Articles by Grist staff

Alaska natural-gas pipeline is far from a done deal

Photo: triciaward In her speech at the Republican National Convention last week, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin touted her role in moving forward a plan for a natural-gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope to the Lower 48. The GOP veep candidate declared, “That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will […]

So how much do renewables cost anyway?

One of the attractions of renewable energy is that for most renewable generators (except biomass power plants) the cost of the fuel is free. However, even more so than with a conventional power plant, much of the expense of a renewable generator is concentrated at the beginning of the power plant’s life. The cost of […]

Old-growth forests absorb more CO2 than they release, study finds

Most of the world’s old-growth forests actively absorb more carbon dioxide than they release into the atmosphere, making them effective carbon sinks, according to a new study in the journal Nature. The new research, which relies on data from over 500 forests around the world, refutes the commonly held assertion that old-growth forests are merely […]

EPA to update health-hazard reporting standards for U.S. beaches

The U.S. EPA has agreed to update its 22-year-old criteria for reporting beach-related health hazards to the public thanks to a new settlement with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Right now, the EPA’s criteria for assessing ocean-water and beach health are based on the likelihood of beachgoers contracting gastrointestinal illnesses, but apparently that’s just one […]