Climate Action Blog

Climate News Roundup: September 30 - October 3, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:39:00 -0400

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

CARBON TRADING: ALBANY - Demand high for pollution credits. If the law of supply and demand holds true, then the nation's first auction of pollution rights to combat global warming was a success. New York state was not ready for the inaugural auction of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, but six other states sold off rights last week to about 12.5 tons of carbon dioxide, a known greenhouse gas. Demand was high, with 59 bidders seeking nearly four times as many allowances as were offered. Times Union, September 30, 2008

CARBON CREDITS: Eastern Europe's Carbon Credit Windfall. Thanks to Kyoto emission levels pegged to 1990, when pollution was worse, former Eastern Bloc countries now sell carbon credits to Japan. In an odd twist on market economics, Europe's ex-communist states are starting to exploit a new market. Thanks to the Kyoto climate-change agreement, they can, in effect, now make money off the pollution their onetime central planners were willing to tolerate as the price for rapid industrialization and universal employment. Business Week September 30, 2009

SOLAR - Vatican goes solar. Workers recently began installing donated solar panels on the papal auditorium's roof, part of Vatican City's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. National Geographic September 30, 2008

Green technology: As the evidence that humans have altered the Earth's climate and environment for the worst continues to grow, the race is on to produce technologies that will reverse or slow those ill-effects. This week New Scientist looks at some recent patent applications that hope to be part of a new, greener, world. New Scientist Tech, September 30, 2008

CLIMATE CHANGE: Big thinker: Rajendra Pachauri. As head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dr. Rajendra Pachauri is at the forefront of global efforts to combat climate change. CNN September 30, 2008

Tuesday, October 1, 2008

CARBON CREDITS - Japan: TOKYO- Japan is looking for new suppliers of carbon credits as uncertainty over future funding mechanisms for credit suppliers has limited the number of big clean energy projects that sell such credits, a Japanese official said. Reuters October 1, 2008

CLEAN ENERGY - Will the fiscal crisis hobble the clean-energy industry? Concern is growing that the credit market crisis, and the role governments are playing to bail out banks, could have a devastating effect on markets for carbon and on government support for renewable energy. New York Times October 1, 2008

UN CLIMATE AGREEMENT: Financial storm dims hope of tough UN climate pact. Global financial mayhem is dimming prospects for a strong new U.N. pact to fight climate change, but it might aid cheap green schemes such as insulating buildings to save energy, analysts said. Reuters, October 1, 2008

AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIA'S economic future rests on world leaders reaching a climate change agreement because the modest domestic cost of an emissions trading scheme is dwarfed by the costs to Australia of continued global warming. The Australian, October 1, 2008

CLIMATE CHANGE: Now that two candidates who advocate action on climate change are vying for the White House, U.S. scientists have mobilized like never before to provide the next president's transition team with a blueprint to address what many believe is the most pressing environmental challenge facing humanity. Environmental Science and Technology, October 1, 2008.

INDIA SIGNS MAJOR FRENCH ATOMIC DEAL: INDIA, critically short of energy to fuel its booming economy, secured a new position in the world nuclear order today when it signed a landmark atomic energy pact with France. The Daily Telegraph, October 1, 2008

OIL: Funded research in Palin's campaign against protection for polar bear. he Republican Sarah Palin and her officials in the Alaskan state government drew on the work of at least six scientists known to be skeptical about the dangers and causes of global warming, to back efforts to stop polar bears being protected as an endangered species, the Guardian can disclose. Some of the scientists were funded by the oil industry. The Guardian UK, October 1, 2008

FOSSIL FUELS: Google Inc. unveiled a $4.4 trillion plan for reducing U.S. dependence on fossil fuels, as the Internet giant tries to emerge as a leading advocate for greater adoption of alternative energy. The proposal is based on the U.S. halting the generation of electricity from coal and oil by 2030 and relying on power from wind, nuclear and geothermal sources instead. It also entails cutting oil use for cars by 40%. For more read Clean Technology Insight 10/2/2008

Tuesday, October 2, 2008

OCEANS - CO2 MONITORING: Singapore - Australian scientists set sail later this week on a voyage that would lead to better data from the Southern Ocean, which plays a major role in acting as a brake on climate change. Oceans absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide and the Southern Ocean between Australia and Antarctica plays the greatest role in all the world's oceans, scientists say. Planetark.org October 2, 2008

TECHNOLOGY: Microwave factory to act as carbon sink. The world's first commercial plant that uses microwave technology to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to help reduce the effects of global warming has started operating in New Zealand. Carbonscape, based in Blenheim, New Zealand, has developed technology that turns organic waste, such as wood and wood chips, into charcoal using microwaves. Newscientist.com October 1, 2008

Emissions plan called less costly than inaction: PHOENIX - Arizona's participation in a regional pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would be much less costly than opponents contend, and it would be tiny compared to the cost of not responding aggressively to climate change, the head of the state Department of Environmental Quality said Tuesday. Tucson Citizen, October 2, 2008

Wind and Solar: Wind and solar tax credits could ride into law in bailout bill. Maybe the tenth time will be a charm. Last night was the tenth time since June 2007 that an extension of wind and solar tax credits have gone to the floor of the Senate. Seven times they have been stuck in bills that have gone to the floor of the House of Representatives. And they're still not law. Solar and wind industry executives hope that the tax credits will finally be adopted as part of the rescue plan for the U.S. financial industry -- though environmentalists are lamenting that the package also includes $894 million of tax breaks for oil refineries using tar sands or coal-to-liquids technology. Washington Post, October 2, 2008

Energy-use targets urged for emerging nations: Japan proposed Tuesday that binding numerical targets for energy saving be set for major emerging nations such as China and India under a new global framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. The Japan Times, October 2, 2008

Policy - (CA): Schwarzenegger acts globally and locally. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approved an environmental twofer this week: a bill that both curbs sprawl and has the potential to lessen global warming. The measure could mean shorter drives, more compact cities and fewer tailpipe emissions that contribute to heat-trapping gases in the sky. The San Francisco Chronicle, October 2, 2008

Natural gas: The next alternative fuel? Scientists are trying to determine which alternative fuel will best strike a balance between being environmentally friendly and commercial viability. CNG might be the answer. CNN, October 2, 2008

technology: Clean -tech deals continue to thrive in third quarter. Venture capital investors continue to look beyond the current financial crisis and see clean-technology innovations as a prime place for their money. San Jose Mercury News, October 2, 2008

Friday, October 3, 2008

Australia releases economic base to carbon scheme: CANBERRA - Australia's government on Friday released key economic data it will use to design an emissions scheme to combat global warming, predicting economic growth of 2.3 percent in the regime's key mid-term years around 2020. With the emissions scheme still under design and due to come into force in 2010, modeling released by Treasurer Wayne Swan said GDP growth would be around 2.8 percent when the regime began, despite current fears of a global economic downturn. Reuters, October 3, 2008

Carbon footprint: AURORA - Doomed to leave the same carbon footprints? The Hopi Indian tribe has lived on the mesas of Arizona for hundreds of years. You might think that the hard, packed terrain of these mesas would limit the Hopis' ability to live off the land, but they've developed a sustainable culture based on their relationship with nature. On the other hand, there are the original inhabitants of Easter Island who, according to legend, destroyed their homeland's fragile ecosystem and, in the process, wiped themselves out. When European explorers came upon the island in the 1700s, stories say they found only a few survivors, living in caves. The question, according to Terry Tamminen, is whether we are on the path of sustainability, like the Hopi, or of destruction, like the Easter Islanders. The Beacon News, October 3, 2008

OIL: Oil drain will only et worse; oilman Pickens tells University of Michigan audience. Millionaire T. Boone Pickens brought his national campaign for wind and natural gas power to Ann Arbor Wednesday, telling a nearly full house at the Power Center that Americans will have a reduced standard of living unless they reduce their dependency on foreign oil. Mlive.com, October 3, 2008

Carbon credits:: Enel sees profits, cost cuts from CO2 offsets. ILAN - Italy's biggest utility Enel will make considerable profits and cut costs under emissions trading schemes in Europe and the Kyoto Protocol, even while it boosts its coal plant fleet, its head of carbon strategy told Reuters. Planet Ark, October 3, 2008

Climate News Roundup: September 12 - September 18, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:27:00 -0400

Friday, September 12, 2008

AVIATION: U.S.-bound flight from New Zealand to showcase ways to save time and fuel. A major initiative to help cut airline flight times, burn less fuel, and reduce harmful carbon emissions is to be presented today by the FAA at the San Francisco International Airport. Los Angeles Times, California. 12 September 2008. [Registration Required]

CARBON MARKETS: World carbon standards to relax. World greenhouse gas markets probably will relax their notions of what constitutes a carbon credit to encourage more people to reduce emissions of planet-warming gases, the head of the Chicago Climate Exchange said. Reuters. 12 September 2008.

BANGLADESH: Bangladesh launches climate change action plan. Bangladesh, one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, has launched a strategy to help the nation adapt to threats such as rising sea level, water-logged land and increased salinity. Nature. 12 September 2008.

GREENWASHING: MTV ad attacks 'greenwash' firms. MTV is launching a global marketing push to tackle climate change that includes a TV ad attacking businesses guilty of "greenwash" - deliberately misleading consumers about their eco-credentials. London Guardian, England. 12 September 2008.

Monday, September 15, 2008

INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE TALKS: Australia, China and US in climate talks. Australia has brought together the world's two major greenhouse gas polluters, China and the US, to search for common ground on cutting carbon emissions - including clean coal technologies - while protecting security of energy supplies. Sydney Australian, Australia. 15 September 2008.

CHINA - CARBON TRADING: Environment exchanges waiting for trading. On August 5, two environment and energy exchanges opened almost simultaneously in Beijing and Shanghai, the first of their kind in China. China Daily. 15 September 2008.

STATE POLICY (CO): Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission rules may be a model for other states. Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission members' tentative endorsement of several new rules may garner the attention of several states as they look to regulate the ongoing energy boom in the American West. Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Colorado. 15 September 2008.

GREEN CITIES - SOLAR: Berkeley council to vote on solar tax district. Berkeley is expected to make a major leap forward Tuesday in its first-in-the-nation plan to allow homeowners to pay for solar energy systems through their property taxes. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 15 September 2008.

GREEN CITIES - CFLs: DWP is poised to deliver energy-efficient light bulbs. In what appears to be the nation's largest giveaway of compact fluorescent light bulbs, the Department of Water and Power plans to hire crews to deliver 2.4 million bulbs to every household in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Daily News, California. 15 September 2008.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

STATE POLICY: States aim to cut gases by making polluters pay. Ten states are about to undertake the nation's most serious effort yet to tackle climate change, but there are worries that it may fail to reduce pollution. New York Times. 16 September 2008. [Registration Required]

CARBON REGULATION: Carbon regulation could hit 1 million U.S. firms: study. The prospect of U.S. regulation of climate-warming carbon dioxide has sparked a pre-emptive outcry from the Chamber of Commerce, which warned of bureaucratic gridlock if proposed limits are put in place. Reuters. 16 September 2008.

TARGETS: Carbon targets too low to ensure a stable, long-term climate, expert warns. Scientists may have to turn back time and clean the atmosphere of all man-made carbon dioxide to prevent the worst impacts of global warming, one of Europe's most senior climate scientists has warned. London Guardian, England. 16 September 2008.

CARBON TRADING: Lehman Brothers shuts carbon trading desk. Lehman Brothers shut down its carbon emissions trading desk after the bank filed for bankruptcy protection, putting a number of projects - mostly by small companies in developing countries - in jeopardy. Reuters. 16 September 2008.

ALGAE BIOFUELS: 'Huge interest' in algae biofuel. An algae biofuel developer is about to seek up to $20 million to fund international expansion after discovering it can make a crude oil substitute. Christchurch Press, New Zealand. 16 September 2008.

LEDS: LEDs May Be Ready To Take Off Thanks To Improved Technology 9/16/2008 - Using LEDs for general lighting may finally be a bright idea. In the past few years, light-emitting diodes have made huge advances in energy efficiency. Industry sources and outside experts say LEDs are now the most energy-efficient lighting source available. They use far less energy than other bulbs, last a lot longer, and cost less to use over their lifetime. For now, the lights still cost more than the average consumer is used to spending on a light bulb - a lot more. Prices for LEDs on the market today can be more than five times what an incandescent bulb costs. However, the LEDs use about 85% less energy and last 30 times longer. They also use about half as much energy and last five times longer than compact fluorescent lights. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/16/08

UK - TARGETS: Think Tank Says UK Will Miss 2020 CO2, Renewable Energy Targets 9/16/2008 - Independent think tank Cambridge Econometrics predicted that the U.K. will miss its targets on renewable energy and carbon emissions reductions. The group's report forecasts that by 2020, just 4.25% of U.K. energy consumption will come from renewable sources, far short of the 15% target agreed with the European Union earlier this year. It predicts the U.K. government will also miss its target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010, instead achieving only a 12.4% reduction. By 2020, the group says CO2 emissions are on track to be 14% below 1990 levels. This is largely because electricity generation from carbon intensive sources like coal- and gas-fired power plants will still make up a significant proportion of U.K. power generation up to 2020, the report said. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/16/08

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

IMPACTS: 10 ways global warming could hurt your health. Scientists all over the globe have observed changes that are impacting individuals' health--and have also created models to predict where we might be headed. US News & World Report. 17 September 2008.

ELECTRIC CARS: Chevy Volt's unveiling sparks questions about financing. GM executives acknowledge that the $25 billion the industry is seeking in federal loan guarantees would help subsidize the hybrid car's development and production. Los Angeles Times, California. 17 September 2008. [Registration Required]

ELECTRIC CARS: All-electric vehicles no magic bullet - US scientist. A future of all-electric cars coasting along streets and highways may be illusory, given that their range may be cut in half by aggressive drivers speeding along with the air conditioning blasting, US scientists said on Monday. Reuters. 17 September 2008.

FORESTS - OPINION: The Sierra forests can prevent Global Warming. Judging by recent statements, it isn't clear whether the state recognizes the outsize role California's forests play in naturally absorbing carbon emissions, or the quantity of carbon dioxide released when these forests are irresponsibly clear-cut. San Jose Mercury News, California. Opinion, 17 September 2008.

EMISSIONS TRADING - JAPAN: Japanese Trading Houses To Act As Brokers For Emissions Trades 9/17/2008 - The Japanese government will allow trading houses and financial institutions to act as intermediaries in emissions trading trials, which are to begin next month, The Nikkei learned Tuesday. The market for trading global warming gas emissions provides an opportunity for companies that have exceeded their reduction targets to sell their surpluses and for firms missing their goals to make up the shortfalls by buying credits. To realize a viable trading system, it will encourage a wide variety of companies to participate. Nippon Steel Corp. (5401) and other major steelmakers have already decided to come onboard. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/17/08

Thursday, September 18, 2008

CO2 STORAGE: Emissions may be stored under sea. Parts of the sea-bed between Northern Ireland and Scotland could become a storage facility for carbon dioxide, according to a new study. BBC, United Kingdom. 18 September 2008.

GREEN CITIES - SOLAR: Berkeley, Calif. approves city-backed solar loans. The California city has approved a new financing scheme for loans to homeowners who install rooftop solar panels, a landmark programme that could inspire other US cities to follow suit. London Guardian, United Kingdom. 18 September 2008.

STATE POLICY (CA): Tackling greenhouse gases would boost California's economy, air board study says. Taking strong measures to reduce greenhouse gases to combat global warming would help California's economy, boost employment and increase household savings and personal income, according to a new analysis. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 18 September 2008.

