LOS ANGELES, California, March 19, 2009 (ENS) – In observance of World Water Day on March 22, hundreds of students from Los Angeles schools will join activists and concerned residents for a community March for Water to increase public awareness of the water crisis in California and around the world.

The march begins at LA State Historic Park on Baker Street in Los Angeles and ends three miles later at Rio de Los Angeles State Park on San Fernando Road.

A coalition of community-based organizations and environmental justice groups organized the march, including Urban Semillas, Anahuak Youth Sports Association, Green LA Coalition, Food and Water Watch, Southern California Watershed Alliance, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, the Sierra Club and Heal the Bay.

A woman carries two water jugs on her head in the village of Maholi, Madhya Pradesh, India. (Photo by dct-pix)

Organizers say the march is three miles long, because that is the average distance that millions of people worldwide walk every day to fetch water and carry it back home. In an act of symbolic solidarity, many marchers will carry water jugs on their heads.

Students from two area high schools, two community colleges and five elementary schools will carry banners representing their schools and expressing their feelings about water.

World Water Day is an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the plight of the more than one billion people worldwide who lack access to clean, safe drinking water. World Water Day was designated in 1992 by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly.

The United Nations estimates that if current trends continue, within 15 years, half of the world’s population is likely to face water shortages. Even relatively prosperous California is facing a crisis of water sustainability.

In Los Angeles, coalition organizers are trying to raise public awareness of the tough realities of a world where water is scarce. The average person in the developing world uses 2.64 gallons of water a day, they point out, while the average person in the United States uses between 100 and 175 gallons every day at home.

An estimated 25 percent of people from cities in developing countries purchase their water from vendors at a significantly higher price than piped water. In some cases, at the cost of more than a quarter of their household incomes.

Marchers will draw attention to water’s importance for the planet and the local environment, and urge Los Angeles residents to take action to stop the waste, abuse and mismanagement of water resources.

“It’s inspiring to see so many wanting to take action and willing to learn more about our current water crisis.” said Miguel Luna, one of the March Coalition members. “With our water future in such uncertainty, it is uplifting to see the youth ensuring participation on the issues of water, land management and ecological rehabilitation.”

The march culminates in a water fair, with live music, food and information about ways to take action.

The event is endorsed by the Office of the Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Councilmember Ed Reyes, Assemblymember Kevin De Leon and State Senator Alex Padilla.

Land once underwater is exposed as Lake Shasta in northern California dries up. November 11, 2008. (Photo by Andi Hazelwood)

“California is in the midst of a crisis that threatens to cripple our economy and quality of life,” said Lester Snow, director of the California Department of Water Resources. “In this third dry year, Californians must step up water conservation efforts, and we must utilize water transfers to alleviate impacts. Yet another dry year also points to the need for long term investment in our state’s water management infrastructure.”

Late winter storms increased snowpack to near 90 percent of normal, but Snow says water storage in the state’s major reservoirs and runoff projections remain well below average.

On February 27, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency and ordered a range of actions to manage the drought crisis. The Governor urged Californians to prepare for worsening drought and requested that all urban users reduce their water use by 20 percent.

On Sunday, activities across the country and around the world will focus on supplying clean, easily accessible water to those in need.

In San Diego, the Thirsty for Change Benefit Jam Presented by UNICEF’s Tap Project and mywaterfuture.com is happening at The Belly Up, featuring Timmy Curran, Alex Woodard, and Astra Kelly. Show time 4 pm. Located in Solana Beach, The Belly Up was voted San Diego’s Best Live Music Venue.

In Seattle, a World Water Day Walk will take place on Alki Beach from 10 am to raise awareness about world water issues.

In New York City, UNICEF will host the NYC Tap Project Water Walk on March 22, a one-mile walk for young people and their families, schools and communities to help raise awareness and support for children worldwide who suffer from a lack of clean water. Participants will carry up to one gallon of water in a gesture of solidarity with those who must collect and carry water daily.

Global events include a Team Blue 6K Walk for Water Day sponsored by the Blue Planet Run Foundation. The foundation funds water projects such as rainwater harvesting, bore holes and hand pumps through its Peer Water Exchange.

For a complete worldwide list of World Water Day events with contact details, click here.

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NEW YORK, New York, February 18, 2009 (ENS) – As a low-lying coastal city, New York will face higher temperatures and more rapidly rising sea levels, as well as more frequent and intense extreme weather events – like heat waves, heavy rainstorms, and coastal flooding – over the course of the century as a result of global warming, according to a new report released Tuesday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The climate change projections specific to New York City were developed by the New York City Panel on Climate Change, made up climate change scientists, academics, and private sector practitioners convened by the mayor and funded by a $350,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.

