Week of March 1, 2010

News from Across the USM Campuses

March 5^th - Dr. Ali Whitmer, Georgetown University, "Urban Sustainability and Push-Pull Drivers of Residential Change: A comparative study of Washington DC and Baltimore." Seminar will be held on Friday at 2pm in the Technology Research Center, Room 206, on the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus. The seminar is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Visitor parking passes for the TRC lot may be purchased for $4.00 in the CUERE office in TRC 102/105 on the UMBC campus shortly before the seminar.

Hospital recycling on increase: Reusing one-time-use tools cuts waste, stirs some concern (By Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun, 2/25/10) [Article quotes Denise Choiniere the University of Maryland Medical Center]

New solar panels on Diner's roof should save $1.7M annually: Panels will provide one-third of building's hot water supply (By Dana Cetrone, The Diamondback Online, 2/24/10)

Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea departs for Bering Sea cruise (KBKW Radio, 2/24/10) [Article quotes Lee Cooper of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Seeking a More 'Poplar' Biofuel (By Faye Levine, UM Newsdesk, 2/24/10)

State of Maryland News

Activists remain hopeful about Chesapeake Bay: Cleanup talks include ways to reduce runoff (By Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun, 2/28/10)

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

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Farmers' markets or CSAs -- you decide (By Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun - ‘More Green Blog, 2/26/10)

Senate OKs BPA ban in bottles, cups for young children: House has passed identical bill; Maryland would be 4th state to take action against chemical (By Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun, 2/25/10)

State farmers fear regulation (By Ry Rivard, The Charleston Daily Mail, 2/22/10)

National and International News

Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Foiling E.P.A. (By Charles Duhigg and Janet Roberts, The New York Times, 2/28/10)

How the G.O.P. Goes Green (By Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times - Op-Ed, 2/27/10)

We Can't Wish Away Climate Change (By Al Gore, The New York Times - Op-Ed, 2/27/10)

Giant iceberg breaks off from Antarctic glacier (By David Fogarty, Reuters, 2/26/10)

Jail for an eco-friendly frontyard? Couple in Orange defend themselves for ripping out their lawn (By Lisa Boone, The Los Angeles Times, 2/25/10)

Wal-Mart Unveils Plan to Make Supply Chain Greener (By Stephanie Rosenbloom, The New York Times, 2/25/10)

Signs of Life, and Change, in Climate Inquiry (By Andrew C. Revkin, The New York Times - Dot Earth Blog, 2/24/10)

Reid demands climate bill ASAP (By Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson, The Washington Post - Post Carbon Blog, 2/24/10)

Bloom Energy reveals new 'Bloom Box' fuel cell technology (By Tiffany Hsu, The Los Angeles Times, 2/24/10)

Bloom Box LAUNCH: Bloom Box Energy Unveils Fuel Cell Technology (Huffington Post - Green Blog, 2/24/10)

Plastic rubbish blights Atlantic Ocean: Scientists have discovered an area of the North Atlantic Ocean where plastic debris accumulates. (By Victoria Gill, BBC News, 2/24/10)

Back to Basics on Climate and Energy (By Andrew C. Revkin, The New York Times - Dot Earth Blog, 2/24/10)

EPA Chief Goes Toe-To-Toe With Senate GOP Over Climate Science (By Robin Bravender, Climatewire as reported by The New York Times, 2/23/10)

Alternatives to BPA containers not easy for U.S. foodmakers to find (By Lyndsey Layton, The Washington Post, 2/23/10)

Grizzly sightings in polar bear territory inspire talk of ultimate ursine fight (By Patrick White, The [UK] Globe and Mail, 2/23/10)

EPA's Gradual Phase In of GHG Regs Garners Qualified Praise From Senators (By Robin Bravender and Darren Samuelsohn, Climatewire as reported by The New York Times, 2/23/10)

Obama Mounts a Last-Ditch Attempt to Pass a 'Hybrid' Climate and Energy Bill (By Joel Kirkland for Climatewire as reported by the New York Times, 2/22/10)

Ice Shelves Disappearing on Antarctic Peninsula: Glacier Retreat and Sea Level Rise are Possible Consquences (USGS Newsroom, 2/22/10)  

Methane levels may see 'runaway' rise, scientists warn: A rapid acceleration may have begun in levels of a gas far more harmful than CO2 (By Michael McCarthy, The [UK] Independent, 2/22/10)

Lane Community College's Electric-Car Charging Station: A Waste, or Wave of the Future? (By Scott Carlson, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/22/10)