Environmentalists and energy experts are looking forward to seeing large portions of the federal government’s stimulus package approved by Congress because it appears likely to target lots of money for cleanups of industrial pollution, supporting renewable energy, and financing energy efficiency and weatherization programs.

“With this economic recovery package, Congress took the first step down the road to a new clean energy economy for America,” said Chris Kearns of Environment Rhode Island, an advocacy group. “This bill will deliver more secure energy in the long term, less global warming pollution, fewer asthma attacks from air pollution, more clean lakes and rivers for drinking water, swimming and fishing and more good jobs right here at home.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act probably will change as it makes its way through the Senate this week, and then through a conference committee for the House and Senate following that.

But at the end of last week, the bill approved by the House included $37.9 billion for energy efficiency, $27.8 billion for renewable energy, and $14.6 billion for public transit and clean transportation, according to Kearns’ group.

The group also applauded efforts to approve an amendment that added $3 billion for public transit funding.

Also, last week U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin was appointed to serve on a new congressional coalition created to generate national energy and environmental policies aimed at helping to create a “green collar” economy.

The Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition is headed by U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee, D-Washington, and Steve Israel, D-New York. It met with Carol Browner, assistant to the president, last week to discuss energy and climate policy.

Langevin was appointed co-chair for membership.

The group, with 35 founding members, began meeting during the last Congress to advance policies that promote clean energy technology innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, create green-collar jobs, help stop global warming and protect the country’s natural resources.

Langevin’s office confirmed that the stimulus bill includes $800 million for Superfund program cleanup projects across the country supervised by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The projects remove hazardous substances from the land and water and provide assistance to local residents who are affected.

The bill also includes $200 million for the EPA’s Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Program.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s office also reported the legislation includes $6 billion for local drinking water and clean water infrastructure projects.

Grantham Prize entries sought

The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting is still accepting entries for the fourth-annual $75,000 Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment. Entries must be published or aired by media in the United States or Canada between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2008. The prize is open to all journalists, including print, broadcast and online, covering significant environmental and natural resources issues. The deadline for book entries has passed; however, all other entries must be postmarked by tomorrow. Entry details for the Grantham Prize can be found at www.granthamprize.org.

Metcalf’s Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Reporting support minority journalists to study marine and environmental science topics and cover science and the environment in the news. Following a one-month independent study at the University of Rhode Island, fellows report on the environment at a news outlet such as: CNN, NPR’s Science Friday, PRI’s The World, The Providence Journal, Chicago Tribune or The Boston Globe. The fellowships are available to traditionally under-represented racial or ethnic minority journalists in all media with U.S. citizenship. Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 23. For information, visit www.metcalfinstitute.org or call (401) 874-6211.

The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting, named for Michael P. Metcalf, late publisher of The Providence Journal, was established in 1997 with funding from the Belo Corp., The Providence Journal Charitable Foundation, The Philip L. Graham Fund and the Telaka Foundation.

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Environmentalist to give lecture

James Galloway, professor of environmental science at the University of Virginia, currently on sabbatical at the Marine Biological Laboratory, will give the first lecture of the Environmental Change Initiative Society’s spring semester lecture series on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at MacMillan Hall, Room 115, Brown University. The lecture is entitled “Nitrogen: A Story of Food, Fuel and Fiber.”

In 2008, Galloway was awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. Galloway developed the concept of the nitrogen cascade to describe the multiple, linked effects of reactive nitrogen as it moves through the biosphere. For several years, he has chaired the International Nitrogen Initiative, which pools worldwide knowledge on the complexities of the nitrogen cycle, how humans are altering it and what the consequences of these human-induced alterations are.

Galloway authored or co-authored papers in Science and Nature last year describing the global effects of agricultural and industrial changes in the nitrogen cycle.

