Federal Appeals Court Upholds EPA Air Quality Rule

Federal Appeals Court Upholds EPA Air Quality Rule: Scientific American
A federal appeals court upheld a new Environmental Protection Agency rule to limit nitrogen dioxide emissions near major roadways, in a defeat for the oil industry, which said the rule went beyond what was necessary to protect public health.  Tuesday's decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., is a victory for the Obama administration and environmental groups that supported the 2010 rule, which limits exhaust that could remain in the air for a one-hour period.  The 100 parts-per-billion limit was intended to reduce smog from such sources as car exhaust pipes and factories; it was more stringent than a standard dating from 1971.

Fuel Cell Treats Wastewater and Harvests Energy

Fuel Cell Treats Wastewater and Harvests Energy: Scientific American
A new microbial fuel cell creates energy during wastewater treatment and also vastly reduces the amount of sludge produced. Israel-based company, Emefcy, named as a play on the acronym for microbial fuel cell (MFC), starts with the same principle as most wastewater treatment—water is aerated so bacteria in the liquid break down organic material in a closed series of containers known as a bioreactor.  "We didn't invent anything scientifically new," says Ely Cohen, vice president of marketing and business development for the four-year-old company.  The novelty factor: instead of using electricity to push air into the water, Emefcy uses a permeable filter that allows air in but doesn't let liquid out, much like how a diaper works. The polyethylene plastic membrane, similar to materials used in construction, surrounds the fuel cell chamber into which wastewater flows.  Inside the fuel cell, Emefcy coaxes anaerobic bacteria...

Germany May Scrap Energy-Source Goal as Overhaul Stumbles

Germany May Scrap Energy-Source Goal as Overhaul Stumbles - Bloomberg
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government said it may have to scrap some of its targets for shifting the source of its electricity supply, a move that would water down a commitment to bolster renewable energy in Europe’s biggest economy.  Economy Minister Philipp Roesler told today’s Bild newspaper that Germany may readjust targets linked to the plan to exit nuclear energy-generation by 2022 if jobs are threatened. The comments came a day after Environment Minister Peter Altmaier told Bild the coalition may fail to reach a goal to cut power consumption 10 percent by 2020. Merkel said July 14 that Germany probably won’t use carbon capture and storage facilities after passing the required bill in parliament.  “Instead of questioning targets or declaring the entire energy switch a failure, we now need the right decisions for more energy efficiency, grid expansion and smart market design,” Claudia Kemfert, the chief energy expert at the Berlin-based DIW economic institute, said today by e-mail.

Industry Group Loses Challenge to Nitrogen Dioxide Rules

Industry Group Loses Challenge to Nitrogen Dioxide Rules - Bloomberg
The first new U.S. standard for nitrogen dioxide in at least 35 years was upheld by a federal appeals court, which said the Environmental Protection Agency had the authority to attempt to improve air quality around the nation’s busiest roadways.  A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington today threw out a challenge by the American Petroleum Institute to regulations restricting the peak amount of nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, from tailpipes and smokestacks that can be present in the air during a one-hour period. Levels of the toxic gas are limited to a one-hour standard of 100 parts per billion.

Utility Chiefs Worry U.S. Rush to Gas Will Crowd Out Other Fuels

Utility Chiefs Worry U.S. Rush to Gas Will Crowd Out Other Fuels - Bloomberg

The U.S. is at risk of relying too much on natural gas as transportation, manufacturing and electric-power industries vie for the cheap fuel, top executives of three power utilities said.  While greater use of gas instead of coal for generation cuts air pollution and carbon-dioxide emissions linked to climate change, the executives said the U.S. needed a diverse fuel mix to hedge against cost increases in any one source.  “Having one focus is never good, just like a portfolio having one stock,” Michael Yackira, chief executive officer of Las Vegas-based NV Energy Inc. (NVE), said today at a Bloomberg Government breakfast in Washington.  Energy companies are developing vast reserves of natural gas by hydraulic fracturing underground to push gas out of shale rock. The process, also called fracking, has sent gas prices down about 38 percent in the past year, benefiting industries like chemical manufacturers that use the fuel in production.  The three executives disagreed on whether the U.S. should encourage production of alternative sources of electricity by taxing carbon emissions or by offering tax credits for wind and solar developers, for example.

