Controversial State Department Keystone XL Climate Study the Basis of David Petraeus' CUNY Seminar
Former CIA-head David Petraeus’ City University of New York (CUNY) Macaulay Honors College seminar readings include several prominent Big Oil-funded “frackademia” studies, a recent DeSmogBlog investigation revealed. Further digging into records obtained via New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) also reveals “a survey of the global economy to set the stage for the course” – as […]
CNBC Host Squawks Climate Denial in Twitter Meltdown
This is a guest post by Emily Southard, Campaign Manager of Forecast the Facts Joe Kernen, co-host of CNBC’s Squawk Box, lashed out on Twitter this month at concerned CNBC viewers and individuals who called on him to accurately report the facts about the economic risks of climate change. Kernen’s comments are indicative of a larger climate […]
Report Details Coal Industry's Pollution of Waterways, Political System
According to a new report, the coal industry’s pollution is contaminating our water supplies, our regulatory agencies, and even our political process. The report, a joint project by the Waterkeeper Alliance, Clean Water Action, the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and the Environmental Integrity Project, shows that when it comes to spewing toxic chemicals into our waterways, […]
Oil On The Tracks: The Crude-by-Rail Boom By the Numbers
The tragic oil train explosion earlier this month in Lac-Megantic, Quebec has focused a spotlight on the growing role of rail in the transportation of North American crude. But even after that tragedy, the extent of rail’s expansion in transporting oil is still little understood by the typical driver at the pump. So DeSmog is going […]
Renewable Energy Sources Gaining Market Share
In a positive sign for United States energy consumption, a new report shows that the market share of renewable energy sources grew at a larger pace than fossil fuels for the year 2012. Additionally, the first half of this year has seen an enormous surge in renewable energy infrastructure and generating capacity. For 2012, a decline […]
Harper's Audit-the-Enemy Strategy Fulfills Nixon's Dream
Last week it was revealed that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office created an “enemy list” to include in briefing books for newly appointed Cabinet members. Pundits were quick to point out that US President Richard Nixon also had such a list of enemies that his office maintained. However, the enemy list was only a small part of […]
USGS Study Connects Earthquake Risk To Wastewater Injection, Fracking Advocates Say, "Who Cares?"
A new study out in Science by US Geological Survey scientist William Ellsworth links earthquakes to wastewater injection sites. These earthquakes, thought to be caused by pressure changes due to excess fluid injected deep below the surface, are being dubbed “man-made” earthquakes. It’s not the first time scientists have used that moniker, as earthquakes have […]
Revealed: Gen. David Petraeus' Course Syllabus Features "Frackademia" Readings
Records obtained by DeSmogBlog pertaining to City University of New York (CUNY) Macaulay Honors College’s hiring of former head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) David Petraeus to teach a seminar this coming fall reveal that his syllabus features two of the most well-known “frackademia” studies. “Frackademia” is shorthand for oil and gas industry-funded research costumed as independent […]
State Dept Keystone XL Environmental Reviewer Claimed Delaware Tar Sands Refinery Made Air Cleaner
A DeSmogBlog investigation reveals Environmental Resources Management, Inc. (ERM Group), the contractor that performed the environmental review for TransCanada’s Keystone XL tar sands export pipeline, was also recently hired by a major Delaware City refinery to study air quality around the plant. This “study” was funded by the refinery itself, owned by Delaware City Refining Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary […]
Another Pennsylvania Wastewater Treatment Plant Accused of Illegally Disposing Radioactive Fracking Waste
A Pennsylvania industrial wastewater treatment plant has been illegally accepting oil and gas wastewater and polluting the Allegheny river with radioactive waste and other pollutants, according to an environmental group which announced today that it is suing the plant. “Waste Treatment Corporation has been illegally discharging oil and gas wastewater since at least 2003, […]