Seeking solar possibilities amid the coal-fired power plants of Navajo Nation

Doug Vilsack knows that finding third-world poverty and a lack of connectivity to the electrical grid in modern America might be about as shocking to some people as finding elephants wandering the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners region of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

Midterm Wrapup: What the Election Means for Energy and the Environment

Here’s a quick recap of the midterm results from last night that have implications for energy/climate/environmental policy.

It was mostly bad news for House Democrats who voted for the chamber’s cap-and-trade bill. The two most stinging defeats were Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), who worked furiously behind the scenes to More…

Report: China Blocking Rare Earth Mineral Shipments to U.S.

Just days after the Obama administration announced that it is investigating China’s clean energy trade policies, The New York Times is reporting that the country has blocked shipments to the United States of rare earth minerals essential for the manufacturing of green technologies.

If this is true (the More…

In clean energy race with china, both countries come out ahead

In a last-ditch effort to build support in the Senate for a comprehensive climate bill this July, President Obama told the White House press corps that a failure to pass the legislation could help cement China’s position as the world clean energy industry leader.

[Environment1] “We can’t stand by as More…

Bingaman, Snowe Introduce Energy Tax Incentives Package

Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) have introduced an energy tax incentives bill that they are urging the Senate to pass before the end of the year. The bill includes tax incentives for homes and businesses that invest in energy efficiency, manufacturers of clean energy technology and developers More…

Administration Says Stimulus Dollars Can Achieve Lofty Energy Goals

The Obama administration unveiled today a report that says the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s $100 billion investment in “innovation”  will lead to a number of significant energy-related “breakthroughs.”

Congress Could Spur the Southeast’s Renewable Energy Use, Industry Says

Conventional wisdom has it that the Southeast has few opportunities to develop renewable energy. But renewable energy industry groups are touting a study they say shows Southeastern states will benefit from a renewable energy standard, which they are pushing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to include in his energy More…

With Renewables Standard in Doubt, Coalition Grudgingly Calls for Low Target

The renewable energy industry has largely abandoned efforts to push a stringent renewable energy standard in pending energy legislation, instead calling for a standard that many have said is not strong enough to bring about rapid wind and solar energy development.

[Environment1] On a conference call with reporters today, a More…

Wind Industry Ramps Up Energy Bill Lobbying

With the prospect dimming that the energy bill being cobbled together behind closed doors in the Senate will include a cap on carbon, the wind industry is ramping up its lobbying efforts this week to ensure that its priorities don’t get left behind in the rush to secure 60 votes. More…

Two Reasons Not to Cheer Obama’s Nuclear Ambitions

Daniel Indiviglio at The Atlantic lists five reasons to celebrate President Obama’s renewed commitment to nuclear energy. Let’s take a look at numbers one and four:

Known Quantity

I’ve complained several times about the government making bets on funding business propositions, like electric cars, that have not yet proven

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