Obama Pushes Energy Plan That GOP May Support (AP)
Pres. Obama on Wednesday pushed energy proposals designed to attract allies and opponents alike, calling for increased ethanol production and technology to limit pollution from coal.
IEA Says U.S. Must Adopt Carbon Pricing System (Reuters)
The U.S. must adopt a carbon pricing system, like the cap-and-trade law passed by the U.S. House, if it hopes to meet its UN commitments on greenhouse gas emissions, the International Energy Agency’s head said.
EPA on Track to Release Automobile,’ Tailoring’ Rules in March (Greenwire)
U.S. EPA’s air chief said the agency would roll out greenhouse gas emission standards for automobiles and the "tailoring" rule for the heat-trapping gases in March, after considering a raft of public comments.
Report: Key Cape Wind Review Rushed, Still Sound (AP)
Federal agencies who were part of a key review of a proposed wind farm off Cape Cod felt rushed to finish it before the end of the Bush presidency, but its conclusions are still sound, according to a new government report.
Researcher on Climate Is Cleared in Inquiry (New York Times)
An academic board of inquiry has largely cleared a noted Penn State University climatologist of scientific misconduct, but a second panel will convene to determine whether his behavior undermined public faith in the science of climate change, the university said.
Climate Change Researchers Must Be More Open, Says Chief Scientist (Guardian)
John Beddington, the UK government’s chief scientist, has called on climate researchers to be more open when dealing with critics and transparent when they make errors.
Spain’s 2008 CO2 Emissions Fell, But Will Miss Kyoto Targets (Dow Jones)
Spain’s greenhouse gas emissions fell in 2008 from a year earlier, but the country nevertheless doesn’t expect to meet an emission starget set for the 2008-2012 period under the Kyoto Protocol.
China Doubles Wind Power in 1 Year (BusinessWeek)
China doubled the amount of energy generated from windmills last year, a report from the Global Wind Energy Council said. Worldwide, total wind capacity was up 31% — despite the economic downturn.
Asia’s Labor Edge Overpowers Obama’s ‘Green’ Jobs Initiatives (Bloomberg)
Asian nations currently make more than half the world’s wind and solar energy equipment, and they’re gaining ground in green jobs as U.S. factories lose out to cheaper labor and higher demand for clean energy.
Green Boost for World Cup with First Chinese Sponsor (Reuters)
Yingli Green Energy, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of solar panels, was unveiled as the first Chinese company to sponsor the FIFA World Cup.
Investment Dollars Flow to Green Energy Start-Ups (Wall Street Journal)
Start-ups developing products aimed at wringing every last drop of efficiency from green technologies have become the standouts in the field of renewable energy, in part because they don’t require a lot of upfront cash.
Hawaii Considers Taxing Oil to Pay for Renewables (AP)
Although the nation’s most expensive gas can be found in Hawaii, lawmakers are considering raising oil taxes even higher to help break the state’s addiction to fossil fuels.
Bangladesh Risks Becoming Failed State from Warming, General Says (Reuters)
Bangladesh faces such "total destabilization" from climate change by 2050 that it risks becoming a failed state, a retired Bangladeshi general has warned.
Report: The Amazon Is Not Eternal (Tierramerica)
The Amazon forest "is very close to a tipping point," and if destruction continues, it could shrink to one third of its original size in just 65 years, according to Thomas Lovejoy, a world-renowned tropical biologist.
