Energy

EcoWatch Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Dr. Ernest Moniz as the new Secretary of Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). President Obama selected Dr. Ernest Moniz, a scientist and professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as his choice to run the DOE. His confirmation has received mixed responses from health and environmental advocates. […]

EcoWatch Voting with your dollar has never been easier. “Have you ever wondered whether the money you spend ends up funding causes you oppose?” Thanks to the new Buycott app, you can organize your consumer spending to support causes you care about, and oppose those that you don’t—all by using your smart phone. The program […]

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock In a surprise move, the eight Republican members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday blocked a floor vote on President Obama’s nominee, Gina McCarthy, as U.S. EPA Administrator. In doing so the Republican senators broke their earlier promise to move McCarthy’s nomination if she […]

Gas Rush Stories [vimeo_embed http://player.vimeo.com/video/65074704 expand=1] The shale gas drilling boom has changed the lives of many Pennsylvanians. Two-thirds of Pennsylvania sits on top of Marcellus Shale, one of the world’s largest shale gas deposits. While some other states and countries are taking their time to figure out how to proceed with shale gas drilling, […]

Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund Mora Valley, New Mexico Monday the County Commission of Mora County, located in northeastern New Mexico, became the first county in the U.S. to pass an ordinance banning all oil and gas extraction. Drafted with assistance from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), the Mora County Community Water Rights […]

Sometimes people tell me, “If you cover fracking, you really need to see that film—that film, what’s it called?” “Gasland?” I’ll offer helpfully. “Yes, that’s it.” It kind of charms me that people less immersed in this issue, than many folks I know, would imagine that I could cover the topic without knowing the film […]

Greenpeace At sunrise, the six activists left the Rainbow Warrior on inflatable boats and drew up alongside the MV Meister, a ship carrying thermal coal loaded at Abbot point in Queensland. Using steel ladders, they climbed the side of the ship and 18 hours later remain on the vessel. Greenpeace boarded the ship just after […]

Appalachian Voices By Brian Sewell We’re only a few days into Earth Week—if we must limit it to one week out of the year—but it sure is getting off to a great start. In the past two days, two major court rulings have underscored the need for increased scrutiny from the federal agency responsible for […]