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ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY DIVISION NEWSLETTER 11 APR. 2016 If you need older URLs contact George at [email protected]. Please Note: “This newsletter contains articles that offer differing points of view regarding climate change, energy and other environmental issues. Any opinions expressed in this publication are the responses of the editor alone and do not represent the positions of the Environmental and Energy Engineering Division or the ASME.” George Holliday A. ENVIRONMENT 1. ASME ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DIVISION EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAM AWARD The ASME Environmental Engineering Division (EED) is proud to announce the recipients of its 1st Annual Education Support Program Awards. The Program is designed to help foster the impact of environmental engineering and education in communities around the world, to help people identify and solve environmental problems, and thereby lead to improvements in their quality of life. The Program can fund a maximum of $25,000 per year (no more than five proposals will be funded with a limit of $5,000 per award) to students, educators and EED members who propose interesting ways to impact environmental education in their communities. The Program received many outstanding proposals from not only the United States but also from several foreign counties. The Awards Committee, made up of ASME volunteers from the EED Executive Committee, reviewed the proposals and requested clarification from multiple proposers before deciding on the winners. The winners spanned the entire gamut of education from high school teachers to college/graduate students to professors. The winners were Mechanical Engineers, other engineers, as well as non-engineers. The winning proposals were: • Michael S. Czahor, Outreach Committee Director, Wind Energy Student Organization, Iowa State University, Ames, IA; Austin Herrema, Outreach Committee Ph.D. Representative, Wind Energy Student Organization, Iowa State University, Ames, IA: “Wind Energy Student Organization” • Megan Fuller, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA; “Lab component for Sustainability Course” • Michael Lazere, Project Lead the Way Engineering Program, Marshalltown HS (Iowa); Mark Mba Wright, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa: “Using Interactive iPython Simulations to Model Life Cycle Analysis of Ethanol Production” • David A. Roke, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH; Theresa Cutright, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH: “High School Student Laboratory Education Module: Use of Abundant Waste Materials in Concrete Mix Design” 1 EED and ASME want to congratulate all the winners as well as all others who submitted proposals. Arnold Feldman [[email protected]] 2. PARIS AGREEMENT: A RISK REGULATION PERSPECTIVE Posted on March 28, 2016 | 2 comments by Judith Curry The Paris Agreement and, more generally, climate change policy, almost perfectly illustrate the contradictions of the post-modern industrialized world risk society, characterized by perceived threats confirmed by politicized science and governed by sub-politics beyond democratic control. – Lucas Bergkamp https://judithcurry.com/2016/03/28/paris-agreement-a-risk-regulation-perspective/#more-21348 3. FACING PRISON, RAJENDRA PACHAURI CLAIMS CLIMATE SCEPTICS ARE BEHIND SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE http://www.thegwpf.com/facing-prison-ruin-and-disgrace-rajendra-pachauri-claims-climate-sceptics- are-behind-sexual-harassment-case/ Judith Curry 4. IS NUCLEAR POWER OUR ENERGY FUTURE — OR A DINOSAUR IN A DEATH SPIRAL? http://ensia.com/features/is-nuclear-power-our-energy-future-or-a-dinosaur-in-a-death-spiral/ Judith Curry 5. GREEN ENERGY MAY HAVE JUST COST BRITAIN 40,000 JOBS Guest essay by Eric Worrall Tata Steel has announced an immediate withdrawal from Britain, threatening 4000 steel working jobs, and 40,000 jobs in dependent industries. The main reason given for abandoning Britain is the high price Tata is forced to pay for energy, thanks to Britain’s green energy policies. Tata’s decision is nevertheless a body… http://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/03/31/green-energy-may-have-just-cost-britain-40000-jobs/ 6. WHY ARE U.S. TAXPAYERS SUPPORTING NUMEROUS DUPLICATIONS OF EFFORT IN THE US GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM (USGCRP)? Guest Post by Bob Tisdale There are numerous duplications of effort in the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP): from multiple U.S.