Month: February 2022

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Metroparks meetup

Smith, D. (2021, August 6). Metroparks meetup: An inside look at Phase 2 of Howard Marsh Metropark. https://www.13abc.com. https://www.13abc.com/2021/08/06/metroparks-meetup-an-inside-look-phase-2-howard-marsh-metropark/. 

A few years ago, the Howard Marsh Metropark restoration project was one of the largest such projects ever opened in the United States. After a few years of work, the second phase of the long project will begin. For the last century, the land has been used for agricultural purposes, so the restoration of a wetland will not be an easy task. Over 200 acres of land will need to be transformed. However, at the end of the project, people can expect a beautiful land that can be enjoyed by people and wildlife alike.

The article talked about a large project that was currently underway. The land that had up until recently been used for agriculture had been sold and was being converted into a wetland. To me, this showed how we can restore natural areas even after they have been used and abused for the production of things like our food. I was impressed that this project was approved, because it seemed like such a big commitment.

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Renville County approves small wetland restoration in County Ditch 66

Cherveny, T. (2021, August 3). Renville County approves small wetland restoration in County Ditch 66. West Central Tribune. https://www.wctrib.com/news/government-and-politics/7132379-Renville-County-approves-small-wetland-restoration-in-County-Ditch-66. 

After two hearings, the wetland restoration, spanning one acre, was approved by the Renville County Board of Commissions. In order to approve the restoration, the benefits of the restoration project needed to be shown. The restoration of the wetlands will provide positive environmental impacts, by reducing sedimentation and pollutants reaching the Minnesota River. Additionally, it will be an area where wildlife can prosper. Positive private impacts also needed to be proved. Proponents of the project stated that the additional wetlands will improve the drainage of the local area, an issue that has cost millions of dollars in recent years.

The article focused on the struggle that proponents of the restoration project had to face. In order for the project to be approved not only did the environmental benefits need to be shown, but also the benefits of private citizens of the area. This showed to me how often the environmental impacts are not the only things that are considered when a project like this is either approved or denied. Oftentimes it comes down to things like the benefits for citizens living in or near the area and financial issues.

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ODOTH to restore Wetland with Klamath Tribes

Alexandra Feller Herald and News/Snowden Intern. (2021, August 3). ODOT to restore wetland with Klamath Tribes. Herald and News. https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/odot-to-restore-wetland-with-klamath-tribes/article_544a723c-df6c-5fc6-ac3b-3a778db68731.html. 

The Klamath Tribe’s wetlands have suffered and are completely dry. However, the Oregon Department of Transportation, or ODOT, has agreed to restore the former wetlands. This restoration project will not only give the tribe the water body that they once had, it will also help a couple of endangered fish species that have suffered as of late. Once the wetlands has reached equilibrium, endangered fish will be released into the wetlands, hopefully allowing the endangered species to flourish.

The article described a project that had been undertaken by the Oregon Department of Transportation. It described an issue that was affecting the Klamath Tribe and endangered species of fish and it explained what the ODOT was doing to help them. The project centered around the restoration of the now dried up wetlands that were a part of the Klamath Tribe’s land. My reaction to the article was gratitude for the organization that was helping the Tribe and a more positive outlook on the ways that people are affecting the environment. I was happy for the Tribe, because the wetlands have such a large impact on their lives.

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Wetlands Restoration Project taking shape along Lakeshore

Eric Peterson, F. O. X. 11 N. (2021, August 9). Wetlands restoration project taking shape along the lakeshore. WLUK. https://fox11online.com/news/local/wetlands-restoration-project-taking-shape-along-the-lakeshore. 

In Manitowoc county, a wetlands restoration project is underway. The land was originally owned by the Henry family, who, a few years ago, donated the land to the Woodland Dunes Nature Center. After observing the land for a couple years, the Department of Natural Resources Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust, who oversaw the project, restored the land to its original state. The land is still not available for public use, however in just a couple years it should be completely public.

The article explained how a project that was meant to restore wetlands in Wisconsin was going. The article explained the process of the restoration and the current state that the restoration was in. This article showed a way in which we can restore wetlands. My reaction to the article was impressed by the generosity of the family that donated the land. It showed me that there are still people out there that care for the environment and are willing to make the necessary changes to aid the environment.

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In Search of ‘Lithium Valley’: Why Energy Companies See Riches in the California Desert.

“In Search of ‘Lithium Valley’: Why Energy Companies See Riches in the California Desert.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 Sept. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/27/salton-sea-california-lithium-mining.   

