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MDOC Offers $300,000 for Tourism Infrastructure Projects
Montana Department of Commerce Director Anthony Preite announces that $300,000 in tourism funds are
available for tourism-related projects through the 2009 Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP). The
deadline for TIIP grant applications is Monday, August 3, 2009. READ >>
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Tourism Campaign Invests in Eastern Montana!
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Launches New Montana High Plains Campaign
In an effort to showcase central and eastern Montana, the Montana Department of
Commerce Office of Tourism recently launched a campaign to help grow
awareness and fuel visitation to this area of the state. This is the first major
campaign the Montana Office of Tourism has developed to specifically spur travel
and visitation to less well-known parts of the state. READ >>
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Citizens tell Baucus to deliver real health care reform
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Staffers for U.S. Sen. Max Baucus got an earful last week at public meetings
organized by the senator to talk about health care reform, and one message
came through loud and clear. The people were demanding:
"Give us reform . . .
"Do something that solves the problems . . .
"Do something that will control costs . . .
"Stop the health care profiteering . . . .
"Don't give us an industry-friendly reform . . .
But nobody said, "Get off your ass and take charge of your own health care FIRST." Here's a small example.
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Montana Department of Commerce Quick Start Schools Program
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The Montana Department of Commerce is providing competitive grants for
Montana schools to perform energy audits and energy efficiency upgrades. The
Quick Start program, approved by the 61st Legislature in the Montana
Reinvestment Act (HB 645), implements the federal American Recovery
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This program is designed to assist schools
with conducting energy audits and completing energy efficiency projects that
provide long-term, cost-effective benefits to K-12 school facilities. READ >>
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GeoSports Green Challenge Focus on Plastic Water Bottle Problem
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In less than one generation, the use and disposal of single-use plastic
packaging has grown from 120,000 tons in 1960 to 12,720,000 tons per year
today! And most of them end up clogging landfills, streams, rivers and
ultimately the oceans, making it a world wide problem. And sporting events
are one of the biggest consumers of plastic bottled water and contributors to
the problem. The GeoSports Green Challenge events will provide information
about recycling all plastics and encourage all participants to use stainless
steel or glass water bottles. A recycling bin will also be available during all
events for drop off. Click HERE .
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New Swan Lake Website: "Montana's Adventure Destination"
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The new Swan Lake website, developed by Alternatives Magazine, is being
promoted as Montana's Adventure Destination. And rightfully so. Swan Lake,
famous for it's annual Huckleberry Festival, located in the Flathead National
Forest between Bigfork and Seeley Lake. It's part of National Geographics
Crown of the Continent designation as one of the premier mountain
eco-regions of the world. This seemingly sleepy little village is a getaway
destination for exceptional lake and stream fishing, mountain biking, hiking,
kayaking and backcountry Nordic skiing in the Swan and Mission Mountain
ranges. We invite you to log on and cruise through the pages as they are being
developed. The site should be fully functional by early June. Click on the
navigation directory tab 'Swan Lake' or HERE.
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Renewable-fuel push may help Montana
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Industry leaders say a White House directive to accelerate
biofuel development could be a needed shot in the arm for
Montana's renewable-energy firms.
Camelina oilseed has been touted as Montana's best bet
as a biodiesel producer. It's a nonfood crop, meaning that
raising it for fuel doesn't put producers at odds with the
food industry, which has accused corn ethanol production
of driving up costs for everything from breakfast cereal to
livestock feed. And the small-seeded cousin to the mustard
plant isn't very thirsty, making it a good survivor in Northern
Plains states. It grows well on marginal land, meaning it
isn't necessarily in direct competition with the food industry
for farm acres. Billings Gazette May 21, 2009
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Camelina oilseed plants sprout on Brown Farms on
Fly Creek between Billings and Hardin recently.
LARRY MAYER/Gazette Staff
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Student's biofuel work leads to international science fair
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Skyview High student Brittany LaRoque's simple chemistry experiment has the
potential for big change in the field of alternative energy.
LaRoque, a senior, has spent the past six months refining a new technique in the
production of biodiesel that could help make the vegetable-oil-based fuel cheaper
to produce and more widely used than crude-oil-based fuels. Billings Gazette. May
14, 2009
Skyview High senior Brittany LaRoque won
the Billings Clinic Science Fair with her
biodiesel project. She will be going to the
Intel national science fair in Reno, Nevada.