“The climate change projections developed by our expert panel put numbers to what we already know – climate change is real and could have serious consequences for New York if we don’t take action,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

The report will be used to inform the actions of the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, which includes 38 city, state, and federal agencies, regional public authorities, and private companies that operate, maintain and regulate critical infrastructure in New York City.

“The projections developed by the NPCC will be used by our Adaptation Task Force to create a plan to protect the city’s critical infrastructure and will inform other city efforts to adapt to climate change,” said the mayor.

“Planning for climate change today is less expensive than rebuilding an entire network after a catastrophe,” he said. “We cannot wait until after our infrastructure has been compromised to begin to plan for the effects of climate change now.”

Spring comes to Manhattan’s East River walk, which could be flooded by rising sea levels. (Photo by Scott Moulaison)

The report was released at the Department of Environmental Protection’s Rockaway Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is preparing for the effects of climate change by raising electrical equipment, such as pump motors, circuit breakers, and controls, to higher elevations.

“There is a growing recognition of the need for adaptation to climate change in urban areas, and this initiative of Mayor Bloomberg’s puts New York City in the forefront of this global effort,” said Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies/ Columbia University Earth Institute and co-chair of the New York City Panel on Climate Change.

“In the coming decades, our coastal city will most likely face more rapidly rising sea levels and warmer temperatures, as well as potentially more droughts and floods, which will all have impacts on New York City’s critical infrastructure,” said Dr. William Solecki of the CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities at Hunter College and co-chair of the NPCC. “Taking steps now to adapt to these impacts will reduce their potential consequences in the future.”

Using global climate models and local information, the New York City Panel on Climate Change projects that by the end of the century New York City’s mean annual temperatures projected to increase by 4 to 7.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

The total number of days with a maximum temperature over 90 or 100 degrees Fahrenheit, is expected to increase as the 21st century progresses. The frequency and duration of heat waves, defined as three or more consecutive days with maximum temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, are also expected to increase. In contrast, the number of days per year with minimum temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, are expected to become rarer.

Annual precipitation is also projected to increase by five to 10 percent, and sea levels are projected to rise by 12 to 23 inches.

Recent evidence, however, including accelerated ice melt in Greenland and Antarctica, suggests that sea levels could rise at a faster rate than projected by the existing models – potentially to 41 to 55 inches by the end of the century.

While this “rapid ice-melt” scenario does not have the same level of confidence associated with it as those developed by the global climate models, the New York City Panel on Climate Change included it in their projections given the large impact it would have on the city should it occur.

While the focus of the panel’s work is New York City, the climate change projections it developed are generally applicable for the greater New York City metropolitan region.

Click here [www.nyc.gov] to download the New York City Panel on Climate Change report.

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NEW YORK, New York, February 2, 2009 (ENS) – It’s hard to image standing in midtown Manhattan, but wetlands do exist within New York City, and they both protect the city and need protection themselves, according to a report released Friday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“Many New Yorkers don’t realize there are thousands of acres of wetlands in the five boroughs,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Wetlands are robust ecosystems that perform crucial environmental functions like trapping pollutants, capturing stormwater runoff, sequestering carbon dioxide, and moderating storm surges.”

Today, the city has only one percent of its historic freshwater wetlands and 10 percent of its historic tidal wetlands.

These tidal remaining wetlands are concentrated in Brooklyn around Jamaica Bay, in Queens, and in Staten Island, which also has freshwater wetlands.

Freshwater wetlands smaller than 12.4 acres are not protected by state law and are vulnerable to determinations that they are outside of the scope of federal protection.

The new report shows that the extent of these smaller wetlands in New York City is not fully known.

To gather more information on the smaller freshwater wetlands, the report recommends developing new high-resolution aerial and satellite wetland maps to precisely determine the size and location of unprotected wetlands before pursuing other options outlined in the report. This mapping is scheduled to start later this year.

“In PlaNYC, we promised to study wetlands and build on wetland successes like the impressive Staten Island Bluebelt stormwater project managed by the Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the thousands of acres of wetlands managed by the Parks Department,” said the mayor.

A man-made extended detention basin in the Staten Island Bluebelt after one growing season (Photo courtesy New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection)

The Staten Island Bluebelt is an award winning, ecologically sound and cost-effective stormwater management for about one third of Staten Island’s land area. The program preserves natural drainage corridors, including streams, ponds, and other wetland areas, saving tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure costs when compared to providing conventional storm sewers for the same land area.

