Freeze damages grape juice crop | The Salt Lake Tribune

About 90 percent of juice-grape crops were damaged in Michigan, the third-largest U.S. grower, and as much as 50 percent were hurt in New York, the No. 2 producer, and in Pennsylvania and Ohio, said Rich Erdle, the director of member relations for the National Grape Cooperative Inc., the owners of Welch’s juices and jellies. Cold weather destroyed the primary buds on plants, and secondary buds will produce 35 percent of normal output, Erdle said.

Everything about the Transportation Bills Is Bad Except for the Energy Parts, Which Are Great

*After three years of extensive environmental review, the State Department in late October, 2011, determined that Keystone XL would have “no significant impact” on the environment. This finding was the final procedural step in the permitting process. All that remained was the President’s decision, which had to be based on whether the project was in the national interest.

It should have been a no-brainer. For starters, it’s a top diplomatic priority of our closest ally, Canada. More to the point, the project would contribute more than $20 billion in new spending for the U.S. economy. This spending, in turn, would generate $585 million in state and local taxes to states along the route. Most importantly, it would create 2,000 shovel-ready jobs. In a depressed economy, Keystone XL would provide a huge stimulus, one that cost taxpayers nothing.

Windy Waffle » Climate Resistance

Renewable UK are terrified that a spontaneous movement of people will deprive them of the uncontested favour that they have enjoyed from the current and previous government. They are worried that the voices of thousands of individuals from across the UK — without substantial resources — will form a single voice, which will inevitably attract the attention of politicians and the media. They are worried about what the continuation of their undignified PR campaigns will look like, when people realise it’s a case of big energy companies versus ordinary people, with genuine grievances. It’s a simple mathematical matter: the more people who find themselves unhappy with energy policies and rising prices, the more people will lend their support. And the more people there are, the harder it will be to mock comments from stolen emails, and to dismiss their concerns as unfounded.

Abbott: I’ll kill tax within six months of being elected | Climate Nonconformist

I’ve been heartened by Tony Abbott’s steadfast commitment to repeal the carbon tax. After his “pledge in blood“, it became apparent that the Coalition would stand up resolutely for the majority of Australians who don’t want the carbon dioxide tax. Now, we have another assurance.