Environmental Law & Policy Center » North Dakota http://elpc.org Protecting the Midwest's Environment and Natural Heritage Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:02:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Wind Industry Executives Join ELPC at U.S. Capitol http://elpc.org/2012/01/25/wind-industry-executives-join-elpc-at-u-s-capitol http://elpc.org/2012/01/25/wind-industry-executives-join-elpc-at-u-s-capitol#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:39:47 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2012/01/25/wind-industry-executives-join-elpc-at-u-s-capitol #ptcbriefing pic from the U.S. Capitol on Twitpic Today, wind industry executives joined ELPC at the U.S. Capitol to convey the urgency of extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for the wind industry. Their message: This vital tax credit means good-paying rural and urban jobs for real people, and it means investment and innovation for America’s future. Because of the long lead time to develop, manufacture and install wind power, executives urged Congress to act now in order to avoid halting development in 2013, which would permanently hamper the U.S. wind supply chain.

Read more comments on Twitter @ELPCenter #ptcbriefing

Fox Business News reported the story here.

]]> http://elpc.org/2012/01/25/wind-industry-executives-join-elpc-at-u-s-capitol/feed 0 Chicago Tribune Editorial by Howard Learner: Mercury Pollution Reduction Standards Protect Children’s Health and the Great Lakes http://elpc.org/2011/12/29/chicago-tribune-editoral-by-howard-learner-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards-protect-childrens-health-and-the-great-lakes http://elpc.org/2011/12/29/chicago-tribune-editoral-by-howard-learner-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards-protect-childrens-health-and-the-great-lakes#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:35:33 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/12/29/chicago-tribune-editoral-by-howard-learner-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards-protect-childrens-health-and-the-great-lakes In the Chicago Tribune’s lead editorial on Dec. 28th, ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner discusses why the EPA’s recently announced federal Mercury and Air Toxics Standard is good for public health, the environment and the economy. Illinois enacted strong state standards in 2006 and has proven that it’s possible to control pollution from coal plants. The new federal rules will level the playing field among coal plants in all states. Read the editorial.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/12/29/chicago-tribune-editoral-by-howard-learner-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards-protect-childrens-health-and-the-great-lakes/feed 0 Webinar: Keeping Clean Energy On Track with the Production Tax Credit http://elpc.org/2011/12/13/webinar-keeping-clean-energy-on-track-with-the-production-tax-credit http://elpc.org/2011/12/13/webinar-keeping-clean-energy-on-track-with-the-production-tax-credit#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:22:35 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/12/13/webinar-keeping-clean-energy-on-track-with-the-production-tax-credit Free Webinar: Keeping Clean Energy On Track with the Production Tax Credit (PTC)

Equipped with the PTC, the wind energy industry has contributed impressively to U.S. economic development. During this free ELPC webinar, ELPC and wind industry executive Scott Viciana discussed the impact of the PTC and proposed legislation to extend it.  If you weren’t able to listen in to the live webinar, you can download the slides and listen to the audio for free.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/12/13/webinar-keeping-clean-energy-on-track-with-the-production-tax-credit/feed 0 Video: Save Farm Energy Programs http://elpc.org/2011/10/27/video-save-farm-energy-programs http://elpc.org/2011/10/27/video-save-farm-energy-programs#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:34:55 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/10/27/video-save-farm-energy-programs Video: Save Farm Energy Programs

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/10/27/video-save-farm-energy-programs/feed 0 NYT: In North Dakota, Flames of Wasted Natural Gas Light the Prairie http://elpc.org/2011/09/28/nyt-in-north-dakota-flames-of-wasted-natural-gas-light-the-prairie http://elpc.org/2011/09/28/nyt-in-north-dakota-flames-of-wasted-natural-gas-light-the-prairie#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:49:34 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/09/28/nyt-in-north-dakota-flames-of-wasted-natural-gas-light-the-prairie In this New York Times article, the recent rise of shale drilling to cultivate natural gas as an energy source is described. This is especially prominent in North Dakota, where hundreds of fire flares now illuminate the prairie. Read the article.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/09/28/nyt-in-north-dakota-flames-of-wasted-natural-gas-light-the-prairie/feed 0 South Dakota Gov. Daugaard Calls for Wind Energy http://elpc.org/2011/09/09/south-dakota-sen-daugaard-calls-for-wind-energy http://elpc.org/2011/09/09/south-dakota-sen-daugaard-calls-for-wind-energy#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:16:28 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/09/09/south-dakota-sen-daugaard-calls-for-wind-energy Gov. Dennis Daugaard was among 24 governors — including those from Midwest/Great Plains states Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota — last month to sign a letter urging President Obama to ensure that tax credits for wind energy deployment are renewed next year.

South Dakota Wind Energy Association Executive Director Steve Wegman told the South Dakota Argus Leader that wind energy has poured more than $2 billion into the state since 2002.

ELPC’s Sioux Falls-based Policy Advocate Matt McLarty said, “If we want developers to invest billions of dollars in wind farms and create thousands of new jobs here, the federal government must create a stable, predictable tax climate that encourages long-term investment.”

