12 Responsible Consumption and Production (58)
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Southeast Tennessee ridges and rivers will benefit from $10m infusion of federal natural resource funding
Written by Casey Phillips
A crimper is attached to the back of a tractor on a farm in the Sequatchie River Valley. A relatively recent agricultural technique, crimping has been shown to reduce farmers’ input costs and improve soil quality. Recently, USDA approved funneling $10 million into a six-county region of Southeast Tennessee. This money will fuel conservation-minded improvements for landowners, including lowering the cost to rent equipment like crimpers and subsidize the planting of cover crops to improve soil health and reduce sedimentation in nearby streams. Tennessee AquariumTargeted collaborative conservation will help local agricultural operations improve soil and water quality and protect aquatic life
CHATTANOOGA — Tennessee is as much a patchwork quilt of farms as it is an intricately woven lacework of streams and rivers. Soon, farmers and the aquatic life living alongside them will reap the benefits of $10 million in federal funds to support water-friendly agricultural improvements in the rolling uplands of the state’s southeastern corner.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the allocation of more than $197 million to support Regional Conservation Partnership Programs (RCPP) throughout the nation. These initiatives promote coordination between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and partnering organizations that are already engaged in conservation efforts.
- tennessee aquarium conservation institute
- tennessee aquarium
- tennessee department of environment and conservation
- farmland preservation
- land water preservation in se tennessee
- usda
- regional conservation partnership program
- ridge to river
- walden ridge
- sequatchie valley
- laurel dace
- natural resources conservation service
- chattanooga environment
- southeast tennessee environment
- tennessee endangered fish
- rcpp
Skunked: Collapsing fisheries pose a dire threat to the planet
Written by Coty Perry
A purse seine on a Chilean fishing vessel captures tons of mackerel. NOAA
We need to navigate to where fish sticks in your mind
You can read Coty Perry’s full report on overfishing at YourBassGuy.com.
When you hear about sustainability, one thing that often flies under the finder is the topic of overfishing. Many will say that overfishing is a natural response to the need for more fish, but it runs much deeper than that.
The goal of this article is not to shame any specific industry, country or company. The goal is to shine light on an issue I believe is highly under-reported by mainstream media.
Court finds TVA contractor potentially liable for Kingston coal-ash cleanup injuries and deaths
Written by Jamie Satterfield
On Dec. 23, 2008, a massive dam at the Kingston coal-fired power plant in Harriman, Tenn., ruptured and spilled 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash into the Clinch and Emory rivers. Appalachian Voices teamed up with Southwings to take pictures from the air and launched two separate missions by water to test the river and fish for pollutants as a result of the spill. Appalachian Voices
Contractor that cleaned up infamous TVA ash spill not immune from responsibility for alleged unsafe worksite
This story was originally published by Tennessee Lookout.
CINCINNATI — A federal appellate court last week struck down a last-ditch appeal by a Tennessee Valley Authority contractor accused in the mass poisoning by radioactive coal ash waste of the utility’s Kingston disaster workforce.
The 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Jacobs Engineering Inc. cannot ride the coattails of TVA governmental immunity because TVA itself would not have been immune from liability had sickened workers chosen to sue the utility.
Get put together well: Ijams Nature Center hosts sustainable fashion show
Written by Cindy Hassil
The Fleurish fashion show will feature sustainable and stylish clothes to reduce your big old footprint on Earth. Courtesy Fleurish/Ijams Nature Center
Help rock the catwalk at Ijams’ display of sustainable clothing
Cindy Hassil is a writer for Ijams Nature Center.
KNOXVILLE — Clothes can be a burden to both bear and wear. Ijams Nature Center offers fashionable alternatives with sustainability cred this month.
Ijams and Natural Alternatives Salon and Spa will present Fleurish: A Sustainable Fashion Event, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, April 24.
“Fleurish is a runway show focused on how sustainability, conservation and beauty intertwine and affect our lives … and our future,” Fleurish Creative Director Ben Prager said. “This event engages the audience in ways that will help the average consumer make changes in their day-to-day lives to better impact the planet while never losing sight of the beauty of nature and the human experience.”
Twelve local designers, along with hair stylists and makeup artists, are coming together to create looks using both recycled and natural materials.
Quaff a recycled brew and check your waste line this weekend
Written by Paige M. Travis
The city of Knoxville has started a pilot composting project for residents and restaurants. Come meet cool people and learn more about limiting food waste and sip some beers April 9 at Crafty Bastard Brewery. City of Knoxville
Learn how to reduce food waste Saturday at Crafty Bastard Brewery
Paige Travis is a public information specialist for the city of Knoxville.
KNOXVILLE — The Waste and Resources Management Office invites the public to learn how to reduce food waste and drink a special brew Saturday, April 9 at the culmination of Tennessee Food Waste Awareness Week.
“The city of Knoxville is committed to reducing the amount of food waste that we put into our landfill,” said Waste and Resources Manager Patience Melnik, whose department recently launched the Knoxville Compost Pilot Project.
