Main Feed - Environmental Defense

Latest Mississippi River Delta News: June 17, 2013

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:16:10 +0000

Louisiana fishers and coastal restoration advocates expected to pack Monday meeting
By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 17, 2013.
"Louisiana fishers and coastal restoration advocates are expected to pack a meeting in St. Bernard Parish on Monday to discuss Mississippi River diversions with state officials…" (Read more)

Plaquemines Parish's main western thoroughfare, swamped by Hurricane Isaac floodwater, gets elevated
By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, The Times-Picayune. June 14, 2013.
"A section of western Plaquemines Parish's main thoroughfare, which was inundated by Hurricane Isaac floodwater last August and September, is getting raised about 2 feet to improve the evacuation route for future storms. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development this week began the $10.5 million project on Louisiana 23 and is shooting to complete the road raising prior to the peak of hurricane season…" (Read more)

Gulf Oil Spill Cleanup Ends As BP Pulls Out, Leaves Unanswered Questions
By Jay Reeves, The Associated Press. June 16, 2013.
"GULF SHORES, Ala. — Finding tar balls linked to the BP oil spill isn't difficult on some Gulf Coast beaches, but the company and the government say it isn't common enough to keep sending out the crews that patrolled the sand for three years in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi…" (Read more)

Corps completes $3 billion flood protection system in NO areas
The Associated Press, June 15, 2013.
"NEW ORLEANS — The Army Corps of Engineers says it has completed all permanent structures in a $3 billion system of levees and floodwalls around the west Bank of New Orleans and Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Charles parishes…" (Read more)

Opening of Bonnet Carré Spillway provides insight into use of river sediments

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:37:35 +0000

By Alisha Renfro, Coastal Scientist, National Wildlife Federation

In 2011, high water levels in the Mississippi River prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to open the Bonnet Carré Spillway in order to reduce pressure against the river levees and safely shunt the flood waters past nearby communities. In a recent study published in the Journal of Hydrology (Vol. 477, pg. 104-118), a group led by Mead Allison, Ph.D., examined the effects of the 2011 operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway on local sediment transport and deposition in the river. By examining the effects of a large flood control structure, this study can help inform the design and operation of large sediment diversions that could increase sediment delivery into nearby basins and decrease the potential negative impacts on the navigability of the river.

Opening the Bonnet Carre spillway in 2011 (Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). The opening of the spillway could help inform the design of future land-building sediment diversions.

The Bonnet Carré Spillway was constructed in response to the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 which caused devastation from Illinois to Louisiana. The spillway, located upriver from New Orleans, is 7,000 feet long, consists of 350 bays and has the capacity to divert 250,000 cubic feet per second of water from the uppermost part of the river’s water column into Lake Pontchartrain. The spillway is only opened when river discharge going past New Orleans exceeds 1.25 million feet per second. This strategic opening of the spillway reduces water levels in the river, providing flood relief during high water events. The Mead Allison led study focused on the most recent opening of the spillway – the 2011 flood – when the Bonnet Carré Spillway was open from May 9 to June 19 and reached a maximum discharge of 315,000 cubic feet per second, 26 percent above flood control design.

To examine the immediate effects of the opened spillway, the researchers conducted three boat-based surveys – before, during and after the spillway was open – to map changes to the river’s bottom and to estimate the amount of sediment transported in the water column and along the river bed. A year later, a fourth survey was carried out to examine continuing effects of the 2011 spillway opening.

During the 42 days the spillway was open in 2011, 9.1 million tons of sediment, mostly sand, was deposited downriver from the spillway structure. This deposition hot-spot was determined to be the result of surface water exiting the river through the spillway. The loss of water decreased the energy available to transport the sediment, particularly the larger, heavier sands typically transported in the lower part of the water column. However, by June 2012, almost 70 percent of the sediment deposited downstream of the spillway was transported out of the study area.

