Fiscal Issues Week Focus of Senator Cornyn

With the current economic turmoil faced by our nation being prominent in the news, U.S. Senator John Cornyn has focused his website on fiscal issues for our nation. I am privileged to have a guest post on the Senator's site which can be viewed here. I appreciate the Senator's efforts to bring these vital issues to the public's attention during this election season. He has been a strong advocate for fiscal conservatism and I believe will continue to bring that message to the Senate as we send him back for a second term. Thank you Senator for your efforts!

Better Air and Consistent Growth Through Partnership

Texas often gets a bad rap from other parts of the nation due to the stereotypical image of oil-guzzling rednecks that is often associated with the state. In reality, Texas is leading the nation in development of alternative energy technology and in reducing pollutants in our atmosphere. The free-enterprise, private-initiative attitude of the state in which private industry and government entities can partner to achieve common goals is a model that should be emulated by the rest of the nation. Cooperative efforts, rather than burdensome regulation, are key to the successes.

As North Texas grows, air becomes cleaner

Release date: 10/28/2008
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – October 28, 2008) As the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s economy has grown to one of the nation’s most vibrant, its citizens have also enjoyed improvements in air quality. This summer saw the lowest levels of ozone in three decades, thanks to a campaign to reduce air pollution led by the...(complete news release here).

Highe Cost Infrastructure Impacts Wind Generation

As we gain new information with the passage of time, we often learn that our best laid plans are more costly than anticipated. Such seems to be the case in Texas according to a new study of the costs of building high-capacity wind generation infrastructure within the state.

Texas study cites high cost of harnessing wind

DOI's Bison Conservation Initiative

The American Buffalo or Bison is an important species native to much of the North American continent and is an icon of the nation. I enjoy seeing them in various places as I travel around the country. Most of them are in small herds on private lands. I would not like to see them restored at the expense of private property rights or at the expense of the important use of some federal and state lands for cattle and sheep, however, a balanced approach that includes conservation of the species is important. They also make for pretty good eating....

Secretary Kempthorne Launches Bison Conservation Initiative

New Jersey: Garbage to Fuel Source

Good for New Jersey. All of the large metropolitan areas need to be utilizing their decomposing garbage for fuel.

Green Garbage: Trash Becoming Key Power Source in New Jersey

From Aggie Carrots to Tomatoes

At first glance, one would think that maroon carrots at A&M were just a gimmick based on the school colors. The fact is that the maroon carrots are high in a specific antioxidant that has been shown to be life-prolonging in laboratory mice. The work done there has now been utilized by others to produce maroon tomatoes. Who knows, maybe the world of food will slowly become maroon and white, demonstrating the real impact of Texas A&M's role in feeding the world. Gig 'em!!



A&M's maroon carrot branches out
Based on research at school in the '80s, scientists are starting to develop purplish tomatoes with a life-prolonging antioxidant

Increasing Deer Numbers Provide Surprising Benefits

The article linked below discusses some surprising new findings regarding high deer populations and their effect on other creatures within their ecosystem. It provides more evidence that we don't know what we think we know....

High deer population may benefit forest critters

Deer are often blamed for damaging forest habitats by overgrazing

Wind Development Continues to Challenge Power Grid

As I traveled across Texas this week I was amazed at the dramatic increase in the number of wind generators. The stretch from north of Snyder, Texas, to Abilene, Texas, is becoming one continuous wind power generating field. The grid still is not able to fully utilize all of that power -- and there is more being built -- especially futher north into the Texas Panhandle and on up through the High Plains of Kansas and Nebraska. The article linked below discusses some of the grid issues.

Wind development seen biggest challenge for power grid

Reproductive Issues Impact Bottom Line of Dairies

Reproductive efficiency and health are critical to profitability in all livestock operations but critically so to dairies. One contibutor to both reproductive and health issues is the presence of cattle persistently infected with BVD. Eliminating those animals from the herd can have very positive results for the bottom line.

Reproductive inefficiency eats at dairy producers' wallets

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Now that many producers are unable to utilize rBST, maximizing the dairy operation's reproductive efficiency is more critical than ever, said a Purdue University expert.

Allen Bridges, expert in reproductive management, said with the loss of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) - which increased milk production by 10 percent to 15 percent, and, in some cases, was demonstrated to...(complete article here).

