GoingGreen 2007 - Setting the Benchmark for Greentech Events

Over seven hundred greentech professionals, venture capital and private-equity investors, and leading members of the press and blogging community will convene at University of California, CA from September 10 – 12 for the inaugural AlwaysOn GoingGreen 2007 event. Thousands more worldwide attendees are expected to participate ‘virtually’ as GoingGreen 2007 will be simulcast live from http://www.alwayson.goingon.com/. This two-and-a-half-day executive event will features CEO presentations and high-level debates on the most promising emerging green technologies and new entrepreneurial opportunities. The purpose of this event is to identify and debate emerging trends, build high-level relationships and create new business opportunities for all greentech professionals.

In addition to engaging panels and lively debates, this two-and-a-half-day executive conference will feature CEO presentations from greentech companies from all over the world.

See the Source:

AlwaysOn GoingGreen

Easy Fleet Maintenance with the CleanAIR AeroCLEAN™ for Diesel Particulate Filters

Today’s diesel fleet managers are challenged by new equipment technology and stringent air quality regulations. Keeping diesel particulate filters clean and in good working order is one of those challenges. The AeroCLEAN™ System developed by emissions control manufacturer, CleanAIR Systems, offers fleet managers a fast, easy and safe solution for filter maintenance.

Over time, self-cleaning diesel particulate filters can build-up a layer of non-combustible ash that requires cleaning of a fleet’s exhaust filters. This routine maintenance allows the filters to function properly, as well as extends the life of the filter. Without the correct equipment and understanding of filter technology, the cleaning process can become a problem. If water or solvents are used to dislodge ash, ceramic filters can be negatively affected. High heat methods can cause thermal shock and may crack or melt filters. CleanAIR’s AeroCLEAN™ extends the life of a filter by using a non-thermal, dry cleaning technique to safely loosen and blow out collected ash in under 15 minutes.

Originally designed for a select market segment using off-road equipment retrofitted with CleanAIR PERMIT™ Filters, the AeroCLEAN™ is capable of safely cleaning filters in-field. The cleaning system requires no electricity and is safe enough to use on a daily basis if frequent cleaning is necessary to keep a fleet’s diesel particulate filters in top shape.

With new on- and off-road regulations looming on the horizon and particulate filters becoming an integral part of emissions control for diesel vehicles such as construction and mining equipment, the AeroCLEAN™ is reaching a wider market looking for a safe, effective way to service fleet vehicles.

The AeroCLEAN™ handles all sizes of CleanAIR PERMIT™ Filters. The enclosed cleaning system uses no heat or electricity, requiring only a compressed air source for its dry cleaning method. Utilizing a rugged, sturdy construction, the AeroCLEAN™ can be taken directly into the field for as-needed cleaning of vehicle filters. The unit’s large containment area allows for repeated maintenance of multiple filters before collected material is removed. With a cleaning cycle of less than 15 minutes, the AeroCLEAN™ is a fast, easy solution for cleaning diesel particulate filters.

For more information on CleanAIR Systems’ AeroCLEAN™, visit http://www.cleanairsys.com/products/accessories/index.htm

Flexible Air Permits Proposed by EPA to Prevent Pollution and Paperwork

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes to air quality permitting rules to encourage pollution prevention; provide increased flexibility, enable industrial facilities to make rapid changes to respond to market demands; save resources for state permitting authorities, and improve public information.

The proposed changes would affect both EPA's operating permits and New Source Review (NSR) programs. Under the proposed changes to the operating permits program, a facility with a flexible permit would explain its operational plans and possible changes to those plans for the duration of the permit term – typically 5 years. The state, local or tribal air quality permitting authority would include permit conditions to ensure protection of public health and the environment for all of those operating conditions. These flexible permits do not provide approval for operational changes not within the scope of conditions considered at the time of the permit application, and facilities would still be required to meet their requirements under the Clean Air Act.

EPA and states have been testing many of the flexible permitting approaches for more than a decade. Based on the agency's evaluation of pilot projects, EPA expects that these proposed changes will promote significant environmental and economic benefits, while reducing administrative workload for both permitting authorities and facilities.

More about the proposal: http://epa.gov/nsr/actions.html#aug07

See the Source:
Information about EPA's New Source Review program

Find out:
Reduce NOx emissions at facilities with an SCR system for selective catalytic reduction. See video.

