Honeywell’s Assurance 360 Program Will Provide Services and Support to Sasol Synthetic Fuels and Chemicals Plant
JOHANNESBURG, – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) Process Solutions (HPS) today announced a five year agreement to provide comprehensive services and support for the control systems of the world’s largest coal-to-liquids (CTL) plant through its new Assurance 360 Services program.
HPS will support Sasol’s synthetic fuels and chemicals complex in Secunda, South Africa, providing diagnostic system monitoring, automated incident management, technical assistance, parts management, site-based support and ongoing system upgrades for the facility.
The Secunda facility converts coal into synthetic crude oil to produce fuels and a broad range of chemicals. It is one of the largest users of Honeywell automation technologies, which are used to control and monitor operations.
“Assurance 360 is a game-changer for services support in the industrial processing industry,” said John Rudolph, vice president of Honeywell Process Solutions. “Performance metrics are defined at the beginning of the program and the results directly impact the contract. In essence, the plant’s success is our success. Assurance 360 will give Sasol peace of mind knowing that its critical control systems will not only be maintained as with traditional service agreements, but also keep them updated and supported.”
Honeywell’s Assurance 360 services are multi-year cooperative service arrangements to maintain, support and optimize the performance of Honeywell control systems regardless of the industry or size of operations. These services transform how plant assets are managed, focusing on system performance and outcomes while allowing users to focus on operations. Honeywell performance specialists help reduce unplanned events, resolve problems faster, and improve performance to help create a more efficient plant. Industrial customers, such as Sasol’s Secunda plant, are able to customize the level of service they need or want, based on their requirements.
HPS has provided process automation technology and field equipment to many of Sasol’s facilities for more than 35 years, including the initial installations at the then Sasol II and Sasol III complexes in Secunda, South Africa.
In addition to HPS technologies, Honeywell’s UOP, which licenses technology to the refining, petrochemicals, gas processing and major manufacturing industries, has supplied technology and ongoing support to Sasol Synfuels since 1980. Sasol has licensed a number of technologies, including the UOP Benfield™ process to treat syngas, and the UOP CCR Platforming™ process to produce high-octane gasoline blending components.
Assurance 360 is an innovative approach to service management that offers two levels of support to meet different user needs:
Assurance 360 Optima offers dedicated resources for preventive and corrective maintenance, replacement parts in the event of a failure, system updates, cyber security tools and servers, and pre-defined risk sharing if the site experiences either a loss of control or loss of view due to covered system failures.
Assurance 360 Performa provides oversight on all aspects of system management with a focus on meeting or exceeding performance metrics through visualization, planning and targeted support when needed. Honeywell performance experts help and guide site personnel in preventive and corrective maintenance tasks as well as hardware and software upgrades.
Honeywell Process Solutions (www.honeywellprocess.com) is a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas; refining; pulp and paper; industrial power generation; chemicals and petrochemicals; biofuels; life sciences; and metals, minerals and mining industries. Process Solutions is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes UOP, a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.
The Rockefeller Foundation, World Bank Group Innovate to Improve Cities’ Access to Funding for Low-Carbon Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, —The World Bank Group, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, will expand its program to help cities unlock capital to deliver needed infrastructure for a climate-smart urban future.
The Foundation has provided a grant of US$1 million as seed funding for a new multi-donor trust fund to improve financial management and enhance creditworthiness of developing country cities through the Bank’s “City Creditworthiness Initiative.” The grant will enable close collaboration to bring the Bank’s Initiative to five cities over three years, which will include cities selected as part of the network for 100 Resilient Cities – Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation .
“In the face of urbanization, globalization and climate change, creating infrastructure that builds resilience in cities is more critical than ever,” said Saadia Madsbjerg, managing director at The Rockefeller Foundation. “For nearly a decade, The Rockefeller Foundation has been working with cities to strengthen access to financing options to get these projects off the ground.”
In a rapidly urbanizing world, the demand for infrastructure is vast. According to estimates, the global investment shortfall in infrastructure is at least $1 trillion per year. Cities will require better access to capital markets and large scale project finance to pursue a low-carbon growth path. Today, just 4% of the 500 largest developing country cities have globally recognized credit ratings and only 20% in local markets, limiting their access to private capital.
The Bank’s “City Creditworthiness Initiative” aims to address this challenge by helping cities improve financial management and creditworthiness through a range of activities spanning several years – from training workshops to follow-up support for action planning, technical assistance for adaptation or mitigation projects, and fund raising.
“Achieving creditworthiness is a long journey, but all cities can benefit while they pursue this path by improving fundamentals. The support provided by The Rockefeller Foundation will enable us to help more cities achieve sustainable and inclusive growth in the long term, working with a broad range of partners focused on the cities and climate change agenda,” said Marisela Montoliu Munoz, director for urban and disaster risk management, World Bank Group Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice.
Under the “City Creditworthiness Initiative,” which was developed as part of a World Bank Group program to enable cities to strengthen climate action and avoid the prospects of a 4-degree warmer world – a future that would disproportionately impact poor or vulnerable people – four creditworthiness training workshops have been conducted since October 2013 in Nairobi, Seoul, Arusha and Bogota, helping 80 cities from 23 countries. Additional workshops are planned in Kigali, Kampala, and Amman, for cities in Rwanda, Uganda and West Bank Gaza respectively.
An advisory committee comprised of representatives from The Rockefeller Foundation, 100 Resilient Cities, the World Bank, the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) Initiative, and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility – Sub-National Technical Assistance Program is selecting the five new cities which will receive support. The scope of work for each city will be developed in collaboration with municipal and government officials. All partners, including those from selected countries, will have a chance to review the action-plans and join forces in the design and implementation of the technical assistance programs.
UNESCO Biotechnology: Effective Solutions For Sustainable Development
A micro-symposium on the role of biotechnology in the post-2015 development agenda took place at UNESCO on 13 February 2015. It was an opportunity to discuss promising biotechnology applications that can contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication, as well as the need to develop capacity in Science, Technology and Innovation, so that these solutions can reach their full portential. UNESCO’s work in this field was presented, particularly through the Regional Centre for Biotechnology – an education, training and research Category 2 Centre established in India under the auspices of UNESCO.
