Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houston. Show all posts
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Houston petroleum plant sued for emissions
The Sierra Club and Environment Texas are taking the Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. to federal court in order to force it to reduce harmful emissions at its Cedar Bayou chemical plant in Baytown, according to the Houston Chronicle.
It's not unprecedented. In 2003, the groups sued Shell Oil and its Deerpark refinery and petrochemical complex. The company agreed to reduce emissions and paid $6 million for past violations of the Clean Air Act.
A spokesman for Chevron Phillips said that "the company is committed to complying with laws and has reduced emissions."
The violations primarily arise from events called "upsets." Upsets occur "during startup and shutdown, equipment malfunctions, unscheduled maintenance and other unforeseen events." According to the environmental groups, this has occurred hundreds of times over the last six years.
The groups say most of these upsets are preventable if measures are taken and proper technology is installed.
To be fair, this is probably not entirely true.
Situated on the Gulf Coast, the plant has often fallen victim to damage and power outages caused by hurricanes and other phenomena that are beyond the company's capability to control.
Part of the problem, says a representative of Environment Texas, is that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not doing enough. They want the state to take a harder line.
The TCEQ has fined the company $250,000 since 2003.
The plaintiffs want to see them further penalized and forced to upgrade.
Unfortunately, tying up the courts seems to be the only way to address the issue, especially since Governor Rick Perry, in his infinite and greedy wisdom, has given the leadership of the TCEQ to Bryan W. Shaw, an industry stoolie who doubts the human contribution to climate change.
Gotta keep the oil lobbyists happy, right Goodhair?
Federal courts, however, are less easily bought and will probably fine Chevron Phillips, hopefully reducing the emission-causing upsets.
It's not unprecedented. In 2003, the groups sued Shell Oil and its Deerpark refinery and petrochemical complex. The company agreed to reduce emissions and paid $6 million for past violations of the Clean Air Act.
A spokesman for Chevron Phillips said that "the company is committed to complying with laws and has reduced emissions."
The violations primarily arise from events called "upsets." Upsets occur "during startup and shutdown, equipment malfunctions, unscheduled maintenance and other unforeseen events." According to the environmental groups, this has occurred hundreds of times over the last six years.
The groups say most of these upsets are preventable if measures are taken and proper technology is installed.
To be fair, this is probably not entirely true.
Situated on the Gulf Coast, the plant has often fallen victim to damage and power outages caused by hurricanes and other phenomena that are beyond the company's capability to control.
Part of the problem, says a representative of Environment Texas, is that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not doing enough. They want the state to take a harder line.
The TCEQ has fined the company $250,000 since 2003.
The plaintiffs want to see them further penalized and forced to upgrade.
Unfortunately, tying up the courts seems to be the only way to address the issue, especially since Governor Rick Perry, in his infinite and greedy wisdom, has given the leadership of the TCEQ to Bryan W. Shaw, an industry stoolie who doubts the human contribution to climate change.
Gotta keep the oil lobbyists happy, right Goodhair?
Federal courts, however, are less easily bought and will probably fine Chevron Phillips, hopefully reducing the emission-causing upsets.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Houston workers rallying against climate change legislation
Today, thousands of workers in the energy industry are gathering at the Verizon Wireless Theater downtown at 12:30.
Story here.
These are not necessarily denialists; the organizers believe that the proposed emissions trading bill will negatively affect the economy by eliminating jobs in the fossil fuel industry. They are not, however, taking into account jobs that will be created by ramping up research and development in alternative energy fields.
Granted, the money required to do so is somewhat daunting, but once it is there, jobs will abound.
They also want to see nuclear pushed harder. I agree.
Another argument is that CO2 emissions won't be affected because developing countries are contributing far more to the output and any cutbacks the US makes will be negligible.
Well then, why not make it a cool, hip, American thing to be green? Asians delight in Coco-Cola, Levi's, McDonald's and whatever other ridiculous pop (and often unhealthy) fad we as Americans come up with, so why not set an example in the environmental category as well?
Europeans are kicking our butt in alternative energy but they also enjoy our fast food chains.
Between the EU and the US, leading by example may be the best way to get countries like India and China to literally clean up their acts.
What have we got to lose but industrial stagnation and dirty air?
Story here.
These are not necessarily denialists; the organizers believe that the proposed emissions trading bill will negatively affect the economy by eliminating jobs in the fossil fuel industry. They are not, however, taking into account jobs that will be created by ramping up research and development in alternative energy fields.
Granted, the money required to do so is somewhat daunting, but once it is there, jobs will abound.
They also want to see nuclear pushed harder. I agree.
Another argument is that CO2 emissions won't be affected because developing countries are contributing far more to the output and any cutbacks the US makes will be negligible.
Well then, why not make it a cool, hip, American thing to be green? Asians delight in Coco-Cola, Levi's, McDonald's and whatever other ridiculous pop (and often unhealthy) fad we as Americans come up with, so why not set an example in the environmental category as well?
Europeans are kicking our butt in alternative energy but they also enjoy our fast food chains.
Between the EU and the US, leading by example may be the best way to get countries like India and China to literally clean up their acts.
What have we got to lose but industrial stagnation and dirty air?
Monday, August 10, 2009
KBR researching biofuel manufacturing
Yes, the same KBR surrounded by controversy while providing logistical support to the US military in the Middle East is looking to make biofuel production economically feasible, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Because KBR is headquartered in Houston, one of the centers of the international oil and gas industry, it has the infrastructure in place to scale up biofuel production; one of the problems is that biofuel manufacturing works in the lab but mass production is hampered by lack of funds, technology and space.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 calls for the supply of renewable fuels to grow to 36 billion gallons by 2022.
KBR is backing the construction of a 27 million gallon per year plant in Iowa and is providing engineering support to five more cellulosic ethanol plants.
Exxon and other oil companies already exploring the possibilities of biofuel. Maybe soon, the bloodshed and backstabbing over foreign countries' oil will begin in the American cornbelt. That's actually just sci-fi speculation, but human nature is what it is.
At least the corporate assassins will be doing it over less polluting power sources.
Because KBR is headquartered in Houston, one of the centers of the international oil and gas industry, it has the infrastructure in place to scale up biofuel production; one of the problems is that biofuel manufacturing works in the lab but mass production is hampered by lack of funds, technology and space.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 calls for the supply of renewable fuels to grow to 36 billion gallons by 2022.
KBR is backing the construction of a 27 million gallon per year plant in Iowa and is providing engineering support to five more cellulosic ethanol plants.
Exxon and other oil companies already exploring the possibilities of biofuel. Maybe soon, the bloodshed and backstabbing over foreign countries' oil will begin in the American cornbelt. That's actually just sci-fi speculation, but human nature is what it is.
At least the corporate assassins will be doing it over less polluting power sources.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Houston recycling...
Is practically non-existent as far as the municipality goes. There are plenty of places to take recyclable materials (most schools have dumpster-sized paper recycling bins and private establishments exist) but there is no curbside service.
According to an article last year in the New York Times, Houston ranks last among the nation's largest cities in recycling, reprocessing only 2.6% of waste. San Francisco and New York (New York!) recycle 69 and 34 percent respectively.
While certain sections of Houston have been provided with bins, most have not and the outlying suburbs (where I currently reside) don't even seem to know what recycling is.
Houston has long been considered the "world's energy capital" (let not the ghost of Enron malinger too long in our memories) yet creates an abominable amount of waste. This is a city of culture - of museums, music, theatre and big business - yet still has the mentality of an over-consuming America of the '50s.
C'mon, people now!!!
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