Aggregator

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Merkley has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Whitehouse has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Whitehouse has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Whitehouse has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Carper has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Carper has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Carper has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Booker has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Booker has a chance to change that. Regional.

Our current chemical safety law is 40 years old and woefully ineffective, but Sen. Booker has a chance to change that. Regional.

February 2, 2015

By EDF Blogs

Each month, the Energy Exchange rounds up a list of top clean energy conferences around the country. Our list includes conferences at which experts from the EDF Clean Energy Program will be speaking, plus additional events that we think our readers may benefit from marking on their calendars.

Top clean energy conferences featuring EDF experts in February:

Feb 16-18: Energy, Utility & Environment Conference 2015, San Diego, CA
Speaker: John Finnigan, Attorney

• The 18th Annual Energy, Utility, and Environment Conference is the U.S.’s largest professional networking and educational event of its kind, held at the San Diego Convention Center. The technical program consists of over 400 speakers in 10 concurrent tracks. Topics include “GHG Regulation for Everyone – Not Just Utilities,” “Avoiding Emissions from the Electric Sector through Efficiency and Renewable Energy,” “EPA’s Proposed Clean Power Plan,” and more.

Feb 16-20: UT Energy Week 2015, Austin, TX
Speaker: Mica Odom, Communications Director

• Many of the world’s top scientists conducting research on an array of energy issues call The University of Texas at Austin home. Join these and other experts in academia, industry, government, and the non-profit world for a reality check on some of the most vital energy issues facing society in this unique, week-long critical examination of the latest research findings, emerging trends, and new technologies. UT Energy Week 2015 is co-hosted by the Energy Institute and the student-led Longhorn Energy Club with the participation of various schools and colleges engaged in energy related research on the UT Austin campus.

Feb 19-20: NC Clean Tech Summit, Chapel Hill, NC
Speaker: Greg Andeck, North Carolina Senior Manager, Clean Energy

• The 2nd annual NC Clean Tech Summit will bring together professionals in business, policy, and academia from across the state for two days of problem-solving and planning to foster leadership and growth in North Carolina's clean tech industry. Hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Institute for the Environment and Kenan-Flagler's Center for Sustainable Enterprise, the Summit promises to highlight the industry's latest innovations, trends, and challenges, with an eye on our future competitiveness.

Feb 19: Demand Response Virtual Summit 2015, Online
Speaker: Jamie Fine, Senior Economist

• Advances in automatic demand response (ADR) coupled with developing capabilities of the smart grid and customer desire to cut energy costs are leading to significant new opportunities for ADR applications. As variable-generation energy resources continue to require greater flexibility from the grid, network planners are looking to demand response as a potentially valuable tool to meet this growing need. The 4th Annual Demand Response Virtual Summit 2015 is a one day, 100 percent online event that brings together key thought leaders and practitioners to examine the current the opportunities and challenges associated with achieving DR's full potential.

Feb 21: Tufts Energy Conference 2015, Medford, MA
Speaker: Michael Panfil, Attorney

• The Tufts Energy Conference (TEC) brings together experts from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors with students and professionals to discuss critical global energy issues. The conference is entirely organized by students from a broad range of backgrounds in engineering, international affairs, urban planning, and economics. From a two-panel event in 2006, TEC has grown into one of the largest entirely student-run energy conferences in the region. Experts from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, students, and professionals are all invited to attend TEC 2015, which will focus on breaking barriers to a clean energy future.

Other top clean energy conferences across the U.S. in February:

Feb 2: Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative Annual Consumer Symposium, San Diego, CA

• Held in conjunction with DistribuTECH 2015, SGCC’s 5th annual Consumer Symposium: Consumer Value in Action is a must-attend industry event that comes at a time when consumer engagement around the smart grid is more important than ever. Attendees at the Consumer Symposium will gain insightful information and tactics on creating new and innovative solutions to help engage consumers about the smart grid in 2015. Moreover, industry stakeholders will learn the proactive approaches in communicating the value of smart grid investments to consumers in order to fulfill consumer expectations and drive engagement. Additionally, attendees will have the first look at the 2015 State of the Consumer Report.

