News & Commentary

The XL Stands for "Extra Litigation"

March 4, 2015 Latest NewsUnited StatesBrian Palmer

TransCanada says if the United States doesn’t approve the Keystone XL pipeline, it might sue under NAFTA.

Off the Rails

February 17, 2015 Latest NewsUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Oil trains keep jumping the tracks, setting towns ablaze, and contaminating water supplies. Here’s why.

Fall Guys

February 12, 2015 Latest NewsCanadaJason Bittel

Canada is killing wolves to save endangered caribou. The real problem? Tar sands development.

Six More Weeks of Subsidies

February 9, 2015 Latest NewsBrian Palmer

The president wants to end fossil fuel subsidies—again. It must be Groundhog Day.

EPA: Keystone Fails on Climate

February 3, 2015 Latest NewsUnited StatesClara Chaisson

In a letter to the State Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns of the pipeline's hefty carbon contribution.

Uncle Sam Wants You…to Vacate the Premises

January 29, 2015 Latest NewsBrian Palmer

Legislators are addicted to taking property through eminent domain. Keystone XL is no exception.

Drill, Maybe, Drill

January 27, 2015 Latest NewsEastBrian Palmer

President Obama just proposed opening the East Coast to offshore drilling. This is a terrible idea.

The Importance of Seeing Ernst

January 20, 2015 Latest NewsUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Who’s that giving the Republican response to the State of the Union? Joni Ernst, a climate-denying senator who wants to abolish the EPA. Sigh.

Coal Ash, Fly Ash, Bottom Ash, and Boiler Slag

January 9, 2015 ExplainerUnited States, InternationalBrian Palmer

A top-to-bottom tour of fossil fuel sludge.

Oil in the Mangroves

January 8, 2015 Latest NewsInternationalJason Bittel

An oil spill in the Sundarbans mangrove forests of Bangladesh threatens two already imperiled dolphin species.

Coal Miner's Slaughter

January 6, 2015 Latest NewsUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Living in a coal town is hazardous to your health.

Pass on the Pipe, Mr. President

January 6, 2015 Latest NewsUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Five reasons President Obama should carry out his threat to veto the Keystone XL pipeline.

Will 2015 Be the Year of the Climate?

December 30, 2014 Latest NewsUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Next year, we could determine the future of our civilization.

Stop Polluting Our Water, Ash Holes!

December 19, 2014 Latest NewsUnited StatesBrian Palmer

The EPA has finally set standards for hazardous coal ash pits. Too bad they’re not good enough.

Wrap Party

December 11, 2014 ExplainerUnited StatesSusan Freinkel

Looking for another reason to worry about fracking? We're going to bubble-wrap the entire planet with the overabundance of plastic it produces.

Save the Ringed Seal, Save the Planet?

December 11, 2014 Latest NewsArcticJason Bittel

The government proposes the biggest critical-habitat designation ever to protect ringed seals from Big Oil and climate change.

Whatever Shall We Do with All this Extra Oil?

December 11, 2014 Latest NewsUnited States

Oil companies want the crude-export ban lifted. Is that a good idea?

Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun

December 3, 2014 Latest NewsUnited States

Notorious lobbyist Rick Berman (aka Dr. Evil) and ALEC are teaching big polluters how to play politics.

Good Ozone vs. Bad Ozone

December 1, 2014 ExplainerUnited StatesBrian Palmer

Ozone can be a protector or a killer. It all depends on where you find it.

Ozone Slayer

November 26, 2014 Latest NewsUnited StatesBrian Palmer

The new ozone limits are based on sound science rather than corporate scare tactics. What a revolutionary concept.