Introducing the GreenNews RoundUp, a quick recap of some of the week’s top environmentally themed stories.
Tennessee homes, waterways flooded by coal plant’s deluge of toxic sludge
The debate over coal energy’s environmental costs continues after an estimated 500 million gallons of toxic coal-ash burst through an earthen dam Monday at a plant in eastern Tennessee, flooding hundreds of acres and swamping a dozen nearby homes in up to six feet of poisonous sludge. Federal authorities say cleanup could take weeks, or even years. See video of the massive spill here, as well as articles by the Associated Press and the Knoxville Sentinel News.
Beverly Hills doctor fueled SUV with fat from patients
Before falling under investigation by California’s public health department, a Los Angeles plastic surgeon turned the extra blubber taken off his clients into biodiesel for his vehicle, writes Peter Beller of Forbes magazine.
Ford previews spring debut of fuel-efficient Fusion hybrid
Still battling with possible bankruptcy, a not-yet-bailed-out Ford Motor Company hopes to earn favorable "street cred" as it announced the planned spring arrival of the Fusion hybrid, which once in production will be the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan on the market and the second stingiest gas-sipper on the road (behind the Toyota Prius).
Scientists suggest reflecting sun’s rays to help stave off climate change
Skeptical that current efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions will be substantial enough soon enough to significantly curb climate change, a pair of international scientists are proposing a radical plan to quickly and cheaply reverse global warming: deflect some of the sun’s heat by covering parts of the world’s deserts with reflective sheeting.
Winter season slows down renewable energy production
Yet another reason to complain about the winter season – as a time of year, it’s not too friendly to renewable energy. Lack of sunlight stymies solar power, while cold temps can cause biodiesel to congeal and wind turbine blades to ice up.