Earth Talk: How green is your cloud?

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: Why is Greenpeace upset with some leading tech companies for so-called “dirty cloud computing?” Can you explain? – Jeremy Wilkins, Waco, Texas Leading tech companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft are now offering unprecedented amounts of data storage and access to “apps” on huge Internet-connected servers, saving consumers and businesses the hassle of…

Belchem to establish new operation in Alleghany

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ: BCPC) will make an initial investment of approximately $10 million to establish an operation in Alleghany County. The company will manufacture encapsulated ingredients for global applications in animal nutrition and health products, creating 55 new jobs over the next two to three years.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is April 28

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its community partners will hold the third annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. Collection sites, where unused, unneeded or expired prescription medications can be turned in, will be available across the nation. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public…

Virginians overwhelmingly support ban on gas drilling in national forests

Contributors

Seventy percent of Virginians who sent comments to the U.S. Forest Service support a ban on horizontal drilling for natural gas on the George Washington National Forest, according to an analysis released Monday by the Shenandoah Valley Network and the Bergton-based Land, Air, Water Stewardship Action group. The report documenting broad public support for the…

Staunton gets $209K river-restoration grant

Contributors

American Rivers and the Environmental Protection Agency today announced that a creek restoration project in Staunton will receive a $209,244 grant, as part of a comprehensive initiative to protect and restore rivers in the Potomac Highlands region. The grant will help the City of Staunton implement its project to restore Peyton Creek. Peyton Creek serves…

Shenandoah Valley Regional Energy Efficiency Program begins phase two

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission has begun the second phase of its Shenandoah Valley Regional Energy Efficiency Program for municipal building upgrades throughout the region.   The improvements are among those recommended by Roanoke-based Spectrum Design as part of an energy audit of 47 public buildings throughout the Central Shenandoah Region. The full findings of…

Earth Talk: Fuel-efficient cars

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: Which are the most fuel-efficient hybrid and/or all-electric cars available to consumers today (just the affordable ones, please!)? – Jack Madison, Chicago, Ill. Given increased environmental awareness, high gas prices and a continually slumping economy, it’s no wonder that more fuel efficient cars are all the rage these days. The best deal going…

McDonnell submits Phase II of Bay cleanup plan

Virginia submitted its Phase II Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan to officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Friday. This extension to Phase I, submitted to EPA in 2010, seeks to build on the earlier version by localizing its actions to clean up pollution reaching the Chesapeake Bay. In addition,…