Today's Climate: May 7, 2009

Rep. Waxman Under Pressure on Climate Plan (Politico)

As the clock ticks on a self-imposed deadline, Rep. Henry Waxman is facing fire from all sides over his climate bill. He still doesn’t have a deal that moderates will support, and he had to back off a threat to skip a key subcommittee vote.

Rep. Doyle: Most Emissions Credits to Be Free (Reuters)

Most of the pollution emission permits that industry would need under a climate change bill being negotiated in House will be given to companies instead of sold for the first 10 to 15 years, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) said.

EPA Official says Coal Ash Could Be Regulated (AP)

An EPA official told energy industry reps to expect regulations on ash from coal-fired power plants that could include classifying coal ash as hazardous waste.

Ag Committee Chair Lashes Out Over Ethanol Rule (Bloomberg)

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), angry about the EPA’s biofuel plan, vowed to oppose any climate-change legislation that Congress may consider.

Pew Study: Small Impact on Industry from Cap and Trade (Financial Times)

A new Pew Center analysis suggests the impact of cap-and-trade on energy-intensive manufacturers would be small.

UNEP Chief 'Stunned' by Scale of Bail-Out (BBC)

The huge industry bailouts are passing the bill to the next generation, and they will be “a terrible waste of money” if extra investment is not found to tackle climate change, UNEP chief Achim Steiner says in an interview.

Sacks: UN Climate Deal Will Fail Without Aid Money (Reuters)

The world will fail to agree to control emissions of global warming pollution this year in Copenhagen unless rich countries fund billions of dollars in annual climate aid to poor nations, a U.N. adviser says.

Montana Governor Signs CO2 Storage Bill (Helena IR)

Gov. Brian Schweitzer signed into law a much-amended bill that lays the groundwork for carbon storage in Montana.

Ohio Gov. Pushes Alternative Energy at Windpower Conference (Plain Dealer)

Count Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland green, extremely green. He wants to make the Ohio Turnpike an advanced energy corridor and has endorsed a 25 percent federal renewable electricity standard.

Ford to Retool Mich. SUV Plant for EVs (Detroit News)

Ford announced it will retool a Michigan SUV plant to build the compact European version of the Ford Focus starting next year, and an electric version of the Focus in 2011.

Dutch Would ‘Pay a Price’ for Scrapping CCS Plan (Bloomberg)

Citizens of the Netherlands may pay more for new energy technologies if a carbon capture and storage project planned in the town of Barendrecht is canceled, a top European Union official warns.

Italy to Triple Solar Capacity by 2010 (Reuters)