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Author |
Published |
Section |
Party Is as Party Does
Democratic party platform outlines green goals |
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14 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:33 AM on 14 Aug 2008 The Democratic Party released its national platform Thursday ahead of its upcoming convention in Denver. While the health-care section is Hillary-esque, most sections, including those environment- and energy-related, echo the calls that Barack Obama has made throughout his campaign. The section "New American Energy" declares that Dems will create up to 5 million jobs in the green-ene ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, elections, news, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics) |
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Go With the Low
Greens and Navy reach compromise over low-frequency sonar |
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13 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:16 PM on 13 Aug 2008 The U.S. Navy and environmental groups have reached a compromise in a long-running dispute over the Navy's use of low-frequency sonar, which greens say can befuddle whales and sometimes cause them to beach and die. The Navy on Tuesday agreed to restrict use of low-frequency active sonar in areas known to be whale breeding grounds or key habitat. "We don't have to choose between nation ... |
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| Topics: Department of Defense, litigation, news, oceans (all these topics) |
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LUST for Glory
Leaking underground storage tanks make fun acronym, pose health threat |
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13 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 1:35 PM on 13 Aug 2008 Hundreds of underground fuel tanks owned by the federal government could be leaking hazardous materials into drinking water, according to an Associated Press investigation. Of particular concern are steel tanks buried in the Cold War era, which are highly likely to have rusted and be leaking. One million gallons of water can be contaminated by just 1 gallon of fuel, posing heal ... |
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| Topics: energy, news, toxics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Hoot and Holler
Feds axe acreage of spotted owl habitat |
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13 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 11:26 AM on 13 Aug 2008 The amount of old-growth forest designated as critical habitat for the northern spotted owl was slashed 23 percent, or 1.6 million acres, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday. One might think that means that spotted owls are doing well for themselves, but no: the spotted owl population is dropping by 4 percent each year. Despite widespread efforts to protect their Northwest old-growth home, the ... |
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| Topics: endangered species, habitat loss, logging, national forests, news, US Fish and Wildlife Service, wildlife (all these topics) |
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One More for the Road
Roadless rule shot down, again |
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13 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:09 AM on 13 Aug 2008 The Clinton-era "roadless rule" has been declared invalid by U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer. The rule, which prohibits development on 58.5 million acres of national forest, has had a long and rocky past. Brimmer first put the kibosh on it in 2003, and while an appeal was pending, the Bush administration switched it out for an alternative that required states to petition the feds for forest prot ... |
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| Topics: litigation, national forests, news, US Forest Service (all these topics) |
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Wait and Pelosi
House Speaker says she's open to compromise on offshore drilling |
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12 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 2:45 PM on 12 Aug 2008 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on "Larry King Live" Monday night that she would consider allowing a vote on offshore drilling, but only if it were part of an energy package that included renewable-energy investment and release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Pelosi has refused to allow a vote on offshore drilling as a stand-alone issue, despite Rep ... |
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| Topics: energy, legislation, Nancy Pelosi, news, oil and gas drilling, politics, US House of Representatives (all these topics) |
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NOAA's Arctic
U.S. scouts out territory in Arctic; ice-cover loss could be worst ever |
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12 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 1:09 PM on 12 Aug 2008 U.S. scientists will head to the Arctic this week on a quest to map the ocean floor, and will collaborate with Canada on a surveying trip in September. The two nations -- and their Arctic-bordering compatriots Russia, Denmark, and Norway -- are scrambling to measure their respective continental shelves, with an eye to claiming as much as they can of the estimated 90 billion bar ... |
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| Topics: Arctic, Canada, climate, climate change impacts, news, oil and gas drilling, scientific research, United States (all these topics) |
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Over the Humpback
Some big whales no longer in trouble |
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12 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:40 AM on 12 Aug 2008 There's bad news and good news from the world of marine megafauna. The bad: Almost a quarter of the 80 types of whales, dolphins, and porpoises are in trouble, with nine listed as "endangered" or "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Entanglement in fishing gear poses the main threat. The good: Thanks to a global hunting moratorium, humpback, commo ... |
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| Topics: endangered species, lists, news, oceans, progress, whaling, World Conservation Union (all these topics) |
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The Story of U.S.