Film showing rescheduled

Due to weather conditions, the free public screening of Where Do the Children Play? (originally scheduled for Jan. 28) was rescheduled to this Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lincoln School’s Ebner, Elson, Hart Music Center, 301 Butler Ave., Providence. The documentary examines an issue of growing concern among pediatricians, mental-health experts, educators and environmentalists: more children are growing up today with little or no opportunity for unstructured play, especially outdoors.

Rep. Walsh heads environment panel

Rep. Donna M. Walsh, D-Charlestown, has been appointed to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Walsh says she has a strong interest in environmental issues and has outlined plans for several pieces of environmental legislation that she expects to introduce this year. Among other initiatives, she is working with Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, D-South Kingstown, to craft the Water Supply Conservation Act, which will promote water conservation and efficiency.

“Protecting, repairing and preserving our environment and resources is very important to me personally as well as to my constituents and Rhode Island as a whole,” she said in a statement.

Walsh has also been named to an advisory panel that will review the structure of the Economic Development Corporation and been named to the House Corporations Committee.

Beached whales topic of program

The Narragansett Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club is sponsoring a program Saturday on why whales beach themselves.

“Whales on the Beach: A Mystery” will be presented by URI Graduate School of Oceanography Prof. Bob Kenney, who has studied the “stranded whale” phenomenon. It will be held at 1 p.m. at the North Kingstown Library, 100 Boone St., Wickford.

For information or reservations, call Jack Schempp at (401) 331-4553.

Chafee award entries invited

The Environment Council of Rhode Island invites organizations — industrial/commercial, nonprofit, volunteer, municipal or educational — to apply for 2009 Senator John H. Chafee Conservation Leadership Honors, recognizing outstanding conservation achievement within Rhode Island. The council, founded in 1972, is a coalition of 60 environment-oriented organizations and many individuals.

Hand-cast bronze awards designed by Gorham will be presented during the 10th-annual Sen. John Chafee Conservation Exposition and Dinner on May 8. About 150 to 200 conservation leaders, executives, officials, sponsors, ECRI members and friends are expected to attend.

Awards will be presented to the four organizations that complete the most significant projects or programs.

For applications and information, call ECRI at (401) 621-8048 or visit www.environmentcouncilri.org. Entries must be submitted to ECRI by Feb. 23.

URI’s Gold advises U.N. water project

Art Gold, professor of watershed hydrology in the University of Rhode Island’s department of natural resources science, has received a five-year appointment as a senior adviser to a United Nations project on water conservation and water management.

Sponsored by the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization and the International Atomic Energy Association, the research project explores the role of wetlands in augmenting water supplies and improving water quality in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.

“We’re setting up common research projects in the participating countries in an effort to see if local communities can restore and protect wetlands as a way of enhancing water quality and expanding water storage capabilities,” said Gold, an international expert in watershed science who lives in North Kingstown.

Gold leads the water-quality programs at URI, including the Watershed Watch program that uses volunteers to monitor water quality in the state’s ponds and streams, and the Northeast and Caribbean Islands Integrated Water Program, a regional project that brings together scientists from nine different states to investigate and solve watershed and water quality problems. He has published 150 scientific articles and attracted more than $13 million in grants.

Gold met with the participating researchers in Vienna in December to launch the project and provide initial training. A follow-up meeting in Estonia will take place later this year.

Bay seal watch tour this afternoon

A one-hour Save The Bay seal watch tour is scheduled for today at 2 p.m. Education vessel Alletta Morris departs Bowen’s Ferry Landing, Newport.

Binoculars are provided; the boat is partially heated. The cost is $20; $15 for members of Save The Bay, Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation, seniors and children ages 5 to 12. Reservations are recommended. Visit www.newportseals.org or call Save The Bay at (401) 324-6020

The Environmental Journal is a listing of brief news items about the actions of individuals, organizations and businesses that affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the landscape that surrounds us. If you have comments or suggestions, please contact environment reporter Peter B. Lord at (401) 277-8036, or by e-mail at plord@projo.com or by writing him, care of the Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.

plord@projo.com