Grist List

Critical List: Republicans still pushing Keystone; Yosemite to limit Half Dome hikes

House Republicans just can’t let go of the Keystone XL pipeline. Speaker Boehner now says it could be part of a bill expanding domestic energy production. The value of renewable energy deals grew by two-fifths last year, which means, according to analysts, that businesses like wind and solar are “maturing.” Yosemite could limit the number […]

Sarah Laskow

State Dept. official overstates Keystone jobs by a factor of 10

The State Department wants to set the record straight: When they said the Keystone XL pipeline would create 35,000 jobs, they were entirely correct, in some kind of number system where 100 equals 1,000. Otherwise, they may have exaggerated a little. In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday, Assistant Secretary of State Dr. […]

Jess Zimmerman Energy

High school culinary students eat their own classroom pets

Students in the culinary program at Jasper Place High School in Edmonton, Canada (yes, Canada apparently has culinary programs in high school) probably think farm-to-table restaurants are a pretty cute idea. Oh, you have a farm on your roof? You must be so proud. We have a farm ON OUR ACTUAL TABLE. The students are […]

Jess Zimmerman Agriculture

1,000-pound butter sculpture will power farm for three days

Like deep-fried cake on a stick (or regional variants), butter sculpture is a staple of state fair tradition that will never go away even if it’s unnecessary and kinda gross. But at least the Pennsylvania state fair is using its behemoth butter statuary as a source of alternative energy.

Jess Zimmerman Energy

‘Winter Jam Canceled Due to Lack of Winter’

The New York City parks department’s annual Winter Jam in Prospect Park has been nixed due to unseasonably warm temperatures — it’s kind of hard to have winter sports demonstrations when you don’t have any winter. (There is basically no way we could improve on the Times headline about the decision, so we’re just gonna let that sit […]

Jess Zimmerman Science

Renewables nearly competitive with fossil fuels, even without subsidies

In 2010, investors and governments poured $187 billion into renewables and just $157 billion into natural gas, oil and coal.

Christopher Mims Technology

New York City could open up 1,200 acres of rooftops for farming

Given how valuable space is in New York City, the city's rooftops are strangely empty. But a proposal from the city's planning department could change that by making 1,200 acres of commercial rooftops available for urban farmers to open greenhouses across the city.

Sarah Laskow Buildings

Renegade apps show how iPhones are awful for people, planet

Here are a bunch of (simulated) apps that, judging by Apple's recent treatment of similarly socially conscious fare, will never, ever make it onto an actual iPhone.