Today's Climate: July 1, 2009

India Will Reject Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets (Reuters)

India will not set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will instead focus on fighting poverty and boosting economic growth, the environment minister says.

Salazar: 13 Solar Plants On Public Land By 2010 (Red, Green & Blue)

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar set a goal of 13 “commercial-scale” solar projects under construction on public land in the West by the end of 2010, and a production goal of 100,000 megawatts of solar electricity.

Ontario Nuclear Plans Suffer from Sticker Shock (Globe & Mail)

The Ontario government is suspending its bidding for a new nuclear power plant over something everyone who has made a big purchase eventually confronts: sticker shock.

Sweden To Lead Climate Change Fight as EU President (Radio Free Europe)

As Sweden takes over the EU presidency today, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt says Stockholm's top priority will be to curb carbon dioxide emissions.

Amnesty International Documents Big Oil Damage in Niger Delta (Guardian)

A report from Amnesty International quotes sources suggesting that in the last 50 years at least 9 million barrels worth of oil have leaked into land and rivers of the Niger Delta. It singles out Royal Dutch Shell and blames the oil industry the region’s upheaval.

Green Tech Venture Capital Stages a Comeback (Greentech)

More than $1.2 billion in venture capital investments in 85 startups during the second quarter of 2009 signals a recovery in the green tech sector. A look at the deals.

Coal India Seeks Faster Approvals for Production (Bloomberg)

Coal India Ltd., the world’s biggest coal producer, wants mining approvals sped up to help it boost production. The country aims to add 13,000 megawatts of new electric capacity annually.

Yahoo! Abandons Carbon Offsets in Favor of Efficiency (GreenBiz)

Yahoo! announces that it is abandoning its plans to go carbon neutral by purchasing carbon offsets and will instead focus its climate strategy on reducing the energy used by its data centers.

Massachusetts Draws Zones for Coastal Wind Farms (Boston Globe)

Dozens of wind turbines could sprout within sight of the Massachusetts shoreline under a first-of-its-kind state blueprint being released today that holds the promise of generating both electricity and controversy.

California Solar Program on Track for '09 (Mercury News)

Despite the worst economic downturn in decades, California's multibillion-dollar program to expand solar power production — the country's largest — remains on track to install as much new energy this year as last, the California PUC says.

Utility Plans to Trade Golf Course for Solar Arrays (Atlantic City Press)

RC Cape May, the owners of B.L. England power plant, wants to build one of New Jersey's largest solar arrays on what is now its nine-hole golf course.