Latest Articles

The hazards of using toxic coal ash for land development

Following the disastrous spill of a billion gallons of coal ash waste from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston plant in December 2008, poorly regulated coal ash impoundments like the one that failed have landed in the public spotlight. But other methods of disposing of coal ash waste have gotten less attention — even though they […]

With so much potential for energy efficiency, why is the South so inefficient?

When it comes to energy reform, the American South has often been a deadweight, anchoring the country to the status quo. There are any number reasons why: It’s oil, coal, and nuke country. It’s heavily Republican. Many of the affluent white men who dominate its politics view energy as part of the culture war, another […]

Note to Environmentalists: Economists are on your side

There is a tendency among some environmental writers to dismiss “classical”, “traditional”, “neoliberal”, or “mainstream” economics as somehow inimical to environmental interests.   The problem is that more often than not these writers get the facts wrong.   It’s almost as if the knee-jerk aversion to economics that exists among many environmentalists prevents them from […]

What are your favorite climate and energy soundbites?

I will be testifying in front of Congress this week.  And my book, Straight Up, is coming out the following week (click here to buy it). That means I’ll be doing a lot of media and trying to hone a simple, effective message for a far broader audience than Climate Progress readers.  I have my own […]

Sarah 'Four Pinocchios' Palin blames 'Gore-gate' for

  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has called Palin a conservative leader on energy issues. She has also emerged as a conservative thought leader on climate science. Yesterday, at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SLRC) 2010 — “the most prominent Republican event outside of the Republican National Convention,” Palin launched into another anti-science diatribe.  Here’s the video (via TP): […]

Climate Progress wins TreeHugger's "Best Politics Website"

“… essential reading for anyone following the politics of the green movement these days….  this is the art of blogging at its best.“ Thanks to everyone who voted for CP for TreeHugger’s Best of Green Awards. Here’s TreeHugger’s full award description of this blog:   The content Joe Romm and crew pump out on Climate Progress is unrelenting […]

Canada's Husky Energy sells 10% ethanol blend as

            Americans may not have heard of Husky Energy.  But thanks to an eagle-eyed reader up north who snapped this picture, we all get to see their uber-greenwashing effort. Here’s how “Mother Nature” makes her fuel, at least on the Bizarro world of Htrae. First, you take some heavy oil or tar […]

Ask Umbra on birth control, single-serve coffee, and sanitizing countertops

Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, In light of Lisa Hymas’ current series on GINKing, can you fill us in on the most eco-friendly forms of birth control currently available? Keeping It Kid FreeSeattle A. Dearest Kid Free, Indeed the “green inclinations, no kids” (GINK) posts have caused quite the stir. I’ve only […]

Debunking Lord Monckton, Part One

Climbing the mountain of balderdash, bollux, codswallop, and rubbish that is Lord Christopher Monckton’s presentation is a daunting task. I’ve had to break it down into 2 parts, of which this is the first. The second will be premiered on thursday night, April 15, at 9 pm edt, during a live “Climate Denial Crock” web […]

Focus the nation on jobs and the clean energy race

This is a guest post by Garett Brennan, executive director, Focus the Nation Youth-led Clean Energy Forums are underway across the country this spring as part of Focus the Nation’s fourth national civic engagement campaign. Focus the Nation has been working this with youth leaders to help ‘focus’ communities across the upper Midwest, Maine, and […]