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Looking for Energy in All the Wrong Places

With cheap oil becoming a luxury of the past, America and the world are working to build a clean energy future that will heal the economy and help fight global warming. But not everyone is willing to let go of the past: They're trying to develop even dirtier sources of transportation fuel -- derived from oil shale, tar sands and liquid coal -- at an even greater cost to our health and the environment.

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Salazar Cleans Up Bush-Era Cronyism in Dirty Oil-Shale Program

October 22, 2009

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
corruption, departmentofinterior, dirtyfuels, greenriver, oilleases, oilshale, publiclands, salazar

Just as support for clean energy and climate solutions is growing among Americans from all walks of life--from Fortune 500 executives to Iraqi war veterans to union members--we learn new secrets about the old forces eager to keep us hooked...continued

Big Oil Pleads for Energy Evolution, Not Revolution

October 22, 2009

Posted by Rob Perks in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
bigoil, climate, climatechange, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oil, petroleum

No one should be surprised that Big Oil talks the talk on the need to address the climate crisis while not bothering to actually walk the walk.  At an industry conference this week in London, members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries showed...continued

Coal Baron Don Blankenship's Crazy Talk on Climate Change

September 29, 2009

Posted by Rob Perks in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
cleanenergy, climate, climatebill, climatechange, climatelegislation, coal, coalmining, dirtycoal, dirtyenergy, dirtyfuels, donblankenship, globalwarming, massey, mountaintopmining, mountaintopremoval, MTR

"Turn on more lights, burn more coal."      -- Don Blankenship Don Blankenship is the CEO of Massey Energy, the largest coal producer in Appalachia and the most notorious perpetrator of mountaintop removal mining.  Mr. Blankenship, known as "the scariest polluter in America", makes millions of dollars...continued

Avaaz Action Factory's Harper-Obama-tar sands milkshake action a success

September 16, 2009

Posted by Elizabeth Shope in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
actionfactory, dirtyfuels, harper, obama, oilsands, tarsands

President Obama sips on a tar sands milkshake through a large straw with the words "Clipper Pipeline" neatly painted onto it.  The milkshake asks Obama, "How does it taste?"  He doesn't think it's very yummy.  On the other side of...continued

We can't let the 800 (,000) pound gorilla set the standard

September 16, 2009

Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
dirtyfuels, oilsands, presidentobama, primeministerharper, tarsands

You remember that old expression, the 800 pound gorilla in the room.  Mirriam-Webster defines its meaning as: "one that is dominating or uncontrollable because of great size or power, e.g. like it or not, the 800-pound gorilla usually sets the...continued

Growing international outrage and Carbon Big Foot welcome Canada to Washington

September 16, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, dirtyfuels, oilsands, tarsands

  On my regular walk to work along Pennsylvania Avenue, I passed a big hairy "Carbon" Big Foot on the sidewalk who was cheerfully grunting offers of tar sands oil to passersby. This was not an everyday sight in my...continued

One more reason we don’t need tar sands oil

September 15, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, tarsands

  Today the Obama Administration proposed the first national limits on global warming pollution from cars and trucks along with strengthened fuel economy standards. This will cut global warming pollution from vehicles by 30 percent, save 1.3 million barrels a...continued

Beware Tarry Coattails: The Prime Minister of Canada is in town

September 15, 2009

Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
copenhagen, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, lowcarbonfuelstandard, oilsands, presidentobama, primeministerharper, tarsands

Prime Minister Harper is coming to Washington at a time of heightened concern about how tar sands oil is undermining U.S., Canadian and international efforts to curb global warming pollution.  He is also coming at a time when all eyes...continued

Obama Should Tell Canada's Prime Minister: No Thanks on Tar Sands Expansion

September 15, 2009

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
alberta, borealforest, cleancars, dirtyfuels, firstnation, globalwarming, hybrids, tarsands

This Wednesday, President Obama will meet with Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the White House to talk about climate change and energy issues. The word "expansion" may not appear on the official, diplomatic schedule, but I am certain it...continued

