Tag Archives: emission

Trump’s EPA Aims to Eliminate Carbon Emission Regulations for Power Plants

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed on Wednesday its intention to lift current limitations on greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas-fired power plants.

EPA administrator Lee Zeldin stated at a press conference that the carbon pollution standards established during the Biden administration “stifle” economic growth in the name of environmental protection. Zeldin, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in January, emphasized that this announcement marks significant progress in US energy management and reassured that the agency would not allow power plants to generate more electricity than they currently do. Presently, the electricity sector represents a quarter of total US emissions. Latest EPA Emissions Data.

Zeldin also indicated that the EPA plans to roll back regulations related to mercury emissions from power plants set by the Biden administration.

Environmental advocates argue that the EPA’s proposal intensifies the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape climate initiatives across various federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Energy, and the National Weather Service. In 2024, the Biden administration confirmed its commitment to address the climate crisis with the most stringent carbon pollution standards for power plants to date, which now face an uncertain future.

Gina McCarthy, who served as EPA administrator under President Joe Biden, described Zeldin’s announcement as a “political maneuver” in a statement on Wednesday that dismissed a “decade of scientific research and policy evaluation.”

“By allowing increased pollution, his legacy will be defined by those who cater to the fossil fuel industry at the cost of public health,” McCarthy stated.

On January 25th, Jeffrey Energy Center’s coal-fired power plant near Emmett, Kansas.
Charlie Riedel / AP file

“Science and daily observations tell us that removing pollution standards on the largest industrial gas polluters in the United States is a mistake,” stated Jill Tauber, vice president of climate and energy litigation at Earthjustice, a nonprofit currently involved in litigation against the Trump administration over various environmental rollbacks.

US power plants are significant sources of global carbon emissions. A report from the Institute of Policy Integrity at New York University indicates that if the US electricity sector were treated as a separate nation, it would rank as the sixth largest emitter worldwide.

During the first Trump administration, the EPA loosened several Obama-era greenhouse gas regulations for power plants, but this latest announcement marks a shift towards completely eliminating such standards. Zeldin is following through on his commitment made in March to challenge the “religion of climate change” by revisiting or rescinding 31 regulations related to tailpipe emissions, coal ash, and wastewater management from oil and gas.

The proposed regulations, which are now open for public commentary, are facing scrutiny from legal advocates and environmental organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council. They contend that the EPA has a legal obligation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Legal precedent mandates that greenhouse gases be controlled by the EPA under the Clean Air Act.

“We are closely monitoring whether the EPA will remove these crucial standards based on legal reasoning that is likely to be unviable,” remarked Meredith Hawkins, Federal Climate Law Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The NRDC is prepared to take legal action to ensure our right to breathe clean air is upheld.”

Reducing historic limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants could significantly influence global climate change, as well as have adverse effects on human health and the economy.

Harvey Writer, a lawyer and law professor at George Washington University, expressed hope that if the EPA pursues its planned deregulation, energy companies and utilities committed to renewable energy investments will challenge the Trump administration in court.

“The primary consequence of the proposed regulations is uncertainty and instability,” he stated. “It leaves stakeholders unsure about the next steps ahead. This complicates investment choices and affects job-related decisions, generating widespread market uncertainty.”

Greenhouse gas emissions from power plants extend beyond climate concerns. The combustion of fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide and various air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and particulate matter. These pollutants are linked to higher instances of respiratory ailments and cardiovascular disease. Regulating carbon emissions from power plants can lead to a broader reduction in air pollution for communities near these facilities, according to Laura Kate Bender, vice president of national advocacy and public policy at the American Lung Association.

“This is a dual-edged sword. On the one hand, fossil fuel-fired power plants exacerbate climate change while simultaneously causing health issues,” Bender noted. “Climate change is a public health crisis, and mitigating carbon emissions in the electricity sector is crucial to addressing this emergency.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Interaction of Fast-Moving Electrons and Photons Drives X-Ray Emission in Blazar Jets

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A recent study utilized NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarized Explorer) to analyze a highly relativistic jet originating from the Blazar Bl Lacertae, a supermassive black hole surrounded by luminous discs.

