Solutions

Ontario bolsters green support as Europe backs off.

The Canadian province of Ontario is becoming a magnet for global heavy hitters in the green energy sector, drawn by alluring subsidies at a time when incentives are being scaled back elsewhere. Reuters 10 Mar

Clean coal? Obama funds research to capture carbon.

Can coal really be clean? Environmentalists may be skeptical, but President Obama is moving ahead with efforts to create non-polluting coal. USA Today 10 Mar

German fishing boat flies giant kite to save fuel.

The 15,000 tonne German boat, Maartje Theadora, is the first fishing vessel to use the SkySails system - which implements a giant kite to harness trade winds. This technique will cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel savings. Reuters 10 Mar

Debating the nuclear waste problem.

With Nevada’s Yucca Mountain facility apparently out of the picture as a nuclear waste repository, government nuclear experts say interim measures might be needed for a very long time. New York Times 10 Mar

Game consoles zapping U.S. energy.

The Senate is taking up ways to improve energy efficiency in homes, including certain video game consoles known to be energy vampires. Nationally, these consoles could be using as much energy as San Diego does in one year. MarketPlace 10 Mar

A rough rollout for smart meters in Texas.

So-called “smart” electric meters, heralded as vital for an energy-conscious era, are having a rough rollout in Texas. The devices, which enable utilities to vary their rates according to the time of day, allow consumers to save money — in theory. New York Times 10 Mar

Politics

Israelis, Syria say they have nuke plans.

Mideast rivals Israel and Syria on Tuesday each announced ambitions to develop nuclear energy, with Israel facing the prospect that its plan could bring new international attention to its secretive nuclear activities. Associated Press 10 Mar

Business vs. clean energy: Ohioans pulled two ways.

In pointed language, the authors urged Brown to back a bill that would prevent the U.S. Environmental Agency from regulating the greenhouse gasses thought to cause climate change, warning in near-apocalyptic terms that "the future of Ohio may depend on this vote." Columbus Dispatch 07 Mar

Ritter renewable hike sails through Senate; clean air bill next on agenda.

Gov. Bill Ritter may be a lame-duck chief executive laid up by a recent bike crash, but his clean-energy agenda keeps rolling along like Lance Armstrong in the Alps. Colorado Independent 06 Mar

Democrats to turn spotlight on energy efficiency programs this week.

Democrats will turn the focus to energy efficiency standards and incentive programs this week with hearings in the Senate and House energy panels. Greenwire 08 Mar

Small gains 'could slash emissions.'

Claims that even small greenhouse gas targets will hurt big industry have been undermined by a government report that found basic efficiency improvements could cut national emissions while saving businesses more than $700 million. Melbourne Age 07 Mar

Calls for early start to renewables scheme.

The opposition will push the government to bring forward changes in its renewable energy target by six months to drive investment in clean energy. The government has now split the target between small- and large-scale renewable energy projects. Sydney Morning Herald 06 Mar

Other News

Editorials

Obama's energy 'deal'.

President Obama used his January State of the Union speech to promise "a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants" and "new offshore areas for oil and gas development." Judging by its recent decisions, we'd say his Cabinet hasn't received the memo. Wall Street Journal 11 Mar

The electorate will decide climate law.

Cap-and-trade legislation has failed to advance, and in what some see as an effort to get it moving, the Environmental Protection Agency has threatened to act against stationary sources of pollution itself. Charleston Daily Mail 10 Mar

Energy usage in the 21st century.

Energy generation and pricing are poised to undergo significant change in the coming decades. We think the PUC's move last week will serve as an introduction to that new world. Denver Post 07 Mar

Promising idea from the TVA.

The Tennessee Valley Authority hopes to nudge its customers toward time-of-day metering as part of an overall plan to curb growth in electricity demand. Memphis Commercial Appeal 06 Mar

Raising the gas tax might be the only way to wean americans off oil.

Surprisingly, climate proposals in Washington, such as the House-passed Waxman-Markey bill, wouldn't do all that much to slash American oil consumption in the near future. Washington Post 05 Mar

Cars homes projects to lower carbon emissions by 355,000 tonnes.

Three separate sustainable energy projects set to be implemented by the Government, assisted by the Inter-American Development Bank, will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 350,000 tonnes, in addition to saving the Bahamas Electricity Corporation $1.36 million per annum in fuel imports. Nassau Tribune 05 Mar

Lift the moratorium on nuclear plants.

We support removing Minnesota's moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants. We believe nuclear power, which is good on greenhouse gases but which carries other risks, has to be part of the discussion of the nation's energy future. St. Paul Pioneer Press 04 Mar

Oilsands image back in the tar.