Feb 16-18: Smart Energy Summit 2015, Austin, TX

• Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines the expanding market for energy solutions and home controls and its impact on utilities, service providers, retailers, manufacturers, and consumers. At this annual conference, analysts, media, and industry leaders evaluate new partnerships, strategies for consumer engagement, and deployment plans for energy management solutions in the connected home. The summit agenda features executives representing utilities, telecom and security companies, retailers, and original equipment manufacturers OEMs presenting on the state of the market and the emerging consumer and business opportunities.

Feb 17-19: GreenBiz Forum, Phoenix, AZ

• Success is all about the power of partnerships — internal, external, supply chain, NGO, public-private, and more. The tasks are simply too big to go it alone. The 2015 GreenBiz Forum will leverage our vast networks, insights, and domain expertise to bring you the brightest thinkers and most influential leaders. You'll get an unparalleled, in-depth look at the key challenges and opportunities facing sustainable business today. The Forum is framed by the annual State of Green Business report, the eighth annual edition of GreenBiz’s acclaimed accounting of key sustainability metrics and trends. The report, combined with the high-wattage stage presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities that have become hallmarks of GreenBiz events, makes the 2015 GreenBiz Forum an unforgettable event.

Feb 17-19: Sixth Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies, Washington, D.C.

• The Sixth Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies, sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society, will be a forum for participants to discuss state-of-the-art innovations in smart grid technologies and will feature plenary and panel sessions, as well as technical paper presentations and poster sessions. Tutorials by international experts on smart grid applications will also be available. The overall theme for 2015 is “Smart Grid – Present and Future”, focusing on the future migration path for the smart grid as new and emerging technologies converge with power system developments to create smart energy systems.

Feb 27-28: MIT Energy Conference, Cambridge, MA

• In the ten years since the MIT Energy Conference’s inception, more changes have occurred in global energy than in the 100 years prior. As a key contributor to the development of solutions at the knowledge frontier, MIT brings together energy visionaries and a host of creative, passionate, motivated individuals for fact-based discussion and innovative problem-solving. This year’s conference unites leaders from industry, government, and the scientific community to align on actions we can take today to address tomorrow’s energy challenges. We will explore ways by which technological development, novel policy, and finance innovation enable the disruption of legacy value chains and convergence of global economies.

Photo source: Flickr/National Retail Federation

By EDF Blogs

Each month, the Energy Exchange rounds up a list of top clean energy conferences around the country. Our list includes conferences at which experts from the EDF Clean Energy Program will be speaking, plus additional events that we think our readers may benefit from marking on their calendars.

Top clean energy conferences featuring EDF experts in February:

Feb 16-18: Energy, Utility & Environment Conference 2015, San Diego, CA
Speaker: John Finnigan, Attorney

• The 18th Annual Energy, Utility, and Environment Conference is the U.S.’s largest professional networking and educational event of its kind, held at the San Diego Convention Center. The technical program consists of over 400 speakers in 10 concurrent tracks. Topics include “GHG Regulation for Everyone – Not Just Utilities,” “Avoiding Emissions from the Electric Sector through Efficiency and Renewable Energy,” “EPA’s Proposed Clean Power Plan,” and more.

Feb 16-20: UT Energy Week 2015, Austin, TX
Speaker: Mica Odom, Communications Director

• Many of the world’s top scientists conducting research on an array of energy issues call The University of Texas at Austin home. Join these and other experts in academia, industry, government, and the non-profit world for a reality check on some of the most vital energy issues facing society in this unique, week-long critical examination of the latest research findings, emerging trends, and new technologies. UT Energy Week 2015 is co-hosted by the Energy Institute and the student-led Longhorn Energy Club with the participation of various schools and colleges engaged in energy related research on the UT Austin campus.

