Browsing environmental news sources so you don't have to. Contact Laura Barnes (lbarnes@istc.illinois.edu) with questions, comments, and suggestions.
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A new water-treatment technique that combines two expensive methods could prove a cheaper and more efficient way to remove hard-to-clean contaminants. The technology combines photocatalysis, which uses light to break down pollutants, and electrochemical oxidation, which uses an electrical current to do the same.
Read the full story in Technology Review.
A startup based in Tel Aviv, Israel, called HCL-Cleantech has reinvented a century-old process called the Bergius process as a much cheaper method to produce ethanol from biomass. The process uses concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCL) to breakdown biomass into sugars but has been too expensive for commercial use. The company, however, says that it has developed a way to recycle 42 percent of the HCL, pumping it back into the system and significantly reducing the cost of making ethanol.
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Read the full story at MSNBC.
As the economy sheds jobs, community colleges across the country are reporting a surge of unemployed workers enrolling in courses that offer training for “green-collar” jobs.
Students are learning how to install solar panels, repair wind turbines, produce biofuels and do other work related to renewable energy.
Read the full story in the Seattle Times.
Instead of hearing “paper or plastic?” at the grocery store, you now may be asked, “Did you remember your bag?”
The new question is part of a voluntary program local grocers, including the biggest chains, have signed onto to promote reusable bags.
In the Aug. 18 primary, Seattle voters will consider a 20-cent fee on disposable bags at grocery and drugstores. Environmentalists and city officials support it. The plastics industry opposes it.
Grocers, caught in the middle, have officially remained neutral. So while voters weigh a mandatory fee, city leaders have teamed up with retailers on a less controversial effort.
Stores in the program — including all the big supermarket chains, independent stores, Target, and Bartell Drugs — are posting signs reminding people to bring reusable bags, promote their use, sell those bags in their stores, and donate reusable bags to low-income communities.
Celebrate nature by photographing it wherever you are. Then, enter the best of your photos in the National Wildlife Federation’s 39th annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. $25,000 in cash, including two Grand Prizes of $5,000 each, and other prizes will be awarded to the winners in three separate divisions: Professional, Amateur and Youth.
Award-winning entries will be published in the 2009 December/January issue of National Wildlife® magazine, and all winners will be featured in the magazine’s online PhotoZone. In return for your $15 entry fee, you will receive a one-year membership to National Wildlife Federation, including a subscription to the magazine (current NWF members excluded). You can submit as many as 20 images in any combination in seven categories. For more details about how to submit your photos and other information, read the official rules. Deadline is July 20.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requests proposals for the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program. This program supports urban jurisdictions with the greatest lead-based paint hazard control needs, in undertaking programs for the identification and control of lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately owned rental and owner-occupied housing units. $117 million expected to be available, individual awards NTE $7.07 million. Responses due 7/20/09. For more info, contact Bill Nellis at (202) 402-7686 or go to: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa09/grpleadcombo.cfm. Refer to Sol# FR-5300-N-06.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests proposals for Targeted Grants to Reduce Childhood Lead Poisoning. This RFP will support activities to reduce incidences of childhood lead poisoning in vulnerable populations. $1 million expected to be available, up to 20 awards anticipated. Responses due 8/14/09. For more info, including Regional contacts, go to: http://epa.gov/lead/pubs/rfp20090513.pdf. Refer to Sol# EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-06.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests proposals for the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) Grant Program. Under this program, EFC’s will be established across the nation to provide regulated parties with finance-related training, technical assistance, finance studies, and other analytical support to help them develop solutions to the critical “how-to-pay” issues associated with meeting environmental goals. $24 million expected to be available, up to 10 awards anticipated. Responses due 7/15/09. For more info, contact Timothy McProuty at efcgrant@epa.gov or go to: http://www.epa.gov/efinpage/efcgrants/index.htm. Refer to Sol# EPA-OCFO-CEF-09-01.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests proposals for Advancing Public Health Protection through Water Infrastructure Sustainability. Projects should clearly demonstrate an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach that leads to advances in design, operation, and management of the water infrastructure and should directly tie those advances to public health protection in conjunction with improving water efficiency and reducing energy requirements. $6 million expected to be available, up to 8 awards anticipated. Responses due 8/17/09. For more info, contact Angela Page at page.angelad@epa.gov or go to: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2009/2009_star_water_infrastructure.html. Refer to Sol# EPA-G2009-STAR-F1.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (RTP). This program supports technology development, applied research, and/or training, with a focus on rural communities, to aid in the development of a workforce for bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, or agriculture-based renewable energy. $750K expected to be available, up to 25 awards anticipated. Responses due 7/20/09. For more info, contact RTP@csrees.usda.gov or go to: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/new_era.html. Refer to Sol# USDA-CSREES-RTP-002295.