Earlier, we touched on climate change as a core element in American diplomacy as practiced by the Department of State. We’ll now take a look at the first Quadrennial Energy Review, released by the government late in April. The US Department of Energy published the review pursuant to the June 2013 … [continued]
We’ve heard some cautious rejoicing comes from scientists and media this weekend about the world economy and energy carbon dioxide emissions finally decoupling last year. World emissions of CO2 remained at 32.3 billion tons in 2014, while world GDP figures grew by 2.9%. Many analysts have hailed the change as … [continued]
At a wind farm near Palm Springs yesterday, US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell presented the department’s long-awaited plans for both multi-energy renewables development and conservation within 22.5 million acres of the Mojave and other Southern California deserts. More than half the land lies within San Bernardino County. The … [continued]
Energy Post By Vincent Swinkels The Clean Power Plan recently announced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been hailed for its good intentions, but also widely criticized for its “modest” ambitions. What most commentators have failed to note, however, is that, compared to EU climate policies, Obama’s plan … [continued]
In recent media coverage of the US–China solar trade petition, there has been an uptick in predictions that all parties are headed toward a negotiated settlement. I hear these sentiments echoed in my conversations with solar companies who are choosing to wait and see how the SolarWorld petition plays out rather than speak … [continued]
As the federal government starts implementing an aggressive 54.5 mile-per-gallon (mpg) auto fuel efficiency standard, the importance of reducing gasoline consumption for a sustainable American economy and environment becomes clearer every day.
A new report has found that up to 570,000 jobs will be created in the U.S. by 2030 as a direct result of the vehicle fuel economy standards that have recently been proposed by the Obama administration. The study found that 50,000 new jobs in light-duty vehicle manufacturing and … [continued]
For the first time since the 1920s, fees for oil drilling on public land are going up, in an Obama administration Interior Department rule that does not require congressional approval. The election-year timing almost seems designed to wave a red flag in front of the most obdurate opposition party any … [continued]
In a huge win for congressional Democrats and green groups who oppose it, the Obama administration is expected to announce today that it has killed the Keystone XL pipeline, a proposed use of US lands to allow dirty tar sands crude oil to be sent across US soil to the Gulf Coast for processing into usable oil for shipment to world markets.
By far the largest wind project ever built in North America is expected to get final approvals by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the next few months. At 2,000 to 3,000 MW, it will dwarf anything built to date on this side of the Atlantic. This is much bigger than the Roscoe Wind Farm in Texas; the largest so far, at 781 MW.
