UK: Nuclear Neighbors OK (Sort of)
A multi-year survey of folks living near nuclear power plants in the UK finds a qualified acceptance of new nuclear plants coming to their neighborhoods. Come closer
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September 30, 2008
IT's Carbon Problem
IT design is still cranking out products with high levels of embedded carbon and short useful lives. Pay attention
Carbon Tax: Mixed Results
Despite its carbon tax, Norway's GHG emissions are up 15% while carbon taxers' Denmark and Sweden emissions are down. WSJ
September 29, 2008
What's Your Bag?
Delve into the use and misuse of reusable bags. WSJ
Carbon Auction Clears $38.5 Million
The nation's first auction of CO2 emissions permits found a price, $3.06 a ton, and that adds up to a tidy sum for energy efficiency programs and help for utility rate payers in the northeast RGGI states. Start here
Connect The Mega Dots
The world's twenty mega-cities use 75% of its energy. Now, Connected Urban Development proposes how to make mega-cities into low-carbon leaders. That's energetic
Scottish Sea Power
Scotland plans to install up to twenty domestically built tide-powered electric turbines. Next up, turbine exports. Surf's up!
September 28, 2008
Building & Eating Green
North Dakota farmers open a LEED-compliant restaurant serving farm-fresh produce in Washington. Dig in
September 26, 2008
Cutting Carbon Economically
A carbon price is the least-cost policy for cutting emissions and an R&D subsidy is the most-cost approach. Advance your economics
Will Buffet Buffet The Nuclear Industry?
Warren Buffet's buy-in at Constellation Energy might spell trouble for plans to build costly nuclear power plants. WSJ
Carbon Climbing
Worldwide carbon emissions are outstripping scientists' worst fears. Come on down and Highlights here
Ike & Gustav Clobber Oil Output
Two recent hurricanes are keeping Gulf of Mexico oil production down 40%; linked to the slow return of electric power. Prices up
September 25, 2008
Green Cities Rising
Global cities incubate eco-projects. They leap forward, but aren't perfect. See what's new
Zero is A Big Number
China's got a new zero emissions building that will be a 'living textbook' for energy researchers. Study it
Austria Nixes Nuke Power
Austria says no to nuclear power and yes to energy efficiency and renewables. Here's why [4.5 MB]
UK: New Nuclear Power By 2017
French nuclear power firm EDF sees the first new nuclear power plant in the UK buy 2017. Four more on the drawing board. Time flies
Wind Money For China & India
A major wind turbine maker will invest $5 billion in Chinese and Indian wind farms over the next five years. Look ahead
Will Solar Still Shine?
Worries are raised about the solar PV industry if installation rebates are rolled back. Plug in
September 24, 2008
RGGI West
Seven westerns states and four Canadian provinces launch the Western Climate Initiative. It will reduce GHG emissions through a regional cap and trade program as well as finance energy efficiency programs and defray consumers' utility bills with permit auction revenues. Bottoms up!
Methane Rising
Scientists discover that methane, a potent GHG, is bubbling up from Arctic ocean depths. Climate cause or effect?
French Company For UK Nuclear Growth
EDF, a French nuclear power developer edged out by Warren Buffet in the US, buys UK nuclear power plants and will build new ones. Channel crossing
New Nukes - Not So Fast
Reviving the US nuclear power industry might be slow-going, despite hefty federal subsidies. Stay tuned
September 23, 2008
Advisers Spar
Green, Inc.
Kate Galbraith's post about the two campaigns sparring over nuclear energy at the CDP Global Forum in New York, promted a response from Nancy about fine tuning the nuclear questions.
Excerpt from Kate Galbraith's post
The two campaigns also sparred over nuclear energy, a form of power generation that releases no carbon-dioxide emissions, though waste disposal and storage issues — as well as a generalized image problem — have plagued its expanded deployment in the United States.
"Senator McCain thinks we should take advantage of it in an aggressive way," said Mr. Holtz-Eakin, adding "He believes Yucca Mountain storage facility is one that will be safe," referring to a controversial proposed nuclear-waste storage site in Nevada.
Mr. Obama has said that he wants to address issues such as security and waste storage before embracing nuclear power.
