AM Greenlist: New in green building -- an eco-brothel
>> The Downtown Civic Center gets bike-cultured. City employees now have access to showers, bicycle and shower lockers, and additional bicycle racks.
>> Learn to make your own recycled fashions. In February, Machine Project is offering Machine Sewing 101 - A Crash Course in the Thread and Needle, a three-Saturday course. Registration is $130 to $155.
>> State Treasurer Bill Lockyer opposes the toll road extension through San Onofre State Beach, one of California's most popular parks. Critics say "the road will degrade the beach and its famous surf breaks." Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supports it.
>> The Navy gets a couple of restrictions lifted regarding sonar use off California, after Bush intervenes. A federal judge temporarily set aside "requirements to shut down sonar if a marine mammal ventures within 2,200 yards of a sonar device, and to reduce sonar power under certain sea conditions that allow powerful sonar blasts to travel farther than normal." Earlier: Navy must cut sonar use off California.
>> More than 50 proposed coal-fired power plants in 20 states were canceled or delayed in 2007 because of concerns about climate change, construction costs and transportation problems. Coal, BTW, isn't as cheap as is often believed: The Assn. of American Railroads estimates $148 billion needs to be invested in coal freight infrastructure over the next 28 years -- and says it needs about $39 billion in federal assistance to help cover that cost.
>> Of course, the Bush administration has long supported coal, pouring lots of money into "clean coal" technology.
>> Meanwhile, coal company Massey Energy is paying $20 million to settle federal charges that it dumped excessive amounts of mine waste in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.
>> Canada plans to match or beat the U.S.'s fuel economy standards. "British Columbia and Quebec have expressed interest in exceeding the new requirements by adopting California's embattled standards, which would mandate a 35 mpg average by 2016."
>> 2007 was warm, but NASA and NOAA disagree on whether 2007 was the second-warmest year on record or the fifth-warmest.
>> Heidi Fleiss' next venture will be a wind-powered brothel for women. Did you know Heidi is a vegetarian (via grist)
Photo courtesy of lacityorgcd13