“The critical role that wetlands play in the Staten Island Bluebelt system demonstrates the ability of wetlands to improve water quality by removing nutrients, waste, and sediment from stormwater runoff,” the report states.

The study also identifies threats to wetlands that are not from a lack of regulatory protection, but rather from the existing polluted or degraded condition of wetlands that may have been caused by rising sea levels and stormwater runoff.

In addition, submerged lands policy will be more important as sea levels rise in response to climate change. While open waters are subject to extensive state and federal regulatory protections, the city lacks a comprehensive submerged lands management policy.

To address these threats, the city’s Climate Adaptation Task Force will release a report on policies for the adaptation of wetlands and other critical infrastructure later this year.

The city is also exploring alternative funding, mitigation banking and other mechanisms for improved restoration and maintenance of wetlands.

New York City and other municipalities in the state can request that the state designate any remaining wetlands below 12.4 acres to be of “unusual local importance” and thus within state protection.

Recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court have weakened the protection of “isolated” wetlands. As a result, the report suggests that the city conduct a thorough study of the hydrological and ecological connection between wetlands and U.S. navigable waters that are clearly covered by the Clean Water Act, to bring those areas more clearly within the jurisdiction of federal regulators.

The city could impose zoning overlay districts on private wetlands or buffer areas or both, and possibly extend that protection to near shore and other underwater lands.

The report suggests that the city could create a local wetland regulatory permitting scheme that would protect smaller freshwater wetlands below 12.4 acres, or buffer areas, or both.

Finally, the report suggests that the city could allocate more resources to the restoration or management of city-owned wetlands and acquire more privately-owned wetlands.

Click here [www.nyc.gov] to view the report, which fulfills one of the 127 commitments in Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC.

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TRENTON, New Jersey, December 18, 2008 (ENS) – New Jersey environmental officials have released a proposal to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Mauriello has invited the public to comment on the recommendations outlined in a draft report published on the state’s Global Warming website.

“While this plan is still in draft form, it lays out an ambitious vision for New Jersey and what we must do to reduce greenhouse gases for the next 40 years,” said Governor Jon Corzine.

“This draft report outlines a New Jersey where employees commute without the frustration of traffic and the air pollution it causes, where energy is clean, and where waste is a thing of the past,” the governor said. “Such ambitions are the future of our environment and our economy.”

New Jersey’s B.L. England power plant operated
by Rockland Capital Energy Investments burns
coal and oil. (Photo by Curt Bergesen)

The state will host six meetings in January to solicit input on the plan. The draft report is a key requirement of the Global Warming Response Act, signed by Governor Corzine on July 6, 2007, that calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, followed by a further reduction of emissions to 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050.

The draft report outlines the necessary implementation steps that New Jersey must take over the next 18 months in order to meet the statewide 2020 limit, and put the state on the right path for achieving the statewide 2050 limit.

The plan reinforces three of the state’s core environmental programs that are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from New Jersey’s largest contributors – the transportation and energy sectors.

The Energy Master Plan establishes the framework for reducing New Jersey’s energy demands through incentives that encourage investment in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

The state’s Low Emission Vehicle, which becomes effective on January 1, 2009, will achieve twice the reduction in greenhouse gases as the Federal clean car standards.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a 10-state northeastern and mid-Atlantic initiative, is reducing carbon output from power plants in the region through a cap-and-trade market-based approach. New Jersey is participating in RGGI’s second carbon auction that took place on Wednesday.

The plan also provides supporting recommendations that include legislative and regulatory actions, as well as additional market-based initiatives that encourage investment in innovative environmentally-friendly technologies.

The draft report and a list of dates and times for the public meetings are listed on the state’s global warming website at: www.nj.gov/globalwarming.

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TALLAHASSEE, Florida, November 20, 2008 (ENS) – Governor Charlie Crist and Cabinet today approved the purchase of 54.74 acres of land bordering the Natural Bridge Historic State Park in Leon County about 10 miles south of Tallahassee.

This Florida Forever purchase protects Natural Bridge Springs – one of Florida’s 33 First Magnitude Springs – those that discharge more than 100 cubic feet of water per second.

“This important purchase is a part of the Florida First Magnitude Springs project and one of the top projects on the Florida Forever priority list,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Secretary Bob Ballard.

Because of the thick, water-filled limestone underlying the state, Florida has more large springs than any other state or and more than any country in the world.

The 33 recognized springs in Florida are scattered across the northern peninsula and the eastern panhandle where the limestones of the Floridan Aquifer arch close to the surface. Each day, much more water flows from these 33 springs than is used for drinking by all the people in the state.

