EPA Archives – The Green Optimistic

Andrew Wheeler’s EPA Looks Like More of the Same

Nicholas Say — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 08:54:54 +0000

The EPA in the US needs to change its name. The new head of the EPA has no desire to protect the environment. Andrew Wheeler is another business first, anything else doesn’t matter industry insider. Unlike Scott Pruitt, who was hopelessly corrupt, Andrew Wheeler knows how to get things done in Washington D.C. Andrew Wheeler […]

The post Andrew Wheeler’s EPA Looks Like More of the Same appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Scott Pruitt Resigns From EPA, Mother Earth Continues Weeping

Nicholas Say — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:55:39 +0000

After President Trump accepted his resignation a few days ago, Scott Pruitt is no longer the head of the EPA. This looks a lot better than it really is, though it is vindicating to see Scott “I Destroy The Environment For Money” Pruitt exposed for the corrupt, wasteful, shill he has been shown to be. […]

The post Scott Pruitt Resigns From EPA, Mother Earth Continues Weeping appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

An Open Letter to Scott Pruitt, the New Head of EPA

Nicholas Say — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 15:16:56 +0000

Scott Pruitt is no stranger to the EPA, he made it his mission as Attorney General of Oklahoma to sue the federal agency repeatedly for what he calls an, “activist agenda”. Today he took the helm of the EPA, and to say that he faced doubts would be wildly misleading. More than 800 employees at […]

The post An Open Letter to Scott Pruitt, the New Head of EPA appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Scott Pruitt Set to Destroy The EPA In All But Name

Nicholas Say — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 13:41:05 +0000

Given the kind of president that Donald Trump is, the nomination of a man like Scott Pruitt to head the EPA is no surprise. While holding public office in Oklahoma, Pruitt filed suit after suit against the EPA. This man wants to lower air and water quality standards that were designed to protect human health. […]

The post Scott Pruitt Set to Destroy The EPA In All But Name appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Trump Slashes Grants to the EPA and Cuts Any Public Communication

Nicholas Say — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 16:25:49 +0000

Donald Trump may be at the forefront of an unmitigated ecological disaster. Very recently the new commander-in-chief of the United States suspended any and all grants from the EPA. In the previous year, these grants amounted to around 10 billion dollars, and were used for vital research and climate assistance. In addition to removing badly […]

The post Trump Slashes Grants to the EPA and Cuts Any Public Communication appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EPA’s Misleading Emissions Estimate for CAFE Standards

Courtney Lepping — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 18:49:53 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are under attack for “abandoning” their Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles. Citizens blindly trusted in the 163 grams/ mile or 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) estimate of carbon […]

The post EPA’s Misleading Emissions Estimate for CAFE Standards appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Harvard Clean Power Plan Could Save the US $38bln a Year

Courtney Lepping — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:38:37 +0000

Harvard released a report predicting that The Clean Power Plan would save the United States $38 billion a year. How? Lower healthcare costs that, when factored in with the costs of switching to green energy, would save money. The Clean Power Plan, created under the Obama administration, functions much like The Clean Air Act in […]

The post Harvard Clean Power Plan Could Save the US $38bln a Year appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Lightweight Cars Will Drive Fuel Economy Future, say Carmakers

Benji Jerew — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 04:44:47 +0000

Fuel economy in the automotive industry has been largely dependent on aerodynamics and powertrain enhancements, but lightweight cars are going to take us into the future. Since CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards were first implemented by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), back in 1978, the main means of reducing fuel consumption and emissions has […]

The post Lightweight Cars Will Drive Fuel Economy Future, say Carmakers appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Renewable Energy is Reliable, Says Report

Benji Jerew — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 13:16:51 +0000

We know that most forms of renewable energy are intermittent, which some have used as a scare tactic to keep people from investing, either emotionally or materially, in clean energy technology. It’s true, renewable energy, such as solar power, depends on sunshine, or hydroelectric power, depends on rainfall, so a new energy future could be […]

The post Renewable Energy is Reliable, Says Report appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Europe Needs to Update Fuel Economy Test Cycles

