Buy local to ease global warming. In his new book, "The Small-Mart Revolution," Michael Shuman eloquently makes the case that local businesses create a vibrant local economy with more local jobs and wealth. [News Source]

Waste not. Instead of paying more to export garbage, New York City should be turning garbage into renewable energy. [News Source]

Toxic next door neighbors. More than 20 million pounds of toxic chemicals are used annually by companies in a dozen MetroWest and Milford-area communities, including some of the same flammable materials used at the Danvers plant that exploded just before Thanksgiving, according to state records. [News Source]

Incentive ‘zone’ for air quality proposed. San Joaquin Valley officials have a clever plan for solving the region's tenacious air problems. Whether it succeeds in securing more money is another question. [News Source]

First `scrubber’ at work on Marshall station emissions. The first pollution scrubber at Duke Energy's Marshall Steam Station in Sherrills Ford is now operating, and two more will begin running in the next few months. [News Source]

Cleaner air is goal of new regulations. Air quality in Delaware will improve in the next few years after the state officially adopted new guidelines on air pollution emissions for the state's eight largest power plants. [News Source]

N. Buncombe power plant could be up by ’09. In a move designed to meet peak energy demands, Progress Energy announced plans Friday to build another power plant in Buncombe County. [News Source]

Power-plant plan producing hot debate. Two Minnesota power companies have been expending much of their energy lately in a behind-the-scenes struggle that could affect the quality of the air Minnesotans breathe and the state's economy for generations to come. [News Source]

MPs urge ‘climate change’ budget. Members of the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee are calling on the Treasury to take action to help curb greenhouse gas emissions. [News Source]

Emissions-credit market looms. Like gold and pork bellies, California's carbon dioxide emissions may someday emerge as the next big thing on commodity markets. [News Source]

Watchdog sued in oil pollution battle.

After 10 years of battling Shell over emissions and oil spills, a small community environment group has launched a landmark Supreme Court against the Environment Protection Authority for allegedly failing to do its job properly.

[News Source]