State
Tidleands will pay for millions in projects along Mississippi beaches,
rivers
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
GULFPORT -- Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann brought a Tidelands Fund
check for more than $9.5 million to the Coast on Wednesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/11/19/5924126_tidleands-will-pay-for-millions.html?sp=/99/100/&rh=1
Hub City recycling plans firming up for first of year
Hattiesburg American
For Hattiesburg residents interested in recycling, the city's
curbside service shouldn't miss a beat after the first of the year.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2014/11/19/city-continue-recycling/19306741/
SCUA to seek service expansion funds
Stone County enterprise
By Jody O'Hara
Nov 14, 2014, 11:13
The Stone County Utility Authority voted Monday to authorize a grant writer
to seek grants which would allow the authority to expand its services to a
larger number of customers.
http://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/article_2370.shtml
Solar farm shines in Chickasaw County
By Floyd Ingram
Chickasaw Journal
CHICKASAW COUNTY – It was a sunny day Wednesday in Chickasaw County as dirt
was turned on a new 30-acre, $9 million solar farm south of Okolona.
http://djournal.com/news/solar-farm-shines-chickasaw-county/
Oil Spill
After Gulf oil spill, filmmaker returns to see what happened when the
cameras had gone
November 19, 2014 at 6:25 PM EST
PBS News Hour
GWEN IFILL: Now: the continuing effects of the Gulf Coast oil spill.
It may not be in the headlines as much as it once was, but some communities
are still coping with its aftermath.
A new documentary showing in select theaters around the country returns to
— the spotlight to those issues.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/gulf-oil-spill-filmmaker-returns-see-happened-cameras-gone/
Seafood workers to get second $500 million round of oil spill payments
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
November 19, 2014 at 2:20 PM
A federal judge in New Orleans has approved a second $500 million round of
oil spill payments to seafood workers. BP had fought to delay the payments,
pointing to what it sees as problems within the compensation program.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/11/seafood_workers_to_get_second.html
State seeks $77M in oil spill money for watersheds
Pensacola News Journal
The state is seeking $77 million of RESTORE Act funding on five
proposals made up of 20 projects aimed at addressing high priority
restoration needs in 10 major watersheds from Perdido Bay to Tampa
Bay.
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/2014/11/19/state-seeks-oil-spill-money-watersheds/19294623/
National
House passes bill to limit EPA 'secret science'
The Hill
The House on Wednesday passed legislation to prevent the Environmental
Protection Agency from issuing new regulations unless it provides the
scientific data to justify them.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/224741-house-passes-bill-to-limit-epa-secret-science
Greens say EPA can cut methane emissions in half
The Hill
Top environmental groups said it's feasible for federal regulations to cut
pollution from Earth-warming methane in half.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/224821-greens-say-epa-can-cut-methane-emissions-in-half
Report: EPA paid employees on leave for years
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency paid some employees who were on
administrative leave for years, according to a watchdog report.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/224697-report-epa-paid-employees-on-leave-for-years
Press Releases
REP. HARPER TO SERVE AS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY
SUBCOMMITTEE
CONTACT: Jordan See
Nov 19, 2014 Issues: Congressional Issues, Energy
WASHINGTON – Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.),
today named Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), Vice Chair of the Environment and
the Economy Subcommittee. The subcommittee is led by Chairman John Shimkus
(R-Ill.).
"Congressman Harper will play a key role as Vice Chairman of the
Environment and the Economy Subcommittee," Upton said. "During his tenure
on the Energy and Commerce Committee, he's been a leader in promoting job
growth, reducing burdensome regulations, and investigating wasteful
government programs that hinder America's small businesses and industry. I
am confident Congressman Harper will continue to further our record of
success in the 114th Congress and I welcome him into his new leadership
role."
The subcommittee, with its oversight of key environmental laws and
programs, focuses on the intersection of regulations and jobs. As a
longtime advocate for American-made energy, Harper believes that Congress
must advance ideas that safely promote and build a steady supply of
American energy.
"I am honored to be named Vice Chairman of the Environment and the Economy
Subcommittee and I look forward to working closely with Chairman Shimkus,"
Harper said. "At a time when our economy is still struggling to recover and
accelerated job creation is needed, I look forward to working with my
colleagues on the committee to promote common sense policies that will spur
economic growth and innovations, achieve meaningful regulatory reform, and
protect consumers and the environment."
###
SECRETARY OF STATE RETURNS OVER $9.5-MILLION TO GULF COAST
Gulfport, MS - Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann presented the
Mississippi Gulf Coast Legislative Delegation and the Department of Marine
Resources with a check for $9,571,616.89 to benefit Gulf Coast residents.
"Preserving our Coastal areas is vital to the Mississippi Gulf Coast," says
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. "This $9.5 - Million is a crucial
component of that goal. The Secretary of State's Office remains committed
to ensuring State owned lands are benefiting the tax payer."
"The Tidelands trust fund represents the State's largest annual investment
in coastal marsh preservation, marine education and environmental
conservation of Mississippi's marine resources," says Jamie Miller,
Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
"These funds provide the key infrastructure to access our incredible
coastal tidelands and support the management of important agency programs."
These funds have been allocated by the Mississippi State Legislature to
Gulf Coast counties for research and access to the Gulf.