By preserving land around springs, the Florida First Magnitude Springs project will protect them – and protect the Floridan Aquifer. The major issues impacting the health of the springs include population growth, urban sprawl, growing demand for groundwater and introduction of fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants to the springsheds.
Natural Bridge Spring near Tallahassee, Florida (Photo credit unknown)
This purchase brings the Florida First Magnitude Springs project closer to completion, with 7,844 acres of the 14,081 acre project remaining, Ballard said.

“This acquisition ensures that the geological, historical and cultural integrity of this property and the surrounding water resources are preserved for Floridians and visitors from all over the world to enjoy for years to come,” he said.

By preserving the surrounding land, this project will preserve the area’s geological significance.

The newly acquired property contains many karst features such as sink holes, natural bridges, karst windows and submerged cave systems. On this property, the St. Marks River drops into a sink hole and flows underground for a quarter-mile before reemerging.

The spring rises from a point about 30 feet beneath the surface and flows along a winding limestone channel to a swallet 450 yards downstream. Just downstream of the spring vent, a small distributary meanders across a low cypress floodplain to join with the St. Marks River 400 yards above Natural Bridge. Aquatic plants are common in calmer areas along the spring run.

The adjacent state park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the site of Florida’s second largest Civil War battle.

Eventually, the property will be managed by DEP’s Division of Recreation and Parks as part of the Natural Bridge Historic State Park.

Originally established in 1999, the 10-year, $3 billion Florida Forever program is the largest land-buying initiative in the nation, conserving environmentally sensitive land, restoring water resources and preserving important cultural and historical sites.

More than two million acres throughout the state have been placed in public ownership under Florida Forever and its predecessor program, Preservation 2000.

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NEW YORK, New York, November 11, 2008 (ENS) – Diesel trucks spewing plumes of visible exhaust and idling too long in violation of New York air regulations are the targets of a new long-term enforcement strategy aimed at protecting public health.

Under the plan, Department of Environmental Conservation personnel will carry out regular but unannounced enforcement actions in places where heavy truck traffic enters or leaves a neighborhood, as well as in areas where diesel trucks tend to congregate.

At those hot spots, DEC will conduct pullover operations that target trucks emitting visible exhaust.

Each time a “smoking truck” enforcement action is set up, DEC people and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection will patrol the area for trucks and buses idling excessively.

In addition to implementing this plan in New York City, DEC plans to take similar enforcement actions in environmental justice neighborhoods elsewhere in the state.

“We owe it to ourselves and our children to make our cities livable. That means, at a minimum, the air we breathe should not make us sick,” said New York State Environment Commissioner Pete Grannis.

“Emissions from smoking and idling trucks and buses are a problem – especially in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution. DEC is committed to dealing with this issue,” said Grannis. “We intend to take aggressive enforcement actions wherever we find hot spots of smoking and idling trucks and buses.”

The initiative comes as a result of a successful city-state crackdown on truck and boiler pollution last year in East Harlem, a neighborhood with high asthma rates and heavy truck traffic.

Trucks and buses in Harlem were inspected
for air violations. (Photo by Dave Cook)

DEC law enforcement officers pulled over and inspected 361 diesel trucks and issued 163 tickets for violations of various state air and safety regulations. The officers also issued 10 tickets for excessive idling.

The New York City DEP issued 33 tickets for idling trucks and 11 tickets for boilers that violated city codes.

Based on that East Harlem experience, DEC estimates that close to 20 percent of the trucks traveling the area are out of compliance with state air regulations.

With transportation studies showing there are about 10,000 truck trips daily through East Harlem, that means that there could be nearly 2,000 trucks emitting illegal levels of pollutants every work day in the area.

“Aggressive enforcement is an important tool that can reduce asthma rates, improve air quality in East Harlem, and cut health-related hospitalization costs,” said Peggy Shepard, executive director of WE ACT For Environmental Justice. “Though environmental enforcement has been lacking in lower-income communities, we appreciate that the state is maintaining this important initiative.”

A key feature of the program will involve empowering communities to identify idling hot spots in their neighborhoods. New Yorkers can call 311 and help identify the locations where enforcement personnel will find hot spots of smoking and idling trucks and buses.

“PlaNYC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s long-term sustainability plan, aims to give New York City the cleanest air of any city in America by reducing the harmful pollutants that decrease lung function and aggravate asthma and reducing emissions from vehicles is an important strategy of this plan,” said DEP Acting Commissioner Steven Lawitts.

