Articles by David Roberts

Cellulosic ethanol, that is

Ha. This headline from Greenwire yesterday (sub. rqd) verges on parody:

Cellulosic fuel on cusp of commercialization, but hurdles remain, experts say

Is a smart guy

Earlier today I had a nice long chat with Terry Tamminen, who until recently was Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's top environmental advisor.

It's safe to say that Tamminen is one of the most influential figures in environmental policy in the country, though he's not widely known. Through his friendship and professional association with Schwarzenegger, he helped develop a whole range of innovative policies, including the biggie: AB 32, California's greenhouse-gas reduction bill. (See also the low-emissions-vehicles regulations that got the state sued by automakers.)

You’ll never guess

Carbon neutral.

Mixed reports

Today in E&E Daily (sub. only), there's a chipper piece from Darren Samuelsohn about the prospects for action on climate change in the 110th Congress. Look, how exciting!

The 2006 election outcome may be less than a week old, but the pieces have started coming together for how the next Congress will tackle the global warming issue.

"Clearly, it's a sea change," said Emily Figdor of U.S. PIRG. "For the first time in a long time, Congress can finally get down to the business of what's happening."

Incoming Senate EPW Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said last week she would take a lead role for the Democrats. Speaking with reporters, Boxer said she plans to use California's new global warming law -- requiring a statewide cut of emissions of 25 percent by 2020 -- as a model in the drafting of federal climate legislation.

Wo0t! Right?

But a few paragraphs later: