http://www.treehugger.com/fossil-fuels/shocking-revelation-epa-declares-fracking-may-be-blame-causing-groundwater-pollution.html

To sum up the article, the EPA has found chemicals found in fracking polluting our water sources here in the US. The pollution that has entered our ground water now will most likely be there and not be able to be distilled for years or even decades. In Pavillion, WY, contaminants had just showed up in citizens wells in the past few years. Nothing has changed in the area except the new process of fracking. Although they don't want to realize it, the only thing that is polluting their water is the contaminants assoiciated with fracking.

Fracking is a smart idea but it should not be harming a communities water supply. Water is more of a necessity than gas, therefore we should put it first and make sure it is not getting polluted. This is really bad and needs to change soon because if it continues to contaminate our water supply, we will have a water shortage because it is not able to be distilled for years after.

Question-

Do you think this happens in other areas in the US too?

Is this just a problem in the US?

What're your views on fracking?

Is fracking necessary?

Google, Making the Earth Greener!

Article Title: Google Invests an Additional $75 Million in Residential Solar Power
Article Link: http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/google-invests-an-additional-75-million-in-residential-solar-power.html?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29
Article Author: Michael Graham Richard

Picture: This picture shows a house that has its whole roof covered in solar panels. If you get solar panels, you do not need to cover your entire roof like this house, but this house is particularly being very environmentally friendly.

Summary: Google has recently decided to take some of their excessive money and put it in environmentally friendly projects. They have spend $280 million on solar energy in the past and now they are taking it to your homes. Google is leasing solar panels to customers for their homes. The $75 million dollars are going to help 3,000 homeowners make the switch to solar power. This is really great because the hardest part for homeowners to purchase solar energy systems is the cost for the panels. This is partially because there are not a lot of resources for financial help when it comes to going solar. In this case, Google owns the solar panels and the homeowners pay Google monthly which costs less than doing it by yourself. Solar panels are a safe investment for companies so there could be others that follow in Google's path.

Opinion: This is a really great thing that Google is doing to help the planet. It is a little ironic that they are a technology company, yet they still care enough to help the environment. Especially through alternative energy. Also, $75 million is a lot of money. When the article said that this is enough for 3,000 homes (which is also a lot), it means that they spend about $25,000 per home. Which is also a lot. It is also really great that they are taking a tremendous amount out of the company for this. Although, it is an investment, but one that that takes a while to get back which is why it could effect the company a little bit. Overall, it is great to hear that a major company, such as Google, is setting an example for many other companies. Who knows, maybe we will hear about more companies that will follow Google and do the same thing.

Picture #2: A Google logo that shows solar power. This shows how environmentally friendly they are and represents this article really well. It pulls two things together.

Questions:

• Would you ever think of Google doing this type of thing?
• Have you heard of any other companies doing something similar to this?
• Are you a personal fan of solar power? Why or why not?
• Do you know anyone that has solar panels? If so, what do they say about them?
• Where do you think would be the best and/or worst place (in the US) to own solar panels? Why?

U.S. Backs Project to Produce Fuel From Corn Waste

Link to article- http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/business/energy-environment/us-backs-plant-to-make-fuel-from-corn-waste.html?partner=rss&emc=rss#

Title- U.S. Backs Project to Produce Fuel From Corn Waste
By MATTHEW L. WALD. 7.6.11

Link to picture: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=corn+waste&hl=en&tbo=d&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=RBXL18fShu3P_M:&imgrefurl=http://www.ongo.com/v/1322620/-1/90A2B84EAB237501/us-backs-project-to-produce-fuel-from-corn-waste&docid=WCrQa9pem3jIZM&imgurl=http://www.ongo.com/6/2011/07/07/1322620/202ea9c7360c1043a829778b9f7422e4d00.jpg&w=1024&h=670&ei=ZqjbTri1MOrp0QGTh-HpDQ&zoom=1&biw=1024&bih=690


Caption to picture: in this picture it is showing all the corn waste that is used each day in the factory to make motor fuel.

Summary- The Energy Department plans to provide a $105 million loan guarantee for the expansion of an ethanol factory in Emmetsburg, Iowa, that intends to make motor fuel from corncobs, leaves and husks.In the article it mentioned this could be the first project to make ethanol from a nonfood, or cellulosic,plant source.if this idea works properly it could greatly increase the potential to make motor vehicle fuel and reduce the use of fossil fuels. It could also reduce the use of corn in the manufacture of ethanol as motor fuel, which is becoming an arguable issue because it is reducing food supplies for people and animals.The plan for this corncob plant is intended to make all the energy it needs to operate and to supply some energy to the corn ethanol plant next door.The company’s plant in Scotland,has been running since 2008 and converts a ton of cobs, husks and leaves, a day into 75 to 80 gallons of ethanol! In order to get the final product the process is very simple:The waste parts of corn plants, called stover, are steamed and treated with acid, and then broken down by enzymes into ordinary sugar and a second sugar with one fewer carbon atom. Both are converted by yeast into alcohol, but persuading the yeast to eat the second sugar requires altering its DNA.

