Topic: Energy

County Legislative Delegation puts bills in play

By Turner McCullough Jr. | March 11, 2009 |

Montgomery County ’s Legislative Delegation has taken an active stance in the early round of the 106th General Assembly. The four members of the delegation group have added their names to legislation being considered in the Tennessee General Assembly. Thus far the bill summary looks like this:

Rep. Phillip Johnson, House District 78

Rep. Phillip Johnson co-sponsored sixteen House Joint Resolutions, including HJR00014: a Sports Memorial recognizing the Ooltewah Lady Owls; HJR0015: Recognition Memorial recognizing Ron Campbell, both signed by the governor on February 19th.

HJR0023: Death Memorial honoring Staff Sgt Timothy H. Walker, and HJR0043: Recognition Memorial for The Leaf Chronicle, both signed by the governor on February 20th.

HJR0063: Recognition Memorial recognizing Rep. Barbara Copper for serving as Chair of the TN Black Caucus for the 105th General Assembly. HJR0089: Professional Achievement Memorial recognizing Pat Head Summit for 1000th victory. HJR0136: Recognition Memorial for Oak Ridge’s Open Sesame 60th Anniversary . HJR0142: Sports Memorial honoring the Soddy-Daisy High School cheerleaders as NCA champions, and HJR0150: Government Officials Memorial – urging the governor to refuse certain funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Politics | No Comments

WWF Living Planet analysis shows looming ecological credit crunch

December 3, 2008 |

In her periodic newsletter and update, Goddard College Professor Catherine Lowther circulates items of interest on environmental issues. With her permission, we pass these items to our readers.

Gland, Switzerland: The world is heading for an ecological credit crunch as human demands on the world’s natural capital reach nearly a third more than earth can sustain.

That is the stark warning contained in the latest edition of WWF’s Living Planet Report, the leading statement of the planet’s health. In addition global natural wealth and diversity continues to decline, and more and more countries are slipping into a state of permanent or seasonal water stress.

“The world is currently struggling with the consequences of over-valuing its financial assets,” said WWF International Director-General James Leape, “but a more fundamental crisis looms ahead — an ecological credit crunch caused by under-valuing the environmental assets that are the basis of all life and prosperity.” «Read the rest of this article»

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NPT to screen “Kilowatt Ours”

By Beth Robinson | October 24, 2008 |

Depressed about Global Warming? Using amusing and inspiring stories Kilowatt Ours teaches how you can personally make this a greener world.  This 2008 updated version of Kilowatt Ours will be broadcast on Nashville Public Television, NPT Channel 8, on Friday, October 24 at 7:00 pm.

Kilowatt Ours provides simple, practical, affordable solutions to America’s energy crisis and shows how we can save electricity, save money and make a difference for ourselves and the planet. It is unique in that it is a solutions-oriented look at one of America’s most pressing environmental challenges. Yes, this film has solutions for us; it is not “this is too depressing” and it is not “this problem is too big”.  «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education | No Comments

S.O.A.R.E. explores the hidden destruction of mountaintop removal

September 30, 2008 |

On Thursday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m., the hidden destruction of the Appalachian Mountains will be revealed via the Mountaintop Removal Road Show. This program features a beautiful and thought-provoking multimedia show with traditional Appalachian music and culture.  The “roadshow” takes place at the APSU Sundquist Science Building Room E106B and is free and open to the public. It is presented by S.O.A.R.E., Students Organized to Advance Renewable Energy.

Mountaintop removal. Photo by Viv Stockman @ www.ohvec.org.

Lexington, Kentucky environmental activist Dave Cooper will explain what it is like to live near a mountaintop removal mine, and answer questions. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, Events, News | No Comments

Biofuel research by APSU biology prof could help lessen fuel crisis

June 15, 2008 |

Research by an Austin Peay State University biology professor could help to manufacture hydrogen more efficiently for use as a biofuel in vehicles – and become part of a solution to the current fuel crisis.

Dr. Sergei Markov, assistant professor of biology, has developed a prototype bioreactor that uses the purple bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus to produce enough hydrogen to power a small motor. He recently presented a paper, titled “Hydrogen production by purple nonsulfur bacterium in a bioreactor,” at the 108th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Boston.

As a result, his work, initially supported by grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, has appeared in a dozen of publications on the Internet, including Science Daily, and on several foreign news Web sites. «Read the rest of this article»

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Global ghost town: Oil crisis requires new vision, global action

By Chris Lugo | April 30, 2008 |

There is a crisis happening on a global scale, and we here in the United States of America have a moral responsibility to take action to help alleviate global food prices and ensure that millions of people do not suffer the ill effects of hunger and possibly even starvation. We are all complaining about the high cost of oil these days and how it is impinging on our budget, but in the developing world this is having extreme consequences.

