Environmental Valuation & Cost-Benefit News

Valuing Aircraft Noise: Stated Choice Experiments Reflecting Inter-Temporal Noise Changes from Airport Relocation

2012-01-24T11:22:00.010-05:00

http://www.springerlink.com/content/y64286g016v5k346/ Abstract: The relocation of Athens Airport provided a rare experimental context in which residents experienced significant changes in noise levels due to the introduction or removal of aircraft noise. This paper reports the results from surveys around both airport locations, using stated choice experiments to estimate values for aircraft

Willingness to Pay for Ancillary Benefits of Climate Change Mitigation

2012-01-23T11:21:00.001-05:00

http://www.springerlink.com/content/w6x3523h408t1k80/ Abstract: Assessing the Willingness to Pay (WTP) of the general public for climate change mitigation programmes enables governments to understand how much taxpayers are willing to support the implementation of such programs. This paper contributes to the literature on the WTP for climate change mitigation programmes by investigating, in

Do Regulators Overestimate the Costs of Regulation?

2012-01-23T10:30:00.006-05:00

http://yosemite.epa.gov/ee/epa/eed.nsf/WPNumber/2011-07 Abstract: It has occasionally been asserted that regulators typically overestimate the costs of the regulations they impose. A number of arguments have been proposed for why this might be the case, with the most widely credited one being that regulators fail sufficiently to appreciate the effects of innovation in reducing regulatory

American Carbon Registry Initiates Approval of ... Carbon Offset Methodology for Deltaic Wetland Restoration ... to unlock carbon finance potential for wetland restoration activities

2012-01-23T10:25:00.042-05:00

http://is.gd/koCRHH American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, announces an open public comment period for a ... carbon offset methodology that will both quantify how wetland restoration work can combat climate change and provide a way to help pay for rebuilding the Gulf of Mexico’s disappearing coastal wetland. The methodology, Restoration of Degraded

China Gets Rolling on Carbon Trading

2012-01-23T10:20:00.001-05:00

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23316 China's prime minister confirmed the country will increase the amount of non-fossil fuel energy it uses to 11.4% by 2015, and will "vigorously" develop renewable energy as part of its 5-Year Plan. 8.4% of China's electricity came from non-fossil fuel sources in 2010.... ...China's five year plan also calls for reducing

How has Oregon's land use planning system affected property values?

2012-01-23T10:10:00.001-05:00

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837711000469 Abstract: Oregon's landmark land use planning system has been criticized for imposing large negative effects on landowners’ property values, although evidence to support these claims has been lacking. This paper examines longitudinal data for undeveloped parcels since before adoption of the planning system. The sample includes

As Price of Oil Soars, Users Shiver and Cross Their Fingers

2012-01-23T10:08:00.009-05:00

http://is.gd/HQT2lh When David Harris built his 2,000-square-foot hilltop home nine years ago, he wanted to put in natural gas, but the utility wouldn’t run a line to his house. Like many people here, he was stuck using heating oil.Mr. Harris added a wood stove to help cut costs and now uses only about one-third of the oil the house would otherwise need. But that did not stop a deliveryman for

Benefit-cost analysis of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) control: Incorporating market and non-market values

2012-01-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479711003215 Abstract: This study employs a benefit-cost analysis framework to estimate market and non-market benefits and costs of controlling future spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) outbreaks on Crown forest lands in New Brunswick, Canada. We used: (i) an advanced timber supply model to project potential timber volume saved,

With Incentives Cut, is Going Solar in Arizona Still Worth it?

2012-01-22T20:19:00.000-05:00

http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/news/with-incentives-cut-is-going-solar-in-arizona-still-worth-it/ When it comes to sheer number of solar installations, Arizona comes in third among states, following California and New Jersey. Until last December, Arizona’s incentive programs were among the best in the nation, with public utilities offering generous per-watt rebates in addition to a state

Process analysis and economics of drinking water production from coastal aquifers containing chromophoric dissolved organic matter and bromide using nanofiltration and ozonation

2012-01-22T20:17:00.000-05:00

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479711003422 Abstract: In regions characterized by water scarcity, such as coastal Southern California, groundwater containing chromophoric dissolved organic matter is a viable source of water supply. In the coastal aquifer of Orange County in California, seawater intrusion driven by coastal groundwater pumping increased the concentration of

Regulating Greenhouse Gases from Coal Power Plants under the Clean Air Act

2012-01-21T16:35:00.000-05:00

http://is.gd/lzeYJh Under authority granted by the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency is developing performance standards for existing stationary sources, such as power plants and industrial facilities. Coal-fired electricity generators represent an important part of this regulatory effort as they account for about one-third of annual U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. New

Taxpayer and Environmental Groups: Corps of Engineers Uses New Recipe to Cook the Books – Again – To Push Wasteful Delaware River Deepening Project - Report Released on Updated Economic Analysis

2012-01-21T10:29:00.012-05:00

http://taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=5058 Responding to renewed economic claims for Deepening the Delaware River, a coalition of taxpayer, community, and environmental organizations issued a new independent analysis they say proves once again that the deepening project is an economic loser. The groups issued the analysis and an accompanying report titled “Army Corps

Competition to Reduce Energy Use Results In Savings for Six Brooklyn Neighborhoods - NYSERDA Sponsored Energy Competition Saves Residents Money While Changing Their Habits

