WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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In today’s feature report, WFHB News Correspondent Madison Stratton speaks with non-profit organizations and local advocates about the importance of “shopping local” and addressing food insecurity issues in the community. Also, The City of Bloomington launched a community heat survey to address extreme heat challenges in the community caused by climate change. The survey will close on August 1st. Up next, WFHB News spoke with Assistant Director of Sustainability for the City Shawn Miya.
And now for your environmental reports:
In a company announcement, Doral Renewables, a clean energy project developer, is anticipating commercial operation of its 400-MW Mammoth North Solar project, the first phase of the 1.3-GW Mammoth Solar complex in Indiana. Mammoth North is estimated to generate 400 MW of energy and spreads over 4,500 acres in Starke County in northwest Indiana. The Mammoth North Solar project will soon be the largest operating solar installation in Indiana and can provide sustainable energy to 75,000 households annually.
What’s really interesting is that more than 1,500 sheep serve as the project’s vegetation management in the complex, an operation run by a local farmer.
—-Norm Holy
Solar Power World reports that an Ohio solar company is replenishing Northern Bobwhite quail habitat by planting native grass. Indiana should take note because there are few areas with quail remaining in our state.
The business case for pollinator-friendly solar projects is solid, but to a conservationists, the environmental benefits are even more important. Ross County, where the Paint Valley solar project is located, is one of a few small pockets in Ohio where Northern Bobwhite quail still live. The species has experienced an 81% population decline over the past 50 years as grasslands vanish due to issues like climate change and heavy farming.
Even though the solar array is new, a few quail are already appearing.
—Norm Holy
As reported by the New York Times, the E.P.A. announced $4.3 Billion in funding for 25 climate projects. States, tribes, local governments and territories sent in proposals aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced $4.3 billion in funding on July 22 for 25 new projects proposed by states, tribes, local governments and territories to tackle climate change. The funding could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 971 million metric tons by 2050, or roughly the emissions of five million homes over 25 years, according to the agency.
Among the jurisdictions that will get funding, Nebraska will receive $307 million to reduce agricultural waste and enhance energy efficiency in homes and buildings.
Pennsylvania will get $396 million to reduce industrial pollution and create about 6,000 jobs.
“This is a truly exciting day for Lincoln and for Nebraska and for other cities and states all across the country who are working so hard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and leave a better, brighter future for our children,” said Leirion Gaylor Baird, the mayor of Lincoln, Neb., in a call on Friday. Ms. Baird said the funds could reduce Lincoln’s greenhouse gas emissions by 77 percent by 2050.
Other regions that received money included Southern California to decarbonize freight vehicles; Michigan and tribal partners to adopt new renewable energy projects; Atlantic coastal states to sequester carbon through wetland preservation; Alaska to replace residential oil-burning systems with heat pumps; and the Nez Percé Tribe to retrofit homes.
Indiana did not receive any funding from this program.
—Norm Holy
The AP reports that on a tiny Caribbean island, hundreds of people are preparing to pack up and move to escape the rising waters threatening to engulf their already precarious homes.
Surrounded by idyllic clear waters formed by coral reefs, the densely populated island of Carti Sugtupu off Panama’s north coast has barely an inch to spare with houses crammed together. The 2,000 residents live off fishing, the harvesting of starchy crops like cassava and plantain, traditional textile production and a bit of tourism.
It is not an easy life, with intense heat and a lack of public services adding to the discomfort of overcrowded conditions on an island the size of five football fields.
And now, climate change-induced sea level rise is threatening to make life even more difficult. With homes already flooded on a regular basis, experts say the sea will engulf Carti Sugtupu and dozens of neighboring islands in the Guna Yala region by the end of the century. They are moving to a new housing development on the Panamanian mainland.
Forty-nine of the isles are populated, and rest just a few feet (less than one meter) above sea level. The Caribbean Sea has risen about a foot over the last 100 years. It is expected to rise an additional 2-10 feet by 2100. The big number depends on the Thwaites glacier dropping into to the ocean, which is highly probable.
More than 400 islands in Maryland and Virginia have disappeared from modern navigational maps of the Chesapeake Bay due to erosion, a process accelerated by storms and sea level rise. The Tangier Islands, the last inhabited Chesapeake islands off the Virginia coast, have lost two-thirds of their land mass since 1850 and are expected to be uninhabitable within 50 years. The islands are disappearing due to the combined forces of geology and climate change, with the crust under the Chesapeake Bay sinking and sea levels rising.
—Norm Holy
Feature Report:
And now, we will listen to Madison Stratton as she shares with us on how to lower food insecurity in Bloomington.
Plus, you will hear Assistant Director of Sustainability for the city, Shawn Miya, talk about the survey to address extreme heat in the city.
And now, some upcoming events:
Learn about insects during an Insect Black Lighting experience on Saturday, July 27th, from 6 to 8 pm at Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. You will learn the science of black lighting and how insects are drawn to the illuminated canvas.
Come to the Nature Center at Brown County State Park on Saturday, July 27th, from 3 to 4 pm for an up close and personal look at Indiana’s most venomous and most misunderstood snake at the Timber! Understanding the Timber Rattlesnake presentation. Learn about venom, and how it works. The presentation includes feeding the snake a live mouse.
A Wild Wednesday will take place at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area on Wednesday, July 31st, from 10 to 11 am. Take a short hike to learn about Indiana’s wetlands, critters and much more. Bring water, sunscreen and bugspray!
Enjoy a Salt Creek Covered Bridges: Self-Guided Boat Tour on Thursday, August 1st. You can celebrate Monroe Lake’s 60th Anniversary using an online guide that will include the history, photos and navigational assistance. Go to https://tinyurl.com/btown-fb to register and get the online guide.
Learn all about insects during a Garden Insects: Friends or Foe presentation on Saturday, August 3rd, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Butler Park Community Garden. Learn how to attract beneficial insects and reduce the harmful ones. Sign up at bloomington.IN.gov/parks.
Credits:
This week’s headlines were written by Norm Holy.
Today’s news feature on food insecurity was produced by Madison Stratton. The feature on extreme heat was produced by Kade Young.
Julianna Dailey assembled the script which was edited by the EcoReport team.
Julianna Dailey compiled our events calendar.
Branden Blewett is our engineer.
