WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/17/14

<> Environmentalists to President: Embrace Climate Action over "All of the Above" - As reported in an exclusive to the Washington Post today, eighteen environmental, environmental justice, and public health advocacy groups sent a letter to President Obama, calling on his administration to embrace clean energy and climate action over an "all of the above" energy plan.

<> McConnell to File Resolution of Disapproval Against EPA War on Coal Regulation - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will file a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from imposing its anti-coal regulation by ensuring a vote to repeal it. The CRA provides Congress with the ability to eliminate onerous regulations imposed by the executive branch

<> Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans' Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in November 2013 - The most recent national Climate Change in the American Mind survey found that 1 in 4 Americans think that global warming is not happening, and half say they are "worried" about it. There has been an increase in the proportion of Americans who believe global warming is not happening (23%, up 7 percentage points since April 2013).

<> Climate Change in the Vortex of America's Bi-Polar Politics - Conservative, liberal, and moderate editorial cartoonists' biting takes on the early-January 'polar vortex' and the spectacle of a Russian research vessel ice-bound while researching climate change in Antarctica will make readers. . .

<> Reps. Waxman and Tonko sent a letter to Eastman Chemical Company Chief Executive Officer Mark J. Costa to request that Eastman release studies on the potential health and environmental effects of exposure to and releases of MCHM

<> Year's First National Water Forecast Predicts Limited Supply West of the Continental Divide - WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2014 – A limited water supply is predicted west of the Continental Divide, according to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) data in its first forecast of 2014. The NWCC also predicts normal water supply east of the Continental Divide and will continue to monitor, forecast and update water supplies 

<> 200+ Groups Call on Obama to Keep Campaign Pledge: Label GMOs

<> Record of Decision Issued for the FutureGen 2.0 Project - January 15, 2014Record of Decision Issued for the FutureGen 2.0 Project The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to provide financial assistance to the FutureGen Industrial Alliance (the Alliance) for the FutureGen 2.0 

<> Study: New reality of affordable, abundant and efficient natural gas requires visionary thinking to increase use

<> Increasing the Efficiency of Existing Coal-Fired Power Plants - US Congressional Research Service. Coal has long been the major fossil fuel used to produce electricity. However, coal-fired electric power plants are one of the largest sources of air pollution in the United States, with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from burning of fossil fuels believed to be the major contributor to global climate change. 

<> Is the Mega-Module the Future of Rooftop Solar? - Integrated racking and pre-assembled rooftop systems are emerging as ways to save time and money in solar installation.  Recent time-and-motion studies of solar installations conducted by DOE's SunShot BOS Cost 

<> Report: SAB Recommendations for EPA's FY2012 Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards- Recognizing EPA employees who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of science and technology through their publications in peer-reviewed literature or books.

<> Maine regulators give thumbs up to offshore floating wind project -

Stressing the project's potential benefits for the local economy, Maine regulators have approved the terms of a pilot offshore wind development spearheaded by the University of Maine, a significant step forward for the industry in the state's deep but windy waters. Maine Aqua Ventus 1 GP LLC, a consortium including the University of Maine and two partner companies, Emera Inc. and. . . 

<> Atrazine Ban Will Result in an Economic Benefit to Farmers - (Beyond Pesticides, January 17, 2014) A new economic study, Would banning atrazine benefit farmers?, published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health demonstrates that eliminating the herbicide atrazine, widely used on U.S. corn crops, will economically benefit corn growers. The study examines the research produced by the Atrazine Benefits

<> Rep. Waxman Calls on EPA to Protect Wetlands and Tributaries

<> New! Carbon Footprint Maps - Interactive carbon footprint maps from he CoolClimate Calculator. Find out how you compare to local averages and create a personalized climate action plan for you or your community. 

<> FY 2014 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Source Reduction Assistance Grant Program- Proposals are due March 11, 2014. The full solicitation is available.