Stephanie Hemphill

ANALYSIS-Obama climate agenda faces U.S. Supreme Court reckoning

trust.org — With a barrage of legal briefs, a coalition of business groups and Republican-leaning states are taking their fight against Obama administration climate change regulations to the U.S. Supreme Court

Son of Climate Science Pioneer Ponders A Sobering Milestone

e360.yale.edu — 14 May 2013: Interview Climate scientist Ralph Keeling has followed in the footsteps of his father, who pioneered the measurement of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, the younger Keeling talks about the implications of crossing an alarming CO2 threshold this month.

Utilities vs. rooftop solar: What the fight is about

grist.org — Shutterstock The conflict between electric utilities and distributed energy - mainly rooftop solar panels - is heating up. It's heating up so much that people are writing about electric utility regulation, the most tedious, inscrutable subject this side of corporate tax law. The popular scrutiny is long overdue. So buckle up.

Enbridge may shut Bakken oil rail terminal in sulfide gas dispute

reuters.com — Last week, Enbridge asked for a ruling in one day from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to restrict the amount of hydrogen sulfide in the delivered crude. That request came after a very large concentration of the gas was discovered in a tank at Berthold, North Dakota, on May 5.

Scientists say united on global warming, at odds with public view

reuters.com — Credit: Reuters/David Gray A dead tree stands in front of shallow water and a dried-up area of Lake George, located 50 km (31 miles) north of the Australian capital city of Canberra May 13, 2013. The report found an overwhelming view among scientists that human activity, led by the use of fossil fuels, was the main cause of rising temperatures in recent decades.

Economic Impact Study Warns Of Frac Sand Mining's Boom/Bust Cycle

news.wpr.org — A new economic impact study of Wisconsin's frac sand mining industry warns of booms and busts.

Officials should investigate costs, benefits of frac mining, report says

minnesota.publicradio.org — by Stephanie Hemphill, Minnesota Public Radio ST. PAUL, Minn. - Local officials should ask in-depth questions about costs and benefits when they consider whether to permit a frac sand mine, according to findings in a report released Wednesday by the Minneapolis-based Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy.

Business groups lower local emissions, without mentioning climate change

midwestenergynews.com — ©2013 E&E Publishing, LLC Republished with permission By Evan Lehmann Cleveland's chamber of commerce is ready to launch an unusual program to help businesses get loans for energy efficiency retrofits. In Salt Lake City, the local chamber is promoting "clean air" to reduce gasoline use.

LEDs May Be Local Food Movement’s Best Friend in Winter

tumblr.com — by Michael Keller The harvest season seems to whiz by every year in northern latitudes. Just as the time comes to sink a fork into early spring's peppery locally grown lettuce and asparagus, the market's crates are already brimming with winter squash.

Insurers Stray From the Conservative Line on Climate Change

nytimes.com — If there were one American industry that would be particularly worried about climate change it would have to be insurance, right? From Hurricane Sandy's devastating blow to the Northeast to the protracted drought that hit the Midwest Corn Belt, natural catastrophes across the United States pounded insurers last year, generating $35 billion in privately insured property losses, $11 billion more than the average over the last decade.