“There’s little, if any, doubt that improving our air quality will help prevent asthma attacks in New York City’s most affected communities,” Lawitts said. “That’s why we are committed to working with our state partners in enforcing emissions standards.”

“Our goal is to identify and target hot spots where vehicles and diesel trucks tend to idle and congregate. So,Together with local agencies, advocacy groups and the public, we will continue to reduce air pollution and to protect our children and communities.”

“We can solve New York City’s diesel pollution problem,” said Richard Kassel, NRDC Senior Attorney. “Enforcing the anti-pollution laws already on the books is a smart way to clean up our air and help children with asthma breathe easier.”

“New York City has some of the highest asthma rates in the nation, particularly in communities affected by pollution,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. “Through increased, sustained enforcement of regulations against smoking and idling trucks we take a significant step forward in the fight against asthma.”

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TALLAHASSEE, Florida, October 20, 2008 (ENS) – As early voting begins in Florida for the November 4 general election, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is encouraging candidates for political office and citizens to recycle campaign signs at the end of the election process. Recycling paper materials like campaign signs keeps waste out of landfills and allows for the reuse of materials.

Recycling campaign signs is one way citizens can help Florida achieve its new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent by the year 2020, which was passed into law earlier this year.

The Florida Energy, Climate Change, and Economic Security Act of 2008 directs the DEP to develop a program designed to achieve the 75 percent goal and submit it to the Legislature for approval by January 1, 2010.

DEP is encouraging the public to assist in developing this plan and has created a public forum where interested persons can share thoughts, suggestions and comments, as well as view the contributions of other participants.

“Achieving the new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent by 2020 will require innovative strategies by all Floridians,” said Mary Jean Yon, DEP’s director of waste management.

“Changing old habits – like recycling a political campaign sign instead of tossing it in the dumpster – is just one of many ideas to help reduce the waste stream and increase Florida’s recycling rate,” she said.

During an election year, campaign signs line the streets of Florida. Because many local governments have ordinances regarding the removal of campaign signs within a specific time after the election, campaign signs and materials can end up filling landfills around the state.

Campaign signs in a Florida
yard (Photo credit unknown)

Recycling campaign signs not only saves space at landfills, each ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water. Recycled paper also saves 60 percent energy in comparison to new paper and generates 95 percent less air pollution.

In 2006, the Florida DEP conducted a pilot program in four counties to encourage the reuse or recycling of campaign signs.

All projects incorporated radio, newspaper and public service announcements to promote and publicize the collection events.

Three of the four pilot projects established drop off locations for the county to collect the signs. The fourth project, conducted by Keep Pinellas Beautiful, contained a component where high school students would collect and dismantle the campaign signs. However, the local Code Enforcement department, because of its rules for disposition of removed signs, collected the signs before KPB or the students had a chance to pick them up. Code enforcement officials did agree to take the signs to KPB for dismantling and recycling.

“We have historically been able to recycle 100 percent of all campaign signs that we were able to obtain,” said Bill Sanders with Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Inc., who engaged local high school students to participate during the pilot program.

Charlotte County was also pleased with the participation and positive feedback received from citizens during the 2006 pilot program. “Brought back by popular demand, Charlotte County will be collecting campaign signs,” explained Barbara Kula, the county’s recycling coordinator.

Three tons of campaign signs were collected as a result of the 2006 pilot projects. Two of the counties that participated in the pilot program, Charlotte County and Pinellas County, are offering campaign sign recycling again to their residents this election year.

But the New River Solid Waste Association said that staff hours, equipment and funds would be better utilized in other recycling efforts that yield a higher volume and return, so they do not plan to continue campaign sign recycling in this and future elections.

DEP encourages candidates and citizens to check with their local recycling coordinator for recycling campaign signs options. To find out more about DEP’s campaign sign recycling pilot program, click here.

For more information on the new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent, and to share your comments on ways to achieve this goal and view comments from others on our web-based forum, visit www.dep.state.fl.us.

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NEWARK, New Jersey, October 15, 2008 (ENS) – Garden State Offshore Energy has won a $4 million grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to develop what will be the first offshore wind farm on the East Coast. It will be located southeast of Atlantic City, at least 16 miles off the coast.

Garden State, a joint venture of PSEG Renewable Generation and Deepwater Wind, plans to build a 345 megawatt offshore wind facility that is expected to generate more than one percent of the state’s electricity needs.

The wind farm would be able to power some 125,000 homes annually. It could begin generating energy in 2012 with the entire project operational in 2013.