Tar sands raises sticky issues as Canadian Prime Minister meets with President Obama

September 10, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, climatechange, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, tarsands

With Canadian federal elections a likelihood for this fall, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would benefit politically from a feel good photo-op or joint announcement with the most popular politician in Canada: Barack Obama. Prime Minister Harper will be in...continued

The New Tar Sands Oil Pipeline: A Junkie's Last Fix

August 25, 2009

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Tags:
alberta, borealforest, cleanenergy, dirtyfuels, energyandclimate2009, fuelefficiency, globalwarming, pipeline, tarsands

Having recently returned from the extensive tar sands oil fields of Alberta, I was alarmed to learn that our State Department just approved a new pipeline for funneling tar sands fuel straight into the U.S. Midwest. This decision locks us...continued

Approving a new tar sands pipeline hurts U.S. credibility on clean energy

August 21, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
albertaclipper, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, pipeline, tarsands

Yesterday, the State Department issued a permit for a new transboundary pipeline that will bring heavy tar sands oil to the U.S. Midwest for upgrading and refining. The United States is preparing for the Copenhagen meeting having made a commitment...continued

Tar Sands Keeps Canada from Climate Leadership

August 7, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
climatechange, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, northamerica, oilsands, tarsands

The leaders of Canada's provinces are meeting today to discuss climate change, among other things. They were greeted by Greenpeace protesters with signs that Canada is dying for climate leadership. This is a theme that is likely to follow the...continued

Visiting a Boreal Village: Life Downstream from Tar Sands Oil

July 31, 2009

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
alberta, biogems, borealforest, canada, cancer, dirtyfuels, firstnation, peace-athabascadelta, tarsands

After I toured some of Alberta's tar sands oil operations last week, I traveled north to Fort Chipewyan, a small village in the Athabasca River Delta. The community is only 60 miles from tar sands central in Fort McMurray, but...continued

America's Other Foreign Oil: Seeing Canada's Tar Sands Up Close

July 30, 2009

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
alberta, borealforest, cleanenergy, dirtyfuels, firstnation, fortmcmurray, fuelefficiency, oiladdiction, oildrilling, pembina, tarsands

Most Americans recognize that our love affair with the automobile--and the oil addiction that comes with it--has implications for our foreign policy and military commitments in the Middle East. What is less well understood are the environmental and human consequences...continued

Studies Confirm Tar Sands Dirtiest of Dirty Oils

July 23, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, dirtyfuels, oilsands, tarsands

Once again, the Alberta government is using its $25 million public relations pot to mislead the public. Today, Alberta is touting the results of two new studies about tar sands greenhouse gas emissions as showing that tar sands production is...continued

The new House climate and energy bill takes us one step further from dependence on expanded tar sands oil production

June 29, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
ACES, dirtyfuels, energyandclimate2009, globalwarming, oilsands, section526, tarsands

On Friday, the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act passed in the House signifying a major step forward for the United States in tackling climate change and building a clean energy economy. The ACES bill provides the funding to...continued

Applauding the Call for Action on Climate, Tar Sands, Arctic and Boreal

June 4, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
arctic, boreal, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, tarsands

I have been working on U.S. - Canada environmental issues for almost ten years - and many of my colleagues have done so for much longer. We have close and daily coordination among environmental groups on both sides of our...continued

Tar Sands – Dangerous Distraction or Just Plain Dangerous?

