US Department of Labor announces $100 million in green jobs training grants through Recovery Act

LINK to all GRANT RECIPIENTS: ETP_SGA_Award_Summaries_120409
According to the Press Release, “Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced nearly $100 million in green jobs training grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The grants will support job training programs to help dislocated workers and others, including veterans, women, [...]

U.S. carbon market growth seen without climate bill

According to Reuters, “Voluntary carbon markets in the United States will grow especially at the regional level even if a stalled federal climate bill fails to impose “cap and trade” on American industry, the chairman of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) said on Tuesday.
“I think we will continue to see interest in voluntary carbon markets [...]

United States Announces $1 Billion to Reduce Forest Emissions

According to the Press Release, “Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the United States, joined by Australia, France, Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom, agreed, in the context of an ambitious and comprehensive outcome in Copenhagen, to dedicate a total of USD3.5 billion as initial public finance towards slowing, halting and eventually reversing deforestation in [...]

EPA: Greenhouse Gases Threaten Public Health and the Environment

According to the Press Release, “WASHINGTON – After a thorough examination of the scientific evidence and careful consideration of public comments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that greenhouse gases (GHGs) threaten the public health and welfare of the American people. EPA also finds that GHG emissions from on-road vehicles contribute to that [...]

U.S.-China Alliance in Clean Energy

U.S. and Chinese Presidents, Barack Obama and Hu Jintao, more or less announced their partnership in clean energy technology last Tuesday. Specifically, the two signed official documents declaring their “cooperation on climate change, energy and environment.”
Their first task will be constructing a U.S-China Clean Energy Research Center in a joint effort [...]

Citizens for Affordable Energy

Former Shell gas man John Hofmeister has a new gig, and it’s not trying to sell you gasoline at $5 a gallon. Besides touring the country on a speaking tour, Hofmeister has created a non-profit organization called Citizens for Affordable Energy. (http://www.citizensforaffordableenergy.org)
While it may seem ironic, that a man who has worked for General Electric [...]

U.S. singled out for delay of climate pact

According to Reuters, ” The United States is likely to bear the brunt of the blame among recession-hit developed nations for an expected six- to 12-month delay to a new global climate deal hoped for December in Copenhagen.
U.S. failure to match expectations with a carbon target by the December deadline may dent confidence in its [...]

How to boost fuel efficiency? Raise taxes, executives say

According to Reuters, “There’s a simple way to get Americans to drive fuel-efficient cars, according to auto executives, but they are not going to like it — sharply hike the gas tax.
While politically unpalatable, gasoline that costs at least $4 a gallon would have a far greater effect on American fuel usage than Washington’s $25 [...]

U.S. House of Representatives passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act

On the 22nd of October, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, in the hopes of laying the groundwork for a more ecologically friendly future. The main purpose of the act was to bring together both politicians and representatives from the solar industry to plan out what needs to be done. [...]

BMW Returns Diesel to the United States

Most exposure in the United States to diesel automobiles was in the form of old Mercedes Benz clunkers. Since the arrival of these cars well over two decades ago, there has not been a desire for such an automobile in the United States. There have been several attempts to return diesel to the United States, [...]

President Obama signs an Executive Order Focused on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance

According to the White House, “Demonstrating a commitment to lead by example, President Obama signed an Executive Order (attached) today that sets sustainability goals for Federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in their environmental, energy and economic performance. The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to set a 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target within [...]