CASEY RIFFE/ Gazette Staff
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Gas to likely stay relatively cheap this summer
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Government says it should
average $2.23 a gallon
during driving season
The Energy Information
Administration said regular-grade
gasoline is expected to average
$2.23 a gallon during the April-
through-September driving season,
although it will likely fluctuate and
could jump to more than $2.30 a
gallon during the peak driving period
in late summer.
But that’s still a bargain compared
with last summer, when gasoline
cost an average of $3.81 a gallon.
READ >>
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PSC giving green light to NorthWestern's new gas-fired power plant
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The Public Service Commission gave preliminary approval to
the beginnings of the plant, and will vote on a final, formal
order this month. Commissioners endorsing the Mill Creek
Generation Station acknowledge that the power is expensive
compared to what consumers pay now for a similar product
bought on the open market. Billings Gazette.
More about Montana's Natural Gas and Coal-fired
Generation Accomplishments HERE >>
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Signal Peak Mine south of Roundup nears completion
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At 3,000 tons per day, miners are sending a steady stream
of coal out of the mine's portal at the Signal Peak Mine south
of Roundup. By summer, the black heap will begin to shrink
as the first of Signal Peak's product is shipped off to power
plants in Ohio. Billings Gazette.
An aerial view shows construction under way at Signal Peak Energy
near Roundup. The race track pattern will be used for loading coal
trains when the mine is fully operational. A water storage pond in the
center of the picture is from a pair of 9,000 foot wells that flow hot
water. Photo by LARRY MAYER Gazette Staff
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Sailboat made from 12,000 two-liter plastic bottles
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Explorer, environmentalist, and British celebrity David de Rothschild
will set out on a 11,000-mile journey at the end of March, across the
Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Sydney—with several island
stops—on an exploration of plastic litter—the most common in the
type of ocean pollution. de Rothschild's boat is a 60-foot catamaran
called Plastiki, made buoyant by the addition of 12,000 two-liter
plastic bottles along the hulls. READ >>
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Companies Rethink Coal Plants
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Even as demand for electricity rises, energy companies are
delaying or scrapping plans for new coal-burning power plants
because of the prospect of restrictions imposed by federal global
warming legislation.
Power use in the USA could grow 22% during the next 20 years,
according to the Energy Department. To help keep the nation's
laptops and TVs humming, dozens of new plants that burn coal —
by far the nation's largest source of electricity — were in the works.
READ >> USAToday March 9, 2009
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Aiming for Zero Waste
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Stop Trashing the Climate provides compelling evidence that
preventing waste and expanding reuse, recycling, and composting
programs — that is, aiming for zero waste — is one of the fastest,
cheapest, and most effective strategies available for combating
climate change.
Significantly decreasing waste disposed in landfills and incinerators
will reduce greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent to closing
21% of U.S. coal-fired power plants. This is comparable to leading
climate protection proposals such as improving national vehicle fuel
efficiency. Indeed, preventing waste and expanding reuse, recycling,
and composting are essential to put us on the path to climate
stability. READ >>
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Time to Get "Smart" on Biofuels
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Sierra Club, Worldwatch Institute Outline "Smart Choices for
Biofuels" in New Report
"The headlong rush toward biofuels, corn ethanol in particular, has had
many consequences, some foreseen and others not," said Carl Pope,
Sierra Club Executive Director. "The downside risks to our land, air,
water, and economy have become readily apparent, but the good news
is that with smart choices we can make biofuels work for the
environment, economy, and climate, while enhancing our energy
security." READ >>
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Oilman T. Boone Pickens wants to supplant oil with wind
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Legendary Texas oilman, T. Boone Pickens wants to drive the USA's political
and economic agenda, and has taken the wraps off what he's calling the
Pickens Plan for cutting the USA's demand for foreign oil by more than a third in
less than a decade. To promote it, he is bankrolling what his aides say will be
the biggest public policy ad campaign ever.
See website, pickensplan.com, then check out the latest video from the The
National Clean Energy Summit held in Washington D.C. February 23, 2009.
Agree or disagree we welcome your comments .
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Farmers Market Season is NOW!
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Farmers markets are an integral part of the urban/farm linkage and have
continued to rise in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer
interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. Direct
marketing of farm products through farmers markets continues to be an
important sales outlet for agricultural producers nationwide. Today,
there are more than 4,600 farmers markets operating throughout the
nation. Find a Montana farmers market near you. Start your own
Farmers Market.
