Virginia is buying out the licenses of more than 350 of its crabbers, paying them anywhere from $500 to $175,000 each to give up their rights to harvest the Chesapeake Bay's iconic crustacean.

Jack Travelstead, fisheries director for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, said letters went out today (Nov. 20) accepting the offers of 359 holders of crabbing licenses. The commission had received offers to sell from 664 crabbers, roughly a third of all licensed crabbers in the state.

"I couldn’t be happier with the results,'' Travelstead said. "I am very pleased with the number of licenses we’ve been able to purchase."

Virginia had invited the state's 1,800 crabbing license holders to name their price, in a Priceline-style "reverse auction."  

Maryland made a similar offer last summer to nearly 3,700 mostly small-time crabbers, but rejected the nearly 500 bids it got, declaring they didn't get enough reasonable offers.   Only about a fourth quoted prices Maryland's Department of Natural Resources was willing to pay, with one apparent protest bidder demanding $425 million for his $60-a-year permit.  The state then offered a flat $2,260 to each crabber, and got about 530 takers - a better result, though still short of the state's goal of retiring more than 1,300 licenses.

Continue reading "Va. buys out more than 350 crabbers" »

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 1:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, News
        

Attorney General Doug Gansler wants boaters to stop using the Chesapeake Bay as their toilet.

Speaking at a bay symposium Thursday at the University of Baltimore law school, Gansler said he plans to ask the General Assembly to declare the entire bay (or at least the Maryland portion) a no-discharge zone for boaters.

It's already illegal to dump raw sewage anywhere, and according to the Department of Natural Resources more than 300 marinas statewide have facilities where boaters can pump out their waste holding tanks and portable toilets.

"Most boaters do bring their tanks into the marina, and (the sewage) goes to the wastewater treatment plants," Gansler said. "But some don't." Some boaters also have "fancy heads," as he called them, which disinfect the waste but don't remove the nitrogen. Boaters with certain approved "marine sanitation devices," as they're called, are allowed to discharge their treated wastes.

The state now has two official no-discharge zones in areas heavily used by boaters - Herring Bay in Anne Arundel County, and the northern coastal bays in Worcester County.  Boaters in those areas are forbidden to dump raw or even treated sewage from their heads. Gansler said he would work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state lawmakers to expand the no-discharge designation to cover the entire bay.

Gansler, who has introduced an environmental bill in every General Assembly session since being elected, acknowledged that this measure wasn't as far-reaching as his previous legislative efforts. In prior years, he's pushed to ban phosphates in dishwasher detergents, to have chicken manure declared a renewable energy fuel and to give environmental and community groups legal standing to sue polluters. The first two passed, while last year's standing bill was watered down to give groups the right to challenge environmental permits, but not to sue to enforce the laws.

"We’re not going to fix the bay so its pristine after this," Gansler said, noting that boat waste discharges account for a tiny fraction (about 1 percent, he said) of the nitrogen contributing to the bay's dead zones. "But it’s something that’s very controllable,'' the AG added.

Gansler said that boaters he's spoken with favor his idea, and he suggested that it would have broad public support among non-boaters as well. What do you think?  Is the holding tank smell and pumpout hassle worth it for such a small source of the bay's pollution? Or is it the least boaters can do to help the bay that they depend on for recreation?

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I spotted this on the Baltimore DIY Squad blog:

2640 space on St. Paul will screen "Blue Gold World Water Wars" at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 19. The documentary by Food and Water Watch follows cases of people fighting for their rights to water. Visit 2640 space's web site for more info.

If you can't make it but still want to see the film, it's available on DVD.

Posted by Kim Walker at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

Vegan Bloody Mary

On Friday, Nov. 20th (tomorrow), Baltimore Vegan Drinks will host their monthly social networking event at Dionysus Restaurant and Lounge in Mt. Vernon.

Baltimore Vegan Drinks is the local chapter of Vegan Drinks, whose mission is to bring together a diverse group of people to build new coalitions and promote the sharing of resources.

The event will feature a totally vegan menu, including a vegan Bloody Mary, Organic Crop Cucumber Martinis, specially made vegan Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Dionysus’ own Basilicious (Organic Crop Tomato vodka muddled with fresh basil and topped with soda water). The menu also includes vegan wines and microbrews. Yum!

