WOOD HEATING * EPA Seeks Small Business Input on Revising Standards for New Residential Wood Heaters http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/8c0062602fc06f2a8525771900672c8d!OpenDocument The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting small businesses to nominate representatives to participate in a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel as the agency develops fine particle emission limits for new residential wood heaters and other burning devices, such as wood stoves and hydronic heaters. More than 10 million wood stoves are used in the United States. They're everywhere, but more prevalent in colder climates. Many are used as supplemental heat. Hydronic heaters, also known as outdoor wood heaters, number about 500 thousand in the United States. Most are sold for use in rural, cold climate areas where wood is readily available; however, the units can be found throughout America. Use of these heaters has increased in recent years as home heating oil prices have risen. ENERGY EFFICIENCY * Seattle gets $20 million grant for retrofits http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011668441_weatherization22m.html Seattle was awarded a $20 million grant Wednesday to expand an energy-efficiency program to retrofit thousands of homes and businesses south of downtown. BIOMASS / ENERGY * Why does Mason County green energy site pollute? Health: Critics upset that particulates may flow from planned incinerator http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/02/1171039/why-does-green-energy-site-pollute.html One of the selling points for wood waste as a renewable resource is that the carbon stored in wood is part of a long-term natural carbon cycle in which trees grow and take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, then release it back to the atmosphere when the wood is burned or left to decay. Then the CO2 is recovered by new trees. This is unlike fossil fuels, from which the CO2 would never be released if the coal or natural gas weren't burned. But there's growing debate about the merits of carbon neutrality, noted Nancy Hirsh, policy director for the Northwest Energy Coalition. "Carbon neutrality is not a slam dunk at all," she said. "And not all biomass plants are equal. A lot depends on where the wood comes from, the efficiency of the boilers and what would have happened to the wood waste if it wasn't burned." Adage critics are more adamant that biomass power plants contribute to climate change, at least in the near term... The public will have a chance to weigh in on the proposed permit before the ORCAA board votes on it, but a date hasn't been set yet for a public hearing. ENERGY * Habitat for Humanity Takes the Solar Plunge in Suquamish http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/may/01/habitat-for-humanity-takes-the-solar-plunge-in/ Joe Deets, Community Energy Solutions executive director, said solar hot water systems make sense for everyone, especially those with limited incomes. "A family in need can really benefit from this type of system," Deets said. "Heating water is a huge part of any utility bill - easily 25 percent. Solar water heaters really lower utility bills... and can help families afford to stay in their homes." * EPA Strengthens Requirements for Energy Star Labeled TVs http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/18a0c128a3dc75298525771800602aa5!OpenDocument It just got harder for a TV to earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star. Starting May 1, 2010, TVs that carry the government's Energy Star label are, on average, 40 percent more efficient than conventional models. Available in stores nationwide, the new TVs will help consumers save even more energy and money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and still deliver all the features and performance quality they expect. * Solar Aero's bladeless wind turbine http://news.yahoo.com/s/ygreen/20100504/sc_ygreen/solaraerosbladelesswindturbine A research company in New Hampshire recently announced the patent of their bladeless wind turbine, which is based on a patent issued to Nikola Tesla in 1913. * Do the rules of the nation's electric grid discriminate against wind power? http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/04/27/27climatewire-do-the-rules-of-the-nations-electric-grid-di-49343.html The future mix of electric power generation sources in the United States is critically linked to the fate of climate legislation in Congress <<Do the Rules of the Nation's Electric Grid Discriminate Against Wind Power - NYTimes_com.htm>> MERCURY * EPA to Cut Mercury, Other Toxic Emissions from Boilers, Solid Waste Incinerators/Cost-effective proposals would reduce harmful air pollution in communities across the United States http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/74ef19ce603f20548525771500507938!OpenDocument These actions cover emissions from two types of combustion units. The first type of unit, boilers and process heaters, burns fuel such as natural gas, coal, and oil to produce heat or electricity. These units can also burn non-hazardous secondary materials such as processed tires and used oil. Boilers are located at large industrial facilities and smaller facilities, including commercial buildings, hotels, and universities. The second type of unit, commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators, burns solid waste... Facilities with boilers would also be required to conduct energy audits to find cost effective ways to reduce fuel use and emissions. CLIMATE * EPA Issues Report on U.S. Climate Change Indicators http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/3f28e17ccf1a508985257712005c8f4d!OpenDocument The information included in this report will help inform future policy decisions and will help evaluate the success of climate change efforts. The data used in this report were collected by several government agencies, academic institutions, and other stakeholder organizations. As new data and information become available, EPA will update and broaden the indicators in future reports. * Earth Could Become Too Hot for Humans http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100504/sc_livescience/earthcouldbecometoohotforhumans A new study that looked at reasonable worst-case scenarios for global warming found that if greenhouse gases continue to be emitted at their current rate, temperatures could become deadly in coming centuries. * NIH-led Interagency Group Identifies Research Needs to Study Climate Change and Human Health Impacts http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/climatereport2010.pdf Climate change is already affecting the nation's public health, according to a new multi-agency report released by the Obama administration. It urges federal agencies to adapt their research and policies to limit future suffering. * Could cleaner air actually intensify global warming? http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126226938&ps=cprs As much of the world marked Earth Day this past week, the EPA reported that air pollution has declined dramatically over the past 20 years. It sounds like good news, but there's a surprising downside: Cleaner air might actually intensify global warming. * Outlook for climate bill in U.S. Congress. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63P47Y20100426 Prospects for compromise on U.S. climate change legislation that had been expected to be unveiled in the Senate on Monday suffered a blow after a Republican senator helping to write the bill pulled out of negotiations. The climate plan had already been facing an uphill battle. CLEAN CARS * Electric cars: Hub of the matter. http://www.economist.com/science-technology/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15949099 There are many innovations turning up in the latest experimental and production electric cars. But one group of engineers have stuck their necks out and declared that a particular technology - the electric hub motor - is likely to become the most widely used drive system. NW PORTS * Green power can't save Vancouver cruise season. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/04/26/bc-vancouver-cruise-ship.html The first cruise ship of the season has sailed into Vancouver and plugged into a new eco-friendly power supply, but port officials say fewer ships are calling at the port, despite the improvements. GREEN JOBS * EPA Grant Boosts King County Green Job Training Program http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d96f984dfb3ff7718525735900400c29/d323a7d0d7e3f99b85257704006bc9bc!OpenDocument King County will train 75 students with the recent grant and expects to place 62 graduates in environmental jobs. Trainees will receive certifications in 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, industrial spill response, lead and asbestos abatement, and Operational Safety and Health Administration construction readiness. Participants also will receive instruction in industrial hygiene, blood borne pathogens, energy auditing, and weatherization. Primary trainers will be instructors at Environmental and Safety Training Institute at South Seattle Community College. The County plans to track the success of its graduates for one year following their training. NOTE: If the hyperlink to the article fails, contact Consuelo. Consuelo Flores Davis Communications Dept. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency 206-689-4074 consueloD@pscleanair.org Bill Smith Senior Environmental Specialist City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management 3510 S. Mullen Street Tacoma, WA 98409 253-593-7719 Phone 253-591-5547 Fax