Benji Jerew — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:10:30 +0000

Times, “they are a-changin’ but, at least according to some independent testing agencies, environmental regulations, such as those that govern transportation fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions, aren’t keeping up with them. Fuel economy measurements are a big part of marketing green cars. Recently, Toyota announced pricing on the Toyota Prius c, which has the […]

The post Europe Needs to Update Fuel Economy Test Cycles appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

FDA Warns Pregnant Women of Dangerous Levels of Mercury In Tuna

Mila Luleva — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 10:45:56 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new recommendations on how much and what type of fish should be consumed. The new guidelines have been directed towards pregnant women and children, although it would be wise for everyone to take a look. Apparently canned tuna is a big […]

The post FDA Warns Pregnant Women of Dangerous Levels of Mercury In Tuna appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

CAFE Fail – Lexus NX to be Classified as a Light Truck

Benji Jerew — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:02:33 +0000

United States EPA CAFE (Environmental Protection Agency Corporate Average Fuel Economy) regulations are intended to keep automakers improving the average fuel economy of the US light vehicle fleet, but there are loopholes. Averaged in with the rest of Lexus’ offerings, the Lexus NX could contribute, for better or for worse, to Lexus’ CAFE rating. For […]

The post CAFE Fail – Lexus NX to be Classified as a Light Truck appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EPA Suggests Actually Testing Automobile Fuel Economy

Benji Jerew — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:16:20 +0000

It’s long been known that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) doesn’t actually test most of the cars before it assigns the “official”-ish fuel economy rating sticker, but recent difficulties are pushing the EPA to do better. For the most part, the EPA may do real-world testing of only a few cars per year. For the […]

The post EPA Suggests Actually Testing Automobile Fuel Economy appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Big Oil Behind Blocking Use of Ethanol? Say It Isn’t So!

Benji Jerew — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:43:39 +0000

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), higher percentages of biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are to be blended in the national fuel supply, but it seems that Big Oil might play a part in making it difficult. While fuel-efficient vehicles use less fuel overall, one might think this is […]

The post Big Oil Behind Blocking Use of Ethanol? Say It Isn’t So! appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Climate Change Science “Compelling,” Americans Agree With Carbon Limits

Benji Jerew — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:33:25 +0000

No matter what the climate change deniers say, the science and the effects are quite “compelling,” according to President Obama, which has moved many regulators toward greenhouse gas reduction measures. While climate change science speaks of rising sea levels, aberrant weather, and scarcity of the basic necessities for human life, it also recognizes the principal […]

The post Climate Change Science “Compelling,” Americans Agree With Carbon Limits appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

How Environment vs Economy Could be a Win-Win Situation

Benji Jerew — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 15:31:23 +0000

Every time someone, whether it be scientists, the federal government, or environment activists, suggest that we need to cut emissions and reduce pollution, the other side of the argument is always, “but it’ll ruin the economy!” The short answer to that retort is, perhaps reflected best in the words of Elon Musk (regarding hydrogen fuel […]

The post How Environment vs Economy Could be a Win-Win Situation appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EPA Announces Emissions Regulations for Power Plants

Benji Jerew — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 21:02:58 +0000

The carbon footprint of the United States is particularly heavy, but recent emissions regulations announced by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) should help to reduce it. The EPA has been working, for decades really, on reducing fuel consumption and its associated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. While this has probably been most notable in the transportation […]

The post EPA Announces Emissions Regulations for Power Plants appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Your Mileage May Vary – Emissions Analytics Offers Independent Rating

Benji Jerew — Mon, 12 May 2014 16:40:09 +0000

As emissions regulations get tighter, and fuel prices refuse to drop, improving fuel economy in automobiles is becoming both a regulatory and personal headache. When shopping for a car, I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Sticker Shock,” which typically refers to the difference between the MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) on the sticker and the […]

The post Your Mileage May Vary – Emissions Analytics Offers Independent Rating appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Scare Tactics – Renewable Energy will Spike Electricity Prices