For more information, visit the Baltimore Vegan Drinks web site or RSVP to the event via Facebook.

Image courtesy of Lauren Musselman

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Events, Food
        

Arthur Tuers recalls a day when the Chesapeake Bay teemed with oysters, crabs and clams, and the water was so clear you could "see your toenails" while standing in five feet of water. Now 79, he's been fishing and working around the bay since he was 10.

Tuers shares his recollections in this video shot by Matt Rath with the Chesapeake Bay Program . Some might see this as an emotional appeal to build public support for the costly, controversial push by the Obama administration and bay states to ramp up restoration efforts. Still, it's worth hearing how the bay used to be while pondering the price of trying to bring it back.

"People would not believe how it was back then," he says.

A look back with Arthur Tuers from Chesapeake Bay Program on Vimeo.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay
        

Computing giant IBM announced in advance of a company-sponsored "Smarter Cities" forum here that it was helping researchers at the University of Maryland Baltimore County analyze smoke patterns in wildfires.

Catonsville-based UMBC is using IBM technology to help track wildfires in real time and make predictions about the spread of the blaze and health-threatening smoke. Such up-to-the-minute information would be useful to emergency responders in making decisions about evacuating people or issuing health warnings, according to the announcement.

What that has to do with "Smarter Cities," though, I'm not exactly sure - maybe an example of how business ties can keep university researchers employed?  

In any case, the Smarter Cities forum, also at UMBC, brings together local government and business leaders to brainstorm about how to improve the economy and quality of life in Baltimore. It's the latest in a series of such forums the company has held in cities across North America.  Besides talking about how to enhance health care, education and safety, they're scheduled to look at boosting green building and public transportation.

Continue reading "Tracking smoke, plugging leaks in "Smarter Cities"" »

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Events, News
        

With international climate talks just a month away, the American Association for the Advancement of Science is hosting an art and educational exhibit at its Washington headquarters to help adults and children alike see what's at issue.

"Climate Change in Our World” displays five-foot high images and explanatory text depicting some of the climate-change effects already being seen around the planet. The photos are taken by award-winning environmental photojournalist Gary Braasch, who has been documenting climate change and its solutions for a decade.  The images are from a book by Braasch, Earth Under Fire. Pictured above are villagers huddled on an eroding island in Bengladesh.

Along with those images are others targeted at youngsters entitled: “How We Know About Our Changing Climate.” It contains photos from a young-reader science book of the same title co-authored by Braasch and Lynne Cherry. The book tells how scientists are observing changes in nature related to global warming, and explains how young people can learn more and take action themselves.

The exhibit also includes films produced by Cherry, "Young Voices on Climate Change." Pictured here is Clarissa Klein, a California Girl Scout in one of the films whose troop - in a switch from the usual cookie drive - distributed 5000 compact flourescent light bulbs door to door.

The exhibits are open for viewing starting today (Nov. 18) through March 15, 2010 in the gallery at the association's headquarters, 12th & H Streets NW (just north of Metro Center station), Washington, D.C. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  But there's a special public opening reception today (Nov. 18) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

(Photos used by permission of Gary Braasch & Lynne Cherry)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Books, Events
        

Aiming to head off a budding bipartisan move in Congress to boost nuclear power, environmentalists took to the streets - and the Internet - to dismiss atom-splitting as too slow and costly to help fight climate change.

Environment Maryland released a new report Tuesday (Nov. 17) arguing that it would take a decade or more and cost upwards of $600 billion to build 100 more nuclear plants, as some have advocated to ease planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. The group argues that the time and money could be better spent promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy such as wind and solar.

"Nuclear power would actually hurt our ability to stop global warming,'' said Mike Sherling of Environment Maryland.

The report, which you can read here, comes as two senators, Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Democrat Jim Webb of Virginia, introduce a bill that would funnel federal funds and loan guarantees into reviving the nuclear power industry as well as promoting renweable energy.

“If we were going to war, we wouldn’t mothball our nuclear navy and start subsidizing sailboats," Alexander said. "If addressing climate change and creating low-cost, reliable energy are national imperatives, we shouldn’t stop building nuclear plants and start subsidizing windmills.” 

To highlight their objections, Environment Maryland and other activists staged a press conference (pictured above) outside the downtown Baltimore headquarters of Constellation Energy, which has applied for a permit to build a new, third reactor at Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant. The press event drew a few lunchtime spectators, but the growl of traffic on busy Pratt Street often drowned out what they had to say.

(It should be noted that not all environmentalists oppose nuclear power.  Locally, the Maryland Conservation Council has endorsed Constellation's bid for a third reactor at Calvert Cliffs.  The group is concerned about industrial-scale wind and solar projects gobbling up land and wildlife habitat, and argues that nuclear power is safe and least expensive, for the amount of power generated.)

By coincidence, wind energy advocates were huddled nearby at the Pier 5 Hotel, conferring on how to boost the prospects for turbines atop mountains and offshore in the Mid-Atlantic region.  They have issues to overcome as well, including public resistance in some locales, and the inadequancy of high-tension transmission lines to convey the power from where it's generated to where it's needed.  This is an issue already in some western areas, but one of the speakers at yesterday's meeting said it was likely to be a concern in the East as well as more turbines get built. 

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: News
        

Vegan banana bread

On Nov. 21, from 6-9 p.m., Earth Save Baltimore will host a Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck at the Learning Center of Your Prescription for Health in Owings Mills. The dinner will feature live music from local musicians Michael Harris, Norm Hogeline, Lorna Sampson and Don Robertson, and prizes will be awarded to the two best dishes of the night, one raw and one cooked.

A volunteer-operated nonprofit, EarthSave Baltimore’s mission is to educate people about the impact that food choices have on the environment and health, and to educate and support people in making the shift toward a whole food, plant-centered diet. The Baltimore chapter of the New York organization holds a monthly Dinner Ed series on the last Saturday, and other casual “veg” gatherings, including Vegetarian Friends (formerly Vegetarian Singles) at local veg-friendly restaurants, and potluck dinners at various local residences.

If you’re interested in attending the Pre-Thanksgiving Potluck, RSVP to earthsaverdon@hotmail.com. Guests are asked to bring a dish made without animal products to serve five times the number in their party, along with a donation of $5 (members $2). Or guests may attend without bringing a dish for a $12 fee (members $10). For more information, visit the EarthSave Baltimore web site.

Image courtesy of Crystl

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Events, Food
        

Two Mt. Washington couples who participated in a "home energy challenge" aired on NBC's Today Show are on course to save $500 to $1,000 in energy costs in the coming year, the network reports.

Betsy Ringel and Kirk Kolodner and Joan and John Goldman did some fairly simple, relatively inexpensive things, such as installing compact fluorescent lightbulbs, adjusting their thermostats and caulking and weather-stripping leaky doors, windows and crawlspaces.

In the video below, both couples say feel more environmentally conscious as a result of their conservation steps and are ready to do more.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Going Green
        

A couple new blogs about growth in "American in Miniatiure" have showed up in my emailbox lately.

One is "Smart Growth Maryland," written by members of the Maryland Department of Planning to offer insights and invite public dialogue about "smart growth," sustainable development, land conservation and the like.

"We might rarely think about it in these terms, but the places where we live, what it looks like, not just the homes but the communities and services that surround them, are the result of planning (for better or worse) long ago," writes Andrew Ratner in the blog's premier post, "No Time Like the Present."   Ratner's state planning's communications director and a former Baltimore Sun editor.

Another recent addition to the Maryland blogosphere is "The Progger," the rants and rambles of Assateague Coastkeeper Kathy Phillips as she prowls the land and water around Maryland's Atlantic resort. The blog's about the local coastal environment, but growth is a major focus.

Her latest post is "Worcester, Now and in the Future," taking off on recent development decisions there along the ecologically important coastal bays, with photos illustrating the connection between land and water.

Do you have any favorite or new "green" local blogs?  Please share.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The animal rights group PETA is out with a new list, and this time, a local eatery is ranked among the nation's best. (Maryland prisons and ballparks have made past lists.)

PETA says One World Cafe's vegan meatball sub sandwich is in the Top 10 best faux meatballs in the country.

The other winners were in states including California, New York and Massachusetts. But there was also one winner in Texas. They made soups, pastas and other meals out of their meatballs.

I couldn't find this item on One World's menu online. Maybe it's a special? Anyone had the One World creation?

Anyone know of other good places to acquire a good meatless meatball?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Food
        

DC is taking this bike to work thing seriously. Instead of just adding a lane for bikers, the city traffic folks have added a lane that is separated by a barrier so cars can't use it. It's just a pilot program, but could be expanded to other roads. So far, according to the local NBC affiliate, the lane is getting a good response from locals.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Urban Issues
        

Mark your calendars for the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance’s (CSBA) Green Monday, Dec. 7, from 6-9 p.m. at Clementine in Hamilton. Green Mondays are the CSBA’s monthly networking and educational events that bring together independently owned businesses and individuals working to reduce material and energy usage, recycle and reduce waste, and buy and sell locally. December’s meeting will feature local, biodynamic wine from Black Ankle Vineyards and “fancypants comfort food” from Clementine. To register, visit CSBA’s web site.

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

With all the talk about vegetarianism becoming more common, we decided to feature recipes on B'More Green. We have plenty to choose from in Baltimoresun.com's recipe database, but we also want to hear from you. If you have a favorite vegan or vegetarian dish, email us with the recipe, source (if it's not your own) and photo (if you have one), and we may feature it in future posts. If we choose your recipe, we may also send you a book related to vegetarian or green eating. 

To kick things off, here's a recipe from our vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes page. 

 Stuffed Butternut Squash with Wild Rice, Apricots

1 large butternut or Hubbard squash
1/3 cup fat-free, reduced sodium vegetable broth
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped apples
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 teaspoon dried sage, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup toasted* bread crumbs
1/4 cup toasted* pine nuts, optional
1/3 cup chopped celery
Salt and fresh-ground black pepper, to taste

Halve squash and scoop out seeds. Set aside.

Pour broth into a 10-inch nonstick skillet and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, 8 minutes or until soft. Add garlic, apples, apricots, sage, thyme and wild rice. Cook 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in bread crumbs, pine nuts, if using, celery, salt and pepper. Mound mixture over squash halves. Place on baking sheet and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees 1 hour or until squash shell is soft. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes longer or until stuffing is lightly browned. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Per serving (with pine nuts): 242 calories, 8 grams protein, 5 grams fat, 47 grams carbohydrates, no cholesterol, 159 milligrams sodium, 17 percent calories from fat.

Per serving (without pine nuts): 207 calories, 6 grams protein, 1 grams fat, 46 grams carbohydrates, no cholesterol, 158 milligrams sodium, 6 percent calories from fat.

*To toast nuts or bread crumbs: Spread in a single layer on separate baking sheets and toast in a 350-degree oven 5 to 10 minutes or until golden. Use a spatula to turn bread crumbs or shake the pan to turn the nuts.

 So speak up vegetarians. What are your favorite holiday dishes?

AP file photo

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Food
        

Crabs, oysters and rockfish will be on the agenda, if not the menu, Thursday, Nov. 19 at a "Bay in Crisis" symposium sponsored by the University of Baltimore law school.

The focus of the day-long session will be on protecting and restoring the bay's native fish and shellfish populations. Speakers include: J. Charles Fox, the Environmental Protection Agency's senior advisor on the bay; Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler; scientists; regulators; activists, and yes, even a waterman.  To see the full agenda, go here.

The symposium will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the John and Frances Angelos Law Center, 1415 Maryland Avenue. (Directions here) The event is free and open to the public, but anyone wanting to attend is asked to RSVP by Monday, Nov. 16. You can register online here or call 410.837.4468.

(2008 Baltimore Sun photo by Glen Fawcett)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, Events
        

A seahorse and squid made of rope and Styrofoam won the grand prize at the eighth annual "Rethink Recycling" sculputre contest held by the Maryland Department of the Environment today.

The contest aims to encourage high schoolers to recycle by using trash to make art. The event is part of America Recycles Day, an annual effort to raise awareness of the benefits --social, environmental, and economic -- of buying recycled products and recycling.

First Lady Katie O'Malley awarded the prizes to the squid and seahorse, as well as a trash truck, baskets, a tree, and a peacock. There were more than 50 entries from 19 high schools in Maryland. The students used such items as VCR tapes, bottle caps, lawnmower wheels, cans, paper and cigarette butts.

“These sculptures are a testament to the value of art in educating the public, and they are a visual reminder of the need to recycle and to protect our environment,” O'Malley said. “I congratulate all of the participants for their creativity and ingenuity.”

MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson said, "Reducing waste helps to protect our waters and the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to preserving natural resources and reducing pollution, recycling saves energy and reduces the greenhouses gases that contribute to climate change.”

Philip Custer, from Broadneck High School in Anne Arundel County -- and seen above in a photo courtesy of the MDE -- made his squid and a seahorse from rope, bottles, a mattress, pine cones, Styrofoam, wire and plastic bottles. He won a television and a Blue Ray player.

Continue reading "America Recycles Day inspires art from trash " »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Going Green
        

It seems that Virginia's crabbers aren't exactly flocking to take buyouts from their state, either. As the Associated Press reports, more than 500 of the state's 1,850 commercial crabbers submitted offers to sell their licenses back to the state by the Nov. 1 deadline.

"I like being outside, and I just absolutely love catching things — absolutely love it," Joe Palmer, a 54-year-old waterman told the AP, in explaining why he didn't offer to sell his license.

Virginia has committed $6.7 million to buy out commercial crabbers' licenses, and invited them to name their price, using a method that has proven successful in reducing some other overworked fisheries. Maryland tried a similar "reverse auction" to retire relatively small-time crabbing licenses that hadn't been used in a while, but gave up after getting only about 500 offers to sell that quoted prices ranging up into the millions of dollars.

Maryland has since switched gears, offering to pay a flat $2,260 for each of the "limited crab catcher" licenses turned in. So far, state officials say, about 530 have responded to the latest offer, which remains outstanding. The 3,700 "limited crab catcher" licenses the state has issued allow holders to use up to 50 wire-mesh "pots" or traps and an unlimited amount of baited line. The state is moving to restrict the use of about 2,000 licenses that haven't reported any catch lately, to keep them from jumping back into crabbing as the bay's crab population rebounds.

(2008 Baltimore Sun photo by Glenn Fawcett)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, News
        

Miss trash or recycling day?

For those who missed trash or recycling pickup on Veterans Day in Baltimore City, officials have arranged for make-up collection this Saturday.  

Saturday is the automatic make-up day for all holidays that fall Tuesday through Friday.

So, don't let it all pile up. Put that trash and recycling out on Saturday morning.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

It seems that emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases took a dip in Maryland even before lawmakers in Annapolis agreed to reduce them.

Relying on federal data, Environment Maryland reports that carbon dioxide emissions in the Old Line State from burning fossil fuels declined 6 percent from 2004 through 2007. Maryland was in good company - 16 other states also trimmed their emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use in that time period, according to the environmental group's latest report.

The decline is interesting because it predates the recession, which experts say has dampened energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions because of reduced economic activity. The US Energy Information Administration, for instance, projects that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use nationwide are likely to be 5.9 percent lower this year than last.

Environment Maryland says the decline in carbon dioxide emissions in Maryland and other states shows that climate-warming pollution can be reduced without harming the economy.  The group is pressing Congress to pass legislation aimed at curtailing emissions nationwide while promoting energy efficiency and renewables.  Much of the debate in Washington is over how much that will increase the costs of energy and whether that will hurt the economy at a time when the nation is still grappling with high unemployment.

Environment Maryland suggests that carbon dioxide emissions dropped in states with policies and standards promoting energy efficiency.  Maryland, which ranks 10th in per capita carbon dioxide emissions, came in 12th in a 2008 rating of its policies by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a Washington-based advocacy group. 

But all that happened before Maryland lawmakers approved the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act this year aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions in the state, and even before the state approved EmPower energy-efficiency legislation in 2008 that was pushed by the O'Malley administration.  It was that bill aimed at achieving a 15 percent reduction in per capita energy consumption by 2015, that helped Maryland earn its relatively high ranking on energy efficiency.

I'm wondering if there weren't other factors at play in the 2004-2007 dip in CO2 emissions than a conscious attempt to improve energy efficiency or deal with climate change.  The decline apparently happened largely as a result of power plants switching from coal and oil to natural gas and other cleaner-burning fuels.  Could that switch have stemmed from government regulation of conventional air pollutants, which also are generated by burning fossil fuels, and big jumps in oil prices in the run-up to the recession?

Even if so, it's still noteworthy that climate-warming pollution dropped in Maryland and some other states while economic growth continued (albeit unsustainably). 

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Air Pollution, News