Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid announced yesterday that the almost-century-old Capitol Power Plant, which provides heat and hot water for congressional buildings, has stopped burning coal. Over the past few years, the plant has used increasing amounts of natural gas in place of coal and since March, the plant has solely used natural gas.

This news is definitely something to cheer about, but Congress could take this even further. While any reduction in the amount of coal being burned around the globe is a good thing, if Congress really wants to set an example, they should be switching to renewable energy sources, or at least integrating them into the current plant. Natural gas is far better for the atmosphere than coal, but solar, wind, geothermal and biomass are even better than natural gas.

Switching lightbulbs and updating government fleets to more fuel-efficient vehicles are all helpful and necessary changes, but the government could make a much more dramatic change that shows that they are fully invested in the climate and energy bills they are writing by using renewable energy technologies and making the Capitol more sustainable.

via Boston Globe

The EPA has taken another step today towards regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The agency formally declared that heat-trapping gases like CO2 and five others were a threat to public health and welfare.

In order to regulate the gases under the Clean Air Act, the agency had to prove that the gases endangered the public. The EPA recently announced that it would require companies to start reporting their greenhouse gas emissions and now with today's declaration, regulation could be as little as 60 days away, when the comment period ends on this ruling.

The scientific analysis found that CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride were in high concentrations in the atmosphere and that they are very likely causing increased draught, heavy downpours and flooding, more intense heat waves and wildfires, rise in sea levels, more intense storms and harm to water resources, agriculture, wildlife and ecosystems.

Ecogeeks already know all of this, but having a government agency officially declaring these facts means the the U.S. can more effectively contribute to negotiations over a new international climate treaty. Congress is drafting climate and energy legislation that will most likely supersede any regulations that the EPA comes up with, but this is a great first step that shows that our government is at least making progress towards protecting the planet.

via NY Times