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WHAT'S HOT

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Court denies review of uranium mining permit in New Mexico
Business Week
A 10th U.S. Court of Appeals panel has upheld a Nuclear Regulatory Commission decision that allows a company to leach uranium near an aquifer supplying drinking water to Navajos in northwestern New Mexico.   Read More... Cap-and-trade is back with new White House and Senate "gang"
Politico
President Obama insisted on keeping cap and trade restrictions in a climate bill this year, bringing a bipartisan group of 14 key Senators and top cabinet officials for a White House meeting.   Read More... CA climate change law may cause short-term job loss and energy cost increase
CAIVN
The independent and nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office in Sacramento says there will be some economic disruption and higher energy costs if the 2006 climate change law is implemented.    Read More... Interior secretary dismisses 'land grab' memo as early 'brainstorming'
Great Falls Tribune
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar downplayed an internal memo Tuesday suggesting the federal government take over millions of acres in Montana and other Western states, saying his agency is not pursuing any such steps and would seek public input before it did.   Read More... U.S. appeals court rejects wilderness groups
LocalNews8,.com
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Sierra Club, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and The Wilderness Society cannot intervene in a lawsuit filed by Utah's Kane County seeking ownership of 2 dirt roads crossing federal lands.   Read More... Peabody to fund carbon-capture start-up?
The Street
Coal company Peabody Energy is expected to announce its decision to invest in carbon-capture start-up company Calera this week.   Read More... Sage grouse will require 'closer scrutiny' of energy leases -- BLM
E&E News PM
The Bureau of Land Management will examine oil and gas drilling permits with "closer scrutiny" to determine if they might affect the imperiled greater sage grouse in light of the new protected status for the iconic Western bird, BLM Director Bob Abbey said today.   Read More... Interior: Grouse listing warranted but precluded
Associated Press
The Interior Department announced Friday that it won't list sage grouse as endangered or threatened but will classify the bird among species that are candidates for federal protection.   Read More... Senate trio hopes to hit pay dirt with carbon 'fee' on fuels
New York Times/ClimateWire
Key senators are weighing a request from Big Oil to levy a carbon fee on the industry rather than wrap it into a sweeping cap-and-trade system that covers most of the U.S. economy.   Read More... In Utah, a move to seize federal land
Los Angeles Times
The state House passes a bill allowing the use of eminent domain to take protected land from the federal government. Utah wants to develop a stretch outside Arches National Park and other areas.
  
Read More... Business leaders applaud effort to require disclosure of taxpayer subsidies to lawyers who sue government
Western Business Roundtable
Wealthy activist groups that sue the government and then force taxpayers to pick up the tab for their attorneys' fees would now have those taxpayer subsidies disclosed to the public under legislation jointly introduced by Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House this week.   Read More... Campaign rises against 'subsidies' for environmental lawsuits
Arizona Daily Star
A campaign is growing against the many lawsuits filed by groups such as Tucson's own Center for Biological Diversity. The complaint: A federal law is allowing the center and others to unfairly collect millions in attorneys' fees, which then go to subsidize more lawsuits.   Read More... White House land grab plan exposed
Washington Times
A secret administration memo has surfaced revealing plans for the federal government to seize more than 10 million acres of Western lands from Montana to New Mexico, halting job-creating activities like ranching, forestry, mining and energy development. State governments are outraged that this land grab would dry up their essential tax revenues for funding schools, firehouses and community centers.
  
Read More... States push EPA, Congress to curb business confidentiality claims
Greenwire
Federal law forces companies to provide detailed information to U.S. EPA about the toxicity of the chemicals they use.   Read More...

