Ms. Merrifield's fourth graders, Plummer Motz School, Falmouth, ME

As many of you already know, the New England region often emerges as a leader on environmental issues–and environmental solutions. So we weren’t surprised to find that three of the top 10 finalists in the nationwide  ”America’s Greenest School” contest hail from the New England states.

Participants were asked to submit a video or other media project explaining what they would do to make their school more environmentally friendly. But to win, they need your help. Until April 2, any member of the public can vote up to once a day for the entry of their choice.

The winning team’s school will receive the clean, green IC Bus™ Hybrid Bus (valued at $150,000); a School Audit by LEED Accredited Professionals and Green Makeover (valued at $20,000); a free concert by The Maine, the official band of America’s Greenest School; a $3,000 scholarship for the winning student and/or classroom; and $500 in class supplies for the winning sponsor/teacher. If that’s not enough motivation, the contest is also giving away a $100 Visa gift card every day to one participating voter.

New England’s finalists are:

• Ms. Merrifield’s fourth grade class, Plummer Motz School, Falmouth, ME
• Ms. Roberts’ third and fourth grade classes, South Shore Charter Public School, Norwell, MA
• Billy and Maddy S., 8 and 10 years old, Kathleen E. Goodwin Elementary School and Old Saybrook Middle School, Old Saybrook, CT

Support these students and their efforts to make the world a greener place by VOTING TODAY for America’s Greenest School! Voting ends April 2.

For more information, go to http://www.americasgreenestschool.com/ or check out this article by Judith Van Hamm, president of Sustainable South Shore.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Vermont Yankee will be allowed to continue to leak and pollute.  On March 10, 2010, the Vermont Public Service Board held an initial hearing on CLF’s request to close the plant until the leaks are repaired.  

Unfortunately, Yankee will continue to operate at least until it shuts down for refueling in late April.  I have little doubt that when it does shut down for refueling, the leaks will be found and repaired.  The sad part is that since early January, Vermont Yankee has been allowed to continue to operate with ongoing leaks of radioactive waste from pipes Yankee told regulators never even existed.  The leaks and the lies should stop.  Entergy should not get a free pass to pollute.

If my car is leaking oil, I stop the car and fix the leak.  We should expect the same from an operator of a nuclear power plant.

Entergy — the owner of Vermont Yankee — claimed yesterday it should not be required to give regulators accurate information on the leaks, the impacts of the leaks and its efforts to stop them.  They are busy trying to fix the leaks and the requested reporting apparently would be some sort of distraction.  CLF responded that a company as large as Entergy should be able to “walk and chew gum at the same time.”  If Entergy has time to make daily public announcements about what is going on, why can’t they make those statements under oath?  And if they can’t, what are they hiding?

Join CLF in asking the VT Public Service Board, the NRC and the VT health Department to shut Vermont Yankee down until the leaks are repaired.

Learn more about CLF VT Yankee Advocacy

Popularity: 10% [?]

The explosion at a nearly-completed power plant under construction in Connecticut illustrates the direct dangers inherent in harnessing fuels like natural gas.  The accident occurred during the “purging” of the gas lines that were to provide the fuel for the plant – an activity of concern to some observers who believe it to be an unsafe practice, and even  has elicited investigation by the government regulators who oversee such plants.

The workers who lost their lives, or were injured, in the explosion, and their families, should be in the thoughts and prayers of all.

We should never forget that the power that we use to operate our homes, offices and wireless devices does not come free – and sometimes we pay that price with something more precious than mere money.  The implications and impacts of our flipping a switch and plugging in appliance are rarely visible but they are very real.

Popularity: 7% [?]