lumps of coal

This recent "RUSTLE THE LEAF" (which you can always read on this site) was pretty funny.

BROWN COUNTY AIR ADVISORY 12/22/05

DATE: December 22, 2005
CONTACT: Larry Bruss, DNR, (608) 267-7543
Henry Anderson, DHFS, (608) 266-1253

SUBJECT: Air quality health advisory issued for Waukesha, Brown Counties

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an air quality health advisory for Waukesha and Brown Counties of Wisconsin effective immediately, today Thursday, December 22, 2005 until 12:00 p.m.(noon), Friday, December 23, 2005.

The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of fine particles in the air. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and outdoor fires. Current weather conditions leading to this advisory are air stagnation and warmer air aloft, trapping particle pollution near the ground. Air quality is expected to gradually improve for the affected area by midday Friday.

The Air Quality Index is currently in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups and others, including people who are not in sensitive groups but who are engaged in strenuous activities or exposed for prolonged periods of time. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an air quality health advisory is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities.

People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. To receive air quality health advisories by e-mail, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/health/listserv.html.

There are several actions the public can take to reduce their contributions to this regional air quality problem.

-Reduce driving when possible and don’t leave vehicle engines idling.
-Postpone activities that use small gasoline and diesel engines.
-Avoid burning leaves, brush, grass or wood. Composting is preferred, but if you must burn and your community allows it, do not burn on an air quality health advisory day.
-Never burn household garbage, plastic, rubber, painted wood or other materials that must be recycled or landfilled and cannot be legally burned.
-Practice electrical energy conservation.

For more information:

-Federal interagency air quality web site, for information on the Air Quality Index and nationwide air quality forecasts and air quality conditions, http://airnow.gov
-DNR’s statewide air quality monitoring web page, http://maps.dnr.state.wi.us/wisards
-For local DNR air management program contacts, http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/air/staff/regions.htm

jessica said that!

We have too many cows.
-Jessica Garrels

inspired by the recent Stahl farm manure spill

air pollution and kids

The Press-Gazette carried most of the this AP article today. More and more people seem to be waking up to the serious health effects of pollution. It's about time.

Parents Ask How Air Pollution Affects Kids

water conservation for the great lakes

In last Sunday’s Press-Gazette, there was a great article on the Great Lakes. It is on page A-12, the “PERSPECTIVE” page, and is not posted on their website. The Annex 2001 agreement has actually been strengthened. It makes it very difficult for any business or municipality outside of the Great Lakes watershed to use Great Lakes water. The eight governors and two premiers of the states and provinces surrounding the Great Lakes are signing the agreement in Milwaukee tomorrow. It needs to be ratified by the legislatures of the those bodies and the U.S. Congress in order to have legal teeth. In the meantime, individual cities and states could voluntarily meet the standards on their own.

The article, written by AP reporter John Flesher, discusses the utmost importance of conservation in terms of solving our water problems. It is online at YAHOO! NEWS. It points out that conservation is not only good ecological policy, it is what’s best for business.

This is such an important issue. Along with shoreline development, toxic chemicals, and invasive species, water use is one of the top ecological concerns regarding the Great Lakes. The rest of the world is going to have its eyes on our water in much the same way it currently has its eyes on Mideast oil. I keep picturing that scene from a futuristic sci-fi movie a few years back where Lake Superior was drained dry because we were piping the water away to the rest of the country. That is not such a far-fetched possibility. Sometimes I think that the states and provinces around the Great Lakes should secede from their respective countries and form a new “Great Lakes Republic”. Pseudo-leaders like George Bush would not be allowed! -the new “green” states

The scariest part of the article is the following two paragraphs:

Fair enough, said George Kuper, president of the Council of Great Lakes Industries, which represents corporate heavyweights such as Eastman Kodak and Dow Chemical Co. Encourage efficiency, but don't entangle businesses in rules and paperwork. And don't limit access to the abundant water supply that is the region's biggest advantage in the nationwide competition for jobs.

"One problem I've always had with the Annex approach is that in the name of protecting water, we're locking it up," Kuper said. "Water is a renewable resource, like air."

I say scary because George Kuper probably has a lot influence. He is obviously a very short-sighted person.

Clean water is clearly not a renewable resource and there is less clean water available all of the time. Water can be used in a sustainable way, but I definitely wouldn’t classify it as renewable. The article does a good job of responding to Kuper’s point and explains how water is clearly not inexhaustible and clean water renews itself at very slow rates. I send kudos to Flesher for correcting a great error in thinking! It is not often a modern reporter actually clears up the misstatements spewed forth by industry.

One sign of hope is that water use along the Great Lakes has begun to decline. This is mostly due to more efficient industrial practices.

I thought one point was clearly missed. The Press-Gazette includes a list of nine typical things that individuals can do to save water. One of the most significant ways people can conserve water is to stop eating meat. That was definitely NOT on the list. A huge percentage of the 43 billion gallons of water drawn from the Great Lakes by its citizens in 2002 was used to irrigate crops. Over half of those crops are used to feed livestock. It takes more than 2000 gallons of water to raise one pound of beef. That is more water than 6 months worth of showers! (Worldwatch Institute) The meat industry is incredibly water intensive. If you want to save water, skip a steak. This is the monster in the corner that rarely gets mentioned.

eddy out,
rich

Join Us For "Green Drinks" - Dec. 15

Green Bay, WI Green Drinks

-a monthly 'social space' meeting Thursday Dec. 15, 2005 at Kavarna, in Green Bay's near westside downtown.

