Today's Climate: August 1-2, 2009

India Rejects Emissions Cuts for a Decade (Financial Times)

India will not discuss signing up to legally binding obligations to make absolute cuts in CO2 emissions for at least 10 years, the country's environment minister has said.

Utility Raises Cleanup Cost in Tennessee (New York Times)

The Tennessee Valley Authority has raised its estimate for cleaning up a huge coal ash spill to $1.2 billion and partly blamed the cleanup for its third-quarter loss of $167 million.

Judge Hears Arguments over Southwest Va Coal Plant (AP)

A Richmond judge plans to rule in the coming week after hearing arguments over air permits for a controversial coal plant under construction in southwest Virginia.

'Clunkers' $2 Billion Infusion Depends on U.S. Senate's Vote (Bloomberg)

The future of the U.S. "cash for clunkers" program depends on the Senate backing a $2 billion infusion this week, as the Obama administration offered assurances that the discounts remain available.

Army Unveils Giant Solar Project (CNET News)

The U.S. Army on Friday detailed what it expects to be the Department of Defense's largest solar energy project -- a 500-MW solar thermal installation at the Fort Irwin base in the Mojave Desert in California.

Nissan Unveils Zero-Emission Hatchback "Leaf" (Reuters)

Nissan took the wraps off its much-awaited electric car on Sunday, naming the hatchback "Leaf" and taking a step toward its goal of leading the industry in the zero-emission field.

RGGI Carbon Price Hovers at Lows (Carbon Positive)

Carbon prices in America's first mandatory emissions trading scheme are hovering around record lows amid oversupply of allowances and growing doubts over when and if a future federal cap-and-trade scheme will become law.

Senate Democrats Tie Climate Effort to National Security (ClimateWire)

Senate Democrats are increasingly relying on the connection between global warming and national security as they craft legislation to curb climate-changing emissions.

Carbon Capture Needs Decade of Subsidy, Harvard Researcher Says (Bloomberg)

Technology to remove and bury CO2 emissions from coal plants will require at least a decade of government subsidies before becoming economically viable, a Harvard University researcher has said.

SF Eyes UN Climate Center at Polluted Shipyard (AP)

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the UN are eyeing a former naval shipyard contaminated by radiation, heavy metals and other toxins as the future site of a new green technology complex and climate change think tank.

British Insurers Prepare for 'Worst Case' Climate Impacts; Americans Mostly Don't (ClimateWire)

British insurers are raising rates on homeowners to insulate themselves from increasing claims blamed on climate change, a justification that U.S. companies are hesitant -- or unable -- to embrace.