Current reviews show that Science, Technology and Innovation were critical in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Several MDG targets are falling short because of a lack of STI capacity, a valuable lesson that must be applied to the post-2015 agenda. “2015 is the decisive year for Millennium Development Goals, for the new global sustainable development agande, before the United Nations Conference on Climate Change – COP21” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. “Biotechnology is at the forefront of this battle, to improve the lives of millions of women and men throughout the world – by improving agricultural yields and food security, by developing alternative fuels.”
Technology and innovation have a role to play beyond industrial growth. They contribute to job creation and ensuring a sustainable environment. UNESCO’s work shows clearly that the role of technology and innovation is positive and critical at each and every stage of development. In fact, a much greater emphasis has been put on the role of technology and scientific research in implementing the future Sustainable Development Goal’s. For instance, Goal 3 aims at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, to be accomplished by supporting research and development of vaccines and medicines; Goal 2 will focus on ending hunger, achieving food security, in part through technology development; and Goal 9: ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation’ also places STI at the centre of sustainable development.
Both Irina Bokova and Ruchira Kamboj, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO, stressed the importance of biotechnology in providing effective and sustainable solutions for eradicating extreme poverty and hunger through increased crop yields, as well as improving maternal health and combating debilitating diseases.
Reverse
© UNESCO/ Nora Houguenade. Ruchira Kamboj, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO, and Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, speaking at the micro-symposium on the role of biotechnology.
Since its emergence, the risks and benefits of modern biotechnology have been debated. It is revolutionary in its ability to transform life itself in order to generate new products and services, with potential societal impacts equal to those that followed to the information and communication revolution. Biosafety implications, ethical aspects and the cultural context must be considered with great care. With that in mind, more efforts are needed to reinforce capacities in developing countries, so they can become players in the new bio-economy.
The Regional Centre for Biotechnology has a role to play. It “embodies the ‘soft power’ of UNESCO today… bringing together Governments and civil society…joining education, research and training, to catalyse innovation for the benefit of all,” explained the Director-General. The scope of the centre was presented in detail by its Executive Director, Dr Dinaker Salunke, who shared advances and future plans with the participants. The Government of India’s vision is to include the UNESCO centre in a bio-cluster of three, including a Translational Centre and a Health Science Technology Centre, to develop a multidisciplinary approach, foster technology transfer and enterprise creation, and to take the research further than the lab, towards tangible products and services that will address current development challenges and benefit society.
The micro-symposiumcontinued with a panel discussion among leading biotechnology experts. Prof K. VijayRaghavan, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology of the Government of India, outlined India’s strategy to strengthen the role biotechnology to meet challenges related to health and agriculture, emphasising that one of the most important factors for any technology to flourish is the commitment and foresight of governments and that these governments should listen carefully to their scientific community. He also referred to Joseph Needham Paradox, the first head of the UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector, who had emphasised the importance of connecting science with local utility technologies in 1946. Prof Mauro Giacca (International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology), gave an overview of his centre’s success, which has led to the creation of several international centres modelled after ICGEB. It now counts with three components in Trieste, Cape Town and New Delhi, each with longstanding training courses and workshops. Prof Jacques Elion (Paris Diderot University Medical School) shed light on how biotechnology has provided effective solutions to combat sickle cell diseases, which plague a number of countries in Africa and Asia. Prof Rath (National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi) then gave an engaging talk on the complex administrative formation of bio-clusters and how they are now the current world model to translate research into products and services for the masses. He cited the two major examples in the Indian sub-continent, the Bangalore Bio-cluster and the New Delhi bio-cluster, which will include the UNESCO centre.
The event was closed by Flavia Schlegel, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, who emphasised that the potential benefits of biotechnology can only reach those who need it most if the capacity is there. Countries must be committed to developing the necessary capacity, both human and institutional, to take advantage of this cutting-edge technology and multi-trillion dollar industry. International and regional cooperation and the exchange of data are intrinsic elements of this path to development.
Dow Seals the Deal with Functionality and Style at ICE 2015
The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) is showcasing its packaging technologies that deliver optimum performance and shelf appeal at the International Converter Exhibition (ICE) in Orlando, Florida, February 10-12, 2015.
Dow’s broad set of adhesive, heat seal coating and sealant resin technologies provide excellent sealability, abuse resistance and optics for a variety of food, medical and other packaging applications. These qualities help meet brand owner needs for durable, attractive packaging, which appeals to today’s sophisticated consumer.
“As trends continue to shift, Dow offers a competitive advantage to its customers with an expansive technology portfolio, world-class fabrication and testing facilities and global R&D and technical service expertise,” said Badrish Krishnan, Market Manager for Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics. “Our complete adhesives product offering is based on leading technologies and expertise for lamination, coating and bonding in packaging applications that range from films to tapes and labels.”
Leading Adhesives & Sealants Capabilities
Dow recently added an adhesives lab and laminator to its Pack Studios Freeport, Texas, location. The new lab and laminator give Dow customers the convenience of developing and evaluating a variety of film structures on a small scale without having to interrupt their large-scale operations. Pack Studios enhances collaboration across the value chain to help customers adopt new packaging technologies quickly to meet their unique performance requirements and sustainability goals. With locations in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America, Pack Studios offers customers a global network of labs equipped to collaborate with the right expert for any challenge.
Adding Style to Function
In addition to showcasing its world-class adhesive and sealant portfolio, Dow will discuss the latest package coating innovations that directly address consumer demands.
“As we work to enhance the total package, we are seeing a trend in consumer demand for more natural products,” said Krishnan. “Dow developed OPULUX™ Optical Finishes to help brand owners match their natural and organic products with more natural-looking packaging.”
OPULUX Optical Finishes is a portfolio of acrylic-based matte coatings that reduce glare and deliver a distinctive and luxurious look to product packaging.
Dow to Present at ICE
In addition to exhibiting, Dow senior research scientist and extrusion coating specialist Jim Cooper will present on Specialty Polymers used for Packaging Applications. He will discuss how polymers are used as tie layers and sealants in the extrusion coating and extrusion lamination process and highlight how recent innovations have impacted the space. Cooper’s presentation will take place Tuesday, February 10 at 10:30a.m. – 11:00a.m.
For more information about Dow’s broad portfolio of adhesives technology, Pack Studios and OPULUX™ Optical Finishes, please visit www.dowpackaging.com, or follow the business on Twitter at @DowPackaging. Visit Dow at the International Converting Exhibition at Booth #947.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
President Obama Calls on Congress to Protect Arctic Refuge as Wilderness
Each year, as the darkness of the Arctic winter brightens into spring, as the snow melts and the hills and valleys slowly turn green, the tens of thousands of members of the Porcupine caribou herd begin their great migration — traveling some 1,500 miles through Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to their calving grounds on the Coastal Plain.