Nancy's Comment
A much sharper light would have been shed on the issue of nuclear power if questions had been posed about (1) the cost of building new nuclear plants (which has been estimated at $5-12 billion a pop) in comparison to other energy sources and (2) the kinds and levels of federal support available to the nuclear industry. After all, Congress is currently debating whether to expand its already generous nuclear power plant loan guarantee program.
Let's remember, the audience at this Carbon Disclosure Project-sponsored event was full of financial experts; surely, they could have handled the data.
LEEDing Forward
As a sign of the times, the USGBC updates its LEED Strategic Plan for 2009-2013. Learn more
Voters Want Clean Power
Polling finds American voters of both parties support clean, renewable power, although they differ on nuclear power. Pull the lever
Dumb & Dumber
Read this blistering take on Congress' efforts to pass an energy bill. Just click
Buffet's Antes Up $1 Billion
Constellation Energy, a major US nuclear power plant owner, got $1 billion from investor Warren Buffet to fend off a take-over by French firm, EDF. Follow the $
September 22, 2008
Aussie PM Goes For Coal
Kevin Rudd, Australia's Prime Minister, pledges $100 million for a clean-coal technology institute. Look into it
Pollute For Free In Germany
Germany will continue to hand out free CO2 emissions permits to domestic industry despite an EU policy to make companies start paying for them. Next?
Times They Are A Changin'
Researchers assess the climate change business and risk potential of six key industrial sectors and estimate their potential business cash flows against future scenarios in which governments and consumers shift toward a low-carbon economy. Who's a winner? [4.1MB]
Investors Demand Carbon Disclosure
Institutional investors in the UK and US want information from oil and gas companies about the carbon intensity of their reserves. Risky business?
Who's The Greenest Of Them All?
Once again, Sustain Lane rates Portland Oregon the greenest city in the US, but this year, NYC breaks into the top five. Here's what the ratings mean
September 19, 2008
Do Good and Do Well
A UK government pledge to invest 1 billion pounds in residential energy efficiency would give a boost to green tech manufacturers and investors. Makes sense
Energy Law Unlikely
Prospects dim for Senate action on a massive energy bill that includes both offshore oil drilling and tax breaks for alternate energy providers. An alternate energy tax bill may be passed separately. Any cheering?
Chicago's Green Building Blueprint
Chicago's got a plan for making energy efficient buildings its new normal. Fine print [7.22MB]
Chicago! Chicago!
It's a wonderful town, let me show you around it's ambitious plan to combat climate change. Chicago!
September 18, 2008
Make It Now, Use It Later
Can flywheels be the killer app to store electric power for future use? A pilot project will launch later this year. Turn, turn
Get A Smarter Grid
GE and Google join to lobby Washington for expanding the nation's electric power grid by using advanced technology. An expanded grid would make it easier to carry electricity coming from renewable resources. Plug in
Making Connections
Energy-ethanol-corn-agribusiness-politics. Look into it
Everything Changes
Need something else to worry about - try the science of abrupt climate change. Fine print
September 17, 2008
Is This The End Of RGGI?
Responding to worries that a new Executive Order spells the end for RGGI in New York, Governor Paterson states his commitment to this carbon cap and trade program. Stay tuned
Berkeley OKs Solar Loans
Berkeley CA's City Council approves a loan program for solar panels with repayments based on utility bill savings, but lenders haven't lined up yet. Banks a lot!
What Moves Markets?
A report by the American Physical Society finds that federal climate action is key to bringing existing and emerging low-carbon technologies to mass markets. Efficiency's the thing
What's The Discount Rate Got To Do With It?
Setting a discount rate in the economics of global warming economic policy is one hot topic! Here's the speed-dating version of the debate. Love it
September 16, 2008
A Dimmer Energy Star
Consumers Union reports that some Energy Star-rated appliances do not perform as promised and calls for an improved EPA rating system. Label that
Lehman's Carbon Fallout
The carbon emissions trading desk in London is one victim of the Lehman collapse. Gone
The Google Float
Google floats the concept of water-based data centers that would get their electricity from wave power. Dream boat?
Credit Crunches Clean Power
The European clean energy sector faces bleak financial markets. Plug in
RGGI: Market Failure?
With the launch of RGGI--the ten state market for CO2--just weeks away, questions are being raised about the volume of available emissions credits . Stay tuned
September 15, 2008
Will Climate & Trade Policies Collide?
