Terra Central

Energy, Policy, Water Quality

Pipelines Galore: The Keystone XL Controversy

Published by

John Freeland

on

December 18, 2011

The proposed Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL Pipeline has become a political football. The Republican-led House of Representatives insists the pipeline be “fast-tracked.” The Obama administration wants time to study alternative routes and make a final decision in 2013. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) generally has authority over interstate pipeline projects, however, given the pipeline crosses…
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Agriculture, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), Climate Change, Energy, Land Use, Policy, Research, Soil function and values, Soil’s Role in the Environment, Water Quality

Using Thermogravimetry for Carbon Accounting

Published by

John Freeland

on

November 28, 2011

Thermogravimetry-Derivative Thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) is a simple and inexpensive method to account for recent soil carbon sequestration. As such, it’s a good choice to be a standardized test in international carbon trading markets. More about TG/DTG shortly, but first, why is this important? Background Here in the United States, clearly, any federal…
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Land Use

A Mine is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Published by

John Freeland

on

November 20, 2011

Here in the United States, mine reclamation typically focuses on returning the site to some semblance of its former condition. Given enough time, money and effort, it can turn out pretty well. However, results are mixed and many old abandoned mine lands continue to cause problems. Elsewhere around the world,…
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Agriculture, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), Climate Change, Energy, Policy

Australia Passes a Carbon Tax

Published by

John Freeland

on

November 10, 2011

In a bold move, Australia has passed a carbon tax. The 500 largest polluters will pay $23 per tonne. Farmers can cash in by selling carbon offsets, presumably through ways including soil carbon sequestration. Obviously, the measure’s not popular with everyone. Australia mines and uses a lot of coal, even…
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Energy, Erosion and Sedimentation, Lakes, Land Use, Policy, Water Quality

Coal Ash in Lake Michigan

Published by

John Freeland

on

November 8, 2011

Last week saw a coal-ash landslide at the Oak Creek power plant near Milwaukee, and congressional action that would allow a car ferry to dump coal ash in Lake Michigan. Both incidents raise questions about regulatory and permitting processes. Full disclosure is in order here. To minimize bias, scientists are supposed to be disinterested…
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Climate Change, Policy, Research

BBC: Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Project Finds Earth is Warming

Published by

John Freeland

on

October 21, 2011

This is big. The Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Project was launched by skeptics and included funding from the Koch brothers in response to “Climategate.” That fiasco began with the hacking of the University of East Anglia climate researchers’ emails. Read more at the BBC.
Continue reading →: BBC: Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Project Finds Earth is Warming
Energy, Policy

Germany Shuts Seven Nuke Plants and Still Exports Electricity

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John Freeland

on

October 19, 2011

Ramping up renewables, Germany remains a net electricity exporter. Renewable energy advocates are keeping a close eye on the power situation in Germany, which, following the Fukushima disaster, made a bold commitment to eliminate nuclear reactor generation by 2022. Wind-works.org reports “(T)hough the bureau of statistics notes that the margin…
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Energy, Hydrology, Land Use, Policy, Rivers, Water Quality

The Top-Down Risk of Hydrofracturing

Published by

John Freeland

on

September 25, 2011

ExxonMobile commercials fail to address flowback fluids. ExxonMobile geologist Erik Oswald is becoming quite a media “star.” As a fellow geologist, I think this is great. Erik’s on-camara presence is warm, friendly, competent, and, most importantly, reassuring. I have no doubt that’s exactly how he is in real life. What…
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Energy, Land Use, Policy, Rivers, Water Quality

China’s Solar Factory Pollution Causes Riot

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John Freeland

on

September 19, 2011

One reason American solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers have had trouble staying profitable is price competition from China. China can build PVs cheaper because of reduced labor costs and lax environmental regulations. Local residents in Haining have apparently had enough, forcing a factory to shut down. AFP reports: China has ordered…
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Agriculture, Erosion and Sedimentation, Hydrology, Lakes, Land Use, Nutrient Management, Policy, Research, Rivers, Water Quality

Lake Erie Algae Bloom

Published by

John Freeland

on

September 12, 2011

This September 3, 2011 MODIS image of Lake Erie reveals a bright green algae plume concentrated in the western basin. The western basin of the lake is the shallowest part and receives discharge from the Maumee River, the largest river watershed in the Great Lakes with 6,354 square miles (16,460…
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