This far northern region is known as “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins” to Alaska Native communities. The Refuge sustains the most diverse array of wildlife in the entire Arctic — home not only to the Porcupine caribou, but to polar bears, gray wolves, and muskoxen. Bird species from the Coastal Plain migrate to all 50 states of the country — meaning that no matter where you live, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is part of your landscape.
But the majority of the Refuge is not protected as wilderness, including the Coastal Plain. For more than three decades, some voices have clamored to drill for oil in the Coastal Plain — a move that could irreparably damage this ecological treasure and harm the Alaska Native communities who still depend on the caribou for subsistence.
Today, the Department of the Interior released a revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan to better sustain and manage the entire Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — and President Obama took it a step further and announced his plans to ask Congress to designate the Coastal Plain and other core areas of the refuge as wilderness:
The United States today is the number-one producer of oil and natural gas in the world, and we import less oil than at any time in almost 30 years. The Obama administration believes that oil and natural gas resources can be developed safely. Unfortunately, accidents and spills can still happen, and the environmental impacts can sometimes be felt for many years.
The Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge, one of the few remaining places in the country as pristine today as it was when the oldest Alaska Native communities first set eyes on it, is too precious to put at risk. By designating the area as wilderness, Congress could preserve the Coastal Plain in perpetuity — ensuring that this wild, free, beautiful, and bountiful place remains in trust for Alaska Natives and for all Americans.
Light-based Technologies: Sustainable Solutions For The Future
Over a thousand participants came to UNESCO on 19-20 January 2015 to learn about the many ways in which light is making a difference in our daily lives and exchange ideas on the solutions light-based technologies can provide to current global challenges. The 2-day opening ceremony of the International Year of Light (IYL2015) gathered leading scientists, including 5 Nobel Prize winners, as well as decision makers, NGO representatives and industry representatives to discuss all aspects of light, from the quantum to improved street lighting or affordable glasses.
The study of light has led to applications that have shaped our current information society. Fiber-optic communications enable the internet we use today. Lasers can encode hundreds of terabytes of data to store an ever growing knowledge base. Light-based technologies are helping us explore space with telescopes equipped with sensors that collect data from the ultraviolet to the infrared range of the spectrum, and even map our Universe in its infancy by capturing the cosmic microwave background – the relic radiation from the Big Bang. Remote sensing from satellites is also helping us to better understand our planet, predict the weather, and monitor and manage pollution.
Closer to home, the great strides made in medical imagery save lives: today diagnoses are made using non-intrusive, below the skin 3D imagery, and light-based therapies can target cancer cells selectively.
Practical applications that are available today can make the most difference in remote areas and developing countries, where millions live with no access to electricity. Something as simple as a source of light after dark can help a family out of poverty: children can study longer and learn more, parents can also remain active after dark. Sub-Saharan Africa, were 65% of the population is off the grid, also has the greatest exposure to sunlight in the world. Solar lighting (lamps that recharge during the day with solar energy) has proved to be a good alternative to kerosene lamps. Not only is kerosene more expensive in the long run and less efficient, as such lamps are too dim to read by, but it is also hazardous and the fumes are toxic. On a slightly larger scale, solar panels are providing power for community refrigerators to preserve medicine, for cellphones and other appliances, thus improving living conditions in villages.
Light provides efficient, renewable alternatives that can help us mitigate climate change and meet energy demands, by both providing energy and diminishing energy consumption. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), improved, efficient lighting could cut energy consumption for lighting by 50% and CO2 emissions equivalent to that of Germany could be avoided each year. Should we fail the transition to efficient lighting, energy consumption would grow by one third.
Light has always powered us, by turning CO2 and water into sugar and oxygen through photosynthesis, thus creating the fuel and oxygen we need. Now, engineers are making progress on artificial photosynthesis to generate fuel from sunlight. New materials are being developed to harness solar energy on urban surfaces. Such innovations could change the energy game completely.
Only a century ago, we could not imagine how far light would take us: what applications could be developed by studying its properties. The 21st century will depend as much on photonics as the 20th century depended on electronics. Phototonics, the science of generating and controlling particles of light (photons) underpins technologies of daily life, from smartphones to the Internet, to medical instruments, to lighting technology. These technologies were developed through centuries of fundamental research on the properties of light – starting with Ibn Al-Haytham’s seminal work, Kitab al-Manazir (Book of Optics), published in 1015 and including Einstein’s work at the beginning of the 20th century, which changed the way we think about time and light.
Today the search continues, and new facilities are being built to expand our knowledge, such as the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME). Modelled institutionally on CERN – with different scientific goals – and set up under the auspices of UNESCO, SESAME is an intergovernmental facility built in Jordan. When it starts operations in 2016, SESAME will provide a vast scientific potential for scientists from the Middle East and neighbouring countries, enabling them to determine the structure of complex biologically active molecules and viruses in order to improve medical remedies; to get insight into the interior and the three-dimensional micro-structure of objects such as materials of primary importance for high technologies, cultural heritage and archaeology; or to investigate magnetisation processes, which are highly relevant for magnetic data storage, to cite just a few examples. Those we can imagine today.
About the Year
The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL2015) has been the initiative of a consortium of scientific bodies together with UNESCO’s International Basic Sciences Programme. The Consortium brings together many different stakeholders including scientific societies and unions, educational institutions, technology platforms, non-profit organizations and partners form the private sector. The main objective of the Year, which is led by UNESCO, is to raise global awareness of how light-based technologies can provide solutions to the global challenges of sustainable development.
First USDA Forecast Shows Normal Water Supply Forecast for Much of the West Southwest, Sierras Remain Dry
WASHINGTON, – A normal water supply is predicted for much of the West, while the Southwest, Sierra Nevada region and Pacific Northwest are beginning the year drier than normal, according to data from the first 2015 forecast by USDA’s National Water and Climate Center (NWCC). California, Arizona and New Mexico as well as parts of Colorado, Utah and Nevada are experiencing prolonged drought, focusing attention again on the winter snowfall.
“Right now, snowpack and streamflow forecasts look pretty close to normal for much of the West,” NWCC hydrologist Cara McCarthy said. “A couple of major regional exceptions are the Southwest and California, which are unusually dry, once again.”
