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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Jiminy Cricket this is creepy
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David Roberts |
13 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
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| Topics: coal, energy (all these topics) |
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Huckabee wins Kansas
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David Roberts |
09 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Like the headline says. Wonder where he comes down on those coal plants. |
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| Topics: coal, elections, energy, Kansas, Mike Huckabee, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics) |
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Boogie Woogie Google Boy
An interview with Google's green energy czar, Bill Weihl |
Amanda Griscom Little |
07 Feb 2008 |
Grist Feature |
| The phrase "to Google" has become synonymous with "to search." But soon it may connote something altogether different: "to green." That is, if the internet titan can successfully pull off its latest world-changing endeavor. Bill Weihl. In late 2007, the dot-com giant announced its intention to make renewable energy cheaper than coal. The RE<C pro ... |
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| Topics: business, carbon neutral, carbon offsets, coal, energy, energy efficiency, greening biz operations, greenish companies, interview, renewable energy, solar thermal power (all these topics) |
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For whom the bell coals
More bad news for coal as big banks reconsider financing |
David Roberts |
04 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
| I assume you've all heard the good news that three huge investment banks are planning to impose stricter standards on investments in coal-fired power plants. See WSJ's Jeffrey Ball here and here. I'd like to think this was the sheer power of green groups or the moral sensitivities of bank executives finally acting up, but the fact is, the writing is on the wall. Carbon legislation is inevitable. And make no mistake: any carbon legislation is going to make new dirty co ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, coal, energy (all these topics) |
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DOE'h!
Dept. of Energy paints different picture of clean coal than president's SOTU |
David Roberts |
03 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Over at Solve Climate, David Sassoon is taking a nice leisurely stroll through the Dept. of Energy's Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap and Program Plan (2007). Some astonishing sights await! First, he notices that despite some big talk in recent press releases, the DOE road map says frankly that "as a technology and a research discipline, carbon sequestration is in its infancy." Development and testing of key technologies is scheduled for as much as 12 ... |
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| Topics: coal, Department of Energy, energy (all these topics) |
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Kansas Republicans against global warming
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David Roberts |
01 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A prominent Republican Kansas legislator comes out in support of Sebelius and against his ideological brethren on the subject of Kansas coal plants: When every Academy of Science in every developed, industrialized nation agrees, and when the overwhelming number of scientists throughout the world state man-made global warming is a reality, then I would ask this: Can we afford to gamble that all of them are wrong? You may be a skeptic. I am a true believer. ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, Kansas, politics, state politics (all these topics) |
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Carbon-loaded question
Obama parries ABEC |
David Roberts |
31 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Obama gets buttonholed by a planted ABEC coal shill: Nothing he says here is particularly objectionable. The priority on reducing CO2 emissions is welcome. It is true that if we can figure out a way to cost-effectively sequester coal emissions, it will bring some benefit. More important, though, is what's not said. He says we can't emit more CO2, but he stops short of calling for a moratorium on dirty coal plants with no sequestration. (He says he won't 'license ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, climate, coal, elections, energy, greenhouse-gas emissions, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics) |
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Flipflopping on FutureGen
Bush drops mismanaged 'NeverGen' clean coal project |
Joseph Romm |
31 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| For those remaining seven or eight three or four people who still buy the Bush rhetoric that he cares about global warming and is committed to addressing the problem with new technology, Exhibit 435C for the prosecution is the just-canceled 'clean coal' project called FutureGen. [Amusing anecdote for FHA (Future Historians of America): I once had a boss at the U.S. Department of Energy who practiced repeating 'clean coal' in front of a mirror so as not to break out ... |
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| Topics: carbon sequestration, climate, coal, energy, politics (all these topics) |
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Testing Sebelius
Kansas dirty-energy advocates make their play to allow coal plants |
David Roberts |
31 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The fight over coal plants in Kansas has taken another turn. State legislators have introduced a new law that they say is "fair to both sides." That characterization could not be more comical. First of all, the bill was crafted in secret by four legislators who are members of the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority and support building the coal plants. No environmentalists were invited to the table, but the plants developer, Sunflower Electric Power, &q ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, Kansas, politics, state politics (all these topics) |
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Notable quotable
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David Roberts |
31 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| 'I do think we're in a position where we don't foresee the need for new coal-fired generation in the Carolinas anytime in the foreseeable future. It's probably premature to say we will never build a coal plant in the Carolinas again, but today we do not foresee the need to do that based on the inputs we see and based on planning in front of us.' -- Jim Turner, president of Duke Energy Duke is set to build a coal plant in N.C., with the blessing of the Sierra Club, ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, quotables (all these topics) |
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More Blankenship bashing ...
