Top Stories
Speech Highlights: Obama Hits Republicans,
Pledges to Find Votes for Energy.—reliability high.
Quoting from President Obama's speech at Carnegie Mellon University:
"But the only way the transition to clean energy will ultimately
succeed is if the private sector is fully invested in this future -- if
capital comes off the sidelines and the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs
is unleashed. And the only way to do that is by finally putting a
price on carbon pollution. ... And, Pittsburgh, I want you to know, the
votes may not be there right now, but I intend to find them in the
coming months. (Applause.) I will continue to make the case
for a clean energy future wherever and whenever I can.
(Applause.) I will work with anyone to get this done -- and we
will get it done." From The
Atlantic. [Is
Deepwater Horizon empowering Obama to make climate bill a higher
priority? His political calculations must suggest that his chances of
passing the bill have increased as the Gulf disaster expands.]
Reversal of Energy Intensity Trend Elicits
'Iron' Resolve in China.—reliability medium.
"In a nationally televised videoconference, Premier Wen used very
strong language, saying that energy conservation is a 'fundamental
national policy' that concerns the 'survival and development of the
Chinese people.' Government communications have gone on to
attribute Premier Wen as using the vivid metaphor of needing to use an
'iron hand' ('采取铁的手腕' [Chinese characters]) to eliminate backward heavy
industrial
production capacity." From Green
Leap Forward.
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
Daman Ganga Mills Board to roll out recycled
abrasive, decor paper products.—reliability high.
Daman Ganga Mills Board of Vapi, India, is planning to produce and
market innovative products like abrasive paper and decor paper using
fibre recycled from Tetra Pak cartons. From Sify
Finance.
DOE Connects High-Efficiency Window
Suppliers with Buyers.—reliability high.
"The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the
Highly-Insulating R-5 Windows and Low-e Storm Windows Volume Purchase
Program, as part of a multi-year integrated strategy to help drive the
use of high-efficiency windows. ... The initiative will pair
manufacturers with buyers looking to purchase large volumes of
high-efficiency windows. It also will set performance standards for two
new types of energy-efficient windows." See Environmental
Leader story.
Anti-Idling Tech Saves Ottawa Police 465
Gallons of Fuel Annually per Car.—reliability high.
"In separate moves to reduce carbon emissions in Canada, the Ottawa
Police Service is installing anti-idling technology on its vehicles
while Toronto’s Board of Health votes to limit the maximum time
motorists can idle their motors to one minute. By installing
anti-idling technology on its vehicles, the Ottawa Police Service
expects to save 1,764 liters (465 gallons) of fuel a year per car,
which is enough to drive across Canada four times, reports Ottawa
Citizen. ... A report (PDF) from Toronto’s medical officer of
health finds that idling wastes 90 million liters (23,775,484 gallons)
of fuel per year and emits 215 million tons of carbon dioxide, almost
half of it in Toronto. The emissions also contribute to 1,700
hospitalizations in Toronto each year and 440 deaths." Story at Environmental
Leader. PDF of health report here.
Government and
Regulation
Indonesia says won't revoke existing
forestry licenses.—reliability high.
"Indonesia won't revoke existing forestry licenses for palm oil firms
as part of a deal with Norway to preserve rain forests, a government
minister and industry official said on Wednesday. Chief Economic
Minister Hatta Rajasa told reporters that the government had no
intention of limiting the expansion of the $15-billion Indonesian palm
oil industry, although it was committed to slowing deforestation. ... A
government official had previously said Indonesia could revoke
licenses, and would provide compensation and degraded land in exchange,
prompting planters to say that such a move would put their investments
in jeopardy." From Reuters.
[A reversal from
yesterday.]
Calif. moves to ban plastic bags at grocery
stores.—reliability high.
"It could soon cost California shoppers at the checkout aisle if they
forget to bring their own bags to the store under what would be the
nation's first statewide plastic bag ban. The California Assembly on
Wednesday passed legislation prohibiting pharmacies and grocery, liquor
and convenience stores from giving out plastic bags. The bill also
calls for customers to be charged for using store-issued paper bags.
... The measure has the support of the California Grocers Association,
which decided to the back the bill after Brownley agreed to subject all
stores that sell groceries to the ban. It also gives grocery stores one
set of rules to follow rather than a patchwork of local ordinances,
said Dave Heylen, spokesman for the association." Story at MSNBC
from AP.
[Crossposted from HaraBara.com courtesy of HaraBara, Inc. Copyright © 2010 HaraBara, Inc.]