Read the article in the Argus Leader.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/09/09/south-dakota-sen-daugaard-calls-for-wind-energy/feed 0 National Ag Energy Leaders Explain Importance of Farm Bill Energy Title http://elpc.org/2011/07/19/national-ag-energy-leaders-explain-importance-of-farm-bill-energy-title http://elpc.org/2011/07/19/national-ag-energy-leaders-explain-importance-of-farm-bill-energy-title#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:13:04 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/07/19/national-ag-energy-leaders-explain-importance-of-farm-bill-energy-title ELPC and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute brought together national and regional experts on agriculture and clean energy development to report from the field on the importance of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and other parts of the Farm Bill Energy Title. Listen to the briefing.

Speakers included:

  • Bruce Knight, Dairy Advisor for Strategic Conservation Solutions, LLC and former Chief of Natural Resources Conservation Service at the USDA under President Bush
  • Bennie Hutchins, Principal, Ag Energy Resources, Mississippi
  • Bill Midcap, Farmer and Rural Development Specialist, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado
  • Andy Olsen, ELPC Senior Policy Advocate

REAP incentivizes a broad range of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for all agricultural sectors across the country.  The program has helped thousands of rural producers and businesses slash energy costs and earn new income with energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Dairy and poultry producers, rural electric cooperatives, and other rural producers and small businesses throughout the country are successfully using REAP. The Energy Title is helping to accelerate advanced biofuels and bioproducts production, chiefly through the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).

To learn more, visit ELPC’s dedicated website, FarmEnergy.org.

You can also listen to today’s briefing on BarnMedia.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/07/19/national-ag-energy-leaders-explain-importance-of-farm-bill-energy-title/feed 0 New National Air Pollution Standards Will Create a Healthier Nation and a Stronger Economy http://elpc.org/2011/07/07/new-national-air-pollution-standards-will-create-a-healthier-nation-and-a-stronger-economy http://elpc.org/2011/07/07/new-national-air-pollution-standards-will-create-a-healthier-nation-and-a-stronger-economy#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:49:38 +0000 jgeiger http://elpc.org/2011/07/07/new-national-air-pollution-standards-will-create-a-healthier-nation-and-a-stronger-economy Statement by Howard A. Learner, Executive Director,
Environmental Law & Policy Center

“Preventing just one death is heroic, and EPA’s new pollution reduction standards do even better by preventing tens of thousands of premature deaths and heart attacks and avoiding hundreds of thousands of illnesses.

Reducing soot and smog can alleviate asthma and help people’s health in ways that make good economic sense.  The EPA’s Cross State Pollution Rule will generate up to $290 billion in annual health and welfare benefits, which greatly exceeds the pollution clean-up costs.

These long overdue clean air standards will create new jobs as utilities hire skilled workers to install modern pollution control equipment and replace the oldest, most highly polluting coal plants with cleaner new energy sources.

Today, we celebrate the beginning of a healthier nation and a stronger economy by reducing air pollution that has been both harming our health and draining our wallets.”

Read US EPA’s final cross-state air pollution rule here: http://www.epa.gov/crossstaterule/

Download ELPC’s mercury report here.

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The Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization. www.ELPC.org

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/07/07/new-national-air-pollution-standards-will-create-a-healthier-nation-and-a-stronger-economy/feed 0 Farm Energy Briefing – REAP Higher Profits with Clean Energy http://elpc.org/2010/12/03/farm-energy-briefing-december-15-reap-higher-profits-with-clean-energy http://elpc.org/2010/12/03/farm-energy-briefing-december-15-reap-higher-profits-with-clean-energy#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:59:16 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2010/12/03/farm-energy-briefing-december-15-reap-higher-profits-with-clean-energy On December 15th, the Environmental Law & Policy Center and USDA Rural Development hosted a briefing about REAP, the Rural Energy for America Program. Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects can reduce energy costs and generate new income for farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners. USDA’s REAP program provides grants and loan guarantees nationwide. Some use REAP incentives to upgrade to more efficient ventilation, pumps, coolers, insulation, or heating and cooling systems. Others now generate their own energy with solar panels, wind turbines, biogas or biofuels.

Hundreds of farmers, ranchers and businesses are making greater profits and slashing energy costs with REAP. Mindi Grieve of the Environmental Law & Policy Center and Dennis Rodin of USDA’s Office of Rural Development explained the program and answer your questions.

]]> http://elpc.org/2010/12/03/farm-energy-briefing-december-15-reap-higher-profits-with-clean-energy/feed 0 ELPC Commends New EPA Mercury Pollution Reduction Standards http://elpc.org/2010/04/30/elpc-commends-new-epa-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards http://elpc.org/2010/04/30/elpc-commends-new-epa-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:00:15 +0000 jgeiger http://elpc.org/2010/04/30/elpc-commends-new-epa-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards The Environmental Law & Policy Center commends the Obama Administration for proposing new federal air pollution reduction standards today that would sharply reduce mercury and other toxic pollutants from industrial boilers and solid waste incinerators. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the proposed rules would reduce mercury pollution by more than 50 percent from about 200,000 industrial boilers, heaters and solid waste incinerators across the country.

“The US EPA is stepping up to protect children’s health, the Great Lakes and our environment by reducing toxic mercury pollution from major sources,” said Howard A. Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Mercury is a neurotoxin that can pass through a pregnant woman’s placenta and harm fetal brain development. Coal plants and these industrial smokestacks are the largest sources of mercury pollution.  Today’s announcement leads the way to better protection for children’s health and the environment.”

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