Climate Climate & Energy

Coal electricity prices: the new gas prices

In the next few years, Americans who have grown accustomed to some of the cheapest power in the world will start to see their rates rise, sharply, mainly because coal is rapidly getting more expensive. Here’s a preview: COLUMBUS, Ohio — American Electric Power said Thursday it must raise electricity rates 45 percent for its […]

Aussies should fight climate change by eating kangaroo, says study

Australians who want to make a dent in climate change just need to eat more kangaroo, says a new study in the journal Conservation Letters. The methane-producing burps and farts of sheep and cattle contribute 11 percent of Australia’s annual greenhouse-gas emissions. Kangaroos, however, emit little methane. Researchers say that 175 million kangaroos could produce […]

The five transport energy solutions and one imperative

This is the second in a series on how we can build an energy future based on our best science and no longer critically dependent upon exhaustible and polluting fossil fuels. The Five Transport Energy Solutions and One Imperative There are five fundamental options to move into a post-oil, post-natural gas energy world and one […]

As energy costs rise, supply chains go local

Two articles you should read if you’re interested in eating local, growing local, building local, buying local, or any of the other ways that geography, economy, and environment intersect: The first is an article from a few weeks ago, detailing the destruction of the domestic catfish industry due to rising prices for oil, corn, soybeans, […]

Feds cut program that helped poor countries adapt to climate change

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is eliminating a program that helped developing countries anticipate and deal with droughts, floods, and other realities of a changing climate. The now-defunct Center for Capacity Building, which had an annual budget of about $500,000, was reputable in the international climate community for its unique approach to the human […]

Me, on the radio in Oregon

Hear Bruce Silverman interview me on Portland’s KBOO FM on the opportunities for waste energy recovery — specifically in the wood products, pulp, and paper industries in the state. (Special Bonus: plug for Grist at 18:40 or so!)

Drilling more in the U.S. won’t avert any environmental damage from drilling overseas

I was planning on ignoring this column from Charles Krauthammer — always a good idea — but two or three people have asked me about it now, so I guess it’s worth saying something. Krauthammer’s thesis is that when we put areas in the U.S. off limits to oil drilling, we push drilling into countries […]

Hansen’s trip report finds ‘sobering degree of self-deception’ in Germany, U.K., Japan

The nation’s top climate scientist has visited some of “countries that are among the best-educated on climate change” and come away disappointed. For real disappointment, though, imagine what happens when climate scientists from those countries visit America. The whole report [PDF] is worth reading, with many fascinating nuggets. Hansen joins the cavalcade of experts who […]

California’s innovative energy efficiency loan program is a model worth copying

A request: If you a) have anything to do with city or county government, and b) have any interest in, or authority over, property taxes, finance, or energy efficiency, please drop whatever you're doing for two minutes, and skim this article.

Oh, all right, I bet you didn't actually hit the link. So to make your job easier, I'll pull a quote or two.

California [just] enacted a law that allows cities and counties to make low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses to install solar panels, high-efficiency air conditioners and other energy-saving improvements.

Participants can pay back the loans over decades through property taxes. And if a property owner sells his home or business, the loan balance is transferred to the next owner, along with the improvements. [Emphasis added.]

I don't think that I emphasize this enough: This is truly groundbreaking. In fact, it may well be among the top three climate policies ever adopted by the state. I hope that other states follow suit soon -- even if it means fixing the state constitution (Cough*Washington*cough).

NYC officials fear natural-gas drilling would taint water supplies

New York City officials want to ban natural-gas drilling within a mile of six major upstate reservoirs for fear that the city’s drinking water could become contaminated. Extracting gas from the Marcellus Shale rock layer, as some state regulators and lawmakers are pushing to do, would require shooting millions of gallons of water and unidentified […]