Articles by David Roberts
David Roberts was a staff writer for Grist. You can follow him on Twitter, if you're into that sort of thing.
All Articles
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Finally, some real environmentalists
We've found a little slice of heaven for Jeff!
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Gristmill exclusive!!!!!
Breaking news!
At my breakfast this morning with Lester Brown, the man ordered a ham and cheese omelet.
That's right. This alleged "environmentalist" is not ... a ... vegetarian.
Press inquiries may be directed to me.
Developing ...
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Coal companies sue feds for letting them slack on safety
After the Sago coal mine disaster killed 12 West Virginia miners last month, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) came under widespread criticism for failing to adequately regulate the coal industry and protect mine workers. Critics blamed the Bush administration for stocking the agency with coal industry cronies who wanted a more "cooperative" approach to safety regulations rather than serious enforcement. Now, one more group has joined the chorus of MSHA critics: the very coal companies that worked to gut the agency in the first place.
Read the rest of this weird, wacky tale.
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It sucks
Sigh:
President Bush's latest spending plan is unlikely to substantially reduce US oil consumption in the short term because it slashes $100 million from federal programs promoting conservation and falls short of the commitment in last year's energy bill to make vast new investments in renewable and emerging technologies, like hydrogen fuel and solar power.
I can hardly bear to discuss the rest of this story -- though it is an excellent piece of reporting. You should read it.
To summarize: Bush's budget is de-funding and de-emphasizing energy conservation, very much deliberately ("Craig Stevens, a Department of Energy spokesman, said the White House's emphasis on new energy sources over conservation reflects the department's current priorities."). Renewables are getting less money even than they were promised in last year's energy bill. Most of the money for renewables is devoted to nuclear, specifically a "$250 million Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, designed in part to encourage developing nations to build nuclear power plants." He's increasing the Interior Department's budget for oil drilling, and assuming revenues from drilling in the Arctic Refuge. And on and on.
Everything Bush said about energy in the SOTU was a farce. Nothing has changed.
