ATLANTA, Georgia, June 30, 2008 (ENS) - A Fulton County Superior Court judge today issued a decision that blocks construction of the first coal-burning power plant proposed in Georgia in more than 20 years. The judge ruled that the new plant must limit its emissions of the heat-trapping gas carbon dioxide.

This is the first time any court has applied to an industrial source an April 2007 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court recognizing that carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming, is a pollutant under the federal Clean Air Act.

Judge Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore overturned the ruling of an administrative court approving the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's decision to issue an air pollution permit for Dynegy's planned Longleaf power plant south of Columbus, Georgia.

In a challenge to the air permit brought by two environmental groups, Judge Moore held that the state environmental agency must limit the amount of carbon dioxide, CO2, emissions from the Dynegy power plant.

In June 2007, Friends of the Chattahoochee and the Sierra Club filed suit challenging the Dynegy Longleaf permit allowing a 1200 megawatt coal-fired power plant to be built in Early County on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.

The groups challenged the permit because it failed to include any limitations for carbon dioxide.

Now, Dynegy cannot begin construction of the 120 megawatt plant unless it obtains a permit from the Environmental Protection Division, EPD, that complies with the Judge Moore's ruling.

"In a case that is being watched across the country, Judge Moore has sent a message that it is not acceptable for the state to put profits over public health," said Justine Thompson, executive director of GreenLaw, the Atlanta public interest law firm that represented the environmental groups.

"This ruling goes a long way toward protecting the right of Georgians to breathe clean air and sends a message to EPD that it must tighten the standards it uses to approve air pollution permits for companies seeking to build any more coal-fired power plants in this state," Thompson said.

Healthcare providers and patient advocacy groups around the state spoke out against the proposed plant and submitted supporting briefs in the case. The Medical Association of Georgia issued a resolution opposing any new coal-fired plants in the state.

The permit also was challenged because the plaintiff groups say it failed to set safe emission limits for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and sulfuric acid mist - pollutants that contribute to smog and acid rain.

Fine particulate matter has been known to cause sudden death, premature birth, lung cancer, lung disease, asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, heart attacks and chronic respiratory diseases.

"I am thrilled that the judge understands our concerns about public health and global warming here in Early County. Coal plants are a bad idea all around, they hurt our lungs, they hurt our land, and they hurt our livelihood," said Bobby McClendon, a leader of Friends of the Chattahoochee.

This plant would produce nine million tons of carbon dioxide pollution annually, an amount the plaintiff groups say is equal to adding 1.3 million cars on Georgia's roads every year. A typical plant produces 3.7 million tons annually according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

In addition, the Longleaf plant would violate the U.S. EPA's air quality standards for fine particulate matter where the plant is located, the groups alleged.

"The Clean Air Act was enacted by Congress to protect public health and with Judge Moore's decision that is what is finally going to happen here in Georgia, said Patty Durand, Georgia Chapter director of the Sierra Club.

"Our state can find other ways to produce cleaner, more economically beneficial energy," said Durand. "Other states are doing it. Why can't we?"

Dynegy provides wholesale power, capacity and related services to utilities, cooperatives, municipalities and other energy companies in 14 states in the Midwest, the Northeast and on the West Coast. The S&P 500 company's power generation portfolio consists of more than 19,000 megawatts of baseload, intermediate and peaking power plants fueled by a mix of coal, fuel oil and natural gas.

Dynegy has the most proposed coal-fired power plants of any company in the United States. An appeal of Judge Moore's ruling is expected, but for the moment, the plaintiff groups are celebrating.

"Coal-fired power plants emit more than 30 percent of our nation's global warming pollution," said Bruce Nilles, director of the Sierra Club's National Coal Campaign. "Thanks to this decision, coal plants across the country will be forced to live up to their clean coal rhetoric."

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.

From: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2008/2008-06-30-091.asp

Everyone showed up.

It wasn't a ribbon cutting ceremony; it wasn't a ground breaking. It was all about throwing a switch.

Rock Port, MO, became America's first ever community to be completely powered by wind in April 2008. Rock Port has a population of 1,316, with 715 or so households. Four Suzlon 1.25-MW turbines deliver 5 MW of electricity into the grid that serves the community. It takes winds of up to 9-miles per hour to get the blades of the turbines spinning.

