Climate, Coal and Mercury

Final session on international mercury convention this week expected to culminate in agreement; UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2013 finds industrial source Hg emissions may be rising

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 13, 2013

Unintentional emission sectors: Coal burning, ferrous- and non-ferrous (Au, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) metal production, cement production. The fifth and final session of negotiations on the establishment of an international mercury convention—International Negotiating Committee on Mercury (INC5)—is taking place this coming week in Geneva.

Mercury

Mercury Emissions 2013 Global

Upper atmosphere facilitates changes that let mercury enter food chain

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 19, 2011

New research shows that the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere work to transform elemental mercury into oxidized mercury, which can easily be deposited into aquatic ecosystems and ultimately enter the food chain. Exposures to mercury can affect the human nervous system and harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system.

Mercury

Mercury Utah North America 2010

PCAST suggests 6 key components for climate change strategy to President Obama; adaptation and mitigation

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2013

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a letter to President Obama describing six key components the advisory group believes should be central to the Administration’s strategy for addressing climate change. Both approaches are essential parts of an integrated strategy for dealing with climate change.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Obama Clean

Duke study finds China’s synthetic natural gas plants will have heavy environmental toll; 2x vehicle GHG if used for fuel

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Coal-powered synthetic natural gas (SNG) plants being planned in China would produce seven times more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional natural gas plants, and use up to 100 times the water as shale gas production, according to a new study by Duke University researchers published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Gas

Gas Mercury Fuel Climate Change

EPA proposes CO2 emission standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

The proposed rulemaking establishes separate standards for natural gas and coal plants. coal units) are based on the performance of a new efficient coal unit implementing partial carbon capture and storage (CCS). Climate Change Coal Emissions Natural Gas Policy Power Generation'

EPA

EPA Standards Emissions Powered

Berkeley study finds renewable portfolio standards insufficient to meet 2030 GHG emission targets; new policy required

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

The least expensive way for the Western US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to help prevent the worst consequences of global warming is to replace coal with renewable and other sources of energy that may include nuclear power, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley, researchers. Click to enlarge.

Renewable

Renewable Emissions Standards Coal

National Academies Report Examines Hidden Cost of Energy Production and Use in US; Estimates $120B in 2005

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 22, 2009

Health and other non-climate damages by life-cycle component for different combinations of fuels and light-duty automobiles in 2005 (top) and 2030 (bottom). Coal accounts for about half the electricity produced in the US. Damages are expressed in cents per VMT (2007 USD). Source: “Hidden Costs of Energy”. Click to enlarge.

2005

2005 Cost Of Energy Coal

Shouldn’t We ALL Be Going to PowerShift 2009?

Creative Greenius

FEBRUARY 12, 2009

“I can’t understand why there aren’t rings of young people blocking bulldozers and preventing them from constructing coal-fired power plants.” - Al Gore. And I know I should especially be there on March 2 for the Capitol Climate Action when thousands will participate in the largest mass civil disobedience on behalf of the climate in U.S.

Al Gore

Al Gore 2009 Gore Coal

EPA proposes rule for nationwide 30% cut in GHG from existing power plants by 2030 relative to 2005

Green Car Congress

JUNE 2, 2014

The value allocated here in EPA’s goal-setting formula was an average heat rate improvement of 6% for coal steam electric generating units (EGUs). In 2020, EPA projects a 20% to 23% reduction of SO 2 ; 22% to 24% reduction of NO x ; and a 15% to 18% reduction of mercury, under the proposed Option 1 illustrative scenarios.

2005

2005 EPA Powered Power

Study from Thuringia shows 50% of harmful soot comes from local sources, 50% from long-distance transport

Green Car Congress

JUNE 12, 2021

From the researchers’ point of view, this underlines the need to further reduce emissions of soot that is harmful to health and the climate, as the carbon-containing particles still contribute to health hazards and climate warming even over distances of several hundred kilometers. The EU Air Quality Directive is to be updated by 2022.

Transportation

Transportation Germany Climate Change Climate

One of Texas’ dirtiest coal plants will swap to solar with help from US grant

Baua Electric

DECEMBER 21, 2024

A coal plant in South Texas will shut down and convert to a solar + battery electricity generation facility, with the help of a $1.4 SMECI has operated a mine mouth lignite-fired coal plant (named due to its proximity to the mine that supplies it) since 1982. But that coal-fired plant is one of the dirtiest in Texas.

Stanford launches major new natural gas research initiative

Green Car Congress

JUNE 13, 2015

Compared with burning coal, natural gas emits about half the carbon dioxide and substantially less soot, mercury and sulfur. —Mark Zoback, a professor of geophysics and NGI’s director. US emissions of CO 2 have declined to the level of the mid-1990s.

Gas

Gas Asia Mercury Chevron

Equity: More important than ever

Electric Auto Association

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Endless studies on the impact of pollution and climate change on low-income families have all come up with the same general result: It is a very real and very serious problem. This proximity brings a greater risk of harm by higher levels of benzene , sulfuric acid , mercury , and other potentially dangerous substances.

Climate Change

Climate Change West Virginia Pollution Kansas City

CalCars and PHEVs Frequently Asked Questions

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

Until then, we also recommend you look at the FAQ at the Climate Progress Blog and the FAQ by Hybrids-Plus , an after-market converter of hybrid cars, for answers to many questions! But its monumentally less pollution , even on the national (half-coal) grid. What Are Plug-In Hybrids (PHEVs)?

PHEV

PHEV Nickel Metal Hydride Prius EPRI

In a first, the US will restrict existing coal-fired plants’ emissions

Baua Electric

APRIL 25, 2024

Trucks Haul Coal Navajo Mine by U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired power plants to control 90% of their carbon emissions or shut down. Coal plants that intend to stay online beyond 2039 will have to cut or capture 90% of their CO2 emissions by 2032.

Coal

Coal Emissions EPA Solar

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

San Jose Mercury News ). Kwong said Toyota is concerned PHEVs might just replace gas problems with more coal emissions, since the cars will require more electricity from utilities. in China they make electricity by burning coal, so China is not the place for electric cars," [Tatehito Ueda, a managing officer at Toyota Motor Corp.]

Plug-in

Plug-in Plug Hybrid Lithium Ion

EV Driven

Final session on international mercury convention this week expected to culminate in agreement; UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2013 finds industrial source Hg emissions may be rising

Upper atmosphere facilitates changes that let mercury enter food chain

PCAST suggests 6 key components for climate change strategy to President Obama; adaptation and mitigation

Duke study finds China’s synthetic natural gas plants will have heavy environmental toll; 2x vehicle GHG if used for fuel

EPA proposes CO2 emission standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants

Berkeley study finds renewable portfolio standards insufficient to meet 2030 GHG emission targets; new policy required

National Academies Report Examines Hidden Cost of Energy Production and Use in US; Estimates $120B in 2005

Shouldn’t We ALL Be Going to PowerShift 2009?

EPA proposes rule for nationwide 30% cut in GHG from existing power plants by 2030 relative to 2005

Study from Thuringia shows 50% of harmful soot comes from local sources, 50% from long-distance transport

One of Texas’ dirtiest coal plants will swap to solar with help from US grant

Stanford launches major new natural gas research initiative

Equity: More important than ever

CalCars and PHEVs Frequently Asked Questions

In a first, the US will restrict existing coal-fired plants’ emissions

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

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