The Bonnet Carré spillway was not built to capture sediment; rather its purpose is to siphon the Mississippi River’s surface water during high flow events, decreasing pressure against levees in order to protect communities and infrastructure. The authors of the study suggest that its results can influence the future design and operation of the planned sediment diversions outlined in Louisiana’s 2012 Coastal Master Plan. In order to minimize the shoaling observed near the spillway in 2011, there is a need for sediment diversion structures to capture more sediment relative to the water withdrawal from the river. This can be partially addressed by designing diversion structures that draw sediment and water from deeper depths of the river, where more sand – essential for land-building – is located and available for capture. Additionally, the management of sediment diversions that approach a scale similar to the Bonnet Carré could take advantage of local shoaling through regular dredging. The dredged material could then be pumped through the diversion structure.

During 2011, the flow of water in the Mississippi River below the Old River Control Structure peaked at 1.6 million cubic feet. This was the highest river flow ever recorded at this station since it began recording more than 75 years ago. In Louisiana, this high flow triggered the operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway for the 10^th time in its 80-year history. The structure succeeded in reducing water levels along the levees that protect New Orleans and other nearby communities. It also provided a unique opportunity to examine the river’s dynamics. This type of study will help inform and influence the design of future sediment diversions that will focus on maximizing sediment capture for efficient and effective land building in the sediment-starved Mississippi River Delta.

Investor Confidence Project Releases Enhanced Energy Efficiency Protocols

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:31:41 +0000

By EDF Blogs

This blog post was written by guest blogger Matt Golden, Senior Energy Finance Consultant.

Source: City-Data.com

The EDF Investor Confidence Project (ICP) is a multi-year initiative to help spur growth in the commercial energy efficiency retrofit market by reducing transaction costs and engineering overhead, and increasing the reliability and consistency of savings. EDF has worked with a cross-functional team of industry experts to assemble existing technical standards and best practices into a straightforward Energy Performance Protocol (EPP) that defines a standard investment quality energy efficiency project to enable deal-flow and investment.

In November of 2012, we released the initial version of the Energy Performance Protocol for Large Commercial (EPP-LC). We received encouraging reviews from industry allies and many industry leaders have committed to join our growing ICP Ally program, a broad based network of organizations that helps us develop, test, and implement the ICP Protocols.

New Release: Large Commercial – Version 1.1

Building on our initial success and market feedback, ICP is now releasing a new and updated version 1.1 of the EPP-LC, which incorporates a wide array of important improvements that will streamline the project development process and improve results.

Our ICP team is incredibly grateful to all individuals that contributed their time and energy to this process resulting in a more streamlined protocol, especially our committed team of experts who dedicated untold hours and contributed a wide array of industry, research, and public sector experience.

Upcoming Standard Commercial and Multifamily Protocols

In an effort to increase efficiency across the range of projects in the market, we have focused our attention on delivering protocols for both Standard Commercial (projects that typically cost under $1MM) and Multifamily projects. Combined with our existing protocols, this combination will enable us to serve the majority of the energy efficiency market.

We are also working with a range of public programs focused on driving demand and overcoming barriers, such as Commercial PACE, On-Bill Repayment, and Benchmarking Programs. ICP plays a key role connecting these programs to the wide array of investors needed to achieve our energy efficiency goals.

The protocols are designed to add value to the various participants in the energy efficiency ecosystem. Project developers benefit from better access to capital resources, standardized origination processes, and the ability to benchmark projects. Building owners and managers will see a more competitive bidding process and get better rates and terms for their projects. Investors will be able to underwrite deals more efficiently by having reduced transaction costs and consistent yields. Once consistent protocols are adopted, the entire industry will benefit from smaller transaction costs, more consistent project performance, and increased access to capital.

If you are interested in learning more, or getting involved, visit our ICP website for more details and to sign up for our Ally program, or contact us about implementing the ICP Energy Performance Protocols.

