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A UN Dispatch-Grist collaboration

This week marks the twentieth anniversary of NASA Scientist James Hansen's groundbreaking Congressional testimony on global warming, an event that put climate change squarely on the political agenda. In honor of the anniversary, UN Dispatch, On Day One, and Grist are partnering to discuss ideas the next president can adopt to take on climate change. We are joined by a panel of experts who will weigh in on ideas submitted to On Day One by everyday users concerned about the climate crisis.

Our first idea comes from On Day One user wise old owl, who suggests we decentralize energy production.

Decentralized energy production through use of renewables (roof-top solar as well as solar farms, together with geothermal, tidal, and wind) can be transferred across our national grid to areas where it is needed from areas with higher productivity and/or lower need, which would change on a dynamic basis. This would eliminate centralized generating facilities as "targets" for terrorists, and eliminate the "control mentality" of large, centralized for-profit utilities.

Grist writers Kate Sheppard and David Roberts; President of Climate Advisers Nigel Purvis; and Timothy B. Hurst of Red, Green and Blue and EcoPolitology, each respond below the fold.

Umbra on car seat recycling

Dear Umbra, What do you recommend for child car seat disposal or, better yet, recycling? Near as I can tell, options include giving them away to someone who needs them (a pretty discouraged practice) or sending them to Oregon or Colorado where a couple of renegade recycling programs are working to resolve this huge issue. […]

Obama calls for regulation of oil markets and decreased dependence on oil

On Sunday, Barack Obama promised to end unregulated oil speculation and close the “Enron loophole,” which he says are at least partly to blame for rising gasoline prices. “For the past years, our energy policy in this country has been simply to let the special interests have their way — opening up loopholes for the […]

McCain calls for $300 million prize for the designer of a better electric-car battery

Republican presidential contender John McCain gave a speech in Fresno, Calif., today calling for a $300 million prize, paid by the government, to be awarded to the person who can design a better electric car battery. “This is one dollar for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. — a small price to pay […]

‘Dell of solar’ seeks to make it cheap and user-friendly to get rooftop PV

Today, a company called Sungevity announced the availability of what they’re calling the cheapest solar system in the world: a rooftop solar panel system, fully installed, for $2,000. That’s as much as I paid for my computer. For that price, the average home will save $21,000 in electricity over 25 years — a 45 percent […]

Enviros’ border-fence appeal turned down by Supreme Court

Homeland Security officials can continue to waive environmental laws to speed construction of a fence on the U.S.-Mexico border, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club. The groups had argued that the eco-law-waiving power given to Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff in 2005 was […]

Prez candidates tout new policies to lower oil prices

John McCain and Barack Obama have both called for changes to national energy policy in recent days that they said would eventually help lower oil and gasoline prices. On Sunday, Obama called for closer regulation of oil speculators that have been a major force contributing to the rise in oil prices. He said his plan […]

A Cambridge physicist’s cooling summer treat

Download "Sustainable Energy -- Without the hot air" for free. You'll be glad you did.

Don Lee Farms veggie patties are the shizzle

I’m probably going to get in trouble for this, since it’s not organic and it comes from some anonymous frozen-food manufacturer, but the discovery of a veggie pattie that doesn’t suck is good news that must be shared with the world. As you’re probably aware, most "veggie burgers" taste like cardboard. Most real veg-heads I […]

I think Friedman is upset with Bush

The Mustache kicks ass today. He says it’s “hard for [him] to find the words to express what a massive, fraudulent, pathetic excuse for an energy policy” Bush is backing, but he manages fairly well. Extra kudos for highlighting the absurd refusal of Republicans to renew the PTC and ITC. One ommission: he doesn’t mention […]