TOP STORIES

As Specter moves to Democratic Party, will he help pass a climate bill?

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter shocked Washington by switching to the Democratic Party on Tuesday.  Will he provide the crucial filibuster-busting 60th vote to help pass climate legislation?  "My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats than I have been for the Republicans ... I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture."   [Grist]

Related:

• Senator Specter Changes Parties, Doesn't Change Climate Politics [WattHead] 

Mexico Outbreak Traced to "Manure Lagoons" at Local Pig Farm

The first known case of swine flu was contracted by a 4-year old boy in La Gloria, Mexico.  "The boy’s hometown...is close to a pig farm that raises almost 1 million animals a year. The facility, Granjas Carroll de Mexico, is partly owned by Smithfield Foods, a Virginia-based US company and the world’s largest producer and processor of pork products.  [London Times Online]

VISUAL

World's Largest Concentrated Solar Power Tower Goes Live

The world’s largest commercial tower concentrated solar collector has been plugged in, and is primed to produce 20 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power about 10,000 homes.  "The PS20 plant in the southern province of Seville uses 1,255 mirrors to focus solar radiation at the top of a tower 165 metres high, in order to boil water to drive a turbine and generate electricity."  [Reuters]

Obama's Very Green First 100 Days

The web is full of environmental takes on Obama's first 100 days:

• Obama's First 100 Green Days. [The Huffington Post]
• The Green FDR: Obama’s first 100 days make — and may remake — history. [Climate Progress]
• NRDC's experts weigh in, complete with timeline.  [Switchboard]