Latest Mississippi River Delta News: June 14, 2013

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:23:14 +0000

West Bank's $3 billion flood-control ring finished; milestone ceremony planned Monday
By Manuel Torres, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 13, 2013.
"Marking a major milestone in the New Orleans area’s flood control improvements, the Army Corps of Engineers said it has finished all permanent structures in the $3-billion ring of levees and floodwalls around the West Bank of Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Charles parishes. Officials with the corps and other local agencies plan to hold a ceremony Monday to mark completion of the so-called West Bank and Vicinity project…" (Read more)

Eleven U.S. Weather Disasters Cost More Than $1 Billion in 2012
By Brian K. Sullivan, Bloomberg. June 13, 2013.
"The U.S. suffered 11 weather and climate disasters last year that caused more than $1 billion in damage each and killed more than 300 people, making 2012 the second-most costly and active year on record, according to the National Climatic Data Center…" (Read more)

Wyoming proposes a reasonable plan for groundwater testing

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:14:12 +0000

Governor Matt Mead unveiled draft regulations that would establish a groundwater testing program for oil and gas operations in Wyoming.

Thu, 2013-06-13

Contact:

Lauren Whittenberg, 512-691-3437, lwhittenberg@edf.org

Chris Merrill, 307-223-0071, chris@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org

Yesterday, Governor Matt Mead unveiled draft regulations that would establish a groundwater testing program for oil and gas operations in Wyoming. These draft rules would require oil and gas operators to conduct tests establishing the quality of groundwater around sites before drilling begins and to follow up later with tests to monitor for potential impacts.

“We are still reviewing these rules, but they appear to establish a solid, scientifically valid approach to establishing groundwater conditions in areas where oil and gas drilling will occur,” said EDF Senior Energy Policy Manager Jon Goldstein.

A scientifically valid testing program can provide a first line of defense in detecting any groundwater contamination that may occur as a result of well development activities – including both surface and subsurface activities – in order to protect public health and quickly remediate any problems that may arise.

The Wyoming proposal is similar to an industry-supported groundwater testing program adopted in Colorado early this year but appears to address several key flaws in the Colorado rule.

“It’s clear Wyoming has made an effort to learn from the experience of others,” Goldstein said. “Wyoming regulators have proposed a program that wouldn’t cost companies a dollar more than the programs they’ve supported in other states. The difference here is Wyoming has come up with a scientifically valid approach where others failed.”

“The Wyoming Outdoor Council thanks Governor Mead and his staff for hearing our concerns on these issues,” said Chris Merrill, associate director of the Wyoming Outdoor Council. “We will remain involved in this process as these rules are finalized. The proposed language serves as a good foundation for a strong, scientifically valid program.”

The state has begun a 30-day public comment period on the draft rule and has set a public hearing on the proposed rule for June 25.

# # #

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook. See twitter.com/EDFEnergyEX; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund; and http://blogs.edf.org/texasenergyexchange/.

Latest Mississippi River Delta News: June 13, 2013

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:27:24 +0000

New York City Could Look Like New Orleans, Due to Flood Protection
By Mark Fischetti, Scientific American. June 12, 2013.
"Yesterday New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg revealed a $19.5 billion plan to protect his home town against future sea level rise and other effects of climate change such as heat waves…" (Read more)

Time to Speak Up About Gulf Restoration
By Stephanie Carroll Carson, Public News Service. June 13, 2013.
"ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The civil trial against BP for the Deepwater Horizon disaster is in recess, but preparation and planning continues for how the funds awarded will be spent to restore the Gulf of Mexico…" (Read more)

Terrebonne Levee District delays selling $97M in bonds for Morganza-to-the-Gulf levee system
The Associated Press. June 12, 2013.
"HOUMA, Louisiana — Due to an unstable market, the Terrebonne Levee District opted to delay selling $97 million in bonds to raise immediate money for local work on the Morganza-to-the-Gulf levee system…" (Read more)

S lanes on 7-mile stretch of La 23 in Plaquemines Parish to close for most of hurricane season
The Associated Press. June 13, 2013.
"BELLE CHASSE, Louisiana — The Plaquemines Parish government says southbound lanes along a 7-mile stretch of the parish's main evacuation route will be closed for most of the hurricane season while state crews raise it to prevent future flooding…" (Read more)

Take Action: Support Science-Based Conservation Tools

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:49:22 +0000

Tell the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to support the Habitat Exchange as a smart conservation policy that is good for both our country AND our wildlife.

