News Roundup
News Roundup for March 31
OFFSHORE INITIATIVE
President Obama
President Obama, who has indicated that he supports expanded offshore drilling, is proposing to open tracts off the Atlantic coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska for gas and oil exploration. The Atlantic coastline from New Jersey northward and the entire Pacific coast would remain off limits. White House and Interior Department officials began briefing members of Congress and officials in affected states this week. Geologic studies, environmental impact statements, legal challenges and lease sales would delay commencement of drilling for years.
NUCLEAR (WASTE) FALLOUT
The co-chairman of the nation’s blue ribbon commission on radioactive waste emphasized that while the panel might look at lessons learned from the long-running but recently terminated Yucca Mountain repository effort, it will not consider recommending restart of work at the Nevada site. Former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton said members face a “daunting” task. Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Steven Chu appeared to reverse course, writing a congressional appropriator that he would not seek Capitol Hill approval before reprogramming funds to implement the controversial decision to close down work at Yucca Mountain.
MIDWEST MODERNIZATION
The Midwest’s independent transmission system operator has announced a program to install more than 150 devices that will monitor the state of the grid more than 30 times each second. The initiative will increase efficiency and reliability, according to Carmel, Ind.-based MISO. It is the first regional grid operator to agree with the Department of Energy on the installation of the synchrophasors to more accurately measure voltage and current within the Eastern interconnection. MISO called them an essential part of the national effort to modernize and connect the grid.
LIGHTING STANDARDS
An Underwriters Laboratories company has announced an effort to create sustainability standards for lighting. UL Environment said they will be based on an environmental assessment of a product’s entire life cycle, from raw materials to manufacture, use and disposal. According to the Department of Energy, an average household uses 11 percent of its energy budget for lighting, noted Stephen Wenc, the company’s president. “LED modules alone have the potential to reduce lighting electricity demand in the U.S. by one-third by 2027,” he said.
—Based on news and wire reports
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