The 2007 Successful Farming Pork Powerhouses list is out, and the results are predictable: the 20 biggest swine operations in the nation yet again added sows to their herds during the past year. In this case, those 20 “Powerhouses” increased their breeding herd by 5 percent, for a total of 3.155 million sows. Reports Successful Farming: “The June USDA Hogs and Pigs Report said there are 6.12 million breeding animals in the U.S., meaning these largest producers control almost half of the nation’s swine breeding herd.” All this expansion occurred at a time when feed costs could go up as much as 40 percent because of the ethanol boom. At first blush, it’s an example of agribusiness plowing ahead against the odds to feed the world a better pork chop. But here’s some advice: read the Successful Farming Pork Powerhouses story, and then, for a reality check, take a look at a recent Environmental Health Perspectives paper on the economic and human health impacts of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The paper makes it clear this isn’t about producing pork—it’s about garnering market power at all costs. The Big 20 are racing to see who can control the most sows in the shortest period of time, and they don’t care who or what gets hurt in the process—independent farmers, the environment, rural communities and consumers are all expendable in this game.

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by Erin Stojan, program coordinator, Fresh Energy

Last week, Ann Arbor, Michigan announced plans to convert its entire downtown streetlighting to LEDs (light emitting diodes)—the first U.S. city to do so. Citing a desire to decrease global warming pollution and energy use, city leaders expect the investment in the over 1,000 streetlights will pay for itself in less than four years. Whereas existing bulbs use 120 watts and last only two years, the new LEDs usually burn ten years and use only 56 watts.

Not only is the move saving the city money, but it will also reduce global warming pollution by about 294 tons, according to Mayor John Hieftje. The retrofitting, which will take place over two years, begins next month.

by Erin Stojan, program coordinator, Fresh Energy
Cornflower Electric Power proposed to build a combined 1,400-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Kansas, which would have emitted about 11 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. Would have—had not the Sunflower coal plant become the first to see a construction permit rejected based on its global warming pollution emissions last Thursday. (more…)

Angelina Lopez is a junior at Macalester College. She’s currently Transit for Livable Communities’ Media Relations and Communications intern, and she’s also a very passionate transiteer (definition: lover and frequent user of transit). Check out her thoughts on Paris’ Velib. ~Katie

After I got home (Albuquerque, NM) for summer break from Macalester College last spring, I decided to radically reduce my driving and bike or use public transit. What began as a moral decision quickly became one of the most empowering and awakening changes I have made in my life. Never before had I understood the potential power of my body and my bicycle, nor had I conceptualized the heat (often upwards of 95°F) as less a discomfort than an aspect of my ‘habitat.’ I explored many side streets, learned to appreciate the distinct character of neighborhoods, and met engaged communities of people. Though I set out to reduce my carbon footprint, I stumbled upon a treasure trove of other benefits of biking. I’m not alone.

You can imagine why I think Paris’ new bicycle rental program couldn’t have picked a more appropriate name: Vélib, short for “vélo libre” or “vélo liberté”, translating to free bicycle or bicycle freedom. Thousands of specially designed bicycles await riders, who rent the bikes by swiping a credit card through the kiosk, accessing an individual account, and then pedaling off to their destination. To ensure that the bikes are returned, the company gets deposit authorization for 150 euros. The first half hour is free, with charges accruing by the half hour after that.

San Francisco and Portland have gotten attention for their interest in developing their own bicycle rental programs, though community shares and private rentals already exist in at least 38 U.S. states. If the 7.5 million miles already ridden by Parisians in the last three months are any indication, this inspired market-based innovation has major potential in U.S. cities to supply a mounting demand for solutions to pressing issues: climate change, congestion, obesity, community building, and smart (re)growth. Civil society and private enterprise have begun to make more bikes available to individuals. Now, it’s time for our legislators to step up to meet the growing need for safe bicycle routes.

by Elena Velkov, media relations coordinator, Fresh Energy

As a recent graduate of the University of Florida, I have a strong appreciation for the campus bus system. Riding a bus meant I arrived on time to a class that, while still considered “on campus,” would take a 40-minute walk. It was also convenient during tropical storms when the last thing I wanted to do was sit through a lecture, soaked to the skin, in full-blast AC. Plus, using public transit meant I was contributing less to the global warming problem.

Last month, Madison mayor Dave Cieslewicz pushed the University of Wisconsin’s bus system to the next level, getting students to class while producing less global warming pollution. (more…)

James Hansen, NASA’s senior climate scientist, was remarkable at a Science Museum dinner prior to the Nobel event in St. Peter, and he was even better at the Nobel event itself. His was the only speech that elicited a standing ovation of the audience estimated at 6500. He methodically and unassumingly showed the crowd how the human forcing of the climate dwarfs all other possible effects. His tour of the science looked at 65 million years of climate history,  a heck of a lot longer that the 400,000 years we are accustomed to seeing in the comparisons of temperature and CO2 that Al Gore has made so famous. (more…)

October 10, 2007, may very well become known as “Minnesota Atrazine Day” in future years. Discussion of the widely-used herbicide started at 10 a.m. that day with Tyrone Hayes’ appearance on MPR’s Midmorning program, and it didn’t wind down until 10 p.m. at a special forum/fundraiser featuring Hayes and MPCA whistleblower Paul Wotzka. In between were a press conference and Senate hearing on atrazine and attempts by government and industry to silence its critics. A lot of excellent insights were provided on the political, environmental and economical aspects of atrazine. Dots were connected and puzzle pieces put together in a way that hopefully will create a more informed discussion of pesticide regulation and publicly-funded science in Minnesota. Perhaps one of the most troubling connections described by Professor Hayes at least three times during the course of the day had to do with the number one form of cancer in women. His description of how a pharmaceutical company is marketing a product that is supposed to treat a disease which may have some of its roots in the use of a pesticide sold by another branch of that same company would make for a heck of an ironic joke—if it wasn’t for the fact that people’s lives were at stake. Here’s the story Hayes laid out: (more…)

On its first full day of hearing presentations from groups requesting money for the 2008 funding cycle, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) reviewed fifteen project requests.  Each proposal was only allotted one-half hour and Chair David Hartwell did his best to keep the meeting on pace.  Much to the consternation of several members who felt they were not getting time to fully vet the issues, Chair Hartwell had to resort to cutting questioning short on several occasions. (more…)

On Tuesday, October 9th, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) met to decide which projects will be invited to give presentations to the Commission, hear three presentations for the 2008 funding cycle, and approve a report on Minimum Standards for Forest Conservation Easements.  [Up to this point, the LCCMR has largely been meeting to discuss big picture issues such as developing a statewide conservation plan, how to prioritize appropriations for the 2008 funding cycle, and how conservation easements funded with Environment Trust Fund monies could impact mining rights in the state.  Today was the first day that the Commission heard presentations from groups looking for funding, and the meeting was not without its share of controversy.] (more…)

by Rick Fuentes, media relations specialist, Fresh Energy

On Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hear from the remaining owners of the Big Stone II power plant (Otter Tail Power, et al). After the pullout of two major investors–Great River Energy (GRE) and Southern Minnesota Municipal Power–the big question is, does the expansion of the 600-megawatt coal-burning power plant go on, or do the investors go back to the drawing board? (more…)