GreenEnvironmentNews.com | Minnesota Environment News

E.P.A. Acknowledges Ohio Student’s Environmental Plan

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Chicago (May 24, 2012) - The E.P.A. acknowledged a Powell, Ohio, high school student's extraordinary efforts to divert thousands of pounds of electronic waste from landfills with the 2011 regional President's Environmental Youth Award. E.P.A. presented Sachin Rudraraju with the award on May 22 at the Solid Waste Agency of Central Ohio yearly awards recognition event in Columbus. The President's Environmental Youth Awards plan is an yearly contest sponsored by E.P.A. to honor creative ...

E.P.A. Awards $2 Million to Small Businesses

Tue, 22 May 2012 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A.'s (EPA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) plan recently awarded $2 million to 25 companies in support of technology development toward sustainable solutions for the environment. The SBIR plan is part of EPA's Technology Innovation for Environmental and Economic Progress: An E.P.A. Roadmap, which focuses on linking research and development, policy and finance. "Small businesses play an essential role in our communities and economic growth," sai...

National "Documerica" Environmental Photo Exhibit Comes to National Archives at ...

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Environmental News NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY (Kansas City, Kan., May 15, 2012) - The National Archives at Kansas City, in cooperation with E.P.A. Region 7, will open EPA's "Documerica" exhibit of photographs depicting environmental conditions of the past and present beginning May 16, 2012. The display's visit to Kansas City is the 7th stop in a national tour and will be open through May 31, 2012. From its development in 1971, "Documerica" became the United...

Inhofe Welcomes Introduction of Bipartisan House Legislation to Stop EPA's Overreach

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797 Katie Brown Katie_Brown@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-2160 Inhofe Welcomes Introduction of Bipartisan House Legislation to Stop EPA's Overreach

U.S. Wind Industry Grew 31% in 2011 over Previous Year: Report

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

The U.S. wind industry installed 6,816 megawatts (MW) of energy in 2011, a 31% gain over 2010, according to a report released April twelve by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The U.S. wind industry's trade association reported a total of 46,916 MW installed in the U.S. last year. The report noted that in excess of 8,300 MW are under construction. 5 states received in excess of 10% of their electricity from wind in 2011, with South Dakota leading the way with 22.3%. I...

NOAA's National Weather Service declares Coors Field StormReady�

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

A storm rolls into Coors Field in Denver, Colo. (Credit: Rich Clarkson and Assoc.) Fans of Colorado Rockies baseball can feel safer when severe thunderstorms threaten Coors Field now that the park has earned designation as a National Weather Service StormReady� Supporter. Coors ...

D.O.E. Awards In excess of $5 Million to Reduce Cost of Advanced Fuel Cells

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

D.O.E. announced on March 29 the investment of $5 million to 2 companies for supporting research into reducing the cost of advanced fuel cells. The department awarded $3 million to 3M Company in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and $2 million to Eaton Corporation in Southfield, Michigan. The 3-year plans will focus on boosting the performance of fuel cell systems for vehicles and stationary applications while driving down costs. Both plans will seek to lower the cost of advanced fuel cell...

Obama Administration Declares Great Lakes Wind Plans Arrangement

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0100

The Obama Administration joined the governors of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania on March 30 to declare the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) streamlining offshore wind development in the Great Lakes. DOE, the U.S. Departments of Defense, the Army, the Coast Guard, the E.P.A., and the White House Council on Environmental Quality, are among the signatories. The MOU will enhance collaboration between federal and state agencies to speed review...

Minnesota Company 3M Awarded $3 Million by Energy Department to Reduce Cost of Advanced Fuel Cells

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0100

In support of the Obama Administration's all-of-the-above approach to American energy, the Energy Department today announced the investment of $3 million to 3M Company in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to lower the cost of advanced fuel cell systems by developing cost-effective, durable, and highly efficient fuel cell components. The 3-year plan will focus on boosting the performance of fuel cell systems for vehicles and stationary applications while driving down costs. These investments are a par...

Gunderson Health System Completes 5-MW Wind Plan

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Juhl Wind announced the official start-up and operation of the two-turbine, 4.95 megawatt (MW) GL Wind plan for Gunderson Health System in Winona County, Minnesota. The GL Wind plan was developed specifically to address the energy demands of the Gunderson Health System. The GL Wind plan is part of Gunderson Health's Envision program, which looks for to develop a portfolio of ...

