On Monday, February 4th, I attended a seminar on global climate change and sea turtles. Dr. Joseph Pfaller spoke at the seminar about the Caretta Research project which studies sea turtles, their migration/mating/laying patterns, their nests, etc. At this event, I learned about several different types of turtles that lay eggs along the east coast, primarily in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. I learned that female turtles come onto dry land, dig a hole, lay their eggs, cover them up, and then return to the ocean. During their laying season, females will usually lay 4-8 batches of eggs 13 days apart; so, in all, they lay anywhere from 80-180 eggs. The Caretta Research project typically collects data from these turtles while they’re laying their eggs by tagging them with various forms of identification. They also protect the turtle nests by tagging them, covering them, and sometimes relocating them. After the eggs hatch, the research team uses the discarded egg sacks to determine more information about the babies and their mother.

This seminar was informational with regards to our class in the sense that it showed me how our pollution can harm and even kill these sea turtles. Global warming is forcing these turtles to move farther north (to colder weather) where places have not been prepared and made safe for them. This global warming is also causing future generations of turtles to become primarily female (which can lead to extinction) because turtle gender is determined by temperature (hotter temperatures mean more females). Rising sea levels and ravenous storms due to global warming have been washing away turtle nests as well. Rising temperatures have also changed and slowed the currents that guide these turtles to food, mating partners, and laying grounds. Also, some of these sea turtles eat primarily jellyfish and thus have downward pointing spirals in their throats to lock prey inside; it just so happens that our plastic bags and many other man-made debris look a lot like a meal to many sea turtles.

Title: SC’s Coal Power Plant Turning to Natural Gas?

Peterson, Bo. “Uncertainty in the air for workers at SC’s largest coal burning power plant.” The Post and Courier, 4 February 2019, https://www.postandcourier.com/news/uncertainty-in-the-air-for-workers-at-sc-s-largest/article_275fdfee-1e79-11e9-863a-9bf403ef4cfc.html. Accessed 5 February 2019.

https://www.postandcourier.com/news/uncertainty-in-the-air-for-workers-at-sc-s-largest/article_275fdfee-1e79-11e9-863a-9bf403ef4cfc.html

What? Santee Cooper Cross Generating Station debating to be sold and whether to be converted to natural gas (implications)

Who? Converting to natural gas would affect hundreds of workers and community members who have well paying jobs in this coal plant

Why? The switch from coal to natural gas has some pros and cons depending on the social, economic, and environmental impact it has.

When? The article was posted on February 4, 2019, so this is very recent news. The Santee Cooper is still being debated whether to sell to a buyer/converting to gas.

Where? Cross Generating Station, Pineville, SC rural Lowcountry area near Charleston, SC

How? Most buyers want to switch to natural gas because it is economically more beneficial

Relevance to Society?

This news affects our very own South Carolina land and communities, especially those living in or around Charleston, SC. The huge amounts of job losses and fluctuations in electricity bills would be detrimental to society.

Relevance to the course?

We learned about the Triple Bottom Line and how it is used to solve wicked problems, such as the converting of the Santee Cooper Cross coal plant to a natural gas plant. The triple bottom line can be seen at play here since it shows the social, economic, and environmental issues that arise and should be addressed. The social side is the workers losing their jobs, the economic side is the natural gas as the cheaper option but the pipelines are not cost-effective, and lastly, the environmental impact of both the coal and natural gas, which both largely contribute to global warming.

Pertinent Questions raised?

Is Natural Gas really the way to go? Can South Carolina take further steps towards renewable energy despite the job and economic complications? More solar/hydroelectric energy use?