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Biogas saves money at wastewater treatment plant

Olivia Fecteau

April 26, 2019 |

WEWS-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Medina, Ohio

Turning sewage sludge into usable biogas helps make wastewater treatment more efficient. A water treatment plant in the city of Medina, Ohio, produces net energy from sludge. The plant uses anaerobic bacteria and a thermal hydrolysis process to convert wastewater and sludge into usable byproducts, like biogas.

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Paying and Scraping in Pursuit of Zero Waste

James A. Anderson

April 22, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Worcester, Massachusetts

Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) is a model that charges residents of a given city for the trash they throw away, aiming to spur people to decrease the amount of waste they dispose. Acting like a utility payment, this model has been successfully implemented in a handful of cities, even decreasing trash by half in Worcester, Massachusetts. Some cities have even aimed for zero waste by adding in composting programs - though there’s still a long way to go.

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A climate change solution slowly gains ground

Steven Mufson

April 19, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Huntsville, Alabama

Three major US companies are leading the way in developing the technology to extract carbon dioxide from the air: Global Thermostat, Carbon Engineering, and Climeworks. With federal tax credits per ton of carbon dioxide captured and a prosperous system of injecting the CO2 back into the ground to stimulate crop yield, the companies' three different approaches all offer a way to cut into the massive amount of global emissions, an opportunity to make a lot of money with new technology, and a helping hand for states working on achieving new federal guidelines and restrictions for a green future.

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Is there a beautiful, briny solution to the world's clean water crisis?

Fiona Harvey

April 10, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: South Africa, Cape Town

As demand soars and climate change routinely throws cities into shortage crises, the availability of clean water is one of the most pressing challenges of the present and near future. Desalination has long been lambasted for being too expensive and polluting, but a new solar-powered prototype is putting forth a more sustainable, small-scale solution. Solar collectors boil water and then condense it separately from the brine and dirt so that it is drinkable.

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Energy Equity: Bringing Solar Power to Low-Income Communities

Maria Gallucci

April 04, 2019 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

Dozens of states across the US are adopting programs that offer solar power for low-income communities in order to cut down on their utility costs and provide renewable energy that they previously would not have had access to. Some of these programs also incorporate other social goals into their programs, such as offering job training or developing sites of backup energy should there an outage. Solar development is currently one of the fastest growing industries in the US, and analysts predict that the nation will be able to hold over 2,000 megawatts of solar capacity this year alone.

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The Living Machine: Collier's 24-year water filtration experiment is a success

James Williams

April 03, 2019 |

Changing Florida |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Florida

An experimental water treatment plant in Florida has been performing as efficiently as other conventional treatment plants for the last 24 years. Known as the Living Machine of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, it filters 6,000 gallons of wastewater per day and is inspired by how natural wetlands and marshlands filter water. While government officials were skeptical at first, the Living Machine continues to pass monthly inspections, is less costly, and is not as noisy so visitors can enjoy the wildlife in the sanctuary.

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The Fight For Lights In SE Albuquerque

Marisa Demarco

March 28, 2019 |

KUNM |

Radio |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Albuquerque, New Mexico

After years of asking the city of Albuquerque to light their streets, the community group, Light the District has started doing it on their own. Recognizing that unlit streets can lead to crime and injuries, the group funds and installs their own streetlights to make neighborhoods safer.

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How a laundry room revolutionized a New Jersey high school

Jeff Glor

March 26, 2019 |

CBS News |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Newark, New Jersey

After high school principle Akbar Cook realized that students weren't coming to school because they were embarrassed about wearing dirty clothing, he created a school laundry room with 5 commercial-grade washers and dryers. He also started a program called Lights On that leaves the school open in the evenings on Friday's to offer a recreational space with warm meals for students who have working parents or have to take care of siblings. Grateful students say that Mr. Cook had a big impact on the school and the neighborhood.

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As oil trains roll into Portland, city residents keep watch

Carl Segerstrom

March 13, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

In Portland, Oregon, a group of activists have come together to be the eyes for their community when it comes to oil train shipments. There is a surprising lack of transparency when it comes to moving crude oil by train, and the state has yet to implement monitoring standards. Because of this, activists work in shifts to be informal watchdogs for their city, making sure the public is as informed as possible even with the lack of official information.

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The Key to Nebraska's Water Conservation Success

Mark Funkhouser

March 01, 2019 |

Governing |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Lincoln, Nebraska

As the Ogallala Aquifer’s water level has declined in many states across the High Plains region of the U.S., Nebraska has almost fully maintained its water level by relying on National Resource Districts (NRDs). NRDs “develop integrated management plans for surface water and groundwater,” and its sustainable practices offer a model of how sustainable water management can thrive with local governance.

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