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Posted in Energy Food Op/Ed

The energy and food crisis is far worse than most Americans realize

Whenever there’s an energy crisis, it can quickly become an everything crisis. by Richard Heinberg May 18, 20212 Everyone who owns a gasoline-burning car has noticed that fuel prices have shot up in recent weeks. And…

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Icebergs near Ilulissat, Greenland are seen on May 16, 2021. The climate emergency is having a profound effect in Greenland with glaciers and the Greenland ice cap retreating. (Photo: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Posted in Climate change Energy Environment Sustainability

Greenland ditches all oil drilling

‘Future Belongs to Renewable Energy’ “Great news!” exclaimed one international legal group. by Andrea Germanos, Staff writer July 16, 2021 Greenland announced Thursday a halt on new oil and gas exploration, citing climate and other environmental…

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Climate activists on Wednesday celebrated a Dutch court's ruling that Royal Dutch Shell must cut its carbon emissions 45% by 2030. (Photo: Friends of the Earth Europe/Twitter)
Posted in Climate change Energy Sustainability

Court Rules Shell must cut CO2 emissions 45% by 2030

‘Landslide Victory for Climate Justice’ “This is a turning point in history,” said an attorney who noted that the ruling “may also have major consequences for other big polluters.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Wednesday, May…

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Community members participate in a March 9, 2013 "No More Fukushimas" and "Walk for a New Spring" protest in Croton-on-Hudson, New York in opposition to the Indian Point nuclear power plant. (Photo: Vanessa/Flickr/cc)
Posted in Energy News

Indian Point nuclear plant shutting down in New York

The Indian Point facility, notes one of its critics, was built “where a severe accident would jeopardize the health of millions of people and where no large-scale evacuation plan would be remotely feasible.” by Brett Wilkins,…

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A view of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's Pine Tree Wind Farm and Solar Power Plant in the Tehachapi Mountains on March 23, 2021 in Kern County.
Posted in Energy News Sustainability

Renewable energy smashes records in 2020

‘A Remarkable Story of Resilience and Hope “There is a huge amount to be done… The international community must look to this trend as a source of inspiration to go further.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer…

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Posted in Corporate Taxes Energy News

‘Don’t patronize me’: Katie Porter tears Into oil exec for claiming his industry doesn’t get special tax breaks

“The wonderful Rep. Katie Porter provides a signal moment in congressional history. And it’s a sign of the weakening position of the oil industry—no deference to these liars any longer.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday,…

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Savannah and Sam Peyton, who were without power for days last week, huddle in multiple layers under a sleeping bag at their home in Austin, Texas, on Thursday night, Feb. 18, 2021. Temperatures plummeted to the teens and single digits across Texas, and at least 58 have died in storm-affected areas across the country from causes including carbon monoxide poisoning, car crashes, drownings, house fires and hypothermia. Credit: Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux
Posted in Accountability Analysis Energy Pro Publica

“Power companies get exactly what they want”: How Texas repeatedly failed to protect its power grid against extreme weather

Texas regulators and lawmakers knew about the grid’s vulnerabilities for years, but time and again they furthered the interests of large electricity providers. by Jeremy Schwartz, Kiah Collier and Vianna Davila, ProPublica/Tx Tribune Tuesday, February 23,…

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Posted in Analysis Climate change Energy Green New Deal

Media reaction: Texas ‘deep freeze’, power blackouts and the role of global warming

This week, a blast of Arctic air has engulfed much of the central US, bringing freezing conditions and record low temperatures to many states. by Josh Gabbatiss, Robert McSweeney, Carbon Brief Texas, in particular, has been…

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Posted in Analysis Climate change Energy

Fossil fuel exec brags of ‘Hitting the Jackpot’ as natural gas prices surge amid deadly crisis in Texas

The GOP is erroneously blaming frozen wind turbines for power outages because the Green New Deal is “the biggest legislative threat against the corrupt powers responsible for (and benefiting from) the suffering unfolding now,” said Rep….