Clean Air Aact
SCR

Volvo Displays Carbon-Dioxide-Free Trucks

Press Release:
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - The Volvo Group is the first vehicle manufacturer to produce seven demonstration trucks that can all be driven without emitting any environmentally harmful carbon dioxide. These trucks were exhibited for the first time today in Stockholm and are equipped with diesel engines that have been modified to operate on seven different types of renewable liquid and gaseous fuels. “Volvo is part of the climate problem, but today we have shown that carbon-dioxide free transports are a possibility and that we as a vehicle manufacturer both can and will be part for the solution to the climate issue,” says Leif Johansson, CEO of the Volvo Group.

The seven Volvo FM trucks are equipped with Volvo’s own 9-liter engines that have been specially modified by the Group’s engineers to illustrate the possibilities of carbon-dioxide-free transport. According to the widely publicized Stern report, approximately 14 percent of total global carbon-dioxide emissions will come from the transport sector, with road transport accounting for a total of 10 percent. However, there is no information on the percentage of these emission levels that in turn originate from cargo transport. A calculation based on European conditions and statistics, whereby passenger cars represent 60% of carbon-dioxide emissions and cargo transport for the remaining 40%, indicates that cargo transport will account for about 4-5% of total global carbon-dioxide emissions.

Part of the solution
“As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of heavy trucks, diesel engines and buses, the Volvo Group is part of the climate problem,” says Leif Johansson, CEO of Volvo. “But environmental issues are one of the areas which we have assigned the very highest priority, and based on our resources and knowledge, we both can and will be part of the solution.”

The seven trucks exhibited in Stockholm can be operated on the same number of different renewable fuels and/or combinations of fuels: biodiesel, biogas combined with biodiesel, ethanol/methanol, DME, synthetic diesel and hydrogen gas combined with biogas. Since all of these fuels are produced from renewable raw materials, they provide no carbon-dioxide contributions to the ecosystem when combusted and, accordingly, do not impact the environment.

“The diesel engine is an extremely efficient energy converter that is perfectly suited to many different renewable fuels, liquid or gaseous,” says Jan-Eric Sundgren, member of Volvo Group Management and Senior Vice President, Public and Environmental Affairs. “With our know-how in engine technology and our large volumes, we can manufacture engines for several different renewable fuels, and also create possibilities for carbon-dioxide-free transports in such other product areas as buses, construction equipment and boats.”

However, the supply of different renewable fuels is significantly limited and there is no large-scale production or distribution for the majority of the alternatives that could be utilized in carbon-dioxide-free transports.

“With these vehicles, we have shown that Volvo is ready, that we possess the technology and the resources for carbon-dioxide-free transport, but we cannot do this alone,” says Leif Johansson. “We also require large-scale production of renewable fuels and putting such production in operation requires extensive investments in research and development, and also well-defined, common guidelines from authorities in as many countries as possible.”

Volvo has carried out its own analyses of the renewable fuels that are most suitable for carbon-dioxide-free transports. In these analyses, Volvo considered important aspects such as the impact on the environment, energy efficiency, the efficiency level in the use of the land for cultivating crops for the respective fuels, the amounts of the different fuels that can potentially be produced, the level of vehicle adaptation required in purely technical terms, the costs of the fuels and how easy it is to distribute the fuels.

“We know that in the foreseeable future there will be insufficient biomass or renewable fuels to fully replace fossil fuels,” says Jan-Eric Sundgren. “That is why it is important that decisions on the production of future fuels are preceded by such comprehensive assessments – otherwise there is the risk that we focus on too many and quite simply unsuitable alternatives, which will delay the introduction of carbon-dioxide-free transport.”

Despite the current shortage of both biomass for the production of renewable fuels, and finished fuels, the Volvo Group does not view carbon-dioxide-free transport as a utopian idea. One of the reasons for this is the second generation of renewable fuels that are produced through gasification and that generate both large volumes and a greater number of fuels to choose between.

“Gasification is a promising line that may lead to a significantly larger substitution than today’s technology,” says Leif Johansson. “Our own history has taught us that much of what we once thought impossible we have since been able to solve a few years later. This can be applied to such important areas as energy efficiency and exhaust emission control. I am an optimist and believe in a similar trend in carbon-dioxide-free transport.”

