Climate Energy

Critical List: Romney’s down with coal; Iran starts up a nuclear plant

Mitt Romney, in a desperate attempt to fit in, says he wants to burn more coal.

Iran's making nuclear power. There’s no way that could go wrong!

But worldwide, renewables are beating out nuclear in terms of installed capacity.

Jevons paradox: When doing more with less isn't enough

The 19th-century theory that increased energy efficiency just leads to increased consumption is experiencing a resurgence. But we shouldn't let Jevons Paradox serve as an excuse for inaction.

Separating fact from fiction on the Keystone XL

Both sides of the oil sands debate exaggerate their arguments. The oil sands are neither a climate catastrophe nor an energy security bonanza.

Critical List: Rick Perry loves nuclear waste; oil spills in Alabama

Rick Perry wanted to expand a nuclear waste site, owned by one of his donors, but a state commissioner objected. Guess what happened to the state commissioner. No, he wasn’t killed, Jesus! But Perry did offer him another job, in order to bribe him away from the waste commission so he could be replaced.

Beijing's going to put congestion fees in place, a policy that New York City has failed to get past suburban commuters. Ah, democracy.

Will you be living under high water stress?

Some businesses, like the insurance industry, believe in climate change. But that doesn't mean they're prepared for it.

Which side are you on, Obama? Live from the tar-sands protests [VIDEO]

Over 700 people have been arrested since action began two weeks ago, but Obama has stayed silent.

The last Keystone pipeline had a record number of leaks

The Huffington Post has posted one of those giant infographics on the subject of Keystone I, the last TransCanada pipeline in the U.S. and progenitor to the proposed Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline. It's crazy big, beacuse apparently infographics these days are more like abridged children's books, but here's the take-home message: Keystone I had more […]

Why the hell does Michele Bachmann want to drill for oil in the Everglades?

Michele Bachman wants to drill for oil "whether that is in the Everglades or whether that is in the Eastern Gulf region or whether that is in North Dakota." Even Republicans think this is kind of nuts, because even Republicans are willing to agree that the Everglades has some nice stuff that it'd be darn shame to ruin forever. But for Bachmann, it's a "wonderful treasure trove of energy that God has given us in this country."

If you're thinking, oil in the Gulf … ok; oil in North Dakota … sure, I read that New Yorker article; but … is there even oil the Everglades?? … well, we're with you. A federally employed geologist told a local Florida TV station that "there is no known evidence that there is a significant hydrocarbon deposit beneath the Everglades." 

But the Associated Press reports that there is one tract of privately owned land where oil was found in 1943. 

Peak coal in China means the country's desperate for renewables

China's economic miracle is under severe threat from up to 30 GW in power shortages -- that's more than twice the output of the Three Gorges Dam. Coal plants are shutting down as the cost of fuel outpaces the government-controlled price of electricity. Domestic shortages have driven the price of fuel up 75 percent since 2007, but the Chinese government limits electricity price increases to only 15 percent.

'Solar home rule' could power the D.C. economy

Citizens of Washington, D.C. could generate jobs and keep more electricity dollars at home with rooftop solar power.

Secretary of Energy is a Keystone XL booster

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu hasn't said definitively whether he supports the Keystone XL pipeline. But he's heavily implied that he's a fan, laying out the project's potential benefits in an interview with energyNOW!. "It's not perfect," said Chu of the pipeline, which would increase greenhouse-gas emissions and quite probably leak to boot. But he […]