Feb 19-20: NC Clean Tech Summit, Chapel Hill, NC
Speaker: Greg Andeck, North Carolina Senior Manager, Clean Energy

• The 2nd annual NC Clean Tech Summit will bring together professionals in business, policy, and academia from across the state for two days of problem-solving and planning to foster leadership and growth in North Carolina's clean tech industry. Hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Institute for the Environment and Kenan-Flagler's Center for Sustainable Enterprise, the Summit promises to highlight the industry's latest innovations, trends, and challenges, with an eye on our future competitiveness.

Feb 19: Demand Response Virtual Summit 2015, Online
Speaker: Jamie Fine, Senior Economist

• Advances in automatic demand response (ADR) coupled with developing capabilities of the smart grid and customer desire to cut energy costs are leading to significant new opportunities for ADR applications. As variable-generation energy resources continue to require greater flexibility from the grid, network planners are looking to demand response as a potentially valuable tool to meet this growing need. The 4th Annual Demand Response Virtual Summit 2015 is a one day, 100 percent online event that brings together key thought leaders and practitioners to examine the current the opportunities and challenges associated with achieving DR's full potential.

Feb 21: Tufts Energy Conference 2015, Medford, MA
Speaker: Michael Panfil, Attorney

• The Tufts Energy Conference (TEC) brings together experts from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors with students and professionals to discuss critical global energy issues. The conference is entirely organized by students from a broad range of backgrounds in engineering, international affairs, urban planning, and economics. From a two-panel event in 2006, TEC has grown into one of the largest entirely student-run energy conferences in the region. Experts from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, students, and professionals are all invited to attend TEC 2015, which will focus on breaking barriers to a clean energy future.

Other top clean energy conferences across the U.S. in February:

Feb 2: Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative Annual Consumer Symposium, San Diego, CA

• Held in conjunction with DistribuTECH 2015, SGCC’s 5th annual Consumer Symposium: Consumer Value in Action is a must-attend industry event that comes at a time when consumer engagement around the smart grid is more important than ever. Attendees at the Consumer Symposium will gain insightful information and tactics on creating new and innovative solutions to help engage consumers about the smart grid in 2015. Moreover, industry stakeholders will learn the proactive approaches in communicating the value of smart grid investments to consumers in order to fulfill consumer expectations and drive engagement. Additionally, attendees will have the first look at the 2015 State of the Consumer Report.

Feb 16-18: Smart Energy Summit 2015, Austin, TX

• Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines the expanding market for energy solutions and home controls and its impact on utilities, service providers, retailers, manufacturers, and consumers. At this annual conference, analysts, media, and industry leaders evaluate new partnerships, strategies for consumer engagement, and deployment plans for energy management solutions in the connected home. The summit agenda features executives representing utilities, telecom and security companies, retailers, and original equipment manufacturers OEMs presenting on the state of the market and the emerging consumer and business opportunities.

Feb 17-19: GreenBiz Forum, Phoenix, AZ

• Success is all about the power of partnerships — internal, external, supply chain, NGO, public-private, and more. The tasks are simply too big to go it alone. The 2015 GreenBiz Forum will leverage our vast networks, insights, and domain expertise to bring you the brightest thinkers and most influential leaders. You'll get an unparalleled, in-depth look at the key challenges and opportunities facing sustainable business today. The Forum is framed by the annual State of Green Business report, the eighth annual edition of GreenBiz’s acclaimed accounting of key sustainability metrics and trends. The report, combined with the high-wattage stage presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities that have become hallmarks of GreenBiz events, makes the 2015 GreenBiz Forum an unforgettable event.

Feb 17-19: Sixth Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies, Washington, D.C.

