Offshore wind turbine farm coming to Outer Banks, N.C. - most likely

I am all for alternative energy. You bet. But I still have not heard of a single coal-fired power plant - anywhere - being shut down because its output was replaced by that from wind farms and solar panels. If anything, all we're doing by erecting the big wind turbine towers is making it easier for sprawl developers to claim that their new fangled housing project is somehow "green." Yes, this is bullshit. Here's an article about wind turbine farms going up in the Atlantic off North Carolina's fabled Outer Banks barrier island.

ExxonMobil sued over pipeline spill

This NY Times article has all the details. The federal Department of Justice and the state of Arkansas are co-plaintiffs.

Awful legislation would have heavy toll on Cape Hatteras

From National Audubon:
Next week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote on a suite of public lands bills, including two that Audubon strongly opposes. S 486 would overturn protections for shorebirds and sea turtles on Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and S 340, a bill to allow logging in the last remaining ancient forests of the Tongass. 

S 486 would overturn a multi-year public process that resulted in balanced provisions that protect endangered shorebirds and sea turtles while preserving the economic health of the community. In 2012, the first year of management under the Final Rule, visitation to the Seashore increased, tourism set record highs, and wildlife on the Seashore continued to rebound. The rule only closes beaches during nesting season for endangered shorebirds like Piping Plovers and endangered sea turtles. Once the young birds have learned to fly, the areas are re-opened. Areas are closed for sea turtle nests only in the few days immediately preceding the expected hatch date. 

The bill would overturn the public process and allow for off road vehicle traffic year round with no protection for birds or other wildlife. Audubon strongly opposes the legislation and continues to press for a balanced approach that protects birds, wildlife and the National Seashore experience.

Judge says BLM underreports impact of livestock grazing on public land

So get the catttle and sheep off our public lands! No wonder the old joke about "BLM" actually standing for "Bureau of Livestock and Mining" still applies.
This article has the details.

Roadkill: Our cars, known in military as POVs, kill a stunning number of wildlife species

I just happened upon the carcass of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and am now well over 100 species found as roadkill over the last 20 years or so. The slaughter, in large part, is due to Americans' love-affair with their cars. Forget about the price of gasoline. Most folks are just too damn lazy to walk to work or a store to buy a half-gallon of milk. That's what suburbia has done. Read about the slaughter.

Op-ed: Gray wolf's recovery not there yet

Especially with state F&G agencies -- all of them dependent on the revenue from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and tags -- conducting "controlled" hunts of Canis lupus populations. This op-ed makes a convincing argument.

RFK Jr.: Pollution of Lake Champlain is theft

The environmental law professor and conservationist was in Burlington yesterday to deliver a speech at ECHO, with U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy along for the ride. Kennedy urged restoration of the "commons" law when discussing the pollution, most of it stormwater runoff, that plagues the big lake. Here's the Burlington paper's coverage.