Environmental Issues and Protection

Sierra Club labels Jefferson Parkway one of the worst projects in country

Cabinet members Ken Salazar and Ray LaHood were at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal last week, announcing a deal that adds 1,200 acres to the Rocky Flats wildlife refuge and stretches the Rocky Mountain Greenway. But some weren't celebrating the announcement.

Drilling at Mesa Verde and Dinosaur National Monument: BLM boss backpedals after protests

The director of Colorado's Bureau of Land Management office seems to be engaged in an elaborate game of chicken over the past few months. On several occasions, Helen Hankins has announced plans to auction off oil and gas leases in environmentally sensitive areas, including tracts near Mesa Verde Nat ... More >>

Photos: National Renewable Energy Lab's newest facility -- a sneak peek

In this week's feature, "Sun Burn," we explore the progress of Golden's National Renewable Energy Lab, which for decades has been researching alternative energy. A central part of the lab's current expansion is the construction of the massive Energy Systems Integration Facility, which will be comple ... More >>

Climate change contributes to wildfires, makes them hard to fight, scientists say

Leading climate-change scientists say the chances of humans stopping the wildfires raging across Colorado aren't good. "These wildfires, when they become wind-driven, are like a nuclear bomb going off, and humans are not going to stop them any more than they stopped the hurricanes in Gulf Coast," ... More >>

Bill Nye proves he's still got his groove at Boulder Theater climate change lecture

Looking to the planets can give us tremendous insight about our future on Earth, climate scientists said last night at the Boulder Theater's "Climate Change on Earth and Other Planets." A bow tie-clad Bill Nye the Science Guy led the panel of four distinguished scientists with a keynote speech, hook ... More >>

National Renewable Energy Lab is building homes of the future that are smarter than you

In the future, your home and its appliances might talk to you, make decisions for you, and, if the National Renewable Energy Lab is successful, help you save money. And, you know, make Planet Earth a greener place. Get more details and see photos of our domestic future below.

Rocky Flats critics want radioactive material testing before Jefferson Parkway construction

​A group of local residents have just sent a letter to officials in Arvada, Broomfield, Westminster, Golden and Superior, urging them to request that the Environmental Protection Agencies and the state's health department test airborne dust in the area of Rocky Flats that could become part of ... More >>

Water wars: Rally asks John Hickenlooper to nix "river-killing" diversion project

​Despite concerns raised by the EPA and alarms sounded in a state report, Colorado officials are moving forward with a plan to divert more water from the Upper Colorado River to the Front Range -- which is why anglers, rafters, tourism interests and others will be rallying in protest on the we ... More >>

Critic's Choice: Ghosts of Glaciers plays February 6 at Summit Music Hall

Water wars: Colorado River activists to rally at EPA against more diversions

In the next few weeks, federal regulators will decide whether the Upper Colorado River needs additional protections in the face of growing demands from thirsty Front Range towns. Which is why hikers, rafters, anglers, and people interested in the economic future of Grand County will be gathering out ... More >>

Reader: Global warming protest just shows these kids are doops!

​Young environmental activists are convening in Denver this week, leading a march on the State Capitol tomorrow. Part of a nationwide movement pushed by more than forty organizations, particularly iMatter and Earth Guardians, the youthful protest will back up its message with lawsuits filed ag ... More >>

Cavem Moetavation talks about Saturday's Brown Suga Festival at the Crossroad's Theater

​Cavem Moetavation is one of the hardest hustlers in the hip-hop scene. Not only is he more than proficient on the microphone, he has perfected the balance between art and activism. It's his mission to teach folks how to eat and engage the community, and this year's Brown Suga Festival will be ... More >>

Global-warming diorama predicts Rocky Mountain parrots: Kenny Be Yard Arteology

Yard Arteology: The study of neighbors through lawn decoration... Figure 95a. Globeville: Garden of global-warmed delights. Click image to enlarge.​ The gigantic rock garden pictured above would appear to be the decorative efforts of a yard artist with a love for local flora and fauna. Below, ... More >>

How poop is smarter than Jesus: Google Reading Level ranks 100 random things

​​ Google introduced a new way of filtering search results last week: By reading level. You type something in and it tells you how many results fall into one of levels. Fair enough: if you're writing a research paper on sexual health or something, and thoughtful information would normal ... More >>

Black out: Lamar gets steamed over a troubled coal plant -- right in the middle of town

National Trust for Historic Preservation reveals its plans to restore the historic Emerson School

​On Thursday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that it plans to transform the 1885 Emerson School in the Capitol Hill neighborhood into a model for greening historical buildings.