-funded climate-modeling groups, to multiple producers of the same climate-related data. Why are taxpayers supporting all of those duplications of effort? http://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/03/29/why-are-u-s-taxpayers-supporting-numerous-duplications-of- effort-in-the-us-global-change-research-program-usgcrp/ 2 7. ARCTIC SEA ICE WINTERTIME EXTENT SEES A RECORD LOW Arctic sea ice appears to have reached a record low wintertime maximum extent for the second year in a row, according to scientists at the NASA-supported National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) and NASA. Every year, the cap of frozen seawater floating on top of the Arctic Ocean and its neighboring seas melts during… http://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/03/29/arctic-sea-ice-wintertime-extent-sees-a-record-low/ 8. AN ANSWER TO: IS THE RISE IN SEA LEVELS ACCELERATING? Guest essay by: Jan Kjetil Andersen There is a well-established consensus concluding that the global sea level has risen over the last century, and that the level continues to rise. However, the question about whether the rate is accelerating or not, is more inconclusive. To cast some light on this, I have analyzed the latest… http://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/03/28/an-answer-to-is-the-rise-in-sea-levels-accelerating/ 9. ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT CRIMES, FORMER IPCC HEAD PACHAURI CLAIMS: “I WAS SET UP” Guest essay by Eric Worrall h/t James Delingpole – Disgraced former head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Rajendra Pachauri has struck back at accusations he has been, with claims that he was set up by his opponents. According to The Guardian; Faced with prison, ruin and disgrace when his case comes before… http://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/03/30/accused-ipcc-pervert-pachauri-i-was-set-up/ 10. NO APRIL FOOLS JOKE – ARCTIC BLAST FOR NORTHEAST USA TO GIVE SNOW, 10’S AND 20’S TO NEW YORK, BOSTON From Joe Bastardi at WeatherBell: Been warning anyone that will listen for over 2 weeks now about April 1-10. Check out GFS lows next Wednesday He adds: EURO [forecast model] Going roidian on multiple cold shots, snow threats April 1-10 that’s a deep trough. Coupled with cold, it looks like winter wonderland for much of… http://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/03/30/no-april-fools-joke-arctic-blast-for-northeast-usa-to-give- snow-10s-and-20s-to-new-york-boston/ HEALTH 1. TURNING POINT IN CLIMATE FIGHT AS AGS UNITE TO TARGET EXXON CRIMES Attorneys General from Massachusetts and US Virgin Islands confirm official investigations into what 'ExxonKnew,' while momentum for more builds By Lauren McCauley, staff writer In a move many are hailing as a "turning point" in the climate fight, 20 state Attorneys General on Tuesday launched an unprecedented, multi-state effort to investigate and prosecute the "high-funded and morally vacant forces" that have stymied attempts to combat global warming—starting with holding ExxonMobil and other industry giants accountable for fraud and suppression of key climate science. 3 "This is about facts, and science, and transparency," said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who spoke at a press conference alongside New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, former Vice President Al Gore and seven other Attorneys General. "Fossil fuel companies that deceived investors and consumers about the dangers of climate change should be, must be, held accountable," Healey continued, saying there is a "troubling disconnect between what Exxon knew, what industry folks knew, and the company and industry chose to share with investors and the American public." The coalition of Attorneys General from 16 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands was convened by Schneiderman, who in November announced a state investigation into Exxon after reporting revealed that the oil giant had for decades known and suppressed evidence about the dangers that fossil fuels posed to the environment, and then purposely disseminated false information in order to boost its profits. "It is troubling that, as the polar caps melt, there are companies that are looking at that as an opportunity to go and drill, to go and get more oil. How selfish can you be?" —U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude Earl Walker California has also launched an investigation and on Tuesday Healey and U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude Earl Walker confirmed their states have as well. Schneiderman said that additional states were pursuing similar action and that the purpose of the coalition is to work together in this "common interest." "The scope of the problem we are facing, the size of the corporate entities and alliances and trade associations [working against science and public interest] is massive and it requires a multi-state effort," Schneiderman said. AG Walker said that Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are already "experiencing the effects of global warming," from coral bleaching and the proliferation of seaweed, to ever-more powerful hurricanes. "It is troubling that, as the polar caps melt, there are companies that are looking at that as an opportunity to go and drill, to go and get more oil. How selfish can you be?" Walker asked. "Your product is destroying this Earth, and you want to do what? Destroy the planet further," he added, saying they have "documents" showing just that. "We will not stop until we get to bottom of this and make it clear we have to do something transformational," he added. "We cannot continue to rely on fossil fuels." Environmental groups that have spearheaded the call for accountability and investigations into what Exxon knew heralded the announcements and the new AG climate coalition.