It\'s Getting Hot In Here » katherinekirklin

More bad news for biofuels? Well, that depends…

katherinekirklin — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:42:24 +0000

Participants at the latest meeting of the U.N. Environment Programme’s Convention on Biological Diversity expressed growing concern over the increased use of non-food crops as sources of cellulosic ethanol. According to The New York Times , scientists from organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, and others concerned about the use of plants such as reeds and wild grasses may clash with policymakers in the U.S. and E.U., both of which have established targets for expanding biofuel use in response to climate concerns, and are now “anxiously awaiting the commercial perfection of second generation biofuels.”

The scientists’ concern stems from the fact that many of the plant species targeted for use as “second generation” biofuel sources (i.e. non-food crop sources of biofuel, as opposed to corn or soybeans) are not native to the areas in which they will be harvested as a fuel source, creating risky potential for their spread as damaging weeds. They cite biodiversity loss and economic costs as possible side effects of culitvating invasive species for fuel.

Evidently, critics from the biodiversity community are caught between a rock and a hard place when weighing the threats to biodiversity from cultivating weeds for biofuels on the one hand and runaway climate change on the other. The U.N.’s Convention on Biological Diversity identifies climate change as a major hazard for biodiversity protection, and also notes that the successful maintenance of global biodiversity will be central to effective mitigation and adaptation techniques in the face of intensifying climate changes.

The debate outlined in the Times article focused only on plantation-scale cultivation of second generation biofuel crops, unfortunately failing to highlight that there are serious questions of scale that could be introduced as a way of reframing the issue and possibly identifying solutions. In a 1999 paper , researchers from Purdue University hailed native switchgrass as a promising source of biofuel from a non-food crop. They cite not only the overall efficiency of the cultivation process but also the positive impacts that increasing native switchgrass in ecosystems degraded by industrial agriculture would have on soil and water quality, not to mention the potential for inviting other native species – such as insects and migratory birds – back home to acres and acres of native grasses where pesticide-laced corn used to dwell. The key here is the native part. The Purdue paper begins by citing the centuries-old practice of producing energy in conjunction with food production on American farms, a sharp contrast to the biofuels plantation model on the table at the U.N. Convention meeting.

Massachusetts Governor Stands Up For Clean Energy Economy

katherinekirklin — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:53:14 +0000

Deval Patrick, the often-controversial governor of Massachusetts, has not had an easy year. Amidst a protracted legislative brawl with his Republican opponents on Beacon Hill, Patrick was the focus of a A New York Times Article depicting his tenure in office as a lot of campaign bark and no bite. Of all unlikely venues for bipartisan success, however, Patrick has succeeded in eliciting significant support in the State House for a slew of recent clean energy measures.

Today, Patrick addressed Massachusetts business leaders in an effort to gain crucial buy-in for his effort to encourage substantial growth in the state’s clean energy sector. Wracked with debt and staggering from the national economic downturn, the Bay State is looking for ways to get rich quick and climate-friendly. The portfolio of clean energy measures in the works is notably diverse – from incentives for renewable energy companies to set up shop in-state to proposals to eliminate the gas tax on biofuels.

That may have been the moment when your eyebrows shot up toward your hairline. Although the Boston Globe describes the Governor as “Convinced that the age of fossil fuels is over” and highlights Patrick’s legislative favoring of biofuels derived from switch-grass and agricultural waste over energy-guzzling corn-based “biofuels”, the efficacy of the plan in terms of long-term climate impact may be undermined by its persistent emphasis on a traditional (read: outdated?) economic growth paradigm. Even if Patrick could somehow convince us of the theoretical soundness of this approach, it is difficult to get comfy with the idea absent a mandatory emissions cap (for the state or nation – either would do) to ensure that the (clean) industrial growth in the state would in fact cause a rapid, significant, and consistent decline in overall emissions.

While the verdict may still be out on Deval, Bostonians with two wheels will be applauding the efforts of their Mayor, Tom Menino, during next week’s Bay State Bike Week . Cycling enthusiasts from numerous neighborhoods will “Kick Gas” in fine form, and possibly ride a few circles around the State House in the process.

Maine Students Help Low-Income Neighbors Save Energy

katherinekirklin — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 23:51:14 +0000

Over the weekend, students from across the state of Maine participated in Operation Keep ME Warm, a project of the state government that sends volunteer teams to winterize the homes of low-income seniors. This year, the Maine Climate Campaign facilitated the largest student volunteer contingent in the program’s history. Students from Bowdoin College, Unity College, College of the Atlantic, U-Maine Farmington, U-Maine Orono, the University of Southern Maine and other schools around the state set off on a day-long blitz to winterize homes by caulking around windows and doors, covering windows and foundations with plastic sheeting, insulating electrical outlets, and replacing standard lightbulbs with CFLs – the donation of which was arranged by students from Unity.Volunteers also gave participating residents information about energy saving strategies and climate change. The expanded educational aspect of the program was also an initiative of the Maine Climate Campaign. Student leaders have been working with the governor’s office and the state community service commission since March to infuse some young energy and a stronger emphasis on the connections between energy use and climate change into the three year-old program. The Maine Climate Campaigners hope to consolidate numbers and lessons-learned from the weekend to help facilitate an even larger college and university volunteer presence next year.

Bowdoin College Recognized by EPA as Leading Green Power Purchaser

katherinekirklin — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 01:24:34 +0000

The purchase of 100% renewable electricity by Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME has attracted the attention of the EPA, which applauded Bowdoin’s efforts this week and made the college a member of its Green Power Leadership Club. Bowdoin has been powered by renewable electricity since July, after a student-run campaign last spring succeeded in securing a commitment from President Barry Mills and Treasurer Catherine Longley.
Bowdoin is now purchasing 12 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power per year from Miller Hydro Group — the owner of the only certified low impact hydroelectric facility in Maine. The Worumbo hydroelectric facility is located only 17 miles from Bowdoin’s Brunswick campus. Bowdoin is also purchasing 285,000 kWhs of Green-E certified renewable energy credits through Sterling Planet. Bowdoin’s purchases will meet nearly 65 percent of the campus’s annual electricity use. In combination with Maine’s existing Renewable Portfolio Standard, a full 100% of Bowdoin’s electricity is coming from qualifying renewable resources.

The decision to commit to a 100% renewable electricity purchase for the college resulted from a collaboration between student activists from the ad hoc group Clean Energy Now, the college President and Treasurer, and over 700 students and faculty members who expressed their support for the student proposal via written and email petitions. The shift to green electricity is the centerpiece of a larger effort by the college administration, student groups, and faculty to develop sustainable solutions to meet the energy needs of the campus community.

The Clean Energy Now campaign was born at the Northeast Climate Conference at Yale last April, inspired by a stellar workshop by student activists at Penn State and the hundreds of other student leaders in attendance. Many thanks to the Energy Action, Climate Campaign, and SSC folks who inspired and supported our efforts!