Bailing Out of the Chamber: Are Apple and Nike Smart or Shortsighted?

The Wall Street Journal edit page has leapt to the defense of the Chamber of Commerce, rattled in recent days by the high-profile defections of a few big companies at odds with the Chamber’s stance on climate change. The thrust of today’s editorial, which centers on the recent departures of Apple (from the Chamber) and Nike (from the Chamber’s Board of Directors), boils down to a single premise: “Apple and Nike are putting green political correctness above the long-term interests of their own shareholders.”

Exodus: Apple Leaves Chamber of Commerce Over Climate Spat

And then there were five–defections from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over its climate-change policy, that is. Apple today resigned its membership in the Chamber “effective immediately.” That’s a harsher tone than the other departures–three utilities said they’d let their membership lapse at the end of the year, and Nike simply quite the Chamber’s board of directors.

Energy Bill in Limbo? Steven Chu Turns to Facebook.

The Obama administration really, really doesn’t want the fight over health care to steal attention from energy and climate legislation. Energy Secretary Steven Chu just launched a Facebook page to keep climate change front and center.

Inspector Gadget: Are Electronic Gizmos Power Vampires?

Cell phones and laptops may seem like pretty minor offenders when it comes to energy guzzling. But as they become ubiquitous all over the planet, their growing power consumption is emerging as a major source of concern for those trying to conserve energy and stop global warming.