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Climate, Air Quality, and Weather Stories August 27, 2001 New England, Canadian leaders agree on clean air A meeting of governors and premiers from New England and eastern Canada opened with a pledge to clean the air by lowering emissions of mercury and greenhouse gases. Leaders agreed to reduce mercury emissions in the region by 75 percent by 2010, and to scale back greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010. Full Story. Or you can view the entire New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Change Action Plan 2001 DOE advisors: instead of building anew, upgrade old plants A panel established to advise the U.S. Department of Energy says the government should consider the renovation of existing coal-fired power plants instead of the construction of new ones. Environmental Science & Technology Magazine reports that the National Coal Council predicts enough electricity to power 40 million homes could be obtained from upgrading existing coal plants. Clean Air Act Enforcement A panel on the August 29 edition of the Diane Rehm Show on National Public Radio talks about the Clean Air Act: how its enforcement has changed since it was first enacted, the federal role in state lawsuits against pollution producers, and how the Bush Administration will implement the law. Report: EPA considering tougher air pollution measures The USA Today reports that Environmental Protection Agency officials are seeking permission from the White House to place new restrictions on the amount of pollution from power plants. Power industry officials counter that the move would drive up prices and threaten the country's power supply. What's that, a tax credit for SUVs? It started off as an example of uncommon cooperation when environmentalists and automakers met with lawmakers to hammer out a plan to benefit both: tax credits for hybrid vehicles. But the Boston Globe reports that the proposal "now on its way to becoming law" has somehow resulted in a tax credit for the "epitome of excess," the SUV. Environmentalists are not happy. Massachusetts fines MCI for unlicensed generators The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection reports that MCI WorldCom Network Services, Inc., has agreed to a $157,500 penalty for operating two emergency generators without a permit. The DEP says MCI has agreed to audit and upgrade the companyâs environmental compliance program at all its Massachusetts facilities. For details see the DEP Web site. |
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