Well, anti-oilsands campaigners can take the rest of the winter off now. There is no stunt they could possibly pull to match the glorious help they are getting for free from Syncrude and that awful video of ducks dying in the Aurora tailings pond. Edmonton Journal 04 Mar

Opinion

Battle over biofuel strategy.

Legislate in haste, repent at leisure: is that the syndrome afflicting the EU's biofuels policy? One of the few points of agreement is that current biofuels policy looks like a serious mistake. BBC 11 Mar

Aviation emissions: Understanding the carbon offset market.

We've got to start offsetting and we've got to do it today. It's easy to do it and there are plenty of opportunities to do it. We share one planet and we haven't got a spare one. Fast Company 11 Mar

Only a carbon tax and nuclear power can save us.

What the world needs is a nation that will set an example, stop pandering to special interests, do what is necessary for the people and the rest of the life on the planet. Is it possible that Australia could provide that example, that moral leadership? Sydney Australian 11 Mar

RBS is not funding 'climate chaos.'

The transition away from hydrocarbons will require co-operation between governments, power companies, local communities and ultimately the end consumer. We are determined to play our part but oversimplification of the issues will take us nowhere. London Guardian 11 Mar

Wind power generation faces public opposition.

Wind power generation, which uses a new energy source and is regarded as indispensable to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is facing head winds across the nation. Asahi Shimbun 11 Mar

The odd couple.

The phrase "strange bedfellows" doesn't even begin to describe the relationship between Sen. Kerry and T. Boone Pickens. But earlier this month reporters were surprised by the revelation that the two had formed an alliance of sorts to push an energy bill through the Senate this year. Newsweek 10 Mar

Why I'm staying in the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

Today, Washington is having the wrong energy and climate debate, and the future of the U.S. economy may be the biggest casualty. Houston Chronicle 10 Mar

Budget time offers a glimpse into the future, but how far?

Many Canadians have shown that they are willing to take action in their own lives to reduce their environmental impact. Now we must let our government know that we expect them to move forward with the times as well. Georgia Straight 10 Mar

Introducing the newest scientific measurement: A "Rosenfeld" for energy savings.

It may not roll off the tongue like the ohm, watt or volt, but it would follow in their tradition. Many call Arthur Rosenfeld, a recently retired member of the California Energy Commission, the "godfather of energy efficiency." ClimateWire 11 Mar

Oil execs chortle as Obama admin promotes renewables.

Renewable energy is being praised in Washington, but it is generating snickers in Houston, the nation's traditional energy capital, where oil, gas and utility leaders are gathered for a major industry conference. Greenwire 11 Mar

Now taxpayers face $100m bill to fix insulation mess.

Taxpayers will pay up to $100 million to remove foil insulation or install electrical safety switches in 50,000 homes in a bid to fix the government's suspended insulation scheme. Sydney Morning Herald 11 Mar

Developers lament loss of federal wind subsidies in Canada.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association is expressing disappointment with the federal government’s recent decision not to expand or extend the so-called ecoEnergy program - which delivered subsidies to renewable energy developers - in its new budget. New York Times 11 Mar

German solar subsidy cuts muddy 2010 outlook.

The recent surge in solar sales has helped the industry recover from a brutal 2009, when prices tumbled by more than 40 percent. That rebound may be short-lived: Berlin is set to reduce the mandated prices to be paid for electricity from German solar arrays from July. Reuters 11 Mar

Academics demand independent inquiry into new nuclear reactors.

Pressure on the government to organise an independent inquiry into a new generation of nuclear power stations will intensify today with a call for action from a group of 90 high-ranking academics, politicians and technical experts. London Guardian 11 Mar

Los Angeles electric rate linked to solar power.

Los Angeles averages more than 300 days of sunshine a year. So, it would seem then, that solar energy would be a thriving local industry here. That has never been the case - and experts cite cost as the main reason. But that could change. New York Times 11 Mar

Unveiled: Scotland's carbon capture plans to challenge climate change.

The Scottish Government has unveiled a vision for Scotland to lead the way globally in key technology to capture carbon dioxide from power stations and store it underground. Edinburgh Scotsman 11 Mar

Study offers alternative to coal plant.

There is a cheaper, cleaner and even a job-generating alternative to building a coal plant to address increased energy demands, according to an alliance of advocacy groups that presented its findings this week to the Snapping Shoals EMC board of directors. Rockdale Citizen 11 Mar

Renewable energy centre coming.

A Regional Renewable Energy Research Centre in Trinidad and Tobago will be a first for the region, which has been encouraged by international communities to make use of its abundant supply of wave, wind and solar energy. Trinidad & Tobago Express 11 Mar

Farmers willing to grow crops for biofuel, but aid needed.