ELECTRIC CARS: Tesla Motors to build plant, headquarters in San Jose. Tesla Motors Inc., aiming to be the first high-volume maker of electric cars, plans to build a $250-million plant to produce sedans in San Jose and move its headquarters to the same facility. Bloomberg News. 18 September 2008.

FEDERAL POLICY - RENEWABLE ENERGY: Senate Energy Tax Deal Trims Credits On Renewable Energy 9/18/2008 - Senate negotiators made significant cuts in proposed extensions of tax credits for wind and other forms of renewable energy in order to reach a bipartisan compromise that is expected to pass the Senate this month. The new Senate energy tax legislation, details of which were released Wednesday afternoon, would extend tax credits for wind energy production for one year only, through 2009. Tax credits for geothermal, biomass and other renewable energy sources eligible for the production credit would be extended for two years, through 2010. The solar energy investment tax credit would be renewed for eight years through 2016, as would tax credits for residential solar projects. The Senate deal would make the residential solar credit much more generous by removing the $2,000 cap, which covers just a small fraction of what a typical residential solar-electric system would cost. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/18/08

NEW TECHNOLOGY - GREEN BUILDING: European Steelmakers, Rio Tinto Partner On Low CO2 Project 9/18/2008 - European steelmakers and diversified miner Rio Tinto PLC have agreed to collaborate on building an environmentally friendly steel plant that uses new technology to reduce CO2 emissions. A consortium of 48 European companies and organizations from 15 European countries, including the world's largest steelmaker ArcelorMittal and Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG have formed a group called the Ultra-Low Carbon Dioxide Steelmaking Group, or ULCOS, to cooperate on creating new technology to reduce steelmaking CO2 emissions by at least 50%. ULCOS has partnered with Rio Tinto to use the miner's technology along with its own to build a pilot plant in Voelkingen, Germany, near the French border. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/18/08

CARBON OFFSETS: GE/AES Venture Partners With Google On Carbon Offset Projects 9/18/2008 - A joint-venture between AES Corp. and General Electric Co. will develop projects with Google Inc. to offset greenhouse gas emissions, with the search engine giant using most of the reductions to erase its own carbon footprint. Greenhouse Gas Services announced the agreement Wednesday, saying the first project will be in North Carolina. GE and AES launched Greenhouse Gas Services about a year ago to develop offsets projects and sell the credits they produce to companies looking to meet climate change goals. The Google partnership will likely develop a handful of projects in the U.S. and abroad to start, with Greenhouse Gas Services keeping a fraction of the emission offsets for resale, said Mauricio Vargas, chief executive of Greenhouse Gas Services. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/18/08

Climate News Roundup: September 5 - September 11, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:51:00 -0400

Friday, September 5, 2008

IMPACTS: Seas to rise faster this century. Hot on the heels of findings that tropical cyclones have been intensifying over the past few decades, researchers report in Science that global warming will cause sea levels to rise much faster by the end of the century than officially projected. Science. 5 September 2008.

IMPACTS: Loss of Manhattan-sized Arctic ice shelf is 'sign of things to come'. An ice shelf almost the size of Manhattan has broken off from an island in the Canadian Arctic, researchers revealed today, warning that the near-record loss of polar ice cover this summer was an indicator of the changes global warming would inflict on mankind. London Times, England. 5 September 2008.

CHINA - CARBON CAPTURE: EESTech Signs On To Chinese Carbon Capture Project 9/5/2008 - EESTech Inc., an over-the-counter Bulletin Board traded distributor of carbon management and storage technology, said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tianjin DaGang Huashi Power Generation to co-develop a carbon capture and storage facility in China. Dagang will use one of its two 330 megawatt power units to demonstrate the capture of carbon dioxide from its flue gas stream and then transport the CO2 for sequestration and enhanced oil recovery, the company said. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/5/08

UK - ENERGY EFFICIENCY: UK's Brown: Can Boost Econ's Energy Efficiency By 20% By 2020 9/5/2008 - U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown set a target for a much more energy efficient economy Thursday, saying the U.K. can cut its use of oil by 20% per unit of output by 2020. In a speech billed as a keynote economic address but short on policy announcements, Brown said the government would continue to invest in nuclear and renewable energy and will increase energy efficiency in a bid "to free Britain from the dictatorship of oil." "The policies we are putting in place will mean that by 2020 our economy will consume 20% less oil for each unit of output than it consumes today - and only a quarter of the oil we used in 1970," Brown said, according to the text of a speech to the Confederation of British Industry in Glasgow, Scotland. The U.K. is already committed to increasing to 15% by 2020 the proportion of its energy generated by renewables. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/5/08

SHIP EMISSIONS: Disputes Could Leave Ship Emissions Talks Becalmed 9/5/2008 - Rich countries are on a collision course with the developing world in talks to cut emissions of greenhouse gases from ships. The International Maritime Organization, the special U.N. agency that regulates ocean-going vessels, is convening in October to hammer out a pact to control emissions of heat-trapping gases from ships' smokestacks. But a clash between a key principle of climate change diplomacy and a core concept of maritime law could leave the process stalled in the doldrums. Many developing countries, led by China, India and Saudi Arabia, argue that the exemption they enjoy from mandatory carbon caps in the U.N. climate change treaty should also apply to ships registered there. About 80% of the international fleet is flagged in developing countries. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/5/08

Monday, September 8, 2008

SOLUTIONS: Have one meat-free day a week to tackle climate change, says UN. Everyone should have one meat-free day a week to help save the planet, a leading expert on global warming has claimed. Daily Mail, United Kingdom. 8 September 2008.

CHINA: China government adviser urges greenhouse gas cuts. China should bind itself to international goals to slash greenhouse gas pollution, one of the nation's most prominent policy advisers said, in a striking break with Beijing's official stance. Reuters. 8 September 2008

AUSTRALIA - CARBON PRICING: Australia adviser urges cautious carbon targets. Australia's top climate adviser on Friday recommended carbon be sold for an initial A$20 (US$16) a tonne from 2010, with only marginal increases for the first two years, to help business adjust to carbon trading in Australia. Reuters. 8 September 2008

INDIA - NUCLEAR: India to go for bilateral nuclear trade after ratification of 123 agreement. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said India will be able to enter into bilateral nuclear agreements with other countries after the ratification of the 123 agreement between Indian and the US. Asian News International, South Asia. 8 September 2008.

STATES (MA): Study: Green Massachusetts possible by 2020. Wind, sun, water, biological waste - Massachusetts has the potential to turn them into a combined 10 million megawatt hours of power annually by 2020, according to a study being released Monday. Boston Globe, Massachusetts. 8 September 2008.

GREEN INSURANCE: Green Insurance Follows Green Building's Rise 9/8/2008 - As green homes and offices become more popular, insurance companies are beginning to get into the game as well with various products to accommodate this growing market. And many in the industry say that green construction and reconstruction will become standard in the future so that green insurance will have to follow suit. Recently, a handful of insurance companies including Fireman's Fund Insurance Co., Aon Corp., XL Insurance and Lexington Insurance Co. have rolled out their own brands of coverage for certified green buildings. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/8/08

INDIA - SOLAR: DuPont Aims To Serve Domestic Indian Solar Market 9/8/2008 - DuPont management foresees the domestic solar market in India growing significantly and the company is planning to work on technical modifications to photovoltaic technologies to make that transition faster, according to Marc Doyle, global business director for DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions. The Wilmington, Del.-based company created a local business team including a business leader, sales and marketing and technical personnel that will serve solar manufacturing customers in India. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/8/08

GREEN BUSINESS: GM To Be Landfill-Free At 80 Plants Worldwide By 2010 9/8/2008 - General Motors Corp. pledged that half of its 160 manufacturing plants worldwide will be "landfill free" by the end of 2010, as part of a larger, company-wide effort to make the automaker's production facilities more environmentally friendly. The company said 97% of the waste in these facilities will be reused or recycled and the remaining 3% will be sent to waste-to-energy operations. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/8/08

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

SOLUTIONS: Google sees energy solution in the math. Google CEO Eric Schmidt outlined an energy plan Monday to reduce America's dependence on oil and create green jobs. CNET News. 9 September 2008.

AUSTRALIA - TARGETS: Scientists say Australian carbon targets too weak. Prominent climate scientists criticised the Australian government's top climate adviser on Tuesday, saying his recommended targets for carbon emissions were too weak and would not help avoid catastrophic climate change. Reuters UK. 9 September 2008.

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS (OPINION): Political climate change. Regardless of which candidate comes out on top in November's election, the new president will face a daunting uphill sprint on international climate-change negotiations. Chemical & Engineering News. Opinion, 9 September 2008.

STATE POLICY (GA): Green energy a tough sell in Georgia. Only a fraction of 1 percent of Georgia's electric customers are willing to pay the few dollars extra every month for renewable energy. The state's participation rate is one-tenth the national figure, which is a paltry 2 percent. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia. 9 September 200

STATE POLICY (CA): California Power Agency Issues New Renewables RFP 9/9/2008 - Northern California Power Agency, a not-for-profit joint agency representing 17 community-owned utilities, is preparing to receive bids from a new renewable energy request for proposals it issued in August. NCPA is also currently in negotiations with several bidders that responded to its 2007 request for proposals. "We are very close on several of those projects. Within the next four to six months I expect to have either signed contracts or moved on to other proposals," said Dana Griffiths, power coordination and planning engineer at NCPA, who's part of the team in charge of vetting the bids, in an interview. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/9/08

STATE POLICY (PA): Pennsylvania To Court Wind Power Manufacturers 9/9/2008 - Pennsylvania is trying to lure manufacturers of wind power components by courting overseas companies and helping existing industry to re-tool other types of manufacturing. The Wind Energy Supply Chain Initiative, announced Monday, is part of Governor Edward G. Rendell's Energy Independence Strategy signed in July that allocates $650 million for alternative energy projects in the state. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/9/08

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

GREEN CARS: 106 mpg 'air car' creates buzz, questions. You've heard of hybrids, electric cars and vehicles that can run on vegetable oil, but of all the contenders in the quest to produce the ultimate fuel-efficient car, this could be the first one to let you say, "fill it up with air." CNN. 10 September 2008.

GERMANY - CO2 SEQUESTRATION: New German facility begins testing CO2 sequestration. A German pilot program has now begun testing the safety and usefulness of pumping CO2 emissions underground. Der Spiegel. 10 September 2008.

GREEN BUILDING: White roofs would offset global warming, researchers say. Builders have known for decades that white roofs reflect the sun's rays and lower the cost of air conditioning. But now scientists say they have quantified a new benefit: slowing global warming. Associated Press. 10 September 2008.

STATE CLIMATE POLICY (MT): Council advances handful of climate measures. A Montana state committee given 54 recommendations for addressing climate change is making a handful of them into bills for the Legislature to consider this winter, to the dissatisfaction of critics who say the most purposeful recommendations were set aside. Associated Press. 10 September 2008.

UK - CLIMATE POLICY: British political parties failing on climate. Britain's three main political parties are failing to address climate change as the economic downturn starts to take precedence, the country's leading environmental organisations said on Wednesday. Reuters. 10 September 2008.

GREEN JOBS: US $100 billion could yield 2 million US 'green' jobs. A US$100 billion US government investment over two years could create 2 million "green" jobs in such industrial sectors as steel and construction, environmental and labor groups said on Tuesday. Reuters. 10 September 2008.

PERSONAL CARBON TRADING: Personal carbon trading is not as simple as swiping an Oyster card. Polly Toynbee extols the virtues of personal carbon trading, saying it is the fairest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As an adviser to the Defra study, I take issue with her analysis. London Guardian, England. Opinion, 10 September 2008.

ALT. FUEL: Making jet fuel from algae oil is very green. Solazyme - a South San Francisco startup focused on producing oil from algae - said Tuesday that it had produced the world's first algal-derived jet fuel. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 10 September 2008.

PLUG-IN HYBRIDS: Fisker Raises $65M, Readying Its Hybrids For The Street 9/10/2008 - Fisker Automotive has raised $65 million in its latest round of venture capital financing as it looks to bring high-end plug-in hybrid electric vehicles out of the shop and onto the road. The Irvine, Calif.-based upstart car designer and manufacturer is among a growing number of companies that are looking to bring plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles to market. Fisker's Chief Executive Officer Henrik Fisker told Clean Technology Insight that although his company is young, through its manufacturing partnerships it will be among the first car companies to bring a plug-in hybrid to market. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/10/08

Thursday, September 11, 2008

FORESTS: Study says old growth forests bank carbon dioxide. A group of forest scientists from the United States and Europe reports that a growing body of evidence settles an old question over whether old growth forests store more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release. Associated Press. 11 September 2008.

GREEN CARS: The new 'greener' Prius that you can plug in to any power socket. A new generation 'plug-in' Toyota Prius that you can charge up at home and drive solely on electric power has been unveiled as an antidote to soaring petrol prices. Daily Mail, United Kingdom. 11 September 2008.

GREEN CARS: Livermore company promises to up mileage 20 to 40%. In a ramshackle warehouse in an industrial neighborhood here, David Jewell and eight confederates, including his mother, are hard at work assembling a contraption made of PVC pipe and wire they say increases gas mileage 20 to 40 percent. Oakland Tribune, California. 11 September 2008.

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES: Honda, Yamaha Gearing Up To Sell Electric Motorcycles 9/11/2008 - Honda Motor Co. plans to launch battery-powered electric motorcycles from 2011, with Yamaha Motor Co. aiming to debut such offerings as early as 2010, The Nikkei reported in its Thursday morning edition. Both firms hope to bring to market electric motorcycles that perform on a par with bikes with 50cc engine displacements. The vehicles will be powered by high-performance lithium ion batteries. Electric motorcycles do not emit carbon dioxide or nitrogen oxide while running. CO2 emissions during the recharging and manufacturing process are around half that of gasoline-fueled offerings. For Y100 worth of electricity, the motorcycles are estimated to be able to travel 400-500km. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/11/08

STATE POLICY (NC): NC To Improve Energy Efficiency Of Buildings By 30% 9/11/2008 - The State of North Carolina is looking to increase the energy efficiency of its buildings by 30% with new building codes this year, and has been awarded a federal Department of Energy grant to facilitate this effort. Gov. Mike Easley's office said in a statement that these codes, which include requirements for energy efficient building materials, appliances and electrical equipment, will save consumers up to $40 million annually on utility bills and cut emissions from power plants by 236,000 tons of carbon dioxide, 481 tons of sulfur dioxide and 253 tons of nitrogen oxide. Alan Hirsch, policy director for the governor's office, said in an interview with Clean Technology Insight that the state is looking to increase building mandates on energy now because of rising power costs. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/11/08

NZ TRADING SCHEME: New Zealand Passes Carbon-Emissions Trading Scheme 9/11/2008 - New Zealand's Parliament passed legislation creating an Emissions Trading Scheme late Wednesday, Climate Change Minister David Parker said. "For the first time, we will start factoring in the true cost of greenhouse gas emissions into our economy," Parker said in a release. "This is in line with developments in the rest of the world." Parker said the scheme will help New Zealand adhere to the Kyoto Protocol and "act as a catalyst to bring forward clean technology and create incentives for climate-friendly behavior and investments." The carbon emissions trading scheme bill was the last crucial piece of legislation for the governing Labour Party ahead of New Zealand's general elections. Prime Minister Helen Clark hasn't yet set a date for the election but it must be held by Nov. 15 and commentators are widely tipping Nov. 8 as the likely poll date. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/11/08

GREEN CITIES/STATE POLICY: Stockton To Cut CO2 Emissions In Deal With State AG 9/11/2008 - As part of a campaign to spur California communities and businesses into cutting greenhouse-gas emissions ahead of state rules in 2012, the state attorney general reached a deal with the city of Stockton to cut sprawl and make new buildings more energy efficient. "As oil peaks and climate change becomes more obvious and threatening, more restraints will be needed to burning fossil fuels," Attorney General Jerry Brown said Wednesday. "It won't take an attorney general or a governor snapping their fingers, it'll take cities, states and individuals making their lives more efficient." The City Council of Stockton, a medium-size city about 85 miles east of San Francisco, approved a settlement late Tuesday with Brown and the environmental group Sierra Club, to include greenhouse-gas emission reductions in the city's long-term development plan. The agreement settles a lawsuit the Sierra Club filed against the city over the plan, which the group said encouraged sprawl and would've been harmful to the environment. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/11/08

CHINA - WIND POWER: Kyushu Electric To Help Build Large China Wind Farm 9/11/2008 - Kyushu Electric Power Co. plans to collaborate with a power company in China to build a giant wind farm there, the Nikkei reported in its Wednesday morning edition. The facility will have the capacity to generate 200,000KW of electricity, making it the largest wind power operation in China. Located in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, it is scheduled to begin operating in 2010. This will be Kyushu Electric's second wind power project in China. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/11/08

Climate News Roundup: August 29 - September 4, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:50:00 -0400

Friday, August 29, 2008

SCIENCE: 'Unbreakable' greenhouse gas meets its doom at last. The war on climate change just got a chemical weapon: a way to destroy the carbon-fluorine bonds that make a class of widely used industrial gases so dangerous in the atmosphere. New Scientist, England. 29 August 2008.

