Latest Articles

Obama poised to tap Eric Holder at attorney general; info on his enviro record is slim

Eric Holder. The Obama team is poised to pick Eric Holder to serve as U.S. attorney general. In 1988, President Reagan nominated Holder to become an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; he served in that capacity for five years. In 1993, President Clinton nominated Holder to serve as the […]

Governors’ Summit videos

Just FYI, the sessions at the Governors’ Climate Summit Kate and I are attending are all being recorded and are available online. One thing I’ve learned so far: No matter how important carbon measurement and tracking and inventories are, they cannot be rendered interesting on a panel. Kudos for the effort, though!

New ‘2012’ film trailer hints at eco-disaster themes

The trailer for the film 2012 — due out next summer from the director of The Day After Tomorrow — has hit the interwebs. It appears that the film may have some eco-disaster themes, but the plot details are pretty vague at this point. I do know the premise is based on the belief that […]

Sen. Ted Stevens officially loses reelection bid

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate and a recently convicted felon, has officially lost his reelection bid to Democrat Mark Begich. Stevens has long been a thorn in the side to environmentalists, most notably for leading the charge to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Utility sues Kansas over landmark coal-plant rejection

Sunflower Electric Power Company has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Kansas for its landmark denial last year of an air permit the company needed to build two coal-fired power plants in the western part of the state. The permits were originally denied by an official at the state’s department of health and […]

Begich triumphs over Stevens in Alaska Senate race

After two weeks of counting, they’re finally calling the Alaska Senate race for Democrat Mark Begich. This marks the end of an 40-year Senate career for Republican Ted Stevens, who is marks his 85th birthday today. Long a thorn in the side of enviros, the loss comes after he was convicted of lying on Senate […]

Brita announces recycling program for used water filters

Brita, maker of popular water-purifying pitchers, will launch a recycling program for used water filters beginning in January. The company’s announcement comes after months of pressure from citizen activists. Consumers will be able to drop used filters off at selected Whole Foods stores or mail them in; the plastic parts will be turned into recycled […]

British lawmakers OK landmark climate bill

With lawmakers’ final approval on Tuesday, Britain has become the first country in the whole wide world to make a legally binding commitment to cut emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Mountain gorillas threatened by violence in Congo

Due to escalating violence, Congolese rangers have been run out of the country’s Virunga National Park, threatening the safety of some 200 mountain gorillas that live there. “There are documented cases of the gorillas getting caught in the crossfire and getting killed,” says a park spokesperson. “It’s the chaos of war and they are right […]

Substance-less video leaves us wondering, ‘Why bother?’

The Obama transition today released a video showing the energy and environmental policy team “at work,” focusing on former EPA administrator Carol Browner, who’s advising the transition, and Heather Zichal, who also headed up these issues for the campaign. While the video seems to offer a “behind the scenes” feel (the experts are shown sitting […]