APRIL: WEEKLY Reading/Blogging

For EACH article, BLOG a SINGLE observation and a SINGLE question to share/ask of each of our student journalists. Use a SINGLE post at the thread below.

READ/BLOG for Tuesday, April 1: ENERGY

Shawna: "The Not-So-Green Mountains" and Green Mountain Power rebuttal.

August: Biomass.

Ally: New York Energy

Abby: Cape Wind

James: Fracking

READ/BLOG for Tuesday, April 8: AGRICULTURE/ORCAS

Morgan: "One Man's Pollution Plan for Lake Champlain"

Lisa: CSA

Bobcat: British Columbia forestry

Ryder: Erosion Happens.

Sarah: Orcas and Captivity

READ/BLOG for Tuesday, April 15: CLIMATE CHANGE

Kelsey: Climate Refugees.

Rebecca: Sea Level Rise and Population Impact.

Marianna: End Of Snow

Caroline: Fukushima

Mike: Climate Change

Dylan Pasco-Lake George- Midpoint

During his Northern Tour of 1791, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to his daughter; “Lake George is without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw; formed by a contour of mountains into a basin, finely interspersed with islands, its water limpid as crystal, and the mountain sides covered with rich groves of forest down to the water’s edge”. Today however, the crystal clear water Jefferson eloquently describes is in drastic decline. While still considered to be one of the world’s healthiest lakes regarding water quality, high impact residential development and storm water runoff are polluting the lake at extremely harmful levels and at ever increasing rates. With the help of local activism, private investment, and an overall appreciation for what has long been dubbed the “Queen of American Lakes”, the Lake George watershed has become the site of ground breaking scientific research, and the perfect example as to why lake side communities should mandate low impact development.

 -Lake background/history

-Commercial development/Tourism

-Direct threats to the

-Nonprofits who fight/work for the lake

-Watershed projects (wetland & stream restoration)

-The Jefferson Project

-The future of the Lake

-Conclusion

This image shows the most commercialzed area of the Lake George watershed. This is Lake George village looking North. (Carl Heilman)

 

 

 

Lake George looking south from the narrows. This photo shows the wonderful natural scenery as well as water clarity. (Carl Heilman)

 
                            
           A moderate rainfall carrying stormwater and sediment into the lake at English Brook.(LGA)



                              
Lake George Village after Hurrican Irene. Many aging drainage systems were questioned and raised a great deal of concern as the entire village flooded due to heavy rainfall.(Post-Star)

James Greer Mid Point

Hydraulic Fracturing, or hydrofracking, is a controversial form of energy extraction that is beginning to gain popularity throughout the nation. Using a high enough pressure, a collection of chemicals can be pushed through the Earth, cracking shale and releasing pockets of natural gas that can then be used as fuel. New York State rests atop the Marsellus Shale, a massive reserve for natural gas. While Hydraulic fracturing would mean a more energy independent New York, there is a concern that fracking could negatively affect the water supply in the Empire State. Two major New York watersheds exist within the Marsellus Shale. This past year, the New York State Assembly put hydrofracking in a moratorium state, meaning that for another year, hydrofracking will be banned. This is the third time the state government has issued this ban. While this means that hydrofracking’s usefulness will not be reevaluated until later in 2014, there still remains an active debate in the state on the part that hydrofracking could play in the lives of New Yorkers. Lobbyist groups from both sides have stated their cases in the Assembly and Senate, but there are also farmers and business groups that have voiced their support for and against hydraulic fracturing.

• What is Hydraulic Fracturing, making reference to Gasland and other sources.
• How these sources on hydrofracking have influenced and changed the minds of New Yorkers on fracking.
• Why groups of farmers have been in support of fracking even when presented with the potential downsides.
• Profiling anti-fracking groups and organizations and the work they are doing.
• What pro frackers have said in the face of evidence such as Gasland and other sources.
• Findings from the DEC and the Department of Health.
• What ripple effects could set in the state if fracking is allowed (i.e. wildlife affected, water)
• The chances of the moratorium being lifted in 2014
• What anti fracking groups will do in the meantime while the moratorium is in effect.
• Conclusion

Four Images:
Map of the Marsellus Shale
http://asnews.syr.edu/newsevents_2012/releases/Project_SWIFT_Hydrofracking.html

Diagram of the Fracking Process and Fracking Drill
http://www.citizenscampaign.org/campaigns/hydro-fracking.asp

Image of Protesters at the Well in Albany, NY
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Fracking-foes-push-drilling-ban-2681557.php

Farmers Rejecting Fracking Ban
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/ny_farmers_reject_anti-hydrofracking_position_at_farm_bureau_meeting.html

Abby_Cape Wind Midpoint Check-up

1. 

