Archive - Jun 2, 2009

For those of you keeping a close track of the clean energy bill's progress, here is a new summary from the House Energy and Commerce Committee (PDF).

And here is a helpful blog from Kate Sheppard of Grist with the legislative timeline: Kate writes:

The House parliamentarian has referred the bill to nine committees, though only four have signaled that they intend to review it in the next weeks. Some estimates of how many committees may want a chance to modify the legislation go as high as 11, and it’s certain that the Ways and Means, Agriculture, Science, and Natural Resources committees will all play some role in the development of the bill.All of this will take place before the bill goes up for a vote in the full House, which could come by the end of June, if some reports are to be believed.

Also, the energy bill has me thinking more about the connection between agriculture and energy and National Geographic has a thought-provoking article this month called The End of Plenty, where writers Joel Bourne and John Stanmeyer report on the green revolution that helped feed millions--and its consequences:

The green revolution was so successful that some experts hold that its increased rice yields made it possible for the Earth to support 700 million additional people. Today, though, growth in food production is flattening, human population continues to increase, and the toxic consequences of pesticide use and drying aquifers are painfully obvious. Demand outstrips production; food prices soar.

Let’s check in on what the Federal government’s recovery funds are doing to create clean jobs around the country.

In Nebraska:

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will use recovery funds to improve groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded more than $200,000 to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Brian McManus of the Nebraska DEQ says his agency and the state Department of Natural Resources will use the money to enhance the quality and management of surface and ground water in the Platte River Basin. The grant comes from $39 million of stimulus funds to be awarded nationally to states for water quality management planning.”