ELECTIC CARS: Toyota plugs into electric vehicles. Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will start mass-producing next-generation electric vehicles in the early 2010s, demonstrating a renewed commitment to develop fuel-efficient cars. Japan Times, Japan. 29 August 2008.

CARBON TRADING - FORESTS: Forestry experts launch carbon trading project. While world leaders are yet to agree on much-discussed forestry carbon credits, KeeptheHabitat, an Australian non-profit company, will launch a pilot project to promote the reduction of emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) on Friday. Jakarta Post, Indonesia. 29 August 2008.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES - OPINION: Inside Obama's green plan for energy and the economy. Since he launched his campaign, Obama has offered remarkably detailed green proposals and showed himself to be fluent in the language of energy and carbon. Los Angeles Times, California. Opinion, 29 August 2008. [Registration Required]

GREEN BUILDING: Powering up. The 3,800-acre Three Rivers Recreation Area in Oregon, perhaps the country's only off-the-grid second-home subdivision, is home to more than 500 off-the-grid vacation homes. New York Times. 29 August 2008. [Registration Required]

US/CHINA/INDIA: US, 19 firms on clean-energy trade mission to China, India. The United States and 19 US companies will travel to China and India next month on a clean energy and environment trade mission, the government's third such mission to the fast-growing Asian powerhouses since April 2007. Agence France-Presse. 29 August 2008.

SOLAR ENERGY: European Consortium A Model For US Grid-Tied PV Research 8/29/2008 - A new joint venture launched in Europe to test the efficacy of batteries as energy storage devices for photovoltaic power may provide a roadmap for similar programs in the U.S., according to an official at the Department of Energy. Paris-based Saft SA, La Tour de Salvagny, France-based Tenesol and Hamburg, Germany-based renewable energy project developer Conergy AG, are launching Solion, a project dedicated to the development of solar power and energy storage to connect to power grids. For more read Clean Technology Insight 8/29/08

GREEN BUILDING: NAHB Survey Finds More Demand For Green Apartments 8/29/2008 - Builders of multi-family homes are going green in response to demand by buyers, who are willing to pay a premium for this type of housing, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders. "Apartments and condos are inherently green, because they offer more compact development to begin with," said Steve Patterson, chairman of NAHB's Multifamily Leadership Board and an apartment and condo developer from Orlando, Fla., in a statement. "With today's heightened consumer interest in green, multifamily builders are embracing more green and recyclable products, and are more willing to invest in energy efficiency." The association received 56 responses from its approximately 900 multi-family building companies and found that 74% of respondents say buyers and renters are willing to pay more for green amenities. For more read Clean Technology Insight 8/29/08

FEDERAL POLICY: USDA Offers $35 Million For Renewable Energy and Efficiency Projects 8/29/2008 - The USDA awarded $35 million in grants and loans for renewable energy projects and to improve efficiency on farms. The department gave 639 individuals and businesses in 43 states and the Virgin Islands grants or loans ranging from a few thousand dollars to almost $500,000. Of the $35 million total, $27.5 million are grants and $7.4 million are guaranteed loans. The money can be used for biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, solar and wind energy projects, as well as energy-efficiency improvements. For more read Clean Technology Insight 8/29/08

ADVANCED FUEL CELL CARS: Toyota: To Begin Leasing Advanced Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle 8/29/2008 - Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will begin leasing a new fuel cell model to Japan's Ministry of the Environment, staring Sept. 1. Japan's biggest car maker by volume said lease terms are Y840,000 per month for 30 months. The new fuel cell has a greater range and can start at lower temperatures than the previous model. For more read Clean Technology Insight 8/29/08

FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION: Treasury Names Pizer Deputy Asst Secretary For Environment, Energy 8/29/2008 - A man widely considered the greenest U.S. Treasury Secretary in history has tapped a Harvard-educated environmentalist to lead a new office that will focus on issues including climate change and clean technology. Treasury said Thursday it has named William A. Pizer, as its deputy assistant secretary for environment and energy. He will head a new Office of Environment and Energy. Pizer spent 12 years at the nonprofit Resources for the Future and has worked as a senior economist for the National Commission on Energy Policy and as a senior staff economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers. For more read Clean Technology Insight 8/29/08

Monday, September 1, 2008

IMPACTS: Rapid climate change needs a global solution, says scientist. Global warming is happening faster than expected and planet-wide engineering projects may be needed to buy humans more time, a leading scientist has warned. London Daily Telegraph, England. 1 September 2008.

SOLUTIONS (?): Ghost ship fleet could be a silver lining in clouds of climate change. A scientist at the University of Edinburgh has devised a new weapon in the fight against global warming: a fleet of 1,500 unmanned sailing ships creating wakes that whiten clouds to reflect the heat of the Sun better. London Times, England. 1 September 2008.

CARBON CREDITS: Farmers, ranchers can sell carbon credits. A new conservation program encourages the use of environmentally friendly farming and ranching methods to curb greenhouse gas emissions, which many believe adversely impact global climate. Muskogee Daily Phoenix, Oklahoma. 1 September 2008.

POST-KYOTO: U.N. chief warns against waiting for climate deal. The world should not wait until next year to cobble together a new climate change pact, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday. Reuters. 1 September 2008.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

STUDY - IMPACTS: Climate 'hockey stick' is revived. A new study by climate scientists behind the controversial 1998 "hockey stick" graph suggests their earlier analysis was broadly correct. BBC, United Kingdom. 2 September 2008.

OFFSETS: Aid agencies plan CO2 offsets that also help poor. From fuel-efficient stoves for displaced Congolese families to drought-resistant cashew trees in Brazil, some aid agencies offering carbon offset schemes want to marry emissions savings with help for people living with climate change. Reuters. 2 September 2008.

OFFSETS: A balancing act on emissions. A coalition working to promote green jobs and clean energy has been struggling with how to offset the global warming pollution that results from its day-to-day operations. New York Times. 2 September 2008. [Registration Required

CHINA - HYBRID CARS: BYD Plans To Launch China's 1st Hybrid Car By End 2008 9/2/2008 - Chinese battery and automaker BYD Co. said it plans to launch China's first gasoline-electric hybrid car by the end of this year, but declined to provide a forecast for its expected sales. 'Just how many cars we produce will depend on market demand because a product like this has never before been sold in China,' BYD President Wang Chuanfu said at a news conference Monday. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/2/08

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS - GEOTHERMAL: US, Australia, Iceland Join Forces On Geothermal Development 9/2/2008 - Australia, Iceland and the U.S. have little in common geographically, but they do share a wealth of geothermal resources, which the countries' leaders have now agreed to develop together. Officials from all three countries signed the charter of the International Partnership for Geothermal Technology on Thursday in Iceland. The pact will ensure collaboration on policy and technical aspects of enhanced geothermal systems, which include deep drilling and geothermal energy conversion. The countries will exchange information on best practices and support one another's education and training programs. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/2/08

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

SOLAR ENERGY: Solar plant yields water and crops from the desert. Vast greenhouses that use sea water for crop cultivation could be combined with solar power plants to provide food, fresh water and clean energy in deserts, under an ambitious proposal from a team of architects and engineers. London Guardian, England. 3 September 2008.

IMPACTS: Risks of climate change starting to show. Atlantic hurricanes and floods in India are reminders of the risks of ever more extreme weather linked to a changing climate, the head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said on Monday. Reuters. 3 September 2008.

IMPACTS: Huge sections of northern ice shelf lost in August, researchers report. Massive pieces of Canada's northern ice shelf broke away in early August, a team of researchers reported yesterday. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario. 3 September 2008.

STATE POLICY (CO): Colorado not ready to crack down on carbon. The Ritter administration is watching - but not joining - a regional cap-and-trade plan. ColoradoBiz, Colorado. 3 September 2008.

ALGAE/BIOFUELS: Algae pump out hydrocarbon biofuels. When it comes to biofuels, ethanol from corn gets all the press, but redirecting the photosynthetic process to produce hydrogen or hydrocarbons is another potential source of biofuels. Chemical & Engineering News. 3 September 2008.

ALGAE/BIOFUELS: Investor interest in algae grows. The idea of using algae as a significant new source of fuel is moving rapidly from the science lab to large-scale production, to judge by a wave of big investments that have been made in the area in recent weeks. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 3 September 2008.

WIND ENERGY: Tiny turbines may have a bright future. They are small and look more like art than innovation. But the mini-windmills built by a British company could soon be on roofs across Europe and the US -- if German energy giant RWE has its way. Der Spiegel. 3 September 2008.

WIND ENERGY: Greenpeace proposes giant North Sea windfarm grid. North Sea nations could link their offshore windfarms via a giant electricity grid on the sea bed and bring huge benefits for Europe, according to a Greenpeace report gaining interest from the European Commission. Reuters. 3 September 2008.

CHINA: US firms seek green opportunities in China. China's environmental protection and renewable energy market offers enormous opportunities for US businesses, said David Bohigian, the country's assistant commerce secretary. China Daily. 3 September 2008.

CHINA: Eco pig farms wave of future. At China's largest eco-friendly pig-raising farm, there is no smell and no pig manure underfoot. People's Daily, China. 3 September 2008.

STATE POLICY (CA): California Ponders More Aggressive Renewable Goals 9/3/2008 - Renewable power developers are likely to see several good years in California if one or more proposals to boost the state's already aggressive alternative energy requirements succeed. An initiative on the November ballot would beef up renewable energy requirements for utilities and place new restrictions on what type of energy they could use. Utilities generally oppose that proposal. But they support a measure already in the state legislature that would boost the state's renewable power requirement to 33% by 2020. The state Assembly has declined to vote on the bill because of questions as to how California will overcome problems meeting its current renewable power goals. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/3/08

HOMES - ELECTRIC CARS: Itochu Unit To Sell Homes With Electric Car Outlets 9/3/2008 - Itochu Property Development Ltd. plans to start selling this year homes whose outdoor parking spaces come equipped with power outlets for recharging electric vehicles, The Nikkei reported in its Wednesday morning edition. The move comes as Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and others plan to launch electric vehicles next summer or after. As a first step, the Itochu Corp. unit plans to release 20 or so houses with recharging outlets in Yokohama. And from next year, all its Crevia Court brand homes will come equipped with this type of outlet. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/3/08

WIND ENERGY: ChapDrive Winds Up $5.44M For Turbine Tech 9/3/2008 - ChapDrive AS, developer of a transmission system for wind turbines, has raised a NOK30 million ($5.44 million) round of funding. Existing investors Hafslund Venture, NorthZone Ventures and StatoilHydro Venture provided the funds. Based in Trondheim, Norway, ChapDrive said it has developed a hydraulic transmission system for wind turbines aimed at decreasing a turbine's weight, maintenance and operation costs. The new funds will be used for continued development of the company's pilot installation. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/3/08

Thursday, September 4, 2008

IMPACTS: Dutch advised to begin massive preparations to protect low-lying country from rising seas. The Netherlands needs a massive new building program to strengthen the low-lying country's water defenses against the anticipated effects of global warming for the next 190 years, a key panel advised Wednesday. Associated Press. 4 September 2008

IMPACTS: World bank warns of climate chaos. An expert from the World Bank has warned that climate chaos will affect farmers around the globe, and called for a revolution in sustainable agriculture. Australian Associated Press. 4 September 2008.

IMPACTS: Warming oceans make strongest storms stronger - study. As the world's oceans get warmer, the strongest tropical storms get stronger, climate scientists reported on Wednesday as the remnants of Hurricane Gustav spun out over the central United States. Reuters. 4 September 2008.

IMPACTS: 19-square-mile chunk of ice breaks loose from Arctic ice shelf in Canada's far north. A chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan has broken away from Ellesmere Island in Canada's northern Arctic, another dramatic indication of how warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier. Associated Press. 4 September 2008.

SOLUTIONS: Trains cut engines to save fuel. A train company running services over the Pennines has told its drivers to shut off engines on downhill sections. The spiraling cost of fuel and need to cut carbon emissions prompted First Transpennine Express to pilot the idea. BBC, United Kingdom. 4 September 2008

CARBON REPORT: Rio Tinto, Alcoa score worst in WWF carbon report. Rio Tinto Group, the world's third- largest mining company, and Alcoa Inc. are among power producers in Australia least prepared for a low-carbon future, a report by conservation group WWF shows. Bloomberg News. 4 September 2008.

STATE POLICY (NJ): NJ Approves $1.2B Budget For Renewables, Efficiency 9/4/2008 - New Jersey businesses and customers that use and offer renewable energy and energy-efficiency products will be able to avail themselves of a $1.2 billion incentive and investment budget over the next four years, with $255 million earmarked for investments in 2009 alone, Clean Technology Insight has learned. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved the state Clean Energy Program staff's recommendation for the $1.2 billion budget on Aug. 7, according to Janeen Lawlor, director of communications at the state public utilities' board.

BIO-PLASTIC: Segetis Expects Bio-Plastics Demonstration Plant In 2010 9/4/2008 - Segetis Inc. expects to be producing bio-based monomers from its first demonstration plant in the next two years, the company's new President and Chief Executive James Stoppert told Clean Technology Insight. "You're talking several years before we're able to supply large volumes of commercial product," said Stoppert, who previously served as the head of Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc.'s Industrial BioProducts Business Unit, "[but] we'll have product that we're selling in a smaller scale from our demonstration plant." Stoppert began working with Minneapolis-based Segetis in early 2008, when he was brought on as a consultant to the company by Khosla Ventures, a Segetis investor.