Administrator Jackson, Secretary Vilsack Sign Historic Arrangement With State of Minnesota to ...

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

Saint PAUL, Minn. (Jan, 17, 2012) - U.S. E.P.A. Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that E.P.A. and U.S.D.A. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state of Minnesota to develop a new state plan for farmers designed to increase the voluntary adoption of conservation practices that protect local rivers, streams and other waters by reducing fertilizer run-off and soil erosion. Through this partnership, producers who undertake a...

E.P.A. DECLARES 2011 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GRANTS

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0100

(CHICAGO - Jan. 3, 2012) The E.P.A. announced 4 environmental justice grants totaling $100,000 to non-profit and tribal organizations in the Great Lakes region. These grants for plans in Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin will help to conduct research, provide education and develop solutions to health and environmental issues in communities overburdened by pollution. Environmental justice is the principle of achieving the same degree of protection from environmental a...

Energy Department Declares Major Recovery Act Milestone: 600,000 Homes Weatherized 3 Months ...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0100

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that states and territories across the nation have reached the goal of weatherizing in excess of 600,000 low-income homes- including in excess of 125,000 multi-family homes like apartment buildings - in excess of 3 months ahead of schedule. The Department reached this major milestone as part of its efforts to save energy and reduce home utility bills for families, while creating jobs in communities throughout the country....

E.P.A. Awards 6 Environmental Justice Grants in the Southeast / Also declares solicitation for ...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0100

ATLANTA - The E.P.A. (EPA) announced it awarded in excess of $1 million in grants to 46 non-profit and tribal organizations working to address environmental justice issues nationwide. 6 of those 46 were awarded organizations in the Southeast. Organizations receiving grants in the Southeast include: Mobile Bay Keeper Incorporated (Mobile, AL) will train property owners, business owners, and others who live and work along Alabama's 670 miles of tidally inf...

E.P.A. ENFORCEMENT CUTS 300 MILLION POUNDS OF POLLUTION IN GREAT LAKES REGION

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0100

E.P.A. ENFORCEMENT CUTS 300 MILLION POUNDS OF POLLUTION IN GREAT LAKES REGION (CHICAGO - Dec. 8, 2011) The E.P.A. today released its yearly enforcement and compliance results. Nationwide, E.P.A. enforcement actions eliminated in excess of 1.8 billion pounds of harmful pollution during the past year, including 300 million pounds of pollution in the Great Lakes region. EPA's enforcement and compliance plan protects human health and improves the quality of the nation's a...

E.P.A. Awards In excess of $1 Million in Environmental Justice Grants to Protect ...

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) announced it awarded in excess of $1 million in grants to 46 non-profit and tribal organizations working to address environmental justice issues nationwide. E.P.A. also announced it is seeking applicants for $1 million in environmental justice small grants expected to be awarded in 2012. EPA's environmental justice efforts aim to ensure equal environmental and health protections for all Americans, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The grants en...

NOAA: October warmer than average in the U.S.

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0100

October 2011 temperature "divisional rank" maps. High resolution...

E.P.A. delivers final report on air toxics monitoring near Whitwell Elementary School

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0100

For Immediate Release No. 11-OPA107 Chicago (Nov. 8, 2011) - The E.P.A. announced today that the report on air toxics monitoring at 4 schools in the Tri-State area, including Whitwell Elementary in Ironton, Ohio, has been posted on the agency's website. The other monitored schools include Charles Russell Elementary, Crabbe School and Hatcher School in Ashland, Kentucky. Based on the monitoring results, E.P.A. found no concern for health problems from exposure to arseni...

Solar for Saint Paul

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0100

Recently in Saint Paul, Minnesota, I had the opportunity to see another example of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is helping state and local governments across America meet their goals to save money, reduce pollution, and create new jobs and new business opportunities. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, U.S. Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Xcel Energy Regional Vice President Laura McCarten, and I witnessed the unveiling of a new 82-kilowatt solar photov...

University of Minnesota Commissions DOE-Backed Wind Energy Station

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0100

D.O.E. celebrated on October 25 the commissioning of a 2.5-megawatt wind turbine at the University of Minnesota's Eolos Wind Energy Research Station. The research station, located 25 miles southeast of the Twin Cities, features a Clipper Liberty wind turbine. The installation, supported by DOE, will allow researchers to conduct tests that could enhance wind turbine efficiency. It will also help train the next generation of wind industry technicians and engineers. The University ...