Brazil environment minister to step down in March

Also:
Brazil Announces Plan to Slow Amazon Deforestation by 70% - Treehugger
US sees progress with Brazil on climate talks - Reuters


Brazil environment minister to step down in March - Reuters
Excerpt:
"Minc, who made many enemies in politics and business trying to impose stricter environmental regulations, is one of the first in President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's cabinet to announce his departure.


The co-founder of the Green Party in Brazil will run for deputy in the Rio de Janeiro state legislature where he had served as a deputy for the past two decades.

"He thinks that's where he can be most effective in bringing about change," his spokesman told Reuters."

Senate Democrats Introduce Renewable Energy Tax Credit Legislation

Image from Wikipediahttp://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52071&src=rss
Excerpt:
"United States Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John Ensign (D-NV) have introduced the Clean Energy Stimulus Act of 2008. The bill extends the commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for eight years and removes the utility exemption."

Related articles

• Hope under the sun? Senators propose extending renewable energy tax credit [via Zemanta]

Clinton Calls for $1B in Cleantech Stimulus

Image from Wikipediahttp://earth2tech.com/2008/04/03/clinton-calls-for-1b-in-cleantech-stimulus/
Excerpt:
"Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton unveiled an agenda this week in Pittsburgh, Penn., that seeks to dole out $7 billion in tax benefits annually to encourage job creation. Why does the cleantech world care? Because of that money, a whopping $1 billion would be used to shore up federally funded cleantech R&D and the domestic manufacturing of clean energy goods.

Clinton’s calling it “insourcing” (as opposed to “outsourcing” our jobs overseas) and is advocating a “Made Green In America” fund that would invest $500 million annually to encourage the transition to a green economy."

Related articles

• Clinton Proposes $7B Job Plan [via Zemanta]

Renewable tax credits likely to run out, leaving investment at home hanging

Renewable tax credits likely to run out, leaving investment at home hanging
Excerpt:
"On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bill H.R. 5351 to renew a standing investment tax credit for solar, as well as wind, biofuels and other renewable sources. But as in the past, the bill faces stiff resistance in the Senate and a veto from President Bush.

Most media sources have reported on the bill as if its future is still uncertain, but the general feeling among analysts, entrepreneurs and VCs that I’ve talked to is fairly gloomy. Most expect that the credits will run out, leaving the industry in the lurch until the changing of the guard in 2009."

US Ready To Accept Binding Emissions Obligations

Excerpt:
"The U.S. is ready to accept "binding international obligations" on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to James Connaughton and Daniel Price, environmental and economics advisers to President Bush, BBC reports. The Bush administration wants some kind of binding commitment from major developing countries such as China, India and Brazil."
http://blogs.nbcuni.com/greenisuniversal/2008/02/us_ready_to_accept_binding_emi.html

Renewable Energy Leaders Urge Congress, Bush to Extend Tax Credits Quickly

Renewable Energy Leaders Urge Congress, Bush to Extend Tax Credits Quickly
Excerpt:
"Citing the possibility of job losses by the hundreds of thousands and the impact on a weakening economy, leaders of four major U.S. renewable energy trade associations Tuesday called on Congress and President Bush to extend production and investment tax credits that renewable energy developers, their financiers, and local and state governments are counting on to generate tax revenues and cleaner electricity."

EPA Provides Millions in Beach Grants

EPA Provides Millions in Beach Grants
Excerpt:
"EPA announced it is providing $9.75 million in 2008 beach grants, designed to monitor beach water quality and notify the public of beach warnings and closings when bacteria levels rise too high.

The funds are available to 35 eligible states, territories and tribes for the eighth consecutive year. Since 2000, over $71 million has been awarded."
http://earth911.org/blog/2008/01/14/epa-provides-millions-in-beach-grants/

EPA Says 17 States Can’t Set Emission Rules for Cars - New York Times

EPA Says 17 States Can’t Set Emission Rules for Cars - New York Times

Excerpt:
"The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday denied California and 16 other states the right to set their own standards for carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles.

The E.P.A. administrator, Stephen L. Johnson, said the proposed California rules were pre-empted by federal authority and made moot by the energy bill signed into law by President Bush on Wednesday. Mr. Johnson said California had failed to make a compelling case that it needed authority to write its own standards for greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks to help curb global warming."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/washington/20epa.html?em&ex=1198299600&en=3374f6deadedfb89&ei=5087%0A

Bush Signs Bill Boosting Fuel Standards

Bush Signs Bill Boosting Fuel Standards

Excerpt:
"President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming.