WIND ENERGY: Wind Industry Says Growth Reinforces Need For Credits 9/4/2008 - As wind power reached another milestone in the U.S. -- 20,000 megawatts of installed capacity, double 2006 levels, - the industry sharpened its focus on the political effort to get the extension of production tax credits, which expire at the end of the year and have been crucial for its rapid expansion. The American Wind Energy Association, or AWEA, and major players in the industry are attending the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., just as they were last week milling about at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo. Both parties are very receptive to the domestic and clean energy source, and have not signaled resistance to providing financial incentives to the industry, said Randall Swisher, AWEA's executive director, in an interview with Clean Technology Insight. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/4/08

INDIA - SOLAR: India's Solar Manufacturing Market Lures DuPont 9/4/2008 - E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. has started offering products to the photovoltaic market in India, as solar manufacturing begins to take off in the country drawing interest from global suppliers of components and equipment. The company is offering its films, resins, encapsulant sheets, flexible substrates, and conductive pastes for both crystalline silicon and thin-film modules to the photovoltaic industry in India. It plans to open a lab developing photovoltaic products in Hyderabad by 2010. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/4/08

EU - HYDROGEN CARS: EU Parliament Clears The Road For Hydrogen Cars 9/4/2008 - The European Union parliament Wednesday took a significant step towards the introduction of hydrogen-powered cars on Europe's roads, calling for common criteria for the environmentally friendly technology, according to the Agence France Presse. The fruit of a compromise hammered out by the E.U. member states, the idea of harmonized rules, passed almost unanimously, is expected to receive the green light from the 27 nations soon. The agreement "is a big step forward in the introduction of hydrogen vehicles," said European Commission Vice-President Guenter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry.

WIND ENERGY: Federal Govt Prepares To Lease For Offshore Wind 9/4/2008 - Amid a national debate over offshore oil drilling, the federal government is preparing to unleash development of another offshore energy source: wind. The Interior Department, the agency that handles oil-and-gas leases in U.S. waters, is preparing to lease swaths of the outer continental shelf to companies that want to erect massive wind turbines. With the public-comment period for the proposal scheduled to end Monday, competition is heating up to develop wind projects on the shelf, the same underwater formation largely covered by an oil-drilling ban that has become a contentious issue in the presidential race. For more read Clean Technology Insight 9/4/08

Climate News Roundup: August 15 - August 21, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:54:00 -0400

Friday, August 15, 2008

GREEN JOBS: Oregon creates hot jobs in green energy. The green energy sector in Oregon is an economic and environmental success story in an area hard-pressed for family-wage jobs, an example of "green collar" employment blossoming in reaction to high energy costs and concerns about global warming. Portland Oregonian, Oregon. 15 August 2008.

SOLAR ENERGY: Two large solar plants planned in California. The plants will cover 12.5 square miles of central California with solar panels, and in the middle of a sunny day will generate about 800 megawatts of power, roughly equal to the size of a large coal-burning power plant or a small nuclear plant. New York Times. 15 August 2008. [Registration Required]

ALGAE: Algae could help cut coal plants' carbon emissions. With international attention focused on carbon dioxide and its role in global climate change, power companies might find a hero in humble algae. Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky. 15 August 2008.

SOLUTIONS: Portland gym will run on pedal power. People will do more than burn energy at a gym set to open Sept. 1 on Northeast Alberta Street. They'll also create it. At the Green Microgym, human energy will be harnessed from fitness bikes and converted to electricity. Portland Oregonian, Oregon. 15 August 2008.

CARBON CREDITS: Farmers earn carbon credits. It's been a year since Montana farmers cut the record wheat harvest of 2007, but carbon traders say for many there's still money to be made from a bumper crop trapped beneath the sod. Billings Gazette, Montana. 15 August 2008.

GOVERNOR'S BORDER CONFERENCE: Schwarzenegger says U.S.-Mexico border unites. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday urged fellow governors on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border to cooperate on issues from water management to building a green economy. Associated Press. 15 August 2008.

ELECTRIC CAR: San Jose in talks with Tesla for electric-car plant. City officials and Tesla executives confirmed Thursday that San Jose is on the short list of Bay Area locations for the factory that will build the silent-running, zero-emission electric cars. San Jose Mercury News, California. 15 August 2008.

ELECTRIC CAR: GM Gives First Look At Production-Ready Chevy Volt 8/15/2008 - General Motors Corp. on Thursday showed off the first images of the production version of its battery-powered Chevrolet Volt. The auto maker, racing to ready the electric Chevy for production by 2010, made significant changes to the exterior of the vehicle the company first unveiled at the 2007 Detroit auto show. Bob Boniface, GM director of advanced design, displayed sketches of the final Volt at an automotive conference in Traverse City, Mich. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/15/08

Monday, August 18, 2008

GREEN CITIES: L.A. could learn a thing or two from Portland. The city is a veritable transit utopia where light rail goes to the airport, parking restrictions increase public transit use and free streetcar service benefits downtown businesses. Los Angeles Times, California. 18 August 2008. [Registration Required]

ALT CAR: Zero emissions drive to green fund. A Melbourne engineer who has built a zero-emissions hydrogen engine has welcomed the proposed doubling of the green car fund, which would make $1 billion available for low-carbon vehicle research by 2011. Sydney Australian, Australia. 18 August 2008.

CARBON STORAGE: Carbon storage test called key to coal's future. With a formal site groundbreaking today, researchers are preparing to test a technology that would allow carbon dioxide to be stored underground instead of released into the air. Bristol Herald Courier, Tennessee. 18 August 2008.

CARBON TRADING: Carbon trading NZ link studied. Climate change experts meeting in Auckland this week will discuss linking the Australian and New Zealand emissions trading markets to expand the range of low-cost carbon abatement options available. Sydney Australian, Australia. 18 August 2008.

CARBON CREDITS: CEZ To Buy Emissions Credits From Chinese Power Company 8/18/2008 - Czech power company CEZ AS has signed a contract to buy carbon credits from biomass power generator Hunan Liang of China, CEZ's spokeswoman Eva Novakova said at the weekend. CEZ Chairman Martin Roman signed the contract over the weekend in China and didn't release further details except to say the Chinese bio-mass power plant would likely have an excess of 300,000 carbon credits by 2012. As CEZ will buy the surplus credits from a non-European seller, they are likely be sold at a favorable rate, local analysts said. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/18/08

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

FEDERAL AGENCIES: Anti-regulation aide to Cheney is up for energy post. A senior Cheney aide is the leading contender to become a top official at the Energy Dept. This would put one of the administration's most ardent opponents of environmental regulation in charge of forming department policies on climate change. Washington Post. 19 August 2008. [Registration Required]

IMPACTS: Environmental conflicts to increase. Environmental experts say that armed conflicts would rise in the future to unprecedented levels due to competition for meager natural resources which are already under pressure due to climate change. Africa Science News Service, Africa. 19 August 2008.

CARBON LABELING: Japan to label goods' carbon footprints. Japan is planning to label consumer goods to show their carbon footprints in a bid to raise public awareness about global warming, an official said Tuesday. Agence France-Presse. 19 August 2008.

CHINA - GREEN INVESTMENT: China replaces UK for green investors. China has displaced the UK in rankings of the most attractive destinations for renewable energy investment, according to Ernst & Young, the professional services firm. The UK dropped from fourth to sixth place in E&Y's index, swapping places with China. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 19 August 2008.

ELECTRIC CAR: GM set to bring Volt electric car to Europe. General Motors is planning to rebadge its Chevrolet Volt electric car as an Opel and bring it to Europe as part of the US carmaker's plans to expand the model range of its highly anticipated new vehicle. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 19 August 2008.

STATE POLICY (WI): Wisconsin Panel Approves Climate Change Plan 8/19/2008 - A task force appointed by Wisconsin's governor is recommending increased investment in renewable resources and a series of targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions to 75% of 2005 levels by 2050. The investment and proposed emission cuts are among several recommendations made by the Task Force on Global Warming, a panel that includes representatives from industry, agriculture, environmental and tribal groups, appointed on April 5, 2007 by Gov. Jim Doyle. Doyle established the panel to seek policy initiatives on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The task force's report will be reviewed by the governor, who has the authority to implement some of the recommendations without legislative approval.

JAPAN - CARBON CAPTURE: Japan To Launch Carbon Capture And Storage Initiative 8/19/2008 - The government plans to team up with power utilities, oil companies and other businesses to carry out large-scale testing of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, The Nikkei learned. The Nikkei reported in its Tuesday morning edition that under the plan Japan CCS Co., a joint venture among 29 companies, is to work toward commercializing a CCS technology in around fiscal 2011 by using a coal power plant in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, as a pilot project. The power plant is operated by Clean Coal Power R&D Co., a joint venture established by the 10 major power utilities. The 250,000kw facility discharges roughly 1 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Wednesday August 20, 2008

GREEN INVESTMENT - GEOTHERMAL: Google puts US$10 mln into new geothermal technology. Google Inc Tuesday said it would invest more than US$10 million in an emerging geothermal energy technology as part of its effort to lower the cost of electricity from renewable sources. Reuters. 20 August 2008.

Thursday, August, 14, 2008

GEOTHERMAL: Australian "hot rocks" offer 26,000 yrs of power. Barely one percent of Australia's untapped geothermal energy could produce 26,000 years worth of clean electricity, scientists said, as the government announced a a A$50 million (US$43 million) project to help develop the technology. Reuters. 21 August 2008.

FORESTS: Paying to save the forests. Climate change has added new impetus to forest conservation efforts as we increasingly appreciate how efficiently forests sequester carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Discover. 21 August 2008.

SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTION: Climate resolutions 'having big impact.' Climate change-related shareholder resolutions have achieved breakthrough resultsin the U.S., reflecting growing investor concerns over global warming, according to a coalition of investors. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 21 August 2008.

GEOTHERMAL: Drilling for hot rocks. For $1 billion over the next 40 years, the U.S. could develop 100 gigawatts of electricity generation that emits no air pollution and pumps out power to the grid even more reliably than coal-fired power plants, according to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Scientific American. 21 August 2008.

GREEN CITIES: Bloomberg calls for alternative energy. Outlining his vision for a dramatic reconfiguration of urban energy sources, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg says he is exploring potential for installing turbines and other alternative energy generators throughout New York City, in the water and on bridges and skyscrapers. Washington Post. 21 August 2008. [Registration Required]

IMPACTS - ECONOMY: Scientists urge US to protect economy from climate. Eight scientific organizations urged the next U.S. president to help protect the country from climate change by pushing for increased funding for research and forecasting, saying about $2 trillion of U.S. economic output could be hurt by storms, floods and droughts. Reuters. 21 August 2008.

POST-KYOTO: Climate negotiators reconvene this week in Ghana. Negotiators meet in Ghana this week to resume work on a new climate change treaty and discuss ways to prod developing countries to join the fight against global warming. Associated Press. 21 August 2008.

POST-KYOTO: Africa meeting key step in climate talks: UN climate chief. Rich nations will come under pressure at climate talks in Africa this week to get specific about how quickly and by how much they intend to cut their carbon footprints, said the UN climate chief. Agence France-Presse. 21 August 2008.

HYDROGEN: Tucson man uses hydrogen to increase fuel efficiency. We're all concerned about how much it costs to fill our gas tanks these days, but one local man has taken matters into his own hands to get more out of each tank - he uses hydrogen. Tucson KMSB TV, Arizona. 21 August 2008.

CHINA - E-WASTE: China to regulate recycling of electronic waste. China on Wednesday approved a draft law on the management of electronic waste, aiming to reduce the pollution it causes. Xinhua News Agency, China. 21 August 2008.

FEDERAL POLICY - EMISSIONS: US court says states can lift emission monitor bar. A US federal court on Tuesday overturned an EPA rule that prevented state and local authorities from raising emissions monitoring requirements for polluting units such as chemical plants and oil refineries. Reuters. 21 August 2008.

GREEN CITIES: NYC mayor spins back his turbine idea for city. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is backing off his suggestion to put windmills on city bridges and rooftops after newspapers mocked the idea with photo illustrations of turbines on the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. Associated Press. 21 August 2008.

COAL-TO-LIQUID: Crow coal-to-liquid plant may use too much water. "One of the most technologically advanced, sophisticated energy projects on the planet" is what Gov. Brian Schweitzer called a proposal to build a coal-to-liquid plant somewhere on the 2.2 million acre Crow Reservation in southeast Montana. Billings Outpost, Montana. Opinion, 21 August 2008.

STATE POLICY (ND): Going backwards: Building an oil refinery in South Dakota. In South Dakota, politicians and business leaders are cheering a massive oil refinery planned for the state's southeast corner. If built, it will be the first oil refinery constructed in the United States in more than 30 years. High Country News. Opinion, 21 August 2008.

GREEN CITIES: Lighting Science To Install LED Street Lights In NYC Pilot 8/21/2008 - The Big Apple and a city-based architectural firm have shined some light on Lighting Science Group Corp., which is the only company selected to provide LED lights for a street-light pilot project in New York City . New York-based architectural lighting design firm Office for Visual Interaction Inc. and Lighting Science have signed a contract with the city for six lights, and if successful, they could potentially replace the city's 300,000 street lights or supply new lights. OVI designed the light poles and New York-based Lighting Science is making a new light emitting diode product for this use. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/21/08

Climate News Roundup: August 8 - August 14, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:58:00 -0400

Friday, August 8, 2008

SOLAR HIGHWAY: Oregon installs first highway solar project. In an attempt to spur the spread of solar power, the Oregon Department of Transportation on Thursday unveiled the nation's first solar panel project on a major U.S. highway. Portland Oregonian, Oregon. 8 August 2008.

EMISSIONS TRADING: Boost for emissions trading scheme. European Union and United Nations systems for tracking the use of carbon credits will be connected before December, a move that should significantly facilitate emissions trading. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 8 August 2008.

STATE POLICY (WI): Wisconsin Energy Plans New 150MW Wind Farm For 2010 8/8/2008 - Wisconsin Energy Corp. is planning to build a new wind farm with a capacity of around 150 megawatts by 2010 as utilities across Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula prepare to meet new environmental standards, Clean Technology Investor has learned. Wisconsin Energy, which already has the largest wind farm operating in the state of Wisconsin, is looking to further develop its wind business, said spokesman, Brian Manthey, in an interview with Clean Technology Investor. . For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/8/08

CAR CHARGING STATIONS: Tepco Plans 1,000 Car-Charging Sites Around Tokyo 8/8/2008 - Tokyo Electric Power Co. plans to have up to 200 recharging stations for electric vehicles up and running in the Tokyo area in fiscal 2009, with an eye toward expanding the network to 1,000 or so in about three years, The Nikkei reports in its Friday edition. Tepco has already developed a quick-charging device that allows an electric car to run 40 kilometers on a five-minute charge and 60 kilometers on a 10-minute charge. It plans to install the device in line with the planned launch of electric vehicles by Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru automobiles, in fiscal 2009. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/8/08

AVIATION EMISSIONS: New Group Aims To Help Airlines Manage EU Fuel, Emission Rules 8/8/2008 - Three aviation fuel management companies announced on Thursday the formation of a joint venture aimed at helping the commercial airline industry meet new European Union regulations that require the tracking of aviation emissions. Flight Sciences Global Partners, the spawn of California-based Flight Sciences International, Belgium-based Sabena Flight Academy Consulting, and Canada-based BMB Fuel Consulting Services, will focus on fuel emissions consulting and will be based in Brussels. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/808

STATE POLICY (CA): Drive For Natural Gas Vehicles Faces Big Test In California 8/8/2008 - The notion of spending taxpayers' money to help fill U.S. roads with natural gas-fueled vehicles faces a major test when voters in California, the nation's largest auto market, go to the polls in November. Natural gas providers are spending millions of dollars on advertising to convince Californians to pass a ballot initiative allowing the state government to invest in the now-tiny market for natural gas-fueled cars and trucks. The push comes as gas producers, emboldened by a windfall of domestic production, press federal lawmakers to help expand the market for gas as a means for reducing dependence on foreign oil and cutting greenhouse-gas emissions. If the California ballot initiative passes, up to a million vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas, or CNG, could ultimately end up on the state's roads. If the proposal - called Proposition 10 - fails, backers will face a tougher task selling authorities on the wisdom of investing in infrastructure for natural gas-fueled vehicles, compared with spending on biofuels or electric cars and trucks. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/8/08

BIOFUELS: EPA Chief Denies Request To Cut Biofuels Mandate 8/8/2008 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson on Thursday denied a request to cut by half the amount of ethanol that must be blended into the nation's fuel supply, a victory for the nation's corn growers and ethanol makers. The EPA chief found that a 2007 law that ramped up ethanol production was not posing severe economic harm, brushing aside complaints from Texas Gov. Rick Perry that the diversion of corn to ethanol production was damaging the state's beef, chicken and dairy industries, which use corn as a food staple. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/8/08

WIND ENERGY: UK Govt Gives Conditional OK To 2 Wind Farms Totaling 390 MW 8/8/2008 - U.K. Business Secretary John Hutton announced conditional approval for two wind farm developments in northeast England with a total generating capacity of 390 megawatts. Approvals for the two wind farms depend on technical solutions to mitigate the effects on military defense radar equipment nearby. StatoilHydro ASA and Evelop Projects are developing the 315 MW Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Norfolk. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/8/08

Monday, August 11, 2008

GREEN CITIES - EMISSIONS: US cities to measure CO2 emissions. Twenty-one US cities, including New York and New Orleans, have announced they will measure their greenhouse gas emissions, in a joint effort to seek ways to halt and reverse global warming. Agence France-Presse. 11 August 2008.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

GREEN BUILDING: Green report pushes for carbon-neutral construction. British Columbia is escalating its war on greenhouse gases, examining a measure that will require some new buildings to be carbon neutral as early as 2016 - and every new building to have no carbon footprint by 2020. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario. 12 August 2008.

