The Climate Minute - The Choices We Make.

We're back again recording, unfortunately without our new contributor Eugenia, but at least we managed to be able to hit "record" and actually get sound this week!

This week we're all about choices; sometimes tough choices like turbines vs. bald eagles, and sometimes what should be an easy choice -- we're not going to drive a vehicle that gets the same gas mileage cars were getting thirty years ago!

First up, some activists howled when the Administration made new rules this week that will protect wind generators from prosecution for bird deaths, particularly protected birds like Bald Eagles, for the foreseeable future.

Does the need for alternative energy outweigh the protections we've created for certain species? And there are efforts to try and minimize turbine impacts on wildlife.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments about the EPA's cross-state air pollution rule. The gist of the issue here is that the EPA has developed rules which give it some flexibility in dealing with air pollution based more on the cost-effectiveness of pollution control than the actual percentage contribution each particular state is making to address air pollution.

Ted and Rob compare two instances of lawsuits being used to confound power plants.  In one case it's efforts to raise questions about a new natural gas plant in Salem, while in another it's a very small group of people who are trying to derail Cape Wind, the largest off-shore wind project underway in the country.

The Salem case is leading to all sorts of interesting behaviors, from the state representative from the area filing legislation to attempt to block all appeals of permits (which is hardly cricket in a litigious little state like Massachusetts), and what appears to be a situation where local environmental activists support the new plant while a large regional environmental group is trying to stop it.

Rob got his high-dudgeon on when he saw EPA gloating over the highest fleet-wide MPG ratings for new cars.  He finds this particularly galling when clearly the technology is there (and affordable) for people to be driving ultra efficient hybrids or plug-in battery electrics, and we're celebrating an efficiency average that is no better than the MPG rating of a 1985 Buick Century.  If we can only improve the Ford Mustang's MPG rating by three miles to the gallon in thirty years how are we ever going to significantly reduce gasoline usage?

Finally, as we mention last week, the State of Massachusetts has unveiled a revamped Dashboard showing their progress in meeting the state's lofty global warming goals.  Check it out and let us know what you think.

Remember, for more climate activities near you check out our MCAN climate action calendar. You can enter events as well as browse for interesting things to do.

As always, it’s been a pleasure sharing climate news and views with you. You know, you can subscribe to our iTunes feed and get our podcasts automatically here. Feel free to give us your thoughts on our Facebook page, or through old-fashioned email. You can even follow us on twitter @MassClimate , so there are lots of ways for you to listen and participate in the dialog.

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So we will close the way we always close, by saying that because we recognize the necessity of personal accountability for our actions- specifically to pay for the full cost of carbon pollution at the time we create it, because we accept responsibility for building a durable future and because we believe it is our patriotic duty as citizens to speak out, we must insist that the US put a price on carbon.