This artist’s rendering illustrates the core area of Blazar Bl Lacertae, featuring an ultra-massive black hole surrounded by bright discs and Earth-directed jets. Image credit: NASA/Pablo Garcia.

Astrophysicists elucidated a highly relativistic jet, proposing two competing theories regarding an X-ray component made up of protons and electrons.

Each theory presents a distinct signature in the polarization characteristics of the X-ray light.

Polarized light signifies the average direction of the electromagnetic waves comprising light.

When X-rays in a black hole’s jets are highly polarized, it indicates production from protons that circulate within the magnetic field of the jet or protons interacting with the jet’s photons.

Conversely, low polarization in X-rays implies that the generation of X-rays occurs through electron-photon interactions.

The IXPE is the sole satellite capable of making such polarization measurements.

“This was one of the greatest mysteries involving supermassive black hole jets,” remarks Dr. Ivan Agdo, an astronomer at Astrophicidae Athtrophicidae and Andocia-CSIC.

“Thanks to numerous supporting ground telescopes, IXPE equipped us with the necessary tools to ultimately resolve this issue.”

Astronomers concluded that electrons are likely the source, through a process known as Compton scattering.

This phenomenon, also referred to as the Compton effect, occurs when photons lose or gain energy through interactions with charged particles (primarily electrons).

Within the jets of a supermassive black hole, electrons move at speeds approaching that of light.

IXPE enabled researchers to determine that, in Blazar jets, electrons possess enough energy to scatter infrared photons into the X-ray spectrum.

Bl Lacertae, one of the earliest discovered Blazars, was initially thought to be a kind of star in the Lacerta constellation.

IXPE monitored Bl Lacertae for seven days in November 2023, in conjunction with several ground-based telescopes also measuring optical and radio polarization.

Interestingly, during the X-ray polarization observations, Bl Lacertae’s light polarization peaked at 47.5%.

“This marks not only the most polarized BL Lacertae has been in the past 30 years, but indeed the highest ever recorded,” states Dr. Ioannis Riodakis, an astrophysicist at the Institute of Astrophysics.

Researchers noted that X-rays are significantly less polarized than optical light.

They were unable to detect strong polarized signals and ascertained that the X-rays could not exceed 7.6% polarization.

This finding confirms that electron interactions with photons via the Compton effect must account for the X-ray emissions.

“The fact that optical polarization is considerably higher than that of X-rays can only be explained by Compton scattering,” he added.

“IXPE has solved yet another mystery surrounding black holes,” claimed Dr. Enrico Costa, an astrophysicist associated with the planet spaziali of astituto to astituto to n diastrofísica.

“IXPE’s polarized X-ray capabilities have unraveled several long-standing mysteries, which is a significant achievement.

“In other instances, IXPE’s results challenged previously held beliefs, opening up new questions, but that’s the essence of science, and certainly IXPE excels in its scientific contributions.”

Survey results will be published in Astrophysics Journal Letter.

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Ivan Agd et al. 2025. The height of X-ray and X-ray polarization reveals Compton scattering of BL Lacertae jets. apjl in press; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ADC572

Source: www.sci.news

Perfect Time to Buy an Electric Car in the UK: Unbeatable Deals on Electric, Hybrid, and Low Emission Vehicles

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IIf you’re considering trading up to an electric vehicle but think it’s too costly, think again. Used Tesla Model 3 or Kia e-Niros, capable of 250-300 miles on a single charge, can now be purchased for just £14,000.

Last year, prices for used electric vehicles dropped significantly, making previously unattainable models now accessible to many families.

In fact, Autotrader reported that EVs are now almost as affordable as petrol cars, with the average price of a three- to five-year-old EV in July being £18,964, compared to £18,076 for a petrol car of the same model year.

Ground-breaking ultra-efficient models from three to four years ago are now available on the second-hand market at much more affordable prices, despite initially costing between £40,000 and £50,000 new.

According to David Smith of Cleveleys Electric Vehicles, there are some incredible deals available, with cars offering nearly the same driving range as new models, proven reliability, and warranties still intact, all at a fraction of the price.

