‘I couldn’t stop screaming’: Witnesses describe Texas tornadoes
(Photo: Ralph Lauer / EPA)
Survivors of the tornadoes that devastated two towns in Texas on Wednesday night described their terror as the violent storm tore apart their homes, killing six people and injuring dozens more.
The spate of extreme, hazardous weather we’ve seen over the last year or so has been truly disturbing, which is not to say the people of Texas aren’t in the know about tornado threats. Regardless, though, the damage and human toll here is deflating. Our thoughts are with the victims, stripped of their homes, and for some, their lives.
Apple’s data centers now use 100% renewable energy, including solar, wind and geothermal energy — the company no longer powers any of its operations with coal or other fossil fuels. In fact, last December, Apple powered up a 100-acre solar farm adjacent to a North Carolina data center. Using fuel cells made by Bloom Energy Corp., which generates energy from biogases, Apple is able to generate 60% of all the energy it needs to run the data center onsite. Read more about it from Bloomberg, here.
The news can be harrowing these days for environmental advocates working on climate change issues, of which this is obviously a thoroughly tiny aspect. This stuff is important enough, though, that even modest good news and developments should keep making the rounds.
Now is not the time to gut these new job-creating innovations… today, no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy. After years of talking about it, we’re poised to finally control our own energy future. …But for the sake of our children, we must do more to combat climate change.President Obama, segueing from praising increases in American oil and gas production, to speaking more solmenly of the dangers of climate change. Obama cited the recent glut of hottest years on record, and referenced numerous, unusually forceful weather incidents – Superstorm Sandy among them – as reasons he will seek to wield executive power to act on climate reforms, even if congress passes.
With an overall rise in temperatures of approximately 3.3 degrees, the 12-month period from August 1, 2011 - July 31, 2012 is now the hottest such period in U.S. history. It also becomes the fourth 12-month period in a row to set a new record for high temperatures. The news was revealed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s annual State of the Climate report. (Photo via NCDC) source
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