“With this Board vote, New Jersey maintains its well-established role as a leader in the development of renewable energy,” said Jeanne Fox, president of the Board of Public Utilities.

“Offshore wind projects such as this one selected today will help New Jersey protect its environment, combat global warming and respond to rising energy costs,” she said.

Garden State’s proposal calls for 96 wind turbines arranged in a rectangular grid 16 to 20 miles off the coast of Cape May and Atlantic counties.

GSOE will employ a proprietary deep water foundation technology which enables wind turbines to be located in deep waters far from shore.

Turbine mounted on the type of deep
water foundation that will be used to
situate the wind farm at least 16 miles
offshore. (Photo courtesy GSOE)

At this distance, the wind farm would be barely visible from shore, addressing one of the major concerns of beach communities.

GSOE will receive 10 percent of the grant up front to offset a portion of the costs of the studies. The remainder will be received upon commercial operations.

Construction would begin in 2010 at the earliest after permitting and the baseline ecological study, currently being conducted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, are completed. That study is expected to be done some time next year.

“PSEG believes that to meet the challenges of climate change, we need to move forward in three areas – expanding energy efficiency and conservation, investing in renewables and planning for additional clean central station power,” said Ralph Izzo, chairman, CEO and president of PSEG Renewable Generation. “We believe that offshore energy has great potential to bring clean energy and jobs to New Jersey.”

An evaluation committee of state and federal officials reviewed the proposals over several months before selecting GSOE. The company was chosen from among five applicants who responded to a solicitation issued by the Board of Public Utilities in October 2007.

A report prepared for the Board of Public Utilities in September by Global Insight examined the potential costs and benefits of a wind facility located off the shore of New Jersey and concluded that an offshore wind facility would supply one percent of the state’s power and could improve the state’s image.

Encouraged by the new project and the study, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine announced his plan to triple the state’s goal for offshore wind power, aiming for 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2020.

“Our draft Energy Master Plan identified a goal of 1,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2020,” said Governor Corzine on October 6. “We listened closely to our stakeholders, considered current economic conditions and the dynamic state of offshore wind technology, and we knew we had to go a lot further.

“Today, I am announcing that we’re not just doubling our commitment, we’re tripling it. New Jersey will support and encourage the development of 3,000 megawatts of wind power off its coast by 2020, which will be 13 percent of its total electricity. And we will get to 1,000 megawatts by 2012.”

With $15 million remaining in the funding that the Board of Public Utilities had allocated for offshore wind, Governor Corzine invited the other four bidders for this contract to work with New Jersey to develop their projects too. He called on the Board of Public Utilities and the Department of Environmental Protection to work with the Governor’s Office to find ways for these companies and others to be a part of New Jersey’s offshore wind development.

The governor encouraged these discussions to go beyond the $15 million allocation of funding from the state. He asked developers interested in fostering offshore wind in New Jersey to bring all ideas to the table to aid the state in creating an environment that will help this industry flourish, and bring green jobs to New Jersey.

“While I want to move forward quickly to harness offshore wind in New Jersey, I am committed to doing so in a responsible manner,” Governor Corzine pledged. “DEP will be charged with ensuring there are no unacceptable adverse impacts on the environment as a result of offshore wind.”

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WASHINGTON, DC, October 7, 2008 (ENS) – Heating costs this winter are expected to go through the roof, according to the federal Energy Information Agency, but residents can keep more of the warmth inside by inspecting home heating equipment now and by following simple, effective energy conservation measures,

Average household expenditures for all space-heating fuels are projected to be $1,137 this winter – October 1 to March 31 – a 15-percent increase over the estimated $986 spent last winter, the federal energy agency announced today.

The largest increases will be in households using heating oil and natural gas, according to the EIA’s Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook.

The projected increases reflect higher prices, although colder weather than last winter will also contribute to higher fuel use in many areas, the agency says.

Expensive fuel may be leaking away, creating health and safety dangers. Recent home energy audits conducted by the Philadelphia nonprofit Energy Coordinating Agency found virtually every home with natural gas heat it inspected had leaks – some homes had as many as eight.

“A typical Pennsylvania family spends more than $3,400 a year on utility bills, and the U.S. Energy Information Agency predicts residential heating costs will rise more than 30 percent in 2009,” said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary John Hanger.

“We can take easy steps to conserve energy and save money, he said. “This winter, many families will be facing difficult financial decisions due to high energy costs, but reducing their energy consumption can go a long way to provide a measure of relief.”

Households heating primarily with natural gas are expected to spend an average of $155, or about 18 percent, more this winter, the EIA says. Nationwide, about 52 percent of all households depend on natural gas as their main heating fuel.

