NRDC News's Blog: The Media and the Environment

NRDC + BoA = Mountaintop Appreciation

2008-12-04T21:32:25Z

As a result of months of discussion between NRDC and Bank of America, BoA has made a public commitment to phasing out funding for companies that predominantly use mountain-top removal for coal mining; the New York Times Green Inc. reports and drives readers to Rob Perk’s blog entry on how NRDC persuaded the banking giant to change it’s ways… And in the print edition of the New York Times, the paper talks about NRDC’s disappointment with a destructive mountain-top mining regulation approved by the Bush administration this week…

In their weekly “Just one Thing” segment, Good Morning America gives energy efficiency advice and talks about facts from our recent game console energy-use report [Watch]… The Los Angeles Times cites NRDC’s role in a settlement that will further protect California’s condors from lead poisoning… Along with being the top story on Grist.org today, the Charlotte Observer reports on the decision by a federal judge to require Duke energy to fully analyze expected emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from its expanding Cliffside power plant; Ben Longstreth explains the implications of the decision…In Wired Mae Wu faults the Bush administration for its adamant resistance to regulating the neurotoxin perchlorate in drinking water…

Dear Canada... Did You Know Pollution and Habitat Distruction is Bad for Birds?

2008-12-02T19:29:40Z

Susan Casey Lefkowitz urges people to consider the effect of Canadian tar sands development on the habitat of migratory birds in a Reuters piece discussing a report released today by a coalition of environmental groups and NRDC; articles on the report ran in numerous Canadian outlets… Jake Schmidt discusses China’s the changing public position on climate change in the Associated Press… Despite the indication that James Jones Jr will be the next national security advisor, in the Los Angeles Times Dan Lashof insists that he believes the Obama administration remains committed to addressing climate change… Yahoo! Green drives readers to NRDC’s guide to selecting energy-efficient TVs in a piece detailing the steps TV owners can take to avoid purchasing another home energy hog…In the New York Post, Roland Hwang postulates that it would require at least a decade to create affordable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with a reasonable fueling network… And two E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), Holly Kaufman and Jon W. Slangerup, discuss how we can repair our economy with green development in Forbes.com…

Global Warming in a Time of an Obama Administration

2008-12-01T19:41:19Z

In a front page Washington Post article, Bobby McEnaney warns that Pres. Bush is attempting to destroy the whole process designed to protect public lands, as his administration swiftly moves forward with the approval of large and controversial oil and gas leases…In the Associated Press, Jake Schmidt describes the expected “American buzz” surrounding the U.S. presence at the Pozan, Poland climate conference due to the election of Barack Obama…. And as industry opposition grows to laws that would forbid oil and gas companies from polluting drinking water, Amy Mall points out in the Associated Press that "industry says this practice [hydrofracking] is safe, that it's not endangering drinking water, so why are they afraid of a law that says they can't endanger drinking water?"

Last week Allen Hershkowitz chatted with Good Morning America’s Sam Champion about NRDC’s work to green the practices of Broadway… Louisa Willcox lambastes the grizzly bear adaptive management system adopted by Yellowstone for proving to be “little more than empty rhetoric” in a Billings Gazette Guest Opinion piece... And as holiday season advances, Noah Horowitz addresses TV efficiency (and inefficiency) concerns in the Capital Times…

You Don't Have to Pay for What You Don't Use

2008-11-24T20:05:45Z

Nathanael Greene evaluates how the economic downturn could reinvigorate home conservation efforts on NPR’s Marketplace… In response to the court ruling requiring Shell oil to complete another environmental assessment before drilling offshore in Alaska Chuck Clusen postulated that “Americans are looking for a clean energy future, and trading animals and their habitat for massive oil company profits is the way of the past," on Bloomberg.com… Karen Wayland discusses NRDC’s position regarding the selection of Rep. Waxman as chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in the Christian Science Monitor… Roland Hwang navigates the complexities of encouraging Detroit to build more fuel efficient cars in the New York Times… In response to the recent Navy v Sonar Supreme Court decision, a Miami Herald Op-Ed argues for the establishment of better laws to protect animals… Jonathan Kaplan directs earth-minded grocery shoppers to the benefits of purchasing local foods in a SmartMoney.com article; the piece also links the NRDC’s SimpleSteps for information on pesticide laden produce.

Where Politics Meets the Environment

2008-11-20T21:23:25Z

Frances Beinecke speaks on BBC World Today regarding Obama’s commitment to develop clean energy and a national cap-and-trade system in two different three minute segments. BBC World today an internationally broadcast program that reaches millions of listeners across the globe… Noah Horowitz talks about NRDC’s report on the energy consumption of video game consoles on NPR’s Day to Day...

Thomas Cochran analyzes the significance of Iran’s enrichment of enough fuel to make a nuclear weapon in the New York Times… Andrew Wetzler talks about the Bush administration’s attempted 11th hour changes to the Endangered Species Act on Politico.com…Susan Casey Leftkowitz talks about the environmental movement’s united front against Canadian tar sands in the Financial Post… TheHill.com (The Hill’s Congress blog) carried a blog post written by NRDC quoting Amy Mall and Frances Beinecke regarding oil shale and Obama’s energy plans respectively.

