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energy

The Night the Lights Came On: Electricity on New York State Farms

May 1, 2022 by Milton Sernett 4 Comments

Few New York State farms had electric power in the 1920s. Even as late as 1930 ninety percent of farm families nationwide had no line-run electricity. On long winter evenings city dwellers could read and sew long past sunset, but farm families sat in near darkness and did chores, such as milking the cows, in the dim light of kerosene lanterns.

Some farmers used Delco-Light Plants made up of ranks of glass-jarred lead-storage batteries located in dirt-floored basements for electric power. As Delco’s slogan was, “Delco systems sell best by night,” Delco salesman cleverly arrived at dusk with small Delco systems to demonstrate to farmers how these DC-units, when sufficiently massed, could bring to the farm what folks in the cities enjoyed. But Delco systems were expensive, and the batteries had to be recharged with a generator powered by a gasoline engine. [Read more…] about The Night the Lights Came On: Electricity on New York State Farms

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, Western NY Tagged With: Agricultural History, energy, General Electric, George Westinghouse, Industrial History, local farms, Nikola Tesla, Political History, Thomas Edison

New York State Issues 10th ‘Greening New York State Report’

April 23, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

greening new york stateThe GreenNY Council has issued the tenth annual Greening New York State Report for 2020-21, documenting the continued progress made by New York State to reduce the environmental footprint of State operations.

Highlights of this year’s report include a record $300 million invested in green products and services, 4.4 trillion BTUs of energy saving projects completed or underway as part of the BuildSmart 2025 program, and a record 94 percent recycling rate. [Read more…] about New York State Issues 10th ‘Greening New York State Report’

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: Climate Change, DEC, energy, Environmental History, GreenNY Council, plastics, pollution

North Country Large Scale Composting Support Available

February 27, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Community composter designed by Compost for Good, installation at the Wild CenterThe Compost for Good (CfG) team has announced they are seeking farmers, haulers, composters, retailers, landscapers, grocery stores, manufacturers, restaurants, etc. in St Lawrence, Franklin, Essex and Clinton Counties to discuss their organics recycling goals and dreams.

Municipalities or non-profit organizations interested in supporting businesses in your areas, or businesses who are trying to navigate the Food Donation and Food Scrap Recycling Law, are encouraged to contact CfG as well. [Read more…] about North Country Large Scale Composting Support Available

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature Tagged With: composting, energy, gardening, Grants, solid waste

New Methane Emissions Rules for NYS’s Oil, Natural Gas Infrastructure

February 19, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The NYS Gas Well in New York State courtesy DECDepartment of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has finalized regulations that the Department expects will require significant reductions in methane and other harmful emissions from any oil and natural gas infrastructure in the State. The new rules will be effective March 3, 2022

The regulations are part of the State’s clean energy and climate agenda and are expected to reduce methane emissions by more than 14,000 metric tons per year and volatile organic compound emissions by over 2,000 tons per year by regulating and controlling methane leakage and venting. Methane is second to carbon dioxide in its contribution to climate change because of its high volume in the atmosphere and strong radiative effects. [Read more…] about New Methane Emissions Rules for NYS’s Oil, Natural Gas Infrastructure

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: Climate Change, DEC, energy, Oil Industry

Where There’s Wood Smoke, There’s Pollution

December 25, 2021 by Paul Hetzler Leave a Comment

wood smoke from woodstovesA recent upswing in woodstove use might sound yawn-worthy, but recent findings about the dire health effects of wood smoke might mean the long-term future of wood as a heating fuel is in question.

As someone who grew up with wood heat, I assumed it was hands-down one of the most sustainable, eco-positive fuels for home heating. Like many other widely shared conventions, it turns out the veracity of that assumption depends on a lot of things.

How many people burn wood in a given locale is an obvious factor. The number of homes using wood heat rose sharply in the years following the 1998 ice storm which left residents without power for weeks on end. Also no surprise, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of wood heat. [Read more…] about Where There’s Wood Smoke, There’s Pollution

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: clean air, energy, Environmental History, Forestry, Logging, pollution, Public Health

Yule Logs: Some History & Science

December 4, 2021 by Paul Hetzler 1 Comment

A 19th century painting by Robert Alexander Hillingford showing the Christmas tradition of preparing the Yule log at Hever Castle, Kent, EnglandThe tradition of burning a Yule log has largely fizzled out in most parts of the world. While holiday cards often feature cute, picturesque birch rounds in the hearth, old-time Yule logs in 6th and 7th century Europe were monster tree trunks that were meant to burn all day, and in certain cultures for twelve continuous days, without being entirely used up.

Apparently, if you didn’t have a leftover bit of this log remaining after the marathon burn, you were doomed to misfortune in the upcoming year. The remnant piece of charred wood was tucked away in the ceiling and was used to light the following year’s Yule log. I assume it was extinguished before being squirreled away in the rafters or some really bad luck would ensue. [Read more…] about Yule Logs: Some History & Science

Filed Under: History, Nature Tagged With: Christmas, energy, Forestry, Holidays

Environmental History of Niagara Falls (Podcast)

November 5, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The latest episode of Empire State Engagements features a conversation with Dr. Daniel Macfarlane about his book Fixing Niagara Falls: Environment, Energy, and Engineers at the World’s Most Famous Waterfall (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2020).

He discussed conflicting meanings of the falls for Indigenous People, sojourners mesmerized by their beauty, and entrepreneurs with utilitarian industrial visions and dreams of hydroelectric generation; the political dilemmas of managing such a valuable yet vulnerable resource on an international border; the role of Robert Moses in ramrodding power projects to completion in the postwar period; the remarkable re-engineering and re-construction of the falls themselves; de-watering Niagara; and the enduring appeal and splendor of the falls today, despite their “artificial” nature. [Read more…] about Environmental History of Niagara Falls (Podcast)

Filed Under: Books, History, Nature, Western NY Tagged With: energy, Environmental History, Niagara Falls, Podcasts, Robert Moses State Park

Black Carbon: Some History & Science of Soot

October 24, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Environmental Conservation Officers with stopped diesel truckBurning 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

Filed Under: History, Nature Tagged With: clean air, Climate Change, energy, Environmental History, Industrial History, pollution, Science

Adk Park Advocates Call For Civilian Climate Corps, Action by Congress

October 6, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Adirondack CouncilBold 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

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature Tagged With: Adirondack Council, Adirondacks, broadband, clean air, Climate Change, energy, nature, pollution, water quality

$59M Directed to Help Green Schools in Underserved Areas

September 23, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Clean Green School InitiativeGovernor 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

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: energy, NYSERDA

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