Betsy Long: Alleged wrong-way drunk driver is green-biz entrepreneur

Betsy Long.​Elizabeth "Betsy" Long is accused of drunkenly driving the wrong way on I-25 and causing a crash that killed Mary Warren, a young CSU grad bound for the Peace Corps. It's a far cry from the portrait of Long presented by GreenEdgeDenver.com, a site designed to promote environmental ... More >>

Planet Power

Not Your Grandmother’s Green

Global warming in Colorado: Changes are already happening for the worse, says National Wildlife Federation head Larry Schweiger

"What are you guys doing to us?"​During a recent visit to Colorado, Larry Schweiger, president and chief executive of the National Wildlife Federation, said Colorado was in the bull's eye for negative consequences from climate change. What exactly does that mean? Unfortunately, Schweiger has ... More >>

Can thieves working harder, earning less

​The guy was in front of my house for maybe thirty seconds. He rooted around in the blue cart, emerged with a couple of metal cans -- not even high-grade aluminum -- and tossed them in the back of his battered hatchback. Then he was on to the next cart, minutes ahead of the Denver Recyles truc ... More >>

A Pleasant Environment

It’s easy being green at Denver’s first-ever Green Festival.

Something Old, Something New

The Harris Park Art Cooperative goes green.

Green Scene

Getting Hot in Here

Science Sensation

Art and science cohabit in this special Boulder event.

Think Green

Boulder hosts an environmental art program.

The Green Party

Heal the World

Celebrate Earth Day the right way at these area events.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Progressive causes find a new home in a modern-day commune.

Best Conservation Store

Nature's Own

Best Place to Learn About Mining's (Ugly) Legacy

Idaho Springs Heritage Museum and Visitor's Center

Funky Town

Even though the EPA says Denver's air is getting cleaner, the odor lingers on.

Board Games

When a boardmember refused to go with the flow, Metro's plan to handle Lowry wastewater got down and dirty.

A Matter of Trust

Who paid what to clean up Lowry Landfill? That's confidential.

The Lowdown on Lowry

The city thought it had settled any questions about the Lowry Landfill. The truth is a toxic shocker.

Best Eco-Friendly Internet Service

The EcoISP

The Hot Zone

Kaiser-Hill says it can do the job by 2006. But will Rocky Flats ever come clean?

Hazardous Wait

Toxic Wait

Some residents say the Rocky Mountain Arsenal still isn't clean enough to polish Commerce City's image.

Sister Sludge

Activist Adrienne Anderson stirs up the sewage board with a warning on plutonium.

Uphill Battle

The speed merchants who risk their lives on the Pikes Peak Highway hope to put the brakes on a road-paving project.

Under the Covers

Coach McCartney got into bed with one of Denver's biggest polluters, but Pillow Kingdom's neighbors are proving to be a tougher sell.

Getting a Lift

Environmentalists cry foul over the new federal Ski Fee Bill.

This Property Is Condemned

The EPA messes with a widow over a Commerce City warehouse and winds up making its own mess.

The Deal's Disputed Line Item

Going to Ground

A private investigator tracks a toxic trail through Arvada.

ON THE SPOT

DRY-CLEANING BILLS ARE ON THE RISE--THANKS TO THE POLITICS OF "PERC."

THE EPA GOES RADWHAT BETTER PLACE FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT LAB THAN A RADIOACTIVE SITE?

MELTING DOWN

TWO ROCKY FLATS WATCHDOG GROUPS BLOW UP AT EACH OTHER.