The US is not alone in struggling over climate change and international trade policies. Import that
Carbon Capture Options
With atmospheric CO2 levels relentlessly rising, can we pass up carbon capture? It's debatable
September 12, 2008
Pricing Carbon: Deep Thoughts
A new study of carbon cap & trade predicts both differential impacts on emissions and significant revenues. Fine print
African Rainfall & Climate Change
Scientists see links between drought in central Africa to climate change by way of ocean warming. Connect here
A Sea-Change On Ocean Drilling
Congressional Democrats are supporting off-shore oil drilling, but will they insist on extending the alternative energy tax credit and clean fuel utility requirements? Stay tuned
Fannie! Freddie! GM?
US auto makers ask for billions in loans from Washington to gear up for energy efficiency. Oh please
Palin - Just Say No
In August, Governor Palin urged Governor Schwarzenegger to veto emissions fees at California shipping ports. And then?
Sunny Money Going Global
Korean electronics giant LG buys into a German solar module plant, it's first international investment in this sector. Plug in
September 11, 2008
Insulation-Sexy No, Warm Yes
Enhanced building insulation is a centerpiece of PM Brown's new energy policy; but silent on "windfall" taxes. Read on
Carbon Markets: Later For That
Cap and trade pros are bearish about the chances for passage of federal climate legislation any time soon. Climate Wire [Subscribers only]
Deep Green
Tom Friedman once wrote, "Green is the new red, white and blue". Now, listen to a conversation with Tom on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross about his new book and America's current color.
Tougher Tidal Turbines
Scots researchers are testing a new contra-rotating tidal turbine. Spin in
September 10, 2008
Paint It White
Scientists quantify the global warming value of 100 global cities converting to white roofs and light color pavements. Just do it
2008: How Cool
What to make of reports about plunging global temperatures? Think in patterns
Remember The Marcellus Shale
A possible source of natural gas, the Marcellus Shale is in the NYC watershed and drilling could pose a threat to this water supply. Now, legislation might head off this environmental risk. Dig in
September 09, 2008
Chew On This
Researchers find the climate impact of food choices is greatest for red-meat eaters not for those who eat food grown at a distance. Dig in
Numb To Drilling
The media got the facts wrong when reporting on offshore oil drilling and its impact on the price of gas. That's right
September 08, 2008
Double Up
Not seen on City streets since 1953, the MTA is test-driving double decker buses. Hop aboard
Our Greatest Liquid Asset?
NYC's underground drinking water filtration plant in the Bronx is six years late and 400% more expensive than planned. Bottoms up
Nothing Ventured
Rizhao, a Chinese resort city, aims to go carbon neutral. Nothing gained
Is China's Climate on Climate Changing?
A government advisor publicly breaks with orthodoxy, calling for China to accept binding GHG emission cuts. Move on
September 05, 2008
Up Yes, Down Maybe
The spike in gas prices rippled through the local economy this year, but the recent fall in the price of gas hasn't made its mark. Waiting?
Geothermal Pals
Australia, Iceland and the US create an International Partnership for Geothermal Technology. Cool
Climate-Friendly Cement, Really
Cement-making, a major source of C02, could soon become climate-friendly. Get set
RGGI At Risk
The role of New York in the northeast's plan to cut GHG's could shrink due to an order drafted by Governor Paterson. Stay tuned
Will Your Feet Get Wet?
Here's a review of new scientific papers on sea level rise and global warming. Jump in
September 04, 2008
Clean Coal Power For Germany
A pilot carbon sequestration project at a coal-fired power plant in Germany launches next week. Questions raised over Euro-scale funding. Stay tuned
For Loss Of A Tax Credit...
Congress' failure to extend tax credits for renewable energy isn't getting much coverage now, but it should.
Scientists find that the 1998 'hockey stick' graph of temperature changes in the northern hemisphere, is validated by current data. Get the score & Get the backstory
Lomberg v Yohe: Moving On
While Bjorn Lomborg and Gary Yohe disagree on many critical global warming issues, they agree that now's the time for smart solutions. Read more
UK Green Firm Upbeat On Growth
Britain's biggest home energy efficiency services firm sees green markets growing despite current losses. Look into it
September 02, 2008
New Mayor New Plan
London's new Mayor issues his urban climate adaptation plan. Fine print [2.8MB]
Zen Threatened
Kyoto's Zen temple gardens are imperiled by global warming. Go now
And The Wind-Power Champ Is...
Romania. Who knew!