Yes, Smog-Eating Sidewalks Are a Real Thing

Dutch scientists say their revolutionary concrete can cut urban air pollution by 45 percent.

Eco-concrete in the Netherlands: Dirty air, beware!

The eco-makeover of urban surfaces continues. First came white roofs. Then so-called cool pavement. And now smog-eating concrete.

Yup, sidewalks with a taste for filthy air.

Eindhoven University of Technology scientists have installed air-purifying cement onto a city block in Hengelo, Netherlands, and published the results, which found that it reduced nitrogen oxide air pollution up to 45 percent in ideal weather conditions. This is an average reduction of 19 percent each day.

The concrete, dubbed “photocatalytic,” is made with run-of-the-mill cement sprayed with a chemical—titanium oxide—that neutralizes air pollutants, the researchers’ abstract states.

“[The concrete] could be a very feasible solution for inner city areas where they have a problem with air pollution,” said researcher Jos Brouwers in 2010 to CNN, when the pavement was in its early stages.

So, what’s the world waiting for? Why aren’t urban jungles with smog problems—we’re especially looking at you, Beijing—not jackhammering every piece of old-school pavement and pouring the new stuff?

Well, like most public work projects, it all comes down to cost. Titanium dioxide pavement is simply more expensive than your grandfather’s cement.

But, with further product tinkering and price–reduction, air-scrubbing pavement could be the stomping ground of the future.

Reposted From Take Part.com

The Hidden Costs of Hamburgers

Americans love hamburgers -- we eat about three burgers a week. But what are the hidden environmental costs? See sources from the Center for Investigative Reporting

Directed and produced by Carrie Ching, Reported by Sarah Terry-Cobo and Carrie Ching, Illustrated and animated by Arthur Jones.

Vermont Cow Power!

CVPS Cow Power™ offers significant benefits to CVPS electric customers, participating Vermont farmers and the environment, and furthers state policy. Some customers want to reduce their reliance on non-renewable energy, so providing customers with a renewable energy choice is important. 

Cow Power will provide a new income stream to participating farmers, help reduce some of the water quality impacts of farming through the introduction of innovative manure management technologies, and significantly reduce manure odors, particularly during spreading. Participating farms may also reduce bedding costs by using dry byproducts of the process in place of sawdust or other bedding. Funds not supporting farm methane power will support other renewable generation resources.

Daryl Hannah Arrested in White House Protest Against Use of Fossil Fuel

Daryl Hannah was arrested by U.S. Park Police Tuesday at a protest in front of the White House. Hannah was participating in a sit-in against the construction of a pipeline that would stretch from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The actress was handcuffed by police after she refused to move. She paid an $100 fine and was released from custody. Hannah, who starred in such classic '80s films as “Roxanne” and “Wall Street,” has been active in environmental causes for years. She was previously arrested in 2006 for protesting efforts to bulldoze the country’s largest urban farm in Los Angeles and in 2009 for protesting mountaintop removal in West Virginia. She has long been an advocate for curbing use of fossil fuels.





http://nbcwashington.com

Blue August: Paradise Lost

Planet Green

Louisiana supplies 25% of the U.S. seafood supply... but no one is buying because of the oil spill. Long time resident of Grand Isle, Gerald, has never seen anything like it in his 74 years.

Blue August: Grand Isle, Now A Ghost Town

Planet Green


Grand Isle used to be bustling with tourists... but now it sits empty. It could take decades for the region to recover from all the lost revenue from the oil spill.

Blue August: Faces Of The Gulf

Planet Green


Philippe Cousteau travels to the Gulf region to meet the real people affected by the BP oil spill and how their lives are forever changed.

Stories from the Gulf: Backyard Used to Be Water

Planet Green

Those living on the marsh and water near the Gulf Oil Spill face a changed landscape forever.

Stories from the Gulf: Rebuilding a Dream

Planet Green

See a few determined locals stand up for their community and the Gulf after the oil spill.

Blue August: Oyster Bay

Planet Green


Just because the oil hasn't reached Oyster Bay yet, doesn't mean the effects can't be felt. If the sale of seafood continues to plummet a generation of oystermen will be lost.

