Weekly Climate: May 25-29, 2009

This week, SolveClimate took a look at the carbon credits that would come solar's way under the weakened American Clean Energy and Security Act. Turns out, they would amount to very little.

We covered the plans of a key congressman to impound the bill if corn-based biofuels don't get a federal boost. Adam Siegel asked the burning question: Why are advocates for ACES prepared to take scraps from the table rather than fight for an adequate law?

We explained how the Florida legislature's decision to quash Gov. Crist's Climate Action Plan killed the chance for 150,000 new jobs and $40 billion in increased economic activity. We also analyzed how energy efficiency is being "nudged" into the national conscience.

In the news, the U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast that CO2 emissions would leap 40 percent by 2030 if a global climate treaty isn't forged. A group of Nobel Laureates made an urgent plea for science-based climate action. And a new study said desert solar could meet a full quarter of the world's power needs by 2050.

Utility Idaho Power was forced to sell some $1.3 million worth of renewable energy credits and hand the cash to ratepayers. Seventeen people were arrested for protesting mountaintop removal coal mining in West Virgina.

From Canada, two new reports laid out a bright future for Alberta's dirty tar sands, while conveniently omitting their colossal environmental costs. Meanwhile, the Harper government poured 65 percent of its "clean energy" fund into greenwashing the filthy oilpatch.

On a lighter note, guest writer John Ivanko reviewed an exhibit of crocheted sculptures created from trash.