Within the article, it shows the positive “ time of transition”. We’ll never see it again in our lifetime, this green transition – it’s very cool to be part of it” (Colwell). Inside the depths of California’s “Lithium Valley,” there are many materials that will benefit the United States’ transition to clean energy and the increase in EVs that run off lithium batteries. It states that we mostly get our materials from foreign countries, so therefore we should take this risk. There are two options: restoring the body of water in which the valley formed, however, due to fertilizer runoff and evaporation, it is hard to maintain; or building a lithium and geothermal plant. There are plans to build a $520 billion plant that creates geothermal energy, selling most of the energy created while also using some to mine for lithium. 

 

This creation of a geothermal plant and a lithium mine is a great mix of two aspects that will mitigate carbon emissions and help climate change. A geothermal plant is meant to produce fewer emissions than a fossil fuel plant; by extracting heat from the ground, a non-renewable resource they can create enough energy to power their lithium mines and then some. This extra energy will be sold as an alternative to fossil fuel energy. Also the mining of lithium supports the use of EVs that will also decrease fossil fuel use. Lithium is the main part of an electric car’s battery and by finding this source, the US can stock up for the expected 40x increase of production within the next 20 years. I believe that this is the future of power plants; using many different kinds of non-renewable resources to work together to create less emissions could be the best way to deal with the global problem of climate change. EVs alone might possibly not be able to prevent carbon emissions, but the benefits of this combination is a start. 

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Biden Administration Cancels Mining Leases near Wilderness Area.

Tabuchi, Hiroko. “Biden Administration Cancels Mining Leases near Wilderness Area.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Jan. 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/26/climate/boundary-waters-copper-mining.html?searchResultPosition=1.  

In the article, President Joe Biden is canceling two mining leases for copper within Minnesota and on the border of Canada. It is said that it is something that our past President Obama has already canceled; however President Trump reinstalled these leases during his term to provide an economic increase in that area. Biden states that this land is pristine wilderness, by allowing these mines to continue, it would mean the destruction of a habit for many animals. Environmentalists agree, showing that they would rather keep this land bare rather than destroy it for economic purposes. The loss of an ecosystem is detrimental across all categories. Overall by destroying these habitats, there will be an unbalance of animals and fewer trees that use photosynthesis to store carbon. 

 

I agree that the government should be more aware of the creation or continuation of adding more mines, even when something other than fossil fuel is being minded; the creation of these mining factories and the transportation/machines being used are all emitting greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Along with carbon being released, it also destroys carbon sinks. One of our main ways to take carbon out of the atmosphere is by taking advantage of natural processes like photosynthesis. We have started to utilize this process, and by planting more plants and maintaining current ecosystems, we can collect this carbon; building these mines suggests the complete opposite. Additionally, these mines will scare away animals, as mentioned in the article, this area houses the gray wolf and Canada lynx, which are essential to keep the ecosystem balanced. Nonetheless, it is argued by supporters of the mines that there are 400 billion tons of copper and nickel ore under the surface of these areas, however, I believe that this is not worth the negative consequence of the mining.  

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Joe Manchin Has Made Millions from Coal. His Ties Are Now Facing Examination as Democrats Scramble for a Climate and Economic Agreement.

Schouten, Fredreka. “Joe Manchin Has Made Millions from Coal. His Ties Are Now Facing Examination as Democrats Scramble for a Climate and Economic Agreement.” CNN, Cable News Network, 27 Oct. 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/27/politics/joe-manchin-coal-interests/index.html.  

US Senator, Joe Manchin, is questioned for his strong discouragement for the transition to clean energy. He states that clean energy could be unreliable and that the United States should not increase its focus on the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. This has started some uncertainty where Joe is not allowed to use his Senate position to have insight on any financial companies or investments, however, his unwillingness to agree with Biden’s bill could be due to the 1-5million dollars he has with Energy Systems inc., a coal brokerage business he founded. 

 

In terms of this transition to clean energy, there are many skeptics on the idea of relying on clean energy, opposed to the traditional use of fossil fuels. More specifically, Manchin’s public opinion to stay away from clean energy could mislead United States citizens. His motivation could be not related to the climate at all, but rather his own business earnings. I believe that it is essential for the government to acknowledge this situation involving Manchin and to fully promote the stop of climate change by creating some sort of bill or rule that takes the economic piece out of saving our planet. Our world is priceless, but the selfishness that Minchin promotes could lead to disregarding the environment and solely focusing on money. Similar to our Carbon Tax and Cap and Trade, if people aren’t willing to lose money to help the planet, no progress will be made. Eliminating ideas that promote selfishness and “free riders” should be one of the first steps to limiting carbon emissions, as everyone who lives on this planet must work together to ensure its future. 

 

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Plans to Dig the Biggest Lithium Mine in the US Face Mounting Opposition.

Bosler, Cayte. “Plans to Dig the Biggest Lithium Mine in the US Face Mounting Opposition.” Inside Climate News, 12 Nov. 2021, https://insideclimatenews.org/news/07112021/lithium-mining-thacker-pass-nevada-electric-vehicles-climate/.  

