Sat.Jul 23, 2022 - Fri.Jul 29, 2022

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Are EV Batteries Recyclable?

Union of Concerned Scientists

As electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to increase, questions about how these cars and their batteries will be disposed of have been top of mind for current owners, future buyers, policymakers, and many experts in the automotive industry. EVs are a newer technology, and their batteries require different end-of-life processing than gasoline vehicles.

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A Colorado River Glossary: Jargon Explained

Circle of Blue

How to tell your DCP from your ICS. Lake Powell at sunrise. Photo © J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue – July 28, 2022. These are perilous times in the troubled Colorado River basin, a make-or-break moment in which some of the nation’s fastest growing and most arid states begin to reckon with a drier future. The next month will be especially intense.

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More Energy on Less Land: The Drive to Shrink Solar’s Footprint

Yale E360

With the push for renewables leading to land-use conflicts, building highly efficient utility-scale solar farms on ever-smaller tracts of land has become a top priority. New approaches range from installing PV arrays that take up less space to growing crops between rows of panels. Read more on E360 ?.

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Wisconsin Files PFAS Contamination Lawsuit Against 18 Companies

Environment + Energy Leader

The suit seeks to recover the costs associated with the chemical pollution. The post Wisconsin Files PFAS Contamination Lawsuit Against 18 Companies appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Climate Change Threatens Already Poor Air Quality in California’s Central Valley

Union of Concerned Scientists

California’s Central Valley consistently experiences the country’s worst air quality, and climate change is poised to make air quality even worse. In a region known for its exceptional agricultural productivity, climate change is quickly amplifying a dangerous type of climate risk in California’s Central Valley: air pollution. The Central Valley produces about 25% of our nation’s food , despite occupying just 1% of nationwide farmland.

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The Stream, July 27, 2022: Greenland Heatwave Spurs Massive Ice Melting Event

Circle of Blue

Persistent melt in 2008 lifted the snow cover from a low-lying area of Greenland’s ice sheet, revealing a rough terrain crossed by melt water streams. Photo © Thomas Neumann / NASA GSFC. YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. High temperatures in Greenland melt millions of tons of ice in just three days. Flash floods in Iran kill nearly two dozen. U.K. officials urge residents to cut water use voluntarily as a drought declaration looms.

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SOFi Releases Biodegradable Cup, Eliminates Plastic Lids

Environment + Energy Leader

SOFi Products released what the company says is the first 100% biodegradable cup that eliminates the need for a plastic lid. The post SOFi Releases Biodegradable Cup, Eliminates Plastic Lids appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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What Are the Benefits of Switching from Gasoline-Powered Cars and Trucks to Electric?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Transportation is the largest source of global warming emissions in the US and the passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs produce the majority of transportation emissions. Limiting climate change will require the rapid reduction in these emissions from the vehicles we drive. Electric vehicles (EVs) can eliminate tailpipe emissions altogether and so are an attractive option for reducing both global-warming and smog-forming air pollution.

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FRESH, July 26, 2022: Citizens Divided Over Wind Energy in Lake Erie

Circle of Blue

July 26, 2022. Fresh is a biweekly newsletter from Circle of Blue that unpacks the biggest international, state, and local policy news stories facing the Great Lakes region today. Sign up for Fresh: A Great Lakes Policy Briefing , straight to your inbox, every other Tuesday. — Laura Gersony, Fresh Editor. This Week’s Watersheds. The Great Lakes Water Authority denies 24,000 insurance claims from floods in Michigan l ast summer.

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Long a Climate Laggard, Ireland Lays Path to Cut Emissions in Half by 2030

Yale E360

Ireland, which has historically lagged behind other European nations in tackling climate change, has set a course to slash emissions by 51 percent by 2030. Read more on E360 ?.