Energy Security

ENERGY SECURITY


Shareholders approve Denbury, Encore merger
Dallas Business Journal
Shareholders of oil and gas companies Denbury Resources Inc. and Encore Acquisition Co. both approved Denbury's planned acquisition of Encore on Tuesday.   Read More... Denali: Pipeline companies to proceed without Alaska support
Business Week
BP and ConocoPhillips are working together on the $30 billion Denali natural gas pipeline without state support, saying it avoids strings attached to competing plan of TransCanada Corp. and ExxonMobil Corp., which accepts state funds.   Read More... Environmental groups' lawsuit against Shell offshore plan could cause more delays
Alaska Journal of Commerce
The Department of the Interior has delayed submitting a revised environmental assessment of Shell Oil's $300 million Chukchi Sea exploration plan to a Washington, D.C., court.   Read More... Once a solar boom town, Spanish city goes bust
Mother Nature Network
Spain's former coal mining town of Puertollano hosted a brief, 21st-century solar gold rush; and set an example for what not to do.   Read More... U.S. funds new nuclear power technology
UPI
Energy Secretary Chu has announced a $40 million grant to Westinghouse Electric Co. and General Atomics for design and workflow planning for the next generation of U.S. nuclear power plants.   Read More... FCC: "Smart Grid" depends on National Broadband Plan
TechNewsDaily
A federal plan to wire the entire United States with high-speed Internet access will be key to creating a nationwide "smart" power grid for reducing wasted electricity, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).   Read More... National Monument issue heats up in Congress
New York Times
Efforts to strip the Obama administration's authority to create new national monuments are gaining momentum in Congress as lawmakers continue to roll out bills aimed at protecting their states from what they view as a White House agenda to tie up large tracts of land.   Read More... The $62 million T. Boone Pickens project
Greentech Media
T. Boone Pickens, the Chairman of BP Capital Management, told attendees at a recent seminar that the Natural Gas Act - HR 1835 in the House and Senate bill 1408 - will pass by Memorial Day.   Read More... Grid battle threatens wind development
Forbes.com (blog)
That nationwide transmission backbone people like to dream about, the one that is meant to improve reliability while connecting the country's vast renewable energy resources with its power-hungry population? A group of utilities has gotten together to try to break that backbone before it even gets planned, never mind built.   Read More... Senate proposal could hurt U.S. wind industry
RenewableEnergyWorld
This week, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced legislation that, if passed, would restrict any renewable energy project that uses less than 100% U.S. made components from receiving tax payer subsidies and grants.   Read More... U.S. oil, gas taxes face ‘fierce’ opposition, lawmaker says
Bloomberg/BusinessWeek
The Obama administration should abandon plans to raise $45 billion by eliminating tax breaks for fossil-fuel producers such as Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu said.   Read More... Two plans in preparation for coastal oil and gas drilling
Houston Chronicle
The Obama administration will announce its plans for coastal oil and gas drilling leases by the end of March, says Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.   Read More... EPA asked to study gas-drilling technique
Reuters
Dozens of environmental groups have asked urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study the hydraulic fracturing technique of extracting natural gas, amid concern that it contaminates drinking water with toxic chemicals.   Read More... Coalition for Fair Transmission Policy launched
The Earth Times
A diverse group of electric utilities launched the Coalition for Fair Transmission Policy. The group will support legislative and regulatory policies within comprehensive energy legislation that will lead to the most efficient development of the nation's electric transmission systems and clean generation resources.   Read More...

Mineral Security
MINERAL SECURITY


Environmental coalition to host anti-uranium mining conference in Virginia
Chatham Star-Tribune
In an effort to block President Obama's nuclear power plant program, six environmental groups are sponsoring the "Symposium to explore uranium mining in Virginia" in Richmond on March 11.   Read More... Feds and tribe sue mining company for 100 years of operations
Courthouse News Service
The federal government and the Coeur d'Alene tribe have filed suit in Idaho District Court against Sidney Resources Corp., successor to Bunker Hill Mining, in a move to extract money for alleged damages dating back to 1910.   Read More...

Roundtable in the News

ROUNDTABLE IN THE NEWS



Opinion and Commentary

ACTION ALERTS


Transparency blacked out -- time to get the truth
Salt Lake Tribune (U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis)
Our nation's governing document grants every American the right to petition their government for a redress of grievances. Over the course of our history, we have gone to great lengths to ensure that every person has the same access to that right regardless of race, creed or class. In fact, the law dictates that citizens should be reimbursed for their legal expenses should they sue the federal government and win. No American should have to risk their livelihood or savings in order to seek justice. That is why, in 1980, Congress passed the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).
  
Read More... Blinded by science
Real Clear Politics
Science, many scientists say, has been restored to her rightful throne because progressives have regained power. Progressives, say progressives, emulate the cool detachment of scientific discourse. So hear now the calm, collected voice of a scientist lavishly honored by progressives, Rajendra Pachauri.    Read More... Sage grouse numbers don't justify listing
Salt Lake Tribune
Wyoming officials are waiting anxiously for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide whether the sage grouse will be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.   Read More...

Climate Science News

CLIMATE NEWS


Senators lobbying new climate bill "compromise" with no bill
The Hill
The three senators writing compromise climate legislation are lobbying business groups in hopes of winning their support for the effort. One obstacle: the absence of an actual bill.   Read More... Lawmakers from coal states seek to delay emission limits
New York Times
Coal-country lawmakers have moved to impose a two-year moratorium on potential federal regulation of carbon dioxide and other climate-altering gases.   Read More... Top scientists admit Climategate seriously damaged public trust
New York Times
A number of top scientists say the unauthorized release last fall of hundreds of e-mail messages from a major climate research center in England caused a major breach of faith in their research. They say the uproar threatens to undermine decades of work and has badly damaged public trust in the scientific enterprise.   Read More... Scientists taking steps to defend work on climate
New York Times
For months, climate scientists have taken a vicious beating in the media and on the Internet, accused of hiding data, covering up errors and suppressing alternate views. Their response until now has been largely to assert the legitimacy of the vast body of climate science and to mock their critics as cranks and know-nothings.   Read More...

