Energy Lobbyists Guided Murkowski’s Anti-EPA Bill (Washington Post)
Two former Bush administration officials, both lobbying for clients with an interest in energy legislation, helped craft the amendment Sen. Lisa Murkowski planned to offer in attempt to bar the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.
U.S. Eyes New Nuclear Plants in Climate Battle (Reuters)
The Obama administration wants to help the nuclear industry build a power plant for the first time in years to help diversify U.S. energy supplies and fight climate change, the White House said.
Environmental Groups Threaten to Sue Massey Energy (AP)
Several environmental groups are threatening to sue coal producer Massey Energy for what they claim are more than 12,000 violations of pollution laws. They’ve given Massey 60 days to reach a settlement or face a lawsuit.
Study: Next 40 Years Key for Climate Change (AFP)
World leaders should focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible over the next 40 years to avoid perilous warming conditions, researchers said in a new study.
Australia: Floodwaters Fail to Stop Drought’s Creep Across State (Sydney Morning Herald)
Despite a surge of devastating floodwaters throughout Australia, state government figures show 95 percent of the state is officially, or marginally, in drought.
Feds Recommend Approval of 2 Major Gas Pipelines from Rockies (AP)
Federal regulators are recommending approval of two natural gas pipelines that could sharply increase fuel shipments from the Rockies to population centers in the Midwest and on the West Coast.
China Drops ‘70% Home-Made’ Rule for Wind Turbines (Bloomberg)
China, the world’s third-biggest producer of wind power, has dropped a rule stipulating that more than 70% of the wind turbines used in the country must be made domestically, whether by foreign or local companies.
Ford to Expand Electric Production in Mich. (Detroit News)
Ford will invest $450 million in Michigan as part of a plan to expand production of electric vehicles and battery packs — a move it said will create 1,000 new jobs in the state by 2012.
Buffett-Backed BYD Sees U.S. as Pivotal for Electric-Car Growth (Bloomberg)
BYD, the Chinese auto- and battery maker backed by Warren Buffett, may sell a rechargeable electric car in the U.S. as soon as this year to meet demand for fuel-efficient models, the company’s founder said.
Brazil Cuts Ethanol Blend in Gasoline to 20 Pct (Reuters)
Brazil’s government has temporarily cut the mandated amount of ethanol blended into gasoline to 20% from 25% due to low supplies of the biofuel, the energy ministry said on Monday.
UK Must Raise CO2 Cut Target To 42% By 2020: Panel (Dow Jones Newswires)
The UK’s Environmental Audit Committee Monday said the government should increase its target to cut emissions to 42% from 34% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Biodiesel Industry on Hold after Tax Credit Runs Out (MarketWatch)
The biodiesel industry is revving up efforts to reinstate the U.S. biodiesel tax credit, warning that as many as 23,000 jobs could be at risk if lawmakers don’t revive the program that expired at the beginning of 2010.
New Energy Technologies Develops ‘Spray On’ Solar Solution (PV Tech)
New Energy Technologies has reached the next development stage of a process for spraying solar cells and their related components onto glass.
Melting Tundra Creating Vast River of Waste Into Arctic Ocean (ScienceDaily)
The increase in temperature in the Arctic has already caused the sea ice to melt. If the Arctic tundra also melts, vast amounts of organic material will be carried by the rivers into the Arctic Ocean, resulting in additional CO2 emissions, a new study finds.