May 29, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, tarsands

 Last week the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) released a new report The Canadian Oil Sands: Energy Security vs. Climate Change. The report attempts to address a debate about whether the United States needs further expansion of tar sands oil...continued

Defending the Climate Against Dirty Fuels

May 19, 2009

Posted by Rob Perks in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
coaltoliquids, dirtyfuels, energysecurity, liquidcoal, nationalsecurity, oilshale, tarsands

"The U.S. should not pursue energy options inconsistent with the national response to climate change." That is the sober -- and welcome -- conclusion of a new report by the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), entitled Powering America's Defense:...continued

Expansion of tar sands oil is not central to U.S. energy supply – despite new report conclusion

May 18, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, globalwarming, tarsands

Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) consulting firm released a new report today about growth in the Canadian tar sands. The report acknowledges many of the environmental problems with tar sands, but then still somehow concludes that we need this source...continued

As U.S. moves towards reducing carbon pollution – there is no room for tar sands oil expansion

May 15, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, energyandclimate2009, globalwarming, tarsands, waxmanmarkey

  Despite attempts by oil companies and Canada to say otherwise, the movement in the United States to reduce carbon pollution leaves no room for expansion of high carbon dirty fuels like tar sands oil from Canada. Just a few...continued

Waxman-Markey bill ups the ante on tar sands and other dirty energy

May 15, 2009

Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming , U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
canada, dirtyfuels, energyandclimate2009, globalwarming, oilsands, tarsands, waxmanmarkey

The huge Congressional climate bill has been formally introduced, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454). Over a month of discussion and heavy dealmaking has finally come to an end, recalling the famous Otto Von Bismarck quote "Laws are...continued

Tar sands makes a trade bully of Canada

May 14, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, energyandclimate2009, globalwarming, tarsands, waxmanmarkey

As the U.S. is drafting new rules to reduce carbon pollution, the Canadian government is once again letting its opinion be known. Is Canada pledging to work alongside the U.S. to curb carbon pollution? No - our neighbor to the...continued

Getting Biofuels Right Requires California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard to Have Honest GHG Accounting

April 22, 2009

Posted by Roland Hwang in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
biofuels, CARB, climatechange, dirtyfuels, ethanol, globalwarmingpollutionstandards, indirectlandusechange, low-carbonfuelstandard, oilshale, tarsands

This Thursday (April 23), the California Air Resources Board has a dramatic opportunity to help solve global warming and get biofuels right by adopting the nation's first Low Carbon Fuel Standard. To do so, California must stand up against two...continued

US Chamber Calls on Congress to Force Dirty Energy Projects Down Americans' Throats

April 16, 2009

Posted by Pete Altman in Curbing Pollution , Environmental Justice , Green Enterprise , Health and the Environment , Nuclear Weapons, Waste and Energy , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
climatechange, dirtycoal, dirtyfuels, energyandclimate2009, globalwarming, smears, uschamberofcommerce

The US Chamber of Commerce has been drinking its own Kool-Aid again, and trying this time to get members of Congress to think it's green tea. The Chamber is attempting to convince policymakers that burdensome regulations are blocking clean energy...continued

Not a Drop of Coal to Spare

March 25, 2009

Posted by Rob Perks in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
coal-to-liquids, ctl, dirtyfuels, liquidcoal, liquifiedcoal

With the Coal-to-Liquids conference kicking off today in Washington, D.C., I think it's worth adding another point to my previous argument against the notion of converting coal into liquified transportation fuel to offset petroleum. According to the latest U.S. Department of Energy calculations,...continued

Fossil Fools Gather in D.C. to Promote a Dirty Fuel

March 24, 2009

Posted by Rob Perks in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
coaltoliquids, dirtycoal, dirtyfuels, liquidcoal, liquifiedcoal

Spring in Washington is a lovely time, with cherry blossoms about to bloom and tourists trekking to the Mall to gaze at monuments.  But our fair city is about to see a different influx this week, as attendees arrive for the so-called...continued

Oil shale and water in the Rockies

March 23, 2009

Posted by Amy Mall in Living Sustainably , Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
biogems, dirtyfuels, oilshale, worldwaterday

Our colleagues at Western Resource Advocates just released a report called "Water on the Rocks" that catalogues all the water rights in Colorado that have been acquired by oil shale interests, or could be used by them, to develop oil shale on...continued

Tar Sands: Dirty is as Dirty Does

March 20, 2009

Posted by Rob Perks in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
boreal, canada, dirtyfuels, tarsands

