Latest Articles
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Palin’s record of secrecy and cronyism affects environment among other issues
A passion for oil drilling isn’t the only thing Sarah Palin has in common with Dick Cheney. “Interviews show that Ms. Palin runs an administration that puts a premium on loyalty and secrecy,” The New York Times reports in a front page article on Sunday. “While Ms. Palin took office promising a more open government, […]
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The Economist agrees with me on hydrogen
When the world’s uber-centrist magazine of choice runs a headline almost identical to mine, you know it’s all over. Especially when one of that magazine’s leading energy columnists, Vijay Vaitheeswaran, used to sing that technology’s praises (here). Here’s the bottom line: But the promise of hydrogen-powered personal transport seems as elusive as ever. The non-emergence […]
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‘Gang of 10’ bipartisan energy bill now has double the number of cosponsors
What started out as a Gang of 10 senators sponsoring a bipartisan energy compromise grew to a Gang of 16 and is now a Gang of 20. The group announced on Thursday that they’ve added Republicans Elizabeth Dole (N.C.) and Susan Collins (Maine) and Democrats Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) and Evan Bayh (Ind.) as cosponsors to […]
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The oil market can’t save us from climate change
Oil prices have plunged by a third since June. What happened? Damned if I know. This is an extremely murky market. Information about supply is notoriously patchy. As for demand, people are writing dissertations about the mentality of mega-fund managers who plunge into securities like oil futures one day, only to bail en masse another. […]
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McCain’s nuclear plan would cost $315 billion, with taxpayers risking over $100 billion
Finally, a serious publication did the math: John McCain’s plan to revive the U.S. nuclear power industry with 45 new reactors may cost $315 billion, with taxpayers bearing much of the financial risk. Who else should bear the financial risk? After all, taxpayers bear the meltdown risk thanks to the Price-Anderson Act. Why should a […]
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Finding nirvana in the coffee capital of the United States
In “Mad Flavor,” the author describes his occasional forays from the farm in search of exceptional culinary experiences from small artisanal producers. —– While covering Slow Food Nation recently, I stayed in an unremarkable hotel located in a relatively uninteresting part of San Francisco’s Soma neighborhood. But I was as happy as a clam — […]
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Bike-hatin’ DOT head Mary Peters warns of decline in gas-tax revenues
Mary Peters, President Bush’s Secretary of Transportation, is best known in green circles for blaming bike-riders and pedestrians for the decay of the nation’s roads and bridges. But green-transit-hating Peters seems to be singing a different tune, now that the Highway Trust Fund is threatened by a decrease in driving. Congress yesterday approved an $8 […]
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Reduced dominance is predicted for U.S.
While its conclusions won’t surprise Grist readers, this unusually savvy new intelligence forecast reported in today’s Post ought to serve as a wake-up call for the largely clueless “Establishment“: An intelligence forecast being prepared for the next president on future global risks envisions a steady decline in U.S. dominance in the coming decades, as the […]
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House Republicans push their drilling agenda and Dems don’t counter
The House Democrats, like their presidential nominee, appear to be on the verge of walking away from a winning strategy. On Tuesday, I noted, it looked like they were going to embrace the "Gang of 10" position on offshore drilling, which is obviously the way to go from both a policy and strategic messaging point […]
