Most Recent News
Senate Commerce Committee Votes to Protect California's Ocean 5/15/2008
Today, the Senate Commerce Committee approved and referred to the full Senate H.R. 1187, a bill to double the size of the Gulf of Farallones - Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries and protect a unique marine environment off our coast in Northern California. Marine sanctuaries heal our damaged oceans and protect vulnerable sea animals. At various times during the year, the area hosts more than one third of the world’s whale and dolphin species including the world’s largest concentration of endangered Blue whales, the largest animal on earth. Other endangered marine animals that use the area include Humpback whales, sea turtles and sea birds. The largest concentration of breeding seabirds in the continental U.S. feasts on the rich food produced here, some migrating from as far away as the Midway Atoll in the central Pacific (protected by the new National Marine Monument) and New Zealand to feed.
Large-Scale Solar Power Plants Could Power Nation, Combat Global Warming and Create Thousands of Jobs: Over 4,000 Megawatts of Solar Power Under Development Threatened by Lapsing Federal Tax Incentives 5/08/2008
California could generate as much as 877,200 megawatts (MW) of power from solar power plants; according to a report released today, “On the Rise: Solar Thermal Power and the Fight Against Global Warming” by Environment California. The report also finds that America has the potential to meet all of its current electricity needs with large central concentrating solar power plants. These solar thermal power plants covering a 100 x 100-mile area in the Southwest, slightly more than what’s already been excavated for strip mining for coal across the country, could power the entire nation; while slashing global warming emissions. Because solar thermal energy storage allows electric generating capacity even when the sun is not shining, it can replace traditional energy sources like coal, natural gas and nuclear power.
New Report: Formaldehyde from Baby Nursery Furniture Contaminates Indoor Air 5/06/2008
Baby nursery cribs, changing tables, and dressers can emit formaldehyde at levels linked with increased risk of childhood allergies and asthma, according to a new report released today by Environment California Research & Policy Center. In Toxic Baby Furniture: The Latest Case for Making Products Safe from the Start, Environment California Research & Policy Center worked with an independent laboratory to determine whether formaldehyde emissions from common baby nursery furnishings significantly contribute to indoor air pollution.