This is The Source for August 7, 2012, green jobs news every day from the BlueGreen Alliance. Don’t forget to “tell your friends” about this great resource. You can sign up here.
TOP THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW FOR AUGUST 7
Supermarket Increases. If you see increased prices at your local supermarket, you can know that it is likely this summer’s drought — and not the store — to blame. Although there is disagreement as to how much they could increase, experts agree this summer's smaller corn crop will likely translate to increases in the cost of meat, milk and other products.
Growing the Back 13 Million Acre. The U.S. Defense Department yesterday announced it will be encouraging companies to build renewable energy projects on the 13 million acres of open land surrounding America’s military bases.
ACTION: Push Congress to renew the Production Tax Credit. Write a letter today calling on Congress to pass the Production Tax Credit when they come back into session in 34 days.
National and International Blue-Green
According to the Associated Press, thousands of fish are dying throughout the Midwest because of the heat this summer.
E&E News looks at the need to update America’s electrical grid.
The Hill says Gibson Guitar Corporation has agreed to pay a $300,000 penalty to settle Lacey Act violations stemming from questions related to the company's use of illegally harvested wood and ebony.
The National Journal’s Energy Experts Blog has a discussion of whether the Production Tax Credit for wind energy should be expteded.
The Wall Street Journal recounts how a twitter rumor caused oil prices to spike Monday.
To the States
Newsday visits Oklahoma where residents are being evacuated due to a wildfire that has burned through approximately 91 square miles.
The drought is also hurting tourism in several parts of the country, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
At 100-meters, the Midwest Energy News says southwestern Minnesota will soon be getting the state’s tallest wind turbines.
In another first for Minnesota, the Rochester Post Bulletin reports a home in Lanesboro just became the state’s first home to meet the Thousand Home Challenge of reducing its energy use by at least 70 percent.
A coalition of environmental and public health groups Monday filed a law suit against the Environmental Protection Agency over the use of oil dispersants during the Gulf Oil Spill, the Times-Picayune reports.
The Los Angeles Times reports Metro’s Blue Line “is on pace to have the most deaths since it opened in 1990.”
Enbridge Inc is set to restart its Wisconsin pipeline following negotiations with the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, according to Reuters.
Blue-Green Links
New York Times: Study Finds More of Earth Is Hotter and Says Global Warming Is at Work
Wall Street Journal: Fred Krupp: A New Climate-Change Consensus
New York Times: In Weak Economy, an Opening to Court Votes of Single Women
Renewable Energy World: Can Clean Energy Strike Back against the Growing Smear Campaign?
National Geographic: Green Jobs and Other Benefits of E-waste Recycling
Hill: Obama, Romney battle for pro-coal mantle
Washington Post: US to offer $2B in renewable energy loans to South Africa, boon for electricity-hungry nation
Reuters: U.S. business group challenges EPA mercury rule
US News: Greenpeace Presses Charles Koch to Speak on Climate Change
Detroit Free Press: Ford expects single-operating system to cut costs, boost production
Daily Journal (CA): Exploring Outdoor Opportunities
Colorado Watchdog (CO): CO: Green vs. green: Trees cut down to make way for solar
DC.StreetsBlog (GA): Atlanta Beltline Staff: “We Still Have a Project to Build”
Quad City Times (IA): Branstad defends renewable energy
Journal Star (IL): In the Spotlight: Consumers guaranteed to save with clean energy
Nevada News Bureau (NV): Clean Energy Summit Sparks Political Events, Debate Over Government Role In Renewables
Tulsa World (OK): Inhofe disputes link between heat wave, droughts and climate change
Times Union (NY): No fire health risks found
Bloomberg Businessweek (SD): Black Hills to shutter some coal-fired plants