Incentives would power solar sector

Plans to expand solar power in the United States looked a lot different from my seat in a cafe near Tiananmen Square than they did from my office in Novato. Many of the measures - and half-measures - that we read about every day in American newspapers are things the Germans and Chinese and Spanish and French decided to do 10 years ago.

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So now we are playing catch-up - but still not taking the steps our foreign competitors have long since regarded as routine.

Germany, for example: Hardly a sunny hot spot, but it has more solar installations than any country in the world - and 200 times more than England.

That is because German citizens get 75 cents per kilowatt hour for the solar power they sell back to the grid. Spain is similar. Great Britain and France and Ontario recently raised their "feed in tariffs" to comparable levels.

In California, we get less than 10 cents. And that is more than most places.

In the United States, we limit not just the price but also the amount of solar energy an owner can sell back to the grid.

So we limit our results as well.

If we allowed the price to rise, and removed the limits on how much solar energy a farmer or business owner or school or police station could generate, we would see an explosion in demand for solar and other renewables.

That would reduce our dependence on foreign energy and stimulate domestic manufacturing as well.

It's a two-fer.

That is our best chance of creating solar-panel manufacturing jobs in the United States. But it is already late in the game. Half-measures won't work anymore.

Tom Rooney is the president and CEO of SPG Solar.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/22/EDK81C3C4A.DTL#ixzz0gNHnGBa4

Threat of gas drilling to Pa. State Forests weighed

By Andrew Maykuth

Inquirer Staff Writer

Pennsylvania's countryside was a smoldering moonscape 90 years ago, the hardwoods decimated for fuel and the hemlocks cut down for tannic acid to process leather.

From those ruins, Harrisburg assembled the Pennsylvania State Forests, now one of the nation's largest sustainable systems certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the gold standard for enlightened forestry practices.

But some officials in the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) fear the hard-fought "green" certification could be threatened by the rush to cash in on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

John Quigley, acting DCNR secretary, has questioned how much gas leasing can be tolerated on public lands after the latest auction put 32,000 more acres of forest into the industry's hands.

"Over time, as all this activity proceeds, we could very well jeopardize that certification," Quigley told The Inquirer. "That may not happen immediately, but it's something very important to us."

The debate no doubt will be replayed in the spring as legislators consider Gov. Rendell's $29 billion budget request, which counts on raising $180 million more from gas leasing in 2010-11.

Next year, Rendell's successor will likely face pressure to lease more acreage. Already, nearly half the 1.5 million acres of state forest that lie in the Marcellus "fairway" are leased to gas operators.

"A rush to drill threatens the certification of our state forests as sustainably managed," Quigley's predecessor, Michael DiBerardinis, e-mailed Rendell in March in a campaign that succeeded in slowing down legislators who wanted far more acreage leased.

The gas industry's defenders say the DCNR is capable of accommodating Marcellus exploration while sustainably managing the woodlands.

"Frankly, we don't think it's a major issue," said Patrick Henderson, a spokesman for State Sen. Mary Jo White (R., Venango), the powerful chairwoman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Drilling opponents overstate the number of trees that would be lost to gas exploration, Henderson said. The most recent leases limit operators to 123 drilling locations totaling no more than 645 acres - about 2 percent of the 32,000 acres leased. The most sensitive timberlands are completely off-limits.

"It's not like they're clear-cutting 32,000 acres," he said.

The value of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification apparently is not universally appreciated.

"What does it mean beyond hanging a certificate on the wall that says you've done a good job?" Henderson asked.

Conservation and timber interests say certification is critical to the state's embattled forest-products industry, one of the nation's largest suppliers of hardwoods. The sector employs 70,000 people, down about 20,000 jobs since the housing market collapsed.

"The certification gives you market access," said Paul Lyskava, executive director of the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association. "Certain end-users require FSC certification as part of their specs. If you have access to that timber, you have access to those markets."

Though the DCNR's 2.1 million acres account for only 12 percent of the state's woodlands - most forests are privately owned - they account for 88 percent of Pennsylvania forests certified by FSC.

That makes Pennsylvania a key timber supplier to a growing market for lumber and paper that carries a "green" imprimatur. Last year, state forests generated nearly $20 million from timber sales - about half the amount generated five years ago, when the market was robust.

"We want to let people know we're concerned about the environment, that we're not just in it to rape the land," said Marc Lewis, co-owner of the Dwight Lewis Lumber Co. Inc. in Sullivan County, which produces hardwoods used in cabinetry. His company bought timber worth $720,000 last year from the state forests.

"We're in it for the long haul," said Lewis, a third-generation lumberman whose company's 15,000 acres are also FSC-certified.

Though the Forest Stewardship Council is one of several "eco-label" agencies that certify forestry practices, its association with the Rainforest Alliance and other environmental groups gives a little more credibility to the industries that meet its approval. It brings a degree of peace from activists, who have disrupted logging in other states.

"Managing timber on public lands can be very controversial, and on the West Coast, they have wars over this," said James R. Grace, deputy secretary of the DCNR, who was the state forester when Pennsylvania received its certification in 1998.

"It keeps environmental groups satisfied that we're moving in the right direction," said Lewis Fix, vice president of brand management and sustainable-product development for Domtar Corp., a Canadian firm that advertises itself as "the sustainable paper company."

Domtar, North America's largest producer of "uncoated free sheet" paper, a segment that includes copy paper, says more than a quarter of its pulp is FSC-certified, double the amount from three years ago.

Most of its 11 mills are FSC-certified, including the Johnsonburg, Pa., plant Domtar acquired from Weyerhaeuser Co. in 2007.

"The sustainability piece has enormous resonance," John D. Williams, Domtar's chief executive officer, told analysts this month.

In the most recent examination of state forests, FSC auditors said they were monitoring Marcellus gas-drilling activity for any adverse effect on the most sensitive stands of timber. Though 1,000 Marcellus wells are expected to be drilled in the forests in the next decade, only six have been completed thus far. More than 30 well pads have been cleared.