Benji Jerew — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:42:18 +0000

We know that, to reduce emissions associated with power production, fully we need to make the switch to renewable energy. Some say this will cause energy prices to “skyrocket.” So far, United States’ adoption of renewable energy has been poor, at best. Power producers, responsible for about a third of US greenhouse gas emissions, could […]

The post Scare Tactics – Renewable Energy will Spike Electricity Prices appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

The Big Picture – EPA Emissions Regulations Could Save $Billions

Benji Jerew — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:07:31 +0000

Over the years, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been working hard to enact regulations to reduce emissions in the transportation sector. Of course, the easiest way to reduce vehicle emissions is to improve fuel economy. Improving fuel economy is good for the consumer’s wallet, as well, but big oil companies won’t have any part […]

The post The Big Picture – EPA Emissions Regulations Could Save $Billions appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

President Obama Announces Fuel Economy Standards for Heavy Truck Fleet

Benji Jerew — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:13:38 +0000

United States President Barack Obama has a few more things to do before he leaves office in 2016, one of which is continuing fuel economy reforms to reduce emissions and petroleum imports. Container ships and cargo trains may be the first two steps in the logistics of the United States, but the heavy duty truck […]

The post President Obama Announces Fuel Economy Standards for Heavy Truck Fleet appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Report – United States Average Fuel Economy New All-Time High

Benji Jerew — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 18:44:24 +0000

As fuel prices continue to rise and emissions regulations tighten, the results can be seen in the increased adoption of vehicles with better fuel economy. Automobiles are becoming more fuel-efficient every year and, at the same time, delivering better performance. For example, electric vehicles are torquey and fun-to-drive, and have the best fuel economy on […]

The post Report – United States Average Fuel Economy New All-Time High appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

For 2025 Fuel Economy Regulations, Electrification Not Entirely Necessary

Benji Jerew — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:00:50 +0000

United States’ average fuel economy, having reached an all-time high in 2013, is only getting started, considering the emissions regulations put in place. The US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), in an effort to curb emissions, specifically carbon dioxide emissions, has set some regulations that govern how much carbon dioxide that specific automakers can […]

The post For 2025 Fuel Economy Regulations, Electrification Not Entirely Necessary appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EPA to Announce Carbon Dioxide Regulations, Industry Resists

Benji Jerew — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 18:03:58 +0000

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), carbon dioxide emissions are no different than any other pollutant they’ve set to regulate, but industry disagrees. Climate change science has pinned human industrial processes as the key generator of greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide, among others, the chief component. The EPA has targeted various industries […]

The post EPA to Announce Carbon Dioxide Regulations, Industry Resists appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

For Overstating Fuel Economy, Hyundai and Kia Will Pay Back Millions

Benji Jerew — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 22:22:37 +0000

It’s one thing to say that “your mileage may vary” (YMMV) but, when confronted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), at least a couple of companies have admitted to overstating the fuel economy of their vehicles. The EPA doesn’t test every single vehicle to measure fuel economy, for the most part, counting on the manufacturers […]

The post For Overstating Fuel Economy, Hyundai and Kia Will Pay Back Millions appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Ethanol’s “Hidden Risk” is More Big Oil Nonsense

Benji Jerew — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 20:29:22 +0000

Ethanol is a biofuel which, when added to gasoline in concentrations up to 15%, or up to 85% in the case of flex-fuel vehicles, helps to reduce emissions and reduce gasoline consumption, but did you know it is also poisonous? Say it isn’t so! For the non-chemists, ethanol (C2H6O) is actually one of the oldest […]

The post Ethanol’s “Hidden Risk” is More Big Oil Nonsense appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Biomass to Electricity – EPA Warned of Potential Issues

Danny Harper — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 06:50:45 +0000

The transformation of biomass to electricity was once considered a carbon neutral energy source. By allowing power plants to substitute natural fuel (biomass) in lieu of coal, they are able to avoid fossil-fuel carbon emissions. This has proven to be an egregiously misinformed strategy. With trees being half water by weight, they automatically come with less […]