This headline in the Calgary Herald today made my day: "Rhetoric driving policy, says chamber". A more apt headline might be: "Rhetoric driving chamber crazy." According to the story, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce thinks the term "dirty fuel" unfairly describes Canadian tar...continued

New Report Says U.S. Birds in "Widespread Decline," Need Help

March 20, 2009

Posted by Scott Dodd in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Tags:
biogems, birds, borealforest, canada, climatechange, conservation, dirtyfuels, newyorkcity, tarsands

Last spring, I found myself entranced by a pair of red-tail hawks building a nest in Riverside Park, just a few blocks from my apartment in New York City. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of their parents and the best wishes...continued

Dirty Energy Politics in Statehouses

March 18, 2009

Posted by Pete Altman in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
cleanenergy, coalindustry, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, legislation, oilindustry, smears, utilities

Ever wonder why it's been so hard to pass climate change and clean energy legislation? By now, most Americans are aware that coal, oil and other members of the carbon club spend generously on top-dollar public relations and lobbying campaigns...continued

What is next for tar sands? Saskatchewan comes to woo Washington

March 5, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Nuclear Weapons, Waste and Energy , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, nuclear, tarsands

We greeted Canadian Environment Minister Prentice in DC at the start of this week. Minister Prentice has been a strong proponent of expansion of Canadian tar sands oil development, despite the high global warming pollution, and the extensive damage to...continued

Canada: please stop focusing on public relations and deal with the tar sands

March 3, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, tarsands

Canadian Environment Minister Prentice visiting Washington, D.C. for meetings on energy and climate this week, makes me wonder again why Canada is putting so much effort and money into public relations around tar sands oil instead of addressing the very...continued

A chilly D.C. greeting for tar sands oil

March 1, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
Canada, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, tarsands

With our first real snow storm of the winter predicted for Monday morning, the greeting for tar sands oil this week in Washington is likely to be as chilly as the weather. The Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice arrives in...continued

A February Coal Snap in Michigan: Attorney General Prevents Governor from Upholding the Law

February 27, 2009

Posted by Henry Henderson in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
coal, dirtyfuels, energyefficiency, granholm, michigan

Last month, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm used her State of the State address to stake out an exciting new clean energy future for the wolverine state. By focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy, she was just weeks ahead of President...continued

President Obama puts clean, renewable power in stark contrast to dirty fuels

February 24, 2009

Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, climatepolicy, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, obamaspeech, oilsands, tarsands

In a forceful speech tonight, President Barack Obama asked America to join him in bringing about a revolution in how we produce and use energy.  Already in his young presidency, he has signaled his desire to regulate greenhouse gases from...continued

Tar sands oil: not the path to long-term prosperity

February 24, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, globalwarming, obamaspeech, oilsands, tarsands

Beyond the applause and happy smiles in tonight's Presidential address, what made me realize that we are in a new era was how the President wove his energy agenda throughout the speech. What a difference from the Presidential addresses of...continued

Beaver Tails and Tar Sands: climate security talks are not going to stay this sweet

February 19, 2009

Posted by Josh Mogerman in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
alberta, beavertail, canada, dirtyfuels, obama, obamatocanada, tarsands

It was a sweet day for President Obama in Canada. As he savored a "beaver tail" in Ottawa, security seemed the farthest issue from his mind. No, this is not an endangered species post...apparently there is a rockin' bakery...continued

A Turning Point in the tar sands

February 19, 2009

Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Living Sustainably , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, dirtyfuels, energypolicy, globalwarming, oil, oilsands, presidentobama, sands, tar

The tar sands issue will never be the same after the President's visit to Canada this week. It has been catapulted to the top tier issues between the U.S. and Canada. Now the spotlight will be on what can be...continued

Obama takes his clean energy message to Canada

February 19, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, presidentobama, tarsands

