Cherry-picking one survey to discredit a survey of scientists on climate change – The Washington Post

A survey used misleadingly by the climate science-denying Republican that heads the House Environment Committee actually proves the opposing point: the vast majority of scientists believe humans are causing global warming. Cherry-picking one survey to discredit a survey of scientists on climate change – The Washington Post.

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Texas drought interactive website | NPR StateImpact

NPR has put together an incredible website full of information and interactive tools on the Texas drought: Texas drought maps and photos | NPR StateImpact. I have a friend who worked in the Texas Legislature for several years. He and his Rep tried hard to introduce a bill into committee (I believe it was the 2011 session) that simply required Texas state agencies to plan for the contingency of drought. They couldn’t even get the bill a hearing in the committee because in the eyes of the right-wing ideologues that control this (and many other) state government, it was one … Continue reading this post

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Leaking nuclear sludge could threaten Columbia River

Editor’s Note: Yet another example of the huge externalities we pay for supposedly cheap nuclear power. Just the cost of building the facility to clean up this nuclear waste is $13 Billion!  For one site.  Nevermind the cost of building that facility in the first place!  $13 Billion would pay for the wind energy Production Tax Credit for 10 years!  The energy debate in this country is so freaking stupid!   Fuel Fix » Leaking nuclear sludge could threaten Columbia River. News that a storage tank at a shuttered federal nuclear facility in Washington state is leaking radioactive sludge has … Continue reading this post

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Big Coals Big Problems (Rolling Stone Magazine)

Editor’s Note: While cheap natural gas prices and more stringent regulation of coal emissions has made new coal plants virtually impossible to pencil in the US, existing coal plants are still the main point-source of CO2 pollution domestically.  Further, we are now exporting more coal than ever before to Europe where power prices are much higher than in the US.  We’re not going to see real reductions in global CO2 until we not just stop growing the coal industry, but actually dramatically shrink it. Big Coal’s Big Problems (Rolling Stone Magazine) You wouldn’t have guessed it from all the theatrics of … Continue reading this post

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Concerned Scientists: Renewables Secure From Drought – Forbes

Concerned Scientists: Renewables Secure From Drought – Forbes. Even those who don’t believe humans are causing climate change have a hard time rebuffing the national-security argument—which contends that a diverse domestic energy portfolio makes the United States less vulnerable to disruptions of its energy supply. Drought may not be the first threat that comes to mind, but the Union of Concerned Scientists contends that this summer’s drought is already straining the operation of water-heavy fossil fuel and nuclear plants.  “Our power sector is built for a water-rich world, and when that world is water poor, power plants and electricity users face … Continue reading this post

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NYT: Burning Fuel Particles Do More

NYT: Burning Fuel Particles Do More Damage than Originally Thought Burning Fuel Particles Do More Damage to Climate Than Thought, Study Says By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL Published: January 16, 2013 The tiny black particles released into the atmosphere by burning fuels are far more powerful agents of global warming than had previously been estimated, some of the world’s most prominent atmospheric scientists reported in a study issued on Tuesday. These particles, which are known as black carbon and are the major component of soot, are the second most important contributor to global warming, behind only carbon dioxide, wrote the 31 authors … Continue reading this post

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