ENN Weekly: Jan 21st -25th:A growing number of farmers are betting they can make more money selling their water supplies, Snowboarders gear up in green, Gunning for a national presence, New York City's first green- and organic-certified restaurant has opened its doors, Tuna with unsafe levels of mercury is on dinner menus at some of New York’s most well known and expensive eateries, Shares of solar energy companies have lost nearly half their value this year and much more.
Here's our selection of top stories form this week:
1. As Supplies Dry Up, Growers Pass on Farming and Sell Water
In a state where water has become an increasingly scarce commodity, a growing number of farmers are betting they can make more money selling their water supplies to thirsty cities and farms to the south than by growing crops.
2. Global Cool: Snowboarders Gear Up Green
The epitome of cool in snow season is of course, snowboarding. And the biggest requirement for this most righteous winter pastime is of course, snow. Well, "uh, yeh brah, no duh" you may think to yourself, but in this day and age even snow in winter isn't a sure thing anymore. Winter resorts, from the Rockies to the Alps, have been grappling with ever shorter snow seasons for years now-some of the resorts have even re-branded themselves as "sun and fun" destinations to try and recoup some of their climate change-related financial loss. Bummer, dude.
3. First 100% organic, 'green' restaurant opens in NYC
Gunning for a national presence, New York City's first green- and organic-certified restaurant has opened its doors. Gusto Grilled Organics is a Greenwich Village eatery serving 100 percent, organic, Latin-inspired cuisine for eat-in, takeout and delivery.
4. Waiter, There's Mercury in my fish! Online guide helps consumers make healthy choices.
Tuna with unsafe levels of mercury is on dinner menus at some of New York’s most well known and expensive eateries, according to a report in today’s New York Times. At some restaurants, mercury levels in tuna sushi even exceeded limits set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Environmental Defense described the report as a wake up call that FDA was not protecting consumers from dangerous seafood.
5. Solar analysts ponder whether selloff is overblown
Shares of solar energy companies have lost nearly half their value this year on investor concerns that a U.S. recession and falling oil prices will hamper demand for renewable energy sources. Fears that greater supplies of solar cells and panels will drive down prices -- and the sector's lofty margins -- have also weighed on the stocks.
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6. Wind Energy Grows 45% in 2007
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported last week record growth in wind power generation with 5,244 megawatts of capacity installed in 2007 — a 45% increase reflecting $9 billion in investment and 30% of all new power generating capacity in 2007.
7. Iceland's hydrogen ship heralds fossil-free future
At first glance, the red ship hardly looks like a herald of the future. Even its owner admits the hull needs a coat of paint and the interior some spit and polish.
8. Energy savings in a piece of foam
A simple molded block of foam illustrates the extent of available technologies ready and waiting to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gases.
9. Greenpeace says stops Japan whaler refueling
Environmental group Greenpeace said on Tuesday it had prevented Japan's main whaling ship from refueling in the icy Southern Ocean by driving an inflatable boat between the factory ship and its refueler.
10. Search for "night time spinach" threatens wildlife, local livelihoods
Meat hungry refugees are sustaining a thriving wildlife poaching trade in Tanzania, according to a report by the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC.
