James Fallows Promotes Clean Coal in the Atlantic

The Atlantic, hardly a bastion of conservative thought, has published a piece by James Fallows in which he argues that power from coal will be needed for years to come, particularly in the developing world, and alternative energy sources are not going to take its place.  Therefore, it's better to figure out a way to use it cleanly than to try to quit using it. Read the article here.

You don't have to believe that global warming is an imminent threat, or believe the prognostications of Michael Mann, the discredited originator of the hockey stick graph, to appreciate  the courage that Mr. Fallows demonstrates in facing the fact that the need for energy is going to require us to burn fossil fuels for quite a while longer.

How to Change the Global Energy Conversation

Mike Shellenberger and Ted Norhaus of the Breakthrough Institute make a convincing case in the Wall Street Journal that the way to reduce carbon emissions is to make alternative energy cheaper, not to make fossil fuels more expensive. They explain their thinking here and  here.

West Virginai Ban on Consumer Electronics in Landfills Begins January 1

The Legislature adopted Senate Bill 398 last year, banning  many consumer electronics devices from state landfills beginning January 1, 2011. Old TVs, computer monitors and other large items can no longer just be set out with the trash. This summary comes from the WV Solid Waste Management Board:

During the 2010 legislative session, Senate Bill 398 passed into law. The bill bans certain electronics from West Virginia landfills. The bill requires the WV Solid Waste Management Board to design a program for the proper handling of covered electronic devices (CEDs). The Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is required to promulgate rules for the implementation of the enforcement of the program.


CEDs include televisions, computers or video display devices with a screen that is greater than four inches measured diagonally. "Covered electronic device" does not include a video display device that is part of a motor vehicle, or that is contained within a household appliance or commercial, industrial or medical equipment.

Here is a blog from the National Center for Electronics Recycling on the ban.

Toxic Emissions Decrease Significantly in West Virginia

Good news.  EPA has published this year's report of toxics emitted by industry and reports that once again, toxic emissions are down in West Virginia.  Here is the story by Ken Ward in the Charleston Gazette.

Follansbee School Air Safe

Sometimes good news like this from EPA doesn't get reported

PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 23, 2010) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made available today its final report on monitoring for air toxics near the Follansbee Middle School and Jefferson Primary School in Follansbee, W. Va. The report, posted on the agency’s website at http://www.epa.gov/schoolair/schools.html, concludes that outdoor levels of manganese near the schools were below levels that would raise health concerns. However, the agency will conduct more monitoring next spring for pollutants commonly associated with coke oven plants, since one is operating in the vicinity of the schools.


EPA’s monitoring of outdoor air found several pollutants common in coke oven emissions, including benzene, arsenic and benzo(a)pyrene. The additional monitoring will help EPA gain a better understanding of the levels of pollutants in the air and whether there are potential health concerns associated with the mixture of pollutants. The need for follow-up air monitoring is also based on the knowledge that one of the main sources of air toxics in the area was not operating at normal production levels during the original monitoring. The facility is now operating at normal production.

As part of EPA’s Schools Air Toxics Monitoring initiative, outdoor air was monitored at 63 schools in 22 states. The study was designed to help EPA and state environmental agencies understand whether long-term exposure to air toxics poses health concerns for children and staff at the schools.

EPA selected the Follansbee schools because of their proximity to air toxics sources, and based on computer models that indicated these toxics may be present at elevated levels in the outdoor air. To see a listing of all of the schools monitored in this initiative: http://www.epa.gov/schoolair/schools.html.

DEP, DNR to Recycle Christmas Trees

The DEP and DNR will once again be recycling Christmas trees by sinking them in lakes to provide fish habitat. 

In an effort to keep discarded Christmas trees out of landfills and off the sides of roads, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the state Division of Natural Resources are sponsoring their sixth annual tree recycling event in 2011.

On Jan. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the DEP’s Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP) will accept used live Christmas trees at the Capitol Market in downtown Charleston. The DNR will use the collected trees to create fish habitats at the bottom of lakes and streams throughout West Virginia.

REAP’s Sandy Rogers said the recycling event gets bigger every year in terms of the number of trees collected after the holidays. Last year, close to 450 trees were dropped off at the Capitol Market.

Those who donate trees will receive a free gift and can register for more prizes, including West Virginia skiing trips. For more information, contact Rogers at 304-926- 0499, ext. 1004 or email Sandra.D.Rogers@wv.gov.

Light Emitting Diodes Are Hazardous Wastes When Disposed?

Researchers at the University of California subjected ground up LEDs to a TCLP test (a standard test for determining whether a waste is hazardous) and found that the red LEDs failed.  When subjected to a more rigorous testing, the other colors of LEDs failed  as well.  Incandescent lights are looking better and better.