U.S. economy shifting to -- gasp! -- efficiency |
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12 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:41 AM on 12 Aug 2008 When it comes to urging environment-mindedness, high oil prices have proven much more persuasive than green groups ever did. The U.S. economy, built on cheap, plentiful energy, is shifting into a new mode. Americans are driving less, riding transit more, ditching SUVs, and moving back into city centers. We're seeking energy efficiency in our appliances and our heating, cooling, and lighting. Solar ... |
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| Topics: business, economy, energy, gas prices, news (all these topics) |
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Caddy Wack
GM prepares to roll out Cadillac Escalade Hybrid |
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11 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:23 PM on 11 Aug 2008 We've all been there: You want to go green, but you also want to keep rollin' the streets in the biggest, blingiest vehicle possible. What's an eco-minded luxury-SUV driver to do? Well, stress no more: The 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, billed as the first luxury hybrid SUV, will hit showrooms later this month. The hybrid version of the Escalade gets 50 percent better fuel economy in city driving than i ... |
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| Topics: Big Auto, business, cars, dumbassery , hybrids, news (all these topics) |
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Terms of Endangerment
Bush admin tries sneaky attack on endangered-species protections |
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11 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 1:31 PM on 11 Aug 2008 The Bush administration is trying to push through changes to the Endangered Species Act that would -- surprise! -- be detrimental to endangered species. Under regulatory changes proposed Monday, tens of thousands of projects funded, built, or authorized by federal agencies each year would be exempt from currently mandated independent reviews. Instead, the administration has de ... |
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| Topics: endangered species, jackassery, news (all these topics) |
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Monument What He Said
Cleanup funding inadequate for Bush-designated marine monument |
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11 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:42 AM on 11 Aug 2008 Remember when President Bush designated the world's largest protected marine area in Hawaii in 2006? Environmentalists cheered, fish clapped their fins, and Bush aides crossed "burnish green reputation" off the presidential to-do list -- but the aftermath has been underwhelming. Tons of debris drift into the 140,000-square-mile Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monumen ... |
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| Topics: George Bush, habitat protection, Hawaii, news, oceans (all these topics) |
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Waste not, want not
Obama campaign targets McCain's support of dumping nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain |
Kate Sheppard |
11 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama released a new ad over the weekend in Nevada, targeting Republican rival John McCain's support for dumping nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. 'Imagine trucks hauling the nation's nuclear waste on our highways to Yucca Mountain,' the ad says. 'John McCain supports opening Yucca. He's not worried about nuclear waste in our state -- only in Arizona.' The ad then replays video of a May 2007 interview with McCain in whic ... |
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| Topics: advertising, Barack Obama, elections, Muckraker, news, politics, presidential race 08, video (all these topics) |
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Finally, We'll Find Out What Happens in Vegas
U.S. cities will report greenhouse-gas emissions |
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11 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:09 AM on 11 Aug 2008 Twenty-one U.S. cities have agreed to measure and report greenhouse-gas emissions in partnership with Local Governments for Sustainability and the influential London-based Carbon Disclosure Project. "Over 70 percent of total global emissions are generated from cities, and if you don't measure these emissions, you cannot manage them," explains CDP CEO Paul Dic ... |
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| Topics: greenhouse-gas emissions, news, placemaking (all these topics) |
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Conventional wisdom?
Democratic and Republican conventions pledge to be greener than ever before |
Kate Sheppard |
10 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Can you find the green in this picture? Photo: Vidiot Both the Democratic and Republican national conventions have pledged to go greener this year. And they've drawn mockery for their efforts -- particularly the Democrats, who say they'll be putting on 'the most sustainable political convention in modern American history.' A Wall Street Journal article in June reported that convention organizers were having difficulty finding union-made, organic-cotton f ... |
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| Topics: Democratic National Convention, elections, energy, greenwashing, Muckraker, news, politics, presidential race 08, Republican National Convention (all these topics) |
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Where there's a drill, there's a way
New House bill combines drilling with tax extensions for renewables |
Kate Sheppard |
09 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A bipartisan group of House members has unveiled a new compromise energy bill, roughly along the lines of the Gang of 10 bill released in the Senate last week. 'The National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act' would repeal federal prohibitions on offshore oil and gas production and lift the ban on finalizing regulations for oil-shale development. Some of the proceeds from offshore leasing would be spent on environmental programs: 15 percent on ... |
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| Topics: energy, legislation, Muckraker, news, oil and gas drilling, politics, renewable energy, US House of Representatives (all these topics) |
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An ad campaign of Olympic proportions
Obama clean-energy ad will air during Olympics coverage |
Kate Sheppard |
08 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Thought the Olympics might bring some reprieve from election season? Think again. Today Barack Obama rolled out his $5 million ad campaign that will run during Olympic coverage on NBC, focusing on a clean energy economy. 'The hands that built this nation can build a new economy,' says the ad, as it shows images of people working on solar panels, wind farms, and other eco-friendly projects. It repeats the candidate's pledge to create 5 million green jobs, and ple ... |