Seven different cars – seven different fuels
The trucks exhibited in Stockholm were operated on the seven following renewable fuels/fuel combinations:

Biodiesel is produced by the esterification of vegetable oils. Rapeseed oil and sunflower seed oil are the most common raw materials in Europe.

Biogas is a gaseous fuel that is largely comprised of hydrocarboned methane.
Biogas can be extracted in sewage treatment works, at garbage dumps, and at other sites at which biodegradable materials are found.

Biogas + biodiesel are combined in separate tanks and injection systems. A small percentage (10 percent) of biodiesel, or synthetic diesel, is used for achieving compression ignition. The biogas in this alternative is in a cooled and liquid form that increases its range.

DME – Dimethyl ether Dimethyl ether is a gas that is handled in liquid form under low pressure. DME is produced through the gasification of biomass.

Ethanol/Methanol is produced through the gasification of biomass and ethanol through the fermentation of crops rich in sugar and starch.

Synthetic Diesel is a mixture of synthetically manufactured hydrocarbon produced through the gasification of biomass. Synthetic diesel can be mixed with conventional diesel fuel without problem.

Hydrogen gas + Biogas - this vehicle operates on a combination of hydrogen gas and biogas whereby the hydrogen gas is mixed in small volumes with compressed biogas (8% volume). Higher mixture levels are also possible. The hydrogen gas can be produced through the gasification of biomass or electrolysis of water with renewable electricity.

Information about renewable fuels is available at:

http://www.volvo.com/group/global/en-gb/Volvo+Group/ourvalues/environment/renewable_fuels/

YouTube to the Environmental Rescue

The Scientist Magazine along with the University of Singapore are sending out a call to the global community of scientists for videos documenting environmental damage. Most people are aware of degradation and abuse to the environment, but little has been done by governments to create and enforce real change.

In an attempt to bring this issue to the awareness of world leaders, editors at The Scientist along with scientists from the National University of Singapore and the social video website YouTube, are joining forces to establish a “crowdsourcing experiment”. YouTube is dedicating an environmental damage channel where short videos can be posted documenting environmental abuse within a local region.

Their intention is that actual videos created throughout the world will have a strong, visual impact and move governments to make changes. By building a collection of videos, the project creators hope to provide a compelling snapshot of our world and the environmental effect caused by the refusal to take action.

Videos posted to YouTube’s Save the Planet channel can range in topic from the effects of pollution, loss of habitat, environmentally unfriendly activities or damaging behavior towards a species.

Richard Gallagher, editor of The Scientist explains, "The visual image has always been a catalyst for awareness. The problem with global environmental damage is the effects are often far away from the source, making it easy to avoid the problem. The more videos posted, the more the public can learn about the problems at hand, and the more that governments will find it difficult to ignore the need to act any longer."

See the Source:
MarketWire
The Scientist Magazine
YouTube Save the Planet

Find out:
About reducing the impact of diesel pollution on the environment by watching videos created by CleanAIR Systems on how emissions control technology works.

environment
current issues

In the News: Global Warming Update

- The Western Climate Initiative led by California’s Gov. Schwarzenegger has laid the foundation to cut greenhouse emissions by 15 percent by 2020 to decrease the effects of global warming. The collective is made up of six Western states (Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Utah) and two Canadian provinces (Manitoba and British Columbia). They have agreed to design a market-base program similar to cap-and-trade, with a deadline of August 2008 to present the plan. The Bush administration has opposed such mandatory cuts, favoring a voluntary approach.

- The Bush administration has been called on the carpet by a federal court for failure to issue global warming assessment reports. District Court Judge Saundra Armstrong ruled that the administration was in violation of a 1990 law and must issue a research plan by March 1, 2008. Federal law mandates an updated plan every three years. The last plan was issued in 2003. In addition, national assessment reports are required every four years. The last such report was issued in 2000 by the Clinton administration.

See the Source:
Reuters
ABC News

global-warming
environment

Clean Up Emissions with Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel

During the past year, ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel has become available at the pump for both on- and off-road vehicles. Having no more that 15 ppm sulfur, ULSD decreases emissions of NOx, (a precursor to smog), particulate, and SOx.

EPA estimates that the use of ULSD will prevent the emissions of 2.6 million tons of NOx and 110,000 tons of soot each year. With the introduction of diesel particulate filters on 2007 diesel cars used in conjunction with ULSD, emissions of diesel particulate matter will be dramatically reduced to 90% of original levels.