Biofuel Waste to Riches

Potential new bi-products from biofuel waste may revolutionize the biofuel industry.

Adding Value to Biofuel Waste

What do you get when you cross E. coli with biofuel waste products? A new process that may revolutionize the economic development of the growing biofuel industry.

Biofuels represent the best sustainable, secure, and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Unfortunately, biofuel production is beset by the same problem as traditional petroleum refining – excess waste. In traditional refining, only about...(complete article here).

Ethanol Subsidy Market Distortions

Iowa State takes a different look at the impact of ethanol.

Ethanol: A Welfare-Increasing Market Distortion?

Xiaodong Du, Dermot J. Hayes, Mindy L. BakerOctober 2008 [08-WP 480]

This study estimates the welfare changes for consumers and producers resulting from ethanol production and related support polices in 2007. The results suggest a positive welfare gain from the support policies; this is possible because ethanol subsidies effectively replaced a market distortion that had a larger deadweight loss. Previous farm subsidies created overproduction, which then depressed market prices and increased the cost of maintaining target-price supports. Ethanol polices resulted in additional ethanol production, but because this additional ethanol was sold in price elastic energy markets, the price depressing impact of the government supports was less than before. This resulted in lower government spending and a net welfare gain of $2.65 billion for given market parameters. The results are...(complete news release and link to study here).

Green Refinery?

New technology is coming quickly that will revolutionize the way we manufacture fuel. Here is another example.

'Green refinery' would be a first

Plant's aim is to capture carbon emissions

Offshore Texas Wind Power Delayed

Wind power development in the Gulf of Mexico is facing a different set of challenges than onshore developments in Texas. To its advantage, it would have much fewer miles for transmitting the power to population centers. On the downside, it is much more expensive to develop and infrastructure to transmit it is more expensive. There is also the threat of hurricanes.

A Few Snags, But Hopes Are Still High for Offshore Wind in Texas

The word on the street is that the Lehman failure has put a halt to T. Boone Pickens wind development plans as well. It's just a rumor -- don't quote me on it.

Wind Power on the Reservation

I think it's wonderful that the Indian tribes want to get in on the wind power boom. The biggest problem they face is that most reservation lands are far from population centers where the power is needed. Infrastructure to transport that power into the grids where it can be utilized will be an issue.

Along with their bid for wind power, they might consider trying to attract industry that can utilize that power. New industry would provide badly needed jobs for the reservations. Instead of "take the power to industry" they might look at "bring industry to the power."

Indian Tribes See Profit in Harnessing the Wind for Power

National Energy Awareness Month

October is National Energy Awareness Month.

National Biofuels Action Plan Released

You need a plan if you expect to accomplish anything -- even if what you are trying to accomplish isn't the right thing.

USDA & DOE Release National Biofuels Action Plan

WASHINGTON – Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ed Schafer and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today released the National Biofuels Action Plan (NBAP), an interagency plan detailing the collaborative efforts of Federal agencies to accelerate the development of a sustainable biofuels industry.

“Federal leadership can...(complete news release here).

Ethanol Secrets of the Bovine

This one is common sense. Cattle have been utilizing roughage since they were created.

Secret for efficient ethanol in cows' stomachs?
Professor: Enzyme that helps digestion could be the key
(complete article here)

Malawi and the New Green Revolution

One Brit's perspective on how Malawi is becoming food independent.

Seeking Africa's green revolution

From the begging bowl to the bread basket: in just two years, Malawi has gone from famine to food surplus - a minor agricultural miracle.

By applying a mixture of...(complete article here).

Ecosystem Approach to Preservation

It is important that critical habitats be reserved for endangered species. This new ecosystem approach might speed the process.

Feds Propose Putting 48 Hawaiian Species on Endangered List at Once

HONOLULU — The federal government took a new, ecosystem-based approach to the endangered species list on Tuesday, proposing an all-at-once addition of 48 species, including plants, two birds and a fly, that live only on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

The action by the Interior Department would designate about 43 square miles as critical habitat for all the species rather than considering each species' habitat separately, which has been the practice for three decades. Officials said considering...(complete article here).

Get Out the Military Vote

U.S. Senator John Cornyn has developed a new website to help our military to be able to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. It is a portal to important information and critical dates to ensure that their vote will count. Please get the word out to any military personnel that may have questions about their voting rights. It can be accessed at www.texasmilitaryvote.com.