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Steven Chu is a progressive environmentalist because he’s a good scientist

I’ve been reading the discussion sparked by Chris Hayes’ latest piece in The Nation — "The Pragmatist," about Obama’s much-discussed pragmatism — with interest. Pragmatism is a subject dear to my heart, something I studied in grad school, though the kind you study there and what goes by the name in political discussion bear little […]

Normally staid IEA says oil will peak in 2020

Fatih Birol, chief economist to the International Energy Agency, told the U.K.’s Guardian this week: “In terms of non-Opec [countries outside the big oil producers’ cartel],” he replied, “we are expecting that in three, four years’ time the production of conventional oil will come to a plateau, and start to decline. In terms of the […]

Why the much-ballyhooed utility decoupling is inadequate

I meant last week to note the extremely promising fact that Dems are talking about using the stimulus to funnel substantial money to states for energy efficiency projects — and tying that money to utility decoupling. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), in comments to the Northwest Energy Coalition earlier this month, said this is how it […]

Theo Chocolate is the country’s first organic and fair-trade chocolate-maker

Photo: Sarah van Schagen Stroll into Theo Chocolate in Seattle’s artsy Fremont neighborhood, and you’re bound to feel all warm and cozy. From the freshly made confections beckoning from behind the counter to the welcoming brick fireplace and mugs of hot cocoa (a new addition this winter), the storefront offers a respite from the winter […]

WaPo editorial reflects lazy resort to gas tax as answer to carbon troubles

The Washington Post has an editorial on the challenges of addressing global warming that contains this passage: To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen dependence on fossil fuels, there must be a price on carbon. A cap-and-trade system is the easiest way to integrate into an international regime, but its pitfalls are legion. A gas […]

A united environmental community gets attention from the Obama team

Enviros come together to pitch Obama on green plan. Green groups in D.C. seem downright giddy about all the signals they’re getting from Obamaland thus far. From appointments to key posts to his pledge earlier this month to “launch a massive effort to make public buildings more energy efficient,” there’s a lot of anticipation that […]

Mainstream mags are getting over green

Pop quiz: Mainstream magazines are ditching the whole “green issue” thing in 2009 because: green is soooo 2006, 2007, and 2008 eh, those issues never sold that well they’re incorporating green into stories on a regular basis, so who needs a special issue in these tough economic times, the sweater-belt budget has shriveled up all […]

They all crush ‘clean coal’: Stanford study, part 1

When we last met Stanford professor Mark Jacobson, he was explaining why you shouldn’t buy a diesel car if you care about global warming. His new myth-busting study finds the following “Total CO2-eq of Electricity Sources”: (CSP is concentrated solar power, but I prefer solar baseload to that ambiguous acronym. CCS is carbon capture and […]

Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar picked to head Interior Department

Ken Salazar. Photo: Mike Disharoon Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar (D) has been chosen to serve as secretary of interior, rounding out the energy and environment team formally introduced by President-elect Barack Obama on Monday afternoon. The Obama camp has not officially announced the pick, but transition officials have confirmed it. Salazar has served in the […]

No. 1: ‘It’s not guaranteed we have a solution for coal’

Obama formally named Steven Chu his nominee for energy secretary at a press conference Monday afternoon. Here are the top five reasons he is one of the best cabinet picks in recent memory: 5. His “views on climate change would be among the most forceful ever held by a cabinet member.” He said last year, […]