News & Commentary

Innovation Has Not Run Dry!

July 8, 2015 Latest NewsCaliforniaAlisa Opar

As summer heat compounds four years of drought, Californians are coping with water shortages in some wacky and smart (and desperate) ways.

Roam, Roam on the Range

June 24, 2015 DispatchMontanaAlisa Opar

This Montana cattle ranch is trying to ensure its operations benefit wildlife—and yes, that means wolves, too.

Oklahoma Earthquake? Blame Oil and Gas

June 18, 2015 DispatchOklahomaBrian Palmer

A new study proves what we’ve suspected all along—oil and gas drilling triggers earthquakes.

Protestors Ahoy!

June 16, 2015 Latest NewsSeattleBrian Palmer

Seattle's “kayaktivists” finally draw the government’s attention to Arctic drilling.

A Year Without Snow

June 4, 2015 DispatchWestBrooke Jarvis

Want to know what difference a few degrees can make as the climate warms? Look no further than the West’s critical and vanishing snowpack.

Has Oil Spill Cleanup Improved at All?

May 27, 2015 ExplainerCalifornia, WestBrian Palmer

Why are we cleaning up the Santa Barbara oil spill with shovels and buckets?

Fearing the Burn

May 26, 2015 Latest NewsWestAlisa Opar

Western states prepare for an “explosive” wildfire season.

I Hate Reruns

May 22, 2015 Latest NewsCaliforniaClara Chaisson

The Santa Barbara coast has yet another oil spill, thanks to a company that screws up royally—repeatedly.

Yes, in Your Backyard

May 21, 2015 PerspectivesTexasBrian Palmer

Texas tells local governments not to mess with oil and gas.

A Beach of an Oil Spill

May 20, 2015 Latest NewsCaliforniaClara Chaisson

Santa Barbara’s pristine coastline is now coated in crude.

Dirty Dancing in the Big Empty

May 19, 2015 PerspectivesWest, United StatesRocky Kistner

A new documentary spotlights the sad plight of the greater sage grouse: They’re running out of dance floor.

Toxic Two-Step

May 15, 2015 DispatchTexasJeff Turrentine

When politicians and corporate polluters step onto the dance floor in Texas, the state’s environmental agency provides the music.

When to Bet Against the House

May 7, 2015 DispatchNevadaJeff Turrentine

Will the threat of water shortages be enough to convince Vegas to stop gambling on overdevelopment?

A Delicate Dance

April 21, 2015 Latest NewsWestAlisa Opar

Conservation efforts kept the bistate sage grouse off the Endangered Species List. Will they work for the rest of the grouses?

Climate Change Vs. the Blob

April 14, 2015 Latest NewsCaliforniaBrian Palmer

A new study says a stubborn blob of warm ocean water is exacerbating the California drought.

Bathroom Bandits

April 13, 2015 Latest NewsCaliforniaKatherine Ellen Foley

Law-breaking urinals? California's water rules will force new fixtures to toe the water line.

Fish Out of Water

April 3, 2015 DispatchCaliforniaAlisa Opar

Scary-low snowpack may spell disaster for some California wildlife and ecosystems.

A Silent Victory

April 1, 2015 NRDC in ActionHawaii, United StatesBrian Palmer

A federal judge stands up to the noisy navy for the sake of marine mammals.

Powering Down

April 1, 2015 DispatchCaliforniaAlisa Opar

California’s proposed energy-efficiency standards for computers could make the screen time of all Americans easier on the climate.

Big Win: Oregon Moves Ahead on Clean Fuel Standard, Building Momentum for West Coast Clean Fuel Corridor

March 12, 2015 Expert BlogOregonPeter Lehner