Energy/Climate Watch: January 2014

Summary: Stories from across the globe about pollution, weather, environmental issues, and wildlife

Government accused of 'bribing local councils' on controversial fracking projects

MPs accused the government of seeking to bribe local councils to grant planning permission for controversial fracking projects today, just as new figures showed Britain’s shale gas regulator has only six staff dedicated to fracking full time.

They fear that the shale gas industry could be allowed to balloon without proper scrutiny and are especially concerned because, in only a fortnight, the regulator will be required to issue new fracking permits within two weeks, compared to the current 13-week wait.
Four States Confirm Water Contamination From Fracking

In at least four states that have nurtured the nation’s energy boom, hundreds of complaints have been made about well-water contamination from oil or gas drilling, and pollution was confirmed in a number of them, according to a review that casts doubt on industry suggestions that such problems rarely happen.

Fukushima failure: Decontamination system stops functioning

On Wednesday, TEPCO stopped operating all 3 ALPS systems at the facility. The company officials say the system may take a long time to restart.

The container where the radioactive substances are stored has to be replaced when it fills up.

TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, crippled in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, said that the company plans to decontaminate all radioactive water stored in the tanks by March 2015, NHK reported.
ABC News: Gov’t, scientists ‘baffled’ over white spots on cows around Fukushima plant — Farmer: No one knows what they are, I think it’s from radiation; “Our town’s contaminated like Chernobyl… We were just thrown away like trash” — Officials order the animals to be slaughtered (VIDEOS)

US weather: 'So cold boiling water freezes in mid-air'

Parts of the US are braced for potentially record-breaking low temperatures as a "polar vortex" brings more freezing weather.

There's a "polar vortex" sweeping across America, and it is NASTY

This cold front is no joke, people. For the first time in 17 years, Minnesota called off school Monday for the entire state. "A person not properly dressed could die easily in those conditions," warned National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Truett in St. Louis, describing the expected wind chill in Missouri tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service has described the wind chill as "life-threatening."

More Than 300 Sharks In Australia Are Now On Twitter

Government researchers have that monitor where the animals are. When a tagged shark is about half a mile away from a beach, it triggers a computer alert, which tweets out a message on the . The tweet notes the shark's size, breed and approximate location.

The unstoppable rise of bikes

In five years, bicycling will be so common that it's boring, says author Elly Blue

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