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David Roberts |
30 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| ... from the folks at FirstPost. Blankenship bashing on Grist here, here, and here. Why this guy isn't every progressive's bogeyman is beyond me. |
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| Topics: business, coal, energy (all these topics) |
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Duke It Out
Duke Energy will build likely its last coal plant in North Carolina |
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30 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:30 PM on 30 Jan 2008 Well, we've got good news and bad news: North Carolina air-quality officials have granted Duke Energy a permit for a new coal plant (boo) in what Duke Carolinas President Ellen Ruff says is "very likely the last coal plant you'll see coming from Duke" in the Carolinas (rah!). The permit stipulates that four older Duke coal plants in the state be retired before the new one g ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, news, North Carolina (all these topics) |
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Obama joins Illinois legislators pushing to revive FutureGen
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David Roberts |
30 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| When the DOE announced it was yanking support for FutureGen, I wondered where Obama would come down on it. Pro-Illinois, or pro-green-coal-haters? Here's our answer: Nine members of Illinois' congressional delegation are urging President Bush to keep the FutureGen clean-coal power plant on track. In a letter sent to the president today, the bipartisan group said it has lost faith in Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman after meeting with him Tuesday. Bodman, in t ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, coal, energy, Illinois, politics (all these topics) |
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PastGen
Department of Energy backs away from funding FutureGen project |
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29 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 5:04 PM on 29 Jan 2008 Well let us just pick our grinning jaws up off the floor: The U.S. Department of Energy has told lawmakers that it plans to pull funding for FutureGen, its ambitious and crazily expensive "clean coal" demonstration plant. The feds had planned to cover some three-quarters of the $1.8 billion price tag, and cited ballooning costs as its reason for backing out. The announcement pissed ... |
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| Topics: carbon sequestration, coal, Department of Energy, energy, Illinois, news, politics (all these topics) |
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Breaking: Dept. of Energy pulls support for FutureGen
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David Roberts |
29 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Whoa! The Dept. of Energy just announced that it's yanking its support for FutureGen, the much-ballyhooed and much-delayed 'clean coal' demonstration plant that greens refer to, never more appropriately, as NeverGen. What's behind the decision? 'Ballooning costs.' But wait ... I thought coal was cheap!? UPDATE: Note that Senator Dick Durbin expresses great outrage and promises to appeal directly to the president, but there is, conspicuously, no comment from his fe ... |
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| Topics: energy, coal (all these topics) |
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Massey watch
W. Va. Supreme Court to get out of bed with Blankenship, reconsider his case |
David Roberts |
29 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A while back, loathsome mountaintop-mining outfit Massey Energy was hit with a $50 million judgment in a West Virginia court, in a ruling that they had illegally driven other area mining companies out of business. They appealed to the W. Va. Supreme Court, which overturned the ruling in a vote of 3-2. Later, pictures turned up of loathsome Massey CEO Don Blankenship vacationing on the French Riviera with W. Va. Supreme Court justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard ... |
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| Topics: business, coal, energy, litigation, shenanigans, waste, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Sebelius backing down?
