Tuesday, 19 Jun 2007

We Can't Bear to Look

U.S. Senate squares off on ambitious energy bill

All eyes are on the Senate this week as it debates a controversial Democrat-penned energy bill. (Hey! We said "all eyes"! Don't go away.) The legislation contains several provisions that make Big Oil, Big Auto, and Big Republicans squirm: it would shift nearly $15 billion in tax credits and subsidies from oil to renewable sources like wind and solar; require utilities to produce 15 percent of their power from renewables; give the feds more power to prosecute gasoline price-gouging; and mandate a fuel-efficiency standard for cars, SUVs, and small trucks of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Ambitious! But potentially doomed, as opponents are doing their best to puncture the plans, and majority leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) may scuttle the whole thing temporarily to take up the immigration debate instead. Meanwhile, as the House floats its own energy solutions, powerful Michigan Democrat John Dingell has backed off of plans to support coal-to-liquid fuels and weaker efficiency standards -- at least for now.

Scarce Fell On Alabama

Crops, neighborly relations suffer in Southeastern U.S. drought

A severe drought is gripping most of the Southeastern U.S., threatening crops, inspiring prayer, and turning neighbors against each other. "It's one of the worst droughts in living memory in the Southeast at this point," said Doug LeComte, a drought specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "This happens only about every 50 years or so." With a high-pressure system keeping rain away, some of the hardest-hit states -- including Alabama and Georgia -- are imposing restrictions on outdoor water use and often fining offenders. In one Georgia county, officials report about six calls a day from residents turning in their neighbors. Georgia's governor decreed a "day of prayer for agriculture" last week, and other states are turning to secular means: South Carolina and North Carolina are locked in a legal battle over use of Catawba River water. And with cotton, corn, and peanut crops withering, "Farmers are reporting nothing but dust," says LeComte. "It's dire straits."


In keeping with our society's current preference for simplifying (e.g., it's easier to worry about Paris Hilton's jail term than prisoners at Guantanamo), the term "eco" has become a catch-all replacement for the multi-syllabic mouthful "environmental." But is eco all it's cracked up to be? Mark Peters takes a lighthearted look at the history of the prefix, the wackiest neologisms it's inspired, and where we're eco-going from here.

Irony Of Iron Ease

U.S. EPA challenges California company's plankton-seeding plan

A California company's plan to fight climate change by seeding the ocean with iron dust is drawing fire from the U.S. EPA, which reportedly woke from a nap with the vague feeling that it ought to be doing something regulatory. The company, Planktos, will use the iron to spur the growth of phytoplankton, which can absorb carbon dioxide. It would then sell carbon credits based on the project. Critics have pointed out a boatload of flaws with the plan, including the fact that the plants can release other greenhouse gases when they decompose. Now the EPA says the release of nearly 50 tons of iron requires a permit under the Ocean Dumping Act. Planktos CEO Russ George claims the amount in question is "roughly a billion times below regulatory limit" and says he'll switch to a non-U.S. ship if need be. The International Maritime Organization will consider the topic at a meeting this week; says Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution: "It's far-fetched to claim you help ocean ecosystems by disturbing them."

Search Engine Engine Search

Google pledges $10 million for plug-in hybrid research

Google has gone all googly-eyed over plug-in hybrid vehicles, pledging more than $10 million in funding for the nascent technology. At a sunny photo op at its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters yesterday, company officials showed off a handful of Toyota Prius and Ford Escape cars that had been modified to plug in. With big talk including the idea of hybrids feeding stored energy back to the power grid (yes, it makes our heads spin a little too), the company's philanthropic arm, Google.org, made a qualified splash. "Google is not going to get into the business of building and selling hybrid electrics," said Google.org's Dan Reicher, a former assistant energy secretary under President Clinton. "Our focus is on accelerating their developing through research, testing, and investment." Of course, some stingy types point out that $10 million ain't exactly earth-shattering. But a spokesperson for GM, which has taken the lead on plug-ins, said he applauded the announcement: "Every little bit helps."

We Had Joy, We Had Funds

Grist wraps up summer fundraiser with one final plea

A new study shows that donating to charity activates some of the same pleasure spots in the brain that eating and sex activate. For real! And writing a check (or using PayPal) is much tidier than those other activities. So please, consider giving to Grist -- today is the very last day of our 2007 keep-this-nonprofit-afloat summer fundraiser. We've come a long way with your help, and we're eager to keep up the good work and bad puns. Bonus: if you give $100 or more by 11:59 p.m. PDT tonight, you could still get a shot at winning a Gristravaganza Green Living Starter Kit! So please give what you can. And thank you.