State forestry officials say the deep horizontal-drilling technique used to reach the Marcellus Shale may be less disruptive to the surface than the shallow vertical-well drilling of the past.

A dozen or more shallow wells might be spaced evenly over a square mile - each well requiring an access road and a pipeline. But Marcellus operators can access the same area through multiple wells drilled from a single location.

In Sproul State Forest near Lock Haven, foresters decided to position the drilling sites next to existing roadways to minimize fragmentation. Though the practice is more environmentally sensitive, the wells are visible to the public.

State Forester Daniel A. Devlin said the continuation of the DCNR's certification depended on how the state managed the drilling. In the forthcoming budget, Rendell has included 12 more foresters to monitor the activity - a 20 percent increase of staff currently devoted to it.

One thing is certain, said the DCNR's Grace: "Gas drilling is clearly a major change in land management in rural Pennsylvania. Not just for the forests, for everything."

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Contact staff writer Andrew Maykuth at 215-854-2947 or amaykuth@phillynews.com.

Inquirer staff writer Joseph Tanfani contributed to this article.

N.Y. nuclear power plant

By PAUL POST, The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS — No nuclear plants have been approved in the U.S. since the March 1979 accident at Three Mile Island brought the industry to a screeching halt.

However, changing political and market conditions could lead to approval of 17 applications now pending before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including one in New York.

President Barack Obama this week announced $8.3 billion in federal loan guarantees to restart America’s nuclear energy program. The money might be used to build two reactors near Augusta, Ga., although several other sites are under consideration.

“It’s very difficult to pick out a lead horse in this race,” NRC spokesman Scott Burnell said. “We’re just getting into the backstretch. There’s still a lot of review work to be done.”

At present, nuclear power accounts for 20 percent of the U.S. energy portfolio. French and American companies are pursuing a joint venture to build a new 1,500-megawatt plant adjacent to the two Nine Mile Point facilities near Oswego.

There are 56 nuclear plants under construction around the globe, with 21 in China alone and a handful in both South Korea and India. France and Japan also have strong nuclear programs.

Joe Kuehn of Saratoga Springs spent his entire career in the field and oversaw radiological cleanup efforts at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. He said the time might be ripe for a nuclear rebirth, primarily because of improved technology. Also, President Obama, after losing out on health care, needs a positive initiative that might appeal to people on both sides of the political aisle.

“It ought to be pretty easy to do regulatory-wise,” Kuehn said. “Once we get one started, others will come on board. I certainly hope so. I think this will make everybody happy, even the right.”

However, Obama’s plan has already sparked criticism from one party — the New York Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group dedicated to advancing solar power. “Solar energy is faster, easier, safer and cheaper than nuclear power, with less potential environmental danger,” Executive Director Gail Markels said. “It is the better solution.”

She cited national studies that say the solar industry creates at least three times as many jobs compared to nuclear for every megawatt installed. Solar energy installations can be located where the green jobs they create are needed most, as opposed to a large nuclear plant in a single location, she said.

There are currently 104 operating nuclear plants in the U.S. The last construction permit was issued in 1978 for a plant in North Carolina that came on line in 1987. The last new plant to start up was in Tennessee in 1996. Its construction permit was issued much earlier, but the project was slowed by numerous delays.

“We’re still a couple of years out from any licensing decisions,” Burnell said.

However, 13 of the 17 applications submitted to the NRC are under review and numerous approvals could be forthcoming as the decade unfolds. New incentives in the Energy Act of 2005 have spurred much of the renewed interest in nuclear.

One of the main issues confronting the industry is the lack of a national disposal site for spent fuel. There’s a facility at Yucca Mountain, Nev., that still has to be approved. At present, nuclear waste is being stored on-site in holding pools.

Kuehn said he’s confident a new round of plants will be constructed before long.

“All the lessons learned from Three Mile Island have been incorporated into new designs,” he said. “It’s going to be based on economics and public attitudes.”

TU calls for river protection near Pebble

Associated Press - February 19, 2010 8:04 AM ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Trout Unlimited and several other organizations are calling on the state to protect the Koktuli River in southwest Alaska.

The conservation group wants the river designated as an Outstanding National Resource Water, which is a designation under the Clean Water Act.

Trout Unlimited says the river is facing unprecedented threats from the proposed Pebble Mine, a huge copper and gold deposit near the world's best salmon streams.

The designation would bar any new or increased pollution discharges within the river.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is the agency that identifies Outstanding National Resource Waters with help from the public.

