Archive for USA
A massive coal sludge accident in Tennessee
Posted by: on January 5, 2009 in Tags: Coal, Environment, pollution, USA
I never have been a fan of coal as it is by very far the most carbon dioxide emitting energy solution. It is also the most polluting as what occurred on December 22nd in Tennessee shows.
Indeed 48 times in volume of what was spilled by the Exxon Valdez was accidentally released over 160 hectares (400 acres) of land. This is huge and this video on YouTube will finish to convince you.
The pollution induced by this disaster will take a long time and a lot of money to be cleaned up. This is yet another reason for us to get rid of this energy source. Continue reading »
A video of aurora borealis seen from space
Posted by: on January 4, 2009 in Tags: Astronomy, photo, USA, Video
On December 24th, the famous Earthrise photo turned 40 years old. Andrew Revkin, New York Times’ journalist and blogger at Dot Earth published that day a most interesting note on this event.
Since I use this photo for this very blog I left a comment there. The day after I had the honor of a personal answer from Mr. Revkin himself. On his e-mail he presented me a video of an aurora Borealis seen from space.
This was the occasion for me to read out more on Dot Earth and to discover the videos published on YouTube by Mr. Revkin. Continue reading »
Obama’s environment dream team: Steven Chu
Posted by: on December 26, 2008 in Tags: China, Climate change, USA
I described Barack Obama’s election as a new hope for a planet in peril. This couldn’t be more true as the President-elect chose real scientists to run the environment and energies agencies.
This is a stark difference with President Bush’s policies and environmental record. But a fact was little noticed: Dr. Steven Chu, the new Secretary of Energy, could be a great link with China.
What if under the impulse of this Nobel Prize, the two largest greenhouse gases emitters were working hand in hand to solve the climate change issue ? Continue reading »
EDF buys half of Constellation nuclear activities
Posted by: on December 18, 2008 in Tags: Energy, France, nuclear, USA
The French national utility Electricité de France - EDF - just bought half of nuclear activities of US based utility Constellation for 4.5 billion US Dollars (3.3 billion euros).
This occurs only a few months after the acquisition of British Energy by EDF, which is willing to become a major global player in nuclear energy, one of the lowest carbon emitting solutions.
EDF will manage on US soil five reactors which accounts for nearly 4,000MW of generation capacity. This adds up to the 58 reactors already managed in France. Continue reading »
US agency blocks construction of coal-fired plant
Posted by: on November 19, 2008 in Tags: Coal, nuclear, Sustainable development, USA
The United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a ruling that may well bring an end to the constructions of coal-fired plants in the country.
As the Bush Presidency is ending, this institution is finally getting more serious on limiting carbon dioxide emissions of the world’s largest emitter.
The construction and use of alternative energy sources - renewables and nuclear - will become more easier and faster. Continue reading »
Al Gore’s brilliant plan to repower America
Posted by: on November 10, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Energy, renewables, USA
Al Gore, the former US Vice President and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize with the IPCC, wants to take the opportunity of having a President that promotes change to repower America.
To do so, he launched a new website and wrote a most interesting article in the New York Times which perfectly sums up the situation at hand, thus making this a must read.
Still willing to produce the totality of the US electricity by cleaner energy sources, Al Gore shows that with his plan yes we can solve our climate/ energy problems. Continue reading »
A new hope for a planet in peril
Posted by: on November 5, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Sustainable development, USA
The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America represents to many people around the world a new hope on several topics including energy and climate change.
He stated that we are living in “a Planet in peril”. This couldn’t be more true. Yet, with him at the White House I am confident things will get better in dramatic ways.
Many bloggers and institutions wrote on the various challenges that lies ahead of President Obama (I love writing those two words together… ). Here is a selection. Continue reading »
Albeit economic crisis, the US care about climate change
Posted by: on November 4, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Energy, USA
As the United States vote today to elect their next President - for a minimum of two hours on the East coast - a poll shows that Americans care more and more climate change mitigation.
Brought to my attention by TreeHugger, this poll carried out by the Climate Group is encouraging as it notes that people are willing fight global warming and to save energy and thus money.
You will find below the main findings of this study. Hope the next President will act strongly on climate and energy issues as they are vital to the survival of our civilization. Continue reading »
After several countries in Europe - Switzerland, Italy, the United Kingdom, France or Russia - it seems that the United States are also willing to build new nuclear plants.
It is not entirely new as I was mentioning it earlier, but this times actual developments are witnessed. A most interesting article on Dot Earth sums up the situation.
With the potential construction of up to 34 new reactors, the USA may play a part in the nuclear revival some people like James Lovelock are willing to see. Continue reading »
A green recovery for our economies is possible
Posted by: on September 22, 2008 in Tags: Business, Energy, Sustainable development, USA
Last weeks were horrendous for our financial institutions and economies. Many concerns arise in Europe and around the world over GDP growth which is due to be low in 2008 and 2009.
What if building a greener and more sustainable world actually brought economic growth, millions of jobs and most important of all, hope of a brighter low carbon future ?
A report assessing this possibility was published and the results are most encouraging. The only question I have is : what are we waiting for to carry this plan out ? Continue reading »