The EPA also estimates with a reduction in emissions, the following health issues will be prevented each year:
360,000 asthma attacks
386,000 cases of respiratory symptoms in children with asthma
1.5 million lost work days
7,100 hospital visits
2,400 emergency room visits for asthma

See the Source:
Resource Invester

Find out:

About diesel particulate filters for off-road vehicles and stationary engines

air pollution
diesel emissions

The Dirt on Diesel: CleanAIR on America the Green

The founder of CleanAIR Systems, a manufacturer of emissions control equipment, was recently interviewed by America the Green for their weekly environmental podcast. The discussion centered on the new resurgence in diesel vehicles and how diesel has cleaned up its act to become “green”.

Topics included why diesel is much more acceptable in Europe than the U.S., why diesel is now considered the “interim” fuel to help reduce greenhouse gases, and how diesel has changed to become a cleaner vehicle option.

To listen to the Podcast entitled: Diesel Cleans Up its Act with Michael Roach, Founder of CleanAIR Systems, go to: http://www.americathegreen.com/diesel-cleans-up/. America the Green can also be downloaded on iTunes.

See the Source:
America the Green

Find out:
More about diesel emissions control at CleanAIR Systems

green news
environmental blogs

Blue Skies Over Beijing?

Beijing has completed its fourth day of experimental air pollution testing by taking 1.3 million cars temporarily off the road. The state-run news agency, Xinhua, proclaims the test a success with four "blue-sky days". But the lingering smog tells a different story.

As does some of the world's best endurance athletes competing in a test cycling event in Beijing over the weekend. Oenone Wood, an Australian cyclist in town for the event, said she had a difficult time seeing the surrounding scenery as she past by due to the lingering smog. Many athletes have expressed concerns that the heavy air pollution will affect their health during the games.

By temporarily side-lining about one third of Beijing's cars, Chinese officials have stated that there was an improvement in air quality such as lower NOx levels. However, the Chinese pollution rating system does not take into account the measurement of fine particulate matter and ozone levels. Both of these toxic pollutants can negatively impact health and seriously effect athletes performance during the upcoming 2008 Olympics.

See the Source:
Reuters
China View
The Canberra Times

Find out:
How to decrease industry air pollution using diesel retrofit filters from CleanAIR Systems.

air pollution
particle pollution

Air Pollution Linked to Cardiovascular Risk in Healthy Young Adults

Researchers in Taiwan have demonstrated for the first time that urban air pollution simultaneously affects key indicators of cardiovascular risk in young adults: inflammation, oxidative stress, coagulation and autonomic dysfunction.

The study, which appeared in the second issue for August of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published by the American Thoracic Society, investigated the effect of common urban air pollutants on biological markers for inflammation, oxidative stress, coagulation and autonomic dysfunction in 76 healthy Taiwanese college students.

The researchers collected blood samples and performed electrocardiograms on each subject approximately every 30 days for the months of April, May and June in either 2004 or 2005. They then correlated the sample dates and time with monitoring data from a fixed-site air monitoring station on the students’ campus. The concentrations of common urban air pollutants were averaged over 24, 48 and 72 hours.

They found significant increases in all indices of cardiovascular risk were associated with increased exposure to common pollutants. “This study provides evidence that urban air pollution is associated with systemic inflammation/oxidative stress, impairment of the fibrinogenic system, activation of blood coagulation and alterations in the autonomic nervous system in young, healthy humans,” wrote the study’s lead author Chang-Chuan Chan, Sc.D., of National Taiwan University’s College of Public Health.

“Most pollution literature has shown affects in elderly people, and although there have been experiments in young subjects, epidemiological research has not found such significant effects in young people as with these students in Taiwan,” said Benoit Nemery, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the division of pneumonology at the Catholic University of Leuvin in Belgium, who was not involved in the research.

“Further studies with more detailed measurements of cardiovascular endpoints over time are still needed to elucidate the time sequence of pollution effects on cardiovascular endpoints in humans,” wrote Dr. Chang-Chuan Chan.

“Many questions remain to be answered,” wrote Joel Kaufman, M.D., M.P. H., in the accompanying editorial, “[But] these questions should by no means slow the important efforts to reduce exposures and benefit global public health.”

