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Santa’s Gonna Be Pissed

Arctic summer ice could melt nearly completely by mid-century, study says The Arctic Ocean could lose nearly all of its summer ice by 2040, says a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Research suggests that Arctic ice will begin retreating rapidly around 2024; by mid-century, far northern Canada and Greenland may claim the […]

We’re Hungry for Your Support

Grist fundraiser continues, ups the ante with edible giveaways You know how, last New Year’s, you resolved to eat better? And you did, for a week or two, but then one day the cookies just sort of reached out for you from the cabinet, and that was the end of that? This year, we’ve got […]

Hybrids connected to the electrical grid could change the energy game

The U.S. Department of Energy has concluded that the existing U.S. electrical grid -- without additional construction for generation or transmission -- could accommodate 180 million cars that draw their power from night-time (off-peak) electricity. That's about 85% of the cars in the country.

The full report is not yet available, but based on the press release, there's lots of good news -- with some bad news mixed in.

Finally, teh soy and teh gay, united

Looks like there's more to soy biodiesel than protecting the environment and energy independence -- it's also going to help keep down the homosexual population!

Yes, it seems that medical "evidence" has finally shown homosexuality is not genetic at all. It is, in fact, your momma's fault for giving you soy-based formula.

Let's keep that "devil's food" out of the mouths of babes and in our fuel tanks!

Seriously, though, soy products (that aren't fermented) do contain high levels of phyto-estrogens, which are analogous to the female hormone estrogen. Studies are mixed as to the effects of soybeans' chemicals and metabolites on infants, as well as on adults. But none of them point to a link between soy and homosexuality.

If you're leery of soy formula's possible effects on babies (and want to give your baby the best start all around), stick to breastfeeding.

U.S. EPA thinks lead in the air may be A-OK, and more

Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Bra-vo Plumb Crazy By Hook and By Crook Folks, We’re Encountering Some Turbulence Native Shun Read the articles mentioned at the end of the podcast: Fill ‘er Up Que Sarah, Sarah Tanks for Nothing At Bat And don’t forget to donate to Grist’s “New Year’s […]

Not quite, but cellulosic ethanol may be coming sooner than you think

Even as organizations ranging from Consumers Union to the Cato Institute cast doubt on the environmental value of corn-based ethanol, facilities designed to make it are popping up by the dozen throughout the Midwest. Meanwhile, cellulosic ethanol — which can be derived from just about any plant matter — draws near-unanimous environmental raves. Trouble is, […]

An environmental-justice advocate responds to the biofuels boom

I am very excited to see this Grist series, because I am a biodiesel user. I am also very worried about the growth of the biofuels industry, because I am an environmental-justice advocate, and I see this industry rapidly leaving my community behind. What happens after the photo shoot? Photo: house.gov The growth of the […]

Good stuff

Newsweek's Enterprise section is focused on "the future of energy." There are a few good stories in there.

Famed author (at least famed to energy geeks) Daniel Yergin says the end of cheap oil is going to make for an era of enormous technological innovation, driven by private venture capital and entrepreneurialism rather than government programs.

Fareed Zakaria laments the rise of a set of anti-capitalist, authoritarian economic powerhouses fueled by high oil prices (a point the mustache is fond of making).

Best of all, in the normally unbearable My Turn column, presidential wildcard Al Gore shows up to tout the benefits of decentralized energy sources and smart grids. Be still my heart!

Here's an excerpt:

Alternatives to oil must take climate change into account

Let me engage in a piece of meta-wonkerific self-reference and quote myself:

"Energy security" is a lopsided way of framing our energy problem, and left un-balanced, will do more harm than good.

I said that in the context of talking about coal -- the enemy of the human race -- but this week brought another piece of evidence from a different quarter.

An interview with Greasecar founder Justin Carven

Justin Carven. In the span of just two years, Justin Carven invented the first waste-oil conversion kit for diesel engines, graduated from Hampshire College, drove a vegetable-oil-fueled van across the country, and started his very own company. Six years later, Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems is selling so many conversion kits that Carven is talking about […]