Biodiesel, coal mining, Waxman-Markey, air pollution, whale-watching… there’s sure to be a topic that interests you in this morning’s round-up of Cool Green News. So have no fear, just dive on in! 

1. The country’s largest biodiesel plant — established just a year ago — is going under already. Lack of demand, trade barriers and government stalling on new energy mandates have all contributed to the plant being idle for the past four months.
2. A study from West Virginia University says the coal mining industry has a pretty bad ROI: coal mining generates $8 billion in economic value to the region, but costs $42 billion in loss of human life. (Hat-tip: Hill Heat.)
3. The Agriculture Committee has given its blessing to Waxman-Markey, so it looks like the bill will now move forward for a vote in the House on Friday. Stay tuned to Cool Green Science for more updates as the vote progresses.
4. China made Olympic efforts to reduce air pollution during last year’s summer games, but a new study shows they didn’t achieve much success: air quality still violated WHO guidelines 81 to 100 percent of the time.
5. Whale watching is big business, generating some $2 billion a year in tourism dollars. So why, asks Dot Earth, is ending commercial whaling for meat and oil the primary topic of discussion at this year’s Whaling Commission annual meeting?

Posted: June 24th, 2009 under Air Pollution, Animals, China, Climate Change, Conservation Issues, Cool Green Morning, Energy, Policy, United States.
Tags: Agriculture Committee, air pollution, air quality, biodiesel, China, coal mining, Dot Earth, Olympics, Waxman-Markey, West Virginia University, whale watching, whaling, WHO