See the Source:
Newswise

air pollution

High Pollution Affecting Children in Mexico City

According to researchers in Mexico, children who are chronically exposed to higher levels of air pollution show marked deficiencies in lung growth and function.

"Our study revealed significant deficits in lung function growth in children with long-term exposure to air pollutants,” wrote Isabelle Romieu, M.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study. "In addition to the important impact of lung health, early lung deficits may increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive lung disease later in life, as well as cardiovascular morbidity and general mortality.

These conclusions are the result of a three-year, multi-site prospective study that measured lung function growth in 3,170 eight-year-old children at 39 schools in Mexico City and analyzed it with respect to the children’s exposure to common urban pollutants: ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter under 10 μm (PM10).

Dr. Romieu, of the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publico in Mexico, and eight colleagues reported their findings in the second issue for August of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published by the American Thoracic Society.

Previous studies have found that short-term exposure to pollutants is associated with acute but reversible deficits in lung function, but the effects of long-term exposure, like that experienced by residents of heavily polluted urban environments, had not been conclusively characterized.

Although all measurements of lung function increased over time, the researchers found that higher exposure to O3, NO2 and PM10 was significantly associated with growth deficits.

“At the beginning of the study and at each phase of follow-up, children exposed to lower O3 and PM10 concentrations had better lung function values that children exposed to higher concentrations,” wrote the researchers.

The study could not determine the mechanism by which pollutants change lung growth, but other studies have found differences in lung morphology related to O3 exposure, and suggested that chronic exposure to PM and O3 may be associated with small airway disease.

Recently, oxidative stress from oxidant compounds, including O3, NO2 and PM has been identified as a potential cause of an inflammatory response, which could then lead to chronic lung damage. The reversibility of the damage is unclear, but the authors note that previous studies have reported long-term deficits in lung function associated with air pollutants.

“Although we could not identify specific sources [of the pollutants], the effect is likely to be due to vehicular exhaust,” wrote the researchers, concluding that “there is a clear need for stricter air pollution measures in Mexico City to protect lung growth in children living there.”

See the Source:
Newswise

Find out:
How to reduce particulate matter from diesel engines using diesel particulate filters.

air pollution
particle pollution

Pollution Blamed for 40 Percent of Deaths Worldwide

Cornell researcher, David Pimentel, concludes about 40 percent of deaths that occur worldwide are caused by water, air and soil pollution. He surmises environmental degradation coupled with world population growth, are major causes behind the rapid increase in human diseases, recently reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Pollution and an increase in population both contribute to malnourishment and disease susceptibility experienced by 3.7 billion people, he says.

Pimentel and a team of Cornell graduate students examined data from over 120 published papers on the effects of population growth, malnutrition and various kinds of environmental degradation on human diseases. Their report is published in the online version of the journal Human Ecology.

"We have serious environmental resource problems of water, land and energy, and these are now coming to bear on food production, malnutrition and the incidence of diseases," said Pimentel.

57 percent of the current world population of 6.5 billion people is malnourished, compared with 20 percent of a world population of 2.5 billion in 1950. Malnutrition is not only the direct cause of 6 million children's deaths each year but also makes millions of people much more susceptible to such killers as acute respiratory infections, malaria and a host of other life-threatening diseases, according to the research.

The study also concluded that air pollution from smoke and various chemicals kills 3 million people a year. In the United States alone about 3 million tons of toxic chemicals are released into the environment -- contributing to cancer, birth defects, immune system defects and many other serious health problems.

"A growing number of people lack basic needs, like pure water and ample food. They become more susceptible to diseases driven by malnourishment, and air, water and soil pollutants," Pimentel concludes. He and his co-authors call for comprehensive and fair population policies and more conservation of environmental resources that support human life.

See the Source:
NewsWise
Human Ecology

air pollution
environment

Old Diesels Sold to Other Countries

The San Francisco Chronicle reported on August 12, that many California businesses with large diesel fleets such as rental companies and construction firms are selling older vehicles rather than retrofitting them to meet tough California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations soon to go into effect. This means most aging diesels are being sold to states with less stringent air quality standards or to countries in Asia or South America. Although CARB’s new rulings will help decrease pollution in California, the act of reselling old diesel equipment is, in effect, the exportation of air pollution rather than solving the global problem of emissions control.