Speculation about how President Obama would handle the murky issue of tar sands oil during his first visit to Canada has been daily in the Canadian media over the past few weeks. Focusing on the imperative of tackling global warming, President...continued

Climate Science Says We CAN’T Move Towards More Tar Sands and Dirty Fuels

February 19, 2009

Posted by Melanie Nakagawa in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
climatechange, dirtyfuels, oilsands, tarsands

  We've all been hearing the litany of problems with tar sands from the environmental impacts to the public health consequences.  However, how much more needs to happen for our decision makers to act now?  Scientists who have specialized in...continued

A Growing Chorus Against Tar Sands Oil

February 18, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, tarsands

When President Obama travels to Canada tomorrow, he will be met by cheering crowds eager to greet him along with a welcoming banner from Greenpeace that reads "climate leaders don't buy tar sands oil." Canadian tar sands oil development strip-mines...continued

Mr. Obama Goes to Canada

February 18, 2009

Posted by Michael Oko in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
canada, dirtyfuels, obama, tarsands

At first glance, you wouldn't think that a trip to our friendly northern neighbors would be cause for concern for environmental groups. You'd expect Canadians, with their love of outdoors and the vast wilderness, to be strong advocates for the...continued

Tar Sands and Solving Global Warming – Compatible with Strong Commitments?

February 18, 2009

Posted by Jake Schmidt in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, climatechage, copenhagen, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, tarsands

Well the anticipated trip of President Obama to Canada is just about to begin.  The Canadian press has been reporting for a while that Prime Minister Harper will raise tar sands when President Obama makes his first international trip.  And,...continued

President Obama: Don’t Give Canadian Tar Sands a Free Climate Pass

February 18, 2009

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
alberta, borealforest, canada, cleanenergy, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, globalwarmingpollution, tarsands

Tomorrow President Obama is traveling to Canada. Most American presidents head to Ottawa on their first state visits, using the trip to our northern neighbor as an easy transition to the world stage. But this time, in addition to the...continued

Boreal Burial

February 18, 2009

Posted by George Peridas in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
capture, carbon, ccs, climatechange, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, sequestration, tarsands

As is customary, President Obama will make his first state visit to Canada this week. Prime Minister Harper will no doubt be waiting eagerly. There is a lot to talk about. Energy security will be high on both leaders' list. To quote...continued

Obama message to Canada: clean energy is best

February 17, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, tarsands

Just two days before visiting Canada, in an interview on Canadian TV tonight, President Obama said that tar sands "creates a big carbon footprint." Alberta's controversial tar sands oil industry is known for its damage to the Boreal forest and...continued

Does the U.S. need tar sands oil? Our analysis shows we don't

February 17, 2009

Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
canada, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, presidentobama, tarsands

As the President heads to Canada this week, the Canadian government is expected to table a proposal to "protect" their carbon-heavy tar sands operations in Northern Alberta from future global warming regulation. The Canadians are confident, apparently, that the U.S....continued

The Tar Sands Litany: tough times for Calgary oilmen, tougher times for their PR folks…

February 13, 2009

Posted by Josh Mogerman in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
athabascariver, bishoplucbouchard, canada, dangerinthenursery, dirtyfuels, downstream, ducks, eenergysecurity, mutantfish, obama, obamatocanada, oil, oilsands, pollution, tarsands

Things looked pretty rosy in Alberta last summer when oil was trading for $140/barrel. Investments flooded in from folks all over the world eager to stake their claim on the Canadian province's cash cow: tar sands. Sure, there were...continued

America is getting serious about coal – Canada needs to get serious about tar sands

February 13, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
coal, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, tarsands

On the eve of President Obama's trip to Canada, the Canadian government is claiming that America and Canada share the same problems with dirty fuels such as coal and tar sands. Tar sands and coal are both very dirty fuels....continued

Will our leaders rise above the tar pit?

