US ethanol policy under siege in food-for-fuel debate
Washington (AFP) May 21, 2008
Amid a surge in food prices blamed in part on US expansion of corn-based ethanol production, lawmakers, experts and industry officials are urging the government to rethink a new law mandating alternative fuels. The United States is the world's top producer of corn-based ethanol, which the administration of President George W. Bush sees as a way of reducing dependence on foreign oil and curb ... read more
Pair held for planning sabotage at Swedish nuclear plant: police
Stockholm (AFP) May 21, 2008
Swedish police Wednesday arrested two contractors for allegedly preparing to sabotage a nuclear power plant, after traces of explosives were found on one of the men, police said. "Two Swedish men were arrested ... The prosecutor suspects them of sabotage," Sven-Erik Karlsson of the Kalmar county police told AFP. He said both men were contractors who had been working at the Oskarshamn nuc ... more
Italy to make garbage dumps 'military zones': Berlusconi
Naples, Italy (AFP) May 21, 2008
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced Wednesday that garbage dumps in Naples would be declared "military zones" and guarded by troops, in a bid to resolve the city's rubbish crisis. "Sites and facilities linked to waste disposal will be declared zones of strategic national interest, becoming in effect, military zones guarded by members of the armed forces," Berlusconi told repor ... more
Indonesia looks to Papua to expand palm oil plantations: official
Jakarta (AFP) May 21, 2008
The government of Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, is now looking at its vast easternmost provinces in Papua to expand its palm oil plantations, a senior official said Wednesday. "After Sumatra and Kalimantan became too dense for new palm oil plantations, the only land available is in Papua," the agriculture ministry's Director General for Plantations, Achmad Manggabarani ... more
Hydrogen-powered phones on the horizon
Paris (AFP) May 21, 2008
French researchers said on Wednesday they had invented a hydrogen fuel cell as a backup power source for mobile phones, thus easing dependence on an electricity supply to charge the gadget. The miniature fuel cell uses a hydrogen-filled cartridge about the size of a small cigarette lighter, according to the press presentation made by the researchers at the Atomic Energy Commission (CEW).
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EU parliament calls for more research into impact of biofuels
Strasbourg (AFP) May 21, 2008
The European Parliament on Wednesday called for more research into the impact of developing biofuels to combat climate change, a strategy which has been criticised amid a world food crisis. The EU parliament "advocates additional research into the impact of the policy of promoting biofuels and their effects on the increase of deforestation, the expansion of cultivated land and world food sup ... more
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ENERGY TECH
Analysis: Venezuela warns of oil inflation
ENERGY TECH
Analysis: Iran develops Bandar-e Anzali
SPACEMART
Ball Aerospace Supports NASA Astrophysics Mission Concepts
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Boeing Begins Firing High-Energy Laser Aboard Advanced Tactical Laser Aircraft
St. Louis MO (SPX) May 20, 2008
Boeing has fired a high-energy chemical laser aboard a C-130H aircraft in ground tests for the first time, achieving a key milestone for the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program. The successful laser firing occurred May 13 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. "First firing of the high-energy laser aboard the ATL aircraft shows that the program ... more
US ambassador urges Japan to boost defence spending
Tokyo (AFP) May 20, 2008
The US ambassador to Japan on Tuesday urged the pacifist nation to boost its defence spending in response to a military build-up in the region. "I think the Japanese are getting a bargain in the (US-Japan) alliance on what we bring on the table," ambassador Thomas Schieffer told reporters. "Our capabilities have increased dramatically because we are spending more on defence than we were ... more
Personal Care Products Linked To Environmental Pollution And Human Health Concerns
Tempe AZ (SPX) May 18, 2008
Parental concerns in maintaining germ-free homes for their children have led to an ever-increasing demand and the rapid adoption of anti-bacterial soaps and cleaning agents. But the active ingredients of those antiseptic soaps now have come under scrutiny by the EPA and FDA, due to both environmental and human health concerns. Two closely related antimicrobials, triclosan and triclocarban ... more
New Recommendations For Grape Growers
Prosser WA (SPX) May 20, 2008
The inland areas of the Pacific Northwest, where rainfall averages only 4 to 12 inches per year, present growing challenges for vineyard owners and wine grape producers. The arid conditions in this part of the country have not been conducive for vineyard owners who produce and market high-quality wine grapes. To promote healthy grape production when nature fails to deliver, vineyard ... more
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CLIMATE SCIENCE
'Space' kangaroo shines light on global warming
FARM NEWS
Food For Thought
WOOD PILE
Greenpeace calls for deforestation fund
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China warns of water contamination from quake: state media
Beijing (AFP) May 20, 2008
Chinese authorities warned Tuesday of serious threats to drinking water in earthquake-hit areas and called on local officials to take precautions. Dead bodies and chemical waste "pose great threats to the safety of drinking water," the ministry of environmental protection said in a directive quoted by the official Xinhua news agency. It said that people should not use water sources from ... more
RediStat Partners With ALERT FM For Disaster-Proof Emergency Communications
Delray Beach FL (SPX) May 19, 2008
RediStat has announced a partnership with ALERT FM to provide emergency messaging services to its healthcare clients. In addition, RediStat is developing a ground-breaking video communications service in conjunction with Americas Emergency Network. The announcements were made by RediStat President, Michael Hemlepp, at the Florida Governors Hurricane Conference being held in Ft. Lauderdale. ... more
Some biofuel crops could become invasive species, experts warn
Bonn (AFP) May 20, 2008
Countries thinking of joining the rush for biofuels run the risk of planting invasive plant species that could wreak environmental and economic havoc, biologists warned on Tuesday. In a report issued on the sidelines of a major UN conference on biodiversity, an alliance of four expert groups urged governments to select low-risk species of crops for biofuels and impose new controls to manage ... more
We Energies Wind Project Begins Commercial Operation
Milwaukee WI (SPX) May 20, 2008
We Energies' Blue Sky Green Field wind project was placed into commercial service today. The 88 turbines have a demonstrated capacity of 145 megawatts and are expected to generate more than 328 million emission-free kilowatt hours annually -- enough to power 36,000 homes. "Blue Sky Green Field is one of several targeted efforts we're undertaking to generate more energy from renewable ... more
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ENERGY NEWS
US carbon dioxide emissions up 1.6 percent in 2007
ENERGY NEWS
PJM Auction Results Show the Successful Workings Of Competitive Electricity Markets
ENERGY TECH
Outside View: Russia pipeline reach grows
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