Articles by Grist staff

Green Mountin' State

Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D) said yesterday that his state can meet electricity demands for the next decade by “using renewable energy and efficiency and relying less on large fossil-fuel plants.” For starters, Dean said he would probably devote $750,000 from an oil-industry settlement to solar and wind system rebates. Christine Salembier, commissioner of the […]

Better, Safe Safari

“The future of Kenyan tourism is green,” says Judy Gona, executive director of the Ecotourism Society of Kenya, which is working to create a low-impact, more environmentally friendly tourism industry in the second-most visited country in Africa. ESOK’s 80 members are mostly small, secluded camps and lodges that are built with local materials. They use […]

How Now, Brown Cow?

The 450,000 dairy cows in Southern California are contributing to some of the dirtiest air in the country — and regulators want to clamp down. The cows kick up tons of dust and their manure emits ammonia that joins with nitrogen oxide from vehicle tailpipes to create particulate pollution. Dairies in the area account for […]

Reef Riff

Despite objections from environmental groups and local governments, the California state legislature passed a bill on Friday that would allow abandoned offshore oilrigs to be converted to underwater reefs. If Gov. Gray Davis (D) signs the bill, oil companies will save millions of dollars; currently, they must dismantle and take away the rigs when drilling […]