This week’s program takes place at the Bedford 2020 Summit and Solar Action Day. We spoke to Andrew Revkin, writer of the Dot Earth Blog for the New York Times, as well as Peter Olmsted, East Coast Regional Director for Vote Solar. We also spoke to Mayor Michael Cindrich of Mt. Kisco, NY about the solar projects on his agenda. Keynote Speaker Amory Lovins, of The Rocky Mountain Institute, spoke about new energy technologies that are on the horizon for the future of electricity. It was a gathering of innovators, educators and community, all working to promote solar and other renewable energy, in an effort to help create actionable solutions to green house gas emissions. A special thank you to Heather Flournoy for her hard work and hospitality. For more information go to bedford2020.org, dotearthblogs.nytimes.com and votesolar.org
Category: Oil
#1420: John Parker, Environmental Attorney
Joining me on the program this week is friend of the show and environmental attorney John Parker. We discuss the problems associated with transporting Bakken crude oil via rail and boat. There have been several accidents attributed to the transport of this very volatile product, and communities affected both in upstate New York and in Canada have become very vocal opponents of how the oil is being moved around the country. We also had a special guest, Liam, who told us about his experience aboard the Riverkeeper patrol boat with Captain John Lipscomb. You can learn more about NYS environmental initiatives and get more information by emailing John at parkerjlp@gmail.com
#1343: Dr. Susan Rubin, on Tar Sands and the Keystone Pipeline
Oh, CANADUH! What’s gloopy, leaky,toxic and endangers trees, birds, humans, water, land and air? Answer: Tar Sands and the Keystone Pipeline. Dr. Susan Rubin explains why this pipeline, which runs from Alberta, Canada through the mid section of the US, ending in the refineries of Texas on the Gulf Coast, is an environmental disaster in the making. It encroaches on Native American lands, runs through the Ogallala aquifer, which is a major water supply to millions of people, and has already leaked into the Kalamazoo River, and caused damage to homes in Mayflower, AK and Colorado. DIL BIT might sound like a cartoon name, but what it is made of is no laughing matter. Tune in to find out what you can do to raise your voice to stop the Keystone project. For more information go to www.nokxl.org
#1343: Dr. Susan Rubin, on Tar Sands and the Keystone Pipeline
#1338: Richard Heinberg, Snake Oil
Like traveling medicine men in the old west, oil and gas companies are trying to sell us their panacea for our future energy needs. My guest Richard Heinberg, author of the book Snake Oil: How Fracking’s False Promise Imperials Our Future, explains why hydrofracking is not the cure all for America’s fuel needs. Beware of those selling you false elixirs! Tune in to find out how we stay clear of oil and gas con artists. Go to www.postcarbon.org for more info.