Author Archives: LastBestPlace
Stark County, ND: Tough on Solar, Lenient on Coal?
Beth Hurt of South Heart wrote this letter to the editor of the Dickinson Press recently to point out the inconsistency of recent Stark County (ND) Commission decisions on rezoning for expansion of Solar Bee, which manufactures “award-winning and patented … Continue reading
Presidential Climate Action Project: Obama Must Act Now
Barack Obama’s legacy as president will largely be determined in the next two years by what he does – or does not do – to address global climate change. That’s the conclusion of the Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP), a … Continue reading
Plains Justice Joins Lawsuit for Clean Air Act Implementation in National Parks
Our coalition, led by the National Parks Conservation Association, released this statement today. (WASHINGTON, DC) — Today, a coalition of clear air advocates is acting to compel the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), and … Continue reading
Powering the World on 100% Renewables
National Geographic looks at what would be necessary for an all-renewable energy future, and finds that it’s not as far away as you might think. Take for example the complementarity of wind and solar energy. When the wind isn’t blowing … Continue reading
Art and the Environment Exhibit @ UNI
Longtime Plains Justice friend and supporter Margaret Whiting of Cedar Falls, Iowa, will give a talk titled “Art as a Medium for Environmental Awareness” next Tuesday, January 18, at 7 PM at the University of Northern Iowa Art Gallery auditorium. She … Continue reading
Keystone Pipeline System … and China
Investigative reporter Vince Wade puts the pieces together about the dubious Keystone XL proposal and the growing oil thirst of the People’s Republic of China. Fascinating stuff. Wade notes that the Chinese are investing in the tar sands, but Canadians … Continue reading
CO2 Capture Field Leaking in Saskatchewan?
The Winnipeg Free Press reports that the carbon dioxide injected in Saskatchewan’s Weyburn oil field may be leaking, killing farm animals and making farm soil “fizz.” The Weyburn CO2 injection is the world’s largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, … Continue reading
South Heart Coal-to-Hydrogen Plant Letter of Intent
Update! It turns out that South Heart Energy Development LLC (SHED) filed its PSC letter of intent for a coal-to-hydrogen plant at South Heart on Dec. 13, 2010 (filestamped December 16, 2010). The letter notifies the ND Public Service Commission … Continue reading
South Heart (ND) Mine: Bait and Switch?
Published in the Dickinson Press on Dec. 21 (although not available online): Subject: LTE: Commissioners should clarify mine rezone decision In reading the recent article about Great Northern Power Development’s mining permit being returned as deficient, I noticed there was … Continue reading
Congressional Natural Gas Caucus to Salazar: Back Off on Fracking Regs
According to The Hill, 32 lawmakers have written to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar urging his department to hold off on regulation of hydraulic fracturing until more safety studies can be done. EPA is currently studying fracking impacts in response to … Continue reading
