‘Senate Republicans want to add an amendment to the highway bill that would mandate construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.’

via Senate GOP pushes for Keystone vote on highway measure – The Hill’s E2-Wire.

‘…One of California’s showcase solar energy projects, under construction in the desert east of Los Angeles, is being threatened by a deadly outbreak of distemper among kit foxes and the discovery of a prehistoric human settlement on the work site..

via Problems cast shadows of doubt on solar project – latimes.com.

‘The Himalayas has lost no significant ice over the past decade, according to a new study, that found melting ice from glaciers is having a much smaller effect on sea levels than previously thought.’

via Melting glaciers on the Himalayas not contributing to sea level rise – Telegraph.

‘SINGAPORE (Reuters) – U.S. scientists using satellite data have established a more accurate figure of the amount of annual sea level rise from melting glaciers and ice caps which should aid studies on how quickly coastal areas may flood as global warming gathers pace.’

via Scientists melt mystery over icecaps and sea levels – Yahoo! News.

‘An internal audit cleared the State Department of major missteps and conflicts of interest in its environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline, but faulted the agency for its lack of scientific expertise and for not adequately considering alternative routes.’

via Audit endorses State Department review of Keystone XL oil pipeline – latimes.com.

‘GOLDEN — A day before Colorado Republicans voice presidential preferences at the caucuses, Rick Santorum dismissed climate change as “a hoax” and advocated an energy plan heavy on fossil fuels.’

via Santorum and Gingrich dismiss climate change, vow to dismantle the EPA | The Colorado Independent.

‘WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s first new nuclear power plant in a generation won approval Thursday as federal regulators voted to grant a license for two new reactors at a site in eastern Georgia.’

via NRC approves first new nuclear plant in 3 decades – Yahoo! News.

‘NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Southern Co. SO -0.02% won approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to begin full construction of two new reactors, each with 1,100 megawatts of capacity, at its Plant Vogle site in Georgia, the power company said Thursday. It’s the first new nuclear power facility to be built in the U.S. in 30 years.’

via Southern Co. gets license to build nuclear plants – MarketWatch.

‘What’s most striking about Japan’s nuclear exclusion zone, is what you don’t see. There are no people, few cars, no sign of life, aside from the occasional livestock wandering empty roads.’

via Japan’s Nuclear Exclusion Zone Shows Few Signs of Life – Yahoo!.