2012 October Environment & Climate News

The October issue of Environment & Climate News reports Massachusetts has adopted new regulations making it more difficult for biomass power to qualify for the renewable energy credits that enable those power plants to remain economically feasible and stay in operation.

Also in this issue:

• Biomass power plants regularly violate clean air and water laws, the Wall Street Journal reports, with 85 of 107 plants operating at the start of 2012 having received citations from federal or state regulators during the past five years.

• Dairyland Power Cooperative of Wisconsin reached a joint settlement agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Sierra Club over alleged clean air violations. The settlement will directly cost the average Dairyland Power customer $250 and will drive up future electricity prices.

• A new wind farm proposed for federal land in Wyoming will inflict a devastating toll on threatened bird species, including sage grouse and eagles, environmentalists report.

• The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is considering a dramatic expansion in the length of permits allowing wind power operators to kill bald eagles and other protected bird species. FWS is considering lengthening the maximum duration of permits from five years to 30 years.

• Lobster is becoming more affordable for middle- and low-income families as warmer waters off the coast of New England cause a surge in lobster numbers. With more of the crustaceans showing up in lobstermen’s pots, prices have fallen dramatically.

• Farmers and ranchers are in an uproar after the U.S. Department of Agriculture circulated a memo claiming humans harm the environment by eating meat and urging USDA employees to participate in “Meatless Mondays.”