Energy From The Sea: Closer Than You Think

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:11:40 +0000

By EDF Blogs

This commentary, authored by Rod Fujita, originally appeared on EDF Voices.

The ocean absorbs energy from the sun, stores it, and then releases it slowly. Sounds like a prescription for meeting the world’s energy needs, since the ocean is the largest feature of our planet. But can ocean energy be tapped in a way that doesn’t create more problems than it solves?

That’s the promise behind a recently announced deal between Lockheed Martin and Reignwood Group, a resort developer based in Beijing. The two companies will develop a 10-megawatt power plant using ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology in waters off southern China's Hainan Island. Construction is expected to be completed in 2017.

The process

Scientists have long been interested in the potential for generating energy from the difference in temperature between warm surface waters and deep water. When this difference is large – for example, in tropical locations with narrow continental shelves – the warm water can be used to convert a liquid (like ammonia) into steam. The steam drives a turbine, producing electricity, and then is recondensed into a liquid using cold water pumped up from the deep ocean so that the cycle can be repeated.

Benefits

The OTEC process can produce a number of benefits in addition to clean electricity. The large volumes of cold water pumped through the system can be used to cool buildings, saving on air conditioning (and associated greenhouse gas emissions from this major energy consumer). Lots of freshwater condenses on the cold water pipes, especially in humid tropical environments – so much that it can become a viable supplement to local water supplies or even the major water source for local communities.

Because the deep ocean water pumped up to the OTEC facility is rich in nutrients and free of pathogens, it can be used to raise fish or to grow marine organisms like, microalgae for nutritional supplements. Doing this could actually reduce the environmental impact of OTEC, since the cold water is allowed to warm up and the nutrients and carbon dioxide can be removed by the farmed organisms.

Another nice thing about OTEC is that, unlike other kinds of renewable energy, power production is steady and peaks in the summer months when demand is typically highest (due to air-conditioning and refrigeration needs). Some analysts estimate that a single 100-megawatt commercial scale OTEC plant would prevent about 500,000 tons of carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere and save about $130 million per year in oil costs. Although there are environmental concerns associated with OTEC, which my co-authors and I outlined in a recent paper, the potential for clean energy, drinking water and food seem quite large.

Why the delay?

If OTEC is so great, why has it been in development since the late 1800’s but never commercialized? One reason is that there are only so many suitable sites – conventional OTEC plants need to be onshore yet close to deep water, and the surface water must be quite warm. Another reason is that the capital costs are high while the energy yield is low – the process isn’t very efficient. And yet another reason is that it is technologically challenging to lay a pipe long enough to reach deep water – and keep it there.

Despite these challenges, scientists and engineers have remained intrigued enough with OTEC’s possibilities to keep working on it for all of these decades. The potential sites have been expanded by using floating platforms, as with the plant Lockheed Martin is building, minimizing pipe length. Other innovations allow OTEC to extract energy from smaller temperature differentials. Efficiency has been increased through the use of better heat exchangers and advanced materials. Pipe manufacturing, laying methods and maintenance have all vastly improved. And while OTEC remains quite costly, the rising price of oil has made OTEC and other forms of renewable energy much more competitive in recent years, as our paper outlines. These factors make me think that OTEC may be on the verge of commercialization.

In fact, in our paper we concluded that the project in southern China was the missing link in commercializing OTEC. Several small OTEC plants have been built already, so we know that the concept produces net energy and all of the other benefits described above. But the costs associated with scaling OTEC up have been very uncertain, perhaps scaring off potential investors and customers up till now.

Proceed with caution

OTEC is definitely not a panacea. Using large amounts of cold, nutrient rich water from the deep ocean in order to produce energy could have some very negative impacts, like killing sea life by sucking it into the intake pipe or creating algal blooms by discharging nutrient rich sea water into warm, nutrient-poor surface water. But these and other impacts can be prevented or mitigated. This new industry should be carefully regulated to ensure that the costs of safe operation are internalized by beneficiaries and not borne by all of us, on behalf of the ocean.

