Curator / Business & Finance Today / Energy, Environment /
October 31, 2008
Energy, Environment
Deregulation Flurry Will Bind Next President · The Bush administration will lower dozens of environmental regulations in his lame-duck months and make the controversial rules difficult for a new administration to reverse. In 2001, Bush officials withdrew 254 Clinton regulations before they could take effect. (Washington Post)
Alaska Sen. Stevens Convicted Of Lying · A Washington, DC jury convicted Alaskan Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of lying about free home renovations and other gifts he received from a wealthy oil contractor. Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin called for Stevens to resign. (NYT, MSNBC)
‘Cult of Corruption’ In U.S. Oil Watchdog Agency ·
The Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service, which manages the nation's natural gas, oil and other mineral resources on federal lands, is corrupt from "top to bottom," according to a former employee. (CNN)
CNN video: a failure to "protect America's interests"
Peru’s Garcia Accepts Government Resignation · Peruvian President Alan Garcia accepted the resignation of his entire cabinet over an ongoing corruption scandal regarding Petroperu and oil concessions. (BBC) He put on hold five contracts with Norway's Discover Petroluem.
Scientists Track Mercury Pollution To Coal Source · University of Michigan scientists have discovered "fingerprints" in coal that let them track back the mercury pollution it creates when burned. (PhysOrg)
India Seeks $4B In Clean Tech Cash · India is seeking to attract $4 billion in international investment for renewable energy projects in the next five to seven years. Only 3% of India’s energy comes from renewable sources now. (Cleantech Group)
Scientists Leave Biotech For Clean Tech · A growing number of biotech scientists are leaving biotech and pharmaceutical businesses to find jobs in clean tech companies. Venture capitalists put $2.5 billion into clean tech in 2007. (FierceBiotech)
Pickens Debates Calif. Natural Gas Initiative · T. Boone Pickens took to the Internet to debate the merits of a California ballot initiative to aid the natural gas industry. The oil billionaire's opponent was the Sierra Club's Carl Pope. (Grist)
Russian Oil Giants Seek Gov’t Aid · Russia's four oil majors are asking Moscow for help to cover $80 billion in international loans. Gazprom, Rosneft, Lukoil and TNK-BP say they need the help to avoid cutting output. (Barents Observer)
UBS Slashes Oil Price Forecast · UBS cut 15.2% off its fourth-quarter Brent crude forecast, dropping its target price to $106 a barrel from $125. (Bloomberg)
OPINION: Economic Crisis Will Help Clean Tech · Renewable energy technologies will get a boost from the bailout bill's tax credit provisions. Funding may be more difficult, but America already has the technology it needs to get the economy off fossil fuels. (EcoGeek)
Offshore Wind Farms Gain Power · New Jersey, Rhode Island and Delaware are moving ahead with plans to build offshore wind farms. But much still needs to happen before these farms get spinning and their ROI remains to be seen. (TriplePundit)
Cylindrical Solar Cells Challenge Flat Panels · A California startup is betting that cylinders can do a better job of collecting solar energy than current flat panels, even advanced thin-film panels. (Scientific American)
House Dems Unveil Climate Change Plan · House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders released a long-awaited draft legislation that will cap greenhouse gas emissions and set up a market-based program for businesses to trade emissions credits. (CQ)
REVIEW: Christine MacDonald, ‘Green, Inc.’ · The shortcomings of the top groups in the environmental conservation movement have been well documented. Christine MacDonald's new book "Green, Inc." promises more dirt--but doesn't deliver. (Grist)