As part of his statutory duties, the Secretary of State determines the
Tidelands lease amounts on behalf of Mississippi. Rent is collected from
tidelands leaseholders by the Secretary of State and then delivered to the
Department of Marine Resources after the close of the fiscal year.
EPA to Assist Water Utilities in Bolstering Climate Resilience and
Readiness
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing up to
$600,000 in training and technical assistance to help water utilities in
more than 20 communities bolster their climate change resilience and
readiness.
"Climate change isn't a distant threat – it is already impacting
communities across the country," said Ken Kopocis, deputy assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Water. "EPA is helping water utilities
plan for and adapt to these challenges to ensure that they can continue to
meet their public health and environmental missions no matter what
circumstances may arise in the future."
Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities will participate in a
multi-year program to prepare for potential impacts from climate change.
Challenges include droughts, more intense and frequent storms, flooding,
sea-level rise and changes to water quality. Communities will receive
technical assistance in using EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and
Awareness Tool, software that helps users identify assets, threats and
adaptation options to help reduce risk from climate change.
Communities receiving assistance from EPA include:
•Auburn, Ala.
•Austin, Texas
•Blair, Neb.
•Bozeman, Mont.
•Faribault, Minn.
•Fredericktown, Mo.
•Haworth, N.J.
•Helena, Mont.
•Henryville, Ind.
•Hillsboro, Kan.
•Houston, Texas
•Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.
•Nome, Ark.
•Norfolk, Va.
•Portsmouth, N.H.
•Redwood Valley, Calif.
•Sandpoint, Idaho
• Seminole Tribe of Florida, Fla.
During each risk assessment, utilities will consider potential future
climate change impacts in an effort to build more climate-ready and
resilient water services and infrastructure.
Such risk assessments will, for instance, help utilities:
• use adaptation options to better protect critical pump stations from
projected precipitation events;
• use conservation measures to prepare for projected reduced snowpack or
less-frequent rainfall events; and
• prepare infrastructure for increased salinity to deal with projected
sea-level rise.
These examples illustrate the variety of adaptation options utilities can
identify and build into planning based on their risk assessments.
More information:
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/climate/index.cfm
EPA Names 2014 Green Power Leaders
The agency recognizes leading organizations, businesses in Calif., Colo.,
Mich., N.J., N.H., Okla., Ore., Pa., Tenn., Va., Wash., Wis.
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announces its annual Green Power Leadership Awards, recognizing 19 Green
Power Partners and four suppliers across the country—including the cities
of Philadelphia and Las Vegas, Apple, Kohl's, and Trek Bicycle
Corporation--for achievements in advancing the nation's renewable energy
market and reducing greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate change.
"By using more than 7.6 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually,
these communities, businesses, and organizations are leading the way in
cutting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the impacts of climate
change, and protecting public health," said EPA Administrator Gina
McCarthy. "These partners demonstrate that green power is not only a smart
business investment, but it's affordable, accessible and it reduces
emissions while growing the renewable energy market and spurring
innovation."
Green power is electricity that is generated from renewable sources,
including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydroelectric
sources. Green power does not produce fossil fuel-based greenhouse gas
emissions that fuel climate change. The award winners below are being
recognized for their efforts in expanding the domestic renewable energy
market. From using enough green power to meet more than 100 percent of
electricity needs to installing solar arrays on-site or entering long-term
power purchase agreements, these organizations are demonstrating that green
power is both accessible and affordable.
The award-winning partners were chosen for their exemplary use of green
power from more than 1,300 partner organizations that comprise EPA's Green
Power Partnership. Utilities, renewable energy project developers, and
other green power suppliers are eligible to apply for the Green Power
Supplier award.
EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with partner organizations
to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated
with conventional electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than
1,300 partner organizations voluntarily using billions of kilowatt-hours of
green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading
organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized
businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and
universities.
The 2014 Green Power Leadership Awards will be presented on Dec. 3, 2014,
at the annual Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Sacramento, Calif.
Winners are listed below in the following categories:
Green Power Partner of the Year: Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.); BD
(Franklin Lakes, N.J.); Google Inc. (Mountain View, Calif.); Oklahoma State
University (Stillwater, Okla.)
Green Power Purchasing: City of Houston, Texas; City of Beaverton, Ore.;
Town of Peterborough, N.H.; Herman Miller, Inc. (Zeeland, Mich.);
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (Bala Cynwyd, Pa..); Steelcase Inc. (Grand
Rapids, Mich.); REI (Kent, Wash.); Trek Bicycle Corporation (Waterloo,
Wis.);June Key Delta Community Center (Portland, Ore.)
On-Site Generation: City of Las Vegas, Nev.; City of Philadelphia, Pa.
Sustained Excellence in Green Power: Intel Corporation (Santa Clara,
Calif.); Kohl's Department Stores (Menomonee Falls, Wis.)
Green Power Community of the Year: Medford, Ore.; Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Green Power Supplier of the Year: 3DegreesGroup, Inc. (San Francisco,
Calif.); Portland General Electric (Portland, Ore.); Renewable Choice
Energy (Boulder, Colo.); Washington Gas Energy Services (Herndon, Va.)
More on the 2014 Green Power Leadership award winners:
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm
