Health officials say radiation from Japan unlikely to be danger to U.S. West Coast

By Alison Hawkes

03/13/2011

As conditions at nuclear reactors in Japan continue to deteriorate, one obvious question for we West Coaster is the potential danger for radioactive fallout to travel across the jet stream. So far, authorities are downgrading the potential that the West Coast of North America is in danger. A spokesman for the California Department of Public Health said “at present there is no danger to California” and a monitoring system is in place to detect levels. Washington State is also monitoring air for radiation and said even in the event of a significant release, radiation would be so diluted before reaching [...]

DOE grants millions to Bay Area solar companies

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/11/2011

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory announced it is investing $7 million in four solar energy companies, three of which are in the Bay Area. The PV Technology Incubator program aims to make new technologies available as soon as possible. Of particular note is San Jose-based Solexant, a company developing a thin film solar material made entirely from non-toxic, abundant materials, such as copper, zinc, and sulfer. [Read more - Green Economy]

Growing farmers markets produce too much of a good thing

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/11/2011

The growth in farmers markets are, paradoxically, having a negative impact on small, local farms. The increasing number of small markets makes it harder for farmers to reach a sustainable number of customers. They’re pushed to spend more time attending more markets for the same return. [Watch more - Peninsula Press]

Wind-powered ferries may come to the Bay

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/11/2011

The the Golden Gate Bridge District is floating the idea of funding a ferry fueled by the wind to run between Sausalito and San Francisco. A Napa-based company, Wind + Wing Technologies, pitched the district yesterday saying their $20 million wind-powered ferry could save the distric $1.4 million annually in fuel costs. If state and federal funds are available, a $1.1 million pilot project could be underway a year from now. [Read more - Marin Independent Journal]

Climate change could be killing salmon

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/11/2011

While Bay Area fishermen are rejoicing over the news of a full salmon fishing season, scientists are telling the Pacific Salmon Commission – a Canadian and U.S. governmental body tasked with implementing the Pacific Salmon Treaty – climate change may be killing the fish. Specifically, warmer water causes them to use more energy and exposes them to disease. [Read more - California Watch]

Tsunami wave will hit Bay Area at 8 a.m.

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/11/2011

A foot tall wave generated by an 8.9 earthquake in Japan is expected to hit the Bay Area coastline at around 8 a.m. this morning, according to Mayor Ed Lee. Coastal beaches in San Francisco are closed as is the Great Highway. Because the wave will arrive at low tide, no evacuation of low-lying areas is currently planned. [Read more - The San Francisco Examiner]

Mystery of Hunters Point’s dying seagulls solved

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/10/2011

For a decade seagulls have been keeling over in a three-acre area of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, which is a Superfund site. Fish and Game wildlife officials have determined the cause is mold. The birds die after inhaling high concentrations of aspergillus, a naturally occurring fungus associated with decomposing vegetation. The origin of fungi has yet to be determined. [Read more - The San Francisco Examiner]

Is organically certified livestock really humane?

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/10/2011

The Bay Area prides itself on consuming animals that are treated humanely and fed organically grown food, but some farmers are questioning whether excluding the use of short-term antibiotics in the name of organic certification is going too far. Depriving an animal of medicine that could clear up a small infection before it becomes lethal, is not kinder but cruel, some say. [Read more - Point Reyes Light]

Point Molate casino passes environmental review

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/10/2011

The Richmond City Council approved the Point Molate casino environmental impact report yesterday. While the EIR is a significant hurdle, the council will not make its final decision of whether to go ahead with the $1 billion project until April 5. The project also requires state and federal approval. [Read more - The Bay Citizen]

Two sups. zapped with electric bike scandal

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/10/2011

In most cities when a scandal erupts around elected officials and undeclared gifts there are private jets or expensive art involved. In San Francisco, it’s electric-assist bicycles. The San Francisco Examiner reports that neither supervisors David Chiu or Ross Mirkarimi have reported the $2,000 mountain bikes they were given to test drive two years ago as gifts. Chiu, who is running for mayor, touts bike riding as his main mode of urban transportation. Both men say the bikes were not gifts. [Read more - The San Francisco Examiner]