New 'air of cooperation' between Kansas state gov't and coal companies |
David Roberts |
28 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| This evening, Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius will give the Democratic rejoinder to Bush's SOTU speech. There has been quite a bit of speculation -- here on Grist, among other places -- about Sebelius' possible fitness as a VP candidate. Via Ezra, this actual Kansan blogger throws cold water on the notion. Particularly concerning: Her appointee, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby (a friendly acquaintance/source of mine), rejected tw ... |
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| Topics: politics, energy, Kansas, coal (all these topics) |
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The health externalities of coal
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David Roberts |
28 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A while back I commented on a post over at Common Tragedies, an excellent environmental economics blog of recent vintage. As is my inimitable style, my comments were hastily written and full of wild generalizations. One had to do with the health externalities of coal burning, which I alleged were extensive. Recently, an email to the post's author came to my rescue: I'm just commenting on your last note. You shouldn't be so dismissive of the health effects from ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, health (all these topics) |
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Dominion Power's dirty plans for Virginia
Mike Tidwell speaks out in the WaPo against coal |
Joseph Romm |
28 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, regularly has me on his Earthbeat radio show, so I'm returning the favor with this great letter to the editor he had in the Washington Post yesterday: Fact: Virginia gets less than 1 percent of its electricity from 'green' sources such as the wind or the sun. Fact: Virginia ranks 38th among U.S. states in energy efficiency. Fact: Climate change is real, and fossil fuel substitutes are needed, accor ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, mining, Virginia (all these topics) |
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Tonight's SOTU
House members ask Bush to shill for clean coal in his speech |
David Roberts |
28 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| I suppose I should write some insightful comments about Bush's upcoming State of the Union speech, which everyone expects to be sucky, since the guy's a lame duck and everyone hates him. There are lots of emails and PR releases flying around, fact-checking previous SOTUs and promising to fact-check tonight's. To summarize: Everything he's said on environmental subjects in previous SOTUs has turned out to be bullshit, and there's every reason to believe that anything ... |
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| Topics: climate, coal, energy, politics (all these topics) |
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The good and the ugly
Anti-coal activism news |
Erik Hoffner |
24 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| First, the good: here's a feature story in the new Orion magazine about the tactics and successes of the anti-coal activists who've helped halt, count 'em, 59 new plants, according to author Ted Nace. Ted also gives a huge rundown of links and resources for anti-coal activists. And the ugly: thanks to Maria Gunnoe's success organizing against mountaintop removal mining as a staff member of grassroots group Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and now her lead role ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, grassroots activism, mining, politics, West Virginia (all these topics) |
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The liquid-coal military industrial complex
Air Force and liquid coal industry interbreed |
Joseph Romm |
24 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A friend just sent me this remarkable story, 'Former Air Force official joins leading coal-liquids developer,' which appears in the little-known Aim Points, 'A daily summary of news, messages and communication tactics to help AF people tell the AF story.' It looks like the 'tactic' AF people are being told about is the good-ol' revolving door: Ron Sega, up until last year the Air Force's chief energy executive, has joined the board of directors of coal-to-liquids ( ... |
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| Topics: coal, coal-to-liquid fuel, energy (all these topics) |
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Let the games begin
Ragtag youth and ABEC face off in South Carolina |
Youth Movement |
23 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Photo: iStockphoto On the eve of the South Carolina Democratic primary, some battles are being fought on stage, and others in the parking lot. This primary season, leading up to arguably the most important presidential election in recent history, has been a circus. Even outside the candidate events, voters waiting in line to cheer Huckabee or Obama might see confederate-flag-jacket-donning Ron Paul supporters espouse southern pride, orange-shirted vol ... |
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| Topics: climate, coal, elections, energy, grassroots activism, politics, presidential race 08, South Carolina (all these topics) |
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Coaled Over
China will close thousands of small coal mines |
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22 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:56 PM on 22 Jan 2008 China plans to close more than 5,000 small coal mines, accounting for about 8 percent of the country's coal output, for safety reasons. Some 4,750 people died in China's mines in 2006. source: Bloomberg From the Archives Woe Dirt. Erosion is as big a problem as climate change, say experts. He's So Transparent. Prince Charles appears as hologram to speak in Abu Dhabi. Bring Us B ... |
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| Topics: China, coal, energy, news (all these topics) |
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There's coal money and then there's war money
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David Roberts |
22 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| In an electoral year when climate policy will play an unusually high-profile role, the $35 million raised by coal front group ABEC seems like a daunting obstacle. Then again, all-purpose-right-wing-warmongering front group Freedom's Watch is raising $250 million to spend on elections this year. So I guess it's important to keep these things in perspective. |
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| Topics: coal, elections, energy, politics (all these topics) |
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