Daily Roundup: December 17, 2009

Climate Capital: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced at the Copenhagen climate talks that the U.S. would join other nations in raising $100 billion to help developing nations deal with global warming. This pledge is contingent upon the conference reaching an agreement. NPR and Sierra Club

Toxic Tap: The nation’s drinking water might contain toxins that cause birth defects, cancer, and other health problems because the outdated 35-year-old Safe Drinking Water Act only regulates 91 contaminants while 60,000 chemicals are used in the U.S. New York Times

Banning BPA: Two U.S. senators have proposed a bill that would ban bisphenol A (BPA) from all products intended for children and infants. The bill also would set aside $5 million for research on the effects of BPA on all age groups and pregnant women. Greener Design

Cool Idea: The University of Notre Dame plans to give heat waste from its data centers to a local conservatory in order to cool the electronics at the school and warm the plants in the greenhouse. Matter Network

Spooky Ship: The Sea Shepard Conservation Society hopes to scare off Japanese whalers from Antarctic waters using its stealthy low-emissions vessel complete with large speakers blasting creepy music. MSNBC

--Julie Littman