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Energy Giant Ditches Coal Plant Retrofit
She’s big, dirty and 42-years old—that’s old in power plant years. They call her Big Sandy in Kentucky and she has two and a half years to clean up her act until she’s either shut down or replaced with newer, cleaner energy resources. Right now, she burns millions of tons of coal each year, equaling…
Read MoreAn Unhealthy Mountaineer
Over this past long weekend, spent backpacking in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, I was reminded of a memorable method for distinguishing two of our stateliest trees. Though these two specimens are similar in many respects, the pine cones of “prickly ponderosa” have small spikes that point outwards, while those of “gentle Jeffrey” curve inward. (The…
Read MoreScofflaw Bison Occupy Private Grazing Lands Near Yellowstone
A group of 27 bison occupying privately owned grazing lands outside of Yellowstone National Park’s western border were detained by authorities on May 24. The group of animals included 12 newborn calves, 12 mothers, and three juveniles. The Montana Department of Livestock led the raid with support from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and…
Read MoreFriday Finds: Fracked Beer’s Killer Buzz
Breweries worry that extreme gas drilling will frack their beer It turns out that hydraulic gas drilling or fracking doesn’t just contaminate the air and water; it could also mess up your favorite brew, reports Mother Jones. Brewmasters like Brooklyn Brewery and upstate New York’s Ommegang Brewery are raising the alarm about toxic fracking chemicals…
Read MoreA Victory—and Challenges Ahead—for the Green River
It’s been a tough spring for rivers in the Rocky Mountain West. After a winter that never really got started, the snow pack—our primary source for water in our rivers—is historically low in Colorado and throughout the region. Runoff from snow melt is sparse and came early, leaving behind disappointing river peak flows. The last…
Read MoreAn Ode to Journey (OR7): Don't Stop Believing
California’s only “official” gray wolf runs with the coyotes
Read MoreThe Dirty Truth About "All of The Above" Energy
Sometimes an all-in strategy can tarnish the entire package. Take for example President Obama’s recent decision to tout an “all-of-the-above” approach to achieving energy independence and lowering gas prices. It’s a catchy, feel-good campaign slogan perfect for banners and sound bites, but it’s a hollow energy strategy. Worse yet, it opens America up for destructive…
Read MoreConflicts Over Coal Export in Pacific Northwest
With domestic demand for coal waning in the United States, coal companies seek to ship as much coal as possible from Montana and Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to emerging Asian economies. Earthjustice is calling for environmental review of proposed projects.
Read MoreJoin Us In Rio, President Obama
Twenty-two environmental organizations including Earthjustice, representing more than 5 million Americans, sent a letter to President Obama on Friday, urging him to lead the U.S. delegation at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June and be a strong advocate for action on clean energy, environmental rights and healthy oceans. More than 130 heads of state and…
Read MoreUnplugged: Saving the Planet One Wash at a Time
We know we have been critical of the Obama administration of late, calling on the Department of Energy to get moving on publishing crucial energy efficiency standards. But we are happy to applaud the administration when they make good on their promise for a clean energy future. The latest: new clothes washer and dishwasher standards…
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