Mar 31
Driving on dirt roads kicks up dust that can make it hard to see and cause respiratory problems for people who live nearby. In some areas, a wastewater mix from oil and gas production is sprayed on dirt and gravel roads to suppress the dust. The wastewater is usually free. But it contains radium, which …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/toxic-contamination/take-me-home-country-roads/
Feb 26
Every day, about 20 million gallons of oil travel through an underwater pipeline at the narrow passage that connects lakes Michigan and Huron. “There’s a lot of concern that this line could rupture,” says Mike Shriberg of the National Wildlife Federation, which helps organize the Great Lakes Business Network. It’s a coalition of more than …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/toxic-contamination/oil-and-water-in-the-straits-of-mackinac/
Feb 13
Sometimes removing a dam is a better “fix” than repair. Listen up: Let’s start with the good news. Thousands of dams across the U.S. harness rivers to reap a variety of goods and services. And here’s the economic but: As those dams age, their owners can face significant repair or maintenance costs. Brian Graber of …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/water-and-energy/when-cutting-dam-losses-just-makes-cents/
Feb 12
Hydropower is one of the cleaner energy options, but that doesn’t make it perfect. Wade into this: Rushing, cascading water doesn’t just power epic rafting trips—fast-flowing water also creates hydropower. It goes something like this: A dam is built in a river, holding back the water to form a reservoir. When released, the force of …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/water-and-energy/hydroelectric-power/
Feb 10
Crop-based biofuels burn cleaner than gasoline—but there’s a hitch. Listen up for the water-guzzling scoop: Everything you’ve heard is true: Compared with fossil fuels, burning biofuels releases fewer greenhouse gases. But what you might not know is that producing the cleaner-burning fuel also requires a lot of water. Take corn-based ethanol, for example, which is …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/water-and-energy/the-water-footprint-of-biofuels/
