Senate Trio's Climate Bill Said To Hide Info on Fracking Poisons

March 24, 2010–A March 23, 2010, Greenwire article reports that the draft Kerry-Lieberman-Graham climate bill may include language to keep potentially toxic ingredients from gas drilling secret from the public whose health may be harmed by them.

Renewable Energy & Superfund Sites: Watts Up?

March 17, 2010–A new project of EPA and the National Renewable Energy Lab will analyze development potential for wind, solar, or small hydro power at contaminated sites in various stages of cleanup.

USGS Minerals Report: A Tale of Economy and Environment

March 3, 2010–Many story leads are tucked away in this 196-page report: recession impacts from drops in extraction and consumption, increases in importation of key materials, insights on stories related to climate change and air pollution, and much more. 

Study Suggests Important Tradeoffs for Algae Biofuel

February 17, 2010–University of Virginia researchers find algae-based biofuel uses more energy and water and emits more greenhouse gases than other biofuel sources. However, algae has a high energy yield, and growing it wouldn't significantly affect food crops.

EPA Reveals More High-Hazard Coal-Ash Sites

February 10, 2010–Disclosure of 22 electric-utility plans for handling coal-ash waste is a good start... but EPA also released the identities of some 40 more — previously undisclosed — scary ash impoundments.

MIT Crowdsources "Landmen" Reports on Oil, Natural Gas Agents

February 3, 2010–Billed as "a resource to support citizens negotiating with big energy," this brand new Center for Future Civic Media service could become a useful tool for energy and environment reporting.

Will Appliance Rebates Match Cash for Clunkers?

February 3, 2010–States and territories are each designing and running their own unique rebate program, with funding from the US DOE for development and implementation.

Will Off-Record White House Meetings with Coal Lobby Stifle Ash Regs?

January 13, 2010–After an October 2009 EPA proposal to regulate coal ash, documents show coal industry officials started meeting with OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and soon EPA announced it was postponing proposal of the coal-ash regulation.

Fossil Fuel Basics: Two Good, Current Primers From CRS

November 25, 2009–The Federation of American Scientists has posted these reports online: "Fossil Fuel Resources: Terminology, Reporting, and Summary" and "Unconventional Gas Shales: Development, Technology, and Policy Issues."

Coal-Ash Disposal Remains A Front-Burner Issue at EPA

November 11, 2009–Most of the 580-plus coal-ash impoundments and landfills in the U.S. would make a good local environmental story, and the information available on them is growing.