Marcellus shale hearing

http://www.theprogressnews.com/default.asp?read=21302


Marcellus shale hearing ... Ensuring the protection of our resources
Friday, February 19, 2010
By Liza Matia Staff Writer
State Rep. Camille "Bud" George, D-74 of Houtzdale, chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, sponsored a hearing yesterday on House Bill 2213, the Land and Water Protection Act. The legislation was designed to reduce the adverse impacts to the environment from gas drilling in Marcellus shale deposit.
George said he anticipates a great deal of activity to come from the drilling of Marcellus shale.
"We're no stranger to gas well exploration," he said, "but Marcellus presents new challenges to drilling." George said those challenges must be examined and understood to ensure the protection of the industry and environment. George drafted the legislation to mitigate the risks to land and water posed by the expansion of gas well drilling in the commonwealth.
House Bill 2213 would require the state Department of Environmental Protection to inspect Marcellus drill sites during each drilling phase. It would also extend the liability of a well polluting a water supply and require the disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing of the natural gas from the earth. The bill would also update bonding requirements and clarify a local government's authority to regulate gas and oil activities.
According to Chairman Scott Hutchinson, a state representative from Venango County, Pennsylvania needs to make sure the laws are adequate to deal with problems that may arise with drilling.
"We need to take advantage of the wonderful natural resource," he said.
Yesterday, the committee heard testimony from DEP, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, PennFuture and the Marcellus Shale Coalition.
"Our job is to produce gas and protect the future," said John Hines, deputy secretary for water management from DEP. He explained the Marcellus shale gas reserve could potentially hold "enough gas to fully supply the nation for 10 or more years." Hines added producing that gas could create new wealth as well as new jobs, "but not at the sacrifice of our water resources."
Hydraulic fracturing, the process used to extract the gas from the earth, would require large amounts of water to be pumped into the shale formation to fracture the shale and allow the gas to flow freely. During this process, Hines said some water could flow back to the surface. The water used in hydraulic fracturing would then have to be treated to remove chemicals and minerals.
During his testimony, Hines attempted to dispel rumors that certain "secret" chemicals were used in the fracing process. He said that DEP distributed a list to the public of all the chemicals that were used. Hines said the Material Safety Data Sheets were also distributed to local emergency responders. The list is available on DEP's Web site. Hines added that while DEP is aware of the chemicals that are used, the exact portions of those chemicals is unknown. He said the industry considers this a "trade secret."
George said he was "amazed" that the material used in fracing is a "trade secret."
"How do you know it's treated properly if you don't know what it is," George asked, noting that some of those chemicals could potentially be toxic. He also questioned the portion of material that remains in the ground after fracing.
According to Scott Perry of DEP, approximately one-third of the flow back stays in the ground.
State Rep. Matt Gabler, R-75 of DuBois, questioned the possibility of gas migration and how it happens. Perry explained that improper casing and coupling are some of the main reasons. He said that cement has been successful in protecting approximately 120,000 wells and said it is "very uncommon for cement casing to fail." When casings do fail, Perry said, the issue could be bad welding or poor coupling.
Thomas Beauduy, deputy director and counsel of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, spoke on the issues of diminution of water supplies. He explained that the River Basin Commission regulates the withdrawal and consumptive use of water associated with natural gas development activity. He pointed to the past and said that mineral exploitation has occurred at the expense of society and the environmental risk was transferred to the public.
"We don't want to repeat that history and perpetuate that legacy," Beauduy said. "We need to be smart and use the lessons we've learned."
Beauduy said the Marcellus shale gas drilling would use approximately 28 million gallons of water per day. Comparatively, he noted that the power industry uses approximately 3.4 billion gallons and the golf industry uses 10 times more water than Marcellus drilling would.
When George questioned the possibility of using hydrology that remains in the earth in order to recycle water already used by industries, Beauduy said it would be possible.
"We've tried to incentivize that," he said. "We consider all the water used as a loss to the basin."
John Baillie, senior attorney for Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, also known as PennFuture, pointed out that Marcellus shale is "not the only gas-bearing geologic formation in Pennsylvania." He said the same drilling techniques used to extract gas from the shale are also likely used to extract gas from other formations.
Due to that fact, Baillie said the same water pollution concerns addressed with Marcellus shale have also arisen with those other formations.
He suggested House Bill 2213 be revised to protect not only Marcellus shale gas wells, but also any other gas extraction activities that use the same drilling techniques.
House Bill 2213 was introduced on Jan. 20. The act is expected to take effect 60 days from that date.

DEP ACTING COMMISSIONER MARTIN OUTRAGED BY ARMY CORPS' TREATMENT OF SOUTH JERSEY IN DELAWARE DEEPENING

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Feb. 19, 2010

Contact: Elaine Makatura (609) 292-2994
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795


GOVERNOR CHRISTIE, DEP ACTING COMMISSIONER MARTIN OUTRAGED BY ARMY CORPS' TREATMENT OF SOUTH JERSEY IN DELAWARE DEEPENING

Note: The two paragraphs that are copied here appear near the end of this press release. "Millions of tons of sediments", does not sound good for spring shad runs.

The Army Corps has not updated a number of environmental studies for the
Delaware deepening project since 1997, including evaluations of the effects
of the project on the region's wetlands, water supplies and wildlife. The
Army Corps also failed to address the potential impacts of a massive oil
spill in 2004 on the river sediments.

The Army Corps has proposed deepening the Delaware's 40-foot shipping
channel to 45 feet from Camden to the mouth of Delaware Bay, a distance of
more than 100 miles. The project will produce millions of tons of sediments
that will need disposal.

(10/P8) TRENTON * Governor Chris Christie and Department of Environmental
Protection Acting Commissioner Bob Martin today expressed outrage over the
Army Corps of Engineers' plans to start the deepening of the Delaware
River's main shipping channel without updating sediment studies, providing
alternatives to disposing dredged sediments in South Jersey or implementing
measures to prevent dredging equipment from polluting the air.

"It is irresponsible for the Army Corps to push this dredging project
forward when we know South Jersey will suffer the consequences," Governor
Christie said. "The Army Corps is using a double standard, applying tough
criteria to protect the environment during the project to deepen the New
York-New Jersey Harbor yet failing to provide the same protections to South
Jersey's environment during the proposed deepening of the Delaware."

Army Corps studies for the Delaware River deepening project are more than a
dozen years old, yet more recent monitoring of Army Corps disposal
facilities indicates elevated levels of contaminants in effluent. In
addition, the Army Corps has failed to provide alternatives to dumping most
of the dredged sediments in South Jersey.

"The Army Corps is using poor and obsolete data to make big decisions that
affect New Jersey," Commissioner Martin said. "We have very deep concerns
about the old scientific data the Army Corps has been using to push this
project ahead. We demand a fresh look using current data and testing
methods, and then we'll see if this project is as ecologically benign as the
Army Corps purports it to be."

In the project to deepen the New York-New Jersey Harbor, the Army Corps
updated scientific data and applied project-specific testing protocols. It
also worked with the project sponsor to improve air quality. The sponsor
purchased low-pollution engines for tugboats and ferries.

