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Now’s the time to speak up

Can an Armani-clad gal from the big city be the champion of the good farmer?

After giving two thumbs up to the House Agriculture Committee's farm bill last Thursday, Rep. Nancy Pelosi's rise to rural populist hero-status seems as likely as old Bessie having twins. Said Pelosi:

... the bill represents a critical first step toward reform by eliminating payments to millionaires, closing loopholes that permit evasion of payment limits, and promoting our nation's family farmers.

But Pelosi still has a chance to emerge as the defender of real farm bill reform. And why shouldn't she? After all, the farm bill is about food and taking care of the land. It impacts all of us whether you live in Schuyler, Nebraska or San Francisco.

No, not like that

No, I don't mean that the home of crab cakes and Orioles is suddenly adopting Hollywood-style divorces -- although the state's unusual flag (pictured here) certainly suggest the state likes to be different.

Rather, the state is embracing the same smart electric utility regulations that has enabled California to be a leader in energy efficiency for three decades. As the Washington Post reports today:

In a bid to cut energy use, Maryland yesterday became just the fourth state in the nation to approve a plan that removes the incentive for electric utilities to sell more power in order to make more money.

In a rate case ruling issued yesterday, the Maryland Public Service Commission endorsed an approach known as decoupling, which ensures that utilities do not lose revenue if customers use less electricity.

Kudos to Maryland. "Decoupling" may seem like an arcane subject, but he is in fact one of the single most important climate solutions available -- one that can achieve significant emissions savings while lowering people's energy bills. The story goes on to explain how decoupling works:

Even more guidance

Resources for the Future has put together yet another comprehensive guide to current climate legislation, if the other guides aren’t working for you. This one comes in two forms: either a convenient comparison grid (PDF), or a timeline of emission reduction targets (PDF). Compare away.

On the difficulties of going veggie

I love bacon.

Sure, meat is murder and all that, not to mention it's contributing more emissions than most of us slightly green carnivores would like to admit, but it is tasty.

And filling. I learned that last bit in June when my family gave up meat at the slight urging of vegetarian Gristmillers responding to my query about the best ways to green my family life. It took me about three tummy-rumbling weeks before I learned veggie burgers satisfied my craving for hearty food.

In a month's time I came away with conflicting thoughts about meat.

Ring a ding Dingell

This profile of Dingell in the NYT doesn’t offer any new info, but it’s a nice summary of the state of play — between Dingell and Pelosi, and on energy legislation in the House.

New study reveals chlorine plants could actually make money by switching to mercury-free technology

Hot off the presses are new findings that show it's actually cheaper for chlorine plants to make their product using mercury-free technology.

Oceana says so in the most extensive report to date focusing on the conversion of mercury-cell chlorine factories to more environmentally and economically sound mercury-free technology.

What's more, the findings have prompted Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to reintroduce legislation that requires chlorine and caustic soda manufacturing plants to switch to mercury-free technology by 2012.

It's good to see politicians recognizing the need for this type of legislation. Shifting not only benefits the environment and our health, it benefits the company pocketbooks, too -- and that's the bottom line.

Friday music blogging: Wilco

A coworker who shall remain nameless is fond of mocking me for my love of Wilco. Her theory is that Wilco’s fan base is overwhelmingly dominated by “whiny white guys in their early 30s.” I’m afraid I fall squarely in that demographic, and though Wilco does have broad appeal … the theory is not entirely […]

Ante up

Colin Challen, a member of Parliament and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group, has a good editorial in the latest issue of Science (sub. rqd). He makes a key point that is often missed in the debate:

Not only must we reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, we need a timetable that reduces the risk of positive feedbacks and sink failures that could lead to runaway catastrophic climate change.

We are "playing climate change poker," as Challen says, fighting not just to avoid the consensus prediction for climate change, but the plausible worst-case scenario, which is far worse. That's why even a 60 percent cut in emissions by mid-century may not be enough, and many are pushing for an 80 percent cut.

The entire editorial is reprinted here:

Cars are more expensive than you think

Everyone knows that cars are expensive, right? Still, it may come as a surprise to find out just how much money we spend getting from place to place.

The cost of the car itself -- typically the second biggest purchase many families make in their lives -- is just the start. When you start adding in the cost of gasoline, and car insurance, and maintenance and repairs, and parking, and taxes to build new roads and maintain old ones, and license fees, and the medical costs of traffic accidents ... boy, I could go on all day ... suffice it to say, the zeros start adding up.

US gov’t siding with foreign shipping companies on protections

The Bush administration is holding up new regs approved a year ago that'd make ships go more slowly in order to protect North Atlantic right whales. (The White House Council of Economic Advisors is now reviewing causes of right whale deaths, a task already done by marine experts.)

Not a big surprise. Saddest part is that it's doing so, it seems, at the request of foreign shipping companies, who don't care about the U.S.' endangered species or laws regarding them. And why should they? There's only 300 of these creatures left, hardly enough to quibble about ...