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The biggest factor is still the bottom line

An influential group of CEOs, senior officers and trustees of institutional investors, asset managers, and corporations called for action (PDF) on climate change back on March 19. It's a good thing the rich and powerful in the U.S. are starting to recognize that action must be taken. But as should be expected, what they call for is the minimum they think they can get away with rather than what is needed.

In which Knut gets even cuter

Vanity Fair‘s second annual “green issue” hits newsstands today (though it arrived last week in “special” cities like New York, L.A., and, apparently, Seattle). And I must say, though its inside contents can’t compete with last year’s edition featuring Grist’s own Chip Giller, it does feature on its cover the equally lovable and (sorry, Chip) […]

Monbiot says what needs saying

The estimable Bart A.'s Energy Bulletin unearths yet another gem amidst the rising tide of dreck pouring out of the Series of Tubes: A must read interview with George Monbiot.

Ahh, democracy

Last night the Maryland legislature passed a world-class solar program -- 1,400 MW of solar on rooftops over the next 15 years, putting Maryland in the upper echelon of solar-supporting states. Kudos, congrats, and thanks to the Maryland advocates that made this happen.

That this passed is a good thing. But how it passed is a lesson that bears wider dissemination.

Read it all, yo

The piece on Grist in Outside magazine — which we mentioned here — is now online. You’ll want to read every last delicious word! And while you’re at it, enter their contest: send a funny Gristy headline for the piece to mesofunny@outsidemag.com and win a two-year subscription. One thing I wanted to say about it, […]

Billie Jean King builds a green fitness facility

Thought Calamity James, Bob Burnquist, Hijo del Santo, and Yao Ming were the only big-ish names is green sporting? (Because I know you spend a lot of time pondering the big-ish names is green sporting.) Well, add these to your list: Pioneering tennis phenom Billie Jean King is involved in plans for a green community, […]

An interesting approach to bird safe wind power

Ottawa, Canada-based company Magenn has developed a "floating wind turbine" for personal and infrastructure power generation. The helium-filled device floats up to 1,000 feet into the air, using high altitude wind gusts to generate power up to a kilowatt. The power is transfered down via two "tethers" attached to the turbine.

Magenn states that its compact design and flexibility eliminates the risk of birds getting chopped up near it, a problem associated with standard fan-based turbines. It looks a bit weird, but most out-the-box ideas usually do.

Funny

Here is Stephen Colbert discussing the “reduce reuse re-psychos” and interviewing Colin Beavan, whose family is shooting for a year of zero eco-impact. Beavan puts in a plug for Step It Up. Nice work Mr. Beavan! Funny stuff:

I prefer to fly

I changed my mind. I no longer want a plug-in hybrid car. Them's for punks.

Now I want a solar/plug-in airplane. Video below the fold.

Takeaway message: battery technology is the roadblock. That and rain.

Ticket info and line-ups also announced

After much back–and–forth over D.C. locations for Al Gore’s Live Earth Concerts on 7/7/07, organizers today announced the U.S. concert will be held at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Tickets for the show will go on sale Monday, April 16, at 10 a.m. EDT. Locations were also announced for five of the other seven concerts […]