February 12, 2009

Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Tags:
climatepolicy, dirtyfuels, oilsands, presidentobama, primeministerharper, tarsands

The President will make his first foreign visit to Canada next week. This is a tradition and historically these meetings have been largely ceremonial. Not so this time. Canada is abuzz with speculation about what directions might be set -...continued

No Ducking Charges for Deaths in Tar Sands Mining Waste Ponds

February 10, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Tags:
boreal, dirtyfuels, ducks, migratorybirds, oilsands, tarsands

  From a birds eye view, the Syncrude tar sands mining waste ponds stretch out glistening attractively in the sun. On a long migration north to nest, I can see how 500 ducks would decide to land on one of...continued

A Cause for Alarm in Community Downstream from Tar Sands

February 10, 2009

Posted by Melanie Nakagawa in Health and the Environment

Tags:
cancerstudy, dirtyfuels, fortchipewyan, oilsands, tarsands

The release of last week's Alberta Health cancer study in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, Canada answered few questions but prompted many more.  Responding to requests by the community of Fort Chipewyan, the Alberta Government conducted a health study to investigate the...continued

Take the Low (Carbon) Road to Energy Security

February 9, 2009

Posted by Amy Mall in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
climatechange, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilshale

The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and the World Resources Institute recently worked together to publish "A Roadmap for a Secure, Low-Carbon Energy Economy."  The Roadmap is intended to produce win-win-win recommendations that benefit energy security, our economy, and the climate.  The...continued

Americans and Canadians agree: Hold energy companies accountable

February 9, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Tags:
dirtyfuels, nafta, oilsands, tarsands

  The Alberta and Canadian governments are under increasing public pressure for stricter regulations to protect environment and public health in the tar sands. A new Council of Canadians poll shows that there is no excuse for energy companies when...continued

Migratory bird haven joins NRDC BioGems

February 3, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Tags:
biogems, birds, dirtyfuels, oilsands, tarsands

  There is an air of optimism in Washington, D.C. these days with our new President in place. For me some of it comes from feeling that there is a new will in the US to find clean energy solutions. ...continued

Going-out-of-Business Sale on Dirty Fuels

January 14, 2009

Posted by Amy Mall in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
dirtyfuels, oilshale

There is less than a week before President-elect Obama's inauguration. Tomorrow, there will be a Senate hearing on the nominee for the new Secretary of the Interior--Senator Ken Salazar.  Nevertheless, despite the many changes in Washington, the Bush administration is staying...continued

Dear Mr. President: Don’t Let the Canadian Prime Minister Go South on Global Warming When You Go North

January 13, 2009

Posted by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , Solving Global Warming , U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, tarsands

  When I mentioned around the office that Canada had proposed to our new President-to-be that the ever growing greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands oil development be "protected" from global warming regulations -- the response was disbelief. "Preposterous!"...continued

A New Rocky Mountain Low: Energy Security at the Expense of National Security?

December 23, 2008

Posted by Josh Mogerman in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
alberta, dirtyfuels, energysecurity, rockymountainnews, tarsands

The Rocky Mountain News published a strongly pro-tar sands Op Ed from a Colorado petroleum geologist over the weekend, entitled "Oil sands spell energy security." I don't claim to have aced any spelling bees -- but I do know my...continued

Canada's Tar Sands: Looking for Oil in All the Wrong Places

December 22, 2008

Posted by Rob Perks in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
dirtyfuels, oil, oiladdiction, tarsands

Everyone realizes that America is dangerously addicted to oil.  What people need to know is that if crude oil is cocaine, tar sands oil from Canada is crack.  It doesn't make any sense to replace one with the other --...continued

Why Clean Power Beats Dirty Power

December 11, 2008

Posted by Rob Perks in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
cleanenergy, dirtycoal, dirtyfuels, energy, renewableenergy

How's this for an eye-catching headline? Wind, Water And Sun Beat Biofuels, Nuclear And Coal For Clean Energy That comes from a story published today in ScienceDaily, which opens with this unequivocal sentence: "The best ways to improve energy security, mitigate global...continued

What future for dirty fuels in the Post-Bush era?