Stories from the Gulf: A Fisherman's Outlook

Planet Green


See a commercial fisherman's take on the Gulf Oil Spill and the impact of mass pollution.

What are the consequences of an oil spill to the environment? Answered by Planet Green

Planet Green

Spills reaching the shore are dangerous to wildlife. Water birds and mammals become covered in oil, which destroys feathers' water-resistance and the insulation of mammals' fur. Crude oil can poison animals as they try to lick themselves clean. It's not always possible to keep wildlife like birds, otters and walruses away from sea-based oil spills. The consequences of an oil spill linger for decades afterwards. Areas in Alaska affected by the Exxon Valdez spill are still polluted by oil that hasn't biodegraded yet.

Environmental Groups Petition Against Shell's Oil Exploration Plan In Gulf Of Mexico

By Merlin Miclat

After the U.S. Government approved Shell's proposal for five oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico, numerous environmental groups have taken action against the plan.

More than 7,000 feet underwater, the proposed oil wells are located 72 miles off the coast of Louisiana. The wells would be more than 2,000 feet deeper than the BP well that failed in April 2010 and resulted in one the worst oil spills in history.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement approved Shell's proposal in May. Shell's proposal came soon after Exxon Mobil announced the discovery of a substantial oil reserve while drilling 7,000 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico. The reserve contains at least 700 million barrels of oil equivalent and Exxon Mobil calls it “one of the largest discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico in the last decade.” The company also discovered a reserve of natural gas along with the oil reserves.

After the BP oil spill, much attention was turned to oil companies involved in deep sea oil drilling and prompted the U.S. Government to enact stricter regulations regarding deep sea oil drilling. However, in October, these regulations were relaxed and oil companies began to file proposals for drilling once again.

Shell argues that the environmental groups are ignoring “the comprehensive nature of the approved exploration plan.” Shell claims their oil exploration plan addresses concerns with safety and impacts on the environment.

Shell adds that the groups are protesting something that has yet to happen. The government's approval of the oil exploration plan does not allow the company to drill yet. Shell must be issued a separate drilling permit before being able to start drilling the proposed oil wells.

If permitted to drill, Shell estimates up to 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent can be extracted each day and over 140,000 barrels can be recovered by the end of the project's lifetime.

In March, the U.S Government allowed shell to carry out a separate oil exploration plan 130 miles off the coast of Louisiana. After obtaining a drilling permit, Shell is preparing to begin drilling a new well 2,721 feet deep.

As oil companies resume drilling for oil in the Gulf, President Obama continues to be frowned upon by many environmentalists. Environmental groups accuse the President of disregarding the dangers of deep sea oil drilling, even after seeing firsthand the damage the BP oil spill caused. Says David Guest, an attorney for environmental law firm Earthjustice, “It is as if the government regulators have learned nothing from the BP disaster."

Despite the potential environmental risks, some believe the newly discovered oil reserve in the Gulf of Mexico will reap economical benefits for the country. Says U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-Mich. and chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, “The prospect of new American-made energy supplies means less pain at the pump for American families and more American jobs.”

Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/19779889@N00/271642795

Read more: http://greenanswers.com/news/243711/environmental-groups-petition-against-shells-oil-exploration-plan-gulf-mexico#ixzz1PByWkbWg

Dwarf seahorses threatened by BP oil spill, deserve protection, environmental group says

By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune


The dwarf seahorse, which makes its home in seagrass beds along the coastline of Louisiana and other Gulf states, should be given endangered or threatened species status because of threats to its habitat by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its overcollection for the aquarium trade, according to a petition filed today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
dwarf-seahorse.jpgStickpen, Wikimedia Commons websiteDwarf seahorse, hippocampus zosterae, at the Birch Aquarium, San Diego, California, in December 2009.

"Our country's tiniest seahorse is just one of the many victims of ongoing pollution from the Gulf oil spill disaster," said Tierra Curry, conservation biologist at the center. "The dwarf seahorse now needs Endangered Species Act protection to have a fighting chance of survival."