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| Topics: advertising, Barack Obama, Muckraker, news, Olympics, politics, presidential race 08, video (all these topics) |
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On the Right Amtrak
Amtrak struggles to meet demand as ridership soars |
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08 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:42 PM on 08 Aug 2008 As commuters continue to look for alternatives to high gas prices, increasing numbers are choo-choo-choosing Amtrak. A record 28 million passengers are expected to ride the train this fiscal year compared to 25.8 million last year. The House and Senate have passed bills that could boost Amtrak's funding by 33 percent, which has Amtrak prez Alex Kummant saying he's "optimistic" about ... |
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| Topics: gas prices, news, placemaking, public transportation, trains, travel (all these topics) |
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Minority Leader report
Boehner returns from golfing, says Republicans can win on offshore drilling |
Kate Sheppard |
08 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) today vowed that the Republican sit-in over offshore drilling will continue at least until the Democratic National Convention begins on August 25. At a press conference on the Hill, Boehner said he expected the protest would help House Republicans gain traction as they push for offshore areas to be opened to oil exploration. 'We're going to win this fight,' he said. 'The only question is when.' But until today, Boehner ... |
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| Topics: Muckraker, news, oil and gas drilling, politics, US House of Representatives (all these topics) |
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The Swede Hereafter
IKEA invests in cleantech, may soon stock solar panels |
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08 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 2:43 PM on 08 Aug 2008 Heading to IKEA for some meatballs and easy-to-assemble furniture? You may soon be able to pick up solar panels as well. The Swedish manufacturer plans to invest some $75 million in a handful of cleantech startups, focusing on the areas of solar energy, lighting, sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and water conservation. Ultimately, IKEA has a goal of stocking its shelves with prod ... |
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| Topics: business, energy, energy at home, green living, green products, greening biz operations, greenish companies, news, renewable energy, shopping, Sweden (all these topics) |
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The Roe less traveled
GOP rep in Tenn. loses primary after being linked to Big Oil |
Kate Sheppard |
08 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| In Tennessee, freshman Republican Rep. David Davis lost his primary last night, apparently in large part because his opponent linked him to Big Oil. Davis is the first sitting Tennessee congressman in 40 years to lose in a primary. He was beaten by Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe, who accused Davis of accepting money from industry PACs, backing offshore drilling legislation, and 'selling out' to Big Oil. Davis has yet to concede, though tallies find Roe 570 vote ... |
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| Topics: Big Oil, elections, Muckraker, news, oil and gas drilling, politics, Tennessee, US House of Representatives (all these topics) |
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When It Rains, It Pours
Climate change will increase extreme rainfall, says study |
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08 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 12:21 PM on 08 Aug 2008 Photo: Ali Nishan Climate change will likely lead to more powerful rainstorms, says a new study published in Science. Computer models may "substantially" underestimate the number of heavy rainfalls that will occur in a warming world, say scientists who researched naturally occurring weather events during El Niņo patterns between 1987 and 2004. "A warmer atmosphere co ... |
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| Topics: climate, climate change impacts, news, scientific research, severe weather (all these topics) |
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Who's getting the oil money?
Obama favored by Exxon employees, but McCain has gotten more oil money overall |
Kate Sheppard |
08 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Barack Obama put out an ad earlier this week accusing rival John McCain of being 'in the pocket of Big Oil,' and the Democratic National Committee launched Exxon-McCain 2008, a website to promote the idea that the Republican candidate is in bed with the oil industry. But as Grist noted previously, Obama himself has received nearly $400,000 in donations from contributors in the oil and gas industries this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Polit ... |
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| Topics: campaign contributions, elections, energy, Muckraker, news, oil, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics) |
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I'll Have the Marsupial of the Day
Aussies should fight climate change by eating kangaroo, says study |
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08 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:29 AM on 08 Aug 2008 Australians who want to make a dent in climate change just need to eat more kangaroo, says a new study in the journal Conservation Letters. The methane-producing burps and farts of sheep and cattle contribute 11 percent of Australia's annual greenhouse-gas emissions. Kangaroos, however, emit little methane. Researchers say that 175 million kangaroos could produc ... |
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| Topics: agriculture, Australia, climate, climate change mitigation, food, greenhouse-gas emissions, livestock, news, scientific research, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Solid to Liquid Can Be a Gas
Crow Tribe strikes $7 billion deal for coal-to-liquids plant on reservation |
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08 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:41 AM on 08 Aug 2008 The Crow Tribe on Thursday agreed to host a massive new $7 billion coal-to-liquids plant on its reservation land in Montana. The plant would produce about 50,000 barrels a day of diesel fuel when it opens, and eventually up to 125,000 barrels a day. Coal for the plant would come from a yet-to-be-developed mine on nearby Crow land with an estimated 9 billion t ... |
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| Topics: business, coal, economy, energy, news, oil, politics (all these topics) |
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