European Commission Throws a Wrench in Poland's Coal Expansion Plans

European Commission Throws a Wrench in Poland's Coal Expansion Plans | TriplePundit Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit
The European Commission decided last week to block Poland from using free emissions permits to construct new coal based power plants. The Commission found that several projects in Poland’s investment plan did not meet EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) legal requirements. Over three quarters of the investments in the original plan were for projects linked to gas and coal. It is not known how many new coal power plants have been removed from Poland’s €7.1 billion energy modernization plan. The Commission did approve Poland’s request for a continued free allocation of emissions allowances to its power sector beyond this year

Legal plan for EU carbon market on agenda for July 25

Legal plan for EU carbon market on agenda for July 25 | Reuters
The European Commission will on July 25 debate a legal framework to revise the timetable for auctioning carbon allowances to bolster prices on the EU's weakened Emissions Trading Scheme, a document seen by Reuters showed.  Detail on the number of allowances that could be withheld and a carbon market review is now not expected until after the Commission returns from its summer recess in September, three separate EU sources said on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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Cold weather stops Scottish greenhouse gas emissions target being met

BBC News - Cold weather stops Scottish greenhouse gas emissions target being met
The Scottish government failed to meet its own climate change targets in 2010, according the latest official figures.  They showed greenhouse gas emissions rose by 1.9% on 2009 figures, after taking emissions trading into account.  Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said exceptionally cold weather conditions in Scotland in 2010 was to blame.  The government is attempting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020.

Tokyo Anti-Nuclear Rally Attracts Thousands as Protests Grow

Tokyo Anti-Nuclear Rally Attracts Thousands as Protests Grow - Bloomberg
Tens of thousands of people packed Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park yesterday for Japan’s biggest anti-nuclear rally since the Fukushima disaster last year in growing protests against government moves to restart atomic reactors.  Speakers at the demonstration, which broke up at 1:30 p.m. into three separate marches through Japan’s capital, included Nobel laureate Kenzaburo Oe and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, who wrote the score for the movie “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.”  Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda angered nuclear opponents last month when he approved the restart of two reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co. (9503)’s Ohi plant, which were shutdown along with other units for safety checks after the meltdown and radiation release from the wrecked Fukushima station. A Mainichi newspaper poll on June 4 showed as many as 71 percent of Japanese opposed the restart.

EU carbon rescue plan may not help U.N. offset slump

EU carbon rescue plan may not help U.N. offset slump | Reuters

Any lifeline European Union regulators throw to the bloc's own troubled carbon market may do little to help the United Nations' ailing emissions offset scheme.  The EU emissions trading scheme and the U.N.-backed offset market have been in an interdependent relationship since 2005, particularly since most of the demand for offset credits comes from the 12,000 or so big polluters in the EU scheme.  Both markets are flooded with supply. The European Commission is expected later this month to propose to fix its oversupplied market by delaying the sale of up to 1.2 billion carbon permits for several years.Such a proposal could help buoy EU carbon prices from near record lows in the near term, but it may not be enough to help U.N.-offset prices from sinking, analysts said on Tuesday.

Delhi airport recognised for carbon emission cut

Delhi airport recognised for carbon emission cut - NY Daily News
The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here Tuesday became the fifth airport in the Asia-Pacific region to receive accreditation for its efforts at reducing carbon emissions.  The development comes as the Airports Council International (ACI) accredited the IGI Airport at level two 'reduction' of carbon emissions under the airport carbon accreditation (ACA) programme.  The ACA is a programme that independently assesses and recognises airports' efforts to manage and reduce their carbon emissions. The participating airports can be certified at four progressive levels of accreditation -- mapping, reduction, optimization and neutrality.