2012-01-21T10:07:00.001-05:00

http://is.gd/jRbl43 Residents in six Brooklyn neighborhoods participating in “Reduce the Use in District 39” have demonstrated how awareness, education and competition can lead to money-saving energy reductions.The program was a year-long energy savings competition sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Con Edison and the office of New York City

An Energy Supergrid for Europe Faces Big Obstacles

2012-01-21T10:04:00.002-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/business/global/17iht-rbog-grid17.html Advocates of renewable energy say an electricity supergrid could enhance the clean-power industry by connecting power sources like wind farms in Scotland and solar arrays in Spain or North Africa to the population centers of Europe.The technical arguments for a significantly expanded and upgraded power network in Europe are

Swedes go green in India

2012-01-21T10:03:00.002-05:00

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/global-observer/swedes-go-green-in-india/2607 ... The Swedish embassy unveiled a ... solar panel system which will generate approximately 10 percent of its total energy consumption. ....The 288 panels presently generates 17.487 KW of power with a total capacity of 75KW per hour on a clear day. The panel has generated 2998 KW since it started a month ago. The

... Selecting criteria for new green product development project: ... Taiwan consumer electronics products as an example

2012-01-21T10:02:00.004-05:00

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652611005105 Abstract: With changes in the environment and a rise of consciousness concerning environmental protection, industry has begun to devote research and develop into products which reflect the needs for environmental preservation as well as allow them to maintain their market share and competitive advantage. This study summarizes

In Bat Deaths, a Catastrophe in the Making?

2012-01-21T10:01:00.001-05:00

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/in-bat-deaths-a-catastrophe-in-the-making A “biodiversity crisis”: that’s how some conservationists describe new numbers released this week by the federal Fish and Wildlife Service on so-called white-nose syndrome. According to the agency, 5.7 million to 6.7 million bats have died from the fungal ailment in eastern North America since an epidemic first

Simultaneously Mitigating Near-Term Climate Change and Improving Human Health and Food Security

2012-01-20T08:45:00.002-05:00

http://is.gd/vISA4I http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112193442.htm A new study led by [Drew Shindell of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City], highlights 14 key air pollution control measures that, if implemented, could slow the pace of global warming, improve health and boost agricultural production. The research ... finds that focusing on

Health Impacts of Power-Exporting Plants in Northern Mexico

2012-01-20T08:23:00.004-05:00

http://www.rff.org/Publications/Pages/PublicationDetails.aspx?PublicationID=21721 Abstract: In the past two decades, rapid population and economic growth on the U.S.–Mexico border has spurred a dramatic increase in electricity demand. In response, American energy multinationals have built power plants just south of the border that export most of their electricity to the United States. This

On the Horizon, Planes Powered by Plant Fuel

2012-01-20T08:10:00.004-05:00

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/on-the-horizon-planes-powered-by-plant-fuel The use of jet fuel from renewable sources is now well demonstrated, but it costs more than double what fuel made from petroleum does, according to airlines, aircraft companies and suppliers. One way to cut the cost may be to tinker with the plants that biofuel is made from.Take jatropha, for example. Lufthansa

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Receives High Performance Energy Efficiency Award from NYSERDA

2012-01-20T08:04:00.000-05:00

http://is.gd/2wiUw8 The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recognized Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a High Performance Building Plaque for energy-saving investments that will reduce energy costs by $223,513 annually. RPI’s construction of Phase I of its East Campus Athletic Village, a new basketball arena and stadium adjacent to the Houston Field

Colony Collapse Disorder: The Market Response to Bee Disease

2012-01-20T08:03:00.002-05:00

http://www.perc.org/files/ps50.pdf Although the winter has barely begun and the spring thaw still feels a long way off for ... Northerners, beekeepers are busily preparing for the beginning of the pollination cycle in California and other Southern states. With more than 2.5 million hives of bees on the road each year, honey bee pollination makes our diet more nutritious and tasty. Yet, in 2007

A methodology to optimally site and design municipal solid waste transfer stations using binary programming

2012-01-20T08:02:00.007-05:00

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344911002515 Abstract: Mathematical programming has been often used to optimize municipal solid waste management and transfer systems. The objective of this work was to develop a practical methodology to aid in the optimal design of a solid waste collection network in regions with well-specified boundaries. The objective function was a

Electricity generation from the first wind farm situated at Ras Ghareb, Egypt

2012-01-20T08:01:00.002-05:00

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032111005855 Abstract: Egypt is one of the Red Sea and Mediterranean countries having windy enough areas, in particular along the coasts. The coastal location Ras Ghareb on the Red Sea has been investigated in order to know the wind power density available for electricity generation. To account for the wind potential variations with height, a

High Prices Will Limit Sales of Electric Vehicles in 2012

2012-01-03T11:30:00.003-05:00

http://www.pikeresearch.com/newsroom/high-prices-will-limit-sales-of-electric-vehicles-in-2012 Many potential buyers will hold off on purchases of electric vehicles (EVs) during 2012 due to the premium pricing of the vehicles, according to a new white paper from Pike Research. Nissan raised the price of the Leaf for 2012, and while the 2012 Chevrolet Volt will sell for $1,000 less, the car