For the Delaware River project, the Army Corps wants to purchase air credits
from other polluters to offset smog-causing pollutants emitted by its boats
and equipment. The Army Corps refuses to discuss options to credits or
update its air-pollution analysis.

"We want real steps to protect the health of people who live and work along
the river," Commissioner Martin said. "We don't want paper credits that
don't actually eliminate any pollution."

The Army Corps has not updated a number of environmental studies for the
Delaware deepening project since 1997, including evaluations of the effects
of the project on the region's wetlands, water supplies and wildlife. The
Army Corps also failed to address the potential impacts of a massive oil
spill in 2004 on the river sediments.

The Army Corps has proposed deepening the Delaware's 40-foot shipping
channel to 45 feet from Camden to the mouth of Delaware Bay, a distance of
more than 100 miles. The project will produce millions of tons of sediments
that will need disposal.

Most of the dredged sediments will be dumped at federal disposal sites in
New Jersey. The DEP wants a sediment sampling program for the Delaware River
similar to one the Army Corps used for the New York Harbor deepening
project.

New Jersey is pursuing legal action in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey
challenging the Army Corps' decision to move ahead with the project and
intervened in an action filed by the state of Delaware.

###

TU Call For Ban On Marcellus Gas Wells In Floodplains

http://home3.netcarrier.com/~susquehanna/page0002.html
In the rush to develop the Marcellus shale formation in Pennsylvania, natural gas wells are being permitted and drilled in floodplains. Two such wells, one operated by Stone Energy along Wyalusing Creek in Rush Township, Susquehanna County, and one operated by XTO along Muncy Creek in Shrewsbury Township, Lycoming County already experienced flooding events.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and Trout Unlimited (TU) call upon the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remedy this clear environmental and public health hazard.
“The handling of fracking chemicals and highly contaminated drilling wastewater in floodplains is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. It has to stop,” said Matt Ehrhart, executive director of CBF’s Pennsylvania Office. “Permitting well pads in floodplains causes a very serious threat of pollution. We call upon DEP to use its authority under the Clean Streams Law to order the companies operating these wells to permanently cap and abandon them, and then reclaim the sites to their natural condition.”
While current regulations do not allow well pads to be located within 100 feet of streams or within the floodway without an encroachment permit, neither the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act nor its regulations prohibit siting wells in floodplains. Because horizontal drilling technology is used to drill into Marcellus shale, the gas underneath streams and floodplains can easily be accessed from a pad location in an upland area, avoiding risk of flooding and catastrophic pollution to Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams. There is no reason to site wells in floodplains.
“This loophole must be closed immediately,” said Dave Rothrock, president of the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited.
In late January, heavy rains hit northern Pennsylvania and several streams and rivers experienced flooding events, including Wyalusing and Muncy Creeks. Both the Stone Energy and the XTO sites were flooded as a result of these events.
“The risk of pollution to our streams will increase exponentially in a matter of weeks,” said Rothrock. “As we head into the season of snowmelt and spring rains, there should be absolutely no more well drilling activity in floodplains anywhere in Pennsylvania.”
The Stone Energy site was permitted along Wyalusing Creek by DEP without the necessary encroachment permits. While DEP issued a notice of violation to the company the week before the flood, the agency should have never issued the well drilling permit in the first place. CBF has previously highlighted serious flaws in the fast track permitting process implemented by DEP since April 2009, where permit applications do not receive careful environmental review but are instead pushed quickly out the door.
In August 2009, CBF appealed three erosion and sediment control permits issued by DEP for drilling sites in Tioga County. CBF’s appeals resulted in a DEP review of the plans and revocation of all three permits because of serious deficiencies.
“The Stone Energy site is yet another example of permits being issued without the necessary review,” said Ehrhart. “DEP should not have issued a drilling permit that close to the creek, plain and simple. If the agency was spending any time looking at the proposed location, it would have known that.”
Governor Rendell recently announced plans to hire 68 new DEP staff to bolster inspection and environmental compliance as Marcellus Shale development expands, and DEP announced plans to open a new regional office in Scranton to increase its presence in the northeast, where much drilling is already taking place.
“We are glad Pennsylvania has taken these actions,” said Ehrhart. “We hope that DEP will take advantage of these new staff and resources to ensure more careful review of permits.”
Photos of the Stone Energy flooding can be found online.
http://home3.netcarrier.com/~susquehanna/page0002.html

waste from gas drilling radioactive?

Is flowback and waste from gas drilling radioactive?

Rewards and Risks of the Marcellus
Part I in a series

By Sharon Corderman

Published: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 2:46 PM CST

Claims have been made that the potential exists for some level of radioactive material to be in the wastewater and drill cuttings coming from the Marcellus shale. According to Peter Davies, professor of biology at Cornell University, New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reported that brine samples taken from 12 Marcellus wells that were actively producing gas last year came back with higher than expected levels of “NORM” - naturally occurring radioactive material. In fact, some brines were reported to have levels of radium-226 as high as 250 times the allowable level for discharge into the environment and thousands of times higher than the maximum allowed in drinking water.

The Penn State School of Forest Resources released a water guide for landowners in 2008 that warns that “gas well waste fluids usually contain levels of some pollutants that are far above levels considered safe for drinking water supplies. As a result, even small amounts of pollution from waste fluids can result in significant impacts to nearby drinking water supplies.” Bryan Swistock a Penn State water resources extension specialist who prepared the guide, said that there is not a large risk, “but the idea that there is no risk, which is what some people will say, is far from the truth.”

“It is especially important to understand the potential radioactivity of wastes that may be disposed of in areas that are located close to residences or public facilities such as schools,” wrote Lisa Sumi in a May 2008 report prepared for the Oil & Gas Accountability Project. “For example,” she continued, “during drilling, there may be a large volume of radioactive Marcellus shale rock removed (in other words, the drill cuttings), especially from horizontally drilled wells. If these rock wastes are disposed of by on-site burial or land-spreading, the radioactivity may become an issue for those living nearby. Radioactive wastes should be taken to a facility that is designed to handle low-level radioactive waste.”

