Environment

Kansas City, Kan., October 30, 2009 - Proposals for Environmental Education grants to develop new programs or to improve the quality of existing programs will be accepted through Dec. 15, 2009 from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska communities by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan.

EPA regional offices may award grants up to $50,000. Grants over $50,000 and up to $200,000 are awarded by EPA headquarters in Washington.    » read more »

November 2, 2009 -- Broomfield, Colo. – NOAA scientists took off Saturday on the second phase of a mission that, when complete, will provide a detailed view of how carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are distributed globally. Monitoring the increasing levels of greenhouse gases and black carbon aerosols in the atmosphere is crucial to understanding human-caused climate change.

“Missions such as this one are critical to understanding the impacts of greenhouse gases and particulates,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The data collected are also essential to help verify if policies to reduce these heat trapping pollutants are having their intended effect.”    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- ALBANY, NY – Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-21) announced today that the Department of Energy has awarded $13.7 million dollars in Recovery Act funding for the development of new geothermal energy projects and research into advanced geothermal technologies in the 21st Congressional District. The funds are part of $338 million dollars in Recovery Act grants nationwide that are targeted towards accelerating development of domestic geothermal energy.    » read more »

Legislation, crafted in part by Congressman Rothman, funds infrastructure investment, land conservation and cleaner air and water in New Jersey

October 29, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2996, the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Conference Report, which was co-authored by Congressman Rothman and fellow members of the House Appropriations Committee.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) announced that yesterday, the House and Senate Conference Committee for the FY2010 Interior Appropriations bill, “Approved an historic $475 million down payment for the restoration of the Great Lakes.” The legislation, which the House and Senate will soon vote on for final approval, would fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) which was requested by the President and shepherded through Congress by Obey who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.    » read more »

Federal Funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund to Increase by $178 million in Fiscal Year 2010

October 30, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – The Fiscal Year Interior Appropriations bill, which Congress passed last night and which the President is soon expected to sign into law, includes $453 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an increase of $178 million from last year.    » read more »

10/29/09 -- Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Tim Bishop voted in favor of legislation that will bring significant federal aid for clean water infrastructure in New York and protect the Long Island Sound. The House of Representatives passed the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations conference report, which emphasizes reducing pollution in our air and water, cleaning up dangerous toxic waste sites, encouraging energy efficiency, and promoting the development of renewable clean energy sources.    » read more »

Program will create jobs, increase energy independence, and strengthen economy

22 October 2009 -- Washington, DC - Congressman John Adler today voted to pass the Solar Technology Roadmap Act to strengthen the American solar technology industry. The bipartisan bill creates a coordinated research and development program and public-private partnerships. New Jersey is a leader in solar technology, with more solar power installed per capita than any other state.    » read more »

Real time water analysis helps ensure safety of beachgoers in Ireland

ARMONK, NY – - 02 Nov 2009: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland are teaming up to enable smarter water management across more than 130 of Ireland’s beaches and lakes.

Working together with An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, the organizations are collecting and analyzing large amounts of complex environmental data from Ireland’s coastline and lakes on water quality, tides, weather forecasts and more. That information is then made easily available to the general public at an online portal, Splash. Currently live in Ireland with plans for global expansion, Splash has already benefited thousands of visitors from nearly 40 countries.    » read more »

GE to Showcase Jenbacher Biogas Engines that are Helping U.S. Dairy Farmers Generate Renewable Electricity from Cow Manure Methane

SYRACUSE, N.Y.--Thursday, October 29, 2009--With the country working to develop cleaner, alternative energy sources, the U.S. dairy industry with sponsorship from GE Energy is convening the New York Dairy Power Summit in Syracuse, N.Y., this week.

The summit brings together experts in dairy production, engineering, environmental science, financing, legislation and policy, and green energy business to accelerate opportunities for U.S. dairy farmers to use cow manure methane biogas to generate reliable, cost-effective renewable electricity.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has released over $10 million for four New Mexico projects aimed at exploring and developing new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies. Funding comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

“Geothermal energy can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly form of energy production. This funding will help New Mexico take advantage of the current technology, and make investments in advancing this important technology, as well,” Bingaman said.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), today announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Interior-Environment Appropriations Conference Report, will provide over $30 million in federal funding for conservation and clean water projects in Rhode Island. The bill passed the House 247-178 earlier today and the Senate 72-28 this evening. The Conference Report now goes to the President to be signed into law.

Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, noted that the Interior spending bill provides money for land acquisition, drinking water and storm water infrastructure, and environmental preservation projects.    » read more »

Senate Floor, remarks as prepared for delivery

October 30, 2009 -- Mr. President, my home state of Delaware has been the recipient of some good news this week and so I thought this would be a good time to come to the floor and discuss how Delaware is leading the way in responding to the challenge of climate change and creating green jobs.

This is a critical time in our history. At stake are the jobs and economic future of our children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, as we emerge from this economic crisis, many of the jobs we have lost will not return. To make a full recovery, we need to create the next generation of jobs. I believe that the jobs leading the way will be the clean and green energy industries of tomorrow.    » read more »

Over $5.5 million to PA for infrastructure improvements and Department of Interior projects including Flight 93 Memorial

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey announced that the U.S. Congress has passed an appropriations bill that includes millions in federal funding for several Pennsylvania interior and environmental projects. The funding is contained in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 which passed both the House and Senate on Thursday. The bill will now be sent to the President for his signature.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., today applauded the inauguration of a new carbon capture and sequestration project at the AEP Mountaineer Power Plant in New Haven, West Virginia.

“This path-breaking carbon capture and storage project, championed by American Electric Power and Alstom, signifies that coal is poised to be a clean, competitive 21st Century fuel,” said Byrd.    » read more »