IMPACTS: How giants of the deep are helping us to understand climate change. As elephant seals dive and hunt in one of the most inaccessible environments on Earth, they are feeding back information that is helping to shed light on the climate, using sensors that have been stuck to their coats. Edinburgh Scotsman, Scotland. 12 August 2008.

REGIONAL INITIATIVES: Governors to develop Southern energy plan. Southern governors, whose states represent one of the nation's major energy-producing regions, are working on a comprehensive plan to reduce the South's carbon footprint and create jobs. Associated Press. 12 August 2008.

AUTO IDLING: Idling for 3 mins burns fuel required for travelling 1 km. Automobile experts have estimated that a vehicle that idles for three minutes with the air-conditioner on, burns fuel required for travelling one km. Bombay Economic Times, India. 12 August 2008

JAPAN/POST-KYOTO: Too Early To Commit Post-Kyoto Target -Japan METI 8/12/2008 - It is too early for Japan to set a medium-term numerical target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in a post-Kyoto treaty world, given that the U.S., the developed world's largest emitter, is unlikely to come up with a definitive position before a new president is elected, a senior Japanese government official said. "Unless the U.S. lays out its plan, India and China won't tell us anything. Without any idea on what these large emitters will do, it's not wise (for Japan) to commit any numerical target," said Jun Arima, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Deputy Director-General for Environmental Affairs. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/12/08

CHINA - ENERGY AUDITS: China To Audit Public Facilities To Achieve Energy Cut Target 8/12/2008 - China will audit public facilities' energy conservation efforts annually starting this year, as part of the government's efforts to achieve its energy reduction target for 2010. The State Council said on Monday that it will require public facilities including state agency departments and government-sponsored organizations to record their use of electricity, oil, gas, coal and heat, and to seek ways to reduce consumption. Under the new regulation to take effect Oct. 1, state agencies will submit energy conservation reports every March from next year. China aims to reduce energy use per unit of gross domestic product by 20% in 2010 compared with 2005. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/12/08

Wednesday August 13, 2008

CHINA - AUTO TAX: China raises consumption tax on big cars, cuts tax on small ones in move to fight pollution. China is raising its sales tax on big cars to as high as 40 percent, and drastically cutting taxes on small cars, in its latest attempt to combat emissions that contribute to heavy blankets of smog over most of its cities. Associated Press. 13 August 2008.

STATE POLICY (CA): Highway 50 plan may not be green enough for state. In what appears to be a California first, state highway officials are shelving a major Highway 50 widening plan in Sacramento until they can study whether the expansion will contribute to global warming. Sacramento Bee, California. 13 August 2008.

REGIONAL INITIATIVES (WCI): Group says industry lobbyists try to 'water down' climate initiative. There's an accusation recently floated by the Sierra Club that lobbyists for big industries, including utility and transportation sectors, are "pushing hard to water down" efforts of the Western Climate Initiative. Salt Lake Deseret Morning News, Utah. 13 August 2008

REGIONAL INITIATIVES (RGGI): NY joins alliance to cut CO2 emissions from power plants. New York has joined a regional system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the state's power plants. Catskill Daily Mail, New York. 13 August 2008.

STATE POLICY (MA): Governor Deval Patrick signed two important bills further positioning Massachusetts as a leader in clean energy and environmental stewardship: the Green Jobs Act, which will support development of the clean energy technology industry that will move Massachusetts toward the green economy of the future, and the Global Warming Solutions Act, which will make Massachusetts a national leader in climate protection. www.mass.gov/governor

ALGAE/FUEL: Sapphire Energy Bets Big On Algae For Fuel 8/13/2008 - Sapphire Energy and its backers are sold on the potential of algae-derived biofuels, and this could set them on the crest of a tidal wave in the energy world, or leave them sinking into obscurity. The privately held San Diego company says it is producing at experimental levels a liquid fuel made from algae that is chemically identical to gasoline, and would be compatible with the current energy infrastructure. As the fuel is derived from carbon dioxide-soaking plant matter, the product wouldn't contribute to climate change. And unlike some other biofuels, such as corn-based ethanol, it doesn't require agricultural land to be produced. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/13/08

JAPAN - EMISSIONS: Japan Utilities Emitted More CO2 In FY07 8/13/2008 - Japan's 10 major power companies emitted 14.3% more carbon dioxide in fiscal 2007 than in the previous year, in part because an earthquake and an accident caused some nuclear power plants to be shut down, The Nikkei reported in its Wednesday edition. The increased CO2 output by the utilities pushed up the country's overall emissions by about 4%. This means that corporations and households will feel the pressure to take additional steps to cut emissions, given that Japan is committed to cut its fiscal 2008-12 greenhouse gas output by 6% from the fiscal 1990 level under the Kyoto Protocol. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/13/08

Thursday, August, 14, 2008

CARBON SEQUESTRATION: Carbon sequestration frustration. Burying CO2 from coal-fired plants could increase other pollutants, a new study suggests. Power plant emissions that cause acid rain, water pollution and ozone layer depletion may actually be made worse by capturing and pumping CO2 deep underground. Science News. 14 August 2008.

CARBON OFFSETS: Why carbon offsets backfire. With a city motto of "Exclusively Industrial," the town of Vernon was already a pollution magnet. Then offsets made it worse. Mother Jones. 14 August 2008.

SOLAR ENERGY: Sunlight on mirrors. A technology that uses mirrors to concentrate solar power could provide millions of homes with clean energy. Environmental Science & Technology. 14 August 2008.

AFRICA: African firms start to take action on climate change. With global warming expected to hit Africa hard, some companies in the "forgotten continent" are taking action themselves to fight climate change. Reuters. 14 August 2008.

CARBON CREDITS: New fund for carbon projects. Local companies which want to get carbon credits from their businesses yet face financial obstacles can now get a booster shot from the government. Straits Times, Singapore. 14 August 2008.

REGIONAL INITIATIVES (WCI): Climate change: Regional strength. The regional Western Climate Initiative will give this state and others considerable power to address global warming and fossil-fuel dependence. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington. Editorial, 14 August 2008.

ALTERNATIVE FUELS: General Motors, PTT To Develop Alternative Fuels For Vehicles 8/14/2008 - General Motors Corp., the world's biggest car maker, said Thursday it will tie up with Thai energy conglomerate PTT PCL to develop alternative fuels for vehicles. "GM will act as a catalyst, a facilitator and a conduit to support the development and sharing of the latest technology to address energy and environmental issues confronting the Asean region," GM chairman and chief executive Richard Wagoner said in a statement. Possible collaboration between the two companies includes conducting research in areas of cellulosic ethanol and other non-food crops, expansion of biodiesel sources, development of CNG bifuel and dual fuel, as well as the development of low-cost hybrid, fuel cell and diesel engine technology for Thailand and Southeast Asian countries, said GM. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/14/08

Climate News Roundup: August 1 - August 7, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:53:00 -0400

Friday, August 1, 2008

WIND ENERGY: Wind energy: Much potential, but also daunting challenges. Pioneers in the emerging wind-power industry are touting their product as The Next Big Thing as they chart a course to produce at least 20 percent of the nation's electricity in just over two decades. McClatchy Newspapers. 1 August 2008.

STATES/EPA - LEGAL: California moves ahead with plan to sue EPA. Fed up with the federal government's refusal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, California announced it will lead five states and New York City in a landmark lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency. Long Beach Press-Telegram, California. 1 August 2008.

CALIFORNIA UTILITIES: L.A. utility wary of California's emissions strategy. Hailed as a step in the right direction to fight climate change, California's proposed greenhouse gas reduction policy has worried some of its most valued customers. Associated Press. 1 August 2008.

SOLAR CELLS: Solar-cell material can soak up more sun. Today's solar cells absorb only visible light, wasting the infrared that makes up half of the Sun's output that reaches Earth. But a new material can absorb infrared too, and should make it possible to hike the power solar cells can produce, say researchers. New Scientist, England. 1 August 2008.

NUCLEAR: Nuclear future uncertain as French deal stalls. Plans for the next generation of UK nuclear power stations faced uncertainty today after France's EDF failed to agree a takeover of British Energy. London Independent, England. 1 August 2008.

RECYCLING - CARPET: Carpet recycling is gaining ground. In 2002, after negotiations with federal officials and environmental groups, US carpet manufacturers set a goal of recycling 40 percent of discarded carpeting by 2012. Since then, the number of local carpet collectors has risen from five to more than 50. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 1 August 2008.

BRITISH COLUMBIA - AUTO EMISSIONS LAWSUIT: B.C. wants to file legal brief to support California tailpipe emission suit. California may be getting some support from British Columbia in the state's bid for tougher pollution standards for cars. Canadian Press. 1 August 2008.

OFFSHORE DRILLING: Governors take stand against offshore drilling. West Coast governors urged the federal government Tuesday to keep new oil drilling rigs out of their waters and to spend more money on programs to restore the health of the Pacific Ocean. Tacoma News Tribune, Washington. 1 August 2008.

INTERNATIONAL - COAL: A dangerous untruth. Opposing plans for new coal-fired power plants in developed countries has become an international frontline of climate change politics. London Guardian, England. Opinion, 1 August 2008.

CO2 PIPELINE: CO2 Pipeline Proposals Start To Gain Interest 8/1/2008 - Carbon dioxide pipelines aren't common outside of the oil patch now, but the notion of a network of pipes crisscrossing the U.S. as part of a system to reduce the nation's emissions of greenhouse gases is gaining ground. Early interest is forming in a web of pipes, comparable to the network in place for natural gas, to move emissions captured from power plants to underground storage sites. Some state and provincial governments are starting to mull transportation options as they study the prospects for carbon sequestration. And at least one private-equity backed company already envisions a "carbon highway," delivering thousands of tons of the heat-trapping gas to safe storage sites. "It is something we have got to have answers for soon," said Bill Hoback, bureau chief of the Illinois state office of coal development. Illinois officials are in the early stages of studying the transportation of CO2, with the expectation that federal limits on emissions will require heavy emissions reductions from coal-fired power plants. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/1/08

CARBON CAPTURE: ADA-ES Picked By DOE For Emissions Reduction Project 8/1/2008 - Specialty chemical manufacturer ADA-ES Inc. said that the Department of Energy has selected it to develop a technology that will capture carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants. Littleton, Colo.-based ADA-ES will be the prime contractor for what is expected to be a several million dollar project with the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory and several industry participants. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/1/08

CHINA - LED LIGHTING: Cree Launches LED Educational Center In China 8/1/2008 - Light-emitting diode company Cree Inc. opened an educational center near its sales office in Shenzhen, China to teach clients and others the importance of quality in the LED industry. The course it runs - which will be taught in Mandarin - will teach lighting designers and manufacturers about the basics of LEDs, how to properly use the Cree product and how to troubleshoot. Durham, N.C.-based Cree makes LED chips that are widely used by other companies in LED products. The company also makes LED lighting fixtures. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/1/08

CHINA: The Climate Group Hails China's Low-Carbon Export Push 8/1/2008 - China, the world's biggest carbon emitter, is embarking on a "clean revolution" by seizing more low carbon export opportunities, showing that developing nations can also profit from renewable energy investment, independent organization The Climate Group said. By 2020 China intends to produce 12 million tons of low carbon fuel and double its proportion of renewable energy to 15%. Moreover, the country is introducing higher fuel efficiency standards for cars which would be 40% higher than those in the U.S. In order to meet its ambitious 2020 renewable energy goals, the country needs to invest a further $398 billion by increasing its annual spending from $12 billion in 2007 to $33 billion in the future, the group said in a report titled "China's Clean Revolution." For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/1/08

Monday, August 4, 2008

GREEN CITIES: Las Vegas bets on environmentalism. The popular image of this desert gambling mecca is that of indulgence and indiscriminate consumption. Words that rarely come to mind: Conservation. Sustainability. Green. USA Today. 4 August 2008.

IMPACTS: Climate change could cost N.J. billions. Climate change will wallop New Jersey by 2100, endangering lives and causing tens of billions of dollars in losses, according to a recent report issued by the University of Maryland. Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania. 4 August 2008. [Registration Required]

SOLUTIONS - BAMBOO: Bamboo can play a deep role in saving the globe. An agricultural scientist says bamboo absorbs three to four times as much CO2 as any other tree and can scrub pollution from septic tanks and factory effluents as it has a natural affinity for nitrogen, phosphorous and heavy metals. The Hindu, India. 4 August 2008.

CARBON STORAGE - OHIO: Ohio counties take lead in study of underground carbon storage. Ohio researchers have gone underground - performing cutting-edge environmental experiments that are pushing the state to the front of a race to stem global warming. Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio. 4 August 2008.

STATE POLICY (FL): Crist open to drilling, but not too near shore. With gasoline just below $4 a gallon, Gov. Charlie Crist says he has to keep an open mind when it comes to drilling off Florida's coastline. But he has his limits. Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Florida. 4 August 2008.

CHINA: China likely to broaden anti-pollution monitoring. China is likely to introduce new pollution monitoring measures in 2009 and learn from action taken during the Olympics to try and ensure Beijing does not sink back into smog, officials said on Sunday. Reuters. 4 August 2008.

STATE POLICY (MA): A tax credit to save some green. The $1.78 billion environmental bond bill approved by the Legislature last week provides the state with $366 million to protect open space from the pressure of development over the next five years. Boston Globe, Massachusetts. Editorial, 4 August 2008.