In recommendations to the New York DEC for the handling and disposal of these radioactive wastes, Professor Davies stated that while these NORM wastes are known as “naturally occurring” it should be emphasized that such materials are not normal just because they are naturally occurring at thousands of feet below the surface. “On the surface they are not part of the normal environment and should be treated as hazardous,” he said.

Farmers in New York state fear invasion of drilling rigs

Shale gas gambit pits NY neighbor against neighbor

* State considers whether to allow shale gas drilling
By Edith Honan
HANCOCK, New York, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The race to exploit America's promising reserves of shale gas has triggered a clash between landowners in New York state, pitting those eager to earn royalties from drilling against farmers who fear gas companies will be able to drill without their consent.\
"There are people that say: my land, my gas," said Marc Dunau, an organic farmer in Hancock, located 150 miles (240 km) northwest of New York City, who refused to sign a lease to drill on his 50-acre (20-hectare) farm. "You know it is our land and it is your gas, but it's my water. And you can't get that gas unless my water and my air is protected."
Dunau was approached by multiple gas companies over the years, most recently in 2008 by XTO Energy (XTO.N), currently the subject of a $30 billion all-share takeover bid by Exxon Mobil (XOM.N).
The booming shale gas business accounts for 15 to 20 percent of U.S. natural gas production and is seen increasing fourfold over the next 15 years, providing a relatively clean energy source for a country sensitive to its dependence on foreign oil.
Farmers in New York state fear invasion of drilling rigs
Natural gas from shale is trapped deep underground inside solid rock. It has been unlocked in recent years through technological advances.
Environmentalists and people living near drilling operations worry that the drilling process might contaminate ground water. Some landowners welcome the possible financial benefits of drilling in economic hard times. [ID:nN17118922]
The shale gas industry considers environmental opponents of drilling misguided, saying drilling is heavily regulated and that there has never been a documented case of ground water contamination because of hydraulic fracturing.
VIRTUAL MORATORIUM
New York state has placed a virtual moratorium on the production of shale gas -- a policy that is under review.
The issue has the attention of Washington. The White House has promoted research and development funds that could help develop cleaner forms of producing natural gas energy. The U.S. Senate is looking at compromise climate control legislation that could encourage more domestic natural gas production.
Much of western New York sits on top of the Marcellus Shale, a vast geological formation that geologists say might contain enough natural gas to satisfy U.S. demand for more than a decade.
Shale gas is collected a mile (1.6 km) or more underground by hydraulic fracturing, in which a millions of gallons of water, sand and diluted chemicals are blasted into the shale, breaking the rock and freeing the gas.
In many cases, shale gas is cheaper to produce than conventional natural gas, particularly in the Marcellus, which is the most economical of U.S. shale formations because of its quality and proximity to the U.S. Northeast market.
Democratic New York Governor David Paterson has directed the state to complete an environmental review of hydraulic fracturing before it begins issuing drilling permits.
The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee is investigating potential health and environmental impacts from hydraulic fracturing. [ID:nN18198199]
'MY RIGHTS'
"I feel like my rights are being taken away because if I don't lease my land, and my neighbor does, they can go under me and contaminate my water," said Cindy Gieger, who runs a dairy farm on 200 acres (80 hectares) of property in nearby Jeffersonville and says she does not trust gas companies to drill safely.
Under a rule known as compulsory integration, gas companies in New York state can secure leases on 60 percent of a patch of land, totaling no more than 640 acres (259 hectares), to seek a permit to drill on the entire patch. The landowner who sits over unleased land is paid 12.5 percent of the royalties -- far less than if the landowner had signed a lease.
"Property rights are a very relative thing," said Albert Appleton, a former commissioner of New York City Department of Environmental Protection. "The rights of property ends where the exercise of your rights impacts somebody else's right to property. When people talk about their property rights they don't talk about the right of the person who doesn't want to drill gas, not to have their property destroyed, their wells threatened."
Drilling has been at a standstill since the effective moratorium went into effect in July 2008. Industry sources privately express their exasperation with New York, saying they have all but given up on the state.
"I'm an environmentalist and it doesn't make sense to me to use any other fuel at this time," said Barbara Thomas, a landowner in the nearby town of Conklin who is a member of the Joint Landowners Coalition, a group created to support landowners in their negotiations with gas companies.
"The only way I can protect my land is by having a lease that is written to protect the land," she said.

(Reporting by Edith Honan; Editing by Will Dunham)

Concerns Expressed About Marcellus Shale Drilling

CLEARFIELD, Pa. -- More than 100 people turned out Thursday for a meeting focusing on the environment impact of Marcellus shale gas drilling.Officials from across the state discussed the environmental impact with members of the gas industry and the Department of Environmental Protection.Much of the discussion focused on the technique of hydraulic fracturing.That is the process of using water to fracture rock formation in order to release natural gas.State Rep. Camille "Bud" George, D-74, of Clearfield County, has sponsored a bill that would place new regulations on the drilling process.The legislation would force companies to release the composition of the hydraulic fracturing solution.It would also require routine inspections of drilling sites.
by WJACTV.com.

Delaware energy: Wilmington water plant goes solar

WILMINGTON -- Nearly 2,300 solar panels at the city's largest water filtration plant next week will begin harnessing energy from the sun.
The $8.9 million project at the Porter Reservoir plant is the first in a series of greening efforts that has been completed by the city government.

Mayor James M. Baker has made the environmental work one of his highest priorities in his third and final term.

The solar panels and other upgrades at the plant will save the city money, reduce the government's reliance on traditional sources of electricity such as fossil fuels and nuclear power and provide temporary construction jobs.

"This is showing what we can do as a community and a country," Baker said. "If we don't keep doing this for our children and the next generation, we're going to suffer miserably."

