Carbon

Bill Reduces Emissions, Returns Revenue to Consumers; Bipartisan climate bill uses simple system to reduce global warming pollution and spur clean-energy job growth

December 11,2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce global warming pollution, spur job growth in clean energy technology, and return money directly to consumers.

The Cantwell-Collins Carbon Limits and Energy for America's Renewal (CLEAR) Act would set up a mechanism for selling “carbon shares” to fuel producers and would return most of the resulting revenue in checks to every American. The legislation will achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 20 percent by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050.    » read more »

December 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) issued the following statement.

Today’s announcement marks EPA’s response to the April 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which confirmed that greenhouses gases must be considered as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act:

“I support the EPA findings because the science about global warming is clear. Greenhouse gases do pose a threat to public health. This announcement starts the EPA’s long regulatory process to address global warming under the Clean Air Act.    » read more »

Science overwhelmingly shows greenhouse gas concentrations at unprecedented levels due to human activity

12/07/2009 -- WASHINGTON – After a thorough examination of the scientific evidence and careful consideration of public comments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that greenhouse gases (GHGs) threaten the public health and welfare of the American people. EPA also finds that GHG emissions from on-road vehicles contribute to that threat.

GHGs are the primary driver of climate change, which can lead to hotter, longer heat waves that threaten the health of the sick, poor or elderly; increases in ground-level ozone pollution linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses; as well as other threats to the health and welfare of Americans.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- December 3, 2009 – India will cut its carbon intensity by 20-25 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, according to an announcement today by India’s Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on the floor of the Parliament.

The following is a statement from Jacob Scherr, International Program Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“This is an important pledge that moves international climate negotiations forward and further confirms India’s commitment to addressing climate change.    » read more »

October 2, 2009 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the first round of funding from $1.4 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the selection of 12 projects that will capture carbon dioxide from industrial sources for storage or beneficial use.

The first phase of these projects will include $21.6 million in Recovery Act funding and $22.5 million in private funding for a total initial investment of $44.1 million. The remaining Recovery Act funding will be awarded to the most promising projects during a competitive phase two selection process.    » read more »

Funds Will Support Programs at the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University

September 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Department of Energy will be allocated to the University of Illinois in Champaign, and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. This investment from the Recovery Act will advance carbon capture and storage research and development in Illinois and spark job creation. The funds are being directed as follows:    » read more »

Investment of more than $62 million from Recovery Act reflects Administration’s aggressive approach for carbon capture

September 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $62 million in funding that will boost carbon capture and storage research and development in the years to come. Today’s investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act reflects the Obama Administration’s commitment to creating new jobs, having the U.S. be a leader on climate change, and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.    » read more »

Selected Projects Will Advance U.S. as Leader in Technology to Address Climate Change

August 27, 2009 -- Washington, DC —U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $8.4 million in funding to develop regional sequestration technology training projects. The seven projects announced today will facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technologies required for site development, operations, and monitoring of commercial carbon capture and storage projects.

Today’s funding, which includes $6.9 million in Recovery Act funds, will advance the United States in its position as the leader in technology for addressing climate change and for developing near-zero emission technologies to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from power plants.    » read more »

Potential to Reduce Millions of Tons of CO2 Emissions

Houston, TX - June 18, 2009 -- The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: Dow) and Gazprom Marketing and Trading Limited announced today they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop and implement greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction projects on a global basis. Through this agreement, both companies will work together to identify projects that could cumulatively reduce millions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions through the implementation of Dow technologies and other cooperative efforts.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- During the first week of June, the California Assembly is expected to vote on a bill that would limit the role of offsets in the state's landmark global warming law. The bill, AB 1404, has the support of the Union of Concerned Scientists, the California State Building and Construction Trades Council, and more than 60 health, labor, environmental, faith, social justice and civic organizations that say the bill would foster green job growth in the state, reduce smog-forming air pollutants that endanger public health and help the state meet its emissions-reduction goals.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Ocean acidification, one of the world’s most important climate change challenges, may be left off the agenda at the United Nations Copenhagen conference, the world’s science academies warned today (Monday 1 June 2009). Ocean acidification is expected to cause massive corrosion of our coral reefs and dramatic changes in the makeup of the biodiversity of our oceans and to have significant implications for food production and the livelihoods of millions of people.

The warning is made in a joint statement published by the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues (IAP). 70 national science academies signed the statement.    » read more »

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 28, 2009 -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) announced today the results of an energy audit of capitol complexes in Arkansas. The report includes recommendations that could save the state more than $430,000 in energy costs and help avoid producing more than 2,800 tons of carbon dioxide annually.

“Wal-Mart's audit gives us detailed guidance toward reducing the State of Arkansas's energy costs,” Governor Mike Beebe said. “These recommendations can help us save taxpayer dollars and operate government with better energy efficiency. We appreciate Wal-Mart's continued commitment to improving its home state.”    » read more »

May 28, 2009 -- CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Duke Energy announced it is the lead investor in "GreenTrees," a program that aims to reforest 1 million acres in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The program is expected to generate high-quality, verifiable carbon offsets that Duke Energy believes will help reduce the overall cost of compliance with federal climate change legislation.

GreenTrees seeks to transform open and marginal farmland in this seven-state region into a sustainable ecosystem that captures large quantities of carbon dioxide, creates habitat for wildlife, and benefits landowners who commit to the long-term reforestation of their property. Duke Energy's initial investment will result in the planting of more than 1 million trees on approximately 1,700 acres in Arkansas.    » read more »

ST. LOUIS, May 27 -- Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) today became a founding member of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Carbon Capture Center. The center is a public-private partnership to advance the next generation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. The effort will be based at the Power Systems Development Facility (PSDF) south of Birmingham, Ala., the nation's premier carbon research and development laboratory. Peabody has been a funding partner of the PSDF since 1997.    » read more »

Public-private partnership will focus on developing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal-based electricity generation

ATLANTA, May 27 -- Southern Company today announced it will manage and operate the U.S. Department of Energy's new National Carbon Capture Center, which will develop and test advanced technologies to capture carbon dioxide from coal-based power plants.

The center, a partnership between DOE and leading energy companies, is located at the Power Systems Development Facility (PSDF), a research and development complex south of Birmingham, Ala.    » read more »