SPAIN: Spanish Government Approves EUR245M Energy-Saving Plan 8/4/2008 - Spain's cabinet Friday approved a EUR245-million energy saving and efficiency plan for 2008-11 that aims to cut oil consumption by about 44 million barrels. That would be the equivalent of 10% of the country's annual oil imports over the four-year period, the Industry Ministry said in a release. The plan targets the transport sector, industry and households, with 31 measures to boost the use of electric or hybrid cars and public transport, as well as of energy-saving light bulbs and household appliances. The measures will cost the government EUR245 million. The plan includes a pilot project to introduce electric car targets to achieve an electric or hybrid car fleet in Spain of 1 million vehicles by 2014. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/4/08

STATE POLICY (OR): Oregon PUC Rules In Favor Of Third-Party Financing 8/4/2008 - The Oregon Public Utility Commission has ruled that third-party financing models for building and operating solar facilities on premises owned by utilities are legitimate under its and the state's rules. In a release, the Salem, Ore.-based commission said that the question arose when PacifiCorp and Honeywell International Inc. earlier this year asked for a ruling specifying the rights and responsibilities of all parties in three-way generating agreements. Those agreements allow the likes of Pacificorp and Honeywell to collect federal and state tax credits. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/4/08

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

GREEN CITIES: Newsom signs the nation's most stringent green building codes. San Francisco took a major step to cement its reputation as the most environmentally progressive U.S. city, signing into law stringent green building codes for new construction and renovations. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 5 August 2008.

EPA GLOBAL WARMING POLICY: Union slams EPA chief for ignoring staff on global warming. EPA chief Stephen Johnson stunned his staff last month when he publicly opposed their proposals for regulating greenhouse gas emissions, four union officials representing EPA staff working on global warming policies said. McClatchy Newspapers. 5 August 2008.

CARBON STORAGE - FORESTS: Virgin forests more efficient at storing carbon. Untouched natural forests store three times more carbon dioxide than previously estimated and 60 per cent more than plantation forests, a new Australian study of "green carbon" and its role in climate change says. Reuters. 5 August 2008.

CARBON CREDITS - FARMERS: Carbon Credit Program generates $8 million for farmers, ranchers. More than 2,300 farmers and ranchers will receive checks in the mail this week for capturing and storing carbon dioxide in their soil through the National Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program. Dunn County News, Wisconsin. 5 August 2008..

CARBON TRADING - CHINA: China Starts First Carbon Trading Exchange In Beijing 8/5/2008 - China Tuesday launched the country's first carbon trading exchange in Beijing to trade carbon emission quotas, the Xinhua News Agency reported on its Web site. Beijing expected the platform to raise domestic carbon prices, which are far lower than international levels, the report said. Domestic carbon prices are at 8-10 euros per ton compared with the international prices of 17 euros per ton. The exchange will allow carbon trading in a more transparent and informative process to help in increasing their prices, it said. China has been the biggest beneficiary of carbon trading, according to the World Bank, which says it now produces more than 70% of all the world's carbon emission projects. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/5/08

STATE POLICY (ID): Idaho Power Plans To Invest $71M To Convert To Smart Meters 8/5/2008 - Idaho Power Corp. plans to convert all the power meters in its service area to advanced metering technology over three years starting next January, at an estimated cost of $71 million. The utility, which serves an area populated by nearly one million people in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon, filed a request with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to install the advanced metering system, also known as smart meters. Smart meters are thermostats which have communications and monitoring technology in them to allow customers and utilities to better understand their energy usage and costs during peak and off-peak hours. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/5/08

JAPAN - EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS: Japan Environment Minister Calls For 25%-Plus Cut In Emissions 8/5/2008 - Japan should aim to have its greenhouse gas emissions down by more than 25% from the 1990 level around the 2020-30 period, Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito said Monday. "I would like to make an announcement at the appropriate time next year," Saito said in reference to setting a medium-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for the country. On the carbon credit trading system that is to launch in October on a trial basis, Saito said: "We need to create a full-scale system that is linked with the world's markets by 2012, which is when the Kyoto Protocol expires." For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/5/08

EU - CARBON TRADING: ECX Exchange Says July CO2 Volumes Almost Triple To 346M Tons 8/5/2008 - Carbon exchange European Climate Exchange, or ECX, said Monday volumes in July reached a record 346 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, almost three times more than in the same period last year. "July experienced significant price volatility" in the trading benchmark contracts, the London-based exchange said in a statement. The December 2008 contracts based on European Union Allowances traded at EUR29.33 a ton at the beginning of July and fell to EUR22.06/ton on the last trading day of the month. The Certified Emission Reductions contracts to December 2008 began the month at EUR21.91/ton and dropped to EUR17.72/ton by the end of July, it said. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/5/08

Wednesday August 6, 2008

STATE POLICY (MD): Gov. O'Malley announces plans for more sustainable transportation fuel system. Governor O'Malley yesterday was joined by Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and administration officials to present roadmap for a more sustainable transportation fuel system in Maryland, beginning with the construction of four new E-85 fuel pumps throughout Maryland. Bay Media Services, Maryland. 6 August 2008.

GREEN CITIES: San Francisco's carbon footprint is shrinking, mayor says. San Francisco has cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent from 1990 levels and is on track to meet its goal of a 20 percent reduction in four years, Mayor Gavin Newsom said today. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 6 August 2008.

FED POLICY - CAFÉ STANDARDS: Environmentalists push tougher fuel standard. Environmental groups urged federal regulators Monday to toughen proposed fuel economy rules for cars and trucks through 2015, saying a goal of 35 m.p.g. by 2020 in last year's energy bill should be moved up five years because of high gasoline costs. Detroit Free Press, Michigan. 6 August 2008.

STATE POLICY (KY): Beshear clears roads for electric car plant. Gov. Steve Beshear signed an executive order Tuesday allowing low-speed electric vehicles on some state roads in an effort to lure an electric car manufacturing plant to Kentucky. Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky. 6 August 2008.

ECO-FRIENDLY TUGBOAT: Eco-friendly tugboat makes waves at P.E.I. firm. A Prince Edward Island company, Xero Point Green Technology, is developing the power system for the tugboat for American firm Foss Maritime Company, the largest operator of tugboats in the U.S. Canwest News Service, Canada. 6 August 2008.

E-WASTE: Greenpeace cites rising e-waste in Africa. Greenpeace called on the world's electronics companies to eliminate hazardous chemicals from their products, saying toxic waste from wealthy nations' gadgets ends up being dumped in poor countries despite laws prohibiting it. Associated Press. 6 August 2008.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE POLICY (OBAMA): 1M hybrids on road by 2015. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Monday the nation should set a goal of putting 1 million plug-in electric hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015, offering $4 billion in federal aid to meet the ambitious goal. Detroit News, Michigan. 6 August 2008.

GREEN CITIES: Newsom pledges city will harvest power from sea. Mayor Gavin Newsom pledged Monday that San Francisco will begin generating electricity from the power of the sea - at least on a demonstration basis - before he leaves office. San Francisco Examiner, California. 6 August 2008.

FUEL CELLS: Nissan: Developed Advanced Battery For Fuel Cell Cars 8/6/2008 - Nissan Motor Co. said Wednesday that it has developed an advanced battery for fuel cell cars and will roadtest vehicles with this advanced battery by the end of this year. The auto maker is in the middest of efforts to catch up with domestic rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. in the development of fuel cell cars. Such vehicles run on electricity generated by a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and emit only water. Nissan, in which Renault owns a 44% stake, aims to launch its new fuel cell model sometime after 2010. Compared with the company's previous generation battery, the cost of the new battery - a key factor for fuel cell cars to reach a mass-market - has been cut by 35%. The company didn't disclose how much it costs now. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/6/08

WAVE ENERGY: Renewable Energy, Triton To Develop Bermuda Wave Farm 8/6/2008 - Renewable Energy Holdings PLC is working with Triton Renewable Energy Ltd. to build a 2 megawatt test wave farm in Bermuda, and eventually a grid-connected 20 MW farm. The companies will use Renewable Energy Holdings' wave power technology and engineering services and Bermuda-based Triton will help develop the project. The companies will then look for a power purchase agreement with the Bermuda utility, they said in a statement. The companies couldn't be reached for comment. Renewable Energy's wave power technology is expected to be available for commercial applications in 2009. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/6/08

Thursday, July 31, 2008

IMPACTS: Prepare for global temperature rise of 4C, warns top scientist. The UK should take active steps to prepare for dangerous climate change of perhaps 4C according to one of the government's chief scientific advisers. London Guardian, England. 7 August 2008.

IMPACTS: Will grasslands overtake U.S. forests due to warming? Climate change may cause grasslands to spread to parts of the United States that are currently covered in forest, a new study says. National Geographic News. 7 August 2008.

GREEN TECH CONTEST: U.S. Energy Department gives $100K to clean-technology start-up contest. The California Clean Tech Open, the 3-year-old business competition for entrepreneurs working to turn ideas into companies, got a big boost from the Department of Energy on Tuesday - $100,000 to foster green-building technologies. San Jose Mercury News, California. 7 August 2008.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Software tool to cut PC's energy use offered for free. More than half of the energy used by computers is wasted, and an industry group says a simple piece of software will help solve that problem. San Jose Mercury News, California. 7 August 2008.

GREEN BUILDING: 'Green' building codes sprout up across USA. As energy costs rise, more states and cities are adopting policies that encourage or require new construction to be energy-efficient. USA Today. 7 August 2008.

NUCLEAR: Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump cost soars 67 pct. The planned US nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain in Nevada will cost billions more than previously estimated due to a hike in the amount of waste it will have to dispose of and inflation, the Energy Department said Tuesday. Reuters. 7 August 2008.

HYDROGEN: Hydrogen generators get a test drive in the search for fuel economy and lower emissions. An alternative to the cold turkey approach of hopping on a bike may be to gradually wean ourselves off of our gasoline addiction. Reno News and Review, Nevada. 7 August 2008.

ELECTRIC CAR: $10 million invested in Zap electric cars. Zap, a Santa Rosa firm that makes electric cars, said an entrepreneur from Dubai has invested $10 million in the Bay Area company at the same time officials in Kentucky are plying it with incentives to move its factory from China to the Bluegrass State. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 7 August 2008.

BIO-WASTE: BIODenham Invests $60M To Turn Sewage Into Fertilizer Gold 8/7/2008 - Boston-based Denham Capital has committed $60 million to develop ten plants that convert municipal bio-solid waste into fertilizer. The plants will be developed by VitAG Corp., a Beech Island, S.C.-based company that has developed technology in partnership with Ferrate Technologies LLC, which manufactures a bio-solid deodorizer and with undisclosed engineering, fertilizer and equipment companies, according to a statement from the companies. Traditionally, fertilizer is made with natural gas as one of its components, and using the VitAG technology, means creating a more sustainable -- and potentially cheaper -- alternative given rising natural gas prices. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/7/08

EU/U.N. CARBON TRADING: 8/7/2008 - The European Union will link its carbon trading accounting system with that of the U.N. before December, so that CO2 credits earned outside the E.U. can count within the bloc, the Commission said Wednesday. Under the U.N. Kyoto protocol to fight climate change, countries that have an emission reduction target can earn sellable certified emission reduction credits, or CERs, by setting up CO2-cutting projects in developing countries. Once the U.N. certificate registry is linked with the European one, companies and countries will be able to count the U.N certificates as credits within the European emission allowances system. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/7/08

RGGI AUCTIONS: RGGI Signs On World Energy Solutions To Manage Auctions 8/7/2008 - World Energy Solutions Inc. said it signed a contract with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to design and manage its regional carbon dioxide allowance auctions. It is another sign that states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic intend to implement their program and not wait for the Federal government to push through its own cap-and-trade plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/7/08

SOLAR ENERGY: High Oil Prices Prompt Europeans To Turn To Solar Power 8/7/2008 - High oil and gas prices have made residential solar energy more economical for households, sparking a jump in European demand. Germany and France are among the governments underwriting the shift to solar by allowing consumers to sell the energy they produce using photovoltaic cells - which convert sunlight directly into electricity - to the national grid at a profit. In the U.K., the government grants help with the cost of solar installation, but there's no national tariff system For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/7/08

SOLAR ENERGY: Mitsubishi Electric To Step Up Marketing For Home Solar Systems 8/7/2008 - Mitsubishi Electric Corp. will beef up its marketing framework for home photovoltaic systems, increasing sales agencies trained for the firm's proprietary installation procedures by 50%, Nikkei reported. The company aims to lift domestic sales in the residential solar power systems business to 9 billion yen in fiscal 2008, up a little more than 10% on the year. Sales agents can obtain a designation as certified installers upon completion of technical training and after passing a test. As certified agents, they can offer a 10-year maintenance warranty, a favorable feature for marketing efforts. For more read Clean Technology Investor 8/7/08

Climate News Roundup: July 25 - July 31, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:54:00 -0400

Friday, July 25, 2008

STATE POLICY (CA): California adopts stiff pollution rules for ships. California regulators adopted the world's toughest pollution rules for oceangoing vessels Thursday, vowing to improve the health of coastal residents. Los Angeles Times, California. 25 July 2008. [Registration Required]

EPA INVESTIGATION: EPA saw greenhouse gases as threat in squelched document. The head of the EPA told the White House that high levels of manmade heat-trapping gases are causing global warming and endanger the American people, Sen. Barbara Boxer said Thursday after she reviewed the EPA finding. McClatchy Newspapers. 25 July 2008.

WASTE TO POWER: Animal waste may supply cleaner power. Cows, pigs and chickens in the U.S. produce enough manure to supply 2.4 per cent of the nation's electricity if the waste were converted into burnable gas, an energy option overlooked by the government, researchers said. Bloomberg News. 25 July 2008.

NUCLEAR: French environmentalists alarmed after fresh nuclear incident. French environmentalists sounded the alarm Thursday after the third incident this month at a nuclear plant left 100 employees contaminated. Agence France-Presse. 25 July 2008

FEDERAL POLICY: Few volunteering to cut greenhouse gases. Voluntary pollution-reduction programs touted by the Bush administration as part of the solution to global warming have "limited potential" to reduce greenhouse gases, according to an internal government watchdog. Associated Press. 25 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (WI): Doyle panel votes to cut emissions, expand use of wind power. Gov. Jim Doyle's panel on global warming completed 16 months of work Thursday and now faces the challenge of cutting greenhouse gases as the economy sours and energy prices soar. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin. 25 July 2008.

ALT CAR: Tata Motors Plans To Introduce Eco-Friendly Cars 7/25/2008 - Tata Motors Ltd., India's biggest automaker by sales, Thursday said it plans to sell an electric car and other fuel-efficient vehicles as rising oil prices and pollution worries lift demand for such eco-friendly vehicles globally. "We are also competing for an eco-car project in Thailand and bringing out a new range of world-class trucks," Chairman Ratan Tata said at an annual meeting of shareholders in Mumbai, where the automaker is based. The electric car is being developed jointly with a Norwegian company and will be introduced in the current fiscal year to March 31, Tata said. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/25/08

STATE POLICY (CT/NY): Connecticut AG Calls For Formation Of Energy Task Force With NY 7/25/2008 - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called Thursday for a task force to look at energy and environmental issues in Long Island Sound, following the rejection earlier this year of a liquefied-natural gas terminal there. A commission made up of representatives from Connecticut and New York would consider supporting alternate LNG facilities off the New York and New Jersey coasts, the development of renewable energy and ways to permanently protect parts of the sound, the body of water that separates Connecticut and Long Island, the attorney general said. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/25/08

Monday, July 28

CHINA - AUTOS: China's cars, accelerating a global demand for fuel. Car ownership in China is exploding, and it's not only cars but also sport-utility vehicles, pickup trucks and other gas-guzzling rides. Elsewhere in the world, the popularity of these vehicles has tumbled as the cost of oil has soared. Washington Post. 28 July 2008.

IMPACTS - HEALTH: Climate change enables spread of disease worldwide. Climate changes that enable Asian Tiger mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects and animals to flourish in Europe threaten the region's residents, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said. Bloomberg News. 28 July 2008.

JAPAN - CARBON CAPTURE: Cabinet to OK CO2 action plans. The government will start next fiscal year large-scale tests on technology to capture carbon dioxide from sources including thermal power and steel plants and store it underground, according to recently revealed environmental action plans. Asahi Shimbun, Japan. 28 July 2008.

