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Sen. DeMint tries to push through pro-drilling bill in last days of Congress

Apparently not satisfied with the expiration of the moratorium on drilling along the Outer Continental Shelf, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is circulating a bill [PDF] that open up still more offshore areas to drilling. The “Drill Now Act of 2008” would accelerate the expansion of offshore drilling by superseding a provision that currently prevents new […]

McCain/Palin nuclear plan would make U.S. more dependent on Russia for energy

Sarah Palin might have a tougher time keeping an eye on Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin if John McCain wins the election. McCain plans to build 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030. Palin affirmed her support for nuclear power in the CBS News interview that aired last night: Also tapping into the nuclear, the […]

Senate approves bailout bill with renewable-energy tax-credit extensions

The Senate just passed the financial bailout plan by a vote of 74 to 25. The measure includes a tax package that contains extensions for renewable-energy tax credits, which may hold it up in the House. Right now, it looks like the House is going to vote on the plan, with the tax package, on […]

The offshore drilling moratorium lapses today

Today is Energy Freedom Day — the day the Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling lapses. Let’s all sit back and watch the psychological benefits pour in. Cheap gas is back! Um, soon! Right? (The grumpuses on the Washington Post editorial board don’t think so. They’re just not thinking psychologically enough.) (More on today’s non-celebration from […]

Snippets from the news

• Mayors envision 4.2 million new green jobs. • Investment in cleantech continues to soar. • Greenpeace and Sierra Club Canada: Don’t vote Tory. • Climate change could kill off one-third of species by 2100, say scientists. • Coca-Cola lightens cans in Europe. • IKEA bags bags.

Will the push to open Yucca Mountain shift Nevada toward Obama?

The Bush administration is pushing full speed ahead with plans to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain — and that could affect the presidential race in the battleground state of Nevada, where John McCain and Barack Obama are in a dead heat. Last month, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission agreed to review the federal government’s license […]

Senate adds renewable-energy tax credits to bailout, to chagrin of moderate House Dems

The Senate is planning to add its tax bill — which includes the extension of renewable-energy tax credits — to the $700 billion bailout package it will be voting on tonight. The addition is intended to “sweeten” the deal in hopes of gathering more votes and ensuring passage of the bailout package. The Senate has […]

CFLs can increase mercury pollution in some areas, study finds

Energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs can lead to an increase in mercury pollution in some regions, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. The study looked at mercury emissions in 130 countries and all 50 U.S. states to determine what role CFLs, which contain mercury, may have in upping mercury […]

The moral argument for curbing climate change

Robert Farley has a point I would like all environmentalists to have seared to the insides of our eyelids: Simply because something must happen does not mean that it will happen … It’s not that people are stupid (although many are) or dishonest (although many are); its that the institutions make certain outcomes difficult to […]

Umbra on driveways

Dear Umbra, What is the most eco-friendly driveway material? Jean K.Newington, Conn. Dearest Jean, Other than “no driveway because no car,” dunno. I can tell you all the characteristics possessed by a good eco-friendly driveway material, but no single material pulled ahead of the rest and parked itself in first place. Since I don’t know […]