With Biden’s $174 Billion to enhance electric-powered cars and charging stations, many environmentalists explain that going clean has many negative consequences to our environment. Lithium is the primary ore that is used to produce electric car batteries; similarly to fossil fuels, this too has to be mined from the ground and refined into the material we can use to make these vehicles. As stated in the article, the operations of the mine mentioned in the article will emit 152,713 tons of carbon dioxide per year, with additional use of 500,00 gallons of water per ton of lithium, showing the effects on the climate when transitioning to clean energy. 

 

With all this talk about clean energy and climate change, it is easy to overlook the possible drawbacks that clean energy can create. Electric Cars are a popular way of reducing carbon emissions, however, the creation of these cars has equal or more effects on our atmosphere as they are still made out of non-renewable resources and use machines running on fossil fuels. For example, the batteries that are the key component to EVs are made from lithium, both mined and refined similarly to these harmful fossil fuels that affect our environment. Additionally, currently, there are slight options for purchasing these electric cars. Many people around the Bay Area drive Teslas, one of the first Evs, however, these cars are expensive and unavailable to the lower to middle-class economic spectrum. This creates a problem where the benefits of driving electric cars outweigh the emissions that their creation processes release. For these lithium mines to have a positive impact on the environment, there must be a higher demand and a more available type of electric car, therefore allowing more people to convert from oil-burning vehicles to electric. 

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The Achilles’ Heel of Biden’s Climate Plan? Coal Miners.

Scheiber, Noam. “The Achilles’ Heel of Biden’s Climate Plan? Coal Miners.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Dec. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/business/economy/coal-miners-unions-climate.html?searchResultPosition=4.  

Many United Mine Workers of America members have concerns with Biden’s new bill that will put $150 Billion into clean energy. Even though Biden claims to supply Billions “in aid, training money and redevelopment funds that will help coal communities,” many current coal miners refute this claim stating that JFK promised the same type of support and did not follow through. Mr. Manchin says that even with this new bill, there will need to be more work from the government to transfer into the United States clean energy goal, hurting even more traditional factory workers in the future. Many of these miners do not have a proper skill set to transition into a new branch of work, unlike carpenters and others who will be able to use their skills elsewhere; this produces a severe economic problem. 

 

I believe that climate change is a severe problem that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible, or else our world might cross into a point of no return. However, many forget the economic problems that might come from the workers of fossil fuel plants going out of business. Many of these plants are in small towns with no abundance of jobs and therefore they are forced into this work and the whole community. Getting rid of these jobs will cause problems for entire communities nationwide, especially because mining and working at these factories is a very particular set of skills that is useless outside of their line of work. How can you convert a person where all they know is mining to working another line of business? And as I mentioned before, will these jobs even be available for these small communities that depend on this line of work? Even though Biden claims to provide aid and training into other fields, I don’t think many will abide/agree with being forced out of their jobs, therefore causing an uproar from people within the Union of the United Mine Workers of America.

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Why is California still drilling for oil despite its ambitious climate goals?

Alejandra, Borunda. (October 4th, 2021) Why is California still drilling for oil despite its ambitious climate goals? Retrieved February 4th, 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/why-is-california-still-drilling-for-oil-despite-its-ambitious-climate-goals

After the Huntington Beach oil spill, a lot of research has been put into the possible effects and immediate effects that have already occurred. After about 126,000 gallons of oil spread out across 13 square miles, this spill has already created a change in migration patterns for essential birds to the wetlands. The spill is expected to have worse effects than the 2015 Santa Barbara oil spill which had destroyed the surrounding areas for up to 2 years and stunning growth and still is stunning growth now. After being reviewed by Stanford, Californias oil has been determined the most expensive in ecosystem effects and just overall cost. The oil spill has brought up the question of why is California still drilling and the answer was that oil makes up about 1% of the state’s GDP which is a very large number. As Californians we can see the problem yet we are not seemingly assessing the root of the problem.

 

The first thing I found to be very crazy about this article is the facts and info it has brought in to show the amount of damage these spills cause and also this one. The fact that a previous spill has had such lasting effects and that this is an even larger spill concerns me. How long will these effects last for this time? Did we catch the spill in time? But I think these aren’t even the right questions, I think that we need to ask questions about how we are sourcing our oil and if it is worth it. The article even said that all of the oil that we produce ourselves is some of the most costly oil to extract and is that worth it. We could save the environmental damage and just ship it in, yes this means we still use oil but it means we don’t have to deal with spills. And with the shipping in of oil, it means it is more costly creating a want for change within energy sources. Here in California we aren’t known for our spills yet we get them very often still and they are very detrimental. I think the facts provided about the damage show we need to change and think of how to change fast.