The evidence continues to mount that continued investment in fossil fuels makes no financial sense.
New study: Clean energy least costly to power America's electricity needs
"Using widely available models of climate change pollution costs and other health damages from burning fossil fuels (i.e. from sulfur dioxide pollution), the study calculates the real cost we bear for electricity—not just what it costs to generate, but also the climate and health costs caused by power plant pollution. Our results support the need for strong and protective pollution standards for new and existing plants."
In related news, evidence continues to mount that continued burning of carbon-based fuel sources leads to early death. (Sadly, my hometown sits is a brown zone.)
Here's where you're most likely to die from air pollution
"Heavily urbanized places in eastern China, India, Indonesia, and Europe are stippled by the darkest colors of snuff, meaning they experience rates of ruination as high as 1,000 deaths per 1,000 square kilometers* each year."
We waste food, and money, and then to boot, we create a larger issue for the environment through the rotting of the wasted food. We could feed 2 billion more people for the same cost we feed 7 billion today...if we just stopped wasting food.
Wasted food is a huge climate problem
"In the West, most of our food waste occurs because we toss out leftovers and unused ingredients — and because stores won’t sell ugly produce. The FAO found that some farmers dump 20 to 40 percent of their harvest because it “doesn’t meet retailer’s cosmetic specifications.” In developing countries, by contrast, most of the wasted food rots somewhere between the field and the market because of insufficient refrigeration and inefficient supply chains."
This is a story more about the possible than the red tape. Most regulations exist to protect public health. It makes sense to have some monitoring of garbage and material flows since if they are left unregulated, they can lead to the spread of disease. That said, it also makes sense that if a community wants to collect its food and garden waste and use it for a local business or a community garden, it should have a mechanism that does not cost a fortune. I am confident one will be found.
Gardner wants more garbage for compost, but red tape is trashing his plan
"Dunn said the permit for the compost-processing center he ran in 2005 cost about $30,000. He now trucks the food waste he picks up from restaurants to Waste Management to be turned into compost and then buys the finished compost back to use at Perry Street Farm at 5700 S. Perry Ave. in Washington Park.
'That is partially citizen protection and partially to keep the number of players low,' Dunn said.
Dunn said the state is attentive to the city’s desires, and if the city wants to loosen the rules on composting, he said he thinks the state would listen."
When something makes sense, and people see the value, even those most interested in making a living will do the right thing...and make sure that their competitors do as well.
Air board has allies in diesel pollution crackdown: Truckers
"By Jan. 1, about 50,000 more heavy diesel trucks — including those of the smallest fleets, owner-operators and independent drivers that make up the bulk of the industry — will have to install diesel particulate filters or upgrade to newer, cleaner engines."
Happy Friday!
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