Addressing Energy Efficiency and Global Warming

2008-11-19T19:40:17Z

Kathie Lee Gifford tests viewers on their environmental knowledge on the TODAY Show and Noah Horowitz provides the answers; his appearance was arranged by Jenny Powers [Watch]… Frances Beinecke speaks about her expectations for global warming policy under the Obama administration in the International Herald Tribune; Obama himself is the only other person quoted in the piece… Jake Schmidt points out that "Obama signaled to the world that there is a true recognition that the global challenge of climate change requires U.S. leadership," in TIME…

Frances Beinecke spoke about Bush administration 11th hour environmental deregulations on Air America’s Ring of Fire radio [Listen]… Wesley Warren also visited Ring of Fire to discuss the disastrous environmental policies we’ve had to endure over the last 8 years [Listen]… Roland Hwang addresses the potential for American based hybrid vehicle production in USA Today… Noah Horowitz warns about the energy consumption of large flat panel TVs while discussing the steps toward efficiency being taken this year in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Using Less vs. Polluting for More

2008-11-18T20:02:59Z

On NPR’s All Things Considered Noah Horowitz discusses the shortcomings of Energy Star TV ratings, and draws attention to the pollution and cost that results from the use of inefficient entertainment technology… In articles addressing the move by the Bush administration to “fortify” the oil shale industry in Reuters and the New York Times Green Inc. blog Amy Mall emphasizes that "cooking rocks and scorching earth is not a solution to our energy crisis," and draws attention to the availability of clean energy solutions… Kate Sinding warns that drilling for natural gas in northeast shale formations could potentially result in severe environmental repercussions in the Associated Press… Ralph Cavanagh encourages “those who are not eager to repeat history… to do everything possible to reduce demand and diversify supply away from fossil fuels” in the Philadelphia Inquirer…David Hawkins writes about the enormous clean energy opportunities available to Nebraskans and raises attention about cap-and-trade in the Omaha World-Herald.

Of Whales and Energy

2008-11-17T21:37:43Z

The Associated Press along with more than 500 online and print outlets quoted NRDCers Joel Reynolds, Zak Smith, and Taryn Kiekow on the Winter v NRDC Supreme Court ruling. Coverage of the ruling, which determined that the Navy was not required to adhere to two out of the six protection measures established by lower courts, appeared in such outlets as the New York Times, the LA Times, Washington Post, and wires nationally and internationally. The New York Times and the LA Times editorialized for the fifth and third time respectively, in support of NRDC’s position for stronger marine mammal protection.

In the Wall Street Journal, Roland Hwang emphasizes the importance of keeping fuel efficiency standards updated to protect Americans from a reinvigorated dependence on oil as prices drop… Andy Stevenson warns in the New York Times that despite Exxon’s record profits, as the company moves into the future it will likely find itself trapped in oil and gas even as supplies dwindle due to its failure to invest in clean energy technologies… In the Washington Post Wesley Warren distills the priorities of the environmental movement into two top issues for the next presidential administration: climate change and clean energy… John Walke spoke about the Bush Administration’s 11th hour gutting of environmental regulations in a lengthy Radio Pacifica interview [Listen]… Allen Hershkowitz discussed green collar jobs with PBS’ Now [Watch]… And Jessica Lass explains the environmental and community health benefits that result from the hybridization of Port tugboats in the LA Times…

Tune In Alert: Noah Horowitz is expected to appear on NPR’s All Things Considered tonight at around 4:20pm ET to discuss TV efficiency.

A New Era of New Energy?

2008-11-07T19:35:02Z

Dan Lashof says the time has come to aggressively move forward with the development of clean renewable energy in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required)… CBS.com posted a prelude to 60 Minutes’ e-waste investigation that will air this weekend on Sunday at 7pm ET; Allen Hershkowitz will appear in the 60 Minutes segment to discuss the pollution and health concerns that come as a result of improper disposal of e-waste, please tune in… A blog by Pete Altman illustrating what clean energy and global warming solutions can do for the ailing US and world economies was picked up by Gristmill… In the New York Times Eric Goldstein explains the benefits of a possible “plastic bag fee” in New York… Nathanael Greene takes part in a discussion about how much biofuels need to cost to be cost-competitive in the Christian Science Monitor… The Bennington Banner criticizes the Bush Administration for 11th hour attempts to gut major environmental protections, including animal farm water pollution rules that NRDC believed were necessary to protect human health and wildlife.

Waiting for January 20, 2009

2008-11-06T22:17:12Z

Frances Beinecke talks to Grist about the environmental community's hopes for a Barack Obama administration... In Christian Science Monitor Sharon Buccino remarks on President Bush's push to open public lands to development... Liz Barratt-Brown comments on the role of Canada's tar sands energy trends on US energy trends in Canada's The Globe and Mail ... Doug Obegi commends the management plan for the Sacramento delta in the Sacramento News and Review... Pierre Bull explains some benefits of "run-of-the-river" hydroelectric power to the readers of Plenty Magazine.