See the Source:
San Francisco Chronicle

Find out:
About diesel particulate filters for on- and off-road vehicles

diesel pollution

Caterpillar Generators Selected for Coal Methane Projects in Shanxi, China

Representatives of Caterpillar Inc. accompany James Connaughton, senior environmental and natural resources advisor to President George W. Bush, as he visited the Sihe Coal Mine in Jincheng city, Shanxi Province, China. Sihe is the world's largest coal methane power plant and will use 60 Caterpillar methane-gas-powered generator sets to create 120 megawatts of power when fully operational. Following the success of this project, Caterpillar has been selected to provide an additional 31 methane-gas-powered generator sets to produce 54 megawatts of power at the Cheng Zhuang and Mei Gan Shi coal mines in the same city in Shanxi Province.

"The United States and other nations including China are working together to set a long-term global goal for reducing greenhouse gases," said James Connaughton, who was appointed by President Bush in 2001 to serve as the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality. "Economic growth, energy security and climate change must be addressed in an integrated way. The Jincheng coal methane plants are excellent examples of how to increase energy use in an environmentally responsible way," Connaughton added. "We hope to advance more projects like these through the Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate, which addresses growing energy demand by advancing clean energy technology development and deployment."

The Shanxi Jincheng Anthracite Coal Mining Group Co., Ltd. is the project developer for all three coal methane power plants. Caterpillar will work closely with its dealer WesTrac China Limited on product commissioning and ongoing support for these projects. Methane gas found in coal seams can be highly volatile and it is a major cause of underground explosions. Historically it has been vented into the atmosphere. By capturing the previously vented methane gas and converting it into electricity, the Caterpillar generator sets will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve mine safety and increase the capacity of the local power grid.

"This is a major step forward in China's road to sustainable development and demonstrates positive bilateral trade relations between the United States and China," said Stu Levenick, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for Asia.

The 11th Five-Year Plan guiding China's development between 2006 and 2010 emphasizes that building a recyclable economy is an important way for China to build a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society, thus realizing sustainable development. China has set a goal of reducing the emissions of major pollutants by 10 percent during this five-year period. As part of the second Strategic Economic Dialogue, the United States and China have agreed to develop up to 15 large-scale coalmine methane capture and utilization projects in China in the next five years.

"Caterpillar is a long-term investor in China, and we are excited to see that China has positioned methane gas capture and utilization as a priority." said Rich Lavin, Chairman of Caterpillar (China) Investment Co., Ltd. and a Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for Asia Pacific manufacturing operations. "Our trade relations will continue to strengthen and produce on-going returns."

The 3500 series generators used in these projects are produced at Caterpillar's Large Engine Center in Lafayette, Indiana. "Caterpillar generator sets have been producing electricity around the world for nearly 70 years," said Bill Rohner, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the Electric Power Division. "We are pleased to be involved with these new opportunities in China."

See the Source:
PRNewswire
Caterpillar, Inc.

air pollution
energy

EIP Reports 50 Dirtiest U.S. Power Plants

Even as some of America’s dirtiest power plants start to clean up their act in terms of certain toxic emissions, the carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution linked to global warming from large, old, and inefficient electricity-generating facilities continues unchecked and could rise 34 percent by 2030, according to a report from the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project (EIP). A searchable database ranking 378 U.S. power plants on carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and mercury pollution is now available online at http://www.dirtykilowatts.org.

The 12 states with the heaviest concentrations of the dirtiest power plants in terms of total tons of carbon dioxide emitted are: Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Wyoming, Florida, Kentucky, and New Mexico.

The "Dirty Kilowatts" report also ranks the worst power plants on the basis of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury, looking at all four pollutants both in terms of total tons of emissions and also emission rate (pounds per megawatt-hour of electricity produced). For example, just 14 percent of the 378 ranked fossil-fuel-burning power plants account for 40 percent of their sulfur dioxide emissions. Taken together, the 378 plants ranked in this report represent about a third of all power plants tracked in EPA’s inventory, but they account for almost 90 percent of the electricity generated by the plants in EPA’s inventory, and approximately half of total U.S. electric generation. Plants in North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Indiana, and South Dakota top the
non-CO2 rankings.

The EIP report notes: “Nationwide, the power plants that provide electricity to run our homes, businesses, and factories also account for 40 percent of carbon dioxide, roughly two thirds of sulfur dioxide, 22 percent of nitrogen oxides, and roughly a third of all mercury emissions (in the U.S.)

