Business Groups Challenge EPA on Greenhouse Gases (AP)
Several industry groups, including the American Petroleum Institute and the National Association of Home Builders, have joined a list of organizations and states challenging the EPA’s finding that CO2 pollution is dangerous to people.
Sen. Graham Promotes Nuclear Power, ‘Clean Coal’ in Draft Renewables Bill (Greenwire)
A key Senate Republican is floating legislation that would give a boost to nuclear power and coal as part of a 25% by 2025 renewable energy standard, according to a draft bill.
Norway Outlines Ways to Reach Deep 2020 CO2 Cuts (Reuters)
Norway laid out ways to reach one of the world’s toughest climate goals with measures to clean up sectors from oil to transport that it said would trim just 0.25 percent from the economy by 2020.
Climate Chief Says He Won’t Bow to Pressure to Resign (Sydney Morning Herald)
The UN climate panel chief, Rajendra Pachauri, says he has every intention of remaining in the job at least until the delivery of the next climate assessment report due in 2013-14.
Southern Co.’s Lobbying Draws Complaints (AP)
President Obama’s award of $8.3 billion in federal nuclear loan guarantees to Southern Company has angered environmentalists who say the president is embracing the utility that worked aggressively to defeat a key climate bill championed by his administration.
UN Emission Board Seeks to Mend Split on Clean Energy (Bloomberg)
Regulators who oversee the CDM, the world’s second-biggest emissions market are split on whether to disqualify clean energy projects that receive subsidies from developing nations such as China, the board’s chairman said.
San Antonio Utility Reaches Nuke Plant Settlement (AP)
A consortium of NRG Energy and Toshiba working to double the generating capacity of the South Texas nuclear plant has agreed to buy up much of the San Antonio city-owned utility’s stake in the project, both sides announced.
Poland May Seek 5.5% Increase in Its EU Carbon Quota (Bloomberg)
Poland may seek a 5.5% increase its CO2 emission quota under the EU’s cap-and-trade system after a European court overturned limits imposed by the bloc’s regulator.
Rudd Backs Review of Solar Panel Rules over Electrical Fire Fears (The Australian)
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd vowed today to review solar panel standards amid concerns that up to 2,000 Australian homes fitted under a federal scheme were at risk of electrical fires.
Maine Residents Push Back Against Wind Power Farms (AP)
As wind power expands in Maine, the industry is feeling push back from those who worry about the turbines’ noise and impact on scenery and about whether too many towers are going up too fast.
Tax on Wind Energy Clears Another Vote in Wyoming House (Casper Star-Tribune)
A proposed $1-per-megawatt-hour excise tax on wind energy smoothly passed the Wyoming House of Representatives on a second vote and faces a final House vote before moving to the state Senate.
Canada’s Permafrost Retreats Amid Warming Trend (Reuters)
The permanently frozen ground known as permafrost is retreating northward in the area around Canada’s James Bay, a sign of a decades-long regional warming trend, a climate scientist has said.
Warmest January on Record for the Lower Atmosphere (Weather Underground)
Earth’s lower atmosphere recorded its warmest January on record last month, according to data from both the University of Alabama, Hunstville (UAH) and Remote Sensing Systems.
Industry Loses Lawsuit Over Alaska Forest Logging (AP)
A federal judge has thrown out an industry lawsuit that could have led to more logging and road building in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest federal forest.