Hellbender Press previously reported on efforts to reduce food waste at the University of Tennessee.
The gritty forever fight to save our soil continues in Tennessee
Written by Lauren Reid
Erich Henry and Julia Konkel of the Blount County Soil Conservation District pose by a recent project. Blount County Soil Conservation District
Erich Henry and Julia Konkel anchor East Tennessee soil
MARYVILLE — The Dust Bowl was a time of extreme drought in the Southern Plains in the 1930s. The dry topsoil whipped by winds created the infamous “bowl of dust.” It polluted the air and made it nearly impossible to grow crops or maintain livestock.
East Tennessee gets more rain than the Southern Plains but regional farmers to this day unknowingly use bad agricultural practices.
Blount County Soil Conservation District’s Director Erich Henry doesn’t want history to repeat itself.
Infrastructure funding to cover South Knoxville Superfund site cleanup
Written by S. Heather Duncan
Aerial view (ca. 2002) of Smokey Mountain Smelters Superfund site, located between two rail lines. At left is the overpass of Maryville Pike, at right a section of Knox County Development Corporation’s Montgomery Village Apartments. The large smelter hall and a few of the apartment buildings have since been removed. Image from TN Dept. of Health
Knoxville’s most polluted former industrial site is slated for a massive cleanup soon thanks to funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill Congress recently passed. The Smokey Mountain Smelters site in Vestal has spent more than a decade on the National Priorities List, commonly called the “Superfund” list, of the most contaminated properties in the U.S.
The work could start within just a few months, said Rusty Kestle, Environmental Protection Agency project manager for the site. He said it’s the top priority in the Southeast for the infrastructure funding because it’s among the most affordable and ready for action.
After cleanup, what’s the future of the South Knoxville Superfund site?
Written by S. Heather Duncan
The Montgomery Village public housing complex in South Knoxville is separated only by railroad tracks from the Smoky Mountain Smelters Superfund site (and the Witherspoon dump site). S. Heather Duncan/Hellbender Press
A better use of the SMS/Witherspoon properties in Vestal may be constrained by toxic legacy and uncertain ownership
An imminent cleanup of a Superfund site in Vestal could pave the way for redevelopment and new life for the highly polluted property. But its future is complicated by muddy ownership and contradictory visions for its use.
The Smoky Mountain Smelters company left behind soil, groundwater and surface water pollution when it shuttered in 1994. But federal infrastructure funding is now slated to finish off a cleanup begun by the federal Environmental Agency at the Maryville Pike tract. Groundwater contamination below the surface is the most significant remaining problem.
- vestal superfund site
- witherspoon property knoxville
- superfund sites in knoxville
- what happened to witherspoon superfund site
- epa bona fide prospective purchaser program
- montgomery village apartments
- contaminated ground water
- brownfield remediation
- maryville college
- underserved community partnership
- norfolksouthern
- csx transportation
- drugrelated crime
- tax auction
- joe hultquist
- smokey mountain smelters
- world’s fair park to mcghee tyson airport light rail
- david witherspoon
Tell TVA: Don’t replace Kingston Coal with new fossil gas plants or pipelines!
Remember TVA’s 2008 Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill
The Tennessee Valley Authority plans to retire the Kingston plant and its four other remaining coal-fired power plants by 2035.
But it is seriously considering replacing them with large fossil gas power plants and new gas pipelines!
Natural gas is cleaner than coal, but is yet another fossil fuel source that releases carbon dioxide. Such a replacement would be contrary to the national and global consensus that we must reduce the use of fossil fuels quickly to constrain the runaway climate crisis as much as we can.
A plan based on emerging technologies for increased energy efficiency combined with distributed use of renewable energies and energy storage can increase community resilience; create more good, long-term jobs; diversify local business opportunities; and provide immediate public health benefits.
TVA accepts public comments electronically through the end of July 15, 2021.
Don’t miss the opportunity to tell TVA that customers don’t want to pay for a yesteryear “solution” that does not really address the clear and present dangers to humanity. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has made it easy for you:
Submit your comment to TVA by tapping or clicking this link NOW:
Tell TVA, No New Fossil Gas Plants + Pipelines
You can also email TVA directly attn: Chevales Williams, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Source: TVA — Kingston Fossil Plant Retirement
Michaela Barnett wants to help break your consumer chains
Written by Thomas Fraser
Michaela Barnett is the founder and owner of KnoxFill. She is seen here outside her South Knoxville home-based business in this submitted photo.
KnoxFill offers Knoxville home delivery and pickup of sustainably sourced personal-care products in refillable containers
Michaela Barnett has traveled the world, is an accomplished science writer and editor and is closing in on a doctorate from the University of Virginia.
Now she’s a business owner with a focus on sustainability and waste reduction and that has proven to be her true raison d’etre. She gets out of bed with joyous purpose and determination. And she sings to start her day.