In Western states where snowmelt accounts for the majority of seasonal water supply, information about snowpack serves as an indicator of future water availability. Streamflow in the West consists largely of accumulated mountain snow that melts and flows into streams as temperatures warm in spring and summer. NWCC scientists analyze the snowpack, air temperature, soil moisture and other measurements taken from remote sites to develop the water supply forecasts.
Overall, the basins of the Missouri, Colorado and Columbia rivers are expected to receive near normal streamflows.
In the Pacific Northwest, although rainfall during the fall months has been above average, the current snowpack is far below normal because of higher than normal temperatures.
“This is just the first forecast of the season; everything can change,” McCarthy said. “A weak El Niño is forecast for this year, which might play a part in coming months.”
Although variable, El Niño conditions tend to deliver more than normal winter precipitation to the Southwest and less to the Pacific Northwest.
The NWCC, part of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, monitors conditions year-round and will continue to issue monthly forecasts until June. The water supply forecast is part of several USDA efforts to improve public awareness and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including drought and other extreme weather events. Through the creation of the National Drought Resilience Partnership, launched as part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, federal agencies are working closely with states, tribes and local governments to develop a coordinated response to drought.
Since 1939, USDA has conducted snow surveys and issued regular water supply forecasts. Other resources on drought include the U.S. Drought MonitorThis is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.. For information on USDA’s drought efforts, visit USDA Disaster and Drought Information. And to learn more about how NRCS is helping private landowners deal with drought, visit the NRCS’ drought resources.
New Actions to Reduce Methane Emissions Will Curb Climate Change, Cut Down on Wasted Energy
The United States is now the largest oil and natural gas producer in the world, and developing these cleaner-burning fuel sources to light and heat American homes and businesses is crucial to the President’s energy strategy. But while these important energy sources produce less carbon pollution overall, methane leaks throughout the oil and gas system are fueling climate change — and wasting valuable fuel that should be captured and used.
Methane — the primary component of natural gas and the third-largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions — is a potent climate pollutant, trapping 25 times as much heat as carbon pollution over the course of a century. The good news is emissions from the oil and gas sector are down 16 percent since 1990. However, without additional action, emissions from this sector are projected to rise more than 25 percent by 2025.
That’s why, today, the Obama administration is announcing an ambitious new goal to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40-45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025. Achieving this goal would save up to 180 billion cubic feet of wasted natural gas in 2025 — enough to heat more than 2 million homes for an entire year.
To achieve this goal, we’re announcing a range of actions to tackle methane emissions throughout the oil and gas system. The Environmental Protection Agency will work with industry, states, tribes, and other stakeholders to propose common-sense standards this summer to reduce methane emissions from new and modified oil and gas wells. The Department of Energy will continue to drive technological advancement through new energy efficiency standards for natural gas and air compressors and a proposed $25 million in funding to develop and demonstrate technologies to identify and reduce natural gas leaks. The Department of the Interior will ensure that the federal government is leading by example by updating outdated standards to reduce wasteful venting and flaring of natural gas from wells on public lands.
Oil and gas companies can also choose to become power players in reducing harmful, wasteful methane emissions from existing sources. Voluntary efforts to reduce emissions by the oil and gas industry could realize significant reductions in a quick, flexible, cost-effective way. The Obama administration stands ready to work with companies, individually and through broader initiatives such as the One Future Initiative and the Downstream Initiative, to develop and verify robust commitments to reduce methane emissions throughout the oil and gas system.
Farmers across the country have already realized the economic and energy benefits of voluntarily programs to reduce methane emissions. Just last summer, the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Energy released a Biogas Opportunities Roadmap highlighting voluntary actions taken in partnership with the dairy industry — using biodigesters to capture and use methane emissions from agricultural waste.
Today’s actions on methane emissions are an important step to take on climate change, putting us on track to achieve President Obama’s goal of cutting net greenhouse gas emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. The impacts of climate change are already being felt in every sector of the economy — and for every decade of delay in reducing greenhouse gas pollution, the costs of climate change are projected to increase by 40 percent. Taking on this global challenge will take an all-hands-on-deck effort from government, industry, and communities across the country — and we’re committed to continuing America’s historic progress and leadership in tackling climate change.
You should also see:
President Obama’s plan to fight climate change
The U.S.-China joint announcement on our actions to reduce carbon pollution
The President’s remarks at the 2014 U.N. Climate Summit
President Obama’s science advisor answers your questions about climate change
Secretary Moniz Announces $125 Million OPEN Solicitation for Transformational Energy Projects
WASHINGTON – U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced today at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars that the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) is issuing its third open funding opportunity announcement, OPEN 2015, for up to $125 million. OPEN 2015 will support energy research and development projects from America’s top innovators for disruptive new technologies in transportation and stationary applications.
“OPEN 2015 highlights ARPA-E’s commitment to transformational energy innovations,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “We are excited to announce this open solicitation to support the development of a broad range of disruptive technologies, advancing our all-of-the-above energy strategy to ensure a secure, affordable and sustainable American energy future.”
ARPA-E has issued previous OPEN solicitations in 2009 and 2012. Open solicitations ensure that ARPA-E can support transformational projects outside the scope of existing ARPA-E focused programs. The projects selected under OPEN 2015 will pursue novel approaches to energy innovation across the full spectrum of energy applications.
For more information on OPEN 2015, please visit: http://bit.ly/OPEN2015
ABOUT ARPA-E
The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) catalyzes the advancement of transformational energy technologies to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States by investing in high-potential, high-impact energy projects that are too early for the private sector. Launched in 2009, ARPA-E explores uncharted territories of energy technology to generate options for entirely new paths to create, store and use energy. Learn more at www.arpa-e.energy.gov. ARPA-E will host its sixth annual Energy Innovation Summit, Feb. 9 – 11, 2015 in National Harbor, Md. To learn more and register, visit www.arpae-summit.com.
USTDA Helps Improve Efficiency at New Water Treatment Plant in Brazil – Project Will Include U.S. Technologies in Design Plans
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to help the Companhia Estadual de Águas e Esgotos (CEDAE), the primary water supplier and wastewater collection and treatment company in Rio de Janeiro, design and develop the New Guandu water treatment plant (WTP). The grant represents the Agency’s commitment to supporting U.S. industry participation in Brazil’s dynamic water and wastewater sector.