The post Biomass to Electricity – EPA Warned of Potential Issues appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EPA Proposal Puts Biofuels on Hold

Benji Jerew — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 21:13:32 +0000

The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act was meant to put biofuels, especially ethanol, into a more important role in the United States fuel mix, but a recent EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) proposal seems to have put that on hold. Ethanol, a biofuel made mostly from corn, has been a part of the United States […]

The post EPA Proposal Puts Biofuels on Hold appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EPA Proposes Reduction in U.S. Biofuel Requirements

Danny Harper — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:12:01 +0000

When ex-President George W. Bush signed an expansion of The Renewable Fuel Standard program into law, requiring oil companies to add billions of gallons of the biofuel ethanol to their gasoline each year, he predicted that it would make America “stronger, cleaner and more secure.” Fast forward six years and the expansion has proven to […]

The post EPA Proposes Reduction in U.S. Biofuel Requirements appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Addressing Climate Change: Power Producers Balk at Carbon Dioxide Limits

Benji Jerew — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 15:19:59 +0000

In the United States, power production, generates fully 33% of the carbon dioxide emissions of all sectors. In an effort to address climate change, a new Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] proposal could cut that number in half. Since United States President Barack Obama took office for his second term, it has been encouraging to see […]

The post Addressing Climate Change: Power Producers Balk at Carbon Dioxide Limits appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Exxon Mobile Busted Again for Environmental Infractions

Leigh Hutchens — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 04:24:31 +0000

Earlier this week, news came out that in 2010 XTO Energy, Inc., an Exxon Mobil Fracking company, received an unexpected visit from the Environmental Protection Agency and failed the surprise inspection. Very very badly. It’s only now that the gravity of the results are coming out. The violations the EPA discovered were vast, including illegally […]

The post Exxon Mobile Busted Again for Environmental Infractions appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

DoD, US Navy Focus on Clean Energy in Hawaii

Leigh Hutchens — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 01:51:27 +0000

The Energy Excelerator, a funding agency for renewable energy start-ups based out of Hawaii, has just been given $30 million by the US Navy to continue its work on alternative fuel initiatives. The Energy Excelerator also receives funding from the Department of Energy (DOE), among others. The agency already has a host of success stories […]

The post DoD, US Navy Focus on Clean Energy in Hawaii appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Ford C-Max Hybrid Fuel Economy, “Not Our Fault,” says Ford

Benji Jerew — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 18:14:07 +0000

When the growing number of Ford C-Max Hybrid owners started to complain that they weren’t getting the promised fuel economy, the blame had to fall somewhere. Of course, that means press and lawsuits and now federal involvement. Last week, we reported on the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] considering changes to its fuel economy measurements with […]

The post Ford C-Max Hybrid Fuel Economy, “Not Our Fault,” says Ford appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Renewables Have A Bleak Future Thanks to Carbon Dioxide Regulations, Says GE

Leigh Hutchens — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 23:34:44 +0000

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering setting strict greenhouse gas regulations for existing power plants. Sounds good, right? Not according to General Electric. GE has reported to the Office of the President of the United States that if the EPA sets too stringent regulations for existing power plants, the amount of renewable energy […]

The post Renewables Have A Bleak Future Thanks to Carbon Dioxide Regulations, Says GE appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EPA to Update Fuel Economy Rating Method for Hybrid Vehicles

Benji Jerew — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:42:23 +0000

With recent claims by consumers that their hybrid vehicles aren’t living up to the standard set on the Environmental Protection Agency / Department of Energy [EPA/DOT] Fuel Economy and Environment label, some updating of the testing rules needs to be done. Updating indeed, as the regulation currently in use was implemented in 1970, long before […]

The post EPA to Update Fuel Economy Rating Method for Hybrid Vehicles appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Fuel Economy, EPA Ratings vs Real World, Consumer Reports Points Out Improvements