• The Sixth Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies, sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society, will be a forum for participants to discuss state-of-the-art innovations in smart grid technologies and will feature plenary and panel sessions, as well as technical paper presentations and poster sessions. Tutorials by international experts on smart grid applications will also be available. The overall theme for 2015 is “Smart Grid – Present and Future”, focusing on the future migration path for the smart grid as new and emerging technologies converge with power system developments to create smart energy systems.

Feb 27-28: MIT Energy Conference, Cambridge, MA

• In the ten years since the MIT Energy Conference’s inception, more changes have occurred in global energy than in the 100 years prior. As a key contributor to the development of solutions at the knowledge frontier, MIT brings together energy visionaries and a host of creative, passionate, motivated individuals for fact-based discussion and innovative problem-solving. This year’s conference unites leaders from industry, government, and the scientific community to align on actions we can take today to address tomorrow’s energy challenges. We will explore ways by which technological development, novel policy, and finance innovation enable the disruption of legacy value chains and convergence of global economies.

Photo source: Flickr/National Retail Federation

BP oil spill: Study traces almost 10 million gallons to Gulf sea floor
By Jayalakshmi K, International Business Times. Jan. 30, 2015
“A study led by Florida State University Professor of Oceanography Jeff Chanton has found around 6 million to 10 million gallons buried in the sediment on the Gulf floor, about 62 miles southeast of the Mississippi Delta.” (Read More)

With recent ruling, federal judge cuts at least $240 million from state’s BP fine
By Bob Marshall, The Lens. Jan. 26, 2015
“You don’t get credit for what you have to do – which is cleaning up the pollution you dumped on the Gulf,” said David Muth, National Wildlife Federation director of the Mississippi River Delta Restoration coalition. “It doesn’t matter whether it cost them $200 or $200 billion, it’s what they have to do. For them to claim some kind of moral credit for cleaning up even a spec of what they dumped is absurd.” (Read More)

BP Begs for Lower Fine for Deepwater Horizon
By Tessa Stuart, Audubon Magazine. Jan. 22, 2015
“The outcome from this decision must send a clear and powerful signal to every other operator in the Gulf: deep-sea drilling is risky business, and they must protect their employees, our communities and our ecosystems," the groups wrote in a joint statement released last week. "BP chose not to do that, so they deserve to pay the maximum fines allowed by law.” (Read More)

BP oil spill: Study traces almost 10 million gallons to Gulf sea floor
By Jayalakshmi K, International Business Times. Jan. 30, 2015
“A study led by Florida State University Professor of Oceanography Jeff Chanton has found around 6 million to 10 million gallons buried in the sediment on the Gulf floor, about 62 miles southeast of the Mississippi Delta.” (Read More)

With recent ruling, federal judge cuts at least $240 million from state’s BP fine
By Bob Marshall, The Lens. Jan. 26, 2015
“You don’t get credit for what you have to do – which is cleaning up the pollution you dumped on the Gulf,” said David Muth, National Wildlife Federation director of the Mississippi River Delta Restoration coalition. “It doesn’t matter whether it cost them $200 or $200 billion, it’s what they have to do. For them to claim some kind of moral credit for cleaning up even a spec of what they dumped is absurd.” (Read More)

BP Begs for Lower Fine for Deepwater Horizon
By Tessa Stuart, Audubon Magazine. Jan. 22, 2015
“The outcome from this decision must send a clear and powerful signal to every other operator in the Gulf: deep-sea drilling is risky business, and they must protect their employees, our communities and our ecosystems," the groups wrote in a joint statement released last week. "BP chose not to do that, so they deserve to pay the maximum fines allowed by law.” (Read More)

5 Years after the Spill: What BP Owes the Gulf Coast
By David Yarnold, Roll Call. Jan. 29, 2015
“It’s been nearly five years since BP slimed the Gulf Coast, taking the lives of 11 men, wrecking livelihoods and killing tens of thousands of helpless coastal birds. Finally, federal Judge Carl Barbier is heading into the final stretch, deciding how much the third largest oil company in the world will have to pay in pollution fines for the worst oil spill in U.S. history.” (Read More)