Post Election Recap: A Few Wins for the Enviroment

2008-11-05T22:26:24Z

Frances Beinecke contemplates what it will mean to have an advocate for the environment in the White House in her Huffington Post blog, and emphasizes that green energy and green tech will be very strong tools that will help rebuild the American economy in the years to come… In both NBC LA and in the Associated Press David Pettit explained why the ballot initiative Proposition 7 would have slowed California’s move toward clean power had it succeeded at the polls… The Gary Post Tribune highlights NRDC’s warning that a proposed plan to discharge Whiting refinery pollutants into Lake Michigan could seriously harm the health of the lake…And The Valley Advocate passes along NRDC water filter advice to readers.

Environmental Regulations? What Environmental Regulations?

2008-11-04T17:59:58Z

The New York Times published an editorial today mourning the last minute rush by the Bush Administration to roll back meaningful civil liberties, women’s rights and environmental regulations… The Sacramento Bee urged quick resolution to the water wars of the San Joaquin Valley in an editorial… Sarah Janssen is pictured and quoted in an Environment and Energy Daily article examining the health concerns surrounding BPA… Women’s Wear Daily reports on the Stella McCartney trunk show that took place yesterday benefiting NRDC; the author notes that supporters of NRDC were present at the event, including NRDC Trustee Anna Scott Carter… Francesca Olivieri founder of Sage Baby and contributor to SimpleSteps.org offers earth-friendly advice for cleaning the home in a featured Cookie magazine article… Barbara Finamore and two other “A-List Activists” talk about their environmental beliefs and give simple energy saving tips in More magazine

Fed Judge: No Green Taxi Mandate in NYC

2008-11-03T18:10:15Z

Kate Sinding expresses her disappointment that “a narrow segment of industry" has prevented "the city from doing what's best for its citizens and the environment," in an Associated Press article explaining actions by a federal judge that will block NYC from requiring city taxis to be fuel efficient by 2012… In an ABC News article, Tom Cochran advises against investing $3 billion American dollars in unreliable nuclear explosive monitors that can be thwarted by well educated bomb makers almost 100% of the time… On Bloomberg.com Ralph Cavanagh continues to raise awareness about the fatal flaws of the poorly planned California clean energy voting initiative Proposition 7.

USA Today mentions NRDC’s petition to ban BPA from food packaging in an article on the growing pressure for the federal government to protect citizens from the estrogen-mimicking chemical… LiveScience.com repeats NRDC warnings against the high environmental costs of coal use in an article exploring the viability of “clean coal” as a useful energy technology… Louisa Willcox critiques the faulty animal management system that has allowed for the death of almost 10% of the grizzly bear population in the West this year in The Billings Gazette… And Jon Devine explains what new loophole-laden animal waste rules might mean for American health in the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Deregulation: a Dirty Word Yet?

2008-10-31T21:09:51Z

In a feature Q&A in Urban Land (the magazine of the Urban Land Institute) Frances Beinecke discusses several issues including the energy crisis, NRDC’s work in China, energy efficiency, and where the environmental movement is going next… John Walke criticizes the Bush administration for its 11th hour plans to push deregulations that will benefit polluters rather than people in both a front page Washington Post article and in the Daily Green… Josh Mogerman accuses the federal government of being “painfully slow” at addressing the underlying causes of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in the Journal Star… And in an Examiner.com article Josh talks about NRDC’s lawsuit to obtain pesticide information from EPA that may shed some light on the CCD issue… Another Examiner.com article extols the benefits of eating seasonally appropriate foods and directs readers to NRDC’s Eat Local guide for detailed state-by-state information on what’s in season, and where.

BPA, Air Pollution, and Baseball

2008-10-30T17:54:39Z

Following a scientific advisory panel announcement yesterday that called FDA’s margins of safety for the chemical BPA “inadequate” NRDC has been at the forefront of BPA discussion in the news. Jen Sass appeared on NBC Nightly News last night to talk about BPA, Sarah Janssen criticized the FDA for putting corporate interests ahead of public protection on WebMD.

Also leading the news today is a challenge by the Federal Maritime Commission to the Clean Truck Program at the ports of LA and Long Beach. In the LA Times Peter Lehner chides the commission for “siding with a filthy industry and blocking the path to clean air and public health"… In the Contra Costa Times Adrian Martinez expressed disappointment that the commission had failed to consider the environmental impacts of an injunction or seek public comment before moving forward with their challenge.

In the New York Times Roland Hwang explains the relationship between speed and fuel consumption… Kate Sinding is interviewed twice on MLB.com for their “Team Greening” site which launched during World Series; the videos are listed as the top 2 video links from the Team Greening site, which also features eco tips from NRDC and has a huge NRDC presence .