After Fires at Golf Courses, Study Suggests Unusual Culprits: Titanium Clubs

Recent studies by researchers at the University of California, Irvine have shown that titanium golf clubs, when striking a rock, can create sparks hot enough to start a brush fire. In California, there have been two recent golf course fires, and although they have been originally thought to be caused by cigarettes or cigars, were concluded that both incidents involved 3-irons with titanium alloy heads striking the ground and creating sparks that caused the fire. Thus, it was concluded that people should not hit from these areas if they do not wish to burn down a golf course.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/sports/golf/titanium-clubs-can-spark-a-fire-after-striking-a-rock-study-finds.html?ref=science

Questions as More Wastewater Flows in North Carolina

Duke Energy, a power holding company based in North Carolina that is under federal investigation for unlawfully spilling toxic waste into the Dan River in N.C., has just released wastewater last week from a second site that is thought to be an illegal act by state regulators. These state regulators have claimed that Duke Energy has violated water pollution laws in 6 different sites by spilling coal ash, from burning coal that makes electricity, into the water. Although critics have claimed that the company has “an overly cozy relationship with state regulators,” the state environmental agency has responded by calling for tougher regulations of coal ash. In response to this, Duke Energy has said this month that it will move coal ash from several sites away from public water, and will remove water from ash ponds within 24-36 months.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/us/north-carolina-investigating-another-duke-energy-site.html?ref=earth

After Fukushima, Utilities Prepare for Worst

At the Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant in Pennsylvania, engineers and technicians have been taking precautions and preparing for scenarios that could possibly occur and create major world problems. Three years after the Fukushima disaster, power plants, such as Peach Bottom, have learned from this tragedy to take precautions. New pumps, connections, and multiple emergency back-up plans will be installed to defend and address nearly every possible scenario that could happen at these sites. Unfortunately, remodeling these power plants costs somewhere between 400 to 500 million dollars, a costly amount of money,  and leads the public to question whether nuclear energy is really the ideal source of energy for the future. Thus, while it is important to sanction safety regulations for nuclear plants, I believe a greater importance should be placed on research for a more efficient form of energy.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/business/after-fukushima-utilities-prepare-for-worst.html?ref=science&_r=0

Caribbean Islands Agree to Swap Diesel Power for Renewable Sources

Several Caribbean counties, including St. Lucia, Turks, Caicos, and the British Virgin Islands, have committed to producing energy through renewable sources over the current mode of diesel generators. Such renewable sources include wind, solar, or geothermal energy. According to Richard Branson, the Caribbean Islands have always paid extremely high electricity costs, and this renewable push will not only reduce them sharply, but help improve the quality of the region by producing cleaner energy. While experts say that the need to create renewable energy is still too expensive for the continental United States, but will strive to promote change when costs become more pragmatic.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/business/energy-environment/caribbean-islands-agree-to-swap-diesel-power-for-renewable-sources.html?action=click&module=Search&region=searchResults%230&version=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fquery.nytimes.com%2Fsearch%2Fsitesearch%2F%3Faction%3Dclick%26region%3DMasthead%26pgtype%3DHomepage%26module%3DSearchSubmit%26contentCollection%3DHomepage%26t%3Dqry409%23%2Frenewable%2Benergy%2F30days%2F

Coal Makes A Comeback Despite Natural Gas Abundance

Although America acclaims there is a positive transition towards natural gas, this year’s winter, the coldest in 30 years, has made Americans divert back to coal. This is primarily because the cold winter had made natural gas prices its highest level in four years, and coal's prices were more economically feasible. The sudden increase in cheap coal has led to US carbon emissions that are projected to rise after successfully decreasing emissions in both 2011 and 2012. While we continue to struggle to find ways to balance improving our environment without putting a toll on our economy, we look toward a better future of attaining a renewable resource world.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorensteffy/2014/02/14/coal-makes-a-comeback-despite-natural-gas-abundance/

Germany Plans to Raze Towns for Brown Coal and Cheap Energy

The world is at a serious risk as Germany, who is looked upon as the lead engineer for renewable energy, is relocating villages to create massive strip mines where they can extract Brown Coal for energy. Brown Coal was used as early as 1934 and lasted until the end of the Cold War, and has the lowest grade of coal with the highest carbon dioxide emissions per kilowatt-hour produced. Now, Germany is pushing to have 80% of power as renewable energy by 2050 using subsidies such as solar and wind power, which make up roughly 25% of their electric power today (US is 12%). Experts believe Brown Coal mining is being used now because Germany’s energy revolution pursuit might not be going as planned, and there may be more coal needed to supply the demands. For example, Germany’s nuclear power industry will be shut down by 2022, and this decision was announced in 2002, but not fully agreed on until after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Although natural gas produces lower carbon dioxide emissions, through an economic standpoint, it is not feasible for Germany to use this because Brown Coal is significantly cheaper. However, it is estimated that Brown Coal supplies may run out in 10-15 years. Thus, it is essential for Germany and other countries to research for alternative renewable energy that will no longer harm to environment.

Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/02/140211-germany-plans-to-raze-towns-for-brown-coal/ 

Severe Drought Has U.S. West Fearing Worst

According to Ingram, a professor of earth and planetary sciences at Berkeley, California’s severe drought looks to be the worst drought the region has experienced in over 500 years. It is predicted that about forty-thousand people will run out of water within 60 to 120 days. If conditions continue to stay dry, state officials say they will bring trucks of drinking water to supply communities. These arid conditions have caused parched fields, starving livestock, and smog. While Western America has been known to lack water, officials continue to search for answers to supply water to inhabitants and farm fields, hoping that rain will soon replenish the land.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/us/severe-drought-has-us-west-fearing-worst.html?ref=science