Advancing storm could whomp NJ and shore this week

Tom Davis reports today for Brick Patch:

A big storm could be heading New Jersey’s way and make a mess of things on the roads, impact playing fields and change travel plans as many prepare for spring break.
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for almost all of New Jersey, saying there is risk for flooding because of “heavy rain increases” on Wednesday night and Thursday.
The storm could stall and behave like a nor’easter, churning up the coastline with strong winds and rain.
A flood watch may be issued because minor tidal flooding is possible with the Thursday afternoon high tide. The primary hazard for any storms would be strong winds, according to the NWS.

The storm has the potential to be the strongest in a series to hit the Northeast since late March and through the first week of April, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said in a release.
Like this? Use form in upper right to receive free updates
See popular posts from the last 30 days in right column — >>

Advancing storm could whomp NJ and shore this week Read More »

NJDEP has funding to help with stormwater projects

Jon Hurdle writes for NJ Spotlight:

Communities and environmental groups plan on putting money into rain gardens and other schemes to reduce runoff

rain garden
Credit: City of Hoboken
A rain garden behind Hoboken City Hall collects overflow from cisterns that take runoff from the roof.
Managing storm-water runoff and its attendant pollution is a critical concern for New Jersey. That’s true in a city like Hoboken, where an estimated 94 percent of the surface is impervious. And it’s true in a town like Greenwich, in Warren County, where a new rain garden allows storm-water runoff from streets or lawns to filter into the soil rather than straight into a waterway.
Efforts to curb the flow of contaminated stormwater into rivers and creeks are increasing as municipalities, nonprofits, and universities develop their understanding of the risks of storm water and how to manage it.
And with more state funding for such projects recently announced by the Department of Environmental Protection, storm water advocates may be in a better position to achieve their goals.

Like this? Use form in upper right to receive free updates
See popular posts from the last 30 days in right column —
>>

NJDEP has funding to help with stormwater projects Read More »

We know you love your iPhone but don’t sleep with it

Photo courtesy of Wiley Day

Why?  Amy B. Wang explains in The Washington Post:

When Wiley Day fell asleep on March 22, his iPhone was not far away. Like so many others, he had grown used to keeping his phone with him in bed, via an extension cord, as it charged overnight.
The 32-year-old Huntsville, Ala., man would soon regret that habit.
The next morning, Day woke up and rolled over. As he did so, a dog-tag necklace that he was wearing happened to catch on the exposed prongs of the charger head, which had come loose from the extension cord.
The metal chain suddenly became a conductor for the electricity — and it traveled straight to Day’s neck.
Like this? Use form in upper right to receive free updates
See popular posts from the last 30 days in right column — >>

We know you love your iPhone but don’t sleep with it Read More »

EP Podcast #18 – Rail mayhem, sexual harassment, bats attling back (casinos too) and a cleric with no shame

In this week’s Episode (#17), we look back at some of the top political and environment stories featured last week in our dailynewsletter, EnviroPolitics 

Listen to the episode here  

You can subscribe to our podcast for fee on:
iTunes (Podcast App on  your iPad, iPhone)
Stitcher (Android)
Player FM
MixCloud
and other popular podcast services.

It’s easy to do and you’ll never miss a future episode.

See and hear all previous 16 episodes 

Questions? Email: frankbrilljr@gmail.com or 609-577-9017

EP Podcast #18 – Rail mayhem, sexual harassment, bats attling back (casinos too) and a cleric with no shame Read More »

Do natural gas and renewables destabilize the grid?

Operator of nation’s largest power grid reports increased reliance on natural gas and renewables is not adversely affecting sustainability

transmission Tom Johnson reports
for NJ Spotlight: In a rapidly changing energy sector, are there still enough power plants available to provide the electricity everyone needs? The operator of the nation’s largest power grid is answering that question in the affirmative. Its new study finds that with the addition of more natural-gas and renewable resources the system can remain reliable. With the retirement of scores of coal plants and the early closing of some nuclear units, PJM Interconnection sought to determine whether the system is losing too many traditional resources in a new assessment, “PJM’s Evolving Resource Mix and System Reliability.’’ The study highlights some of the issues affecting the energy sector in New Jersey, which will see its two biggest coal units shut down later this year; its oldest-running nuclear plant, Oyster Creek, scheduled to shut down at the end of 2019; and questions raised about the economic viability of nuclear units elsewhere. Read the full story here Like this? Use form in upper right to receive free updates
See popular posts from the last 30 days in right column —>    
 

Do natural gas and renewables destabilize the grid? Read More »

Trump budget leaves NY-area transit projects up in the air

Hudson River train tunnel. NY Times photo by Todd Heisler























Emma G. Fitzsimmons writes for The New York Times:

When the new president is a lifelong New Yorker promising a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan, many believed New York would be first in line to benefit from the spending spree.

But only two months into President Trump’s administration, elected leaders in New York and New Jersey are alarmed that some of the most high-profile and crucial transit projects in the region are already on the chopping block.

Mr. Trump’s budget blueprint proposed slashing a major source of federal funding for transit projects, known as New Starts grants. As a result, two long-delayed proposals could now be in jeopardy: building a new train tunnel under the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, and extending the Second Avenue subway in Manhattan north to East Harlem.

Read the full story

Like this? Use form in upper right to receive free updates
See popular posts from the last 30 days in right column — >>

Trump budget leaves NY-area transit projects up in the air Read More »