EnviroPolitics Blog

Can lying lobbyist crook Jack Abramoff save America?

Some folks (especially those benefiting most from our rigged system) express bewilderment about the basis for the public frustration that manifests itself in the Tea Party and the Occupy movement.

Even among the dissatisfied, the exact reasons for our fears are sometimes elusive. We sense that the country we grew up in is sliding away. Things that used to work have become untrustworthy. The economy. The political system. Leaders. None of it inspires much hope.

Who can we trust with an answer?

Maybe Jack Abramoff, the lying, lobbyist-crook-turned-penitent.

Say all the bad things you want about Abramson. He deserves them all.

But in an incredibly forthright interview on 60 Minutes last night, he shines a revelatory light on what’s eating away at the core of our political system–the corrosive and corrupting influence of money.

Abramson even offers one slight hope. Watch the interview to learn what it is and then let us know what you think in the opinion box below.

Caution: The interview will make you sick. If it doesn’t, it already may be too late for us all.

Can lying lobbyist crook Jack Abramoff save America? Read More »

Christie’s interstate air pollution decision is a puzzlement

A week ago today, NJ Gov. Chris Christie applauded a decision by the federal EPA that will force a power plant in Pennsylvania to scale back the SO2 it’s been releasing from its smoke stacks for years. Most of that pollution is carried by prevailing winds across the Delaware River and into New Jersey.

An Oct 31 news release from the governor’s office said:

“Today, Governor Chris Christie called the federal Environmental
Protection Agency’s approval of New Jersey’s Clean Air Act petition a
major step towards significantly reducing huge volumes of harmful air
pollutants from a coal-fired Pennsylvania power plant. The Christie
Administration’s Section 126 Petition, filed in March 2010, will reduce
air emissions from the GenOn Energy power plant in Portland,
Pennsylvania, which currently spews more than 30,000 tons of sulfur
dioxide (SO2), plus mercury and many other contaminants into the air
across the Delaware River and directly onto residents living in
communities in Warren County, and negatively impacting air quality in
Morris, Sussex and Hunterdon counties.”

Bob Martin, the governor’s Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, added:

“Strong action by the EPA will help greatly to reduce these harmful
emissions, and the DEP will closely monitor this effort to ensure this
process moves along as swiftly as possible. Now we are glad to have
EPA’s commitment to follow up on its promise to compel GenOn to reduce
these harmful emissions. We thank the EPA for this precedent setting
decision.”

That thanks was short lived.

On Thursday, Gov. Christie said New Jersey would NOT be among other downwind states that have joined to defend the EPA against a lawsuit filed by a number of out-of-state power
companies that do not want to be compelled, like GenOn, to stop polluting the air of neighboring states.

Whoa! Wassup with that?

How do you go from back-slapping the EPA for standing up to out-of-state polluters when it benefits your state to slinking away from the impending alley fight when your EPA buddy is encircled by bullies who want to keep all of their pollution turf?

For a guy who is as smart and, we believe, as committed to what’s best for New Jersey, the governor’s explanation for the decision was, shall we say, lame?

“My inclination is not to deal with these things on a blanket basis
by giving more power over to the federal government,” Christie said. “I
think they have more than enough power as it is.”

Come on, Governor. Let the bobbleheads at Fox News deliver lines like that. You can do better.

Are we missing something? Was the governor’s decision the right decision? Educate us in the comment box below. If one is not visible, click on the tiny ‘comments’ link.

Editorial: The ‘Christie Rule’ on air pollution makes no sense

Editorial: Christie must support EPA-ordered coal plant cleanup, not partisan politics

Racing to beat the clock on EPA’s cross-state air rules

Our most recent posts:
Solar shining brightly in US and NJ, not so much in PA
TOP 2 Environmental Stories for PA & NJ – Nov 4, 2011
Is your business is complying with stormwater rules?

EPA’s initial fracking study results due in late 2012
Top 2 Environmental Stories in PA & NJ – Nov 3 2011

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Like this post? You’ll love our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics
Try it free for 30 days! No obligation. Cancel anytime with one click

Christie’s interstate air pollution decision is a puzzlement Read More »

Solar shining brightly in US and NJ, not so much in PA

Despite the Solyndra collapse that has tarnished solar energy, the
industry has grown into
“a major economic force” with a job base that
expanded 6.8% the past year, nearly 10 times faster than the overall
economy, industry representatives told CNN earlier this week.

The solar business is now a $6 billion industry, up 300% from 2006,
said officials with the Solar Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with
solar energy industry.

Solar’s success is no surprise in New Jersey

The encouraging environmental news won’t come as a surprise to anyone living in New Jersey. It seems that almost every week brings the announcement of another significant-sized solar pane installation on the rooftop of a municipal building, school,
or at a commercial or industrial facility.