Despite its clear environmental impact, the Cape Wind project emerged into a two-sided controversy between those who favored it and those who did not. The evolution of media coverage throughout the project proposals, debates, and policies has allowed this important environmental issue to gain widespread popularity nationally and internationally. Not only does it have the potential to catalyze future offshore wind farms, but it will inspire political activism about the environment. The Cape Wind project and controversy were recognized by notable media outlets including the New York Times. The voices behind and against the project have extended over blogs, National Public Radio, Facebook, Twitter, and more. Some journalists covered the people involved, some the environmental impacts, and others the politics and finances regarding the project.

2. 

• Intro

• Background on Cape Wind, Timeline, etc.

• Those for it--Environmental activists, Deval Patrick

• Those against it--Wealthy landowners, Bill Koch

• Local coverage

• Impacts for environmental journalism...long-term, short-term, etc.

• Media takes on the project

• Conclusion

3.


"Wind Power." Saving Wildlife from Mass Extinction Due to Global Warming. N.p., n.d. Web. 

 This chart illustrates the breakdown of those in support of the Cape Wind Project.  It compares the change in support numbers between 2006 and 2007.  There is an important five percent increase in those who strongly support the project between the two years.


_________________________________________________________________

"Offshore Wind: State by State Analysis." Oceana, 2012. Web. 

 This chart is fairly recent.  It is a breakdown of all the East Coast/New England states and their energy abundance.  The Cape Cod project is located in Massachusetts, which not surprisingly ranks number two after Delaware in potential energy from offshore wind.  A jaw-dropping one hundred and thirty percent of the small state could be powered by the offshore wind supply.


_______________________________________________________________


"The Cape Wind Project." Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound. N.p., 2014. Web.

This is a fairly simplified map of the proposed sites for wind power plants off of the Cape Cod and Nantucket Sound region.  The red indicates where proposed sites could be, and the grey indicates alternative sites.  The pale yellow is federally owned waters.  This is an important geographical chart as it shows the heart of where the offshore turbines would be built.



______________________________________________________________

 

"Koch Brother Wages 12-Year Fight Over Wind Farm." New York Times, 23 Oct. 2013. Web. 

This picture, taken from the New York Times, is of Bill Koch.  Koch is the leader of most anti-Cape Wind ideas.  He is an extremely wealthy businessman with houses in Cape Cod.  He has pooled many millions of dollars into anti-Cape Wind projects and discussions.  Koch's main opponent in the project is Jim Gordon, one of the leading activists in favor of the Cape Wind project.

August Koch ENV News Midpoint Post

1."Possible quote about rising propane heating prices (Still waiting on this interview)".  This winter has seen an unprecedented rise in heating costs in Vermont, largely caused by a propane shortage.   A new initiative is calling for collaboration with the Upper Austrian State to promote biomass heating technology. Vermont has large masses of forested area that can be harvested sustainably, a unique benefit. Many residents of the state are skeptical though, leading to significant opposition.  Biomass heating is a growing and diversifying field that may revolutionize Vermont’s heating portfolio.  Could this new collaboration spell the end of unstable heating supplies if concerns can be adressed?

2. Main points
• Basics of biomass incineration
• Alternative methods: compost heat recovery
• Basics of the collaboration
• Progress made so far
• Current state of Vermont heating/energy
• Propane shortage in detail
• Some cost benefit analysis
• Outline challenges
• Views of opponents
• Potential/ideal outcomes


3.

http://www.energyjustice.net/biomass
Graph that shows carbon emissions from biomass energy production; all biogenic rather than fossil, but relatively high compared to traditional fuels

http://teeic.anl.gov/er/biomass/restech/dist/index.cfm
show areas/amounts/types of biomass available for energy production

http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2012/10/01/compost-power/
Images detailing the workings of compost heat recovery systems, a newer and exciting technology option for biomass heating

http://www.rhc-platform.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Structure/Biomass/Picture/wood_pellets_EREC.jpg

Biomass heating pellets for incineration

Renewables in New York

For a few years now, New York State has been in the midst of a debate about whether or not to ban the process of hydraulic fracturing. Some people say that the natural gas industry will bring necessary economic benefits to the state, while others are fighting the industry because they say it will cause too much environmental damage. Some people have made the argument that we don’t have an alternative to natural gas. However, a new study done by Stanford University has proven that we haven’t invested much effort in seeking out alternative forms of energy. Their study found that all of New York’s energy infrastructure could be economically converted to wind, water, and sunlight. This energy plan based on renewable energy would be a much smarter investment for New York than a plan based on natural gas.