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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Collaboration Helps Increase Michigan Recycling Manufacturing

Environment + Energy Leader

A partnership in Michigan is helping increase recycling processes of food cartons to help make more sustainable paper products. The post Collaboration Helps Increase Michigan Recycling Manufacturing appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Boosting Michigan’s Energy Future with Regional Transmission Upgrades

Union of Concerned Scientists

Today, the regional entity overseeing much of the electric power grid in the Midwest—the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)—approved a set of major new transmission system upgrades that will bring billions of dollars in benefits to the region while better enabling states and utilities to pursue transitions to clean energy. See here for my colleague Sam Gomberg’s excellent post explaining the background and details on what is known as “Tranche 1” of MISO’s long range transmissi

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The End of the Greenbelt? How doing what York Region demands would mark its end

Enviromental Defense

Recently, York Region voted to seek provincial government approval for their draft Regional Official Plan. Shockingly, this draft plan proposes to allow development on the Oak Ridges Moraine portion of the Greenbelt. The draft plan violates the Provincial Planning Act that mandates that municipalities must complete and submit plans that comply with provincial law, policies and plans.

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Massachusetts Bill Would Allow Residents to Contribute to Climate-Vulnerable Countries When Filing Taxes

Yale E360

A bill working its way through the Massachusetts state legislature would allow residents to contribute to a UN fund for climate-vulnerable countries when filing their tax returns. Read more on E360 ?.

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Implementing D.E.J.I. Strategies in Energy, Environment, and Transportation

Speaker: Antoine M. Thompson, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion (DEJI) policies, programs, and initiatives are critically important as we move forward with public and private sector climate and sustainability goals and plans. Underserved and socially, economically, and racially disadvantaged communities bear the burden of pollution, higher energy costs, limited resources, and limited investments in the clean energy and transportation sectors.

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Memphis to Undergo Comprehensive LED Streetlight Upgrade

Environment + Energy Leader

The City of Memphis, Tennessee will undergo a comprehensive LED streetlighting, controls, and networking project designed to reduce energy costs citywide and enhance operations and maintenance capabilities with the upgrade of over 77,000 fixtures to LED. The post Memphis to Undergo Comprehensive LED Streetlight Upgrade appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Dear Oil and Gas CEOs: Here’s How You Should Spend Those Record Profits

Union of Concerned Scientists

The quarterly profits of oil companies don’t usually attract a lot of attention outside Wall Street, but this time is different. That’s because the oil and gas “supermajors”—meaning the world’s largest publicly traded oil and gas companies—are posting record profits at a time when people around the globe are straining under the pressures caused by inflation, including high gas prices.

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Flexible robot hand with precise grip lifts 1000 times its own weight

New Scientist

An 8-gram actuator - a device that converts energy and signals into movement - that operates as artificial muscles lifted 8 kilograms while maintaining human-like hand movements

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Wildfire Pollution May Play a Surprising Role in the Fate of Arctic Sea Ice

Inside Climate News

Smoke brightens Arctic clouds, perhaps slowing ice loss, but the ice is still dwindling, which can further intensify wildfires in an unexpected feedback loop. By Bob Berwyn Scientists say changes in the amounts of wildfire smoke mixing with clouds over the Arctic Ocean may play a key role in determining how fast the Arctic sea ice cover will shrink during the next few decades, and when it will disappear completely in summer.

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Shaping a Resilient Future: Climate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Speaker: Laurie Schoeman Director, Climate & Sustainability, Capital

As households and communities across the nation face challenges such as hurricanes, wildfires, drought, extreme heat and cold, and thawing permafrost and flooding, we are increasingly searching for ways to mitigate and prevent climate impacts. During this event, national climate and housing expert Laurie Schoeman will discuss topics including: The two paths for climate action: decarbonization and adaptation.

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JLL Acquires Envio Systems to Accelerate Sustainable Building Capabilities

Environment + Energy Leader

JLL announced this week the acquisition of Envio Systems, a Berlin-based technology company that delivers sustainable building operations by intelligently integrating data from building systems and providing predictive analytics and building automation. The post JLL Acquires Envio Systems to Accelerate Sustainable Building Capabilities appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Why is Congress’s Climate Breakthrough Such a Big Deal? Because Without It, We’d Be Irreparably Off Course.

Union of Concerned Scientists

This summer, over the course of two short weeks and against the stark and staggering backdrop of climate impacts ricocheting from coast to coast and beyond, our nation’s ability to tackle climate change at the scale and scope required to meet our climate targets suffered a pair of calamitous setbacks, first from the Supreme Court and then from Congress.

