News: Archive for July, 2010
‘TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Charlie Crist has called a special session of the state Legislature to get a constitutional ban on offshore oil drilling in Florida waters on the November ballot.’
via Fla. gov calls legislature for oil drilling ban – Yahoo! News.
‘The long-awaited draft air permit for a proposed coal-fired power plant in Kansas was released last Wednesday, starting a race against the clock that will determine whether the plant – if approved – will then also be subject to the EPA’s new rules regulating the emission of greenhouse gases that go into effect January 2nd.’
‘A British panel on Wednesday exonerated the scientists caught up in the controversy known as Climategate of charges that they had manipulated their research to support preconceived ideas about global warming.’
‘Reuters – President Barack Obama will urge the U.S. Congress on Friday to extend a manufacturing tax credit by $5 billion to foster private investment in clean energy, a White House official said.’
via Obama will urge boosting clean energy tax credit | Reuters.
‘Leading environmental groups and a U.S. senator on Wednesday called on the government to pay closer attention to more than 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico and take action to keep them from leaking even more crude into water already tainted by the massive BP spill.’
via Enviro groups stunned that govt ignoring 27K wells – Yahoo! News.
‘JAKARTA Reuters – Indonesia has drafted rules for a two-year ban on permits for forest clearing, after signing a $1 billion climate aid deal with Norway aimed at avoiding greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.’
via Q+A: Indonesia issues draft rules on forest clearing | Reuters.
‘GUANGZHOU, China — Premier Wen Jiabao has promised to use an “iron hand” this summer to make his nation more energy efficient. The central government has ordered cities to close inefficient factories by September, like the vast Guangzhou Steel mill here, where most of the 6,000 workers will be laid off or pushed into early retirement.’
via China Fears Warming Effects of Consumer Wants – NYTimes.com.
‘WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama announced Saturday the awarding of nearly $2 billion for new solar plants that he said will create thousands of jobs and increase the country’s use of renewable energy sources.’
‘KINSHASA, Congo – At least 204 people were killed in Congo when a tanker truck transporting oil flipped over and exploded overnight in the east of the country, a Red Cross official said Saturday.’
via Congo: Red Cross says 204 dead in oil explosion – Yahoo! News.
‘Many energy experts contend natural gas is the ideal fuel as the world makes the transition to renewable energy. But since much of that gas will come from underground shale, potentially at high environmental cost, it would be far better to skip the natural gas phase and move straight to massive deployment of solar and wind power.’
via Natural Gas as Panacea: Dubious Path to a Green Future by Daniel B. Botkin: Yale Environment 360.