Articles by Grist staff

Scientists and other experts rattle off options for averting climate catastrophe

London’s Independent newspaper asked climate scientists to answer a simple question: should humanity “prepare a ‘Plan B’ to curb the worst effects of global warming?” Well, ask 40 eggheads a question, and you’ll get a very diverse set of responses. Geo-engineering is the answer! No, focus on carbon sequestration. Wrong again, it’s all about adapting […]

Robert Rapier on ever-delayed cellulosic ethanol

Wonky Gristians will want to read the entirety of Robert Rapier's "Top 10 Energy Stories of 2008" on the Oil Drum. I'll focus here on item No. 6: "Second-generation ethanol is delayed."

Rapier opens by linking to a "top energy stories to watch in 2008" story from the U.S. News and World Report published a year ago. "Next-generation ethanol production begins," the writer predicted, citing "Range Fuels' plan to begin commercial production of ethanol from timber-industry waste late in 2008."

Ah, plans. Rapier brings the update. "The over-promise, under-deliver meme that I have been critical of continues," he writes. "Range Fuels had initially intended to start producing in 2008, but that was delayed to 2009 and now production isn't forecast to begin until 2010."

None of this dims the pie-eyed optimism of cellulosic boosters, Rapier notes. He cites the case of Coskata, which makes this claim: "Using proprietary microorganisms and patented bioreactor designs, we will produce ethanol for under US $1.00 per gallon." Right. And they're not doing it already because ...? Rapier links to a previous post of his that slices through Coskata's hype.

Meanwhile, even as federal mandates for cellulosic ethanol under the 2007 Energy Act start to ramp up, construction of new plants has slowed to a trickle, despite an influx of federal cash. "[O]f the six cellulosic ethanol projects selected to receive $385 million in federal funding in February 2007, almost two years later only one plant is actually under construction (Range Fuels)," Rapier writes. Oh, right, Range Fuels -- the company that keeps overpromising and underdelivering.

California lawmakers set to take lead on enviro policy

Monday’s Washington Post notes a fact that’s been on many a green activist’s mind in the past two months: California lawmakers are set to play key roles in setting the nation’s environmental policies. The two congressional committees with the biggest say in environmental legislation are chaired by Californians (Barbara Boxer in the Senate, Henry Waxman […]

Massive coal-ash spill in Tennessee threatens water supplies and public health

More than a billion gallons of coal ash have spilled from a coal-burning power plant in eastern Tennessee since Dec. 22, when a retention wall at the plant burst. That’s billion with a “B,” which means the amount of gunk spilled is about 100 times larger than the mess from the Exxon Valdez disaster. Gray […]