Be sure to read Culture, Creativity and Innovation in the Internet Age by Alan Freeman (2008): Culture, Creativity and Innovation in the Internet Age. 

Summary and download here.

http://is.gd/xRs

Here are two interesting articles outlining next generation enterprise opportunities focused on the Millennial market, the trend toward higher levels of mobility, and advertising and communication. Don't think in actual terms of "next generation" because the market is already here!

Whew! Research is showing Millennials are focused on using mobile  technology as an extension of their PC social lives. Read "Go Mobile Young Millennials, Go Mobile"  ..but getting content to a mobile platform isn't as easy as it should or could be, and "..Alas for content providers, especially web application builders, the In-Stat report makes clear that the revenue model for mobile content is still nascent and will revolve around advertising, subscription services or premium upgrades."

http://gigaom.com/2008/05/27/go-mobile-young-millennials-go-mobile/

Not one miss opportunities, Google and other providers are jumping in. Read this interview article, "The Next Big Wave in Advertising is the mobile Internet" from the German publication, FAZ.NET with Google CEO, Eric Schmidt discussing latest market advances, Web 2.0, and speculating on the future impact of technology developments and user impact.

http://faz-community.faz.net/blogs/netzkonom/archive/2008/05/26/eric-schmidt.aspx

Definitely, time and opportunity for innovation in creative digital media and interactive technologies focused on the habits of nomadic communities.

“Give me land lots of land, lots of land with starry skies above. Don't Fence Me In”, the Cole Porter song sung by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters as well as a host of others.  On the other hand, Will Rogers said “buy land, they aren’t making any more of it”.

Our topic for the June 5^th Brews is LAND.  County Treasurer Jim Rokakis will lead our discussion of the proposed land bank legislation that Ohio will tackle in November.  The passage of this legislation is only the beginning of what will be a transformative change in our region and Ohio.  How the land bank advisory board, the disposition of properties, and the decision-making process for local communities are shaped provides a huge opportunity to “get it right”.

Civic engagement and the public process will be critical elements of a “land bank” that will be a deciding factor in a new form of economic development.  How can the land bank be used to draw new businesses to our region?  How will it retain the businesses we now have?  How could it be used to draw in a skilled workforce?  Which communities will find new ways to use this tool to enhance the attractiveness of the live, work and play potential inherent in that community?  What is the potential to use the land bank to strategically plan for shrinking our footprint?  How will we balance quantity with quality?

This brews has the potential to give us an opportunity to start the conversation to begin thinking in new ways and bringing together the best practices of Open Source Economic Development. 

Single agendas have no place in large scale collaborations that engage multi-state agreements and alignment of resources. The cost is high: time investment (just think of calculating one Governor and that Office's staff time, then multiply by eight states), tried patience, and a splintering of camps generating what Jack Ricchiuto calls, "shadow conversations" deteriorating future interest in the next collaboration opportunity. Worse yet, people act as if we have time. What do citizens have to say about this? Is this efficient and productive? What's your take on this?

Ohio agreement to join Great Lakes water plan stalls again

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/business-16/121210824667780.xml&storylist=michigannews

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A plan to remove Ohio as the last roadblock to finishing an agreement among the Great Lakes states to protect their water ran into a barrier on Thursday — again. Read the full article.

Here's a note I just received from Bob Sopko, Strategic Technology Alliance, Case:

Bob is a strong supporter of I-Open's work in Open Source Economic Development and Civic Forums at REI/Case and FUTURE@CIA, and Defrag Gatherings..adding his pragmatic perspective to the conversations and building connectivity and knowledge to open innovation networks in NEO.

Here's a good video spotted by the blogger Nitmesh regarding Prototyping Services as Experiences. Bottom line, everything's wrapped up in storytelling. Be sure to watch the video and the last embedded sub-video in the presentation at the end.

Pat Coyle, leader in our colleague community Smaller Indiana, just sent along this notice about how they are accelerating creativity in the online and face-to-face community. It serves as a good and replicable model - a "how to"  embed creative positive activity. To learn more, build your connections, and contribute, join by visiting smallerindiana.com

A message to all members of Smaller Indiana

Hope you don't mind this message...I had to send it...I'm so proud...a Smaller Indiana group has come together to organize (completely on its own) a very cool event for the arts community...here's the info:

CALL FOR ENTRIES - CREATIVE COMMERCE ART AND DESIGN GROUP:
‘ELEGANT FUNK’

ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS -
This is the premiere exhibition of Smaller Indiana’s Creative Commerce Art and Design Group.  Hosted by wUG LAKU’S STUDIO & gARAGE  and in conjunction with IDADA’s First Friday gallery tour August 1, 2008, ‘ELEGANT FUNK’ provides a unique chance to showcase your work in a professional urban/industrial gallery space.
TO ENSURE YOUR SPOT, PLEASE RSVP TO ELEGANTFUNK@ATT.NET BY MAY 31.  Space is limited and will be determined by the number of entries and types of work.  Guidelines regarding space requirements, entry fee (nominal), drop off and pick-up times will be sent to participants via e-mail June 6.

NOT AN ARTIST?  (We also need to something to eat.)
We are looking for food vendors-a great opportunity to gain exposure for your business.  Email elegantfunk@att.net for details.

YOU SAY YOU DON'T COOK?
Get your name out there via sponsorship.  Have your representatives, printed materials and samples at the event.  We will also put your logo and contact info on all our promotional materials.  Email elegantfunk@att.net for details.

Visit Smaller Indiana at: http://www.smallerindiana.com

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania published today research directly linking the success of  broadband to socio- and economic revitalization, and the need for innovative public policy. The  design of flexible, resilient public policy will happen with high levels of civic engagement guiding local municipal government. A combo of collaborative leadership and community strengths.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519132448.htm

Broadband Access Opens Doors To Networking, Economic Development For Rural Areas

ScienceDaily (May 20, 2008) — Proactive policies are needed to facilitate broadband Internet access and adoption in rural areas so that rural hospitals, schools and businesses can drive social and economic development and better position themselves to compete, say Penn State researchers in a recently released report from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Read more here.

Colorado Legislative Success for Bioscience, Energy Projects
Early-stage Colorado bioscience companies and researchers in clean and alternative energy working to commercialize new technologies are among the victors of Colorado’s legislative session that ended last week.
 
To encourage bioscience research and speed technology commercialization, Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law HB 1001, establishing the Colorado Bioscience Research Grant Program. The grant program will provide $26.5 million over five years to research institutions and private companies, beginning with $5.5 million this year. Unveiled by the governor last fall, the program is the first portion of the administration’s business development package to be approved by legislators (see the Oct. 3, 2007 issue of the Digest).
 
The legislation mandates that at least 30 percent of the funds go toward university and research institution technology transfer offices to accelerate the development of research projects focusing on life sciences, engineering, material sciences, computer sciences, photonics or nanotechnology. Another 30 percent of the funds will go to early-stage bioscience companies that are commercializing technology from a Colorado research institution or technology transfer office. Other funds will be distributed for infrastructure development.
 
Research institutions are eligible for $150,000 per project, and grants of up to $250,000 per project will be awarded to Colorado companies that have received no more than $5 million in funding and employ 20 or fewer people. The program will be administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development.
 
Adding to the excitement surrounding the bioscience industry throughout the state, Colorado State University announced in March a new Clean Energy Supercluster, dubbed "Cenergy," to help accelerate the university’s clean energy research to the marketplace. Superclusters are an alliance of academic researchers, economists and business experts organized to address global challenges and encourage collaboration among business and academia.
 
Gov. Bill Ritter also signed the fiscal year 2008-09 budget into law last week, providing $7.65 million for the Clean Energy Fund, $2 million for the Colorado Renewable Energy Authority, and $2 million for solar incentives.
 
The Clean Energy Fund appropriation will be used to attract renewable energy industry investment, assist researchers in transferring technology to the marketplace, and provide incentives for the use of energy efficient and renewable energy products, according to the governor’s office.
 
The enacted budget, HB 1375, may be viewed through the Colorado General Assembly at: http://www.leg.state.co.us/

Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2008. Redistribution to all others interested in tech-based economic development is strongly encouraged. Please cite the State Science & Technology Institute whenever portions are reproduced or redirected.

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