Today’s Climate: February 14-15, 2009

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Court Denies Reviews of Mine Permits, Coal Industry to Benefit (Charleston Gazette)

For the fourth time in eight years, a federal appeals court has overturned a court ruling that would have required more thorough permit reviews of mountaintop removal coal-mining operations.

Climate Warming Gases Rising Faster than Expected (AP)

Despite widespread concern over global warming, humans are adding carbon to the atmosphere even faster than in the 1990s, researchers warned at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

UN Expects 50% Increase in Emissions-Project Requests This Year (Bloomberg)

The UN’s emissions-trading market, the world’s second largest, expects registrations for greenhouse gas reduction projects to jump 50% this year, boosting the supply of tradable credits.

TVA Chief Says Coal Ash Spill Was ‘Catastrophe’ (AP)

Trying to rebuild credibility as well as the site of a huge coal ash spill, the president of the Tennessee Valley Authority acknowledged the massive sludge flood was far worse than the agency’s public relations staff initially said.

Small Town in Illinois Might Win Big (Wall Street Journal)

Hidden in the 1,073-page Congressional stimulus plan is an obscure phrase setting aside $1 billion for "fossil energy research" that lawmakers say is almost certain to head to Illinois as a down payment on the FutureGen "clean coal" plant. 

Oilsands Production Could Get Even Dirtier: Pembina Institute (Edmonton Journal)

Alberta’s plan to allow in-situ oilsands operations to switch from natural gas to dirtier fuels would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions, the Pembina Institute has said.

Close Ties Make U.S.-Canada Accord on Climate ‘Doable’: Prentice (CanWest News Service)

Two years of negotiations would likely be necessary to work out a proposed Canada-U.S. energy and climate change accord that is on the agenda for the Harper-Obama meeting this week, Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice has said.

LIPA to Spend $14.4 Million on Efficient Energy Programs (New York Times)

The Long Island Power Authority is moving ahead with an ambitious effort to generate more solar energy from commercial and industrial sites and increase spending by 80% to $14.4 million for residential rooftop solar systems and other clean energy programs.

New Arctic Wind Farm Endures Harsh Climate (Cleantech Group)

The International Polar Foundation on Sunday will inaugurate the first polar base to be powered by wind turbines. The station is expected to allow 20 scientists to carry out climate research.

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