U.S. Chamber of Commerce Asks Court to Review EPA Carbon Ruling (Bloomberg)
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the country’s largest business lobbying group, is asking a federal court to review the Obama administration’s decision to declare greenhouse gases a health risk under the Clean Air Act.
Southern Co. to Get Federal Loan Guarantees for Nuclear Reactors (AP)
Pres. Obama is expected to announce next week that Atlanta-based Southern Co. will get federal loan guarantees — the first in nearly 30 years — to build two nuclear reactors in Burke, Georgia.
U.S. to Offer 37 Million Offshore Acres for Oil Drilling (Reuters)
The U.S. Interior Department has issued the final terms for leasing almost 37 million acres in the central Gulf of Mexico to energy companies so they can drill for oil and natural gas.
Windy Wyoming Debates Excise Tax for Wind Energy (AP)
A proposal in Wyoming to impose the nation’s first state excise tax on wind energy production is generating debate over how the state should handle the arrival of massive wind farms to its wind-swept plains and plateaus.
UN Climate Panel Admits Dutch Sea Level Flaw (Reuters)
The UN panel of climate experts overstated how much of the Netherlands is below sea level, according to a preliminary report on Saturday, admitting yet another flaw after a row last month over Himalayan glacier melt.
Bill Gates: We Need Global ‘Energy Miracles’ (CNN)
In a speech at the TED Conference, Gates called climate change the world’s most vexing problem, and added that finding a cheap and clean energy source is more important than creating new vaccines and improving farming techniques, causes into which he has invested billions.
Biofuels Under Fire in EU (Reuters)
Fresh controversy is mounting within the EU over biofuels and their unintended impact on tropical forests and wetlands, documents show.
Norway Plans the World’s Most Powerful Wind Turbine (AFP)
Norway plans to build the world’s most powerful wind turbine, with a rotor diameter of 475 feet, hoping the new technology will increase the profitability of costly offshore wind farms.
Second Chinese Wind Energy Giant Plots IPO (Business Green)
Just days after reports emerged that China’s Huaneng Group is considering a $1 billion IPO for its wind energy arm, rival energy firm China Datang Corp appears to be following suit with plans for a $1 billion IPO for its own renewables division.
European Carbon Scheme Is a Success, Research Says (Reuters)
The EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme is a success and its flaws have not harmed its basic aim of reducing CO2 emissions, new research has revealed.
Ford Drives Dealers Toward Energy Efficiency (Environmental Leader)
Ford is kicking off a voluntary sustainability initiative for its Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers by appealing to them to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency at their facilities.