Please enjoy today’s energy debate watch, a collection of news stories and perspectives about energy, environment and climate related issues. These articles are provided to keep Terra Rossa readers informed about the current public energy debate but are not intended to express the views of the blog. Let us know your thoughts on these articles or tell us about other current items of interest in the comment thread below.
On Capitol Hill, a warmer climate for biofuels
Washington Post, 06.15.07
Robert Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, had every reason to feel good when he delivered a speech in Tucson this year on the state of the ethanol industry. He could boast of soaring production, support from such former foes as Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), and growing support from average Americans and President Bush. He brushed aside remaining critics, declaring that “even the mightiest eagle cannot soar without resistance from the wind.” He quoted the poet Maya Angelou, and then the fictional pirate of the Caribbean, Jack Sparrow, who said in one movie: “Bring me that horizon.”
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Hertz, Avis plan to boost hybrid fleets
Washington Post, 06.15.07
NEW YORK — The increased demand for “green” vehicles is spilling over to the rental car counter, where many more drivers will soon be able to choose a hybrid vehicle. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. said Thursday it will spend $68 million to add 3,400 Toyota Prius hybrids to its fleets by 2008. And Avis Budget Group Inc. said this week it plans to make 1,000 hybrid Prius vehicles available for rent as early as next week.
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GM revs up fuel-cell development
Wall Street Journal, 06.15.07
DETROIT – General Motors Corp. thinks its hydrogen fuel cell is ready to move out of the research lab. The auto maker, which has been working on fuel cell technology for years, is now shifting responsibility for the work from its research labs to engineering groups that develop engines and vehicles for commercial production.
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Congress loves coal
Wall Street Journal, 06.15.07
The Senate is debating another energy bill — and the direct cost to the government is already estimated at between $140 billion and $205 billion over 15 years in subsidies, tax preferences and loan guarantees. Most of it will go to “alternative” energy. But now the country’s cheapest and most abundant source of normal energy — coal — is also sidling up to this federal trough. Is this what the global warmists had in mind?
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Green goodies
Wall Street Journal, 06.15.07
First came Big Labor. Then the tort lawyers. What special interest lobby remains for the Democratic majority to reward for services rendered this past election? The answer rests in the ecstatic press releases tumbling out of the nation’s largest environmental groups, as they oversee the House’s pending energy legislation. That is, if “energy” is the right word for West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall’s green-payoff of a bill.
This entry was posted on Friday, June 15th, 2007 at 4:05 pm and is filed under Alternative Energy Technology, Eco-Business Strategies, Energy Debate Watch Articles, Politics/Government . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
June 16th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
You missed an important one !
SHELL SLOWS DOWN OIL SHALE RESEARCH
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6155257?source=rss
Shell is the only oil company to be actively researching oil shale. All the others have thrown in the towel and Shell is in no rush. Nothing but research till at least 2010. Since it takes at least 4 years to cook the shale in situ, that means BEST POSSIBLE CASE, first production of minimal oil shale oil in 2015. More likely never.