Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee is Favored by Environmentalists

May 27, 2009 Dave Ohara

NYTimes has an interesting article about Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

Enviro groups like what they see in Obama's justice pick

Published: May 27, 2009

"Judge Sotomayor is well-qualified in light of her personal, academic, legal and judicial experience," said Glenn Sugameli, senior legislative counsel and head of Earthjustice's judicial nominations project. "Her knowledge, understanding and service as a federal trial and appellate court judge provide invaluable perspectives for deciding environmental protection and related issues."

What has the environmentalists excited is a ruling on temperature of water from power plants.

Environmentalists primarily are pointing to a single 2007 decision by Sotomayor -- on U.S. EPA's use of cost-benefit analysis in the regulation of pollutants -- as a signal that the potential future justice may side with them on a number of issues.

In that case, Riverkeeper v. EPA, an environmental group challenged an EPA rule relating to cooling-water intake structures in power plants. The agency was set to require hundreds of power plants to modify their water cooling systems, which cumulatively caused the deaths of millions of fish every year.

But the agency sought to choose the "best technology" for the upgrade, using a cost-benefit analysis that was based on both the price of the newer equipment and the potential marine life that would be killed. The top-of-the-line technology could reduce fish kills by as much as 98 percent, though it cost roughly 10 times as much as a different type of equipment that would reduce deaths by a smaller amount.

Sotomayor issued an opinion in which she declared that the Clean Water Act did not give EPA the leeway to do such a cost-benefit analysis.

In early 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision in a 6-3 ruling, with Justice Antonin Scalia stating in an opinion that EPA could use such an analysis in crafting its regulations.

Bet, you didn’t think the selection of Supreme Court justice could effect your power and cooling infrastructure.

Why Green Movement has Momentum, The Climate-Industrial Complex

May 22, 2009 Dave Ohara

The Green Movement is getting so much momentum it is being targeted in a animated series to poke fun at an environmentally sensitive family.

Making a Mockery of Being Green

The creator of ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ and ‘King of the Hill’ has a new target: environmentalists

By JAMIN BROPHY-WARREN

Director Mike Judge’s new animated television series “The Goode Family” is a send-up of a clan of environmentalists who live by the words “What would Al Gore do?” Gerald and Helen Goode want nothing more than to minimize their carbon footprint. They feed their dog, Che, only veggies (much to the pet’s dismay) and Mr. Goode dutifully separates sheets of toilet paper when his wife accidentally buys two-ply. And, of course, the family drives a hybrid.

ABC

Community activist Helen Goode (the voice of Nancy Carell) chats with a neighbor in the coming ABC animated series ‘The Goode Family,’ which pokes fun at a household of environmentalists living in the Midwest.

On Wednesday at 9 p.m., “The Goode Family” will have its premiere on ABC and become the first animated series on the network’s prime-time lineup since 1995 when “The Critic” starring Jon Lovitz ended its second season.

In an opinion article in WSJ.com though, a point is made just like there was a tight relationship between the defense industry and the US military, the new movement is the “climate-industrial complex.”

OPINION

MAY 21, 2009

The Climate-Industrial Complex

Some businesses see nothing but profits in the green movement.

By BJORN LOMBORG

Some business leaders are cozying up with politicians and scientists to demand swift, drastic action on global warming. This is a new twist on a very old practice: companies using public policy to line their own pockets.

The tight relationship between the groups echoes the relationship among weapons makers, researchers and the U.S. military during the Cold War. President Dwight Eisenhower famously warned about the might of the "military-industrial complex," cautioning that "the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist." He worried that "there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties."

This is certainly true of climate change. We are told that very expensive carbon regulations are the only way to respond to global warming, despite ample evidence that this approach does not pass a basic cost-benefit test. We must ask whether a "climate-industrial complex" is emerging, pressing taxpayers to fork over money to please those who stand to gain.

I was talking to a friend who makes numerous presentations on energy efficiency, and he is amazed at how many in the audience are “suits” – the attorneys and marketing staff learning how to take advantage of the coming changes.

So, don’t think that the green movement is being powered by just the characters in the “goode family”, there is a how industry business behind this as well.

The partnership among self-interested businesses, grandstanding politicians and alarmist campaigners truly is an unholy alliance. The climate-industrial complex does not promote discussion on how to overcome this challenge in a way that will be best for everybody. We should not be surprised or impressed that those who stand to make a profit are among the loudest calling for politicians to act. Spending a fortune on global carbon regulations will benefit a few, but dearly cost everybody else.

Salmon Habitat Threatens Dam Survival

May 19, 2009 Dave Ohara

Part of a sustainable and green data center is thinking long term and looking at the social impacts that can effect a data center operation. Seattle Times has an article about a US district judge telling federal agencies their salmon-recovery plans need work.

Salmon-recovery plan needs work, judge says

A judge is telling federal agencies they need to do more to help Columbia Basin salmon survive, or he will find the latest restoration plan in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

By Seattle Times staff and news services

PORTLAND — A judge is telling federal agencies they need to do more to help Columbia Basin salmon survive, or he will find the latest restoration plan in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

A Monday letter from U.S. District Judge James Redden to lawyers for all sides in a long-running court battle says he continues to have "serious reservations" because the standard for success is not strong enough.

Redden also wants a contingency plan that would include funding, congressional approvals and other steps needed to breach the lower Snake Rivers dams in the event other measures fail to restore salmon runs.

The letter sets the stage for a new round of out-of-court negotiations between plaintiffs — environmental groups and others — and the federal government over the program to revive endangered and threatened salmon runs in the Columbia River basin amid the operations of federal hydropower dams.

