Climate News Roundup: June 11 - July 17, 2008

Friday, July 11, 2008

U.N CONTROVERSY: U.N. warming program draws fire. A United Nations program designed to combat global warming has started doing something no one expected: It is subsidizing fossil-fuel power plants that spew millions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere annually. Wall Street Journal. 11 July 2008. [Subscription Required]

FEDERAL POLICY: EPA won't act on emissions this year. The Bush administration has decided not to take any new steps to regulate greenhouse gas emissions before the president leaves office, despite pressure from the Supreme Court and broad accord among senior federal officials. Washington Post. 11 July 2008. [Registration Required]

GLOBAL WARMING - SMOG: Study links global warming to more smog. U.S. environmental regulators quietly published a draft study on Thursday that linked global warming to higher levels of smog that could harm human health, a report green groups said stood in contrast to the Bush Administration's slow movement on climate change. Reuters UK. 11 July 2008.

CO2 PIPELINE: Calgary firm plans province's first carbon-dioxide pipeline. A small Calgary company unveiled plans on Thursday for Alberta's first carbon dioxide pipeline to increase oil production from old oilfields. When it's operational in 2011, the system will remove 5,000 tonnes of CO2 gas per day that would have been vented into the atmosphere. Calgary Herald, Alberta. 11 July 2008

AUTO TECH: What a concept: no gas needed for this car. A one-person electric car with wheels on top, too, lets the vehicle be self-guided - a $145 billion economic benefit to the nation by allowing people to work while they commute. Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio. 11 July 2008.

STATE - POLICY (CT): Rell wants to include rebates in emissions plan. Connecticut is just weeks away from implementing a sweeping plan to cut power plant emissions, and most agree that effort will mean higher energy costs to consumers. Hartford Courant, Connecticut. 11 July 2008.

SOLAR - WINDOWS: Window coatings can channel energy. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a system that turns windows into a solar collector, letting people see clearly while collecting energy. Associated Press. 11 July 2008.

ENERGY DEMAND: Global energy needs 'to grow 50%'. World demand for oil will grow by 50% between now and 2030 as people in developing countries drive more cars, oil producers' group Opec says. BBC, UK. 11 July 2008.

Monday, July 14, 2008

UK - NUCLEAR: Brown sets 'no limit' on number of reactors to be built. Gordon Brown is to fast-track the building of at least eight nuclear power stations to cut Britain's dependence on oil following the dramatic rise in its price. London Independent, England. 14 July 2008.

CO2 CAPTURE AND STORAGE: Dutch eye role as CO2 capture and storage hub. Home to Europe's biggest port, a major hub for oil, coal and biofuels, Rotterdam is counting on plans to capture and store CO2 in old gas fields so it can pursue industrial development and also meet ambitious targets to cut emissions by 2025. Reuters. 14 July 2008.

AUSTRALIA - EMISSIONS: Australia falls behind on easiest greenhouse cuts. Australia lags behind most rich nations in taking the easiest steps to make an emissions trading scheme as cheap as possible: becoming more energy efficient at home, work and on the road. Melbourne Age, Australia. 14 July 2008.

GERMANY - NUCLEAR: Merkel calls for slower nuclear phase-out in Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a contentious call Sunday to slow Germany's planned phase-out of nuclear energy, amid growing fears it will be impossible to slash greenhouse gas emissions without it. Agence France-Presse. 14 July 2008.

SOLAR: 'Emission cuts will lead to a clean energy economy' Solar energy is like dollar bills lying on the sidewalk, we just have to pick them up," said RK Pachauri, who was the joint winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore for his work on climate change. India Post. 14 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (MN): To fellow governors, Pawlenty was step ahead of energy crisis. Pawlenty has tried to forge an all-of-the-above consensus on energy policy, emphasizing the importance of conservation and alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and ethanol, an important Minnesota industry. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota. 14 July 2008.

U.S. GOVERNORS: Huntsman miffed by Bush official's pessimism on energy future. As the nation's governors were calling for an energy revolution that would eliminate the reliance on foreign oil and fight climate change, a Bush administration official told them it wasn't "realistic" to think the United States could or should become energy independent. Salt Lake Tribune, Utah. 14 July 2008.  

U.S. GOVERNORS: Schwarzenegger slams Bush on climate change. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says the Bush administration's move to delay a decision on regulating greenhouse gases shows it does not believe in global warming. Agence France-Presse. 14 July 2008.