“Power plants are major contributors to global warming, emitting billions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year. In addition, power plants emit millions of tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), pollutants that trigger asthma attacks and contribute to lung and heart disease, and cause smog and haze in cities and national parks. And, power plants emit dangerous toxins like mercury, a neurotoxin especially harmful to children and developing fetuses.”

Ilan Levin, counsel, Environmental Integrity Project, said: “While Congress is poised to seriously consider legislation to limit the greenhouse gases that made 2006 the hottest year on record, the electric power industry is racing to build a new fleet of coal-fired power plants that rely on conventional combustion technologies that would only accelerate global warming. Once utility companies secure their air pollution permits, we can expect them to argue that these new plants should be ‘grandfathered,’ or exempt from any pending limits on greenhouse gases. We’ve been through this before. When the original Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, the electric utility industry persuaded Congress to not impose strict pollution controls on old power plants, because they would soon be replaced by newer state-of-the-art facilities. Yet despite the industry’s promises, many of the nation’s oldest and dirtiest power plants continue to operate today. Americans pay the bill for that delay when they suffer the ill health consequences of breathing needlessly dirty air.”

Power plants are responsible for about 40 percent of all man-made CO2 emissions in the nation, and unlike emissions of SO2 and NOx, the electric power industry’s CO2 emissions are projected to steadily rise. Carbon dioxide emissions contribute to global warming.

Sulfates (from SO2) are major components of the fine particle pollution that plagues many parts of the country, especially communities nearby or directly downwind of coal-fired power plants.

Sulfur dioxide also interacts with NOx to form nitric and sulfuric acids, commonly known as acid rain, which damages forests and acidifies soil and waterways. Harvard School of Public Health studies have shown that SO2 emissions from power plants significantly harm the cardiovascular and respiratory health of people who live near the plants. According to EPA studies, fine particle pollution from power plants results in thousands of premature deaths each year Nitrogen oxide is tied to ground-level ozone, which is especially harmful to children and people with respiratory problems such as asthma. Ground-level ozone is formed when NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in sunlight. NOx also reacts with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form fine particle pollution, which damages lung tissue and is linked to premature death. Small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease such as emphysema and bronchitis, and aggravate heart disease.

Coal-fired power plants are the single largest source of mercury air pollution, accounting for roughly 40 percent of all mercury emissions nationwide. Mercury is a highly toxic metal that, once released into the atmosphere, settles in lakes and rivers, where it moves up the food chain to humans. The Centers for Disease Control has found that roughly 10 percent of American women carry mercury concentrations at levels considered to put a fetus at risk of neurological damage.

See the Source:
Environmental Integrity Project – 50 Dirtiest U.S. Power Plants

Find out:
About reducing NOx emissions from power plants using selective catalytic reduction from CleanAIR Systems.

NOx emissions
air pollution

Air Pollution News Bites: 08-02-07

- A recent study estimates that demand for air pollution control products in China will increase by 18 percent each year through 2010. The increase is attributed to the Chinese government’s plan to increase the purchase of air pollution control technology and new legislation concerning strict environmental protection regulations. Products in demand by China include: electrostatic precipitators, baghouse systems, particulate filters, and catalysts.

- A new analysis studying atmospheric “brown clouds” hovering over Asia, have concluded that the buildup of greenhouse gases mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels, is a major contributor to the melting of tropical glaciers such as those found in the Himalayans. Researchers found that combining the heating effect of greenhouse gases and the elements found in brown clouds, such as soot, heightens the effect of global warming.

"The conventional thinking is that brown clouds have masked as much as 50 percent of global warming by greenhouse gases through so-called global dimming," said atmospheric chemist V. Ramanathan. "While this is true globally, this study reveals that over southern and eastern Asia, the soot particles in the brown clouds are in fact amplifying the atmospheric warming trend caused by greenhouse gases by as much as 50 percent."

He went on to state, "It is likely that in curbing greenhouse gases we can tackle the twin challenges of climate change and brown clouds, and in doing so, reap wider benefits--from reduced air pollution to improved agricultural yields."

See the Source:
MarketWire
National Science Foundation

Find out:
How to reduce particulate pollution by using diesel particulate filters

air pollution
global-warming