Comment Archives: stories: Views: Green Light
Re: “"If you're going to use river water as your drinking water, you shouldn't discharge bromide."”
When a bromide isn't a bromide — terrific reporting.
Re: “Wet Reckoning”
"Please take my sewer system"??? What? Then I would have to find another job for Denny's cousin Lou, and also for the former Councilman Jones who knows where I buried all those bodies... and if I can no longer dictate who gets to provide supplies and services, what would make Denny and Carl bother keeping me around this public office anyway?
Re: “Clearing the Air: Just because you can't see pollution doesn't mean it can't hurt you”
Ideas for new Breathe Project partners: DTE Energy-Shenango, First Energy & GenOn Energy.
Re: “Farm Aid”
Thank you for the positive article ~ we need the non-farmer community support more than ever for our farmland.
Re: “Making a Living Building”
This is awesome. Imagine what an impact it would have if only 1% of all the commercial/industrial buildings in the U.S. were built like this! And now, imagine the impact if 10% were.
Re: “Foam Alone”
I’ve heard so far from a couple readers about this column, both suggesting that while polystyrene packing materials are not widely recyclable, various shipping establishments will accept them for reuse. (And as you recall, in the reduce-reuse-recycle hierarchy, reuse is preferable to recycling.)
Well, one of the suggestions checks out and the other doesn’t. One reader says he saves up his foam peanuts and takes them to “Kinko’s or some other … shipper.” But I called Fedex Kinko’s office and the guy there said that the company no longer use polystyrene peanuts. He added that used polystyrene peanuts are “not considered an approved packing material” because they can lose their protective ability (presumably from getting squished.) Fedex, he said, packs shipments in “recycled plastic.”
However, a reader’s call suggesting that UPS accepts used packing materials checks out — partially. The serviceperson at the office I called said that some UPS outlets accept foam peanuts and “any bubble-like plastic,” including bubble wrap. But she said that if you want to unload your packing materials, check with the store first because each is individually owned, and not every one has the same policy.
The same, of course, likely applies to other shippers.
Re: “Gassing the Forest”
"Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser contends that building wellpads can actually improve habitat for some species. The clearings encourage sun-dependent plant species and the animals that feed on them, he says."
As if we need more clearings. The forests are surrounded by 'clearings', from farming, logging, development, urban sprawl, and now more gas drilling.
When is enough, enough?
Re: “Watt's New: There's more to choosing an electric company than just the price.”
Ambit Energy is new to TX,IL,MD,NY and PA, a energy wholesaler who charges a cheaper rate, giving the customer a savings.....save on your Gas/Electric bill now! no gimmicks, no fees, u have a choice now!
Link with information or to sign up:
http://www.Frankgolimowski.joinambit.com/
Benefits to joining:
-IMMEDIATELY save a minimum of 7 -10% off your next two gas/electric bill. You can save up to 30% off your bill and keep track of your saving easily with the updates Ambit sends you.
Re: “Drill at the 'Mill?”
Well done documentation of concerns, Bill. I work in sales and mktg at SRM Lab in Latrobe, PA and have had to keep apprised of all that is going on with Gas Well Drilling Concerns. Self Advocacy for one's well water is the position to take when wanting to document any changes one might experience with any industrial drilling process. Preservation of "safe" drinking water is part of the land/homeowner's property appraisal. Therefore, economic benefits need to be weighed with the potential of water contamination that can cause current and future health issues. We need energy, but we need good water even more.
Marcellus Shale drilling history in PA has had ground water contamination incidences, when DEP or EPA has been on site to recognize them. Unfortuantely, these govt agencies do not have the manpower to monitor the many companies drilling in the region; thus my reasoning for taking the self advocacy position. Baseline water testing is assurance that should there be a water quality change, then one has the documentation in hand to support their complaint. This water sampling baseline should be collected by a third party; should be done with neighbors (strong support and documentation in numbers); should be analyzed by certified lab who affords the payer (well water owner) that their Chain of Custody and analysis will be given to them at time of sampling, and that a report will be mailed to the authorized individual on the Chain of Custody. SRM Lab is able to help the water well's owner with all of this.
Then, once drilling occurs, or if there is a water quality change, another sampling and analysis should be performed either immediately (Quality change) or within a 6 month time parameter (as suggested by PSU). Community communication is key, also. Neighbors, even when in rural regions, need to talk about what they are experiencing.
I continue to learn from U of Pitt and PSU, also online blogging, to inform and educate the public. Thanks to you also for bringing this into the public light.
Re: “Coal Undermine”
Great story Bill! Thank you for posting! Apparently there is another event this Sat May 22 at 6 pm at Landslide Community Farm in the Hill District, there is a spaghetti dinner, proceeds going to Climate Ground Zero, and a letter writing campaign to send to the activists who were jailed this week and can't post the $100,000 bail..... Our little fundraiser was nice, but we didn't come close to raising that kind of cash!
http://www.landslidecommunityfarm.org/
Re: “Explaining Climate”
http://www.iceagenow.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttLBqB0qDko
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/the_coming_ice_age.html
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/aginatur/iceage.htm
Really we should understand IF we have a problem, WHAT that problem is, BEFORE we arrogantly proclaim that we have THE solution.
Re: “A chemical engineer and sustainability advocate seeks cultural solutions, not technological ones, to the environmental crisis.”
AMEN. Someone who GETS IT. I am sure many do and will label him a socialist or some other goddamn lie.
Re: “Where the Gas Goes”
Clown Fact #-1 Range Resources Lies.