LED LIGHTING: Fans of L.E.D.'s say this bulb's time has come. Encouraged by legislation and the rising cost of energy, as well as concerns about greenhouse gases, consumers are swapping out incandescent bulbs. New York Times. 28 July 2008. [Registration Required]

AUSTRALIA - CARBON TARIFF: Unions want carbon tariff to protect jobs. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union is pressing the Federal Government to impose a carbon tariff on imports from countries that refuse to enter a new global deal to tackle climate change. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia. 28 July 2008. [Registration Required]

WIND ENERGY: Gold rush for wind energy fuels debate. Some critics question whether the wind farms will produce adequate wind energy, or are being built to tap into public aid and to sell wind-energy credits in the open market to help offset pollution from other industries. Ithaca Journal, New York. 28 July 2008.

SOLAR ENERGY: Tech giants rush to solar power. Semiconductor companies are rushing into the solar power business faster than a Pentium-driven computer, promising to turn a niche form of renewable energy into a mass-market product. USA Today. 28 July 2008.

SOLAR ENERGY: Namaste solar electric installs solar panels and hope for clean energy. Boulder, Colorado's Namaste Solar Electric Company has been red hot, not only in terms of blazing an exciting trail for a renewable energy future, but also showing that green business can not only be profitable, but it can exceed everyone's expectations. The Daily Green. 28 July 2008.

SOLUTIONS: HP's plan to fix ailing planet. Hewlett Packard is up to two years away from starting to build a "central nervous system for the Earth", known as CeNSE. BBC, UK. 28 July 2008.

CHINA - OLYMPICS: Beijing may ban 90 percent of cars for Olympics. Beijing is considering banning 90 percent of private cars from its roads and closing more factories in a last-ditch bid to clear smoggy skies for the Olympics, state media reported Monday. Agence France-Presse. 28 July 2008.

BIOMASS: Southern Co. To Repower Plant To Run On Biomass 7/28/2008 - Southern Co. is planning to issue a proposal to convert a 150-megawatt biomass co-fired power plant in Georgia to run entirely on biomass, Clean Technology Investor has learned. "We would like to re-power [it] to burn one-hundred percent wood waste," said Ervan Hancock, manager of renewable energy generation at Southern Co. "That would be one of the largest biomass plants in the country." Atlanta-based Southern Company has used a mix of palletized switchgrass and coal at the Plant Mitchell power plant located outside of Albany, Ga. since 2003. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/28/08

ETHANOL: EU Offers To Cut Tariffs On Ethanol Imports 7/28/2008 - The European Union is offering to cut its tariffs on ethanol imports as part of talks at the World Trade Organization, a plan that would subject the E.U.'s nascent ethanol industry to more competition from low-cost Brazilian imports. The proposal made this week would cut tariffs on 1.4 million metric tons of ethanol imports annually by 2020, worth $1 billion each year, E.U. officials said Friday. Without tariffs, much of the E.U.'s ethanol industry can't compete with Brazilian ethanol, which is made from sugar, one of the cheapest production methods. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/28/08

STATE POLICY - RENEWABLES (OH): Dayton Power Seeks Proposals For 38,000 MWh Of Renewables 7/28/2008 - Dayton Power & Light Co. is requesting proposals from renewable energy companies for at least 38,000 megawatt-hours of energy supply by the end of 2009, ahead of the implementation of Ohio's renewable portfolio standards, expected in mid-August. Dayton Power, known as DP&L, currently has no renewable energy source, with 99% of its output coming from coal, said Tom Tatham, a spokesman for the company. It also has natural gas plants for peaking generation, he said. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/28/08

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

GREEN CITIES: Gas prices may revive cities. Sure, they feel guilty admitting it, but high energy prices could prove to be the force that brings the urban planners' dreams to fruition: a greener, more sustainable society that is also a throwback to the preautomobile age. US News & World Report. 29 July 2008.

IMPACTS - HEALTH: Does global warming aid increase in kidney stones? Global warming could do more than hurt polar bears: It could force a rise in kidney stones, scientists warn. USA Today. 29 July 2008.

WIND ENERGY: U.S. becomes wind power leader. For a country with a reputation for being addicted to fossil fuels, it may come as a surprise that the United States is now the world leader in one green-energy category. San Diego North County Times, California. 29 July 2008.

GREEN INVESTING: Profiting from climate change. The investing world is full of cunning hands, but Nicolas Huber aims to profit from a different type of calamity: climate change. More specifically, he invests in companies set to thrive in a world of rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and mounting natural disasters. US News & World Report. 29 July 2008.

SOUTH AFRICA: SAfrica plans shift from coal for energy. The South African government said Monday it would move away from cheap coal, long the engine of its economic growth and embrace nuclear and renewable energy in a bid to combat climate change. Associated Press. 29 July 2008.

CHINA - EMISSIONS: 33% of China's carbon footprint blamed on exports. Finger-pointing, and "China bashing" in particular, is a favourite game when it comes to assigning responsibility for climate change. New Scientist, England. 29 July 2008.

FEDERAL POLICY - EPA: US environmental agency silences employees on climate change. Amid intensifying scrutiny of its failure to act on climate change, the US environmental protection agency has ordered employees not to talk to internal auditors, Congress or the media, according to a leaked email released yesterday by green campaigners. London Guardian, England. 29 July 2008.

CARBON CAPTURE: Regina carbon-capture research receives boost. A trail-blazing, Regina-based research project to study the feasibility of storing carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers was the recipient of $5 million in federal funding Monday. Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Canada. 29 July 2008.

COAL TO GAS: Plant to produce coal-gas. Gov. Joe Manchin praised CONSOL Energy's plans to build what he called "the nation's first modern coal-to-liquids plant". Charleston Gazette, West Virginia. 29 July 2008.

GREEN INVESTING: Investor's guide to what's green. A look at companies with a stake in clean energy. US News & World Report. 29 July 2008.

GREEN INVESTING: The next generation of alternative energy. Now that alternative energy is the new darling of Silicon Valley, investors are pumping cash into a raft of obscure technologies, from wave power to algae fuel. US News & World Report. 29 July 2008.

ALGAE: Algae farm someday could produce biodiesel of choice. PetroAlgae of Melbourne thinks that algae can provide the fuel of tomorrow. Orlando Sentinel, Florida. 29 July 2008. [Registration Required]

STATE POLICY (MA): New law gives boost to biofuel industry. Governor Deval Patrick today signed into a law a bill that makes Massachusetts the first state in the nation to exempt non-food-based ethanol from state gasoline taxes. Boston WBZ TV, Massachusetts. 29 July 2008.

CARBON TRADING: Nymex To Launch Futures Contract For Regional CO2 Program 7/29/2008 - The New York Mercantile Exchange Inc., a subsidiary of Nymex Holdings, Inc., said Monday it will launch in August the first exchange-traded contract complying with a government program for trading emissions in the U.S. The contract will create a market for futures based on permits to emit carbon dioxide under RGGI, a program designed to cap emissions from power plants and create a market for trading emissions allowances. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/29/08

SMART METERS: Itron Subsidiary Picked By EdF For Pilot Meter Rollout 7/29/2008 - Itron Inc. said its Actaris subsidiary has been chosen by ERDF, the distribution subsidiary of Electricite' de France, in a consortium of bidders for an automated meter management project. The consortium is led by systems integrator Atos Origin and will participate in a pilot project to install 300,000 smart meters. The project could ultimately mean installation on 35 million meters across France by 2017. Liberty Lake, Wash.-based Itron will supply 100,000 power line carrier smart meters, and 3,500 GPRS Concentrators, which are components of advanced metering infrastructure. According to the company, the system will allow the transmission and receipt of information to help manage energy consumption and provide better services to customers through flexible tariff offers and improved network management. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/29/08

HYDROPOWER: Hydro Green, Wind Energy Eye Wind & Water In Gulf Of Mexico7/29/2008 - Hydro Green Energy LLC and Wind Energy Systems Technology Group plan to develop 5,000 megawatts of wind and water current power in the Gulf of Mexico, the companies said. Houston, Texas-based Hydro makes hydrokinetic power systems that generate electricity from moving water in open rivers, tidal areas and oceans. The technology can also be used downstream from existing hydropower facilities. The agreement allows Hydro Green access to Wind Energy's platforms and lease areas for data gathering and testing. New Iberia, La.-based Wind Energy Systems signed a lease with the state of Texas in 2005 for offshore wind projects and intends to develop 1,500 to 2,000 MW of offshore wind power in the Gulf. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/29/08

Wednesday July 30, 2008

EPA INVESTGATION: Senate Democrats call for EPA chief to resign. Four Democratic senators on Tuesday called for Stephen Johnson to resign as administrator of the EPA and asked Attorney General Michael Mukasey to begin an investigation into whether he lied in testimony to a Senate committee. Associated Press. 30 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (VT): Vermont's unique approach to curbing energy use. In 2000, Vermont instituted an aggressive program to reduce statewide energy consumption. In the eight years since, it has proven to be one of the country's most innovative and successful conservation initiatives. Morning Edition, NPR. 30 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (ND): N.D. farmers get paid for capturing carbon. Everett Dobrinski is getting a $4,000 check this week for storing carbon dioxide in his soil. Associated Press. 30 July 2008.

CHINA: Enterprises see huge chances in 'low carbon economy.' As early as last year, China definitely proposed to develop "Low Carbon Economy" vigorously, and set up a "three low" economic mode based on low energy consumption, low pollution and low emission. China Economic Net, China. 30 July 2008.

GREEN CITIES: Seattle mayor proposes car-free days. As part of Seattle's campaign to combat global warming, Mayor Greg Nickels plans car-free days throughout the city. Seattle King 5 TV, Washington. 30 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (CA): Groups protest proposal to cut climate emissions. Social and environmental groups yesterday challenged a multistate proposal to trim greenhouse gas emissions because they fear it would harm low-income communities and be vulnerable to fraud. San Diego Union-Tribune, California. 30 July 2008

INTERNATIONAL TALKS: Trade failure clouds climate talks and beyond. The collapse of world trade talks deals such a blow to international negotiations that the prospect of agreeing effective solutions to global warming or the spread of nuclear weapons seems more remote than ever. Reuters. 30 July 2008

REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS: Doyle advocates regional emissions plan. Gov. Jim Doyle on Tuesday defended plans to set up a Midwest regional system that would cap and reduce emissions linked to global warming beginning as soon as 2012. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin. 30 July 2008.

AVIATION: Aviation leaders urge Congress to act on energy policy. Contending that the nation is now in a "full-blown and deepening energy crisis which is causing irreparable harm," some leaders in the aviation industry are urging President Bush to call a special session of Congress next month. Christian Science Monitor. 30 July 2008.

ELECTRIC CARS: General Motors confirms intention to manufacture engine for battery-powered Volt in Flint. General Motors confirmed that it intends to make Flint the manufacturing home of the engine for the much-touted, battery-powered Chevrolet Volt, according to paperwork filed with the city. Flint Journal, Michigan. 30 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (FL): Florida ends voluntary green energy program. Florida utility regulators on Tuesday powered down an $11.4 million program designed to promote green energy, but whose budget overwhelmingly funded marketing and administrative costs. Associated Press. 30 July 2008.

BIODIESEL: Manila Police To Run Cars On Used McDonald's Cooking Oil 7/30/2008 - Police in Manila are looking to convert their patrol cars to run on a mixture of diesel and used cooking oil from McDonald's, officials and the company said Tuesday, according to the Agence France Presse. With oil prices at crippling highs, the project would convert cars in the Makati financial district to run on a combination of 40 percent diesel and 60 percent cooking oil, said police Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/30/08

JAPAN - POLICY: Japan Adopts Low-Carbon Action Plan But Avoids Specifics 7/30/2008 - Japan's cabinet adopted an action plan to realize a society with low carbon dioxide emissions, but it essentially put off the inclusion of new measures, such as the full-scale launch of carbon trading in Japan and the introduction of an environment-related tax. The plan was drawn up by relevant ministries based on the initiatives Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced last month to combat global warming, as well as on recommendations by a panel of experts. It called for government and private-sector cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and listed target dates for expanding the use of such technologies as solar power and next-generation automobiles. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/30/08

SPAIN - SOLAR: Spain Regulator Approves Steep Decline In Solar Subsidies 7/30/2008 - The board of Spain's energy market regulator CNE Tuesday approved a government proposal to steeply reduce subsidies for solar electricity generation. The Industry Ministry earlier this month submitted a proposal to the regulator that would cut subsidies for solar power by up to 35% and put an annual cap of 300 megawatts for solar energy that is entitled to subsidies. The CNE recommended the government adopt the 300 MW cap next year, while implementing the cut in subsidies for new solar facilities starting in September. The government proposal had suggested a cut in subsidies starting in 2009. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/30/08

Thursday, July 31, 2008

STATE POLICY - CARBON CREDITS (MT): Montana farmers to receive $551,000 in carbon credits. Just over 100 landowners will receive checks this week totaling $551,000 for enrolling land in a carbon credit program, the Montana Farmers Union said. Helena Independent Record, Montana, Associated Press. 31 July 2008.

SHIPPING EMISSIONS: Surprise soot from ship emissions. Oceangoing ships emit more soot than expected, new research finds. Large cargo vessels put out twice as much climate-changing particulates as in previous estimates. And small tugboats are the biggest particulate emitters per unit of fuel. Environmental Science & Technology. 31 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (MA): State OKs plan to curb emissions. The House on Wednesday unanimously approved a long-term plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, reaching a compromise with Senate leaders after months of lobbying by environmental groups. New Bedford Standard-Times, Massachusetts. 31 July 2008.

POLLUTION CREDITS - LEGAL: Judge rules against selling pollution credits to power plants. In a lawsuit brought by the NRDC and other groups, a judge told the air quality district that it could not subsidize plants until it fully reported on the environmental effect under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Los Angeles Times, California. 31 July 2008. [Registration Required]

SOLAR: "Green" solar cells achieve new efficiency record. New dye-sensitized solar cells compare favorably with silicon-based cells in terms of their use of materials and energy, and they are expected to be much easier to manufacture. Environmental Science & Technology. 31 July 2008.

CARBON CAPTURE: Plans for hydrogen plant move forward. Hydrogen Energy International LLC, the joint venture between BP and Rio Tinto, announced Wednesday that it will begin the regulatory approval process for a clean energy plant near Taft that will capture and store carbon dioxide emissions in nearby oilfields. Bakersfield Californian, California. 31 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (MD): Maryland residents asked to cut energy use. More than a dozen states around the country have made lofty promises to cut back on power use to save taxpayers money, reduce stress on energy markets and improve the environment. While the goal is noble, these states face a major stumbling block: public buy-in. Morning Edition, NPR. 31 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (NV): Renewable energy projects approved. Two renewable energy projects representing a $100 million-plus investment by Las Vegas-based Nevada Power Co. - a cost likely to be covered over time by the utility's customers - were approved Wednesday by Nevada regulators. Associated Press. 31 July 2008.

SOLAR: First move taken to allow rental of solar panels. It takes a lot of greenbacks to go green and install solar panels that silently generate clean electric power from the light of the sun. Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada. 31 July 2008.