The legislation signed by Bush at a ceremony at the Energy Department requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency by 40 percent to an industry average 35 miles per gallon by 2020. It also ramps up production of ethanol use to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071219/bush-fuel-economy/

Foreword by Senator Olympia Snowe - Saving Energy, Growing Jobs - How Environmental Protection Promotes Economic Growth, Profitability, Innovation, an

Foreword by Senator Olympia Snowe - Saving Energy, Growing Jobs - How Environmental Protection Promotes Economic Growth, Profitability, Innovation and

Excerpt from Senator Snowe Foreword:
"Saving Energy Growing Jobs offers a compelling way forward, and demonstrates how environmental protection is not merely compatible with economic growth, but can also create business opportunities. A healthier environment can and must come from collaborative relationships among government, private industry, and the environmental movement..."
http://newsofmaine.blogspot.com/2007/12/foreward-by-senator-olympia-snowe.html

Governors Form Wind Power Coalition

Governors Form Wind Power Coalition

Excerpt:
"Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota (R) and Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico (D) have joined forces to promote a “Governors Windpower Coalition” to increase the use of wind energy across the United States.

The objectives of the coalition include interstate collaboration (on issues like transmission), exchanging information on policy and technology, commissioning research on wind power policy issues, and identifying recommendations for federal and regional policies. It will not receive any funding from industry sources."
http://sustainablog.org/2007/12/10/governors-form-wind-power-coalition/

Senate Committee Mulls Cap-and-Trade System

Senate Committee Mulls Cap-and-Trade System
Excerppt:
"The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is due Wednesday to review details of a cap-and-trade system that could help the United States cut greenhouse gas emissions. It creates a financial incentive for emission reductions by assigning a cost to polluting."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16913038&ft=1&f=1025

A Democracy at Work: Australia Votes on Climate Change*

A Democracy at Work: Australia Votes on Climate Change*

Excerpt:
"Australia has a new government. This Saturday past, the country elected the Labor Party and its leader, Kevin Rudd, (“I am determined to make Australia part of the global climate change solution, not just part of the global climate change problem”) to serve for the next three years. One of their first priorities is to sign the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gas emissions."

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/a_democracy_at.php

Senate OKs Bill to Cut Greenhouse Gases

Senate OKs Bill to Cut Greenhouse Gases

Excerpt:
"A Senate panel approved a bill Thursday that aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than half by 2050."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15858181&ft=1&f=1025

DOE Begins Search for 2008 Solar America Cities

DOE Begins Search for 2008 Solar America Cities

Excerpt:
"Large cities with high electricity demand can now apply to be a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2008 Solar City. Yesterday the DOE announced that the 2008 Solar America Cities program will fund up to twelve cities that demonstrate their commitment to building a sustainable solar infrastructure."

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50459&src=rss

Handicapping the Environmental Gold Rush - The Wall Street Journal

Handicapping the Environmental Gold Rush - The Wall Street Journal

Excerpts:
"In the race to profit off the scramble to go green, there will be winners and losers. Here's how the players currently stack up."

and

"The green stampede is on.

As a global economy powered by cheap fossil fuel comes under intense pressure to change, corporate executives are racing to stay ahead of the tectonic shift in their world.

From Capitol Hill to California and Brussels to Beijing, multinational companies are stepping up their lobbying and tweaking their product lines in response to demands that they get more environmentally attuned. New companies -- even new industries -- are challenging the established giants to exploit a growing market for everything from green cars to green fuels."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119335097973072106.html?mod=hpp_us_editors_picks

When Will Congress Pass Tax Credits for Renewable Energy?

When Will Congress Pass Tax Credits for Renewable Energy?

Excerpt:
"Congress enacted a broad range of renewable energy tax credits in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, but most expire at the end of 2008. Geothermal projects are already feeling the impact of the approaching deadline, as companies must increasingly gamble on what Congress and the President will or will not do about these credits. Unfortunately, this means some projects could be downsized or put on hold."

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50427&src=rss

America's Climate Security Act

America's Climate Security Act

Rock Stars Lobby Congress Against Nuclear Power

Rock Stars Lobby Congress Against Nuclear Power

Plan to Reduce Methane, Soot Emissions Recommended at Congressional Hearing: Could Save Polar Bears

Plan to Reduce Methane, Soot Emissions Recommended at Congressional Hearing: Could Save Polar Bears