1) The electricity generation sector may have found a fresh new way to reduce their emissions and help the dirtier sources (coal) comply with increasing regulation pressure. The technology is known as Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) and it works by treating the post-combustion flue gas coming out of a given reactor. DSI sprays an aerosol into the emanating flue gas that attaches itself to mercury, HCl and other larger pollutants. After this, the DSI can be filtered out using a special type of filter. This process is up to three times more efficient than that of conventional filtration systems. Coupled with clean injection during the combustion process, the DSI system could yield incredible pollution reducing results. To read a quick article on the topic, check out: http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=5430
2) Interconnectivity is a theme in both energy and ecology. In fact, the two are often more intertwined than we first conceive. For instance, off the cost of many estuaries and channels there are large sea grass colonies. These sea grass colonies hold sediment in and lead to the gradual spread of land in estuary locations. Additionally, this increase in biomass (the algae and seagrass) is eventually buried under the sediment, leading to the production (after a while) of oil. Processes like these are being undermined constantly by human activity, even things as simple as driving a boat too fast will diminish the amount of sea grass in an area, causing the entire process to fall apart. In the most recent case, we are seeing interesting repercussions of the warm winter and consequent early spring. The butterfly, a group often not considered particularly susceptible to climate change, may hatch too late to take advantage of the spring blossom. This could mean the death to millions of butterflies, a travesty to many park goers. Although this may not be energy news, recent studies on interconnectivity were recently published by a Harvard research group. Check them out at Harvard’s home page.
3) Last weekend, a natural gas pipeline connecting Manhattan to Staten Island and the New Jersey mainland was approved by the Federal Energy Regulation Committee. The proposal still must go past a 5 person committee within New York City to receive full approval to move forward. The total project is slated to cost around $850 million dollars and will effectively link New York and Con Ed’s distribution lines to the entire national natural gas grid (including the maritime, Algonquin, and Texas Eastern lines) Issues with the proposal include the fear of potential explosions. Environmental critics also argue that the line directly into ‘thirsty’ New York City will only encourage exploitation of the Marcellus Shale gas in Western NY state and Pennsylvania.
4) Offshore oil took another hit last week as Chevron canceled one of their projects off the coast of Brazil after mounting evidence of another offshore oil spill has been compiled. After the disaster of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the offshore oil development has slowed significantly.
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