Latest Mississippi River Delta News: June 12, 2013

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:51:05 +0000

Girl, 5, among those who get messages across at RESTORE Act meeting in Biloxi
By Paul Hampton, The Sun Herald. June 11, 2013.
"BILOXI (Miss.) — One of the most effective people at Tuesday night's meeting on the RESTORE Act didn't have a great speaking voice, a polished presentation or a bunch of political connections…" (Read more)

Have your say on fine money
Editorial, The Daily Comet (Thibodeaux, La.). June 10, 2013.
"Louisiana was the hardest-hit state during the 2010 BP oil spill and its aftermath.

And the planning process for how to spend the fines BP will have to pay — likely in the billions of dollars — should give Louisiana and its people an excellent opportunity to request the projects they would like to see advanced with that money…" (Read more)

Mobile Baykeeper coastal restoration workshop scheduled for June 12th at 5 Rivers
The Green Register, The Press Register (Mobile, Ala.). June 11, 2013.
"Mobile Baykeeper will be holding an Alabama Restoration Workshop on Wednesday, June 12th from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, Alabama…" (Read more)

The Cost to Meet Clean Air and Environmental Standards Comes Down (Again)

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:45:43 +0000

By Mandy Warner

It is almost getting old for us to write about this … but it needs to be repeated.

As power plant pollution control projects continue, we are seeing – yet again — that the cost of meeting clean air standards, like the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants (MATS), has fallen.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped some major power companies and other opponents from trying to undermine clean air and environmental standards.

However, this past quarter American Electric Power (AEP), NRG, and FirstEnergy each told their investors that their anticipated costs for meeting environmental standards dropped.

As you can see on our chart, AEP has lowered its estimated costs of following environmental standards by half, from a high of $8 billion down to $4 to $5 billion.

AEP was the top emitter of mercury, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide in 2011 among the top 100 power producers in the U.S.

And … AEP is a leader in the lawsuit to halt the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

As our chart also shows, FirstEnergy has lowered their cost estimate for complying with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards by nearly 70 percent.

FirstEnergy’s estimate dropped from a high of $3 billion down to $925 million (which is $50 million lower than they estimated last quarter).

FirstEnergy was the sixth highest emitter of mercury in 2011 among the top 100 power producers, and is also challenging the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in court.

The third company on our chart, NRG, has lowered its costs for complying with environmental standards from $730 million to $530 million, a reduction of more than 25 percent.

NRG was the fourth highest emitter of mercury in 2011 among the top 100 power producers.

These three companies are just a few of the power companies that have decreased their cost estimates for complying MATS and other environmental standards in recent years.

The tens of billions of dollars in expected health benefits from the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards has not decreased, though.

The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will provide crucial emission reductions of toxic pollutants including mercury, acid gases, sulfur dioxide, and chromium.

It will save thousands of lives every year, prevent heart attacks and asthma attacks, and help protect the hundreds of thousands of babies born in America every year who are exposed to unsafe levels of mercury in the womb. And that is priceless.

It’s important that we keep in mind these misguided “sky is falling” claims about environmental compliance costs as EPA carries out its responsibilities under the nation’s clean air laws to address carbon pollution from power plants.

The time tested history of the Clean Air Act is quite the opposite – the sky is clearing, and at far less than the costs predicted by industry.

Malk Report highlights increasing influence of Institutional Investor on ESG in Private Equity

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:34:19 +0000

By Lee Coker

When Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) started its partnership with KKR five years ago, it would have been hard to anticipate the dramatic findings from Malk Sustainability Partners' report “ESG in Private Equity – 2013,” released Monday.

The private equity sector has rapidly shifted to understand the business imperative of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) management, with many different firms now making a public commitment to delivering measurable results.

