Electricity, transportation, and animal cruelty seem to be the three themes floating in the ether recently. Enjoy.

• How Green is My Electricty? – Green Lifestyle Choices. Jon describes the tradeoffs between natural gas and electric heat. 
• How Diverse Is Your State’s Electricity Generation Portfolio? – Think Progress. Massachusetts has the least diverse mix, relying heavily on natural gas, which is one reason why electricity rates have been so volatile in recent years.
• Cape Wind wins billions in backing, launches offshore wind in the U.S. – Grist. Cape Wind is on track to become the first offshore wind project in the U.S.
• How Smartphones Could Revolutionize the Way We Heat and Cool Our Homes – Atlantic Cities. A smart grid that communicates with customers in real time could help change people’s behavior.
• Gridlock deepens on Beacon Hill over transportation – Boston Globe. The House responded to Patrick’s revolutionary transportation plan with one that seriously doesn’t deal with the problems in the system.
• 15 Ideas for Making Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Better – Atlantic Cities. Amtrak ridership in the Northeast is growing steadily, and the Federal Railroad Administration suggestions for improvements include increasing top speed 70 mph and a new route from Boston to New York through Worcester.
• Taping of Farm Cruelty Is Becoming the Crime – New York Times. State legislatures are drafting laws to require job applicants to disclose their ties to animal rights  groups.
• Open the Slaughterhouses – New York Times. A journalist who has investigated slaughterhouses argues against such “ag-gag” laws.

That’s it for now. If you come across anything interesting (this month), send it my way.