To get everyone ready for the weekend, we wanted to share some good environmental news. There are serious environmental issues that must be dealt with, but we can still celebrate good things that have happened.
The End of Coal: The push to end the use of coal power just got another significant backer, General Electric. GE has been a prominent builder of coal fired power plants for several decades. In 2015 GE spent $9.5 billion to purchase Alstom’s power segment, who makes coal-fueled turbines. GE is increasing their focus on renewable energy and leaving coal behind, highlighted by the creation of Haliade-X, the most powerful offshore wind turbine ever made. 2019 was a banner year for renewable energy in the US, it was the first time since 1885 that the US used more energy from renewable sources than from coal. Read the entire General Electric story here!
Musky Fishing: At Clean Fairfax we like to spend a lot of time outdoors and are appreciative of efforts by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to improve outdoor recreation opportunities. Earlier this month DWR biologists released 3,525 fingerling Muskellunge into eight bodies of water in Virginia. DWR raises the juvenile musky in hatchery ponds and releases them into Virginia waters to provide exciting catches for anglers. Musky are not native to Virginia, first introduced into the state in 1963, they have become an important part of the ecosystem and economy. Recreational fishing in Virginia is responsible for over $1.3 billion in economic impact in the Commonwealth. If you’re interested in catching a musky as the temperature drops, read the DWR Musky 101 page here!
(Muskelunge Image Credit: Virginia DWR)
Electric Cars: Most of the time, strategies that can have a positive impact on climate change move across the country in a domino effect, and California has started that reaction. Governor Newsome signed an executive order this week that mandates new cars powered by gasoline can not be sold in the state after 2035. For the state to accomplish this, they will need to ensure the infrastructure is capable of handling the influx of electric cars. One of the most important aspects of this executive order is that it will force car manufacturers to increase their investment in fossil fuel free cars. Read about Governor Newsome’s executive order here!
Keurig Class Action: For years Keurig has advertised their Green Mountain K-Cups as recyclable. The problem is that there is nowhere to recycle them, which relates back to something we talk about on a regular basis. Just because a plastic product is technically “recyclable” or “repurposable” does not mean it is actually a possibility to do anything with those products other than send them to a landfill or incinerator. A federal judge recently approved a class action lawsuit against Keurig, while Keurig’s argument in the case was that customers should have realized the K-Cups are not recyclable everywhere. This is a classic plastic producer argument, corporations greenwash their products in an attempt to trick the general public. Thank you to Judge Gilliam for standing with people over polluters. Read the story here!
Benefits of Beavers: As previously mentioned, we like to spend a lot of time outside and when we are hiking or kayaking we often watch beavers who are busy at work and their work is more important than ever! Beaver habitat provides refuge during wildfires. As put by Joe Wheaton, a geomorphologist at Utah State, “It’s really not complicated: water doesn’t burn”. Researchers studied satellite images of areas burned by wildfires and found a common thread through the areas. The locations that had beaver dams were still lush and green, providing much needed habitat for flora and fauna in regions devastated by forest fires. Next time you’re paddling on the Potomac and you hear a beaver’s tail slap the water, make sure you thank them for their help! Learn more about how beavers protect ecosystems here!