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Posted in Analysis Energy Pipelines

Living with natural gas pipelines: Appalachian landowners describe fear, anxiety and loss

Some reported never hearing about a planned pipeline until a “land man” – a gas company representative – knocked on their door offering to buy a slice of their property; others said that they found out…

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Donald Pols (R), director of Dutch environmental organization Milieudefensie, and Channa Samkalden (L), lawyer for Milieudefensie, react following the court ruling in the case that the organization, along with four Nigerian farmers, filed against Shell over oil leaks that have allegedly polluted their villages, in The Hague, on January 29, 2021. The Nigerian branch of Shell has to pay compensation to some farmers from the African country. The company has been found liable for two oil spills. The amount must be determined later, the court in The Hague ruled. (Photo: Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP via Getty Images)
Posted in Energy Environmental Justice News world

Dutch court orders Shell Oil to pay for harm done to Nigerian farmers

“After 13 Years, Justice!” “Victims of environmental pollution, land grabbing, or exploitation now have a better chance to win a legal battle against the companies involved.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, January 29, 2021 Global…

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Posted in Climate change Energy News

Denouncing ‘handouts to Big Oil,’ Biden calls on Congress to end $40 billion in taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuels

“Biden campaigned on eliminating fossil fuel giveaways, and voters agree by a huge margin,” said one climate activist. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, January 28, 2021 In a speech Wednesday outlining his new executive actions…

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Posted in Energy News Public Lands

Environmental groups applaud Biden’s plan to pause new oil and gas leasing on public lands

“The simple truth is that we need to stop drilling and fracking everywhere, as soon as possible.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Wednesday, January 27, 2021 As President Joe Biden prepares to enact a temporary moratorium…

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Posted in Climate change Energy News Sustainability

Biden praised for pause on drilling leases

“Let’s Turn This ‘Temporary Halt’ to Permanent Ban” “The federal oil and gas program is nothing but an injustice,” said Jeremy Nichols of WildEarth Guardians. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Thursday, January 21 President Joe Biden…

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Posted in Analysis Energy Sustainability

Cheaper solar power means low-income families can also benefit – with the right kind of help

“Until recently, rooftop solar panels were a clean energy technology that only wealthy Americans could afford. But prices have dropped, thanks mostly to falling costs for hardware, as well as price declines for installation and other…

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Posted in Energy News

Lethal levels of radiation found in damaged Fukushima reactor will have ‘huge impact’ on shutdown

The radiation levels reported around shield plugs at two reactors are high enough to kill a worker exposed for even an hour. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Wednesday, December 30, 2020 In what Japanese regulators on…

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Posted in Analysis Energy Pipelines Pro Publica

Federal regulators are rewriting environmental rules so a massive pipeline can be built

Federal regulators and West Virginia agencies are rewriting environmental rules again to pave the way for construction of a major natural gas pipeline across Appalachia, even after an appeals court blocked the pipeline for the second…

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Posted in Columns Energy Sustainability Wade Rathke

Biodiesel, before and after

by Wade Rathke December 7, 2020 New Orleans   Over a decade ago, ACORN stumbled into an offer that seemed exciting as a progressive experiment. Friends and relatives of friends and comrades had been bitten by…

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Posted in Energy Op/Ed Sustainability The Revelator

How renewable energy could power your state

Some parts of the United States could easily generate 10 times their energy needs, according to a new report. by Tara Lohan, The Revelator November 20, 2020 How much of U.S. energy demand could be met…

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Posted in Climate change Common Dreams Energy News

Trump Admin rushes to auction off Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling rights before Biden inauguration

The pristine reserve is home to the Gwich’in people, who call it “Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit,” or, “the sacred place where life begins.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Monday, November 16, 2020 In what critics are…

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Posted in Energy News Sustainability

Renewables on track to be largest source of global electricity in five years

“Renewable power is defying the difficulties caused by the pandemic, showing robust growth while others fuels struggle,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Wednesday, November 11 The International Energy Agency on…

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Posted in Analysis Common Dreams Energy Sustainability

Study shows US switch to 100% renewables would save hundreds of billions each year

‘What the Future Can Look Like’ “Too often we are told doing the right thing for the environment requires sacrifice and costs more. But we can actually make a better economy and save people money and…

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Posted in Analysis Climate change Common Dreams Energy Green Jobs Unemployment

Investing $2 trillion in US clean energy and infrastructure could create millions of ‘good jobs’

 “We don’t have to choose between a strong economy or a healthy environment—we can have both,” says an EPI data analyst. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Tuesday, October 20 Pursuing trade and industrial policies that boost…

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Posted in Air Polution Common Dreams Energy Fracking News Radiation

Harvard study finds elevated airborne radiation levels downwind of US fracking sites

“If you asked me to go and live downwind [of fracking sites], I would not go,” said the lead author of the new study. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, October 14 A study released Tuesday…

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