November 19, 2008

Posted by Liz Barratt-Brown in Curbing Pollution , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
changeinwashington, dirtyfuels, globalwarming, oilsands, post-kyoto, tarsands

In a taped statement yesterday, President-elect Obama addressed an international meeting on climate change hosted by California Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger in  and co-hosted by an all-star, bi-partisan group of governors active on global warming issues (see Canada's reaction here).  My colleague, Peter Miller, who was...continued

Liquid Coal a Crude Substitue for Oil

October 24, 2008

Posted by Rob Perks in Curbing Pollution , Living Sustainably , Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
dirtyfuels, liquidcoal, liquifiedcoal, oiladdiction

The coal industry has a dream -- that one day our cars and trucks will run on liquefied coal.  They tout this as a way to free America from its addiction to oil -- 60% of which we export from foreign...continued

Oil Shale: Ten Questions, No Answers

October 16, 2008

Posted by Erin Allweiss in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
congress, dirtyfuels, energy, globalwarming, moratorium, oil, oilshale, water

On the heels of Congress lifting the moratorium on leasing lands to develop oil shale, Rand released a study that is as interesting for what's in it as for what's been left out. RAND, a renowned non-profit that provides analyses...continued

Coal Juice Tastes Nasty in China: Central government says Coal-to-Liquid is too dirty

October 16, 2008

Posted by Josh Mogerman in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
baard, china, coal, coaltoliquid, CTL, dirtyfuels, ohio

Over and over we hear from dirty fuel advocates that the U.S. needs to use slop like tar sands and high sulfur coal so that it does not get shipped to places like China where the environmental standards are considered...continued

Let’s stick with the clean energy message despite temptations to stray

October 6, 2008

Posted by Daniel Hinerfeld in The Media and the Environment

Tags:
cleanfuels, dirtyfuels, energypolicy, hurricaneike, messaging, offshoredrilling, opportunity

Hurricane Ike spilled at least half a million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico and the wetlands of Louisiana and Texas, according to a review of federal data by the Associated Press, released today.  As proponents of...continued

Beating Economy Problems with Renewable Energy

October 6, 2008

Posted by NRDC News in The Media and the Environment

Tags:
ABC, ashokgupta, bailoutbill, bobbymcenaney, businessweek, davidgoldstein, dirtyfuels, energycrisis, jessicalass, joelreynolds, latimes, margopellegrino, navysonar, newsday, NPR, philadelphiainquirer, sarahchasis

Joel Reynolds speaks about NRDC’s upcoming Supreme Court case, dubbed ‘Navy v. Whales’ on Living on Earth the nationally syndicated NPR show based out of Boston…In the LA Times  Bobby McEnaney warns that tax breaks for dirty fuel refineries included...continued

Global Warming? Exists. Dirty Fuels? Make It Worse.

October 3, 2008

Posted by NRDC News in The Media and the Environment

Tags:
annalexander, bailoutbill, BP, candidanswers, contracostatimes, dirtyfuels, garyposttribune, huffpo, NBC, NPR, phthalates, prop7, wesleywarren, whitingrefinery

In an NPR Morning Edition news piece Wesley Warren, NRDC's director of Programs, talks about oil industry’s exploitation of the Bailout Bill as an opportunity to get funds for dirty fuels written into legislation… In the Gary Post Tribune, Ann...continued

Cooking Rocks? Not a Good Energy Policy Either.

October 1, 2008

Posted by NRDC News in The Media and the Environment

Tags:
adriannaquintero, AP, california, craignoble, dirtyfuels, jessicalass, karenwayland, laondaverde, NYT, oilshale, portoflosangeles, reuters, smartgrowth, wesleywarren

In the Associated Press, Craig Noble discusses the benefits of California’s newest bill providing incentives encouraging communities to grow smartly and in ways that reduce their environmental impact… In New York Times’ Green Inc blog, the writer notes that a...continued

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