Free Republic

The Supreme Court on Monday announced that Justice Samuel Alito will not continue to participate in Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, a significant dispute that will be argued in just one week, on Monday, Oct. 5, the first day of the 2026-27 term. Scott Harris, the clerk of the Supreme Court, revealed Alito’s last-minute recusal in a short letter to advocates involved in the case. Harris’ note does not provide an explanation for the decision, saying simply that “Justice Alito has determined that he will not continue to participate.” In Suncor Energy, the court is considering...

An energy company worker has been killed by a black bear at a base in the tar sands region of the Canadian province of Alberta, the firm has said. The 36-year-old woman was declared dead at the scene on Wednesday. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police later shot and killed the male bear, which had remained in the area. Bears are emerging from hibernation near the Suncor Energy Inc oil sands mining operation, 25km (15.5m) north of Fort McMurray.

The global-warming debate is shifting from science to economics. For years, the fight over the Earth's rising temperature has been mostly over what's causing it: fossil-fuel emissions or natural factors beyond man's control. Now, some of the country's biggest industrial companies are acknowledging that fossil fuels are a major culprit whose emissions should be cut significantly over time. A growing number of these companies are pushing for a mandatory emissions limit, or "cap." Some see a lucrative new market in clean-energy technologies. Many figure a regulation is politically inevitable and they want to be in the room when it's negotiated,...