Articles by Grist staff

California withdraws proposal to potentially override private thermostats

Strenuous public objection has forced the California Energy Commission to withdraw a proposal that new buildings in the state have radio-controlled thermostats that would allow utilities to override customers’ temperature settings in the case of a power emergency. Some saw the plan as way too Big Brother; energy commission member Arthur Rosenfeld described it as […]

Bush exempts Navy from environmental law in ongoing sonar saga

President Bush fired another salvo in the ongoing fight pitting the U.S. Navy’s use of mid-frequency sonar against whales and other marine mammals that can be harmed by it. Bush yesterday exempted the Navy from parts of the Coastal Zone Management Act that a federal judge recently found the Navy was violating when it used […]

Deal reached to remove Klamath River dams for salmon; obstacles remain

The Klamath River near the California-Oregon border has been a hotspot in the clash over endangered salmon runs and the irrigation needs of area farmers, but a formal deal reached yesterday suggests a way out of the long-standing disagreements. The plan — agreed to by a diverse group of stakeholders in the region including Indian […]

Romney wins Michigan GOP primary after bashing McCain on fuel economy

Mitt Romney won Michigan’s Republican primary on Tuesday, after whacking John McCain for supporting tougher fuel-economy regulations and promoting “radical climate change legislation.” Romney portrayed himself as a defender of Michigan’s floundering auto industry and said the automakers shouldn’t be burdened with having to produce more fuel-efficient cars. McCain also got broadsided by an anti-environment […]