congress

Wind development and transmission constraints is really an issue that folks need to be focused on during the next session. US DOE vehicle fuel programs will be well protected for years to come and are not the answer to getting renewbale electricty into our regional grid systems. As US Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy and International Affairs, I found one of the greatest underdeveloped efforts is the pursuit of a modern grid interconnection between the United States and Canada. » read more

Would you like to bid on a "carbon credit"? Now that I have your attention: You can! All you need is a minimum financial security of $1,860. And, moreover, you can pretty much do anything you want with the allowance. US carbon trading starts September 25th; in fact, some of the exchanges have already began moving RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) credits. Naturally, the auction system is intended for commercial bidders, but nonetheless, it's important to note that a process is in place and set to launch. » read more

Good news on the production tax credit front! Governors from around the country collectively issued strong support for solar and wind power to get Washington off the dime on extending the production tax credits for renewable energy. They implored Congress to renew tax credits for wind and solar power plants. » read more

I'm sure that most of you heard that on Friday the U.S. Senate dropped a major global warming bill. Some may be dismayed by this failure, but many are also seeing this as a step in the right direction. The U.S. political system wasn't built in a day, and many bills are denied multiple times before they are finally approved and signed into law. Even though the bill would've probably failed by a 54-36 margin, this was a good step in the right direction to addressing a major issue that involves preserving the environment, its species and of course our health.