Articles by Grist staff

Feds axe acreage of spotted owl habitat

The amount of old-growth forest designated as critical habitat for the northern spotted owl was slashed 23 percent, or 1.6 million acres, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday. One might think that means that spotted owls are doing well for themselves, but no: the spotted owl population is dropping by 4 percent […]

Roadless rule shot down, again

The Clinton-era “roadless rule” has been declared invalid by U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer. The rule, which prohibits development on 58.5 million acres of national forest, has had a long and rocky past. Brimmer first put the kibosh on it in 2003, and while an appeal was pending, the Bush administration switched it out for […]

Snippets from the news

• Jewish groups voice green concerns. • T. Boone Pickens invests in natural-gas-fueled taxis. • Invasive snake causes problems in Guam. • “Off-road rage” a problem on public lands. • Australia may get world’s largest solar plant. • Technology could make wind turbines quieter.

House Speaker says she’s open to compromise on offshore drilling

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on “Larry King Live” Monday night that she would consider allowing a vote on offshore drilling, but only if it were part of an energy package that included renewable-energy investment and release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Pelosi has refused to allow a vote on offshore drilling […]