Energy & Climate | Climate | Greenbiz.com

U.K. Low Carbon Transition Plan Puts Government In Charge of Renewables

James Murray — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:16:00 -0700

The U.K.'s Low Carbon Transition Plan released Wednesday secures wide-ranging praise as the government outlines how it plans to deliver deep emission cuts of 34 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Climate Follies: Bankrolling Dirty Power in Developing Countries

Mindy S. Lubber — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:22:00 -0700

While the industrialized world is struggling to cut its emissions, and is gearing up to negotiate a new international climate treaty in Copenhagen this December, it is simultaneously bankrolling the construction of thousands upon thousands of megawatts of new coal-fired power in developing countries.

Efficiency Projects Save Texas Instruments $5.1M

GreenBiz Staff — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:36:00 -0700

The company's efforts trimmed energy use by 5 percent and water consumption by 7.3 percent, while overall greenhouse gas emissions shrank 2.8 percent.

L.A.'s Coal Ban Leads to Another Abandoned Power Plant

Tilde Herrera — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:36:00 -0700

The Sierra Club enjoyed a victory last week when a Utah-based utility announced it would walk away from plans to build a coal-fired generating unit in the state. According to the environmental group’s tally, 100 coal plants have been foiled or abandoned since 2001, the beginning of an era it dubbed the “Coal Rush.”

Climate Savers: Global Climate Treaty Good for Business

ClimateBiz Staff — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:58:00 -0700

Nike, Nokia, HP and 16 other multinational companies launched a campaign this week to nudge world leaders toward agreement of a global climate change treaty by late 2009. The Let the Clean Economy Begin campaign was unveiled as the G8 leaders convene in Italy to discuss climate change and the U.S. Senate begins hearings on climate change legislation.

Efficiency, Renewables and Trees Vital to Global Climate Goals

ClimateBiz Staff — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:49:00 -0700

A new Climate Group report predicts that scaling up energy efficiency, renewable energy and deforestation prevention can deliver 70 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions cuts needed by 2020.

PSE&G Launches $190M Customer Energy Efficiency Program

GreenBiz Staff — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:33:00 -0700

The new initiative expands on the company's nine-month-old project to conduct energy efficiency audits to hospitals, municipal buildings, businesses and residential customers.

EPA Proposes Tough Emissions Rules for Ships

GreenBiz Staff — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:46:00 -0700

The EPA announced plans to create tougher rules to reduce air pollution from U.S.-flagged ships Wednesday, the same day new fuel regulations for ocean-going vessels went into effect in California. A day earlier, the state finally received a long sought-after waiver that allows it to regulate vehicle tailpipe emissions in its efforts to address climate change.

Dow and Algenol Partner for Algae-Based CO2-to-Ethanol Pilot Project

ClimateBiz Staff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:37:00 -0700

The biorefinery will be built on 24 acres at Dow’s site in Freeport, Texas, where it will use carbon dioxide produced at a nearby Dow manufacturing facility. Algenol applied for $25 million in stimulus funds to cover half the project's costs.

U.K. Targets SMBs For No-Interest Energy Efficiency Loans

ClimateBiz Staff — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:17:00 -0700

The Carbon Trust expanded eligibility of an interest-free loan program that will dole out £100m (US$165.6 million) over the next two years to help small- and medium-sized businesses replace old and inefficient equipment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A Strong Energy Bill Means a Strong Economy and Future

Mindy S. Lubber — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:57:00 -0700

Friday’s historic House vote on the climate change bill will go down as one of the most important votes of our era. Congress has taken a vital step toward launching the first national action plan to address climate change, and moving America down the vitally needed path to a new economy.

House Passes Landmark Climate Change Bill, Now Heads to Senate

ClimateBiz Staff — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:18:00 -0700

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a sweeping climate change bill today that will significantly change the way Americans use and produce energy. The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), which passed on a 219-212 vote, now moves to the Senate, where experts predict another battle.

The Nexus of Climate Change and Human Rights

Ryan Schuchard and Nicki Weston — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:02:00 -0700

The intersection of climate change and human rights is an emerging issue for global companies as climate change mitigation, adaptation and its direct effects impact human rights in the communities where they operate.

Will Coal Finally Get the Chance to Clean up its Act?

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:30:00 -0700

The Department of Energy announced its support for the first commercial-scale carbon capture and sequestration power plant, but will it live up to the much-hyped notion of "clean coal"?

Clean Energy Creates Jobs, Improves Economic Growth

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:55:00 -0700

"Green collar jobs" has been the buzz term in business and policy circles as the solution to rising unemployment and greenhouse gas emissions. Two new reports show that the U.S. and states such as California can improve economic growth by employing clean energy strategies. And one of the reports says "business as usual" could make California's economy worse in the long run.