November 4, 2010: Alternative Fuels: The Pros and Cons of Washington’s Choice: Natural Gas

Alternative fuels are often cited as a silver bullet in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - biogas, algae, natural gas, electric. But are they all good alternatives? In this week’s Green Acre Radio, Martha Baskin looks at compressed natural gas. Taxis, mass transit and garbage trucks have embraced it as a clean energy solution. But it comes with a cost.

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October 28, 2010: A Sneak Peek At R52, A Ballot Hybrid Promoting Energy Efficiency, Jobs and Healthy Schools

Mid-term elections are around the corner. If you’re wondering whether there are any green issues you might have overlooked, you’ll have to wade pretty deep. On page 109 of the 118 page Voter’s Pamphlet is a little mentioned Referendum. Called Referendum 52, the ballot measure is a hybrid mix of job creation, energy efficiency and what promoters call "healthy schools." Martha Baskin takes a closer look.

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October 21, 2010: Cohabitation on Hood Canal: Fish, Humans, and New Treatments for Human Waste

Hood Canal has long been treated as one of the most scenic places in the Pacific Northwest. It also used to be one of the most productive water bodies, sustaining generations on its bountiful fish and shellfish. But for all its beauty, Hood Canal also suffers from a complex problem: low levels of dissolved oxygen, a critical indicator of water quality health. Martha Baskin brings us this report.

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October 14, 2010: Fooling Mother Nature When Real World Conditions Make the Going Tough: The Other CO2 Problem

Scientists call it the other CO2 problem. Oceans absorb a third of the world’s carbon dioxide every day. Then the CO2 reacts with seawater, lowers its pH and reduces carbonate ions, an essential component in the calcium that makes up the shells of shellfish and the skeletons of corals. Scientists and shellfish growers are trying to manipulate seawater chemistry to help baby shellfish adapt. But fossil fuel usage worldwide and time is not on their side. Martha Baskin brings us this report.

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October 7, 2010: Talking With Women When Talking About the Clean Energy Economy

What do women talk about when they talk about clean energy? Energy pricing. Smart grids. Buildings designed for community. Martha Baskin attended a panel discussion on "Women Leading the New Energy Economy" and brings us this report.

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September 30, 2010: Urban Creeks, Urban Runoff From You & Me and Puget Sound Water Quality

Polluted waters and oxygen'deprived fish aren't unique to Hood Canal. Urban creeks and waterways all over Puget Sound have the same problem. Vehicle runoff and chemical fertilizers washing into the Sound are the main culprits. Solutions are underway but a lot more needs to happen for marine ecosystems to recover. Martha Baskin brings us this snapshot from Piper's Creek, an urban waterway in Seattle's Carkeek Park.

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September 23, 2010: Sustainable Cattle Farming That's Good for Cows, People, and the Environment

The idyllic vision we may have of cows grazing on open fields under blue skies isn't a very realistic picture of cattle production today. The vast majority of cattle begin and end their lives in large, overcrowded feedlots. Their diet consists of grains, the flesh and bones of other animals, and heavy doses of antibiotics to fend off disease. but what about that idyllic vision - what about cows raised on grass land. What is their life like and what does it mean for us?

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