Articles by Grist staff

Report says energy efficiency significantly boosted California’s economy

California’s energy-efficiency measures have created some 1.5 million jobs and saved residents about $56 billion in energy costs since 1972, according to a new study from the University of California at Berkeley. Overall, the study found that the state’s efficiency measures freed up billions of dollars that consumers would otherwise have spent on electricity bills […]

Bush admin moves to ease restrictions on mountaintop-removal mining

The Bush administration is about to ease restrictions on mountaintop-removal mining, making it easier — and legal — for companies to dump mine waste in streams. Since 1983, dumping mine waste within 100 feet of streams has been illegal, but many mining companies have done so anyway due to a combination of lax enforcement and […]

Snippets from the news

• U.S. advances proposal to ease restrictions on mountaintop-removal mining. • Argentina requires companies to buy environmental insurance. • Dutch farmers say E.U. pesticide rules will take down tulip industry. • Eiffel Tower scales back its twinkle. • Energy-producing shoes could power your gadgets.

Federal agencies graded on scientific openness

Some federal agencies are far more transparent than others when it comes to releasing scientific information to the press and public, says a new report card from the Union of Concerned Scientists. A sampling: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission received a B+; NASA, commended for improving its policies following muzzling complaints from climate-change expert James Hansen, […]