Oil deliveries will be more expensive in
2008 than last year. (Photo credit unknown)

Households dependent on oil heat can expect to pay an average of $449, or 23 percent, more this winter. Only seven percent of U.S. households depend on heating oil for winter fuel.

In the Northeast, where 31 percent of households use heating oil as their primary space heating fuel, the average household is projected to pay 24 percent more than last winter as a result of an 18 percent increase in prices and a five percent increase in consumption, says the EIA.

Performing basic maintenance on heating and cooling systems and practicing energy conservation at home are some of the ways consumers can manage rising energy costs.

In homes heated with oil, a first step is to inspect indoor and outdoor heating oil tanks for potential defects before refilling.

“A quick, 10-minute visual inspection of the tank is important to identify potentially serious problems before they occur,” said Hanger. “A leaking tank or line can lead to a dangerous situation for a homeowner.”

Leaking heating oil could cause indoor air problems and potentially contaminate groundwater and private drinking water wells.

Hanger advises anyone who thinks an oil tank may have problems to immediately call an oil company for help. “Any maintenance or alterations to a heating oil tank system should be done by a professional,” he said.

The U.S. Energy Department’s Energy Efficiency Division suggests using “the whole-house approach.”

By combining equipment maintenance and upgrades with insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, people can cut energy use for heating and cooling, and reduce environmental emissions, from 20 to 50 percent, the agency says on its website.

A home energy audit can disclose where a home is losing heat and wasting energy. The audit report should prioritize work that needs to be done based on cost-effectiveness, the federal agency advises.

Common recommendations include sealing and insulating the house, usually starting with the attic; installing a programmable thermostat; and upgrading the heating system.

Old energy-hogging appliances can be replaced with high efficiency Energy Star equipment, and residents can switch to energy efficient lighting.

Warmth can be prevented from escaping through windows with storm windows and insulating curtains or shades. Residents can keep drapes and shades on south facing windows open during the day to let the sunlight in and closed at night to keep the cold out.

Tips on energy conservation and residential heating oil tanks inspections are available at www.depweb.state.pa.us by using the keywords Energy and Storage Tanks.

Information is also available at www.StayWarmPA.com, including conservation tips and resources for getting financial assistance with utility bills and home weatherization.

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TALLAHASSEE, Florida, September 30, 2008 (ENS) – After four years of legal battles, the Florida Supreme Court has ruled that beach nourishment does not infringe on the rights of property owners along the beaches of Destin in Walton County. Located along the panhandle in Northwest Florida, the county has 26 miles of white sandy beaches.

The Florida Supreme Court decided Monday that the state’s Beach and Shore Preservation Act is constitutional, a ruling that also will affect other Florida beaches with renourishment plans.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole said, “We are pleased with today’s opinion from the Florida Supreme Court which upholds the constitutionality of the Beach and Shore Preservation Act. The court’s opinion reflects that the Beach and Shore Preservation Act implements the state’s constitutional duty to protect Florida’s beaches, and achieves a reasonable balance between public and private interests in the shore.”

Beach nourishment is used to replace sand lost through erosion, usually as part of a coastal defense plan. A poorly designed or poorly executed beach nourishment project can result in a damaged ecosystem. Sea floor habitats can be damaged by dredging of eroded sand. In the case of Walton County, concerns were raised about the destruction of sea turtle nests by the dredging and replacement of sand.

If beach nourishment only occurs on the upper visible beach above the waterline, then the beach becomes unstable and the sand is quickly eroded again.

The beach at Destin, Florida
(Photo by Jennifer Lee)

Once a beach is nourished, it is often necessary to regularly renourish it since nourished beaches tend to erode faster than natural beaches.

Walton County began beach nourishment projects in 1995 over 6.9 miles of beach, but the projects were challenged by two groups, Save Our Beaches and Stop the Beach Renourishment Inc. They felt the state was placing renourishment sand on their property without their consent.

In January 2004 and February 2004, the two groups filed petitions for a formal administrative hearing challenging a notice of intent to issue a permit by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the beach renourishment. The petitions were consolidated for administrative hearing later that year.

Stop the Beach Renourishment also filed a petition challenging the erosion control line established by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, in conjunction with the proposed beach restoration project. The erosion control line established the line between state owned land below mean high water and privately owned land above mean high water.

In June 2005, the administrative hearing addressed whether the city of Destin and Walton County gave reasonable assurances that applicable water quality standards would not be violated.

The administrative law judge found that the city and county did give reasonable assurances that the water quality standard would not be violated, and recommended that the Department of Environmental Protection issue the permit.

In July 2005, the department issued the permit, but the petitioning groups appealed.

In April 2006, the First District Court of Appeals issued an opinion disagreeing with the department’s decision and siding with the petitioners. The appeals court stated that the permit and erosion control line were invalid and that a taking of riparian rights had occurred.

The First District Court of Appeal denied the Department of Environmental Protection’s motion for rehearing, but certified the case as “a question of great public importance” to the Florida Supreme Court.

In April 2007, the Florida Supreme Court accepted discretionary review of the district court’s decision, and the case was fully briefed, complete with oral argument.

On Monday, the Florida Supreme Court issued an opinion holding that the Beach and Shore Preservation Act achieves a reasonable balance between public and private interests.

Further, the court ruled that the Act does not unconstitutionally deprive upland owners of property rights without just compensation when the state is restoring beaches under the Act.

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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, September 3, 2008 (ENS) – Pennsylvanians will have a chance to provide input on how the commonwealth manages its water resources during a series of public meetings to be held across the state this month.

The Department of Environmental Protection, along with members of six regional water resources committees, will accept testimony on the draft state water plan that is being developed in accordance with the Water Resources Planning Act.

Developing the plan is the first step in analyzing problems and needs associated with specific water-related activities, such as stormwater management, flood control and navigation, state water officials say.

“This document will serve as a blueprint that guides sustainable water use throughout the commonwealth for the next 30 years,” said DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Management Cathy Curran Myers.

Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River (Photo
courtesy Lancaster County)

By the end of 2008, the Water Resources Planning Act requires the DEP to develop a new state water plan that includes inventories of water availability, an assessment of current and future water demands, an evaluation of resource management alternatives, and proposed methods of implementing recommended actions.

“Our water resources are important to our economy and our quality of life, so it’s essential that we have a plan in place that ensures that we are good stewards of these precious assets,” Myers said. “Once finalized, this plan will serve as a tool for everyone – for the public, for municipalities, and for businesses interested in creating jobs here.”

Each public meeting will be preceded by an open house from 5 pm to 6 pm to give people a chance to review displays and maps of the respective regions. From 6 pm to 7:30 pm, DEP staff and members of the respective regional committees will give presentations on the draft plan and conduct an informal discussion period. The department will begin accepting formal comments on the draft plan beginning at 7:30 pm

Anyone planning to testify should register in advance by contacting Karen Price at 717-783-9499 or by e-mailing kprice@state.pa.us.

A written copy of the testimony should be provided to department staff at the hearings. Written testimony also will be accepted through September 30 and may be sent to Leslie Sarvis, DEP Water Planning Office, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.

Each regional water resources committee will conduct a regular business meeting from 2:30 pm to 4 pm on the same date and location as the public meeting. The business meetings are open to the public.

The draft state water plan and agendas for each meeting are available through the Public Participation link at www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Participate.

Public meeting dates and locations:

* Sept. 8 – Ohio Regional Water Resources Committee meeting, Seven Fields Community Center, 380 Castle Creek Dr., Seven Fields, Butler County. For information, contact Lori Mohr, DEP Water Planning Office, 717-787-4628 or laumohr@state.pa.us.

* Sept 9 – Great Lakes Regional Water Resources Committee meeting, Erie County Conservation district, 1927 Wager Rd., Erie. For information, contact Lori Mohr, DEP Water Planning Office, 717-787-4628 or laumohr@state.pa.us.

* Sept. 11 – Delaware Regional Water Resources Committee meeting, Room 605 Fowler Family Southside Centre, Northampton Community College, 511 E. Third St., Bethlehem. For information, contact Leslie Sarvis, DEP Water Planning Office, 717-772-5634 or lsarvis@state.pa.us.

* Sept. 15 – Lower Susquehanna Regional Water Resources Committee meeting, Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, Cumberland County. For information, contact Leslie Sarvis, DEP Water Planning Office, 717-772-5634 or lsarvis@state.pa.us.

* Sept. 17 – Upper/Middle Susquehanna Region Water Resources meeting, Holiday Inn, 100 Pine St., Williamsport. For information, contact Lori Mohr, DEP Water Planning Office, 717-787-4628 or laumohr@state.pa.us.

* Sept. 18 – Potomac Regional Water Resources Committee meeting, Multi-Purpose Center, Penn State Mont Alto Campus, One Campus Dr., Mont Alto, Franklin County. For information, contact Leslie Sarvis, DEP Water Planning Office, 717-772-5634 or lsarvis@state.pa.us.

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