Category Archives: Environmental News

The Trouble with Biofuels

These past few weeks have been hectic, and I haven’t been blogging much. But I think I’m going to start doing better with any luck. Being a stay at home mom isn’t all soap operas and bon bons, after all. Sometimes it’s running around and wondering where the day went.

Ok, now I’ll get serious about this post. I read an interesting post over on Tree Hugger about the dangers of biofuels. This is a topic I’ve been reading more and more about. It’s always a pity to see what had been such a promising technology turn out to be not so green after all.

So what’s the problem?

Mostly the trouble is how biofuels are grown. They’re pretty popular in countries with few resources, and virgin land is often stripped for farmland to grow crops for biofuels. Sometimes the land is cleared by burning, releasing more carbon than the biofuels will save for a long time. Then there are food crops being made into biofuels as well, raising prices. Continue reading →

President Bush and the Environment

When it comes to the environment, our President definitely struggles. He does well in some areas, but very poorly in many others.

Just look at his record. Think about Kyoto. Think about the recent cuts to geothermal energy research. Think about his “Healthy Forests” plan that actually increases logging and waives some environmental laws. It’s pretty painful to look at.

OK, so I’m still trying to think where he’s done well. There isn’t much there. President Bush is at least interested in biofuels and nuclear power. The trouble with biofuels is that many of them actually pollute more when you consider the entire process. Nuclear power, while it is much better when it comes to carbon, has issues with disposal.

I wish he would get the idea that weaning ourselves from so much oil dependence would be a good thing. That’s not easy when so many of your supporters are in the oil industry, but it needs to be done.

Much as I loathe campaign ads and telephone calls, I am very much looking forward to the next Presidential election. It would be nice to have a President who takes the environment more seriously. I haven’t yet paid much attention to which candidates look the most promising, as there are so many names out there, but I hope to find one who will be environmentally sensible as well as be a generally good leader. Finding that combination may or may not happen, but it’s what I’m watching for.

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What if We’re Wrong About Global Warming?

With global warming being such a hot topic, I also see a lot of people saying it just isn’t so. And this makes me want to take a look at what happens if it turns out we’ve got it all wrong. What if global warming isn’t caused by humans or isn’t the problem we think it is?

There is some evidence for this possibility, certainly. There appears to be some warming occurring on Mars as well as on Pluto and Jupiter, so some argue this is not something due to what is happening on Earth, but a change in the sun itself.

I’m willing to grant such possibilities. But I also say “So what?”

Let’s assume that global warming is something we haven’t caused and can do nothing to change. Now tell me the harm in trying to live with more concern for our environment, in trying to use less and pollute less.

Yes, in some cases you will have to spend more money. But many green options save you money in the long run. Continue reading →

San Diego Water Treatment Plant Goes Solar

It makes a lot of sense here in San Diego to go solar, so I was delighted to read that the Alvarado water treatment plant has gone solar. Better yet, it was at no cost to the city. That’s very important given the money troubles the city of San Diego has been having of late.

Sun Edison put up the panels and will sell the electricity back to the city at a rate that will save the city about $40,000 per year. Sounds like quite a good deal to me.

The deal only takes care of about 20% of the treatment plant’s need, so call it a good start. They’re hoping to add more panels in the future to take care of the rest of it.

I’m glad to live in an area that is recognizing the advantages of solar power. In the climate we live in, it’s ridiculous to not think about using solar power. I look forward to solar panels becoming more affordable so that more people here can generate power too.

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