Available land and amenable farmers make Central New York a prime location for biomass fuel production, but biofuels would likely need government subsidies to compete with fossil fuels in the short run, research by Cato Analytics suggests. Syracuse Post-Standard 11 Mar

Wind towers and solar panels help power Jacksonville strip mall.

The twin 30-foot-high towers in front of a strip mall on the south side of Atlantic Boulevard near St. Johns Bluff are hard to miss — especially when the wind is blowing and both structures are spinning and generating power Jacksonville Times-Union 11 Mar

Survey looks at effects of wind turbines on bird populations.

Off-shore wind turbines may be placed in the ocean south of Rhode Island without major harm to bird populations, according to the preliminary findings of a University of Rhode Island study. Jamestown Press 11 Mar

Jamaica breaks ground for US$49 million wind farm expansion project.

Minister of Energy and Mining, James Robertson, on Wednesday broke ground for the US$49 million Wigton Wind Farm expansion project in Jamaica. Caribbean Net News 11 Mar

Feed-in tariff 'killing off' burgeoning UK small turbine industry.

UK small wind turbine manufacturers say they will lose out to foreign solar panel manufacturers in the race to cash in on the UK government's new feed-in tariff scheme. London Guardian 11 Mar

Utility to install solar on warehouse roofs.

A utility is taking advantage of some little-used Southern California real estate for its next solar power project - warehouse roofs. Associated Press 11 Mar

New generation of nuclear in doubt.

Ambitious plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations across Britain will fail because of a lack of skills and funding, engineers have warned. London Daily Telegraph 11 Mar

Greg Combet's $50m foil clean-up bill.

Taxpayers will foot the $50 million bill to strip foil insulation from up to 50,000 houses or install electrical safety switches to help correct faults in the federal government's bungled $2.45 billion home insulation scheme. Sydney Australian 11 Mar

China environment worsening, may miss energy goals.

China's environment is "still deteriorating", a senior official said Wednesday, as the booming nation burnt record amounts of coal and lagged behind in meeting its energy-saving goals. Agence France-Presse 11 Mar

U.S. oil industry braces for carbon rules.

As oil and natural gas prices settle into an equilibrium for now, a new variable is emerging as the most worrisome for Big Oil: the cost of carbon. Reuters 11 Mar

South Carolina lawmakers make energy efficiency pitch.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) joined Reps. Jim Clyburn and John Spratt (D) Wednesday in introducing bipartisan legislation to provide $4.9 billion in federal loans for rural power consumers to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient. McClatchy Newspapers 11 Mar

California utility regulators not quite ready for fuel cells.

While Google, Wal-Mart and other corporations have embraced fuel cells, California regulators have turned down requests from the state’s two biggest utilities to install the technology. New York Times 11 Mar

China on track to meet energy target.

China is on track to meet its target of lowering energy intensity by 20 per cent before the end of the year despite severe setbacks caused by the financial crisis, said its top climate official on Wednesday. Hindu 11 Mar

A case against biofuels: Corn ethanol's hidden costs.

Despite strong evidence that growing food crops to produce ethanol is harmful to the environment and the world's poor, the Obama administration is backing subsidies and programs that will ensure that half of the U.S.'s corn crop will soon go to biofuel production. Yale Environment 360 11 Mar

How fundraising helped shape Obama's green agenda.

White House

Once again, there are questions about whether a new President's approach to energy is a product of Washington's unchanged, pay-to-play culture in which political supporters are offered special access to the policymaking process. Time Magazine 10 Mar

Battle heats up over Southern California Gas smart meter proposal.

SoCalGas says radio-controlled meters will help customers save money and energy. But critics denounce the plan as a boondoggle, contending the costs far outweigh the benefits. Los Angeles Times 10 Mar

Obama's nuclear blind spot.

The Obama administration has embarked on a high-stakes gamble: devoting billions of dollars to an expansion of nuclear power in the hope of winning Republican votes for a climate bill. But is the administration turning a blind eye to the financial risk? Mother Jones 10 Mar

Smokestash industry: Energy Department seeks breakthroughs in carbon capture.

Humans efficiently capture CO2. So why can't power plants? Scientific American 10 Mar

A reactor to make nuclear affordable.

President Obama is trying to give nuclear power a new lease on life, but one of its biggest drawbacks is its multibillion-dollar price tag. But new "mini-nukes" could help. MarketPlace 10 Mar

West worries about Russia turning to coal.

European efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions could be undermined by Russian plans to dramatically increase energy production from coal, Western experts said in Brussels yesterday. Euractiv 10 Mar