History, Natural History & the Arts
Burning fuel, like wood and gasoline, happens around the world every day. Most of the time, we burn fuels to make heat or power engines. Sometimes the burning happens by accident, as in the case of wildfires.
Most of the time, the process of burning fuels creates emissions in the form of visible smoke. Black carbon is a significant component of fine particulate matter pollution and a key ingredient in “soot.” [Read more…] about Black Carbon: Some History & Science of Soot
Bold action is needed in Congress if the Adirondack Park is to benefit from several federal funding and policy initiatives that could combat acid rain, climate change and water pollution, while making much-needed investments in communities including broadband communications and new infrastructure to cope with more frequent storms and flooding, the Adirondack Council said in a statement to the press this week. [Read more…] about Adk Park Advocates Call For Civilian Climate Corps, Action by Congress
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she has allocated $59 million for the new Clean Green Schools initiative, which aims to advance clean energy and energy efficiency solutions hoped to improve indoor air quality and reduce emissions for more than 500 public and private Pre-K-12 schools in disadvantaged communities across the state.
As part of the program, the State is planning to convene education leaders this fall, including school superintendents, administrators, and educators, to inform the initiative launching in early 2022 to address climate justice issues and create improved, healthier learning environments for students. Today’s announcement supports New York’s nation-leading goal of an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). [Read more…] about $59M Directed to Help Green Schools in Underserved Areas
New York State has announced more than $9 million is available to establish the Carbontech Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program to support scientists who have breakthrough innovations to contribute to building New York as a hub for carbon-to-value technology.
The new program is expected to provide technical expertise that bridges research and development with the commercialization of products, grow entrepreneurial training for scientists, expand the State’s innovation ecosystem, and accelerate economy-wide deep decarbonization. [Read more…] about State Funding Carbontech Entrepreneurial Fellowships
During his lifetime Ulysses S. Grant watched technology change the world around him. Significant advancements in travel, communications, energy production, and medical science during his life would lead to his recognition of the vital importance technology played in the pursuit of progress. Grant was intrigued by and supported innovations in technology as a military commander and President. [Read more…] about Ulysses S. Grant & Modern Technological Innovations
The Grant Cottage State Historic Site, a 19th-century mountaintop residence where U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant completed his memoirs shortly before his death, is now part of the renewable energy era. [Read more…] about Grant’s Cottage Historic Site Goes Off Grid
The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) has received a combined grant award of $1.268 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Mastercard to develop and implement small business assistance programs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 economic crisis. [Read more…] about ANCA Awarded $1.2M for Pandemic Response Program
A former manufactured gas plant (MGP) was located on an approximately 11-acre area in Plattsburgh near the Saranac River from 1896 to 1960. The coal tar by-product of the manufacturing process was pumped into an on-site unlined lagoon for storage.
It was later discovered that the coal tar by-product seeped out of the unlined lagoon into bedrock and the nearby Saranac River. [Read more…] about Saranac River Restoration Efforts Underway at Former Gas Plant
There are only eleven gasholder houses left in the United States. Troy has the largest, and one of the finest examples of this type of 19th century utility storage facility. [Read more…] about The Gasholder House: A Troy Landmark
Some people are good at finding the silver lining in just about any cloud that passes over their life. On the other hand, I can often locate a sepia tone in a bright sunburst, which is why I need to complain about energy-efficient windows for a minute. [Read more…] about Window Ferns and Frost Flowers