The Porter plant filters 75 percent of Wilmington's drinking water. The solar panels will generate about 25 percent of the power needed to run the plant, which will save the city about $60,000 a year in electricity costs, city Public Works Commissioner Kash Srinivasan said.

The city also will receive about $120,000 a year through the sale of renewable-energy credits to Delmarva Power and get a one-time $250,000 rebate from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, city Communications Director John Rago said.

The installation of a booster system to the pumps at the Porter Plant later this year will further reduce the facility's energy costs, Srinivasan said.

The nearly $9 million work at Porter is part of $14.5 million in green projects planned for Wilmington this year.

The other work includes lower-energy traffic lights and more-efficient lighting systems and solar panels in city-owned buildings, city spokesman Rich Neumann said.

Most of the money came from federal stimulus funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Solar power? Some in Watchung are ahead of Somerset County

By Independent Press

February 18, 2010, 10:51AM

By Robert Kopacz

WATCHUNG — Somerset County’s new solar energy initiative announced back on Jan. 26 has many municipal officials talking about the possibilities of solar energy to lower public sector energy costs. But Watchung resident Richard Wellbrock is doing more than talking about it. He’s living it.

Robert KopaczRichard Wellbrock

“I’m way ahead of them,” notes Dr. Wellbrock, a longtime Watchung resident. He installed four solar panels on his house in Watchung eight years ago, taking advantage of rebates offered by the state of New Jersey back then. At the time, such a system, including installation, cost $50,000. Under the New Jersey rebate scheme, the State covered $40,000.

He was inspired by a British Petroleum solar energy exhibit at the New Jersey Flower Show. They directed him to a California company, which arranged not only the installation, but also the paperwork necessary to secure the rebate.

The results have been impressive. Dr. Wellbock’s solar-equipped home not only generates significant energy savings, but also makes him eligible for federal tax credits. In addition, the local utility is paying him an amount per kilowatt for the energy they don’t have to generate, what the utility refers to as “avoided costs.”

He notes that without the state subsidies and tax credits, the investment would not be attractive, a common objection faced by proponents of solar energy. In his view, government officials need to do more careful analysis of their solar power strategy if it is to succeed.

“It needs a lot more thought than all the speech-making that goes on,” he says, noting that solar energy cannot be stored or easily transported, a major drawback when compared to carbon based fuels. The bulky infrastructure required for solar energy can also create obstacles to normal home maintenance. Wellbrock notes that he will have to dismantle the solar panel installation in order to put a new roof on his home. He now wishes he had put a new roof on before he installed the solar panels. He also had to cut down four large oak trees on his property in order to generate enough sunlight for the panels.

He recommends that future building codes have “solar ready” provisions, to provide for solar infrastructures built into future homes facilitating installations and future repairs like the re-roofing for Wellbrock’s home.

Somerset County officials are hailing their new program as a way to lower municipal and school district energy costs through a public-private partnership mechanism. Under the program, a private company will lease roof space from municipal and school district buildings and install solar energy panels on them, taking advantage of the various subsidies and tax credits otherwise not available to the local governments. The private company will then sell the solar power at vastly lower rates to the public entity, realizing a cost savings. Both the borough and the school district in Watchung are now studying the county program.

For more information, go to the Somerset County website at co.somerset.nj.us

TD Bank Announces It's Now Carbon Neutral

CHERRY HILL, N.J., and PORTLAND, Maine - February 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank^®, continues to WOW! its customers, but this time in a very green and environmentally friendly way. Today TD Bank announced it is the largest U.S.-based bank to go carbon neutral. TD Bank also unveiled the new "green" design for its future stores.

As part of its overall environment strategy, TD Bank reached its carbon neutral goal by building greener buildings, lowering its energy consumption, and making a significant investment in renewable energy from sources like wind, solar and low-impact hydro power. TD Bank has purchased a block of wind energy large enough to power its network of 2,600 ATMs. TD Bank has also purchased 31,000 metric tons of carbon offset credits to eliminate its remaining emissions.

TD Bank prides itself on providing its customers with a consistent "WOW! the Customer" experience through products and services, as well as its delivery channels. The bank developed a "prototype store" design that has a similar look and feel so no matter where customers bank, they will have a memorable and consistent store experience from Maine to Florida.

TD Bank has pledged to develop LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified stores opening its first green prototype store in Queens Village, N.Y., at 214-32 Jamaica Avenue, targeted to open in the spring of 2010. The bank expects to open about five to 10 new green stores in 2010. In 2011, the vast majority of new TD Bank stores constructed will be LEED certified and all stores thereafter. The bank has already opened LEED certified offices at 200 State Street in Boston, Mass., and in 2010 plans to open a call center in Auburn, Maine, which it fully intends to LEED certify. LEED evaluates buildings for their overall environmental performance in five areas: sustainable sites, water use, energy efficiency, materials and resource use, and indoor environmental quality. LEED Platinum is the highest level of LEED certification; TD Bank is targeting LEED Platinum certification for its new Queens Village store.

TD Bank's new 3,800 square-feet prototype stores will reduce energy consumption by 50 percent compared to previous designs, with nearly 20 percent of the store's energy being produced onsite through solar panels and solar drive-thru canopies. The new stores will feature: wood from sustainably managed forests, products that emit little-to-no VOCs (volatile organic materials), walk-off mats and air filters that trap particles of dirt, dust and pollen for improved indoor air quality, insulated glass with a low-E coating to help keep a balanced, temperate environment, and sensors to control lighting. Stores will be maintained with green cleaning products, and will recycle paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics and disposable batteries.

"TD Bank is committed to protecting the environment and reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions by developing innovative buildings and focusing on sustainability efforts for our employees and customers in a WOW! way," said Fred Graziano, head of retail banking, TD Bank. "We are proud of what we have accomplished and will continue to look for opportunities to be as efficient as possible in our energy use. It is more important than ever to meet the needs of our planet in the same way we meet the service needs of our customers."