Benji Jerew — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:37:05 +0000

Recently, there has been a lot of flak in the air over supposed fuel economy discrepancies. “Your Mileage May Vary” isn’t enough for people anymore, but where does the fault lie? Consumer Reports, and other people and agencies, believe the problem to be related to the Environmental Protection Agency’s [EPA] testing methods. For example, in […]

The post Fuel Economy, EPA Ratings vs Real World, Consumer Reports Points Out Improvements appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Lithium Ion Battery Production Has Unhealthy Effects, EPA Study Shows

Benji Jerew — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:19:01 +0000

According to a recent report by the US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], in-use carbon dioxide emissions don’t tell the whole story of lithium-ion battery packs. Lithium-ion battery packs are the current best-technology for just about all electric vehicles and even some hybrid electric vehicles. In order to increase the range of an electric vehicle, a reliable and […]

The post Lithium Ion Battery Production Has Unhealthy Effects, EPA Study Shows appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Coal Mining Pollution Neglected by The Environmental Protection Agency

Mila Luleva — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:31:57 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced earlier this week, that they will not take any action against coal mining pollution. The reasoning for EPA’s inactions is that the agency has “other priorities”. It is somehow difficult to comprehend how such agency, which is responsible for protecting the environment from deadly pollutants, harmful to human health, […]

The post Coal Mining Pollution Neglected by The Environmental Protection Agency appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New EPA Automobile Emissions Proposal Addresses Fuel Composition

Benji Jerew — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:27:38 +0000

Last year, new automobile emissions regulations focused on fuel consumption, but this year’s proposal is addressing the fuel itself. Carbon dioxide isn’t the only product of the combustion of gasoline. Sulfur dioxide can also form at high temperatures in the combustion chamber. In the atmosphere, oxidized with nitrogen oxide, can form sulfuric acid, which comes […]

The post New EPA Automobile Emissions Proposal Addresses Fuel Composition appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Carbon Emissions More Likely to be Curbed during Obama’s Second Term

Leigh Hutchens — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:20:03 +0000

President Obama still has an uphill battle with Congress on limiting carbon emissions, but he may be able to achieve more progress on curbing emissions by using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation. Due to reelection and shifting political agendas and economic conditions, Obama may actually be in a better position now to endure the confrontation […]

The post Carbon Emissions More Likely to be Curbed during Obama’s Second Term appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EPA Ratings – Your EV Mileage May Vary

Benji Jerew — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:41:47 +0000

We have all seen or at least heard the phrase, “Your mileage may vary,” and it has much more to do with the driver than anything else. We recently covered an interesting test drive that Edmunds.com puts all their test vehicles through, a 105.5 mile real-world test track otherwise referred to as the One Lap […]

The post EPA Ratings – Your EV Mileage May Vary appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Was it Fraud? How Biofuels Company “Earned” Millions from EPA Loophole

Benji Jerew — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:36:23 +0000

In June 2010, a CN Rail cargo train crossed the US / Canada border 24 times, earning some $2.6 million in transportation revenue. This statement, in itself, is probably not newsworthy, as cargo trains transport some 1.8 trillion tons of freight each year throughout North America. However, when you consider the cargo, which included tankers […]

The post Was it Fraud? How Biofuels Company “Earned” Millions from EPA Loophole appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New York State to Sue EPA For Failure to Act on Methane Emissions

Benji Jerew — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:02:59 +0000

It is well known that the increasing occurrence of severe weather systems is caused by global warming, which, in turn, is driven by human industrialization. The recent superstorm Hurricane Sandy, on its own, probably wasn’t much of an indicator of climate change, but when seen as part of a pattern, it has become clear that […]

The post New York State to Sue EPA For Failure to Act on Methane Emissions appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Scrap Tires and Concrete Transformed Into Ecological Building Blocks

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:52:20 +0000

Concrete is one of the best materials the world has ever seen - you can see it everywhere. The problem is that when you want to dispose it, you suddenly have a problem - a big one. The same story goes with scrap tires - once used, they can hardly be dispensed of, or, in the best of cases - recycled.

The post Scrap Tires and Concrete Transformed Into Ecological Building Blocks appeared first on The Green Optimistic.