Ecommunity News

London Activates 10 Low Carbon Zones

Article: London Activates 10 Low Carbon Zones

Low Carbon Zones across London sprang to life this week to help residents, schools and businesses go green, save money and create job opportunities at the same time. The Mayor of London awarded each of the 10 zones a share of three million pounds to fund the program that aims to cut city’s carbon dioxide emissions 20.12 percent by 2012.

Desert Nesting Bald Eagles May Lose Federal Protection

Article: Desert Nesting Bald Eagles May Lose Federal Protection

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving to drop Endangered Species Act protection for Arizona’s desert nesting bald eagles. Only 48 breeding pairs survive, clinging to their hot, dry habitat in the Sonoran Desert along the Southwest’s desert rivers.

PlanetSolar Unveils World's Largest Solar Boat

Article: PlanetSolar Unveils World's Largest Solar Boat

The world’s largest solar boat, PlanetSolar, was unveiled at the HDW Shipyard in Kiel on Thursday. The multi-hull vessel, powered solely by an array of photovoltaic solar panels, was constructed by the Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel.

42 Tribal Wildlife Grants Awarded in 16 States

Article: 42 Tribal Wildlife Grants Awarded in 16 States

The Hopi Tribe will conduct an assessment of golden eagles in Arizona, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians will restore longleaf pine habitat in Alabama, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe will develop a Tribal Wildlife Management Plan for their reservation in New York, and in Washington state the Jamestown S’Kllalm Tribe will work towards restoring the Dungeness Elk Herd to its historic range.

Contagious Hybrid Bird Flu-Human Flu Created in Lab

Article: Contagious Hybrid Bird Flu-Human Flu Created in Lab

Genetic interactions between avian influenza and human seasonal influenza viruses have the potential to create hybrid strains that combine the virulence of bird flu with the ability to spread like a pandemic, new research has found.

Utah Governor Turns Back Two Uranium Trains

Article: Utah Governor Turns Back Two Uranium Trains

Planned shipments of depleted uranium from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River nuclear materials processing center in South Carolina, will not be shipped to Utah under an agreement negotiated Monday by Utah Governor Gary Herbert.

Climate Science Controversy Flares in EPA Budget Hearing

Article: Climate Science Controversy Flares in EPA Budget Hearing

U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s appearance today before a Senate Committee to justify the agency’s $10 billion FY 2011 budget became a showcase for the split in the Senate over climate change and clean energy that has to date prevented approval of a climate bill. The House of Representatives passed a climate bill in June 2009.

Coal State Senators Battle EPA to Control Greenhouse Gases

Article: Coal State Senators Battle EPA to Control Greenhouse Gases

Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, led a group of coal state senators in sending a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Friday challenging the agency’s potential regulation of greenhouse gases from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act.

Obama Backs First New U.S. Nuclear Plant with $8.3 Billion

Article: Obama Backs First New U.S. Nuclear Plant with $8.3 Billion

President Barack Obama today announced that his administration is offering conditional commitments for a total of $8.33 billion in loan guarantees for the construction and operation of the first U.S. nuclear power plant to break ground in nearly three decades.

Third-hand Tobacco Smoke Causes Cancer, Study Shows

Article: Third-hand Tobacco Smoke Causes Cancer, Study Shows

That stale cigarette smoke smell in hotel rooms and bars is more than annoying – it could be hazardous to your health, according to new research from a team led by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Infants and toddlers are at greatest risk, the study reveals.

American Pika Denied Endangered Species Protection

Article: American Pika Denied Endangered Species Protection

The American pika does not meet the criteria for protection under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday after completing a review of the species’ status and evaluating current and future threats to the small, mountain-dwelling mammal.

Obama Announces $8 Billion for High-Speed Rail Nationwide

Article: Obama Announces $8 Billion for High-Speed Rail Nationwide

President Barack Obama will announce today that the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding $8 billion in economic stimulus funding to states to develop America’s first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service. The announcement covers federal government investments in 13 rail corridors and rail projects in 31 states.