2012 January Environment & Climate News

The January 2012 issue of Environment & Climate News reports on the hefty oil dividend Alaskans will receive this year – $1,171 each, more than $3,000 on average per household. The disbursements come from the Permanent Dividend Fund, Alaska’s way of allowing residents to benefit from the oil revenues generated on federal land in their state.

Also in this issue:

• After testing 71 water wells near hydraulic fracturing natural gas production sites, the U.S. Geological Survey reports no evidence of water pollution.

• The chairmen of the Iron County Democrats and Iron County Republicans have sent the chair of a Wisconsin legislative committee a joint letter seeking removal of obstacles slowing the approval process for proposed mining operations.

• Pinellas County, Florida county commissioners voted 4–3 to stop fluoridating tap water for some of the county’s residents. The decision has angered health advocates, who say the lack of fluoridation will harm dental health.

• Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, has sent a letter to President Barack Obama expressing frustration with EPA regulations preventing Kentucky miners from producing coal.

• A growing number of members of Congress are calling for the resignation of Energy Secretary Steven Chu as the Solyndra scandal widens.

• After accepting federal loan guarantees from the same program that funded the now-bankrupt Solyndra corporation, Nevada Geothermal Power, Inc. is poised to follow Solyndra and other failed alternative power companies into insolvency.