“The United States is pleased to support this project, which will highlight the benefits of U.S. water treatment technologies while helping CEDAE improve access to clean water for the people of Rio de Janeiro,” stated John S. Creamer, Consul General of the United States in Rio de Janeiro. The grant was signed by Consul General Creamer and by Wagner Granja Victer, President Director of CEDAE.
CEDAE estimates that the New Guandu WTP and accompanying system expansions are the largest undertaking in Brazil’s water supply sector in the last 20 years. CEDAE will construct a new 548 million gallon per day facility that will expand the existing system’s capacity by 30 percent, improving service to about nine million people in 12 cities across the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area. New Guandu will complement the operations of the existing Guandu WTP, which is considered to be the world’s largest continuously operating water treatment plant.
Through the grant, CEDAE will select a U.S. contractor to conduct a value engineering review of the preliminary design for the new facility. The U.S. contractor will assess the existing design report and suggest advanced U.S. technologies that can improve the efficiency of the new plant’s operations, such as ozone, mixed oxidants, ultraviolet disinfection, membrane filtration, energy recovery processes, and energy efficiency equipment like integrated variable frequency drives.
The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded technical assistance with CEDAE will be competed through Federal Business Opportunities (FBO). A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA’s website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.
– See more at: http://www.ustda.gov/news/pressreleases/2014/LAC/Brazil/RioDeJaneiroCEDAEGrant_121914.asp#sthash.aJjQHiUZ.dpuf
Archer Daniels Midland Company Completes Sale of South American Fertilizer Business
CHICAGO, – Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today announced that it has completed the sale of its South American fertilizer business to The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS).
“The completion of this sale is an important part of our ongoing portfolio management,” said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia A. Woertz. “By selling our blending assets in Brazil and Paraguay, we are improving our returns and creating shareholder value. At the same time, we look forward to continuing to partner with growers in that important region through our grain origination and fertilizer distribution network.”
The transaction consists primarily of five ADM-owned blending facilities in Brazil and Paraguay. The Mosaic Company paid US$350 million for the assets; that purchase price included $150 million in working capital. As part of the transaction, ADM will purchase fertilizer from Mosaic and will continue to supply certain fertilizer customers in Brazil and Paraguay.
About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve the vital needs of a growing world. Today, we’re one of the world’s largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, with more than 33,000 employees serving customers in more than 140 countries. With a global value chain that includes more than 470 crop procurement locations, 285 ingredient manufacturing facilities, 40 innovation centers and the world’s premier crop transportation network, we connect the harvest to the home, making products for food, animal feed, chemical and energy uses. Learn more at www.adm.com.
Virginia’s Innovative Market-based Approach to Improving Water Quality in Chesapeake Bay
WASHINGTON, – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy today joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Tom Vilsack, Mike Boots of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Commonwealth of Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, a private investor and an Appomattox, VA farmer to recognize an innovative, market-based nutrient trading program run by Virginia to improve the water quality of Chesapeake Bay.
At the McConnell Safety Transportation Operation Center, in Fairfax, Va., EPA, USDA, and CEQ highlighted the cost-effective program that has saved the Commonwealth more than $1 million, demonstrating an innovative means of meeting Clean Water Act stormwater requirements and Virginia state water quality goals for the Bay. The program encourages economic investment while reducing phosphorus pollution to local waterways in order to meet water quality goals for the Chesapeake Bay. It is expected similar programs will be established around the nation to provide new revenue sources for agricultural producers while reducing soil erosion and runoff.
“Virginia’s nutrient trading program is a strong example of how to create economic opportunity and new income for rural America while protecting and improving local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “The program is a win for the environment and our economy and we encourage states to look at Virginia as a model and a resource as they adopt similar programs.”
“USDA applauds the Commonwealth of Virginia for showing tremendous leadership on this issue,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Efforts like these provide new and additional income streams for farmers and ranchers, while improving water quality and saving Virginia money. I am hopeful this initiative can be replicated across the nation.”
“The Chesapeake Bay faces numerous challenges, and the Commonwealth of Virginia is responding with innovative thinking and collaboration across sectors,” said Mike Boots, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “Not only do creative approaches like these provide new markets for private investors and generate new revenue for farmers, they also bolster the strength of our natural resources, improving their resilience to threats posed by a changing climate and other stressors.”
“I am glad the federal government has chosen to recognize this innovative, pro-business program,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. “Our nutrient credit trading system is building the New Virginia Economy by protecting our environment and controlling costs for the private sector and the Virginia taxpayer.”
Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality has created a demand and supply market for land conservation projects that are protective of water quality for future generations. The agency’s stormwater program requires reductions of phosphorus runoff from certain types of road construction projects that can be achieved by purchasing phosphorus credits from state-certified credit banks. Credits purchased are generated by Virginia farmers in the Potomac and James River watersheds, whose farming practices have permanently reduced the amount of phosphorus flowing into those rivers and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. The farm practices are certified by the state as “nutrient credit banks” and come solely from private investors, reducing reliance on public funds and generating a new revenue stream for participating farmers. These credits cost VDOT approximately 50 percent less than other, more traditional engineered pollution reduction practices,
such as detention ponds, and underground filters. In addition, these banks advance other goals such as wildlife habitat, stream buffers and land preservation.
USDA video of the Virginia program was highlighted in today’s event: http://youtu.be/ucBFVeq-vdsThis is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.
By advancing the goals of improving the health and regional economy of the Chesapeake Bay as laid out in President Obama’s 2009 Executive Order, nutrient trading is giving farmers additional income opportunities that help keep agricultural lands in production and stretch limited budgets by tapping private sector investments.
EPA and USDA are working together to implement and coordinate policies and programs that encourage water quality trading and will release a web-based water quality trading roadmap tool in early 2015. As part of a joint memorandum of understanding to support trading and environmental markets, the two agencies are centralizing information for buyers and sellers to utilize water quality trading. This resource library will be searchable and help users find information specific to their needs. Both agencies will sponsor a national conference in 2015 for stakeholders to share experiences and move forward with trading as a valuable tool for driving environmental improvement.
Creating a Circular Economy: 2014 Report Chronicles Journey to Zero Waste – Updates on Recycling and Technologies
HOUSTON– Waste Management (NYSE: WM) today released its 2014 Sustainability Report, titled “Creating a Circular Economy,” which documents the company’s progress on recycling, energy production, transforming waste into valuable resources and helping businesses move toward zero waste.