What’s driving this trend? The report suggests a few factors that we’ve also been seeing in the industry recently:

1) A dramatic increase in the level of interest and leadership of a small but influential group of limited partners (LPs). Fifty eight percent of the LPs surveyed said that they had increased their commitment.

2) Since LP expectations are now cited as the largest driver for general partner (GP) action, increased LP focus likely is the primary force leading 74 percent of GPs surveyed to boost their commitment to ESG in the past 12 months.

3) As is evidenced by the 14 different professionals quoted in the study, responsibility for ESG management is spreading to include several different job functions and operational areas, beyond the traditional domains of investor relations and general counsel.

Perhaps even more exciting is the indication from several of the participants that this interest from LPs is only growing stronger. While cost savings, revenue growth and reputation all are excellent drivers for increased ESG activity, hearing from a growing number of your clients about the importance of ESG management builds a sense of urgency that can drive even stronger results.

Overall, the report highlights a growing ecosystem within the sector that is driving firms to act now to deliver stronger environmental, social and financial results.

Subscribe to receive our blog updates by email, like our page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Methane Research: The Data Pursuit Continues

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:37:21 +0000

By Mark Brownstein

Source: Kinder Morgan

Is natural gas really better for the climate? This may seem like a simple question. After all, natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. And data from the Energy Information Administration in April showed a downward trend in U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. A move many experts believe is largely attributed to the increased production of U.S. natural gas and the shift it has caused in the power sector – old, dirty coal plants being retired because new natural gas plants are more competitive.

But, this is only part of the story. Natural gas is comprised primarily of methane, and unburned methane is an incredibly potent greenhouse gas – 72 times more powerful than CO2 over the first two decades it is released.

The oil and gas industry is one of the largest domestic sources of methane, and while new gas reserves are being drilled every day, too little is known about how much and from where methane is leaking out from across the natural gas system. Lack of direct measurements has been a challenge, as EDF’s Chief Scientist Steven Hamburg explains here.

The need for better data to understand and control methane emissions in order to understand the true climate opportunity of natural gas led to EDF’s largest scientific research project. This effort currently involves about 85 academic, research and industry partners subdivided over five areas of the value chain (production, gathering and processing, transmission and storage, local distribution and transportation).

Yesterday, EDF and its partners for the natural gas transmission and storage sector kicked off the fourth module of this collaborative research series. It focuses on the segment providing the infrastructure for the nation's interstate pipeline systems and storage facilities and that is responsible for delivering natural gas to regions around the country for electricity, as a feedstock for industrial development, heating, etc.

Led by researchers at Colorado State University, we expect to learn a lot about methane emissions associated with natural gas transmission and storage sources, including compressor stations and underground storage facilities. Industry participants providing access to their facilities and equipment for testing (CenterPoint Energy, Dominion, Kinder Morgan, TransCanada and Williams) collectively represent a significant slice of the market. Dow Chemical and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America are also sponsoring the study.

It is yet to be determined whether the switch from coal and oil to natural gas will be a net benefit in the context of climate, as estimates of total methane leakage vary widely (1 – 9 percent). Direct measurements at the source of methane emissions across natural gas operations are essential to help answer these questions. This is the value of hard data and our journey with independent researchers and companies to gather the data that can advance methane science continues.

Latest Mississippi River Delta News: June 11, 2013

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:31:09 +0000

The Louisiana Coast: Last Call — Getting Involved
By Bob Marshall, WWNO (New Orleans). June 10, 2013.
"After interviewing nearly 20 people involved in the coastal restoration process and program — from scientists and engineers, to public officials leading agencies — one of the surprising findings was the consensus among them that people living inside these levees — who live in the most threatened spot in North America due to sea level rise, subsidence and coastal land loss — don’t seem to be fully engaged or aware of just how precarious their situation is…" (Read more)

The Louisiana Coast: Last Call — Measuring The River
By Bob Marshall, WWNO. June 3, 2013.
"If there is one underlying justification for Louisiana’s $50 billion Master Plan for coastal restoration, it’s this: We actually have a chance to prevent Southeast Louisiana from drowning in the Gulf, because the Mississippi River carries the sediment necessary to keep pace with sea level rise…" (Read more)

