Today's Climate: January 12, 2009

Obama Plans to Add Energy Credits to Stimulus, Lawmakers Say (Bloomberg)

President-elect Obama is making "significant" changes to his economic stimulus program, such as boosting renewable energy tax incentives, after members of his own party called elements of the plan inadequate.

G.M. to Make Batteries for Volt in Michigan (New York Times)

GM will announce today that it will make lithium-ion battery packs to power the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and other electric vehicles at a new facility in Michigan.

Ford Promises An EV by 2011 (Wired)

Ford Motor Co., the healthiest of the Detroit Big Three, has announced plans to put an electric car on the road by 2011 and said it is developing new hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles that will appear in showrooms within four years.

Massive Lands Bill Clears Filibuster (Washington Times)

Senate Democrats used the first vote of the new Congress to break a GOP filibuster from the previous session of Congress and advance a bill that would preserve more than 2 million acres of land.

Sea Absorbing Less CO2, Scientists Discover (Guardian)

Scientists have issued a new warning about climate change after discovering a sudden and dramatic collapse in the amount of carbon emissions absorbed by the Sea of Japan.

Oil Execs See Growth in Renewable Energy (AP)

Many oil and gas execs have said they expect a significant ramp-up of renewable energy use over the next five years, and most favor controls on CO2 emissions, according to a new survey.

Gas Deal in Europe Is Undone and Redone (New York Times)

A EU-brokered deal between Russia and Ukraine to restore the flow of heating fuel to the continent seemed to be falling apart Sunday evening, less than a day after it had been signed.

Carbon Market Worth $118B in 2008 (Greenbiz.com)

Despite the slumping economy, the value of the worldwide carbon market soared 84% in 2008 to $118 billion and could reach $150 billion in 2009, according to research group New Carbon Finance.