September 2011 - Environment & Climate News

The September issue of Environment & Climate News reports on new NASA data showing carbon dioxide is trapping less heat in Earth’s atmosphere than computer models have predicted. The findings call into question computer-generated forecasts of catastrophic man-made global warming.

Also in this issue:

• The pelican population along the northern Gulf of Mexico is thriving, putting to rest fears the BP oil spill would have long-lasting negative effects on the iconic marine bird.

• Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is positioning the Keystone State to be a leader in twenty-first century energy production, vowing to veto any legislation that would impose a fee on the production of natural gas from shale deposits.

• Overriding a veto by Gov. Beverly Perdue, both houses of North Carolina’s legislature have implemented a budget that cuts taxes, reduces public spending, and makes significant changes to the Tar Heel State’s environmental policies.

• North Dakota is experiencing an economic boom driven by oil production. The state’s economy is growing at a 7.1 percent annual rate, a full 2 percentage points higher than the second-fastest-growing state economy.

• The golden eagle population in California’s Alameda County is enduring unsustainable losses from industrial wind turbines. State officials report an average of 67 golden eagles die each year at the Altamont Pass wind farm.

• Newly announced EPA restrictions on air emissions are killing jobs and raising electricity prices around the nation. Georgia Power Co. announced it will have to close three coal-fired power plants over the next two years.