If it isn’t trees or cows, it seems to be horses messing up the air quality. Sciam blog discusses the fears of telcos in keeping everyone connected and then touches on environmental issues of a big party like the inauguration. Good thing Woodstock was in the 70s, I guess.

• Some 600 private jets ferrying visitors to and from D.C. for the swearing-in ceremony and events surrounding it will produce 25.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide, and cars could create 262 million pounds.
• Inaugural parade horses will produce more than 400 pounds of carbon dioxide.
• Several inaugural balls are billing themselves as green. A gala hosted by former Vice President Al Gore will be decorated with tree seedlings and will serve organic food prepared across the street to minimize transportation-linked carbon emissions, the The New York Times reported yesterday. Organizers will recycle and compost waste.
• And receptions hosted in the House of Representatives will use biodegradable containers, plates and utensils made from corn resin, the Los Angeles Times reports.

via Obama’s inauguration: Tech and enviro impact: Scientific American Blog.