PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE, Tex. - As thousands of tiny sea turtles were released to the Gulf of Mexico this summer, volunteers have worried about a new threat to their survival - oil. Normally, the Kemp's ridley turtles struggle to survive against predators, and only a fraction return to the Gulf beaches to lay eggs of their own, but this mating season, the BP oil spill is subtracting even more odds from their survival.

Dr. Donna Shaver, chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at the Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, has been working to save the endangered Kemp's ridley turtle for 30 years. She and her volunteers have released nearly 8,000 hatchlings this season, 1,000 just this week, and never forgot the added challenge these animals will face in oil-clouded water.

"It's a tough life for a hatchling out there. Predators - birds, fish - take their toll; this is one more threat to these animals and we hope the best for them."

Scientists say the odds are stacked against the Kemp's ridley. Under natural conditions, between one in 100 and one in 1,000 eggs will produce a turtle that survives to adulthood. At best, they predict a few will return to Padre Island in 10 to 15 years with the oil lurking in the waters.

Shaver says the decision was made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service not to move the incubating eggs elsewhere, perhaps to the east coast of Florida for hatching, as was done in the case of some other species.

"We hope for the best. We hope that our trajectory of increase is not tremendously impacted, but we don't know and we are fearful."

Turtle experts say last year's "class" of turtles who didn't make it out of the Gulf used floating seaweed to hide in from natural predators. But, this year that seaweed has soaked up oil from the spill and much of it is being burned off as part of the recovery process, cooking the turtles.

"Yes, we are troubled with the oil spill. We're worried that we know Kemp's ridley turtles are being killed. Some juveniles have been killed. We don't know what the impacts to the population are going to be. That remains to be seen in the future."

Adult Kemp's ridley turtles live off the coast of Georgia and Florida in the colder months and off Delaware in the summer. While the number of nests was down this year compared to last, experts blame the natural cycle and a cold winter, not the oil spill. They also say the turtle population has rebounded well since the mid 1980s - when only about 700 nests were found - to almost 20,000 last year.

The spill caused many to question releasing the hatchlings into the Gulf. But, seashore scientists say the releases were required because not doing so could hinder their natural instincts, and not allow them to return to the place of their birth to lay eggs one day.




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The construction of more solar farms in the U.S. has been contentious but a new survey shows their size makes a difference in whether solar projects are favored by neighbors.

South Dakota's largest solar installation, the Wild Springs project in New Underwood, began operations in March and covers more than 1.5 square miles. The survey showed projects under 100 megawatts are generally favored by neighbors, while larger ones like Wild Springs are unpopular.

Kristi Pritzkau, finance officer for the City of New Underwood, said the construction traffic was tough on the town of just over 600 but the project's builder, National Grid Renewables, is giving back to the community.

"They had to use our well, so they paid for the water, and they paid for a new pump for it, too," Pritzkau pointed out. "They've been really great with the city."

Prtizkau noted the company donated to the town's pool and Lions Club and has created a school scholarship program, all part of the more than $500,000 of charitable giving it has promised in the project's first 20 years of operation. It is also expected to bring in $12 million of tax revenue to the county in the same time frame.

Sioux Falls-based Missouri River Energy Services has plans to build a new solar project near Brookings and build a transmission line from South Dakota into Minnesota.

Tim Blodgett, vice president of member services and communications for the company, said federal grant programs and tax credits provide incentives and South Dakota produces more energy than it can use.

"With the development of more wind, the development of solar, there's a lot planned right now to get these resources out of this area," Blodgett explained. "Into Minneapolis and other places where there's larger demand for the energy."

Currently, more than half the state's power generation comes from wind, followed by hydropower.


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Virginia officials support the Environmental Protection Agency's new emissions rule. The federal clean truck standards will reduce emissions by up to 60% in 2032 and prevent 1-billion metric tons of carbon pollution. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Virginia and nationwide.

Phillip Jones, Newport News Mayor, said the new rule helps end the city's environmental disparities.

"We have a very large multiple coal company in downtown Newport News in the southeast part of our community," he said. "That's going to lead to higher rates of asthma for that community. There's a lot of air-quality issues in downtown Newport News."

Jones noted the city has taken steps to reduce emissions. The city's school district has been using propane-powered buses and Newport News is purchasing alternate energy-powered vehicles. He added any opposition to this work centers on larger upfront costs, but the long-term benefits are worthwhile. The EPA's rule goes into effect in 2027.

Transportation agencies are also working to cut emissions. Hampton Roads Transit has been working to cut emissions with cleaner buses.

Sibyl Pappas, chief engineering and facilities officer with Hampton Roads Transit, said the agency's upcoming bus maintenance facility furthers its emissions-reduction goals.

"It's very near where Dominion Energy is bringing offshore wind onshore. So, we've talked with Dominion about buying wind power. So, potentially, those buses are zero emissions at the tailpipe and zero emissions at the generation point," Pappas said.

The facility will open in 2029 and be net zero-ready upon completion. While HRT had some hiccups with electric buses, Pappas feels the EPA rule encourages climate-smart initiatives for all economic sectors.

As state budget negotiations continue, groups fighting climate change are asking California lawmakers to cut subsidies for oil and gas companies rather than slash programs designed to slow global warming.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's current proposal would cut oil and gas tax breaks by $22 million this year and $17 million the following year.

Barry Vesser, COO for The Climate Center, a nonprofit advocacy group, would like to see all subsidies eliminated.

"Oil and gas companies are one of the drivers of climate change, so we should not be making their profit margins bigger by providing public subsidies, and making it harder for renewables to compete against them," Vesser argued.

Gov. Newsom has also proposed to cut funding for climate-friendly programs helping lower-income families buy an electric vehicle or switch from gas to electric appliances.

Kevin Slagle, vice president of strategic communications for the Western States Petroleum Association, said in a statement, "California's already tough business climate is pushing companies to the brink. Removing incentives will drive California straight into the arms of more expensive foreign oil, ramping up costs for everyday Californians who can least afford it."

Vesser countered the threat of higher gas prices is a red herring.

"There's a lot that goes into calculating how much the cost of gas is, and this is not even pennies on the dollar," Vesser contended.

The state Senate's early action proposal estimated the budget deficit will be between $38 billion and $53 billion. The governor is expected to release new details on his budget priorities in mid-May. The Legislature must pass a balanced budget by June 15.