Posts Tagged ny times

14 US States Currently Wracked by Crippling Droughts

“Fourteen U.S. states, from North Carolina to Arizona to Texas — where conditions are crushing records set in 1917 — are currently in the midst of devastating droughts. Many are seeking emergency disaster aid; most notably so is Governor Rick Perry of Texas, famous for his vociferous climate change denial. The New York Times covers the storyin sordid detail, documenting the economic destruction, the scorching heat, the excruciating dryness. But they leave out one little thing. Guess what that could be?

Any mention of climate change. They come dangerously close to making the connection, interviewing a climatologist or two — but they end up pinning the blame on La Nina. But if I seem to recall correctly, there have been a La Nina or two since 1917 that didn’t smash drought records in Texas …”

14 US States Currently Wracked by Crippling Droughts via Brian Merchant – Treehugger

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U.S. Backs Project to Produce Fuel From Corn Waste

“WASHINGTON — The Energy Department plans to provide a $105 million loan guarantee for the expansion of an ethanol factory in Emmetsburg, Iowa, that intends to make motor fuel from corncobs, leaves and husks.

Experts say that the new factory, being built by POET, a major producer of ethanol derived from corn kernels, could be the first commercial-scale plant to make ethanol from a nonfood, or cellulosic, plant source. However, POET would first have to overcome technical hurdles in scaling up its production from the current pilot project, which processes one ton of plant matter per day, to a plant capable of processing 700 tons of biomass a day. High volume is necessary to make cellulosic ethanol competitive with the corn-based version.”

U.S. Backs Project to Produce Fuel From Corn Waste via Matthew Wald – NY Times Environment

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Kucinich, Losing District, Looks Very Far Afield

“If Mr. Kucinich’s weekend schedule was any indication, he is taking the matter seriously. In addition to the rally at the bank, he spoke to Democrats outside Seattle in Woodinville, a suburb that could be part of the new district, before he met with students at the University of Washington. He spoke at fund-raisers and gave a presentation on “reconnecting with the natural world” at the Green Festival in Seattle.”

Kucinich, Losing District, Looks Very Far Afield via Carl Hulse – NY Times

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Behind the Greening of Wal-Mart

“My latest intellectual Bosnia has been the knot of issues that’s come to be known as “sustainability.” In this regard, I suspect I’m not alone, especially among business people, many of whom still tend to associate these ideas with increased cost and government regulation.

The idea that “going green” could actually be profitable, a notion put forth by economists as long as 20 years ago, remains a source of skepticism in some quarters. If you still need convincing, pick up Edward Humes’s excellent new book, “Force of Nature” (Harper Business, 265 pages, $27.99), the story of how the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, came to go green. I’ll wager that you won’t look at sustainability issues quite the same way again. It certainly opened my eyes.”

Behind the Greening of Wal-Mart via Bryan Burrough – NY Times

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