Heal Earth Now

An explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, has left behind a growing ecological mess. The explosion caused the rig to catch fire and eventually sink after burning for two days. 11 workers have been missing since the blast and authorities are assuming they were killed in the blast. When the oil rig sank, the oil lines became compromised and began to leak oil into the Gulf at a steady pace.

Resulting Oil Leaks

Initial reports said that the pipes were leaking oil at around 1,000 bbl per day. The oil is currently pooling off of the Gulf of Louisiana, but wind and water currents may push it into the coast within the next few days. The potential biological hazard increases exponentially as the oil slick moves into waters closer to the coast where wildlife tends to live and breed. A large section of the oil slick has drifted within 16 miles of the Mississippi River Delta, where it could also do a great deal of damage.

A new leak was discovered within the last 24 hours that is spilling almost five times as much oil as the first leaks. It is now estimated that the rig, which is resting on the floor of the Gulf, is spilling an average of 5 bbl of oil every day. At this rate, the recent disaster could become one of the worst oil spills in the history of offshore drilling.

Oil Spill Containment Efforts Intensify

Cleanup crews have begun performing in-situ burning to try to eliminate the oil that is on top of the water. The burns are carefully controlled, and is expected to dissipate a fraction of the spill. The majority of the spill is still floating in the Gulf of Mexico unimpeded. Officials on the coast of Louisiana have begun firing cannons to frighten away birds and other wildlife that may be in the path of the oil slick. Fishermen are running booms across large areas of the coast to stop the slick from coming too close in to the shore.

President Barack Obama has stated that the National Guard will be available to help in cleanup efforts if needed. The White House is monitoring the situation very closely, and intends to do whatever necessary to protect as much of the coastline as possible. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has declared a state of emergency as the slick continues to move toward the coastline.

In the 1920s, electric vehicles overwhelmed America’s street corners. Nissan seems determined to resurrect that epoch. Welcome to the all-electric, 5-seater hatchback, the Nissan Leaf: “Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car.”

The Leaf runs on state-of-the-art, 480-pound lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries. They are charged using an 110v, 220v, 240v or 480v charger. With an 110v charger (U.S. household standard), the Leaf takes an interminable 16 hours to recuperate, but that lessens to a decent eight with the 220v and approximately 30 minutes with the 480v charger. The latter is planned for use in public fueling stations.

The Leaf promises a 100-mile range on a single charge. Nissan notes this meets 70% of the world’s mileage requirements and that 80% of drivers travel fewer than 62 miles per day. Nissan expects the batteries to retain 80% of their storage capacity after five years and stabilize thereafter. These incredible achievements warranted the Leaf the Green Car of the Year accolade by Green Car Journal in 2010.

Nissan does not skimp on interior amenities. Standard features include A/C, cruise control with steering-wheel mounted controls, auto-dimming rearview mirror, variable intermittent wipers, trip computer, tilt-steering column, 12v DC power outlet, adjustable driver and passenger seats, 60/40-split rear seats, full power accessories and a navigation system. Blast some bass from the M/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system, equipped with optional XM radio, auxiliary audio jack and USB port. The high-end SL trim adds fog lights, automatic headlamps and a rear spoiler.

The exterior exhibits its own aplomb. Rolling on 16-inch wheels, the Leaf sports LED headlamps (using only 10% power of regular headlamps), dual-power exterior mirrors and chrome accents.

Nissan has affixed its own technological legerdemain. Mobile phones can be used to adjust A/C, heating, and charging functions, even when the vehicle is turned off. The Leaf sports traction control, a security system, and airbags protecting every occupant.

New toys tend to be expensive. However, the U.S. Leaf will cost $32,780, and with tax incentives it may lessen to $25,000. It costs only $3 “fill up.” Nissan predicts an average five-year “real” cost of $28,180, lower than a Toyota Prius or Honda Civic.

The Nissan Leaf debuts soon. Watch the street corners.