BP oil spill cleanup ending in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, Coast Guard and BP say
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 10, 2013.
"The U.S. Coast Guard and BP announced Monday that the company will end active Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup operations in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida by mid-June. A Coast Guard news release also said future response efforts in those states, if needed, will no longer be led by its Gulf Coast Incident Management Team, which will continue to oversee cleanup efforts in Louisiana…" (Read more)

Steven Palazzo talks flood insurance, right to refuse, RESTORE Act, shipbuilding at Preserve fundraiser
By Garreth Clary, The Mississippi Press. June 10, 2013.
"VANCLEAVE, Mississippi – U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Biloxi, hosted a group of supporters and community leaders Monday in his second annual Patriot Golf Classic fundraiser at The Preserve…" (Read more)

UNO researcher finds tarpon spawn off Louisiana's coast
The Associated Press. June 10, 2013.
"NEW ORLEANS (AP) — After a full career working as a medical oncologist at East Jefferson General Hospital, Dr. Will Stein decided to change gears and enroll at the University of New Orleans to earn a second doctorate, this one studying the true love of his life — tarpon…" (Read more)

New IEA report sets a road map to a cleaner energy future

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:49:13 +0000

By Nat Keohane

Today, the International Energy Agency released a special report of its World Energy Outlook, entitled Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map. The report is notable not only for its substantive conclusions – but for what it signifies.

First, the substance:

The report starts by emphasizing that energy-related CO2 emissions are a crucial driver of global warming, that they are increasing rapidly, and that as a result the world is not on target to keep concentrations of greenhouse gases below the level that would provide even a fifty-percent probability of limiting the increase in average global temperatures to two degrees – a commonly cited benchmark to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Standard fare, perhaps – but noteworthy nonetheless coming from the world’s leading energy authority.

A road map toward a more secure future

The key finding of the report — what makes it required reading — is the analysis of what the IEA calls its “4-for-2˚C scenario.”

The IEA identifies a package of four policies that could keep the door open to 2 degrees through 2020 – at no net economic cost to any individual region or major country, and relying only on existing, widely available technologies:

Specific energy efficiency measures in transport, buildings, and industry (1.5 GT savings in 2020/49% of the total package)
Limiting construction and use of the least-efficient coal-fired power plants (640 MT/21%)
Minimizing methane emissions from upstream oil and gas production (550 MTCO2e/18%)
Accelerating the partial phaseout of fossil fuel subsidies (360 MT/12%)

The IEA estimates that these four measures would reduce energy-related GHG emissions by 3.1 GT CO2-eq in 2020, relative to IEA's "New Policies" reference scenario – corresponding to 80% of the reduction required to be on a 2-degree path.

Take a look at this chart, from IEA's report, that summarizes the policies:

Here's a second chart, also from IEA's report. This one makes the key point about no net economic costs:

Four policies, using widely available technologies, imposing no net economic cost on any individual region or major country, that put the world in the position to make the turn to climate safety.

That’s the headline.

The cost of delay

IEA's report also discusses the vulnerability of the energy sector to climate change, and emphasizes that delaying climate action will drive up the costs of meeting a 2 degree target later. The report estimates that putting off action until 2020 would trim near-term investment by $1.5 trillion in the short run – but at the cost of requiring an additional $5 trillion to be spent in subsequent years. In present-value terms, using a 5% discount rate, delay doubles the cost of action: from $1.2 trillion to $2.3 trillion.

This is an argument that we at EDF — and others — have been making for some time. But it is a crucial one nonetheless – and the IEA analysis gives some added analytical weight to the argument.

Not an oil shock, but a climate shock

These findings are especially welcome coming from IEA, a world-respected authority on energy markets and policy that was founded to facilitate international coordination among oil-consuming countries. Indeed, the messenger may be nearly as important as the message. What launched the IEA was the 1973-4 oil crisis. Now, nearly forty years later, the IEA report makes clear that the real energy-related threat to economic prosperity is not an oil shock, but a climate shock.

