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Grist talks to Google.org climate and energy head Dan Reicher about geothermal

At a reception sponsored by the “Clean Tech for Obama” group yesterday, we had a chance to talk to Dan Reicher, director of Climate and Energy Initiatives for Google.org, who filled us in on the company’s big investment in geothermal energy, and other renewable initiatives they have underway.

Snippets from the news

• Summer Arctic sea-ice drops to second lowest level on record. • China’s carbon emissions from power plants to increase by a third this year, report says. • Japan publishes “research” on 4,500 whales it’s killed. • German study finds going veg can cut carbon emissions. • Massive flooding in India incites food riots. • […]

Grist asks Howard Dean about how the Democrats are doing on energy issues

I caught one question on energy policy with Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean yesterday at a barbecue. Dean touted Democratic plans to support renewable energy, and cheered the inclusion of corporations like WalMart in the renewables sector. “The new American economy is IT, it’s finance, and it’s renewable energy,” said Dean. He first responds to […]

Consumers express renewed interest in natural-gas vehicles

High oil prices, increased domestic natural-gas production, and a well-publicized push from a former oil man have all boosted interest in natural-gas vehicles in the United States lately. This spring, the natural-gas equivalent of a gallon of gasoline was selling for about $1.50 less than gasoline on average nationwide. And in some places like Utah, […]

Ending fossil-fuel subsidies would help climate and economy, U.N. says

Ending fossil-fuel subsidies around the world could slash greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 6 percent and help the economy at the same time, according to a new United Nations report [PDF]. Globally, governments spend some $300 billion on fuel subsidies that encourage consumption, delay transition to cleaner energy sources, and mainly benefit the already-rich even […]

Energy is a hot topic at the DNC; also, Death Cab

Here it is, almost 3 a.m., I’m at my hotel, and this is the first time I’ve had an internet connection all day. There’s no wireless in the convention hall and no wireless at any of the venues I’ve been to so far. There’s (allegedly spotty, slow) wireless at the Big Tent for bloggers, but […]

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on bringing green to the heartland, and the rest of the country

Sadly, I missed Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius giving her speech Tuesday evening. Here are some excerpts from the full text. “Millions of Americans are proud to make their homes in rural communities, where values are deeply-rooted and passed down, like the family farm, from generation to generation. Too many in Washington are willing to write […]

Clinton, Warner, and Schweitzer cite energy as they stump for Obama and bash McCain

In a rousing speech endorsing Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton said her erstwhile rival would “transform our energy agenda by creating millions of green jobs and building a new, clean energy future.” Virginia Senate candidate Mark Warner also addressed energy and climate (as he told Grist he would): “If […]

Hillary Clinton says lots of good stuff on climate and energy

Hillary Clinton gave her much-anticipated convention speech this evening, to a very excited crowd. Seems everyone in the room had a “Hillary” sign, and the cheers were deafening. She said a lot of good stuff about climate and energy concerns, but I couldn’t quite get all of it. But cheers for these issues making it […]

Montana guv brings the one-liners

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer was all over the energy issue in his speech tonight, ripping on John McCain’s policies and calling for a new energy future. “At a time when American families are struggling to keep their gas tanks full, John McCain voted 25 times against renewable energy, biofuels, solar energy. He even voted against […]