Gulf of Mexico oil spill

Egger’s Head: The oil spill

There’s a lot going on in Robert Egger’s head. Just ask him. Which is exactly what we do on a regular basis. And who is this Robert Egger, you wonder? He is the Founder of D.C. Central Kitchen, who moonlights as a rabble rouser, entrepreneur, and non-profit innovator with a knack for knitting disparate ideas […]

Grist staff Culture

Now is the time to transform our energy system

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is an unmitigated disaster. Its full consequences will not be known for decades. What we do know, however, is that BP President Tony Hayward was incredibly wrong when he stated that the spill will have “a very, very modest environmental impact.” Quite the contrary! In fact, […]

Sen. Bernie Sanders Politics

Success of oil capping bid won’t be clear for 48 hours

A mobile offshore drilling unit (front) drills a relief well in case this week’s top kill/junk shot attempt fails.U.S. Coast GuardBP’s latest one-two punch–pumping “heavy drilling fluid” with a junk-shot chaser–seems to be slowing the leaking Gulf oil well. But don’t uncross those fingers yet. “It’s going pretty well, according to plan,” BP chief Tony […]

Grist staff Politics

The Climate Post: BP oil spill washes up on Potomac shores

First things first: Oil-spill updates continue to gush out of the Gulf and Washington at volumes difficult to estimate. BP initiated its risky “top kill” maneuver Wednesday and the Coast Guard reported cautiously this morning that the oil stream has abated. If the effort works, BP will begin to plug the well with concrete in […]

Eric Roston Politics

Finally: Obama halts new offshore leases and stumps for climate bill

See, I have a Decider pose tooCourtesy White HouseNow we’re getting somewhere on the offshore drilling problem. Some progress from the top: Mr. Obama ordered a further six-month moratorium on new permits for new deepwater oil and gas wells; suspended the planned exploration in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas off the coast of Alaska; canceled […]

Jonathan Hiskes Politics

Officials admit BP disaster worst in U.S. history, best estimate of flow rate a total crock

Cross-posted from Wonk Room. Officials have finally admitted that the Deepwater Horizon blowout is the worst oil disaster in American history, exceeding the Exxon Valdez spill. After a month of insisting that the damaged well was only spewing 210,000 gallons (5000 barrels) of oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico, officials admitted this morning […]

Brad Johnson Technology

Obama says good-bye to MMS chief

Obama To-Do List, May 27, 2010: Head of Minerals Management Services: Say good-bye Deepwater oil drilling permits: Freeze, six months Oil lease sales off Alaska coast: Cancel Oil lease sales in Western Gulf: Cancel Oil lease sales off coast of Virginia: Cancel Safety standards: Get tough Find out more. BP beatdown BP is medicore at […]

Randy Rieland Politics

Obama’s finally connecting the Gulf spill and clean energy. Champagne time?

My request for President Obama is simple, really: Dust off the secret presidential SCUBA suit, invite the Senate’s biggest oil-industry shills on a “fact-finding mission” to the Gulf (promise shrimp cocktails if necessary), and use them to plug up BP’s hole. Failing that, Obama could start talking about the connection between the oil gusher, climate […]