Climate Climate & Energy
All Stories
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Let a thousand carbon taxes bloom!
Are you frustrated by the inaction in Washington, D.C. on the deepening climate crisis? Are you trying to figure out what more you could do, in addition to what you’re already doing, to advance a much-needed clean energy revolution in the USA? Here’s an answer: work to enact a local tax on carbon polluters in […]
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The limits and potential of plant-based energy
As oil reserves are being depleted, the world's attention is increasingly turning to plant-based energy sources from ethanol to electricity.
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New Coal Ash Video and Facebook App Aim to Educate, Engage
You’ve seen our push against toxic coal ash continue over the past few months as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks public comment on how to regulate coal ash. Our push continues this week with the unveiling of a new coal ash video we produced and a Facebook application. Take a look at the video […]
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Does climate change cause storms and civil wars?
There's a long history of disputes over whether climate change causes this or that unpleasantness. These disputes tend to be conceptually muddled.
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White House won't put solar on it … but we will
The Obama administration didn't commit to putting panels back on the White House. That's too bad. But it's also a great reminder of who the real leaders are. If the president can't climb up on the roof and hammer in some solar panels, clearly we need to push him up. Join us on 10/10/10!
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The San Bruno gas fire and the futility of harping on fossil-fuel disasters
An explosion from a ruptured natural-gas line killed at least four people and destroyed an entire city block in the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno on Thursday night. But people don't need hectoring told-you-so's in response to all these disasters. They need to see a vision of a sustainable future that actually looks appealing.
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Obstacles and Opportunities for Community Solar Power
Successful community solar power projects in Colorado, Maryland, and North Carolina are knocking down the price of residential-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) by 25% and giving renters and people with shady roofs a chance to go solar. The potential is enormous: nearly every state could get at least 20% of its power from rooftop solar alone. […]
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Key steps on global warming need to be agreed in Mexico later this year
This December, 194 countries will be in Cancun, Mexico to continue negotiations on international efforts to address climate change. My colleagues and I are in Mexico City this week for a series of discussions with key government officials, NGOs, businesses, and members of the media so we’ve been reflecting on Cancun. The Cancun climate negotiation […]
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Our energy-gulping industrial food system revealed in eight bullet points
New York Times recently ran Stephen Budiansky's op-ed hailing the energy efficiency of the industrial food system. The reality is much more complex
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Coal Ash, A Rancher's View
The Environmental Protection Agency is in the middle of a series of public hearings at sites around the country to gather input on new protections from toxic coal ash. This week’s blog post comes from Sierra Club Apprentice Jenny Kordick. — After watching a deer refuse to drink water from a reservoir on a hot […]