July 29, 2011

Graphic showing Spectra Energy cited for pipeline safety violations, featuring a warning symbol and text listing inspection failures, corrosion control issues, and response breakdowns on a dark blue background.

Spectra Energy Pipeline Safety Violations Revealed

July 29, 2011 No Comments

According to a June 13 Notice of Amendment from the PHMSA to Spectra, the federal agency inspected the gas company’s Operating and Maintenance Procedures on Nov. 29, 2010 at Spectra headquarters in Houston, TX. In connection with that inspection, Spectra provided the PHMSA representatives a copy of the company’s Operations and Maintenance Plan.
The inspectors found that Spectra’s plans and procedures were inadequate in a number of areas, including:
continuing pipeline surveillance,
emergency plans, and
welding procedures.
For example, with respect to continuing pipeline surveillance, federal regulations require every pipeline operator to define a procedure for monitoring its pipelines and to take appropriate action in response to changing conditions, such as corrosion, failure, leakage or other developments.
During the inspection, federal regulators discovered the Spectra’s plans and procedures addressed only aerial surveillance and “did not adequately address the surveillance of all risk elements … .”

Fuel Economy Standards: The Triple Win We've Been Waiting For! Hey there, green living friends! I'm absolutely buzzing about the news from 2011 when the Obama administration announced those game-changing fuel economy standards. As someone who's passionate about both our planet and our wallets, this was exactly the kind of policy that gets me excited! The standards required automakers to achieve a fleet-wide average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 - that's nearly double what was required before! When Congressman Ed Markey called this a "triple win" for America, he wasn't exaggerating one bit. First win? Our beautiful planet! These standards were projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6 billion metric tons over the life of the vehicles. That's more than the total carbon dioxide emitted by the entire United States in 2010! As someone who loses sleep over climate change, this kind of bold action is exactly what I've been advocating for. Second win? Your wallet! I know we're all feeling the pain at the pump these days. These standards were estimated to save the average driver more than $8,000 in fuel costs compared to vehicles meeting the 2016 standards. That's real money back in your pocket! Third win? Our economy and national security! The standards were expected to reduce U.S. oil consumption by 2.2 million barrels per day by 2025 - more than we imported from the Persian Gulf at that time. Plus, the auto industry got regulatory certainty and the flexibility they needed to innovate, keeping American manufacturers competitive in the global race for cleaner vehicles. What I love most about this agreement is how it brought together traditionally opposing groups - automakers, environmental advocates, labor unions - to create meaningful change. It shows what's possible when we put our differences aside and focus on solutions that benefit everyone. Looking back from 2025, we can see how these standards helped accelerate the transition to cleaner vehicles. While we still have work to do on our journey to sustainable transportation, these fuel economy standards represented a critical step forward on our path to a greener future. What do you think? Are you noticing the benefits of these standards in your daily life? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Stay green, The Green Living Guy

Markey Praised Fuel Standards as a Major Victory

July 29, 2011 No Comments

Markey Praised Fuel Standards for Fuel Economy and Carbon Pollution Standards Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has strongly endorsed the Obama administration’s new fuel economy and

Renewable Energy Continued Growth in 2010 Despite Recession

July 29, 2011 No Comments

The newly released REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report shows that the renewable energy sector continues to perform well despite continuing economic recession, incentive cuts, and low natural gas prices.
Authored by Worldwatch Institute Senior Fellow Janet Sawin in collaboration with a global network of research partners, the report shows that in 2010, renewable energy supplied an estimated 16% of global final energy consumption and delivered close to 20% of global electricity production. Renewable capacity now comprises about a quarter of total global power-generating capacity. Including large and small hydropower (an estimated 30 GW added in 2010), renewable energy accounted for approximately 50% of total added power-generating capacity in 2010. In 2010, existing solar water and space heating capacity increased by an estimated 25 gigawatts-thermal (GWth), or about 16%.