Uncategorized

Delayed Gratitudation

Grist takes rest of week off, needs time to stuff free-range Tofurky Here at Grist, we take our holidays seriously, so after today you won’t be seeing us again until next Monday. But as Thanksgiving nears, we want to take a moment to give our thanks to you, our readers, for being so darn loyal […]

One Good Deed Reserves Another

Northeast, California move forward with marine reserves It’s time to call in the marine reserves (think fish, not guns). The Conservation Law Foundation and the Canadian branch of the World Wildlife Fund issued a report yesterday recommending that a network of ocean areas off the eastern coast of Canada and the U.S. be protected from […]

OSHA, No He Didn’t

Federal agency threatens asbestos-warning writer with suspension What if we said a federal agency was pressuring one of its own to weaken an environmental opinion? Crazy, right? But it’s true. Again. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a warning this summer that brakes could contain asbestos, putting mechanics at risk for mesothelioma, lung cancer, […]

You Give Hubris a Glad Name

Nuclear fusion gets a boost as 31 countries sign reactor agreement After years of debate, 31 countries have agreed to build the $12.8 billion International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor in southern France. (Ah, “experimental reactor” — was there ever a more comforting phrase?) Deemed “the victory of the general interest of humanity” by French President Jacques […]

What’s up with solar silicon?

... how come solar power may be stymied by a worldwide shortfall in key ingredient poly-crystalline silicon? Despite the growing momentum for alternative power generation, the Financial Times quotes analysts citing "unsustainable" price increases of 500% over 2004 levels in some "isolated" cases.

Global production of solar batteries grew by 47 per cent by volume during 2005, and the pace is believed to have quickened in 2006. One industry estimate suggests that between 2007 and 2009, the global polysilicon supply shortage will be about 9,000 tons a year, or about a fifth of current worldwide capacity.

So much for those reassuring supply and demand lessons in ECON 101.

Can Thompson become president?

I never got around to posting on this last week, but it seems Bush's old Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is getting into the presidential race. The enterprise is already somewhat of a laughingstock in political circles, but what's remarkable to me is that Thompson seems to think he has a chance almost purely based on his long-standing support for and knowledge about ethanol subsidies -- oops, did I say "ethanol subsidies"? I mean energy policy.

Perhaps ethanol subsidies are the road to serious energy policy. But then again, perhaps "energy policy" is just a road to expanded ethanol subsidies. Which do you think it is? Leave predictions in comments.

Something you need to know

The DVD of An Inconvenient Truth is released tomorrow.

Speaking of which, it's entirely possible that AIT will win the 2007 Oscar for Best Documentary. Wouldn't that be something.

Take bets on the long future

Much of environmentalism is about long-term thinking. If you are looking for a meta-narrative, I'd say most people who define themselves as environmentalists are motivated by the desire to see something they love -- clean air, beautiful places, whales, or whathaveyou -- stick around a bit longer.

That's why I think the Long Now Foundation, dedicated to the promotion of long-term thinking, is one of the coolest organizations around.

Sadly, it’s behind a paid subscription wall

Over on New York Times $elect, Steven Johnson -- author of Everything Bad Is Good for You and the just-released The Ghost Map -- is writing a blog called "Urban Planet":

Over the next month, I'll explore the many facets of our urban planet and its future, drawing upon the themes that were visible, in embryo, 150 years ago in the streets of London: the peril and promise of density, local knowledge, the importance of public health systems, and the strength of neighborhoods. I look forward to hearing -- and responding to -- your own stories and reflections on urban life.

Too bad only a tiny fraction of you can afford to read it.

Rail freight is more efficient than truck freight

So far the efficiency examples we've discussed have been glamorous new technology -- electric cars, next-gen light rail. But what may be the oldest mass industrial technology in the U.S. also has huge potential for saving energy: freight trains.