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Evolution of lactose tolerance probably driven by famine and disease

New Scientist

Archaeological and genetic evidence casts doubt on the idea that the ability to digest lactose after infancy evolved gradually

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DCNR's Keystone Crew On Their Way To Fight The Sugarloaf Wildfire In Wyoming

PA Environment Daily

On July 26, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources's 20-member Keystone Wildland Fire Crew reported to Harrisburg to start their trip to near Laramie, Wyoming on Wednesday to help fight the Sugarloaf Wildfire. They expect to arrive on site July 29. This is the first wildfire fighting crew DCNR has sent this season to help fight fires in the Western U.S.

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Sustainability at Retail

Sustainability impacts every nation, company, and person around the world. So much so that, in 2015, the United Nations (UN) issued a call for action by all countries to work toward sustainable development. In response to this and as part of a global Sustainability at Retail initiative, Shop! worked collaboratively with its global affiliates to address these critical issues in this white paper.

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Carbon removal using ‘blue carbon’ habitats “uncertain and unreliable”

Frontiers

By Cat Bartman / Media Centre , University of East Anglia. Eelgrass beds are a form of Blue Carbon. Restoring coastal vegetation – so called ‘blue carbon’ habitats – may not be the nature-based climate solution it is claimed to be, according to a new study. In their analysis researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA), the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the OACIS initiative of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, challenge the widely held view that

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Overdue Grid Improvements Will Help Illinois Achieve Energy Goals

Union of Concerned Scientists

This week, the Midwest’s regional electric grid operators approved nearly $10.5 billion of critical transmission line upgrades across the region, including in Illinois. These investments will bring more clean energy online, improve grid resiliency, and deliver significant consumer benefits and jobs. As Illinoisans face higher prices due to a power supply crunch and increased risks of controlled blackouts, cost-saving grid improvements can’t come soon enough.

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Workers’ Compensation for Agricultural Workers

National Law Center

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries to work in. The post Workers’ Compensation for Agricultural Workers appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Ecolab Is on Its Way to Reducing Its Water and Carbon Impact

Environmental Leader

In 2021, Ecolab invested more than $1.2 million to improve water and energy reductions, which took place at more than 20 facilities worldwide. The post Ecolab Is on Its Way to Reducing Its Water and Carbon Impact appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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With Epic Flooding in Eastern Kentucky, the State’s Governor Wants to Know ‘Why We Keep Getting Hit’

Inside Climate News

Four noted atmospheric scientists explain that the answer to “why?” is climate change: “The evidence is clear,” said one. By James Bruggers After three years in office, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has grown accustomed to holding media briefings on weather disasters.

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Which tree species survive and grow best when restoring a degraded peat swamp forest?

The Applied Ecologist

Whilst preserving and protecting forests is crucial, tremendous efforts are on-going globally to restore degraded and lost forests, particularly in the tropics. In their latest research, Smith and colleagues review tree survival and growth in tropical peatland reforestation projects across Southeast Asia. Tropical peatlands cover a small area globally, but are dense stores of carbon.

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Get to Know Our First Vice President of Conservation, Justice and Equity

Ocean Conservancy

When I first came to Ocean Conservancy, someone asked me what my favorite animal was. My answer? The giant oceanic manta ray ( Mobula birostris ). Why? Because they are so large and so magnificent in the water that they seem to defy explanation and—much like the ocean itself–they appear to be imbued with a spirit of power and magic that inspires awe.

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Illinois prepares to reboot low-income solar program to improve access for all

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from Energy News Network. Solar and environmental justice advocates are hopeful that changes being made to an Illinois low-income solar program will help it finally catch on in the communities it was meant to serve. Illinois Solar for All offers virtually free solar panels and guaranteed energy bill savings for residents … Continue reading Illinois prepares to reboot low-income solar program to improve access for all.

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Checking In on Crop Insurance: Overpaid Indemnities and Program Ineligibility

National Law Center

Many agricultural producers across the nation obtain insurance coverage for the commodities they produce through the Federal Crop Insurance Program (“FCIP”). The post Checking In on Crop Insurance: Overpaid Indemnities and Program Ineligibility appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Gov. Wolf Announces Evaluation Of How DEP Regulates Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling & The Industry’s Compliance With Environmental Safeguards

PA Environment Daily

On July 30, Gov. Wolf directed the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct an evaluation of how it regulates conventional oil and gas wells to prevent new abandoned wells, tighten review of permit transfers, review compliance with environmental safeguards and make recommendations for changes and actions, including criminal sanctions. The evaluation was outlined by Gov.