- by Josh Schlossberg

(source: Jim Forsyth, Reuters, Dec. 20, 2011)

Over half a billion trees have died in Texas due to drought over the past year, according to the Texas Forest Service. “In 2011, Texas experienced an exceptional drought, prolonged high winds, and record-setting temperatures,” said Forest Service Sustainable Forestry chief Burl Carraway.

[...]

- by Josh Schlossberg

The emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to spread across the eastern U.S., threatening the future of the tree species, with experts fearing the ash could go the way of the elm over the coming decades. While federal and state agencies and environmental groups have launched education campaigns discouraging the transportation of [...]

- by Josh Schlossberg

Nov. 30, 2011: A 55-megawatt biomass power proposal for Port St. Joe, FL has been withdrawn by the developer Rentech, as a civil rights complaint was filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) charging the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with environmental racism in granting the facility its air permit [...]

- by Josh Schlossberg
(source: Grace Schneider, The Courier-Journal, Oct. 12, 2011)

Liberty Green Renewables has withdrawn its two 32-megawatt biomass power incinerator proposals for Milltown and Scottsburg, Indiana. The corporation asked the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to revoke air emission permits previously issued by the state.

“What [...]

- by Meg Sheehan

In the coming weeks, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is scheduled to issue Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) regulations that will require energy producers seeking “renewable energy credits” to meet strict standards: (1) approximately 40% efficiency (biomass power is about 25% efficient and still gets “green” energy [...]