“As our customers have become more focused on waste reduction, so have we,” said David Steiner, Waste Management president and CEO. “By finding new ways of extracting value from the materials we manage, we’re making advancements toward our long-term business strategy, and helping others do the same.”
“We believe we can reuse materials in a ‘circular economy’ that operates as a true closed-loop system, where little is wasted. There’s a lot of work ahead to make this vision a reality, but we’re committed for the long run because we see the potential to radically transform the way we all define — and interact with — waste,” continued Steiner.
In its latest Sustainability Report, Waste Management announced progress on:
Reducing waste. By working with a variety of businesses and organizations, Waste Management helped create customized solutions that lower waste production, increase reuse and improve the recyclability of products.
Growing recycling. The company extracted more than 15 million tons of materials from the waste stream in 2013. During this time, it also launched the Recycle Often. Recycle Right SM campaign to educate consumers on the simple actions they can take to grow and improve recycling.
Extracting value from organics. Organic materials comprise about 28 percent of the U.S. waste stream. This represents an opportunity to invest in processing facilities that create compost, as well as new technologies that produce biogas for fuel and electricity.
Lowering emissions. By the end of 2014, Waste Management will operate over 70 natural gas fueling stations to power its growing fleet of alternative fuel trucks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The company currently operates more than 3,500 of these vehicles, the largest fleet of its kind in North America.
Harnessing energy at the landfill. When materials are disposed there’s still an opportunity to produce electricity using naturally occurring landfill gas. Waste Management currently uses this technology to provide enough energy for 472,000 homes annually.
Also included in the report are a number of statistics on the company’s environmental performance, from fleet emissions to wildlife habitat protection to the variety of materials managed each year.
Waste Management’s complete Sustainability Report can be viewed at wm.com/sustainability.
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Our subsidiaries provide collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. We are the largest residential recycler and also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill-gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. Our customers include residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more visit www.wm.com.
– See more at: http://investors.wm.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=119743&p=irol-recentnewsArticle&ID=1999130#sthash.hm38ly5J.dpuf
Dow Announces Affiliation with the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap
MIDLAND, Mich. – Washing hands with soap is a proven way to help prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases, especially among children. In fact, nearly two million children under the age of five die each year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia. Dow has joined forces with the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap (PPPHW) to promote this simple, healthy practice on an international scale.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of Dow’s citizenship approach. With a long history of experience in teaming with major personal care and home care companies, scientists from Dow’s Home, Institutional and Personal Care Solutions business are constantly working to develop innovative products that will help improve personal health and safety.
Dow previously worked with the PPPHW during Global Handwashing Day, a successful effort in raising awareness of the importance of handwashing with soap and water. The campaign was initiated by the PPPHW to reduce childhood mortality rates related to respiratory and diarrheal diseases and recognized DOW POLYOX™ Water-Soluble Polymers, technology that helps make soaps more affordable, last longer and feel better on the skin.
“We believe in the power of the human element to change the world. Dow places a high value on listening to our communities and we strive not just to be a good neighbor, but an excellent global corporate citizen,” said Ralf Brinkmann, business president, Dow Consumer Care. “This initiative has the power to change and save lives, and we are proud to contribute to building better, stronger, and more sustainable communities in the places where we do business.”
The Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap joins a number of leading non-profit organizations, peer companies and thought leaders that Dow has collaborated with to create a holistic approach that meets societal needs on many levels. These include the UN Global Compact, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Nature Conservancy, Acumen, and Keep America Beautiful.
PPPHW is a coalition of international stakeholders whose focus is handwashing and child health. Established in 2001, the partnership aims to give families, schools, and communities in developing countries the power to prevent diarrheal and respiratory infections by supporting the universal promotion and practice of proper handwashing with soap at critical times.
For more information, visit www.cleanhands.dow.com.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
Huntsman Initiates Significant Action to Build a Global Market Leading Pigments and Additives Business
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) announced today that it is taking significant action to improve the global competitiveness of its pigments and additives business. As part of a comprehensive restructuring program, Huntsman plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 900 positions. Annual cost savings are expected to be approximately $130 million and will be achieved by the middle of 2016.
Separately, Huntsman is evaluating titanium dioxide (TiO2) capacity reduction options within its pigments and additives business.
Peter R. Huntsman, President and CEO of Huntsman Corporation, commented:
“We are in the process of creating a global market leading pigments and additives business with superior technology and cost competitive manufacturing. With the inclusion of the recently acquired Rockwood pigments and additives businesses we have the broadest product offering of specialized pigments in the industry. This restructuring will improve the competitiveness of our global pigments and additives business and allow us to compete more aggressively.
This is not the first time we’ve made significant efforts to restructure. Recently, we successfully completed major restructuring in our Advanced Materials and Textile Effects divisions, the annual benefits of which were approximately $150 million. We will leverage the learning and know-how from these efforts to deliver approximately $130 million of cost savings in our Pigments and Additives division. We will carry out these efforts in-line with local procedures and by working with relevant associate representative groups.
We are also taking steps that will lead to a successful future initial public offering of our Pigments and Additives division.”
About Huntsman:
Huntsman Cor poration is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals with 2013 revenues of approximately $13 billion including the acquisition of Rockwood’s performance additives and TiO2 businesses. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 100 manufacturing and R&D facilities in more than 30 countries and employ approximately 15,000 associates within our 5 distinct business divisions. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company’s website at www.huntsman.com.
Dow Further Advances Portfolio Management Drive, Announces Divestments
MIDLAND, Mich. – December 05, 2014 -The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) announced today that it has signed definitive agreements to sell its global Sodium Borohydride business to Vertellus Specialty Materials LLC (Vertellus) and its polyolefin films plant in Findlay, Ohio to Valfilm North America, Inc. (Valfilm), a wholly-owned subsidiary of VALGROUP Packaging Solutions. Both transactions are expected to close in the first quarter of 2015 pending regulatory approvals. Combined proceeds from the transactions total approximately $225 million.
Dow had previously announced its intent to divest its Sodium Borohydride business on Oct. 2, 2014, as part of the Company’s ongoing focus to maximize value across its integrated portfolio by reducing exposure to non-strategic businesses and assets. Both transactions are part of Dow’s ongoing drive to deliver $7 billion to 8.5 billion in gross proceeds by mid-2016.
“We continue to demonstrate our market-driven focus by selectively shifting our portfolio away from businesses that – while valuable – are no longer a strategic fit,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer. “By narrowing our market participation and preferentially funding those businesses in which we have strong competitive positions in attractive markets, we continue to increase value that can be redirected for more strategic uses, such as funding targeted growth, reducing debt and rewarding shareholders.”