BP’s ‘civically responsible’ spending after oil spill propped up Gulf economy, expert testifies
By Jennifer Larino, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 29, 2015
“Baton Rouge economist Loren Scott predicted "the bottom would fall out" for the region's economy when oil started washing ashore in the early days of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Scott testified on Wednesday those forecasts were some of the "worst I've ever given," failing to anticipate the "robust recovery" driven by billions of dollars BP pumped into the Gulf Coast for cleanup and damage claims.” (Read More)

BP to sell part of its Gulf of Mexico stake to Chevron
AP, New Jersey Herald. Jan. 29, 2015
“For BP, it allows the company to move some of its recent discoveries closer to production as it continues to work to settle claims resulting from its 2010 oil spill in the Gulf.” (Read More)

$7 billion just disappeared on the Gulf Coast
*photo, MRD protest, 2013
By Josiah Neeley, R Street. Jan. 28, 2015
“The case is particularly noteworthy because, under the terms of the 2012 RESTORE Act, proceeds of the civil penalties assessed in the trial are to be divided up between the five Gulf Coast states.” (Read More)

Small-scale projects benefit the coast
By Jonathan Olivier, Daily Comet. Jan. 27, 2015
“Many of the projects, some paid for through state or federal dollars, are constructed through nonprofits and private organizations, with hopes of stopping and curbing coastal erosion on private land.” (Read More)

Executive: No guarantee BP would help pay subsidiary’s fines
By Kevin McGill, AP. Jan. 28, 2015
“An executive for the BP subsidiary that faces billions of dollars in possible fines for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill testified Tuesday that it is uncertain whether other BP entities would step in to help pay a steep penalty.” (Read More)

5 Years after the Spill: What BP Owes the Gulf Coast
By David Yarnold, Roll Call. Jan. 29, 2015
“It’s been nearly five years since BP slimed the Gulf Coast, taking the lives of 11 men, wrecking livelihoods and killing tens of thousands of helpless coastal birds. Finally, federal Judge Carl Barbier is heading into the final stretch, deciding how much the third largest oil company in the world will have to pay in pollution fines for the worst oil spill in U.S. history.” (Read More)

BP’s ‘civically responsible’ spending after oil spill propped up Gulf economy, expert testifies
By Jennifer Larino, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 29, 2015
“Baton Rouge economist Loren Scott predicted "the bottom would fall out" for the region's economy when oil started washing ashore in the early days of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Scott testified on Wednesday those forecasts were some of the "worst I've ever given," failing to anticipate the "robust recovery" driven by billions of dollars BP pumped into the Gulf Coast for cleanup and damage claims.” (Read More)

BP to sell part of its Gulf of Mexico stake to Chevron
AP, New Jersey Herald. Jan. 29, 2015
“For BP, it allows the company to move some of its recent discoveries closer to production as it continues to work to settle claims resulting from its 2010 oil spill in the Gulf.” (Read More)

$7 billion just disappeared on the Gulf Coast
*photo, MRD protest, 2013
By Josiah Neeley, R Street. Jan. 28, 2015
“The case is particularly noteworthy because, under the terms of the 2012 RESTORE Act, proceeds of the civil penalties assessed in the trial are to be divided up between the five Gulf Coast states.” (Read More)

Small-scale projects benefit the coast
By Jonathan Olivier, Daily Comet. Jan. 27, 2015
“Many of the projects, some paid for through state or federal dollars, are constructed through nonprofits and private organizations, with hopes of stopping and curbing coastal erosion on private land.” (Read More)

Executive: No guarantee BP would help pay subsidiary’s fines
By Kevin McGill, AP. Jan. 28, 2015
“An executive for the BP subsidiary that faces billions of dollars in possible fines for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill testified Tuesday that it is uncertain whether other BP entities would step in to help pay a steep penalty.” (Read More)

