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SoyChlor plant

A reader wrote to ask me to draw attention to it -- it needs a national audience -- so here you go:

A SoyChlor plant in Jefferson, Iowa is alleged to damage property, kill plant and animal life, and make people and even children sick with hydrochloric acid.

You'll be shocked to hear that the plant has not yet faced any fines or repercussions.

A “simple remedy” for global warming

Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth has been criticized for not offering enough ideas to solve global warming. But his documentary has not only far exceeded box office expectations, grossing three times the early estimates already; it has also brought in waves of new ideas from well-known thinkers in a variety of fields.

As long as global warming was thought to be a murky scientific controversy, so-called opinion leaders could safely ignore the subject. But now that -- as science reporter Eugene Linden remarked in an interview a couple of months ago -- "the naysayers and deniers are starting to look more and more like idiots," the experts are scrambling for unclaimed ground on which to plant their flag and show their smarts.

The “Four E’s” of environmental improvement

I recently attended a conference on common property resources where the majority of participants were skeptical, if not downright antagonistic, to free market principles.

During one lengthy exchange in which I challenged the presenters to provide clear evidence that common property ownership led to superior environmental and social outcomes than private ownership, the moderator turned to me and asked what recommendations I, as an economist, had for improving the environment.

It was an interesting moment, because the participants had by now realized that I was somewhat of an anomaly at the conference (since I do believe in free market principles) and they were genuinely curious as to what I considered solutions to environmental problems.

Brad Pitt talks NOLA green building on Today show

See Brad Pitt on the Today show talking about a competition he's underwriting with Global Green to judge eco-friendly apartment designs for New Orleans.

And watch out for a Gristmill post coming soon from Global Green head Matt Petersen about the sustainable design competition and efforts to rebuild and green a still-devastated New Orleans.

The problem of Superman

Yesterday, EcoGeek addressed one of the pressing issues of our times: inconsistent application of Superman's powers. More needs to be said.

The 'Geek points out that Superman himself is solar powered (as those who have seen Superman Returns know), but has failed to help humanity figure out how he converts sunlight to power -- which might be a handy trick for us.

This is but one instance of a broader point: With Superman's abilities -- and his Fortress of Solitude, which contains all the knowledge of the 28 known galaxies -- it's simply unconscionable that he wastes so much time.

Israeli eco-activist and student Roey Angel answers questions

Roey Angel. With what environmental organization are you affiliated? I’m a graduate student at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, a regional center for academic studies and research. It’s a rather unique place where Palestinians, Israelis, and Jordanians — as well as North Americans and Europeans — study the environment, live together, and do joint […]

Opportunity to chew the environmental fat with Shellenberger

Lewis & Clark (the school, not the explorers) is putting on its annual Environmental Affairs Symposium, October 2-4. The theme this year is: "Beyond Environmentalism? Debating New Ideas and Strategies."

Michael Shellenberger, of "Death of Environmentalism" infamy, will be there. I got an email inviting "college faculty, undergraduate students, and environmental professionals from the region" to propose a talk on one of six topics.

Sounds like good fun if you're in the Portland area. More information follows ...

Concentrated solar

I really need to learn more about concentrated solar:

A study commissioned by the German Government shows in detail how Europe (including the UK and Ireland) can meet all its needs for electricity, cut emissions of CO2 from electricity generation by 70% by the year 2050, and phase out nuclear power at the same time, using concentrating solar power (CSP), according to a release from Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC).

Perc o’ Late

EPA will require residential dry cleaners to phase out toxic solvent Dry cleaners in residential buildings must phase out use of the toxic solvent perchloroethylene by 2020, under new U.S. EPA regulations. About 28,000 dry cleaners use perc, but only 1,300 of them will be affected by the new ruling. As old machines wear out, […]

In Goodell Company

A conversation with Jeff Goodell, author of Big Coal Lots of folks think of coal as an outmoded relic of our past, like steam locomotives and petticoats. But journalist Jeff Goodell — author of Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America’s Energy Future — has got news for you: Not only is coal alive and […]