MONITORING: Bank of America Backs Energy Management Tool Co. 7/31/2008 - Bank of America Corp. will use Philadelphia-based Field Diagnostic Services Inc.'s energy management systems in over 3,000 of its U.S. locations, and the bank's new clean technology investment arm will provide the company an undisclosed amount of financing for development. Field Diagnostic makes a portable monitoring tool that increases efficiency in heating and cooling systems by 50%, and therefore reduces energy, maintenance and system replacement costs by 50%, said Todd Rossi, president of Field Diagnostic Services, in an interview with Clean Technology Investor. With this investment, Field Diagnostics is also developing software that allows businesses to better use the information they get from energy management systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/31/08

FEDERAL POLICY: Senate Blocks Revamped Energy And Business Tax Cut Bill 7/31/2008 - Senate Republicans again turned back a Democratic attempt to bring an energy and business tax bill to the Senate floor, as the attempt fell on a 51-43 procedural vote. The vote, a slightly worse result for Democrats than their last attempt in June to move to the bill, dashed Democratic hopes that recent additions they made to the bill would draw more Republican support. Meanwhile, the White House said senior advisors will recommend a veto should the Senate tax bill reach the president's desk in its current form. The White House had earlier threatened a veto of similar House-passed legislation. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/31/08

STATE LEGAL CHALLENGE - SHIPPING/EPA: Calif To Sue EPA, Citing Delay In Ship Emission Rules 7/31/2008 - California will join environmental groups and other states on Thursday in announcing plans to sue the Environmental Protection Agency in connection with what they call the agency's delay in regulating greenhouse-gas emissions from ships and airplanes. On Thursday, a group that includes California, Connecticut, and Earthjustice, among others, plans to take aim at the EPA's policies for ship and airplane emissions. The groups say that they petitioned the EPA late last year to determine whether emissions from ships and planes pose a danger to public health and welfare and to issue regulations if the agency concludes that such a danger exists. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/31/08

HYDROGEN -FUEL: Hydrogen-Fuel Discovery May Spawn Solar Power, MIT Study Says
2008-07-31 By Jim Efstathiou Jr. July 31 (Bloomberg) -- A new, cheaper way to store electricity to run air conditioners or vehicles promises to make solar power competitive with traditional generation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers said. The discovery might shatter the biggest barrier to widespread use of solar, namely that it's unavailable after dark, said Daniel Nocera, an MIT energy professor. The process uses non toxic natural materials to convert sunlight into gases, as described in a paper today in the online version of Science. Electricity produced from sun rays by photovoltaic cells costs about four times as much as power from conventional coal- fired generators. The higher expense of storing solar power in batteries has undercut its acceptance as a dependable source of renewable energy.

Climate News Roundup: July 18 - July 24, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:28:00 -0400

Friday, July 18, 2008

HYDROGEN CARS: Hydrogen cars could rule road by 2050, slash oil need. A government-backed study says America could nearly eliminate its need for gasoline for cars, pickup trucks and SUVs by 2050 if the government helps build a market for hydrogen fuel cells and other technologies. McClatchy Newspapers. 18 July 2008.

IMPACTS: Antarctic icebergs scouring seabed are new threat to marine life. Antarctic marine life is coming under increasing threat from icebergs that are scouring the seabed and destroying their habitat, a new study by the British Antarctic Survey has found. London Daily Telegraph, England. 18 July 2008

EPA STUDY - IMPACTS: Climate change puts U.S. way of life at risk: EPA. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under fire for apparently discounting the impact of climate change, on Thursday said global warming poses real risk to human health and the American way of life. Reuters. 18 July 2008.

WIND POWER: State supports $4.9 billion wind power plan. If the plan wins final approval, it would be the country's largest investment in clean and renewable power. Austin American-Statesman, Texas. 18 July 2008. [Registration Required]

STATE POLICY (TX): Perry lays out Texas energy vision. Governor wants to double number of nuclear plants, add wind power, tap potential of biofuels. Austin American-Statesman, Texas. 18 July 2008. [Registration Required]

AL GORE: Al Gore's 10-year plan to solve the climate crisis. Today, Al Gore used his unique bully pulpit to promote an ambitious plan for controlling climate change: Produce all electricity from renewable and other nonpolluting sources of power within 10 years. The Daily Green. 18 July 2008.

CDM PROJECT: Namibia approves CDM project. A geothermal energy project has become the first clean development mechanism (CDM) project to be approved in Namibia. Windhoek New Era, Namibia. 18 July 2008.

AUSTRALIA - CARBON TRADING SCHEME: Australia outlines carbon trading scheme. Australia on Wednesday outlined a carbon trading scheme including a pledge that heavily polluting industries--exporting much of their product and those facing international competition--could receive free credits for up to 90 per cent of their emissions. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 18 July 2008.

FRANCE - NUCLEAR: France orders probe at all nuclear sites. The French government on Thursday ordered an investigation into the water table around all of France's 58 nuclear reactors in an effort to dispel fears raised by a leak from a treatment plant run by Areva in southern France. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 18 July 2008.

STATES POLICY (FL): Florida willing to get tough over oil drilling ban. Florida's governor would go to court to guarantee his right to permit Florida offshore oil exploration. But the possible running mate for presidential nominee John McCain told the Financial Times it would be "more productive" for Congress to overturn its ban on offshore drilling. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 18 July 2008

STATES POLICY (KY); Get ahead of energy curve. If Gov. Steve Beshear is sincere about preparing Kentucky for a carbon-constrained future, he'll have to drop his dream of squeezing gasoline from coal. Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky. Editorial, 18 July 2008.

WASTE TO ENERGY: Gas from garbage. What Dallas does have is the technology and ingenuity to create its own natural gas in a matter of a few months-- an exciting, forward-thinking venture that will make the most out of a decidedly unexciting thing: household trash. Dallas Morning News, Texas. Editorial, 18 July 2008

PLASTIC SUBSTITUTE: Mitsubishi Chemical To Use Plant Resins For Plastics 7/18/2008 - Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. plans to mass-produce synthetic resins made from plant extract, seeking to reduce its dependence on petroleum, with output slated to begin as early as fiscal 2010, The Nikkei reported in its Friday morning edition. Plant resins are expensive, impeding its competitiveness against petroleum products such as naphtha. But as long as crude oil prices stay around or above $100 a barrel, plant-based resins will fare well, the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. unit has concluded. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/18/08

SPAIN - SOLAR: In Spain, It's The Running Of Solar Companies 7/18/2008 - Solar companies aren't waiting for a worst case-scenario in Spain, they're betting on it. Solar companies have quickly jumped into that country in the last several years, lured by new subsidies from the Spanish government directed at making solar as economically viable as other sources of energy. But a proposed cap on the program could cut total solar installations by a quarter next year, and even with a decision weeks away, solar companies are already looking to bolt. In 2008, solar companies will install roughly 1,100 megawatts of power in Spain thanks to the new subsidies that propelled companies across the world to enter the market from Barcelona to Seville. While the Spanish government expected some gains in solar installations, an almost doubling from 600 MW a year ago has left the government with a larger subsidies bill than it would like, and rumors have spread that those subsidies may come with a big catch next year. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/18/08

UK - TIDAL POWER: UK's Marine Current Turbines Says Tidal Device Delivers Power To Grid 7/18/2008 - U.K. tidal energy company Marine Current Turbines said Thursday it has delivered its first electricity into the grid from its SeaGen turbine in Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough. The 1.2-megawatt tidal stream power system will be generating electricity at full capacity in a few weeks, the company said. "This is an important milestone for the company and indeed the development of the marine renewable energy sector as a whole," said Martin Wright, managing director of Marine Current Turbines, of the project that will deliver electricity to 1,000 homes. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/18/08

WIND POWER: US Small Wind Turbine Market Grew 14% In 2007 7/18/2008 - The U.S. small wind turbine market grew 14% in 2007, driven by rising electricity prices and concerns about climate change, the American Wind Energy Association said Thursday. Small wind turbines produced about 9.7 megawatts of new power-generating capacity in 2007, bringing total small wind-generating capacity to 55-60 MW, according to AWEA. More than 9,000 small wind turbine units were sold in 2007, with total sales of $42 million. Small wind systems in the U.S. displace an estimated 60,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, the equivalent of taking 10,000 cars off the road, according to AWEA. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/18/08

Monday, July 21, 2008

WIND POWER: Green light for massive wind farm. Plans to build Europe's largest onshore wind farm in South Lanarkshire have been approved by Scottish ministers. BBC, UK. 21 July 2008.

IMPACTS: Scientists warn of wetlands 'carbon bomb'. The world's wetlands, threatened by development, dehydration and climate change, could release a planet-warming "carbon bomb" if they are destroyed, ecological scientists have warned. London Daily Telegraph, England. 21 July 2008.

CLIMATE REPORT: 100 months to save the planet. A "Green New Deal" is needed to solve current problems of climate change, energy and finance, a report argues; according to the Green New Deal Group, humanity only has 100 months to prevent dangerous global warming. BBC, UK. 21 July 2008

STATE POLICY (NJ): Soaring enery costs sparking 'green' legislation in New Jersey. With gas prices hovering at $4 per gallon and the nation in an economic funk, there is no shortage of ideas on how to make New Jersey more energy efficient. Associated Press. 21 July 2008

ALT FUELS: Quest for alternative fuels starts with an engine at Argonne National Laboratory. Begun with about $100,000 in start-up money nearly two years ago, the omnivorous engine project is an effort to design a spark-ignition engine that can run on a variety of liquid fuels. Chicago Tribune, Illinois. 21 July 2008.

ELECTRIC CARS: GM, utility group to announce electric car tie-up. General Motors Corp and an organization representing US utilities are set to announce a partnership to prepare for the widespread sale of plug-in electric cars, people familiar with the plans said Friday. Reuters. 21 July 2008.

PLUG-IN HYBRIDS: Future is nearly now for plug-in hybrids. When hundreds of experts gather this week for the country's first and biggest plug-in hybrid conference, the tone of the gathering will reveal a dramatic change: The talk is of "when," not "if." San Jose Mercury News, California. 21 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (NJ): New Jersey Energy Plan Looks At Aggressive Goals 7/21/2008 - New Jersey state officials held their last public hearing Thursday for the forthcoming New Jersey Energy Master Plan that outlines state renewable energy goals, and they have seen a wealth of support for the plan. Officials are required to update an energy plan every 10 years according to state law, but they last wrote a plan in 1991. The new plan will be finalized in the fall.

STATE POLICY (CA): California Becomes First In Nation To Establish Green-Building Codes 7/21/2008 - The California Building Standards Commission has taken a step toward building a greener future for the state with new green building codes for new houses. The commission made California the first state in the nation to incorporate these standards into its building codes. The codes will be phased in over the next three years. The new code requires California homes to be approximately 50% more energy-efficient than homes built to national energy standards by July 2009, a 20% reduction in overall water use within all new homes starting on July 1, 2011, and air quality measures that include adhesives, paints and coatings with low or no levels of "volatile organic compounds," high-efficiency air-conditioning filters to better filter out dust and particulates, and always-on exhaust fans to ensure better fresh air circulation in the home by Jan. 1, 2011. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/21/08

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Relevant stories for Tuesday were minimal and were repeats of stories reported the previous days.

Wednesday, June 23, 2008

SOLAR POWER: Saharan sun could power European supergrid. Vast farms of solar panels in the Sahara desert could provide clean electricity for the whole of Europe, according to EU scientists working on a plan to pool the region's renewable energy. London Guardian, England. 23 July 2008.

CO2 OFFSETS: Don't offset your CO2 emissions, retire them. At the age of 25, Dan Lewer is going into retirement -- carbon emissions retirement that is. Lewer is co-founder of a new online carbon offset company called Carbon Retirement, which launched on July 15. Reuters. 23 July 2008.

GEOTHERMAL: In the push for alternative energy, what happened to geothermal? Geothermal energy, which has been heralded by some scientists over the years as a rich untapped resource, has garnered much less attention than other alternative energy sources, particularly from politicians. US News & World Report. 23 July 2008.

GREEN CITIES: Green Streets project reduces carbon footprint and energy bills. Families taking part in a greener living experiment have made big cuts in their carbon footprint, managing to reduce their energy use by 30 per cent and CO2 emissions by 20 per cent London Daily Telegraph, England. 23 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (CT): Republicans stand with Rell on her plan for energy rebates. Republican lawmakers scored a minor coup for Gov. M. Jodi Rell Tuesday, backing her plan to send some proceeds from the auction of global-warming pollution credits back to individual utility customers. New London Day, Connecticut. 23 July 2008.

NUCLEAR: Vote clears way for US nuclear deal with India. India's government survived a hotly contested confidence vote Tuesday, clearing the way for it to finalize a landmark nuclear energy deal with the United States. Associated Press. 23 July 2008.

NUCLEAR: Britain pushes on with nuclear power revival plan. Britain wants to be the most attractive place in the world to build nuclear power plants and has published draft rules for finding places in England and Wales to do it. Reuters. 23 July 2008.

COAL-TO-LIQUIDS: Firm touts Alberta coal-to-liquids plant. A small Calgary company on Tuesday proposed Canada's first coal-to-liquids (CTL) plant in northwest Alberta. Calgary Herald, Alberta. 23 July 2008.

Thursday, June 24, 2008

SOLUTIONS: Americans must diet to save their economy. Want to save the US economy? Go on a diet. That's the message ecologists are trying to get across. They say the apparently looming energy crisis could be averted if US residents cut their calorie intake. New Scientist, England. 24 July 2008.

IMPACTS: Study warns of water problems. A new study predicts that climate change will create devastating drought in Nevada and throughout the Southwest and continue to drop the levels of already low Lake Mead and Lake Powell, threatening the water supply for 2 million Nevadans. Associated Press. 24 July 2008.

STATE POLICY (CA): California green energy proposal has thin support. Awareness is low, but 63 percent of those who had a view on it favor a California ballot measure that would require half the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025, a Field poll issued Tuesday shows. Reuters. 24 July 2008.

HYDROGEN CAR - U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: SoCal mail carriers use hydrogen car. A U.S. Postal Service station in Orange County began using a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle Wednesday to deliver the mail. Modesto Bee, California. 24 July 2008.

CAR CHARGING STATIONS: Coulomb, V2Green To Offer Electric Car-Charging Stations 7/24/2008 - Anticipating a wide roll out of electric cars in 2010 and beyond, Coulomb Technologies Inc. and V2Green Inc. are offering a technology to allow drivers of electric cars to plug in and charge their vehicles outside of a garage. Campbell, Calif.-based Coulomb will make charging stations that can be used on city streets, outside office buildings or in apartment building parking lots, for example, so drivers who don't own garages or merely want to charge their vehicles during the day can access charging stations. Seattle-based V2Green will provide smart-grid services, giving the utilities information to help ease the burden of this extra draw on the power grid. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/24/08

PLUG-IN ELECTRIC CARS: Electric-Car Maker Aptera Gets $2.75M Charge From Google 7/24/2008 - Google.org's RechargeIT program, launched in June 2007 to accelerate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles, has made its first investments. According to a blog post by Karl Sun, an investment principal with Google.org, Aptera Motors Inc. will receive $2.75 million from the program. The Carlsbad, Calif.-based company develops electric and hybrid vehicles. Aptera's first production model, the Typ-1, will be available in December at a cost of about $30,000, the company previously told VentureWire. The all-electric version gets 120 miles per charge, while the hybrid version gets 300 miles per gallon, the company said. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/24/08

EMISSIONS MONITORING TECH: Accenture Offers IT Product Suite To Monitor Emissions 7/24/2008 - Accenture Ltd. launched a new "Green Technology Suite," a set of tools designed to help an organization be green and save money as well through its information technology department. The tool uses software, methodology and consulting services to allow a company or organization assess its carbon emissions and decrease that level, as well as save money on operating costs, focusing on IT. New York-based Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. For more read Clean Technology Investor 7/24/08

Climate News Roundup: June 11 - July 17, 2008

Kristina Haddad — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:43:00 -0400

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