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Bipartisan deal in Senate would extend renewable tax credits

The Senate appears to have reached a deal on a major tax package that includes the extension of tax credits for renewable energy that are set to expire at the end of this year. Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), chair and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced on Tuesday that […]

Clinton Global Initiative jumps the shark, invites McCain to keynote on energy solutions

I understand that CGI will also have Senator Inhofe keynote on climate science, Karl Rove on ethics, and President Bush on openness in government. Seriously — or ridiculously, take your pick — the CGI has announced: Senator John McCain will deliver the opening remarks live at the “Integrated Solutions: water, food and energy” plenary session. […]

How can journalists cover the views of a candidate whose views are indeterminate?

The other day, asked if he supports ending mountaintop removal mining, John McCain said, "I do." But then he added, "I’m happy to tell you that I’ve seen a dramatic improvement in the behavior of the coal companies. They are doing a much better job." Contacted by reporter Ken Ward Jr. about his support for […]

Truth in advertising

Check out this pearl from commenter David Ahlport (found in the comments of David Roberts’ Cost Tic post). I’m a proponent of using ads to spread ideas. The problem with most ads is that they are at best half-truths. This one has it all. They draw a gentle and humorous line between themselves and negative […]

The financial meltdown and other considerations for clean energy development

Tom asked earlier what the "anarchic" disintegration of Lehman Brother’s carbon trading desk — taking place within the broader disintegration of the entire company — means in the bigger picture. And the answer, most likely, is pretty much nothing. This is true for a variety of reasons, not least among them that Lehman Brothers was […]

L.A. train collision dismays new riders

Speaking of trains, the horrific train wreck in L.A. last Friday came as ridership on the region’s rail network was on the rise, The New York Times reports. Los Angeles has long been known for its car-choked freeways. But after gas prices in California rose to more than $4.50 a gallon over the last several […]

Environmental champion Philip Clapp, dead at 54

Philip Clapp. Photo: National Environmental Trust Philip Clapp, a lifelong champion for environmental causes and an early, eloquent voice on global climate change, died in Amsterdam early this morning. He was admitted to the hospital there two weeks ago with a sudden and unexpected illness. He was 54. "This is such a shock," said Carl […]

Snippets from the news

• T. Boone Pickens puts hold on water-pipeline plan. • Grizzlies are thriving in Montana. • Seattle bag tax will be put to a vote. • Berkeley approves city-backed loans for solar panels. • Web sees rise of carpooling startups.

Do we want an economy that’s a bit more Belgian or Belgian Congo?

A simple syllogism to expose the flaws in our GHG debate: Fossil fuels cost money. When burned, fossil fuels emit CO2. Therefore, burning less fossil fuel saves money and CO2. The logic is impeccable (even if not quite as entertaining as Lewis Carroll’s syllogisms). And yet our entire GHG debate continues to be framed as […]

Incoming Yale student plans to ramp up her activism for the big leagues

For some people, life starts after college. For Karoline Evin McMullen, it began in middle school. Karoline Evin McMullen Age: 18 School: Yale University By the time she was 14, McMullen of rural Geauga County, Ohio, had already: written a textbook for elementary school kids; started a project with two friends to protect endangered brook […]