New York state sues ExxonMobil over oil spill foot-dragging
18 Jul 2007 at 11:07am
A shot has been fired in the quiet oil-spill battle in Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Greenpoint neighborhood: the state has sued ExxonMobil to force the cleanup of the estimated 8 million gallons of oil and petroleum byproducts still underground after a 1950 explosion. The spill, larger than the Exxon Valdez debacle, was …
Biofuels could contribute to historically big Gulf of Mexico dead zone
18 Jul 2007 at 11:07am
Still think corn-based biofuels will save the world? Here’s another piece of the no-they-won’t puzzle: Researchers say more intensive farming of more land in the Midwestern U.S. — in part a result of the push for more corn production — could contribute to the largest-ever “dead zone” in the Gulf …
Schwarzenegger announces $5.9 billion plan to battle drought
18 Jul 2007 at 11:07am
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a $5.9 billion plan to prepare for his state’s almost-certain continued drought and population boom. Taking the need to douse Big Agriculture as a given, Schwarzenegger called for construction of new reservoirs and dams — but, true to his Greeninator reputation, he also gave …
Umbra on radiant heating
18 Jul 2007 at 11:07am
What’s warm and quiet and lives under your floor? No, not Uncle Herb. It’s radiant heating! A homebuilder asks advice maven Umbra Fisk for her take on the pluses and minuses of this alternative to convoluted systems of ducts and radiators, and Umbra wiggles her toes excitedly just anticipating the …
NYC mayor’s traffic-reducing proposal shot down, for now
18 Jul 2007 at 11:07am
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s congestion-fee proposal, reportedly down to the wire on Monday, is now just down, period. The plan would have charged a fee for Manhattan-bound vehicles during peak hours, but the state Senate adjourned without voting on the measure after Democrats made it clear that they …