"The oil giant Exxon Mobil, whose chief executive once mocked alternative energy by referring to ethanol as “moonshine,” is about to venture into biofuels."
Southern Virginia Democrat Rep. Tom Perriello voted for the House climate bill. Now both parties are waging a political war over his seat that may push the climate issue front and center in 2010 elections nationwide.
The debate over the giant climate-change and energy bill now before Congress has set off a fight between Eastern and Midwestern politicians over transmission lines and solar and wind energy. Many of the best wind sites are in the Midwest, far from the electric load in populous East Coast cities.
"When the United States' top energy and commerce officials arrive in China on Tuesday, they will land in the middle of a building storm over China's protectionist tactics to become the world's leader in renewable energy."
This spring's run-up in oil prices is hard to explain on the basis of market fundamentals. It seems to be the result of speculation in the commodity markets.
"If there weren't already enough barriers to building a gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope, the Lower 48 recently entered its biggest-ever natural gas boom."
Environmental groups say the Interior Department's effort to site solar-power projects on public lands should not harm wildlife and should be accompanies by similar efforts for other kinds of alternative energy.
"The Treasury and the Energy Department today unveiled long-awaited new rules under which the government will pay up to 30 percent of the cost of renewable energy projects."
Consumers are attracted to the "cash-for-clunkers" program that gives them several thousand dollars to trade in old gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient cars.