Technology News

TECHNOLOGY NEWS


First Solar signs 300-MW PPA with PG&E
RenewableEnergyWorld
First Solar has signed a 300-megawatt (MW) power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) with electricity from a utility-scale solar photovoltaic power facility that First Solar is developing in Southern California.   Read More... Superconducting underground cable: Massive electrical transmission solution?
GreeningOfOil.com
Electric Power Research Institute says moving huge quantities of electricity over vast distances is feasible with new transmission system using direct current and superconducting cables.   Read More... Energy Secretary Chu announces $154 million grant for carbon capture and storage project
U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that NRG Energy has been awarded $154 million for its carbon dioxide capture and sequestration project in Texas.   Read More... Algae-based biofuels could get attention from Congress
ThomasNet News
The Biotechnology Industry Organization has urged Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) to extend tax code parity to algae-based biofuels as soon as possible. Algae producers are at a disadvantage in attracting investment because these biofuels are not currently recognized in the tax code as advanced biofuels.   Read More... Can sound waves reduce power consumption?
Greentech Media
PARC says it may have developed a way to run air conditioners on sound waves.   Read More... APS gets Corporation Commission approval for solar, energy-efficiency programs
Phoenix Business Journal
Arizona Public Service Co. received approval for a program to roll out utility-scale photovoltaic systems, and for a program designed to make new homes more energy-efficient.   Read More... Closed N-fuel cycle must to mitigate climate change threat
Times of India
World scientific community has acknowledged that nuclear energy is a mitigating one in the context of climate change threat, but to make it sustainable, completing the nuclear fuel cycle is a must, a top scientist has said.   Read More... Carbon dioxide injection under way in Alabama EOR pilot project
Oil & Gas Journal
A project team has begun to inject carbon dioxide into Alabama’s Citronelle field as part of a $7.9 million pilot project to determine whether the field is ideal for simultaneous enhanced oil recovery and CO2 storage, the DOE said on Mar. 1.   Read More... Kyocera to manufacture solar modules in the U.S.
RenewableEnergyWorld
Kyocera Solar announced plans to begin manufacturing solar modules in San Diego to serve the U.S. market's growing demand for clean energy. The U.S. module manufacturing will support a new milestone for Kyocera's solar energy business — global production capacity targeting 1,000 megawatts of solar cells per year by March 2013.   Read More...

News from Congress

NEWS FROM CONGRESS



News from the States

NEWS FROM THE STATES


Wyoming Supreme Court upholds coal plant permit
Wyoming Energy News
The Wyoming Supreme Court has upheld a state air quality permit for a power plant being built at a coal mine north of Gillette.   Read More... Biofuels Summit to feature research, public policy, and economics
Earth Times
The Southwestern Biofuels Association (SWBA) Annual Policy Summit is set to discuss new challenges facing biofuels development and strategies to advance renewable fuels in New Mexico and the Southwest.   Read More... Los Angeles Unified School District gets funds to "go green"
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles schools are getting millions to "go green" from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Southern California Edison and the L.A. Department of Water and Power. $120 million in federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds may help LAUSD go solar.   Read More... Montana: County pitches biomass energy projects
Independent Record
Lewis and Clark County officials are seeking $800,000 in federal money they say would support a trio of pilot biofuel projects in the area aimed at turning beetle-killed trees into energy.
  
Read More... Oregon: Company plans 'green' energy plant
Portland Business Journal
S4 Energy Solutions LLC said it will start work this summer on a renewable energy project in the Columbia River Gorge that uses landfill waste to produce multiple fuel types.   Read More...

News from our Allies

NEWS FROM OUR ALLIES


Insider says ideology and headlines trump actual clean energy
Houston Chronicle
No one's against cleaner energy. But is it material? Is it affordable? Can it deliver commercial, ample new energy to the ever-aging existing energy system? Let's be honest. It's incremental and expensive.   Read More...

New Studies & Findings

NEW STUDIES AND RESEARCH


SRI wins $4.5M carbon capture study contract
San Francisco Business Times
SRI wins $4.5 million grant to study carbon dioxide capture using an ammonium carbonate-ammonium bicarbonate, or AC-ABC, method. It’s meant to be used at gasification plants, which use new technology to convert coal to gasses before burning.   Read More...

Kudo of the Week

KUDO OF THE WEEK


Lummis, Herseth Sandlin, Bishop lead bipartisan effort to shine light on lawsuit payments
U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis
A bipartisan trio of western members of Congress, U.S. Representatives Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., and Rob Bishop, R-Utah, have teamed up to introduce the “Open EAJA Act of 2010.” The bill seeks to reinstate critical oversight and transparency measures for payments made to organizations through the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).
  
Read More...

Outrage of the Week

OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK


Foreign energy firms getting windfall of U.S. stimulus funds
San Diego Union-Tribune
Of the more than $2 billion the federal government has given out to boost the economy and create green-energy jobs, more than three-quarters has gone to foreign-owned companies that dominate the global wind-power industry.   Read More...

MythBusters

MYTHBUSTERS


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