The new store will continue to provide customers and employees with a comfortable and convenient banking experience and will feature:

• solar drive-thru canopy – a translucent canopy over the drive-thru lanes that generates electricity for the store
• kids' center – a place where children can test their financial literacy knowledge and skills, as well as learn about some of the green features of the building
• customer service islands – convenient and customer friendly stations to learn more about the bank's products and services from customer service representatives
• wall murals – highlighting a local historic scene
• drive up ATM – making TD Bank even more convenient, the drive up ATM allows customers to save time and access their accounts 24 hours a day
• lots of glass to allow natural daylight and views to the outside
• excellent indoor air quality
• exterior walls and glazing that keeps the store cool in the summer and warm in the winter
• water efficient plumbing fixtures
• environmentally friendly materials and finishes made of recycled materials
• secure bicycle parking
• new design for Penny Arcade, TD Bank's free interactive coin counting machine
• landscape designed with drought-tolerant plants and shrubs that do not need to be watered regularly.

Walgreen buys Duane Reade

Walgreen buys Duane Reade

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Walgreen Co. agreed to buy Duane Reade for about $620 million, excluding debt, giving the largest U.S. drugstore chain a dominant presence in New York City. Walgreen Chief Executive Greg Wasson said that without the acquisition, "it would have taken us many, many years, through our organic growth model, to gain that type of presence" in New York.

Walgreen, which posted $63 billion in sales across its 7,162 stores last year, will look not only to gain a sales boost from the acquisition but also to capitalize on Duane Reade's new product and marketing initiatives. A traditionally conservative company, Walgreen has posted weaker results in recent months than its largest competitor, CVS Caremark Corp., which has moved more quickly to adopt innovative ideas such as loyalty-card programs and in-store cosmetic departments.

NJ Governors Troubling Actions

As a state we are in financial trouble, we all know this. Our governors actions to resolve the problem are very troubling.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_gov_chris_christies_spendin.html

Treasury:
• Dissolves the untapped $128 million fund controlled by the Board of Public Utilities encouraging companies to use alternative energy.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_environmental_groups_accuse.html

Christie declared a fiscal state of emergency today and, in an effort to close a $2.2 billion budget deficit, cut $9 million in aid for the Department of Environmental Protection, $1.7 million for state parks and $500,000 for the Pinelands Commission.

In addition, he took $18 million in existing funds from the Highlands Council which controls development in seven northern New Jersey counties. The money had been given to the council by Public Service Electric & Gas last June to preserve land in exchange for the council approving a project to expand 240 electric towers along the Susquehanna-Roseland power line stretching 44 miles from the Delaware River to Essex County.

Tittel also chided the governor for taking another $158 million in existing funds from the Clean Energy Fund operated by the BPU.

The program gets about $269 million a year from surcharges on ratepayers to finance energy efficiency improvements in businesses and homes, including installation of solar panels and windmills. The program is credited with building alternative energy markets, and creating jobs.

This is not money for the state to use on general programs.

Call my view on the issue simple. When you raise money for a specific issue and then take the money to close the state general budget is nothing other than indiscriminate taxing.
How is he allowed to do that legally.

feed-in tariff

A feed-in tariff , is a mechanism designed to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources. It typically includes three key provisions:

1) guaranteed grid access,

2) long-term contracts for the electricity produced, and

3) purchase prices that are methodologically based on the cost of renewable energy generation.

Under a feed-in tariff, an obligation is imposed on regional or national electricity utilities to buy renewable electricity (electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar thermal power, wind power, wave and tidal power, biomass, hydropower and geothermal power), from all eligible participants.

The cost-based prices therefore enable a diversity of projects (wind, solar, etc.) to be developed, and for investors to obtain a reasonable return on renewable energy investments. This principle was first explained in Germany's 2000 RES Act:

“The compensation rates…is predetermined by means of scientific studies.

As a result, the rate may differ among various forms of power generation, and for projects of different sizes.

In addition, FITs typically offer a guaranteed purchase for electricity generated from renewable energy sources within long-term (15–25 year) contracts.

As of 2009, feed-in tariff policies have been enacted in 63 jurisdictions around the world, including in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and in some states in the United States.

In 2008, a detailed analysis by the European Commission concluded that "well-adapted feed-in tariff regimes are generally the most efficient and effective support schemes for promoting renewable electricity." This conclusion has been supported by a number of recent analysis, including by the International Energy Agency, the European Federation for Renewable Energy ^,as well as by Deutsche Bank .

renewable portfolio standards

So what are “renewable portfolio standards” besides an affront to the English language? They are requirements, enacted in about half the states, that a certain percentage of electricity generation come from renewable resources. For example, California’s big utilities are supposed to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2010.

New Jersey SREC Program

Frequently Asked Questions: New Jersey’s Solar
Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) Program

What is an SREC?

SREC stands for Solar Renewable Energy Certificate and is a tradable certificate that represents all the clean energy benefits of electricity generated from your solar electric system. An SREC can be sold or traded separately from the power. It is issued once a solar facility has generated 1000kWh (1MWh).

What is the New Jersey SREC Program?

The New Jersey SREC Program provides a means for SRECs to be created and verified on your behalf. It also facilitates the sale of SRECs to electric suppliers that are required to invest in solar energy under New Jersey’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The RPS requires electricity suppliers to get a minimum of the electricity they sell in 2005 from solar energy systems located in New Jersey. This requirement increases each year. All New Jersey electric suppliers are required to use the SREC
Program to show compliance with this part of the State’s renewable portfolio standard.

How do SREC’S Differ from Green Tags?

“Green Tags” is a generic term which refers to renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated from a variety of renewable energy sources including solar, wind, small hydro and biomass. Green Tags are widely used to meet various state renewable portfolio standards and are traded in wholesale and voluntary retail markets across the U.S.

