AltWeeklies Wire
Welcome to Washington, Mr. President; Now Let's Do This Thingnew

On his first day in office, we offer Obama an epistle from Idaho: Don't scare us, fix our energy and immigration problems, give us health care and change the tone on science and facts.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
01-21-2009 |
Commentary
Enviros Urge Michigan to Stop New Coal Plantsnew
A coalition of citizens and environmental groups urged Gov. Jennifer Granholm at a press conference this morning to "Stop the Coal Rush" and place a moratorium on the construction of new coal-fired power plants.
City Pulse |
Angela Vasquez-Giroux |
01-07-2009 |
Environment
Power Plant Opponents in New Mexico Say it's Time to Get Over Coalnew
Proponents of the Desert Rock power plant say it will create 1,000 construction jobs and then approximately 200 permanent jobs once it's up and running. But the region already has three coal-fired power plants which are considered among the dirtiest plants in the country.
Santa Fe Reporter |
Laura Paskus |
12-18-2008 |
Environment
Tags: New Mexico, energy, environment, pollution, power plants, Navajo, coal, Desert Rock, Indian reservations
Why is Florida's Top Tourism Bureau Backing Offshore Drilling?new
The Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus recently endorsed oil drilling off of Florida's coast.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Alex Pickett |
12-16-2008 |
Environment
Welcome to Nukesville, Floridanew

Who gets to pay for Progress Energy's new nuclear power plant? You do.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Alex Pickett |
12-16-2008 |
Environment
Don't Believe the Hype: Clean Coal Still Pollutesnew

To call today's coal "clean" requires a handful of mind-erasing psycho-somethings and a magic carpet ride to Fairyland. It's true -- the potential to burn coal far cleaner than in decades past is now here. But the best devices are expensive and only in use at a few power plants across the country.
Charleston City Paper |
Stratton Lawrence |
12-10-2008 |
Environment
Legislating Energy Affordability in Idahonew
While utilities in surrounding states fund programs to help the poor pay their power bills, in Idaho that is considered discriminatory. One group of advocates for low-income people aims to change that and utility regulators are warming to the idea.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
12-10-2008 |
Economy
Falling Oil Prices Raise the Pressure on Irannew
Unlike the quasi-effective Security Council sanctions of the past, the U.S. and its allies finally have good leverage on Iran. It would be a diplomatic misfortune if the next U.S. president could not see that in this time of peril, there could also be a moment of promise for peace in the Middle East.
Ventura County Reporter |
Jesse Aizenstat |
12-08-2008 |
International
Midwest Oil Mining is a Crude Idea to Manynew
A web of pipelines has sprouted up throughout the Midwest, following the Great Lakes, moving all the way from the Dakotas to Chicago and Detroit. But it comes at a heavy cost, a price so large that one environmentalist remarked that in comparison to the nightmarish ramifications of the oil sands, offshore drilling is an "environmental yawn."
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Beth Walton |
12-03-2008 |
Environment
How Obama Can Become the President for Citiesnew
Here's what the president-elect's task could be: He could so shape federal policies on energy, infrastructure, transportation, housing, and environment that the 60-year trend toward suburbanization could change, such that the city once again becomes the focus of human activity in this country.
Artvoice |
Bruce Fisher |
11-10-2008 |
Commentary
Drilling Rhetoric: Lifting the Veil on National Energy Plansnew

It should come as no surprise that all of the significant national energy plans before us -- those of Obama, McCain, Pickens, and Google -- have efficiency at their core. Hear how four coalitions say they can make it work.
San Antonio Current |
Greg Harman |
10-22-2008 |
Environment
Is there Natural Gas Beneath Dallas County?new
Drillers -- and cities -- are betting Barnett Shale riches are headed Dallas' way.
Dallas Observer |
Pablo Lastra |
10-14-2008 |
Environment
Entergy's Actions in New Orleans Are Morally Indefensiblenew
Entergy New Orleans is effectively sitting on its hands while two of its sister companies -- Entergy Mississippi Inc. and Entergy Arkansas Inc. -- move to pull out of a system agreement under which six Entergy subsidiaries agreed to share the costs and benefits of generating and transmitting electricity.
Helen Caldicott Warns About the Nuclear Dangernew

For more than 35 years, Caldicott has been an outspoken critic of the follies of the nuclear age, dedicating her life to shining a spotlight on the risks posed to human health and the environment by both nuclear weapons and the widespread use of nuclear power.
VUE Weekly |
Scott Harris |
10-02-2008 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Is a New Cold War Starting?new

The so-called new Cold War isn't new at all. It amounts to long-repressed grievances that finally are coming to the surface, due to energy concerns.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
09-24-2008 |
Commentary
Tags: John McCain, energy, Georgia, foreign policy, Venezuela, international, Vladimir Putin, Cold War, Russia