What is the probability of the federal gov’t breaching a hydroelectric dam to restore the salmon habitat?

Todd True, a plaintiff's attorney with Earthjustice, said he hopes breaching the dams can become an important component of the final plan.

"We hope that it will rise to the top of any objective evaluation," True said.

In years past, Redden has twice rejected federal plans for restoring the Columbia-basin salmon runs protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

And judge is losing his patience.

Redden said "aggressive actions are necessary to save this vital [salmon] resource." He said that the litigants are finally starting to work together, and he is optimistic for the prospects of a new agreement.

He warned that the government has spent the past decade "treading water" and "we cannot afford to waste another decade."

Here are the dams in the snake river area.

Dams of the Columbia Basin & Their Effects on the Native Fishery

Bonneville * The Dalles * John Day & McNary * Priest Rapids & Wanapum * Rock Island, Rocky Reach, Wells & Chief Joseph * Grand Coulee * Hells Canyon, Oxbow, Brownlee & Dworshak * Revelstoke, Keenleyside, Mica & Duncan

Ice Harbor Dam. Courtesy of Corps of Engineers

Ice Harbor Dam: Snake River, near the confluence with the Columbia River at mile marker 9.7, completed in 1961, federally owned , concrete gravity hydroelectric, 1 lock, 2 fish ladders, 2822 feet long, 100 feet high, spillway 590 feet, 10 gates with an earth fill embankment. The dam creates Lake Sacajawea, which extends 32 miles upstream to the Lower Monumental Dam.

Lower Monumental Dam. Courtesy of Bonneville Power Administration

Lower Monumental Dam: Snake River at mile marker 41.6, completed in 1969, federally owned, concrete gravity with a short earth fill abutment, spillway 572 feet, 8 gates, 3791 feet long ,height 100 feet, 2 fish ladders, 1 lock, creates Lake Herbert G. West, 28.1 miles to the Little Goose Dam, hydroelectric.

Little Goose Dam. Courtesy of Army Corps of Engineers

Little Goose Dam: Snake River at mile marker 70.3, completed in 1970, additional units completed in 1978, federally owned, concrete gravity type hydroelectric, spillway 512 feet, 8 gates, 2665 feet long, 98 feet high. Creates Lake Bryan which extends 37.2 miles upriver to the Lower Granite Dam.

Lower Granite Dam. Courtesy of Army Corps of Engineers

Lower Granite Dam: Snake River at mile marker 107.5, completed in 1975, federally owned, concrete gravity, hydroelectric, spillway 512 feet, 8 gates with an earth fill abutment. The dam is 3200 feet long with a height of 100 feet, and employs 2 fish ladders. Lower Granite dam was the first dam on the Snake River to use screens that protected the juvenile fish from the turbines (River of Life, Channel of Death by Keith C. Peterson, Confluence Press, 1995, p.184).

Environmentalists, the four treaty tribes (Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs, Nez Perce), scientists, and non-native fishermen have all called for the breaching of these four lower Snake River dams to facilitate salmon habitat restoration. Doing so would leave Lewiston, Idaho without its seaport. While many have considered drawdowns a radical solution to the region's salmon crisis, recently, the idea has gained credence. The issue is a contentious one with emotions high on both sides.

More Energy Government Regulation Coming

May 14, 2009 Dave Ohara

MSNBC sites Reuters in on energy used by devices.

Cell phones, TVs undo efficiency gains

Study: Energy used by household electronic devices could triple by 2030

By Gerard Wynn

updated 1 hour, 9 minutes ago

LONDON - Demand for energy-thirsty gadgets such as cell phones, iPods, PCs and plasma TVs is undoing efficiency gains elsewhere, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday.

The Paris-based energy adviser to 28 developed countries urged governments in a report to keep pace with the invention of new consumer devices when crafting efficiency standards, and implored people to make thriftier choices.

The IEA warned that otherwise energy used by household electronic devices could triple by 2030.

Digging into the IEA site found this presentation with this conclusion that was part of the release above.

Note the last statement.

We need strong, robust government policies that ensure greater energy efficiency.

Regulation Compliance is Next Step in Green Data Centers

May 12, 2009 Dave Ohara

DataCenterKnowledge has a post on Digital Realty Trust’s survey on concerns about regulation coming.

The changes in Washington are being felt in the data center. The changed political and regulatory climate is clearly seen in survey data released today by Digital Realty Trust, the largest wholesale data center developer. The company’s annual study of green data center trends in the U.S. found that 69 percent of data center executives said they were “extremely or very concerned” about government regulation, and a huge surge in interest in using carbon credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions.

“What dominated last year’s study was the need for clearer standards and best practices for green data centers,” said Jim Smith, CTO of Digital Realty Trust. “By contrast, what dominates this year’s study is companies’ concerns about potential government regulation and how that would impact data center operations.”

…

“Concerns about potential regulations are driving companies to look closely at their data centers and accelerate the process of implementing green initiatives to increase energy efficiency,” said Smith, who said concerns about government regulation are somewhat offset by good faith efforts by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency to work with the industry and groups like The Green Grid. “We believe that collaboration between the government and data center professionals is the most effective approach to addressing data center energy efficiency.”

What most people don’t understand what comes with being green claims is an opportunity for gov’t officials to measure your compliance. Regulations and compliance are ways opportunities to tax.

Should you be concerned?

What are the carbon impact of your data centers? All the top data center operators know theirs.

Do you know yours?

Why are data centers vulnerable? They are owned by rich companies which can afford to pay carbon impact taxes.