The stark reality is that three billion people on the planet earth live on less than $2 a day, and a good portion of that money goes specifically to the purchase of basic food grains to survive. As a result of the skyrocketing price of oil, the price of food grains has risen due to commercial production costs and transportation to as much as $800 a ton for rice which has led to food riots in the developing world.

The reasons for high oil prices are complex, and due to many factors, but we can take steps now to deal with the global oil crisis and help people in the developing world avoid a worsening food crisis. One of the principal factors in the current oil crisis is directly related to the US invasion of Iraq. The war in Iraq, which administration officials believed would lead to democracy and stability has instead resulted in civil war and prolonged military expenditures. The financial uncertainty in the marketplace regarding the instability in the middle east has driven oil prices even higher and the worsening Federal debt, greatly impacted by the hundreds of billions of unpaid dollars committed to the war effort has made the dollar less attractive to global investors, driving down the value of the dollar in relation to global currencies and discouraging investment. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | No Comments

Happy Earth Day!

By Beth Robinson | April 22, 2008 |

Ask not what your Earth can do for you.

Ask what you can do for your Earth.

I know alot of wonderful people that are working hard to make this a healthier planet. I’m sure we have many, many people in the Clarksville area that are living with the environment in mind. As a Earth Day activity, I invite you to comment to this post and let others know at least one of the actions you take to Reduce-Recycle-Reuse.

Here is a list of some of the things I do:

1. Bought a Prius (even though no rebates or tax incentives remain)
2. Buy Green Power
3. Recycle paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, tin, aluminum
4. Compost
5. Write my local, state and other government representatives to support environmental measures
6. Eat less meat
7. Use my programmable thermostat
8. Buy energy efficient appliances & HVAC system
9. Active in local environmental groups
10. Buy only CFL’s «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments

Ethanol: great politics, ineffective energy

April 5, 2008 |

Corn Ethanol is becoming the Iraq war of energy policy. A policy based on lies, that initially won supporters political advantage, is highly destructive to the US, and ultimately destructive to its supporters when the costly truth becomes widely known.

In 2007, 115 US plants produced 7 billion gallons of Corn Ethanol – the energy equivalent of 132 million barrels of oil using about 15% of corn production. While this sounds large, it is tiny in the context of the US economy. This is equal to only 1.6% of the energy from from oil in 2007 used in the US. But the situation is worse than this because it takes 1 unit of fossil fuel to produce 1.3 units of corn ethanol. The net energy produced was only 0.5% of the energy from from oil – while consuming 15% of the US corn crop!

Vast sums of taxpayer and consumer dollars are funding an ineffective solution to the real problems of global warming and energy independence. While the country does not sufficiently fund what can be real solutions. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 4 Comments

House GOP Review for 03/20/2008

By Tennessee Republicans | March 21, 2008 |

The House GOP Review is a weekly feature that gives Tennesseans an in-depth look at what our Republican state legislators have been working on this week, and a glimpse into what’s planned for the coming week at our state house. 

“Right to hunt” constitutional amendment passes 105th General Assembly

House Joint Resolution 108 passed on the House floor this week with overwhelming aproval. The constitutional amendment would add provisions to the state constitution establishing the right to hunt, fish, and harvest game subject to “reasonable rules and regulations.” An excerpt from the resolution reads:

Hunting and fishing are honored traditions in the state; citizens have enjoyed the bounty of Tennessee’s natural resources from the time prior to statehood, including hunting and fishing for subsistence and recreation; therefore, hunting and fishing is a vital part of the state’s heritage and economy and should be preserved and protected.

Having already passed the Senate this year, the amendment must now win the approval of the 106^th General Assembly next year by a two-thirds vote. The measure could be on the ballot for referendum as early as 2010. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

A state energy policy for Tennessee

By Beth Robinson | March 2, 2008 |

As a Tennessean, I’m very proud that Governor Bredesen has committed to signing an executive order to develop a comprehensive state energy policy.  The Tennessee Environmental Council, Solar Valley Coalition,  Tennessee Sierra Club, Cumberland Sustainable and other environmental groups have been requesting a plan for Tennessee that will seriously addresses curtailing greenhouse gases, setting emissions standards, and funding renewable energy initiatives.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (aceee.org) ranks TN as 43rd of 50 states based on their energy policy.   Energy efficiency is our easiest, cleanest, and cheapest energy resource and it will be a great economic stimulus far surpassing our recent tax rebates or other temporary fixes. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | No Comments

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