Back to the big picture

To be sure, the four policies analyzed in this report won’t fully suffice to address climate change in the long run: indeed, much more ambition will be needed.

Under the “4-for-2˚C” scenario, the IEA estimates that world energy-related emissions will peak and start to decline before 2020 – but we’ll still need concerted action on a global scale to get greenhouse gas emissions onto a steepening downward trajectory.

Take a look at one more chart from IEA's report:

Acknowledging this point, IEA's report underscores the importance of continued innovation in low-carbon technologies in transport and power generation (including carbon capture and storage), and highlights the vital importance of a long-term carbon price.

Beyond the scope of the report, there’s much to be done outside the energy sector – in particular by curbing tropical deforestation, and promoting the spread of agricultural practices that can achieve the “triple win” of greater productivity, greater resilience to climate, and lower environmental impacts (including GHG emissions). And all of these efforts must be carried out in tandem with the overarching challenge of promoting broad-based economic prosperity around the globe, as President Jim Yong Kim of the World Bank has repeatedly emphasized.

But the bottom line is that one of the most hopeful publications on climate change you’ll read this year has come from the International Energy Agency, of all places. Here is a road map toward a cleaner, more secure future. Now it’s up to us to take it.

Cross-posted from EDF's Climate 411 blog.

Senate hearing reviews Gulf Coast oil spill restoration efforts

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:28:54 +0000

By Will Lindsey, Environmental Defense Fund

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing Thursday (June 6) to review the progress that has been made to restore the Gulf Coast since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) chaired the hearing, titled “Gulf Restoration: A Progress Report Three Years after the Deepwater Horizon Disaster.” The hearing came nearly a year after passage of the RESTORE Act, legislation that allocates 80 percent of the Clean Water Act penalties from the 2010 oil spill to Gulf restoration. Both senators were cosponsors of the legislation.

Seven witnesses testified at the hearing, representing organizations responsible for managing these restoration funds – as well as the projects that will utilize these funds – that will soon begin flowing through three funding streams as a result of the 2010 spill. These streams include $2.54 billion resulting from the BP criminal settlement, an initial $800 million as a result of a Transocean settlement and $1 billion as a result of agreements with BP to fund early restoration efforts under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process. The amount of funds available under the RESTORE Act is expected to grow substantially once the ongoing civil trials with BP are complete.

Notably, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who played a vital role in passing the RESTORE Act, gave the opening remarks. In reference to the need to better understand the Gulf Coast in order to implement restoration efforts, Landrieu said, “Science can make us much better leaders, if we would just listen to our scientists and to the actual research.” Following these opening remarks, each witness provided an oral testimony on the efforts their individual organizations have taken since the spill.

In response to the first testimony by Lois Schiffer, General Counsel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Sen. Nelson stressed Congress’s expectation that the administrative agencies involved with the implementation of restoration projects follow the legislative intent of Congress in enacting the law. “One of the things that we want to emphasize here is that we want you to pay attention to the law,” Nelson said. The statement came in reference to a previous comment by Sen. Landrieu indicating that the law was written in order to strike a balance between competing interests and thus a portion of the law specifically allocates a percentage of the funds solely to environmental restoration.

In the final testimony, Dr. Stephen Polasky, professor of environmental economics at the University of Minnesota, emphasized the importance of the RESTORE Act and the funding that it will provide to Gulf restoration. “Under the RESTORE Act, we can reinvest in nature to ensure the recovery of the Gulf of Mexico, so that it continues to provide benefits to current and future generations,” said Polasky.

Moving forward, it appears that Congress will be paying encouragingly close attention to the ways in which the Gulf Coast restoration money from these different funding streams is being spent. Also encouraging is the apparent intention of the recipients of these funds to work together to ensure that comprehensive restoration remains a key focal point of the ongoing efforts along the Gulf Coast. As Rachel Jacobson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks for the Department of Interior, stated in her testimony, “We have a responsibility to the public to ensure that we make wise investments that are well-coordinated across the spectrum, through all funding streams.”