Opinion/ reflection: I think this is a really great idea! In class I remember discussing alternative energy sources and how it has it's positives and negatives. Well I think in retrospect this idea it mainly positives. An example of one it's positive factors is that the ethanol is being made from corn cobs, leaves, and husks. This means that it is not reducing food supplies for humans or animals. Another positive is that we are using waste material in order to make the ethanol, not something we had to make, buy, or use.like I had previously mentioned this will help us use less fossil fuels, and that is another positive thing, because it will help prevent us to run out of fossil fuels.I believe the article also mentioned that this project will help lower oil and gas prices, which is another great positive, in this horrible economy. I was able to relate this back to class when we were discussing about using human and animal feces as energy to power your home. I think this is something similar but more powerful and efficient .

EPA Lowers Irigation Cost and Waste

Link to article:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/93A51723CE20B18525793D004E0347
Link to picture:
http://irrigationsystemmelbournefl.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Irrigation-System-Melbourne-FL.gif

Caption to picture: This is the current and typical irrigation system for farms and larger areas of land.



SUMMARY: As of today the EPA confirmed that they had created an irigation system that would allow any commercial or private residence to save about 410 million dollars a year on irigation and water bills. Shelia Frace the EPA director said, "As much as half of the water we use on our landscapes goes to waste..." Not only will this help save money but it will save water because upwards of 7 billion gallons of water are used for landscaping reasons. This system is WaterSense approved, and will be available for purchase by Spring 2012. It is so far the only system that is WaterSense approved and EPA approved.

OPNION: My opinion of this system is that it will save a lot of water for everyone and it will also help cut back on money spent. I also find it shocking how much water we waste on watering our lawn basically, I mean I can understand doing this when you have a garden that you can get food from. But when you are just watering grass it seems really wasteful. Finally I think that it is really good that the EPA is making it known that we are wasting water, like we learned Gandhi said, "There is enough water for human need, but not enough for human greed."

QUESTIONS:
1) Do you think that watering you lawn is wasteful or a requirement?
2) What would you do if we ran out of water because it had all been used?
3) About how many gallons of water does you family use on landscaping?
4) Are there any other WaterSense Appliances?

Arsenic in Drinking Water

Article: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=62999
Picture: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=arsenic&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=942&bih=434&tbm=isch&tbnid=XUGLezCksZhWBM:&imgrefurl=http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/a_arsenic.html&docid=ijEo_CoomQAQ5M&imgurl=http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/IMAGES/fig2.jpg&w=360&h=287&ei=K2KwToDVH8nv0gGh_bS8AQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=218&sig=101343160841677549513&page=1&tbnh=91&tbnw=110&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0&tx=29&ty=48


Picture: This picture shows the consentration of Arsenic in the United States. (I have included the link to the picture because the words are hard to see.)

Summary: Arsenic is an element on the periodic table that is oderless and colorless. It is harmful to humans and animals if ingested. It comes from natural deposits in the earth or from agriculture and industries. Arsenic has many non-cancer effects such as, thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis, and blindness. It also is known to cause cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has set a standard of .010 parts per million (ppm) (10 parts per billion; ppb) for drinking water. Many villages in Africa had water that contained high volumes of Arsenic and many were dying and no body knew why. Eventually scientist found the Arsenic in the water and had to find a way to get it out so people would stop dying of the symptoms listed above. In 2009 IRIN ( ) tested water from 360 wells and they were all contaminated with arsenic.

Opinion: I think that the amount of aresenic in the water in Africa is very alarming and unsettling. To think that all of those children are drinking water that they have no idea is actually killing them. Its so sad to think about. This article is directly related to the discussion we had in class. We also learned that ilters were sent out by an organization called Filters for Familes to filter out most of the arsenic so that fewer people would die of arsenic poisoning.

Questions:

1. Is there any other place in the world that has a worse Arsenic concentration level than Africa?

2. Was there ever a time in history that the U.S. had high levels of Arsenic?

3. What would you do if you found out htere was a high level of Arsenic in the water around your town?