One EV specialist highly recommends the Kia e-Niro, especially with its 64kWh battery. Photo: Sue Thatcher/Alamy

Smith also recommended the Kia e-Niro with its 64kWh battery for families under £15,000, citing its efficiency, range, and reliability.

Another model to consider is the MG5, which has proven to be extremely reliable according to Cleveleys Electric Vehicles.

Smith mentioned that longer-range EVs are not as risky as perceived, with many cars maintaining their mileage even after extensive use.

Buying a used, fuel-efficient EV eliminates the issues that new electric vehicles may face, making them a practical choice for many buyers.

For those looking to purchase, there are several affordable options available, like the Kia e-Niro and Tesla Model 3, both offering long-distance capabilities at competitive prices.

Charging at home is much cheaper than using public charging points, making EVs even more cost-effective in the long run.

The Tesla Model 3 has proven to be capable of long distance driving. Photo: Taina Sohlman/Alamy

Consider the warranties, charging options, and overall cost before making a decision on purchasing a used EV.

Charging at home is much cheaper than using a public charging point. Photo: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Consider the charging infrastructure, insurance costs, and warranty coverage when buying a used EV to ensure a wise investment.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Some skeptics warn that EVs will strain the power grid, but they could actually help to solve the problem

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Electric cars scares some people of the dark: their batteries produce much less carbon dioxide but require more power to run, prompting ominous warnings that Britain and other wealthy countries could plunge their citizens into darkness if they ban new petrol and diesel sales.

In recent months, UK net-zero skeptic newspapers have warned that a shift to EVs “risks overwhelming the grid and causing catastrophic blackouts” if intermittent solar and wind don't provide the needed power. Another article argued that “we don't need an enemy force to plunge us all into darkness – just some electricity customers doing their normal thing on a normal winter's night.”

But many who work in the electric vehicle industry believe these fears may be unfounded, arguing that the transition to electric vehicles is an exciting, potentially lucrative opportunity to build a smarter, greener energy system.


In the UK, polluting coal-fired power plants have been largely replaced by wind farms and solar panels. These renewable energies do not emit carbon dioxide, but they suffer from intermittency problems and cannot provide enough power on cloudy days or at night when there is no wind. Add in the prospect that all new cars will be electric by 2035 and it is not an exaggerated question how the power grid will keep supply and demand in balance.

Shifting demand

The transition to electric vehicles will undoubtedly require more electricity generation as electric vehicles, rather than land-based fossil fuels, become the primary source of energy for transportation, but smart technology can be used to shift demand away from peak times, such as 5pm in winter, when demand for electricity risks outstripping supply.

This isn't just a pipe dream: home charger company MyEnergy calculates that if balancing services were enabled across all installed compatible chargers, it could “provide over 1GW of demand-shifting flexibility to the grid, more than 98% of the UK's major fossil fuel power stations.”

Octopus Energy, which has quickly grown to become the UK's largest electricity supplier, says its Go electricity tariff manages the charging of the batteries of 150,000 electric vehicles. Charging them all at once would require 1GW of power, but smart chargers hold off charging until off-peak hours at night, shifting demand away from peaks. Electricity is also cheaper during off-peak hours, with clear benefits for consumers: Octopus says its customers save an average of about £600 a year.




In the UK, polluting coal-fired power stations have largely been replaced by wind farms and solar panels, which suffer from “intermittency issues”. Photo: Martin Meissner/AP

One gigawatt is the equivalent of a medium-sized power station, enough to power 600,000 homes. Electric vehicles on UK roads are already on the rise in the UK. Peak electricity demand in winter is 61.1GWAccording to the National Grid, delaying charging for just a few hours can help reduce energy consumption.

Jack Fielder, chief strategy officer at MyEnergy, said: “If every EV charger could provide a grid balancing service and every driver took part in a grid balancing program, we could collectively eliminate periods of strain on the grid.”

It could also be useful when power supply exceeds demand, such as on warm, windy nights, said Chris Pateman-Jones, chief executive of charging company Connected Curve.

“Instead of wasting renewable energy, I see EVs as a giant sponge,” he says. For consumers, there will be little change: Connected Curve data shows that most cars are already charged by midnight, leaving them idle for hours before they're needed.