FAITH/RELIGION: How the pope is saving Earth. Unlike his fellow heads of state who have spoken about protecting the plant from climate catastrophe, the pontiff has actually created a carbon-neutral economy -- and done it cheaply and quickly. Los Angeles Times, California. Opinion, 14 July 2008. [Registration Required]

CO2 STORAGE: Out of sight, out of clime: burying carbon in a vault of sea and rock. The best place to store all that carbon dioxide from power plants might turn out to be volcanic formations off the U.S. west coast Scientific American. 15 July 2008.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

OFFSHORE DRILLING: Bush decision on oil backed by industry. The oil industry applauded President Bush's announcement Monday that he would lift an executive ban on offshore drilling, even though no drilling will take place unless Congress lifts its own ban. Associated Press. 15 July 2008.

STATE POLICY: Governors can't agree on climate change fix. Governors from across the country agree that it will take bold leadership to confront the nation's energy crisis. But they couldn't come to a consensus position on climate change or nuclear expansion or the future of coal. Salt Lake Tribune, Utah. 15 July 2008.

GREEN AVIATION: Bombardier launches 'green' aircraft programme. Canadian planemaker Bombardier announced here Sunday the launch of a series of environmentally friendly single-aisle jets, scheduled to enter service in 2013. Agence France-Presse. 15 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (CA): State considers pay-as-you-drive auto insurance. A plan that charges motorists based on miles driven could cut fuel use, pollution and traffic as well as lower premiums. Los Angeles Times, California. 15 July 2008. [Registration Required]

JAPAN - EMMISIONS CREDITS: Japan To Buy Pollution-Emissions Credits From Ukraine 7/15/2008 - Japan said Monday that it has agreed to purchase emissions credits from Ukraine to help achieve Tokyo's designated target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Kyodo News reported. Ukraine is the second country with which Japan has reached a deal to buy emissions credits after Hungary, government officials said, adding that Tokyo and Kiev will now decide the details of the deal, such as the purchase amount and price. Under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, Ukraine is required to maintain average annual greenhouse gas emissions between 2008 and 2012 at the same level as 1990. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/15/08

GREEN AVIATION: Trina Supplying Cells For Renewable-Energy Powered Plane 7/15/2008 - Trina Solar Ltd.'s photovoltaic technology will take off next year on the wing of an airplane.  Trina has partnered with Light Innovative Sport Aircraft Airplanes to create the Hy-Bird, a solar and hydrogen powered airplane that is set to be the first to fly around the world using only renewable energies as fuel, according to the companies. Light Innovative Sport Aircraft Airplanes, based near Chambery/Aix airport in France, makes specialized high-end recreational-use airplanes. Trina manufactures photovoltaic products such as ingots, wafers, cells and PV modules, and was founded in 1997.  Changzhou, China-based Trina will supply the airplane company with 300 photovoltaic cells for use on the wings and horizontal tail of the plane. The cells will supply the fuel cell power for takeoff and for on-board power supply, and the plane will be propelled by an electric engine. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/15/08

Wednesday, June 9, 2008

WIND: O'Malley backs wind farm. Gov. Martin O'Malley threw his support yesterday behind a wind farm off the coast of Delaware. That could be crucial toward launching the United States' first offshore wind energy project - one that potentially could produce enough power for hundreds of thousands of homes. Baltimore Sun, Maryland. 16 July 2008.

CARBON STORAGE: Rule drafted for carbon trapping. The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday a first draft of a rule that will govern injecting carbon dioxide into underground storage. New York Times. 16 July 2008. [Registration Required]

WIND: Blackstone to fund 1 bln Euro German wind farm. Blackstone Group LP will invest in a 1 billion euro (US$1.6 billion) project to build and manage a German offshore wind farm capable of powering half a million homes, the US-based private equity firm said. Reuters. 16 July 2008.

UK - CARBON TRADING: British schools to join carbon trading scheme. Schools are to join airlines, power stations and supermarkets in trading carbon, under British government plans to tackle global warming to be announced on Wednesday. London Guardian, England. 16 July 2008.

AUSTRALIA - CARBON TRADING: Australia to set up carbon trading scheme by 2010. The Australian government announced plans Wednesday for a carbon emissions trading scheme by 2010 that it described as the biggest economic reform for a generation. Agence France-Presse. 16 July 2008.

AUSTRALIA - TAX CUTS: Australia proposes tax cuts to offset costs from carbon trading. Australia unveiled its first national plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, vowing to reduce fuel taxes and raise welfare payments to offset an estimated 16 percent increase in energy costs from the introduction of carbon trading. Bloomberg News. 16 July 2008.

GERMANY: EU climate package needs improvement, Germany says. European Union proposals to slash greenhouse gas emissions are seriously flawed and fail to take sufficient account of business needs, the German Economy Ministry said on Tuesday after a meeting of government and industry officials. Reuters. 16 July 2008.

WIND: British company launches floating wind turbines off Italy. A British company is poised to construct the world's first floating wind turbine, in a move that could herald a new generation of cheaper, less problematic wind energy. London Guardian, England. 16 July 2008.