-Intro 
-Background on Fracking
-Background on the fracking battle in New York 
-Renewable energy background
-New York State Renewable energy plan, and its feasibility
-Challenges for the plan
-Public awareness
-Why this plan is a smart investment 

Sarah Thompson ENVIRO NEWS MIDPOINT UPDATE

By Tuesday, March 11, in a SINGLE STAND-ALONE post here at the course blog titled with your NAME and ENVIRO NEWS MIDPOINT UPDATE, please post:

1. 
Forty year old white female , animal trainer, attacked by a killer whale (Orcinus orca) at work reads the autopsy report of Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld trainer killed during a routine performance in 2010. This display of aggression that resulted in the death of a beloved trainer is an example of the ways an orca is negatively affected by the practice of animal captivity. "Captivity deprives them of those essential elements, leading to chronic stresses that appear as immunodeficiency, ulcers and hostility," says Howard Garrett of The Orca Network, a nonprofit dedicated to the spreading of public awareness of the issue of captivity and using animals for entertainment. Captivity causes physical and psychological trauma for the orcas. "At least forty-four orcas have died at SeaWorld parks, including four within four months in 2010," says Cathy Williamson, the Captivity Program Manager of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Captivity keeps orcas from living the life they are meant to live in nature. This causes negative effects on not only the orca themselves but on the orcas around them, and their trainers as well. Their trainers are put in unnecessary amounts of danger as they deal with wild and unpredictable animals unfit for captivity. In order to assure a better the quality of life for these unique creatures, captivity must end.

2. 
• Introduction (above)
• stats about orcas in the wild (life span, health, habits, etc.)
• reality about orcas in captivity (same as above for contrast)
• physical problems that orcas face-lack of space, health problems
• psychological effects of captivity
• story of Dawn Brancheau in detail and why this is predicted to have happened, Blackfish
• what is SeaWorld doing to change this?
• What would the world be like without captivity?

3. 


http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/753/cache/sea-world-trainer-defense_75362_600x450.jpg
PHOTOGRAPH BY MATHIEU BELANGER, REUTERS/CORBIS


http://blog.mysanantonio.com/dvd/files/2013/11/Dawn-Brancheau-010.jpg
Photograph: Barry Bland / Barcroft Media


http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/131008181302-07-captive-whales-1008-horizontal-gallery.jpg
Photograph by Phelan M. Ebenhackzap


http://www.insidethemagic.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/seaworld-blackfish.jpg
Still from CNN documentary, Blackfish

Rebecca Bessette ENVIRO NEWS MIDPOINT UPDATE

1.)    I see the white sandy beach, bright blue, clear water; I can feel the calmness of the quiet ocean, the warm breeze brushing my skin, and the toasty, smooth sand between my toes as I sit with my island breeze drink in my hand slowly cooling me from the inside.  This is the most common picture painted in the mind when someone mentions the Maldives.  However, research shows that seas have been rising steadily since the early 1990's at an average rate of 0.14 inches.  This trend has a strong link to global warming and puts many cities along the New York coast and the entire islands of the Maldives at serious risk.  A sinking island threatens Maldivians and relocation is becoming a serious option for them as well as the coastal residents of New York.  Can the Maldivian lifestyle be salvaged?  What will come of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.?   The residents of the Maldives and homeowners and business owners of the New York coast need our help now, to assist in the saving of their homes.

2.)  Outline 
      Science of the rise

o   Why the ocean is warmer (generally)

o   Thermal expansion

o   Melting glaciers

-                    Consequences

o   Erosion

o   Contamination

o   Flooding

o   Economics

-                Areas that are in danger and their threats

o   NY

o   Maldives

o   Miami

-                What is being done?

o   Relocation

o   “Floating islands”

o   The Island President

-               Info from interviews/Performance

h  3.) 

From Business Insider

From Division of Coastal Management

From Climate Central

From Unwind Maldives