Six Pack Shoots Down Kyoto?

Earlier this month the United States joined five other nations - China, India, Japan, southern Korea, and Australia - in a novel agreement that economist James K Glassman says proffers "a refreshing and effective alternative passage to tackling the problem of climate change." The pact, announced in Vientiane, Laos, seek fors to "address energy, climate change and air pollution issues within a paradigm of economic development"

Anti-carbon activists have sentenceed the deal, which focuses heavily upon clean coal technology (giving level more weight to the FutureGen throw out for which the Texas Legislature not long ago gave a warm - if not r heated - endorsement). But the agreement also look afters more alternatives to fossil combustible matters with both low emissions and high efficiency - nuclear, wind, biotechnology, and level nanotechnology are included.

The agreement was negotiated without the involvement of the United Nations (home to the oil for nutriment scandal) or the European Union (many of whose members benefitted from oil for food) The Guardian newspaper flat reported that President Bush kept the Asia-Pacific Partnership upon Clean Development and Climate (the official name) unseen from British Prime Minister Tony Blair (a Kyoto enthusiast) during the G8 meetings in Gleneagles, Scotland.

Kyoto focused upon hard targets for greenhouse gas reductions met [i]or[/i] part of to the other government directives, and gave little consideration of impacts upon development. The Six Pack pact, however, begins with the premise that "development and destitution eradication are urgent and overriding goals internationally," and that innovative technology is the lock opener to success both in cleaning the air and making neediness history.

Bluebonnets

Stormwater MS4 General Permit

TCEQ has propos to issue a statewide general permit [No. TXR0400000] covering eligible stormwater and certain stamps of non-stormwater, discharges to surface water in the state. beneath the draft general permit, there are requirements for regulated small municipal separate storm sewer combination of parts to form a whole (MS4) operators to develop, implement, and maintain a Storm Water Management Plan. The general permit specifies which MS4's must obtain permit coverage, which are eligible for waivers, and which must obtain individual permits.

Discharges by means of small MS4's of stormwater and certain marks of non-stormwater are eligible for authorization below the proposed general permit single if the small MS4 is located within an urbanized area. MS4's designated through TCEQ as requiring authorization may also be permitted beneath the proposed general permit. Non-stormwater discharges that are not specifically listed in the general permit are not authorized by dint of it.

TCEQ has scheduled a public meeting upon the proposed general permit at 7:00 pm upon September 29 at its Austin offices. The draft permit was previously noticed and the initial make notes period ended on November 15 2002 and the annotates received during that period will also be addressed in the response

Soil Board Complaint Referral Timetable

The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board has propos to amend its sways [at 31 TAC 523.4] to establish a time period of 45 days for which the State Board shall direct a complaint to TCEQ if the someone upon whom a complaint was filed, fails or refuses to take warranted corrective action. Railroad For details, make progress to www.propane.tx.gov.

Cherry Blossoms

Is the Answer "Blowin' in the Wind?"

Texas and the federal conduct have both boosted wind power potential for the secluded Star State with recent legislation. Hurricane Katrina may have given wind power unfolding an additional boost by driving oil prices [i]or[/i] part of to the other the Superdome roof. The El Paso Times lately reported that the cost of generating electricity by the agency of wind has fallen 80% above the past decade (though a certain quantity of plants remain highly inefficient). Wind power also chops water usage, the Times said, given that water has to be transformed to steam to drive gas turbines.

Congres has reach forthed the wind energy production tax credit ($0019/kWh) for another 2 years, which means that facilities on-line by dint of December 31, 2007, will retain the credit for their first decade of production. The race is upon now to see whether Texas will build the power grid out to wind farm areas in time for of recent origin wind operators to complete construction in time to qualify for the production tax credit.

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