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Critical Agricultural Materials Program. This program supports the development and demonstration of novel, environmentally friendly technologies for use in paints, coatings, and adhesives for composites. Priority will be given to proposals that include a life cycle analysis, comparing biobased products with a fossil-based counterparts, using the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability model (BEES) developed by the NIST. $1 million expected to be available, up to 2 awards anticipated. Responses due 7/7/09. For more info, contact Carmela Bailey at cbailey@csrees.usda.gov or go to: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/cam.html. Refer to Sol# USDA-CSREES-OP-002325.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Small Business Innovation Research Program – Phase I. SBIR supports U.S. owned, small business R&D projects that address important problems facing American agriculture and have the potential to lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful. Research areas include, but are not limited to: Biofuels and Biobased Products; Air, Water, and Soils; Rural Development; Aquaculture; and Animal Manure Management. $18.5 million expected to be available, individual awards NTE $90K. Responses due 9/3/09. For more info, contact sbir@csrees.usda.gov or go to: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/sbir_rfa.html. Refer to Sol# USDA-CSREES-SBIR-002363.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) requests applications for Global Climate Change Education (GCCE): Research Experience, Teaching and Learning. Each funded proposal is expected to make use of NASA’s unique contributions in climate science to enhance students’ academic experiences and/or to improve educators’ abilities to engage their students. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: 1) Global Climate Change Science Research Experiences for Undergraduate or Community College Students, and 2) Improving Teacher Competency for Global Climate Change Education. $8 million expected to be available, up to 25 awards anticipated. Notice of Intent to apply due 7/2/09, final proposals due 8/3/09. For more info, contact Lin Chambers at gcce-questions@lists.nasa.gov or go to: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={6950C5E7-9903-AFEA-2AB0-A839C6F510B4}&path=open. Refer to Sol# NNL09ZB1005C.
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for the Industrial Energy Efficiency Grand Challenge. This RFP will support the development of transformational industrial processes and technologies that reduce the energy intensity or greenhouse gas emissions of the system by a minimum of 25 percent while providing a return on investment of 10 percent or greater. $15 million expected to be available, up to 50 awards anticipated. Responses due 7/14/09. For more info, contact Michael Schledorn at michael.schledorn@go.doe.gov or go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47812. Refer to Sol# DE-FOA-0000113.
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for the Deployment of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems, District Energy Systems, Waste Energy Recovery Systems, and Efficient Industrial Equipment. This RFP will enable deployment of industrial technologies that provide 25% or greater improvement in energy efficiency over the currently-utilized equipment. The amount of funding available and number of awards anticipated not available at the time of this writing. Responses due 7/14/09. For more info, contact Debra Ball at ball@netl.doe.gov or go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47763. Refer to Sol# DE-FOA-0000044.
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Energy Efficient Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Through this RFP, DOE seeks the development of new technologies to dramatically improve energy efficiency in ICT systems with an the emphasis on new technologies that can be commercialized within the next 3 – 5 five years, and to demonstrate through field testing highly energy efficient, emerging technologies that are ready for or are in the initial stage of commercial introduction. $50 million expected to be available, up to 15 awards anticipated. Responses due 7/21/09. For more info, contact Michael Schledorn at michael.schledorn@go.doe.gov or go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47742. Refer to Sol# DE-FOA-0000107.
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative Supporting Consortium. The intent of this initiative is to establish a Supporting Consortium (SC) representing commercial building design, equipment, operation, finance, and other groups. The main goal of the SC is to collect information on current and next generation technologies for individual components and systems to provide a knowledge base of information to industry in supporting DOE’s goal of establishing net-zero energy performance for all U.S. commercial buildings by 2050. $1 million expected to be available, 1 award anticipated. Responses due 7/14/09. For more info, contact Richard Rogus at rogus@netl.doe.gov or go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=47706. Refer to Sol# DE-FOA-0000105.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for Renewable Energy Feasibility Grants. This program will provide support to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems. $6 million expected to be available, up to 150 awards anticipated. Responses due 7/31/09. For more info, including state specific contacts, go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=47628&mode=VIEW. Refer to Sol# RDBCP-09-REAP-FEASIBILITY.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements. This program will provide support to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. $51.6 million expected to be available, up to 1,100 awards anticipated. Responses due 7/31/09. For more info, including Regional contacts, go to: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12178.pdf. Refer to Sol# RDBCP-09-REAP-RES-EEI.
The Student Conservation Association requests proposals for the Green Your School Contest. This is a national competition that awards projects that have, or will, improve the environmental health of the school. $10K available, 3 awards anticipated. Responses due 10/9/09. For more info, go to: http://www.thesca.org/green-your-school.
In early June, the National Science Foundation launched a new web-based video series called Science Nation. Recent and upcoming episodes include:
