The archive
Culture
Long before climate policy became a hotbed for political debates, America had already trailblazed one of the most impactful tools for protecting the environment: conservation. From the restoration of rangeland, wetlands, and forests to the creation of national parks, America has a rich, bipartisan tradition of properly natural landscapes.
Culture
An alliance of more than 200 environmental organizations is demanding a national moratorium on the construction of new data centers, escalating opposition to an industry that has become central to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Tech
As America works to meet rising energy demands, nuclear technology is finally ready for a second act. The level of success depends heavily on our commitment to update rules made when rotary phones were all the rage.
Policy
The Trump administration’s stop-work orders on renewable energy projects add an under-discussed layer of friction in the United States’ bid for energy dominance. While the effects of halting near-finished offshore wind projects are immediately apparent, the downstream political consequences could hobble the administration’s hopes for progress on both bipartisan permitting reform and their “build baby build” energy posture.
Culture
A new climate change lawsuit filed last week in Washington State takes a novel approach by arguing that the fossil-fuel industry is responsible for rising homeowners’ insurance premiums. The plaintiffs, two Washington residents, claim their costs have increased because of a growing number of climate-related natural disasters.
Science & Tech
The future of clean energy may be out of this world—literally. Researchers around the globe are racing to turn space-based solar power, an idea once dismissed as science fiction, into a practical tool for delivering constant, carbon-free electricity back to Earth.
World
Energy Independence: this idea is wrapped around the promise that America can stand apart from global uncertainty by running on its own bountiful resources, immune to worldwide instability and to the control of oil-rich autocracies. Here is the uncomfortable truth: energy independence is a complete myth.
Policy
Efficient permitting isn’t a partisan luxury – it's a national imperative. As our nation confronts rising energy demand, aging infrastructure, and growing pressure on our natural lands, the question is not whether we should reform our permitting processes; it’s how quickly and boldly we will.
Tech
Economist Thomas Sowell once stated, “There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs.” Nowhere is that clearer than in debates over climate policy, where enthusiasm for low-carbon technologies frequently outpaces planning for their long-term consequences.
Science & Tech
As politicians and philanthropists shift their attention to other global issues, many journalists and scientists continue to sound the alarm about climate change. There is a tendency, however, to highlight only the most negative interpretations of new research in order to amplify public concern and emphasize urgency. As a result, press releases and news stories far too often overstate or misrepresent the scientific findings they cite.