The divestiture of Sodium Borohydride includes a manufacturing facility located in Elma, Washington, the associated business, inventory, customer contracts and lists, process technology, business know-how and certain intellectual property. Approximately 75 employees globally are expected to transition employment status to Vertellus as part of the transaction. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Vertellus will honor customer and supplier contracts and related agreements.
The sale of the Findlay plant includes assets and technology that produce a wide-variety of polyolefin films. In September 2014, Dow decided to close the facility at the end of January 2015, impacting approximately 70 employees. Valfilm intends to restart the facility in February 2015. The transaction is dependent on the final approval for all incentives by the State of Ohio.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
Boeing Completes First Milestone for NASA’s Commercial Crew Transportation Systems
NASA has approved the completion of Boeing’s first milestone in the company’s path toward launching crews to the International Space Station from the United States under a groundbreaking Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract.
The Certification Baseline Review is the first of many more milestones, including flight tests from Florida’s Space Coast that will establish the basis for certifying Boeing’s human space transportation system to carry NASA astronauts to the space station. The review established a baseline design of the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft, United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, and associated ground and mission operations systems.
“The work done now is crucial to each of the future steps in the path to certification, including a flight test to the International Space Station,” said Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “This first milestone establishes an expected operating rhythm for NASA and Boeing to meet our certification goal.”
On Sept. 16, the agency unveiled its selection of Boeing and SpaceX to transport U.S. crews to and from the space station using their CST-100 and Crew Dragon spacecraft, respectively. These contracts will provide U.S. missions to the station, ending the nation’s sole reliance on Russia and allowing the station’s current crew of six to grow, enabling more research aboard the unique microgravity laboratory.
The CCtCap contracts are designed for the companies to complete NASA certification of their human space transportation systems, including a crewed flight test with at least one NASA astronaut aboard to verify the fully integrated rocket and spacecraft system can launch from the United States, maneuver in orbit, and dock to the space station, as well as validate all its systems perform as expected. Once the test program has been completed successfully and the systems achieve NASA certification, the contractors will conduct at least two, and as many as six, crewed missions to the space station. The spacecraft also will serve as a lifeboat for astronauts aboard the station.
During the review, Boeing provided NASA with a roadmap toward certification, including its baseline design, concept of operations and management and insight plans. The Boeing team also detailed how the CST-100 would connect with the station and how it plans to train NASA astronauts to fly the CST-100 in orbit.
“It’s important for us to set a robust plan for achieving certification upfront,” said Boeing Commercial Crew Program Manager John Mulholland. “It’s crucial for us to achieve our 2017 goal, and the plan we’ve put in place will get us there.”
By expanding the crew size and enabling private companies to handle launches to low-Earth orbit — a region NASA has been visiting since 1962 — the nation’s space agency can focus on getting the most research and experience out of America’s investment in the International Space Station. NASA also can expand its focus to develop the Space Launch System and Orion capsule for missions in the proving ground of deep space beyond the moon to advance the skills and techniques that will enable humans to explore Mars.
For more information about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew
NASA Airborne Campaigns Tackle Climate Questions from Africa to Arctic
Five new NASA airborne field campaigns will take to the skies starting in 2015 to investigate how long-range air pollution, warming ocean waters, and fires in Africa affect our climate.
These studies into several incompletely understood Earth system processes were competitively-selected as part of NASA’s Earth Venture-class projects. Each project is funded at a total cost of no more than $30 million over five years. This funding includes initial development, field campaigns and analysis of data.
This is NASA’s second series of Earth Venture suborbital investigations — regularly solicited, quick-turnaround projects recommended by the National Research Council in 2007. The first series of five projects was selected in 2010.
“These new investigations address a variety of key scientific questions critical to advancing our understanding of how Earth works,” said Jack Kaye, associate director for research in NASA’s Earth Science Division in Washington. “These innovative airborne experiments will let us probe inside processes and locations in unprecedented detail that complements what we can do with our fleet of Earth-observing satellites.”
The five selected Earth Venture investigations are:
Atmospheric chemistry and air pollution – Steven Wofsy of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will lead the Atmospheric Tomography project to study the impact of human-produced air pollution on certain greenhouse gases. Airborne instruments will look at how atmospheric chemistry is transformed by various air pollutants and at the impact on methane and ozone which affect climate. Flights aboard NASA’s DC-8 will originate from the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California, fly north to the western Arctic, south to the South Pacific, east to the Atlantic, north to Greenland, and return to California across central North America.
Ecosystem changes in a warming ocean – Michael Behrenfeld of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, will lead the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study, which seeks to improve predictions of how ocean ecosystems would change with ocean warming. The mission will study the annual life cycle of phytoplankton and the impact small airborne particles derived from marine organisms have on climate in the North Atlantic. The large annual phytoplankton bloom in this region may influence the Earth’s energy budget. Research flights by NASA’s C-130 aircraft from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, will be coordinated with a University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) research vessel. UNOLS, located at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography in Narragansett, Rhode Island, is an organization of 62 academic institutions and national laboratories involved in oceanographic research.
Greenhouse gas sources – Kenneth Davis of Pennsylvania State University in University Park, will lead the Atmospheric Carbon and Transport-America project to quantify the sources of regional carbon dioxide, methane and other gases, and document how weather systems transport these gases in the atmosphere. The research goal is to improve identification and predictions of carbon dioxide and methane sources and sinks using spaceborne, airborne and ground-based data over the eastern United States. Research flights will use NASA’s C-130 from Wallops and the UC-12 from Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
African fires and Atlantic clouds – Jens Redemann of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, will lead the Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions project to probe how smoke particles from massive biomass burning in Africa influences cloud cover over the Atlantic. Particles from this seasonal burning that are lofted into the mid-troposphere and transported westward over the southeast Atlantic interact with permanent stratocumulus “climate radiators,” which are critical to the regional and global climate system. NASA aircraft, including a Wallops P-3 and an Armstrong ER-2, will be used to conduct the investigation flying out of Walvis Bay, Namibia.
Melting Greenland glaciers – Josh Willis of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, will lead the Oceans Melting Greenland mission to investigate the role of warmer saltier Atlantic subsurface waters in Greenland glacier melting. The study will help pave the way for improved estimates of future sea level rise by observing changes in glacier melting where ice contacts seawater. Measurements of the ocean bottom as well as seawater properties around Greenland will be taken from ships and the air using several aircraft including a NASA S-3 from Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and Gulfstream III from Armstrong.