The petition was filed with the Department of Commerce, which oversees Endangered Species Act protection of ocean species through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

While the tiny seahorse was threatened by its overcollection for aquariums and the loss of seagrass beds in Florida and other states prior to last year's oil spill, the effects of the Macondo well's oil and dispersants used to break it up have added to stresses on the species, she said.

"Oil spills like the one nearly a year ago in the Gulf of Mexico exact a long and terrible toll on marine life, especially species like the dwarf seahorse that have already been struggling to survive," Curry said. "These kinds of catastrophic spills will continue to be a threat as long as our country continues to push for more and more offshore drilling."

The dwarf seahorse is the smallest of the four seahorse species found in the United States, and it is the third-smallest seahorse in the world.

Seahorse reproduction is unusual in that it's the male of the species that becomes pregnant. Dwarf seahorses live for only one year.

http://www.nola.com

How travelers can help the Gulf Coast

(CBS News)

April 20 marks the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion that sent 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Reporting from Gulf Shores, Alabama, CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg explains how Gulf Coast communities are recovering from the economic and environmental damage, and how travelers can help make a difference.

The BP Deepwater Horizon spill became the largest accidental marine oil spill in history, releasing more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico between April 20 and July 15. As tar balls and tar mats washing up on shores, the spill had a devastating impact on Gulf Coast just as communities were nearing the height of their summer tourist season.

Even areas that weren't affected by oil suffered from a perception issue as travelers postponed or canceled their vacation plans over concerns of contaminated waters and beaches.

Gulf-wide, based on figures from Mississippi, Alabama and Northwest Florida, lodging revenue was down 12.9 percent when comparing tourism revenue from May-August 2010 versus 2009. That's equal to nearly $100 million in that peak summer period alone.

Some communities were hit harder than others. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, for example, took 41.5 percent hit in lodging revenues during those months. The Pensacola Bay area in Florida lost $10 million in lodging revenues that summer.

How quickly will it recover? Based on findings from a recent study from Texas A&M's Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, 30 percent return to normalcy this year, 70 percent next year, and full recovery by 2013. But for many local business owners who rely on tourism, that's not soon enough.

But there's some good news: Gulf Coast communities in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, quickly sprang into action with ad campaigns, promotions and events to get tourists back to the area to see the beaches and wetlands for themselves.

The main priority has been to regain the public's trust in terms of health and safety, and many areas are now reporting strong spring break numbers and anticipate a robust summer season.

Meanwhile, the seafood industry took a huge hit over fishing closures and concerns that Gulf seafood wasn't safe to consume. The Gulf of Mexico saw a 39 percent decline in commercial fishing landings between 2009 and 2010, representing a $62 million loss in dockside sales.

At the height of the crisis, more than 36 percent of Gulf waters were closed; today, less than 0.4 percent is closed. Overall, more than 300,000 Gulf seafood organisms have been sampled, using methods developed by the Food and Drug Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) Administration and the Gulf states, with almost every sample showing no trace of oil or dispersant.

The state of Alabama, which has received $38 million in tourism marketing grants from BP, has launched the Serve the Gulf (www.servethegulf.com) seafood safety awareness campaign, and points out that right now, Gulf seafood is the most tested stock in the world.

Louisiana received $48 million from BP for seafood marketing and testing, and an additional $45 million for tourism marketing. Recently, the state spent $4.2 million on its "Louisiana, Pick Your Passion" campaign, focusing on the state's culinary, culture and recreational options.

Mississippi got a $15 million grant from BP, followed by an additional $3 million to the coastal counties of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson. Part of that original funding went toward a massive "Wish You Were Here" campaign, which included TV and radio spots, YouTube videos and online giveaways.

Florida, which has received a total of $82 million from BP, was recently granted $30 million for the Northwest Florida Tourism Council. That money will be used TV, radio, social media, and smartphone apps in core markets, as well as in emerging markets that now have access to the area thanks to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport that opened in May 2010.

As we head into the high tourist season, Gulf coast states are continuing to roll out incentives for travelers:

ALABAMA

Kaiser Realty will offer midweek savings of 25 percent if you stay Sunday through Thursday with a three-night minimum stay, valid May 29-August 4, 2011. Or travel with the family this spring and rent a three-bedroom home for three nights or more and get two passes for the glass-bottomed dolphin cruise, 10 tickets to The Track family recreation center, and $10 off at the Original Oyster House, valid through May 7, 2011.

Gulf Shores Rentals is offering value-added deals for spring travel if you book by April 26, 2011. Stay two or more nights and get the third night free, with condos starting from $99 a night, valid May 1-26, 2011. Or stay four nights between May 27 and June 17 and get 10 percent off your stay. For each night you stay, get one free round of golf, one deep-sea fishing fare, free admission aboard a dolphin cruise, admission to Waterville USA, one movie rental, and four tickets to The Track Amusement Center...all daily (not valid on date of departure).

Perdido Beach Resort is discounting its room rates for the second annual Hangout Music Fest taking place May 20-23: Stay for two nights and pay $229 a night, for a $60 savings; or stay three nights from $209 a night and save $120 of regular prices.

For more deals like this, visit http://www.gulfshores.com/packages-deals.

FLORIDA

At the Sandestin Golf and Beach Vacation Resort (http://www.sandestin.com), book with 21-day advance notice this spring and get a two-bedroom villa from $139; or look for discounts on last-minute inventory with the Hot Dates and Rates option, with rates from $115 a night; or get a free night with the purchase of four nights. Resort guests get to take advantage of the beach as well as free tennis, biking, fitness center and kayaks.

In South Walton Beach, book a vacation rental for three nights or more with Garrett Realty (www.garrettrealty.com) at Seagrove Beach and save 15 percent through May 15, 2011.

Panama City's Giving Tanks (www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/giving-tanks) promotion is a city-wide program with deals and offerings from several participating properties including:

- Throughout the month of May, travelers staying a minimum of three nights receive a $50 fuel credit upon check-in to any Sterling Resorts property. Stay seven nights or more, and receive a $100 fuel credit.

- Buy three nights at any Oaseas Resorts property and receive a $25 gas card and 2 p.m. late check out plus 25 percent off all watersports with Adventures at Sea Watersports. Rates start from $89 a night.

- Bay Point Marriott is offering a $50 gas card for a four-night stay and $100 for a seven-night stay between May 1 - September 9, 2011.

MISSISSIPPI

The Wish Card (http://visitmscoast.org/wishcard) promotion, part of the Wish You Were Here campaign, invites visitors to book a consecutive two-night stay at an area participating lodging property and receive a $100 gift card. This deal is only valid through April 20, 2011

Book a minimum two-night stay online at the Grand Biloxi Casino, Hotel & Spa (www.grandcasinobiloxi.com) and get one night free when you use the promo code BOGO.

At the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi (www.hardrockbiloxi.com), book a room for $150 and get $50 credit at Ruth's Chris Steak House and $25 off a spa treatment through May 26, 2011.

LOUISIANA

The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans (www.ritzcarlton.com) has dropped its summer rates to $169 a night, based on availability, down drastically from its usual rate of $409 a night. Not only that, but the hotel will help guests coordinate a volunteer experience to help those affected by the oil spill and Hurricane Katrina. Spend a day with the St. Bernard Project, rebuilding homes and doing community outreach, or participate in a Habitat for Humanity project.

The Hilton New Orleans Airport (www1.hilton.com) a bed and breakfast package for up to four people, starting from $149 a night when you book a two-night stay.

Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport Hotel (www.ichotelsgroup.com) has a family-friendly package from $169 a night that includes up to four tickets to the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium and Insectarium for every two-night stay.

For more information and news you can use, visit PeterGreenberg.com.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/16/earlyshow/living/travel/main20054566.shtml#ixzz1Jo9JPfNw

14 environmental groups call on White House to strengthen offshore drilling regulations

By Bruce Alpert, Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune

http://www.nola.com

WASHINGTON -- Representatives of 14 major environmental groups Tuesday called on President Barack Obama to observe the first anniversary of the blowout of BP's Macondo well this month by implementing additional safeguards for offshore drilling.

Ted Jackson / The Times-PicayuneOil skimmers try to clean up oil released from the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico before it reaches the sensitive wetlands last April.

"Without a real commitment to solve the problems that caused the blowout, official ceremonies to mark April 20 will become hollow affairs," wrote Peter Lehner, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council and one of the signers of the letter.

While oil industry representatives, backed by oil state lawmakers, have accused the administration of overreacting to the BP disaster and imposing unreasonable regulations that have slowed drilling at a time of high gasoline prices, the environmental representatives said much more needs to be done.

While applauding the president for proposing a significant increase in funding for the Interior Department's oversight of offshore drilling operations, and implementing a restructuring of agencies that oversee offshore oil and gas activities, the environmental advocates say the administration hasn't taken all the steps recommended by the White House BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling Commission.

Specifically, it calls on the president to implement an independent offshore safety authority "insulated from pressures to increase production and maximize lease revenues, a more robust review of the environmental impact of drilling applications, along with strengthened science and interagency consultation, specifically more involvement for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

While Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the administration is now satisfied that for the eight projects recently given federal permits there are adequate containment plans in the event of another major spill, the environmental groups say more oversight is needed.

"There should be a new process for reviewing oil spill response plans," the environmentalists say in their letter to the president. "The Department of the Interior should review and revise its regulations and guidance for response plans and ensure that adequate technical expertise exists within the staff for reviewing and approving plans. The process should ensure that all critical information and spill scenarios are included in the plans, including containment and control methods, to ensure that operators can deliver the capabilities indicated in the response plans."

Besides the Natural Resources Defense Council executive director, also signing the letter to President Obama are representatives of the Alaska Wilderness League, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice; Environmental Defense Fund, Gulf Restoration Network, League of Conservation Voters, National Audubon Society, National Parks Conservation Association, National Wildlife Federation, Ocean Conservancy, Sierrra Club, Wilderness Society and World Wildlife Fund-US..

Lehner, the Natural Resources Defense Council representative, said for many residents of the Gulf Coast a reminder of the anniversary of the BP disaster isn't necessary.

"Many live with the fallout of April 20, 2010 every day," he said.

"All major spills cast a long shadow, but what makes the BP spill especially egregious is the context of recklessness and neglect in which it took place," Lehner said.

Despite contentions by Louisiana lawmakers that the April 20 accident represented the failure of BP and its contractual partners, Lehner said it points to industry-wide problems.

"We are not taking about one rogue company or one weak agency," Lehner said. "We're talking about a systemic failure to put safety first."

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., denounced the environmental groups' letter.

"As we near the Deepwater Horizon explosion anniversary, Wendy and I will continue praying for the victims and their families," Vitter said. "Meanwhile, I think it's callous and hollow to use the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico to push a radical environmentalist anti-drilling agenda."

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, offered similar sentiments.

"While we need to make sure that drilling is done safely, this disaster should not be politicized to achieve a long sought-after radical agenda which shuts down American energy exploration and leaves our country more dependent on Middle Eastern oil," Scalise said. "The president should work with us to allow people to get back to work drilling safely in the Gulf, and should continue working with us to ensure that the lion's share of the BP Clean Water Act fines are dedicated to the Gulf states for long term recovery from the spill as well as coastal and ecosystem restoration efforts."

Baby dolphin deaths rise along Gulf Coast

http://www.reuters.com

By Leigh Coleman

BILOXI, Mississippi |

BILOXI, Mississippi (Reuters) - Marine scientists are examining the deaths of 26 baby dolphins whose carcasses have washed ashore along the U.S. Gulf Coast this year, the bulk of them since last week, researchers said on Tuesday.

The alarmingly high number of dead young dolphins are being looked at as possible casualties of oil that fouled the Gulf of Mexico after a BP drilling platform exploded in April 2010, killing 11 workers and rupturing a wellhead on the sea floor.

An estimated 5 million barrels (205.8 million gallons) of oil spilled into the Gulf over more than three months.

The bodies of 26 infant and stillborn dolphins have been discovered since January 20, on islands, in marshes and on beaches along 200 miles of coastline from Louisiana east across Mississippi to Gulf Shores, Alabama, officials said.

"When the world sees something like baby dolphins washing up on shore, it pulls at the heartstrings, and we all want to know why," said Blair Mase, marine mammal strandings coordinator for the Southeast region of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

That tally is more than 10 times the number normally found washed up along those states during this time of the year, which is calving season for some 2,000 to 5,000 dolphins in the region, said Moby Solangi, director of the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport.

"It's an anomaly," he told Reuters by telephone, explaining that the gestation period for dolphins runs 11 or 12 months, meaning that calves born now would have been conceived at least two months before the oil spill began.

Steve Tellis, a local environmental activist and member of the Nature Conservancy in Mississippi, called the discoveries "horrific."

Most of the carcasses, measuring just over 3 feet in length, were found during the past week, the bulk of them washing up in Mississippi and Alabama.

The remains of about 10 adult dolphins, none of them pregnant females, have also been found so far this year.

BP cleanup crews found some of the carcasses. Others were discovered by park rangers, police and passersby.

"What makes this so odd is that the dolphins were spread out over such a large area," Solangi said.

Dolphins encountering oil on the surface of the water would face serious health consequences, Solangi said.

"We take short breaths. These animals take a huge breath at one time and hold it. And when they take it, the fumes stay in the lungs for a long period of time and they cause two types of damage, one of which is immediate to the tissue itself. Second, the hydrocarbons enter the bloodstream," he said.

None of the carcasses bore any obvious outward signs of oil contamination. But Solangi said necropsies, the equivalent of human autopsies, were being performed and tissue samples taken to determine if toxic chemicals from the oil spill may have been a factor in the deaths.

Documented mortality in the adult dolphin population off the Gulf Coast roughly tripled from normal numbers last year, climbing from about 30 typically reported in a given year to 89 in 2010, Solangi said.

(Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Peter Bohan and Greg McCune)

Students urged to weigh careers in clean energy

BY JAMES M. O'NEILL

The Record

STAFF WRITER

First they were exhorted to seek out careers that will help solve the challenges of developing clean energy. Then they received a quick lesson in some clean energy projects already under way.

DON SMITH/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talking with students and staff members at a conference on environmental issues at Bergen Community College in Paramus on Friday.

The one-two punch was designed to inspire several hundred high school and college students who attended a conference Friday on environmental issues at Bergen Community College in Paramus.

The event included a panel of five environmental experts followed by a keynote speech by environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who reiterated the call by President Obama in his State of the Union speech last month for the United States to develop clean-energy technology.

Noting that the New Jersey Constitution makes clear that the state's rivers, including the Hackensack, are owned by the people and not corporations, Kennedy said the right of residents to go fishing and safely eat the fish they catch "has been stolen from the people by large corporations" who used rivers "as waste conveyance systems."

Corporate dumping into rivers not only violated the law but violated "virtually all principles of our democracy," he said.

Kennedy said the nation could invest in solar and wind energy today and reap the benefits of new jobs and cheap clean energy forever.

He said one stumbling block is the lack of an electric grid to get clean energy to urban zones from such locales as North Dakota for wind energy and the southwestern desert for solar.

Another stumbling block, he said, is the billions of dollars in federal subsidies in place to support old, polluting energy sources, including coal and oil.

During Friday's panel discussion, the experts fielded several dozen questions from the audience, many from the students, who asked for advice on how they could play a role in promoting environmental causes or how to turn their environmental interests into a career.

Gray Russell, environmental affairs coordinator for Montclair Township, said a career in the energy sector is a safe bet, given the needs of developing clean energy. "Energy is going to be the overarching issue of your time," he said.

Chris Obropta, a water resources expert with Rutgers University, said water is another field ripe for future talent. He said the United States' drinking water supplies are growing depleted. "We waste too much water; we don't reuse our wastewater," Obropta said.

Darren Molnar, a green building code expert with the state's Division of Codes and Standards, said the country will need more engineers and scientists who understand the dynamics of buildings and how to make them more energy-efficient.

Russell and Kennedy both talked about what they called the "false choice" between either a robust economy or environmental protections and clean energy.

"Energy issues are the solution to our economic problems," Russell said. Switching from foreign oil and polluting coal and investing instead in clean energy technology, such as wind, solar and geothermal, "will create jobs and develop new fields we haven't even thought of yet," he said.

E-mail: oneillj@northjersey.com