Powered by car battery

It's not just the timing of when electrons flow into car batteries that will help the National Grid Electricity Supply Operator (NGESO), the company responsible for balancing the U.K. power grid: It calls demand shifting a “low-regret action that will help reduce the impact on peak demand and reduce renewable curtailment,” but it also wants electrons to flow in the other direction.

Vehicle-to-grid technology is an attractive prospect: instead of building power plants, hydroelectric storage, or stationary battery fleets, the idea is to harness the energy stored in car batteries. Cars could become portable power packs, providing backup for homes in the event of a blackout, and even allowing drivers to earn money by selling power back to the grid.

NGESO is Annual estimate It predicts what the UK electricity system will look like in 2035 and 2050. It sees a growing role for cars feeding power back into the grid, and in the most optimistic scenario, capacity could reach 39GW (equivalent to one-tenth of the vastly expanded generating capacity).

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Source: www.theguardian.com

New research indicates that caterpillars are able to detect predatory wasps through the emission of static electricity.

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Predatory wasps are electrically charged and emit electric fields, and their larvae respond to these fields with defensive behaviour, according to a new study from the University of Bristol.

Sam J. England and Daniel Robert discovered that some terrestrial animals can sense the electric fields emitted by electrostatically charged predators and use this sensation to mount defensive actions. These photos show the four animal species examined in the study: (A) A Cinnabarga larva (Tilia jacobae) Taking a defensive posture. (B) The larva of a rare transpiration moth (Terrorcrus Rekens) in a defensive coiled position. (C) The larva of the European peacock butterfly (Aglais), (D) a predatory common hornet in the middle of a defensive maneuver (HornetImage credit: Sam J. England & Daniel Robert, doi: 10.1073/pnas.2322674121.

“Many animals naturally build up static electricity on their bodies as they move around in their environment, and we knew that static electricity can push or pull on other charged objects,” said researcher Sam England, from the University of Bristol.

“In particular, we knew that insect hairs can be moved by electric fields emitted by electrostatically charged objects, in the same way that an electrically charged balloon can move hair on the head.”

“This got us thinking: What if prey animals like caterpillars could detect predators by sensing the electric fields emitted by the predators?”

“Could the static electricity of a predator like a wasp be enough to alert the caterpillar to the approach of the wasp, by pushing and pulling on the caterpillar's sensory hairs?”

Dr England and his colleague, Professor Daniel Robert, from the University of Bristol, measured how much static electricity the wasps and caterpillars had picked up by passing them through a static sensor.

The researchers then fed these charge values ​​into a computational model to mathematically predict how strong the electric field would be as the wasp approached the larvae on the plant.

When the caterpillars reacted defensively to these conditions, they were able to determine whether it was sensory hairs that were detecting the electricity by using a laser to detect tiny vibrations and measuring how much the hairs moved in response to electric fields of different frequencies.

The results are concerning because they show that the caterpillars are also sensitive to the frequencies of electric fields emitted by power lines and other electronic devices.

This means that humans may be filling the environment with electrical “noise” that interferes with animals' ability to detect predators.

Dr England continued: “We now feel it is extremely urgent to assess whether introducing a new type of sensory pollution – electrical noise – is interfering with the ability of caterpillars, and other animals, to detect predators.”

Almost all terrestrial animals seem to accumulate static electricity, so this static sense may be widespread, and the discovery that static electricity plays a role in these ecological interactions would open up an entirely new dimension to our understanding of how animals sense each other, and more generally, how and why animals evolve in certain ways.

“Our study suggests that terrestrial animals may be able to use static electricity as a predator-detection cue,” Dr England said.

“This is likely an ability that is particularly widespread in insects and small animals such as spiders and scorpions.”

“This study provides the first example of an animal detecting predators by sensing static electricity emitted by the predator.”

“This reveals a new dimension of predator-prey interactions on land, but also suggests a previously unnoticed way in which we may be negatively impacting wildlife by introducing sources of electrosensory pollution.”

of study Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Sam J. England & Daniel Robert. 2024. Prey can detect predators via airborne electroreception. PNAS 121(23):e2322674121; doi:10.1073/pnas.2322674121

Source: www.sci.news