Seven NASA centers, 25 educational institutions, three U.S. government agencies and two industry partners are involved in these Earth Venture projects. The five investigations were selected from 33 proposals.
Earth Venture investigations are part of NASA’s Earth System Science Pathfinder program managed at Langley for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The missions in this program provide an innovative approach to address Earth science research with periodic windows of opportunity to accommodate new scientific priorities.
NASA monitors Earth’s vital signs from land, sea, air and space with a fleet of satellites and ambitious airborne and surface-based observation campaigns. With this information and computer analysis tools, NASA studies Earth’s interconnected systems to better see how our planet is changing. The agency shares this unique knowledge with the global community and works with institutions in the United States and around the world that contribute to understanding and protecting our home planet.
For more information about NASA’s Earth science activities, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/earthrightnow
USDA and Partners Complete First-of-Its-Kind Sale of Carbon Credits from Working Ranch Grasslands
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today said a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant has helped initiate a partnership that is improving the environment, creating a market for carbon credits generated on working grasslands. Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, recently purchased almost 40,000 carbon dioxide reduction tons generated on working ranch grasslands in the Prairie Pothole region of North Dakota.
“This announcement is the first-of-its-kind. The amount of carbon dioxide removed from our atmosphere by Chevrolet’s purchase of carbon credits equals the amount that would be reduced by taking more than 5,000 cars off the road,” Secretary Vilsack said. “This public-private partnership demonstrates how much can be achieved with a modest federal investment and a strong commitment to cut carbon pollution.”
Robert Bonnie, USDA’s under secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, announced the purchase and USDA’s involvement in the project at an event today at USDA headquarters. He was joined by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Greg Martin, executive director for global public policy, General Motors; Sean Penrith, executive director of The Climate Trust and Paul Schmidt, chief conservation officer of Ducks Unlimited.
Chevrolet’s first purchase of third-party verified carbon credits generated on working ranch grasslands was undertaken voluntarily as part of its commitment to reduce eight million tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted. This is comparable to the annual carbon reduction benefit of a mature forest the size of Yellowstone National Park.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded $161,000 through a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) to Ducks Unlimited in 2011 to develop the necessary methodology to quantify the carbon stored in the soil by avoiding grassland conversions, resulting in the generation of carbon credits.
This is how the credit system works:
Landowners voluntarily place lands under a perpetual easement but retain rights to work the land, such as raising livestock and growing hay.
The carbon storage benefits of this avoided conversion of grasslands are quantified, verified, and formally registered resulting in carbon credits.
The carbon credits are made available to entities interested in purchasing carbon offsets.
The landowners receive compensation for the carbon credits generated on their lands. “Ranchers benefit from new revenue streams, while thriving grasslands provide nesting habitat for wildlife, are more resilient to extreme weather, and help mitigate the impact of climate change,” said Vilsack.
Besides the landowners, USDA, and Ducks Unlimited, other key partners that helped make this project a success include The Climate Trust, American Carbon Registry, The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund and Terra Global Capital.
USDA’s CIGs support the development of new technologies and approaches to agricultural conservation on private lands. This project was one of nine greenhouse gas mitigation and carbon market projects funded by NRCS 2011. More information on these innovative projects can be found on the webpage of Coalition on Agricultural Greenhouse GasesThis is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website., a strategic partner of USDA.
Public-private partnerships to enhance U.S. carbon sinks such as forests, grasslands, wetlands and coastal areas, are a key part of President Obama’s efforts to prepare communities for the impacts of climate change and enhance the nation’s climate resilience. In October, as called for in the President’s Climate Action Plan, the Administration announced a Climate and Natural Resources Priority Agenda that represents a first of its kind, comprehensive commitment across the Federal Government to support resilience of our natural resources. It identifies a suite of actions (including efforts like the USDA-Chevy agreement) the Federal Government will take to enhance the resilience of America’s natural resources to the impacts of climate change and promote their ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
This announcement is one of many USDA efforts to help America’s farmers, ranchers and forest owners adapt to new challenges caused by a changing climate – ranging from more intense weather events, to increased risk of wildfire, to a greater prevalence of invasive species. While assessments on the future of agriculture and forestry show that climate change holds these and other challenges in the years ahead, American producers are longtime leaders in innovation, risk management and adaptation. USDA has supported these efforts for more than a century. Now USDA is developing new tools to help rural America create climate solutions and play a role in President Obama’s comprehensive effort to reduce carbon pollution. More information on USDA’s work is available at www.usda.gov/climatesolutions.
Orion Spacecraft Arrives To Cape Canaveral’s Launch Pad 37
CAPE CANAVERAL, –The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] built Orion spacecraft has completed its 22-mile, 6-hour journey from the Launch Abort System Facility at Kennedy Space Center, to launch pad 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Orion is now another step closer to its first test flight on Dec. 4, 2014.
“This spacecraft is going to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and human achievement,” said Michael Hawes, Lockheed Martin Orion program manager. “One day, not too far in the future, an astronaut will leave the first footprints in the red dust of Mars, and we’ll look back and say that journey started here.”
This morning, the 50,000 lb. spacecraft was lifted about 200 feet up and mated to the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket, which Lockheed Martin contracted for the flight. Over the next few weeks, the rocket and spacecraft will be integrated and powered up, and engineers will test and verify interfaces between the two in preparation for Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1).
“It has been a tremendous team effort with all of our mission partners to get us to this point just one month prior to launch,” said Jim England, ULA’s EFT-1 program manager. “We are honored to play such a critical role in this important launch for NASA and are focused on providing mission success so that Orion can complete all of its mission objectives.”
During EFT-1, the uncrewed spacecraft will travel 3,600 miles beyond Earth—15 times further than the International Space Station. That same day, Orion will return to Earth at a speed of approximately 20,000 mph for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. EFT-1 will provide engineers with data about systems critical to crew safety, such as heat shield performance, separation events, avionics and software performance, attitude control and guidance, parachute deployment, and recovery operations to validate designs of the spacecraft before it begins carrying humans to new destinations in deep space.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.
With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation’s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered nearly 90 satellites to orbit that provide critical capabilities for troops in the field, aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, enable personal device-based GPS navigation and unlock the mysteries of our solar system.