If people remark that "the environment" is your middle name, you'll probably find value in Green Drinks Green Bay. At this new monthly event, people who labor in the environmental field as professionals, educators or neighborhood activists meet up for a structure-free social time known as Green Drinks.

If you look elsewhere on this website, you'll see that "Green Drinks" is an international movement. The movement arrived in Green Bay in April. We start to gather shortly after 6pm, but don't worry if you can't show up until much later. Peak attendance has been 7:30-8:30pm so far. The hours you attend will influence who you may meet, however. Pick up your 'hey, I'm green' ribbon from one of the greeters. People come and go all evening until Kavarna closes at 11pm. Come when you can, leave when you need to. Kavarna is a smokefree vegetarian coffeehouse/restaurant that sells bottled beers and wine. All ages welcome. Feel free to bring your kids. There is some outdoor seating.

We expect to have a lively mixture of people from non-profits, academia, government, journalism and business. There's no agenda, no speaker. If you have a nametag, wear it. Wear something green if you can. See www.kavarna.com for directions to 112 S. Broadway, located on downtown Green Bay's near west side.

Soups, salads, chai and juices are among the many offerings.

Google Map

Eliminate the “Four Poison Pills” in the Energy Bill—Call IMMEDIATELY!

Last month, Senator Rob Cowles (Green Bay), and Representative Montgomery (Allouez), the Chairs of the Energy Committees, released the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act, an energy bill for Wisconsin. While the bill is encouraging in its attempts to increase renewable energy to 10% by 2015, and to make the State a leader by purchasing renewable energy, there are several components that keep Wisconsin tied to fossil fuel dependence.

It’s time to follow-up on the initial public hearing held in Madison last month and keep the momentum going! This week, Senator Cowles and Representative Montgomery are considering suggestions presented at the public hearing, and we cannot let them forget how critical it is to present a bill that truly champions a forward-thinking, long-term energy plan.

Senator Cowles and Representative Montgomery need to hear from YOU! Call their offices today and ask them to please support efforts to introduce a substitute bill that would eliminate the Four Poison Pills of the current energy bill.

1) Overreach of Compliance with the Energy Priorities Law: The State Energy Policy Act is critical to maintaining an energy policy that prioritizes clean and renewable sources over dirty, non-renewable sources. As written, this bill references the State Energy Policy Act in a way that could reduce the State’s ability to enforce this law and could remove the state’s future responsibility to pursue clean renewable energy. If the bill passes as drafted, it means that Wisconsin will have no requirement to pursue renewable energy sources after 2015, thereby eliminating any barriers to the expansion or construction of dirtier, non-renewable energy facilities like coal burning power plants. Legislators should remove references to the Energy Policy Act, Section 1.12.

2) The Public Benefit Funds is still Susceptible to Budget Raids: The Public Benefits Fund is invaluable to Wisconsin business and home owners, providing expert advice and offering grants for conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy. Though the proposed bill creates a third party fiscal agent to handle the funds, it does not do enough to secure those funds from diversion for other purposes. To prevent future raids by politicians, a segregated account must also be created that separates Fund dollars from the state treasury.

3) Remove the Cap on Money for Energy Efficiency: The proposed bill caps the amount of money that can be used for energy efficiency at its current levels, which is approximately $63 million a year. Estimated need, however, is $75-$125 million a year. These programs have been saving businesses and homeowners $3 for every $1 spent, meaning that investing $125 million will SAVE customers $375 million on their gas and electric bills. At a time when energy efficiency is precisely what we need to focus on, funding must be given the flexibility to grow and continue helping Wisconsin residents.

4) Do Not Double Count Renewable Energy: We must ensure that renewable energy purchased by the state is not counted as renewable energy produced by utilities. The bill aims to increase renewable energy production to 10% by 2015, and commits the State to purchasing 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2011. These policies are forward-thinking, responsible, and set a good example for all Wisconsinites. Keeping these initiatives separate would yield the greatest amount of renewable electricity and ensure that the state’s voluntary purchase does not needlessly reward utilities for something they must provide anyway.

Let’s make this bill one Wisconsinites can support! Call Senator Cowles and Representative Montgomery today! Then, please email me your comments (jessica@conservationvoters.org) so that we can make sure they are documented.

Senator Rob Cowles: (608) 266-0484

Representative Phil Montgomery: (608) 266-5840 or (888) 534-0004

Suggested message:

“I want to thank ________ for his/her work on the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act. As a resident, I am concerned about energy costs this winter and about the long-term costs of fossil fuel dependence. I would like to ask ________ to support a substitute bill that would eliminate the Four Poison Pills of the Energy Bill so that Wisconsin really is moving towards a cleaner energy future.”

For more information on the Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables recommendations, visit http://energytaskforce.wi.gov/ .