Eco-news in brief 6-12
By CG News Editor April Jaynes
OU to be tested for energy reduction capabilities
This Wednesday OU will demonstrate its ability to reduce electricity usage upon request in order to ensure its enrollment in a Demand Response program with a nation-wide company called Energy Connect. The university has agreed to participate in the program this summer during its peak hours from noon to 8 p.m. and the company will pay the university based on the amount of power saved. The test on June 13 that will ensure the university’s participation will take place between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The university asks that any unnecessary appliances or chargers be unplugged at this time in addition to other requests.
Global warming report to be discussed at upcoming UN conference
Researchers from the journal Nature presented a study last week regarding human impact on climate change in preparation for the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Some of the solutions to reducing human impact on global warming the researchers are advocating include fossil fuel reduction, more efficient farmland use and food distribution improvements. The UN conference is scheduled to take place June 20-22 in Rio de Janiero, marking the 20 anniversary of the first Rio sustainable-development conference.
Court decides national nuclear fuel storage should be reevaluated
On Friday the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission did not appropriately evaluate individual storage pools at reactors across the country for nuclear storage. Main concerns of the court included the absence of an established permanent repository and the possibility of cooling water leaking from the pools. The commission’s lawyers are currently studying the ruling and a further environmental analysis will take place.