GREEN AVIATION: Boeing, Alenia Back Italian Carbon Fiber Recycling Project  7/16/2008 - Before launching its 787 Dreamliner into the skies later this year, Boeing Co. is minding that the composites-heavy super-jumbo doesn't become an environmental headache.  The Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer and its parts supplier Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, are supporting the construction of a composite materials recycling facility in southern Italy to deal with Alenia's production waste and to extract carbon-fiber from old airplanes for reuse in planes and other industries. Carbon fiber material makes up 50% of the structural weight of the 787 Dreamliner, compared with 10%-12% of the older Boeing 777 planes. The Dreamliner is expected to take flight in the fourth quarter, 14 months behind schedule because of problems such as shortage of materials and supply chain hitches. Given carbon fiber's high cost and tight supply, the interest in recycling isn't surprising. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/16/08

GREEN INSURANCE: More Green Insurance Policies Hit The Market 7/16/2008 - A U.S. unit of German insurer Allianz SE will begin offering homeowners' protection in California next month that will cover the cost of rebuilding houses to environmentally-friendly standards, the latest sign of "green" products penetrating the financial-services market.  The green policies, offered by Novato, Calif.-based Fireman's Fund Insurance Co., will allow homeowners whose properties have been destroyed by fires, weather and other covered events to rebuild to criteria set by the U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington, D.C. non-profit that promotes environmentally friendly and healthy buildings.  For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/16/08

GREEN UTILITY  - CO2 OFFSETS: Exelon To Spend $10 Billion By 2020 To Slash, Offset CO2 Emissions 7/16/2008 - Exelon Corp. released a plan Tuesday to eliminate or offset its carbon dioxide emissions, positioning itself ahead of expected federal climate change legislation.  The nation's largest electricity and gas utility said it plans to spend $10 billion by 2020 on reducing and offsetting more than 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The company said this is the equivalent of taking 3 million cars off of U.S. roads. The overall goal is to have zero net emissions a year by 2020. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/16/08

TIDAL POWER: EdF To Build First Tidal Turbine System In France 7/16/2008 - Electricite de France, or EdF, is planning to build the first pilot turbine system in France to produce electricity from tidal currents, the company said Tuesday.  By 2011, the EdF will have installed a total capacity of 4 megawatts to 6 megawatts in the grid off Paimpol, in the northern region of Brittany. "Energy from tidal currents emits no greenhouse gases and has the advantage of being completely predictable," the company said. "In the long term this new source of energy could make a significant contribution to the production of electricity from renewable sources, in particular in the U.K. and France."  For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/16/08

Thursday, June 10, 2008

AUSTRALIA - CARBON MARKET: Australia's carbon market may be worth as much as A$11 billion. Australia's proposed carbon trading market may be worth as much as A$11 billion ($10.7 billion) by 2012, assuming similar growth to that in the European Union, according to Point Carbon. Bloomberg News. 17 July 2008

BIOFUELS: "Miracle biofuel" growing in Florida. In southwest Florida, a new weed called jatropha is being hailed the newest miracle seed in the quest for alternative fuel sources. Tampa Bay WTSP TV, Florida. 17 July 2008.

HYBRID TAXIS: Plan for hybrid taxi fleet moves forward. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's plan to convert New York City's entire fleet of yellow taxicabs into one that entirely comprises vehicles that run on a hybrid of electricity and gasoline took a step forward Wednesday. New York Times. 17 July 2008. [Registration Required]

GREEN CITIES: Energy action from bottom up: Kansas City, scouts, buses. In Kansas city, progress on curbing energy demand and greenhouse gases may well come from the bottom up before it comes from the top down. New York Times. Opinion, 17 July 2008. [Registration Required]

STATE - POLICY (CA): California Moves To Speed Power Grid Connections 7/17/2008 - The operator of California's electric grid has a plan for improving the way new renewable power facilities can connect to it, but solar and wind power developers say the plan falls short. The California Independent System Operator plans to file with federal regulators later this month a new set of rules for reviewing new power project interconnections. The new rules will streamline the process and cut down the amount of time it takes to make a decision, said Gregg Fishman, a spokesman for the ISO. The organization will review projects in clusters, rather than individually to speed the process, and will require a much larger application fee to discourage less viable projects. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/17/08

WIND: More Homeowners Harness Wind Power To Cut Utility Bills 7/17/2008 - Residential wind turbines are gaining acceptance with more homeowners looking to cut their electricity bills. Although they have been around for years in rural areas and isolated locations, they are spreading to the suburbs and, in some cases, even cities.  But harnessing the wind's power in order to generate your own doesn't come cheap. And because of site requirements wind turbines generally cannot be used by those whose homes sit on less than an acre of land.  For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/17/08