When last we wrote about the notorious “Monsanto rider” tucked into the last big federal budget bill, it appeared to have attached itself magically to the legislation. No one stood up and claimed ownership. But of course someone originated the insidious rider, which gives Monsanto carte blanche to plant, even in the face of federal lawsuits.
Tags: · BarbaraKesslerBlog, Food & Water Watch, Food Democracy, foods, GE, GMO, Missouri, money in politics, Monsanto rider, Organic Consumers Association, Sen. Roy Blunt
From Green Right Now Reports:
Eight Midwestern states have agreed to work toward the common goal of developing high speed rail in the Midwest, and hope to access $8 billion in earmarked federal dollars to fund the new services.
Governors from those states — Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin — signed an agreement on Monday, saying they support each other in seeking federal dollars to build a high speed rail network. The hub of the network would be in the Windy City, and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley along with five of the governors attended the Midwest High Speed Rail Summit to solidify the agreement.
Chicago already serves as a hub for Amtrak and many freight lines. The new plan would bring high speed rail into the mix, which advocates say could transform and green transportation in the the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
Tags: · Association of American Railroads, Chicago, greener travel, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Midwest High Speed Rail Association, Midwest High SPeed Rail Summit, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin
From Green Right Now Reports
The solar energy sector enjoyed record growth last year, according to a new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association.
The 2008 U.S. Solar Industry Year in Review notes that 1,265 megawatts of solar power of all types were installed in 2008, increasing total U.S. solar power capacity by 17 percent to 8,775 megawatts. That increase 342 megawatts of solar photovoltaic power, 139 thermal equivalent of solar water heating, 762 thermal equivalent of pool heating and an estimated 21 megawatts of solar space heating and cooling.
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Tags: · California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Rhone Resch, Solar Energy, Solar Energy Industries Association
Here is the Natural Resources Defense Council’s list of the 15 states that would be the biggest polluters — the “Filthy 15” — based on their total of 54 planned coal plants that create nearly 14 million tons of dangerous waste (state; number of proposed plants; estimated coal ash waste in tons):
Tags: · Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Natural Resources Defense Council, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Barbara Kessler
Andrew Winston
Danielle Nierenberg
Anthony Swift