Environmental Issues 2007

See this at: news.yahoo.com| Added on 05/05/07

Nations have the money and the technology to save the world from the worst ravages of global warming, but they must start acting immediately to succeed, experts agreed on Friday. After five days of intense negotiations, the experts from 120 nations... See more

Nations have the money and the technology to save the world from the worst ravages of global warming, but they must start acting immediately to succeed, experts agreed on Friday. After five days of intense negotiations, the experts from 120 nations endorsed a report laying out proposals to fight climate change which they said were cheap and easy enough for political leaders to act on right away. "If we continue to do what we are doing now, we are in deep trouble," said Ogunlade Davidson, co-chair of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which produced the report. "This report is all about solutions to climate change," Davidson said, emphasising that the way forward was about doing things differently rather than sacrifice. See less

Highlights: Renewable energies, such as wind, solar and biofuel, were highlighted as an important part of the mix, while the experts said putting a price on using the fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases was important. Environmental groups hailed the report as a victory for science over politics...

See this at: nytimes.com| Added on 02/25/07

Under a proposed $45 billion buyout by a team of private equity firms, the TXU Corporation, a Texas utility that has long been the bane of environmental groups, will abandon plans to build 8 of 11 coal plants and commit to a broad menu of... See more

Under a proposed $45 billion buyout by a team of private equity firms, the TXU Corporation, a Texas utility that has long been the bane of environmental groups, will abandon plans to build 8 of 11 coal plants and commit to a broad menu of environmental measures, according to people involved in the negotiations. The roster of commitments came through an unusual process in which the equity firms asked two prominent environmental groups what measures could be taken to win their support. The result is an about-face from the company’s earlier approach to climate-change issues, and includes a goal of returning the carbon-dioxide emissions by TXU to 1990 levels by 2020. See less

Highlights: Environmental groups said yesterday that they had never known of a financial deal with such an ambitious built-in environmental component. Two private equity firms, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company and the Texas Pacific Group, have proposed to buy TXU in what would become the largest...

See this at: news.yahoo.com| Added on 01/27/07

By 2023, California will completely ban the most common chemical used by dry cleaners. Under the newly enacted ban, perchloroethylene is to be phased out starting next year. The state is still debating what the alternative will be. Dry cleaning... See more

By 2023, California will completely ban the most common chemical used by dry cleaners. Under the newly enacted ban, perchloroethylene is to be phased out starting next year. The state is still debating what the alternative will be. Dry cleaning businesses are upset. See less

Highlights: State officials say the fluid causes a variety of cancers. state's 3,400 dry cleaners who now use it must get rid of machines that are 15 years or older by July 2010. the wave of the future _ nontoxic, non-smog forming," said Annette Kondo, spokeswoman for the Coalition for Clean Air, a...

See this at: mlive.com| Added on 01/16/07

When it comes to protecting Michigan's water, the state Supreme Court is being asked to answer this question: How far can an environmental group go? The fight between Nestle Waters and an environmental group over rights to groundwater in Mecosta... See more

When it comes to protecting Michigan's water, the state Supreme Court is being asked to answer this question: How far can an environmental group go? The fight between Nestle Waters and an environmental group over rights to groundwater in Mecosta County -- and harvesting it for sale -- spilled into the Supreme Court on Thursday. The argument is whether the Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation has legal standing over what happens to the environment on land controlled by Nestle. See less

Highlights: January 12, 2007

See this at: timesunion.com| Added on 01/16/07

ALBANY -- An alliance of power companies and manufacturers is lining up to oppose the state's ambitious proposal to combat global warming, which has been three years in the making. That alliance called upon the state Department of Environmental... See more

ALBANY -- An alliance of power companies and manufacturers is lining up to oppose the state's ambitious proposal to combat global warming, which has been three years in the making. That alliance called upon the state Department of Environmental Conservation to reconsider a plan that could force electric plant owners to spend a quarter-billion dollars or more each year on state-issued credits to emit carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas. Gov. Eliot Spitzer sides with environmentalists and scientists who favor the plan, said spokesman Marc Violette. "He spoke in favor of this in May and he has not changed his mind," Violette said. During his State of the State address, Spitzer said he wants to "link and expand" Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative with other states. Last year, as attorney general, Spitzer sued federal environmental officials, accusing them of failing to regulate power plant emissions. RGGI, begun by then-Gov. George Pataki in 2003, involves New York and six other... See less

See this at: ack.net| Added on 01/16/07

Rep. Matthew Patrick, D-Falmouth, yesterday teamed up with a Boston-area legislator to propose a sweeping renewable energy bill that offered everything from a sales tax break to buy fuel efficient cars to putting Massachusetts back into the Regional... See more

Rep. Matthew Patrick, D-Falmouth, yesterday teamed up with a Boston-area legislator to propose a sweeping renewable energy bill that offered everything from a sales tax break to buy fuel efficient cars to putting Massachusetts back into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The bill, which is still being drafted, is expected to number more than 60 pages. Patrick and Rep. James Marzilli, D-Arlington, said its goal is to provide financial incentives for motorists, homeowners, businesses, local governments and utilities to go green. ìIf we don't get serious about addressing this, we could run into some serious problems,î Patrick said. Patrick cited warnings from ISO New England, which run the regionís electric grid, that it could face an energy shortage as soon as this year. The proposed legislation would remove many of the regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles to the development of renewable energy projects in cities and towns. It would also create a funding mechanism for municipal... See less

See this at: washingtonpost.com| Added on 01/16/07

The Bush administration yesterday moved to boost U.S. oil and gas supplies by lifting a long-standing moratorium on drilling in Alaska's Bristol Bay, as OPEC accelerated plans to reduce supplies in order to prop up sagging crude prices. Days before... See more

The Bush administration yesterday moved to boost U.S. oil and gas supplies by lifting a long-standing moratorium on drilling in Alaska's Bristol Bay, as OPEC accelerated plans to reduce supplies in order to prop up sagging crude prices. Days before the House is expected to roll back oil industry tax breaks, the Bush administration also decided to boost royalty rates by a third for ultra-deep-water oil and gas drilling. The action eliminates extra incentives that had been given to offset some of the high costs of operating in those offshore areas. The Interior Department said the change would generate an additional $4.5 billion over 20 years. See less

Highlights: Meanwhile, as the line between environmental and energy policy continue to blur, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) announced a plan yesterday that would boost alternative fuels by requiring a 10 percent cut in the carbon content of vehicle emissions by 2020. He said it would be...