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.
Federal loans for coal plants clash with carbon cuts
The Washington Post, Steven Mufson
A Depression-era program to bring electricity to rural areas is using taxpayer money to provide billions of dollars in low-interest loans to build coal plants even as Congress seeks ways to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
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Drive to cut emissions creates jobs engine
New York Times, Barbara Whitaker
THE challenge of global warming is moving from rhetoric to the workplace, creating jobs as governments, businesses and environmental groups create markets aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.
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Intelligence chief backs climate study
The Washington Post, Walter Pincus
Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell believes it is “appropriate” for global climate change to be considered in a future National Intelligence Estimate, according to a letter he sent Wednesday to Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
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Will warming chill the global economy?
Business Week – Standard & Poor’s Ratings Direct, David Wyss
The planet’s environment is going through an epochal upheaval in weather patterns. A key question from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services’ point of view is, “What might that mean for economic growth?”
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Right climate choice
Washington Times, Doug Wilson
Is it too late for conservatives to take the lead in designing a sensible climate change policy for America? Until very recently, President Bush’s “watch and wait” mantra — a bow to both the energy lobbies and climate-change skeptics within the Republican Party — effectively left the field to others. But in the last few months disinterest has ceased to be a practical political option.
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Bush moves to counter gas emissions
Washington Post – AP, Jennifer Loven
WASHINGTON — President Bush, prodded by a Supreme Court ruling, said Monday his administration will decide how to regulate pollution from new motor vehicles by the time he leaves office.
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Climate change: new global plan to tie in worst pollution
The Guardian, David Adam and Patrick Wintour
Tony Blair believes he is close to persuading George Bush to accept an ambitious plan to bring the world’s greatest polluters into international partnership to fight climate change for the first time.
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Dingell questions effectiveness of fuel-economy regulations
Wall Street Journal, Mike Spector
DETROIT — Playing to his base in the domestic auto industry, Rep. John Dingell told business leaders here that federal fuel economy regulations may be ineffective in the future for limiting greenhouse gas emissions and curbing America’s dependence on foreign oil.
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Two issues for the future: Climate and deficits
The State, Ann Timberlake and Chad Walldorf
Ms. Timberlake has worked on conservation issues in South Carolina for nearly three decades. Mr. Walldorf is a businessman and former deputy chief of staff to Gov. Mark Sanford.
Elections are about the future. They are about tackling the challenges before us and outlining a more hopeful vision for the country. As the candidates prepare for the second debate in South Carolina tonight, it is an opportunity to focus on the two issues that could have the greatest impact on what America will look like in 20 years: global climate change and our nation’s fiscal crisis.
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Climate talks face international hurdles
New York Times – AP
BONN, Germany (AP) — Efforts to limit global warming must move into a new phase this year or risk a breakdown that would hurt poor countries threatened most by climate change, says the U.N.’s top climate official.
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General Motors completes test run of two hydrogen-powered vehicles
Wall Street Journal, Neal E. Boudette
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — General Motors Corp. moved a step forward in its effort to develop a new generation of environmentally friendly automobiles when it completed a 300-mile test run of two hydrogen-powered vehicles across upstate New York.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 16th, 2007 at 3:12 pm and is filed under Alternative Energy Technology, Climate Change, Eco-Business Strategies, Energy Debate Watch Articles, International Environmental News, Oil and Gas, 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.


