Green Harbor

a blog devoted to improving the environment and all things green

China and India Finally Decide on Copenhagen Accord

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

It has been a few months since Copenhagen and many are upset that the global climate meeting was not what was expected.  Some blame the leaders of the developed nations, but two of largest developed nations have finally announced a decision regarding Copenhagen.
China and India, two of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, have finally [...]

The State of Colorado Increases Their Renewable Energy Requirements

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

As the U.S. federal government continues to drag its feet and gets stuck in partisan politics, state and local governments pick up the slack and keep the Green Initiative moving forward.
The latest climate and environmental policy to emerge from a state government in an increase in required renewable energy generation in the State of Colorado.
The [...]

Study on Sea Level Rise Retracted by Climate Scientists

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

The conclusions of a 2007 study on global sea levels was recently retracted due to the authoring climate scientists’ belief that some of their underpinning assumptions were wrong.
The 2007 study was released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and they have definitely come under a great deal a scrutiny lately given their recent [...]

Global Shipping Company Maersk Cuts Ship Fleet Emissions by 30%

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Sometimes it’s the smallest and easiest changes have the greatest impact as global sea shipping company Maersk discovered.
The Danish shipping company Maersk was able to reduce carbon emissions created by their ocean-going vessels by 30% by just slowing down.
That’s right, the shipping company was able to reduce their emissions by just slowing down and taking [...]

Norway Releases the Outline for Their Ambitious Carbon Reduction Plan Compared to Any Other Developed Nation

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Norway had shocked many with the announcement of their ambitious emission reduction goals leading into Copenhagen, but recently Norwegian officials have finally released the outline to meet Norway’s ambitious  reduction goals.
Prior to Copenhagen, Norway announced that they would reduce their carbon emissions by 30% by 2020. This was more ambitious than any other developed nation [...]

The State of Arizona Pulling Out of 2012 Regional Cap-And-Trade Program They Helped Develop

Monday, February 15th, 2010

With “experts” stating that the recession is over or that we are due for another drop, it is tough to say how our current economy is actually doing. But, the State of Arizona has stated the down economy is causing them to pull out of a regional cap-and-trade agreement set to begin in 2012.
The interesting [...]

President Obama’s New Budget Does Contain the Framework for a Carbon Market… Barely

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama presented the country’s budget for the year to Congress yesterday for approval. The budget contained a lot of language discussing a wide range of topics, but there was not much language on carbon markets.
Last year, the proposal for a carbon trading market failed when the administration estimated that the market could generate $646 [...]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fine of $500 Million Agreed on between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a Kansas Utility for Emission Violations

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Even though new climate legislation and reform is still being debated, that does not mean the original Clean Air Act doesn’t apply. A Kansas utility company found that out once it agreed to a $500 million fine for greenhouse gas emission violations.
It is unfortunate that some executives and companies believe they can do whatever they [...]

Wind Turbines Installed and Operating in Antarctica

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Wind turbines and “farms” are being to show up in the most unlikely of places. This week, 3 wind turbines have finally begun operating in Antarctica.
Antarctica is one of the harshest environments in the world yet many scientists risk their lives to study in these conditions to determine how we are effecting the environment.
Typically, these [...]

Oregon Utility Company Portland General Electric Pushes to Elimate Coal at one Power Plant

Monday, January 18th, 2010

The latest development in the fight to reduce and regulate carbon emissions has brought an interesting twist to the forefront.
In Portland, Oregon public officials have mandated that coal-fired power plants must install carbon emission scrubbers and cleaning technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 or shut down.
But at Portland General Electric’s Boardman Power Plant [...]