Who is eligible to participate in the New Jersey SREC Program?

All solar system owners in New Jersey with grid connected generators can set up an electronic account for the sale and trade of SRECs at the New Jersey. The SREC Program Administrator will link your solar system to your electronic account when these steps have been completed.


What portion of my electricity is eligible for the program?

Each kWh produced by your solar electric system that is metered or that is verified through an approved method of estimation, is eligible to be counted towards SRECs. The date that your system is inspected by the NJBPU is the start date for generating SRECs.

How are SRECs generated and sold?

Once you have registered and established an account on the SREC website, SRECs will be generated each month and deposited in your account. For solar generators smaller than 10kW, an engineering estimate will be used to calculate the monthly SREC generation. For solar electric systems that are larger than 10 kW, the SREC website will allow you to upload your monthly meter readings and/or production information into the site. Once SRECs are in your account, you can use an electronic bulletin board on the SREC website to let others know you have SRECs for sale. Interested buyers can also make a request to buy SRECs through the bulletin board. Buyers and sellers can then contact each other offline and execute a sale. Once a sale is made, the seller will use the website to transfer SRECs to the buyer. Electricity suppliers will also use the website to retire SRECs that have been used to meet their RPS requirements.

Who buys New Jersey SRECs?

SRECs can be bought by electricity suppliers, renewable energy marketers, private businesses and individuals interested in supporting the development of solar energy. A list of electric suppliers that are required to purchase SRECs, interested ‘aggregators’ and brokers is available on the SREC website periodically to update buyers and sellers of the going price.

How much are SREC’S sold for now?

The price of SRECs will fluctuate. However, if a New Jersey electricity supplier does notpurchase a sufficient number of SRECs to meet the RPS requirements, the supplier must pay the BPU a fee. Therefore, the BPU believes that SRECs will likely sell. The actual price will vary according to supply and demand, and a weighted average price will be posted on the SREC website.

Can someone else sell my SREC for me?

Yes, some solar electric system owners may have agreements with agents or “aggregators” to handle the disposition or sale of their SRECs.


If I don’t sell my SREC what are my options?

If you choose not to sell your SREC, you can “retire” it which means that you maintain rights to all the clean energy benefits and nobody else will claim those benefits or count them towards their goals or mandates. You can post retired SRECs on your account.

If I sell my SRECs, can I still claim that I am solar powered?

No, if you sell your SRECs, you have sold the claiming rights for being solar powered. However, you can state that you are “hosting” a solar system on your roof.

Is an SREC income taxable? Will I be issued a 1099 if I sell my SRECs?
Is there sales tax on an SREC?

There is not a definitive ruling on this issue. We recommend you discuss the issue with your tax account and perhaps a tax lawyer.

Cap and Trade 101

What is Cap and Trade?

The goal: To steadily reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide in a cost-effective manner.

The cap: Each large-scale emitter, or company, will have a limit on the amount of green house gas that it can emit. The firm must have an “emissions permit” for every ton of carbon dioxide it releases into the atmosphere. These permits set an enforceable limit, or cap, on the amount of greenhouse gas pollution that the company is allowed to emit. Over time, the limits become stricter, allowing less and less pollution, until the ultimate reduction goal is met. This is similar to the cap and trade program enacted by the Clean Air Act of 1990, which reduced the sulfur emissions that cause acid rain, and it met the goals at a much lower cost than industry or government predicted.

The trade: It will be relatively cheaper or easier for some companies to reduce their emissions below their required limit than others. These more efficient companies, who emit less than their allowance, can sell their extra permits to companies that are not able to make reductions as easily.
This creates a system that guarantees a set level of overall reductions, while rewarding the most efficient companies and ensuring that the cap can be met at the lowest possible cost to the economy.

The profits: If the federal government auctions the emissions permits to the companies required to reduce their emissions, it would create a large and dependable revenue stream. These financial resources could be used to achieve critical public policy objectives related to climate change mitigation and economic development. The federal government can also choose to “grandfather” allowances to the polluting firms by handing them out free based on historic or
projected emissions. This would give the most benefits to those companies with higher baseline emissions that have historically done the least to reduce their pollution.

What Would a Successful Cap-and-Trade Program Look Like?

The goal: To limit the rise in global temperature to approximately 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by 2050 by reducing carbon dioxide and other emissions from companies as part of a larger plan for curbing global warming.

The cap: To achieve this goal, the U.S. government should steadily tighten the cap until emissions are reduced to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Businesses would have to obtain www. americanprogress.org JANUARY 2008 permits entitling them to emit a certain quantity of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases. All permits would be auctioned off by the government. Emissions permits in the near term would likely fall in the range of $10 to $15 per metric ton of
carbon dioxide or its equivalent.

The trade: Companies unable to meet their emissions quotas could purchase allowances
from other companies that have acquired more permits than they need to account for their emissions. The cost of buying and selling these credits would be determined by the marketplace, which over time would reduce the cost of trading the credits as trading becomes more widespread and efficient.

The profits: Initial estimates by the Congressional Budget Office project that an economy-wide cap-and-trade program would generate at least $50 billion per year, but could reach up to $300 billion. Approximately 10 percent of this revenue should be allocated to help offset costs to businesses and shareholders of affected industries. Of the remaining revenue, approximately half should be devoted to help
offset any energy price increases for low- and middle-income Americans that may occur as a result of the transition to more efficient energy sources. The other half of the remaining revenue should be used to invest in renewable energy, efficiency, low-carbon transportation technologies, green-collar job training, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Some resources should also be invested in the energy, developing nations to alleviate energy poverty with low-carbon energy systems and help these nations adapt to the inevitable effects of global warming. Revenues from the permit auction would essentially be “recycled” back
into the economy to facilitate the transition to an efficient, low-carbon energy economy and ensure that consumers are not unduly burdened by potentially higher energy costs.