This week and next, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding hearings across the country on the proposed updates to our national smog (ground-level ozone) standards from their current level of 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 65 to 70 ppb. Exacerbated by the combustion of fossil-fuel power plants and car exhaust, ground-level ozone […]

By Elena Craft, PhD

Smog over Dallas Skyline. Source: WikiCommons

This week and next, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding hearings across the country on the proposed updates to our national smog (ground-level ozone) standards from their current level of 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 65 to 70 ppb. Exacerbated by the combustion of fossil-fuel power plants and car exhaust, ground-level ozone is the single most widespread air pollutant in the United States and is linked to severe respiratory health outcomes. Ozone poses a great threat to public health across America.

What is the issue?

Smog is a dangerous air pollutant that is linked to premature deaths, asthma attacks, and other serious heart and lung diseases. It is estimated that more than 140 million people live in areas with unhealthy levels of smog pollution. The very air we breathe is putting us at risk for adverse health outcomes such as premature deaths, increased asthma attacks and other severe respiratory illnesses, as well as increased hospital visits.

Does the proposal go far enough?

While EDF supports EPA’s proposal to strengthen these critical health protections, we believe that going even further, to 60 ppb, would provide the strongest protections for Americans and would be in line with what leading medical associations like the American Lung Association recommend.

Can this be achieved?

America has decades of experience innovating and cost-effectively cleaning up the air – and we can do so again to reduce smog pollution. From the Tier 3 tailpipe standards to the proposed Clean Power Plan, which would set the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants, the air across the country is becoming cleaner, showing us that we can have healthy air and a strong economy.  In some American cities, we estimate that ozone is already declining each year thanks to important air regulations such as the Cross State Air Pollution Rule, but there is still work to do.

What can you do?

Voice your support for strong clean air standards! A strong smog standard will help ensure Americans know whether the air they are breathing is safe, and will drive much-needed pollution reductions. Our communities, our families, and our children are counting on EPA’s leadership in setting a strong ground-level ozone standard.

This post was adapted from an earlier post on EDF’s Texas Clean Air Matters blog

By Elena Craft, PhD

Smog over Dallas Skyline. Source: WikiCommons

This week and next, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding hearings across the country on the proposed updates to our national smog (ground-level ozone) standards from their current level of 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 65 to 70 ppb. Exacerbated by the combustion of fossil-fuel power plants and car exhaust, ground-level ozone is the single most widespread air pollutant in the United States and is linked to severe respiratory health outcomes. Ozone poses a great threat to public health across America.

What is the issue?

Smog is a dangerous air pollutant that is linked to premature deaths, asthma attacks, and other serious heart and lung diseases. It is estimated that more than 140 million people live in areas with unhealthy levels of smog pollution. The very air we breathe is putting us at risk for adverse health outcomes such as premature deaths, increased asthma attacks and other severe respiratory illnesses, as well as increased hospital visits.

Does the proposal go far enough?

While EDF supports EPA’s proposal to strengthen these critical health protections, we believe that going even further, to 60 ppb, would provide the strongest protections for Americans and would be in line with what leading medical associations like the American Lung Association recommend.

Can this be achieved?

America has decades of experience innovating and cost-effectively cleaning up the air – and we can do so again to reduce smog pollution. From the Tier 3 tailpipe standards to the proposed Clean Power Plan, which would set the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants, the air across the country is becoming cleaner, showing us that we can have healthy air and a strong economy.  In some American cities, we estimate that ozone is already declining each year thanks to important air regulations such as the Cross State Air Pollution Rule, but there is still work to do.

What can you do?

Voice your support for strong clean air standards! A strong smog standard will help ensure Americans know whether the air they are breathing is safe, and will drive much-needed pollution reductions. Our communities, our families, and our children are counting on EPA’s leadership in setting a strong ground-level ozone standard.

This post was adapted from an earlier post on EDF’s Texas Clean Air Matters blog