“My husband says it’s like living with this annoying Disney character,” she said with a light laugh.
“I’ve got so much energy and joy and excitement,” said Barnett, who launched KnoxFill in March after eight months of research and preparation and works out of her home to fill multiple orders each day.
KnoxFill offers sustainably sourced personal-care items, detergents and other everyday household products in reusable glass containers for pickup or delivery. The product line includes shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotions, laundry detergent, and dishwashing and castile soap. Barnett even offers safety razors, bamboo toothbrushes and refillable toothpaste “bites.”
- knoxfill
- reusable packaging
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- avoid packaging
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- personal care delivery
- limit waste
- landfill
- incinerator
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- refillable product
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- environmental justice
- petrochemical product
- microplastic
- sustainable shopping
- consumerism
- consumer choice
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- green product
- conscientious shopper
More...
Clean air activists praise TVA’s coal decision; warn it’s not enough to meet climate goals
Written by Thomas Fraser
SACE: TVA must also wean itself off natural gas and nuclear reliance
As previously reported by Hellbender Press, Tennessee Valley Authority plans to shut down its five remaining coal plants by 2050 and pursue a carbon-neutral future.
TVA board members spoke favorably of the decision at its regular meeting on Thursday.
“TVA CEO Jeff Lyash shared a vision of how TVA will continue to support the Valley for years to come with a commitment to sustainability. The board also endorsed a strategic focus on decarbonization and a commitment to providing a reliable, low-cost energy supply as TVA moves into the future,” according to a statement released Thursday by TVA.
“TVA leadership issued a Strategic Intent and Guiding Principles document to provide direction for developing business strategies that provide reliable, resilient, low-cost and clean energy to the region. View the Executive Summary of the document.
“TVA’s new Carbon Report outlines TVA’s commitment and path to reduce carbon in the coming years without compromising the reliability and low rates the Valley has come to expect. The report outlines TVA’s leadership today in carbon reduction, our plan to achieve 70 percent reduction by 2030, our path to 80 percent reduction by 2035 and our aspiration to achieve net-zero carbon by 2050.”
Knoxville-based Southern Alliance for Clean Energy generally lauded TVA’s sustainability mission, but released the following detailed response Thursday afternoon:
“The agency’s intentions fall far short of the Biden Administration’s goal of decarbonizing the nation’s electric grid by 2035, a timeframe recommended by scientists to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
In historic move, Tennessee Valley Authority finally swears off coal; are power replacements up in the air?
Written by Thomas Fraser
“Our intelligence and flexibility as a society will be tested as the financial and industrial giants all figure out what they’re going to do.”
The Tennessee Valley Authority intends to phase out its aging fleet of coal plants by 2035, potentially replacing the age-old carbon-rich power source with increased use of natural gas and refreshed, concentrated supplies of nuclear energy as the vast utility moves to drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
The plan emerged Wednesday, about a month after the Biden administration called on the U.S. power sector to eliminate pollutants linked to climate change by 2035.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is the largest public provider of electricity in the United States. It provides wholesale power to every major municipal provider in Tennessee, as well as other metropolitan areas and smaller utility districts and cooperatives within its seven-state service area.
It’s time we start wearing our hearts on our sleeves!
In the spirit of Thinking Globally, Acting Locally, consider what you can do to help Mother Earth and its inhabitants.
Adopting a more sustainable life style to reduce one’s personal ecological footprint is easier to wish for than to accomplish. Some measures that would reap a significant environmental benefit, such as making a home more energy efficient, may require a substantial investment of physical effort, time and money that will pay back over time only.
Deliberate choice of clothing, however, is a simple course of action for anyone to start making a big difference in social justice, climate impacts and environmental conservation.
The coal plant next door: The sad and long legacy of coal ash in Georgia
Written by ProPublicaThis story from ProPublica is shared via Hellbender Press under a Creative Commons license. Click here for the entire ProPublica story, including illustrations and photos.
By Max Blau for Georgia Health News
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
Mark Berry raised his right hand, pledging to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The bespectacled mechanical engineer took his seat inside the cherry-wood witness stand. He pulled his microphone close to his yellow bow tie and glanced left toward five of Georgia’s most influential elected officials. As one of Georgia Power’s top environmental lobbyists, Berry had a clear mission on that rainy day in April 2019: Convince those five energy regulators that the company’s customers should foot the bill for one of the most expensive toxic waste cleanup efforts in state history.
- coal ash
- cleanup
- georgia power
- kingston coal ash spill
- toxic waste
- mark berry
- energy regulator
- public service commission
- coal ash pond
- disinformation
- eminent domain
- radioactive coal ash
- electric utility
- trace metal
- cancer risk
- drinking water contamination
- human health hazard
- leaching
- groundwater
- water well
- erin brockovich
- chronic illness
- heavy metal
- plant scherer
- propublica
- lobbyist
- hexavalent chromium
- cancer cluster