A good deal of that is due to state-stimulus programs which have made solar panel installations cost effective. And, once the system is up and running, energy savings
are often dramatic.

The solar industry is concerned, however, about maintaining its impressive growth in the Garden State, as the addition of solar energy capacity has eroded the value of the state’s Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs).

Key members of the state legislature are moving on bills designed to bolster the program by increasing demand for the credits, encouraging longer-term financing, and facilitating greater participation by utility companies in solar projects.

Clouds form over Pennsylvania’s solar industry

The alternative energy’s prospects are less bullish in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Sunshine program, passed in 2008, provided $100 million
in solar rebates to homeowners and businesses to install such systems.
That led to a boom, but the program now has only a few millions dollars
left, and the state has no plans to renew it.

Karen Foltz, a spokeswoman for Pittsburgh-based Vox Energy Solutions,
said the current climate for solar businesses in the state is hardly
welcoming and she puts the blame on Republican Gov. Tom Corbett..

“He is so against renewable energy, it’s a crime,” Foltz said, adding
that she believes Corbett is “100% backed” by Marcellus Shale companies
who see solar energy as a competitor. Foltz also claimed that tax
credits for oil and gas exploration dwarf what’s given to solar firms.

Nationwide, solar is looking bright. With 100,237 jobs as of August, solar employers expect their
workforce to grow 24% next year, according to the foundation’s National
Solar Jobs Census 2011, completed in partnership with BW Research
Partnership’s Green LMI Consulting division and Cornell University.

“It’s great news,” said Andrea Luecke, executive director of the
Solar Foundation. “Despite a struggling economy and the worst recession
since the Depression and despite the Solyndra debacle, the industry is
experiencing record-breaking trade numbers, record-breaking installed
capacity, and record-breaking private investment.”

Our most recent posts:
TOP 2 Environmental Stories for PA & NJ – Nov 4, 2011
Is your business is complying with stormwater rules?
EPA’s initial fracking study results due in late 2012
Top 2 Environmental Stories in PA & NJ – Nov 3 2011
Incinerator burns through more than Harrisburg’s waste
Selling scrap metal? Now there’s an app for that, too

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Like this post? You’ll love our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics
Try it free for 30 days! No obligation. Cancel anytime with one click

Solar shining brightly in US and NJ, not so much in PA Read More »

Is your business complying with stormwater rules?

If not, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise.

The law firm of Saul Ewing is alerting its clients and friends to a recently proposed consent decree between the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ryland,
one of the nation’s largest homebuilders.

Under the proposal, Ryland would be required to establish and implement
a company-wide management, reporting and training program for stormwater compliance–in addition to
paying a $625,000 penalty–to resolve EPA enforcement actions under the Clean
Water Act.

Saul Ewing notes that the agreement goes beyond the current regulatory requirements and could become a template that the EPA or a state could seek to impose in future cases involving stormwater violations.

For more, see Saul Ewing’s alert here

Our most recent posts:
EPA’s initial fracking study results due in late 2012
Top 2 Environmental Stories in PA & NJ – Nov 3 2011
Incinerator burns through more than Harrisburg’s waste
Selling scrap metal? Now there’s an app for that, too
A peek at environmental events coming up in November

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Like this post? You’ll love our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics
Try it free for 30 days! No obligation. Cancel anytime with one click

Is your business complying with stormwater rules? Read More »

EPA’s initial fracking study results due in late 2012

Critics of hydraulic fracturing (or hydrofracturing or fracking), the drilling technique that uses millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals to blast natural gas out of deeply buried deposits of rock shale, have argued that regulators in New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere should slow down their approval process and wait for the results of a comprehensive EPA study.

In New York, environmental officials have paid some heed to those critics as the state has conducted its own review of natural gas drilling. In Pennsylvania, where Gov. Tom Corbett was elected with the help of hefty financial contributions from the drilling industry, enviro regulators have barely tapped the brakes.

Regardless, the federal study is ongoing. Yesterday, the EPA announced that the public would get to see preliminary study results by the end of 2012 and final results in 2014.

The overall purpose of the study, the EPA says, is to understand the relationship
between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources.

“The scope of
the research includes the full lifespan of water in hydraulic
fracturing, from acquisition of the water, through the mixing of
chemicals and actual fracturing, to the post-fracturing stage, including
the management of flowback and produced water and its ultimate
treatment and disposal.”

So far, the agency says it has:

Conducted an initial literature review
Requested and received
information from industry on chemicals and practices used in hydraulic
fracturing
Discussed initial plans for case studies with landowners and
state, local and industry representatives.
Conducted baseline
sampling for retrospective case studies using scientifically sound
approaches that have been shared with collaborators.

EPA estimates that gas shale production will produce more than 20 percent of the total US gas supply by 2020.

The agency offers the following information on hydraulic fracturing.