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The Trouble with Tar Sands By David Suzuki with Faisal Moola
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If you want to be scared, you don’t need to watch a horror movie or read
the latest Stephen King bestseller. Real terror can be found by simply
firing up Google Earth, the computer program that allows users to look at
satellite pictures of any place on the planet. By mousing over and
zooming in, you can see what Alberta’s tar sands look like from space. It
is not a pretty sight. In fact, it’s scary – and for good reason. >> Read
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Is Rural America Recession Proof?
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In his news conferences, president Barack Obama, has repeatedly
linked economic recovery with new jobs in the sustainable-energy
sector. He's been doing this pretty consistently since the election.
Maybe he really means it? If so what does this mean for rural Montana
-- or roughly 2/3 of the state? READ >>
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A Placid North Dakota Asks, Recession? What Recession?
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As the rest of the nation sinks into a 12th grim month of recession, this
state, at least up until now, has been quietly reveling in a picture so
different that it might well be on another planet. And as some states’
unemployment rates stretched perilously close to the double digits in
the fall, North Dakota’s was 3.4 percent, among the lowest in the
country. READ >>
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Jobs? Start Here . .
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'Green Collar' Jobs Are Poised for Growth
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For career changers thinking about growth and advancement potential,
forget the blue-collar and white-collar categories: Green is the way to
go. A bull market has begun to develop in green careers and
opportunities for job seekers and career changers. Careers promoting
environmental responsibility that are now considered cutting edge will
become mainstream within a decade. READ >> Yahoo! HotJobs
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Recession-Proof Jobs in 2008
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A steady stream of discouraging economic news is bringing with it talk
of the dreaded "R" word. A recession could hit some job-seekers hard.
However, many employment sectors are expected to remain strong
despite a possible recession, and job-seekers may have more
success if they focus on recession-proof professions.
READ >> Yahoo! HotJobs
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It's Lucrative Being Green -- 5 Hot Green-Collar Jobs
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The American Solar Energy Society, a nonprofit organization set on
increasing the use of sustainable technologies, reports that 8.5 million
Americans currently hold "green collar" jobs in renewable energy or
energy efficient industries; however, that number could grow to up to 40
million by 2030 due to increased demand in alternative energy
sources. To get a slice of the pie, here are five of the hottest
earth-friendly fields. READ >> Yahoo! HotJobs
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The Basics of Natural Gas: What is Natural Gas?
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Natural gas is primarily methane (CH4). Its purity makes it an
environmentally friendly fuel. Methane is a nonreactive hydrocarbon
which means its emissions do not react with sunlight to create
smog. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is nontoxic, noncarcinogenic
and noncorrosive. Most U.S. households have access to a source of
natural gas from a Local Distribution Company (LDC). READ >>
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Energy Out of Thin Air
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Some of the biggest energy successes materialize out of thin air.
When the wind blows, wind turbines are able to operate with higher
efficiency and reliability than ever before. In fact, one 1.5MW turbine
can produce enough electricity for about 400 homes each year. With
blade rotors that sweep an area almost as large as a football field,
and an overall reach that is as tall as a 30-story building, these wind
turbines can be developed in large-scale "farms" to provide power.
U.S. winds could generate more electricity in 15 years than all of Saudi
Arabia's oil, without being depleted . . . . and Montana leads the nation
in wind energy power potential. READ
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Staying Healthy
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WHO: Cancer to be world's top killer by 2010
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Cancer will overtake heart disease as the world's top killer by 2010,
part of a trend that should more than double global cancer cases and
deaths by 2030, international health experts said in a report released
Tuesday. By 2030, there could be 75 million people living with cancer
around the world, a number that many health care systems are not
equipped to handle. Rising tobacco use in developing countries is
believed to be a huge reason for the shift, particularly in China and
India, where 40% of the world's smokers now live. READ >>
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People need more 'sunshine vitamin' than thought
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Vitamin D. Long known as the "sunshine vitamin," this nutrient has
recently taken on an even healthier glow. The studies are stacking up
and the experts are changing their recommendations. It turns out that
many of us are vitamin D-deficient, especially in those with limited
sun exposure (during winter and in northern states). Billings Gazette
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© 2008 - Alternatives-Magazine and Mountain Publishing
Website developed by M.E.
Questions contact dennisk@nemont.net
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