Germany: First Field Tests of Low-Temperature Fuel Cells for Single-Family Homes
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Senate Unanimous in Safeguarding Wilderness
URL: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-27-09.asp#anchor2 Website: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-27-09.asp#anchor2
FACTBOX – Details of Final US Energy Bill
URL: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31793/story.htm Website: http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31793/story.htm
Lawmakers Near Agreement on Energy Bill
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Energy Bill – A Waste of Energy
Natural Resources Defense Council, by Karen Wayland, July 26, 2005 With the House-Senate Conference Committee reporting out comprehensive energy legislation, environmentalists are left wondering, “What’s the point of an energy bill that doesn’t save energy?” The following is a statement by Karen Wayland, legislative director for Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): “Congress has failed to deliver a responsible energy policy that moves America towards energy independence and energy security while providing affordable energy and a clean environment. By every measure, the energy bill put forth by this Congress turned out to be not just a missed opportunity but a huge waste of energy. In fact, clearly nothing good can come from this bill, so why the rush? We urge Congress to quit while it’s behind and put the brakes on what really is an energy bill in name only. “Everyone agrees that the energy bill must reduce America’s growing dependence on oil and lower energy prices for consumers. Most also believe that we should invest aggressively in U.S. technologies to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy sources that can create jobs. And reducing global warming pollution is of paramount importance. To this we would add that any energy bill must […]
Energy Bill: Curbs on Fossil Fuel Consumption Killed
Working furiously to try to strike a deal on broad energy legislation, congressional negotiators Monday killed two major provisions intended to curb consumption of traditional fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal. House members rejected an effort to incorporate a plan passed by the Senate to require utilities to use more renewable energy such as wind and solar power to generate electricity. They also defeated a bid to direct the president to find ways to cut the nation’s appetite for oil by a million barrels a day. Backers of the initiative to identify the oil savings said it was an alternative to the politically difficult approach of increasing automotive gas mileage standards and would demonstrate that Congress was serious about cutting the nation’s dependence on oil imports. “We are having an energy bill that is doing so much on the supply side that we need to address the demand side,” said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, who said the goal was the “bare minimum of what we ought to be doing.” But Republican opponents of the plan said the fuel savings target could lead to unpopular restrictions such as mandatory carpools and put too much responsibility for achieving the […]
U.S. Senator Hatch Scores Big Win in Energy Tax Conference
After four bruising days of intense negotiations, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) secured a number of provisions in the House-Senate conference report on energy tax legislation that will make a significant impact on Utahns’ energy concerns. Hatch was one of the three Senate conferees to negotiate the tax provisions of the comprehensive energy bill that were completed early this morning. “We’re providing good incentives that hit right at the heart of our energy problems ? lack of refining capacity and the need for more alternative sources of energy,” Hatch said. “Utah has vast and largely untapped alternative and renewable fuel resources, and the hybrid provisions will go a long way in increasing the number of high-milage, environmentally friendly cars on Utah’s highways.” The compromise House-Senate energy tax bill includes the following Hatch-sponsored provisions: ? Clean Efficient Vehicles Resulting from Advanced Car Technologies (CLEAR ACT, S. 971): The CLEAR ACT provides tax incentives to consumers who purchase alternative-fuel and hybrid-electric vehicles, tax incentives at the pump for the purchase of alternative transportation fuels, and tax incentives for the purchase and installation of alternative fueling equipment. ? Gas Price Reduction Through Increased Refining Capacity Act (S. 1039): This provision would provide for […]
House-Senate Conferees Complete Energy Bill
The House-Senate conference committee today approved the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R. 6). The action clears the way for final passage this week and will satisfy President Bush’s ambitious goal of completing a comprehensive energy bill this month. H.R. 6 is expected to easily win a bipartisan majority in the House and the Senate, sending the bill to the White House. The conference committee met five times in sessions open to the media and the general public. In addition, the main four conferees, Barton, U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., and U.S. Sens. Domenici and Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., met 11 times altogether. The renewable energy portfolio standards and measures to increase vehicle petroleum efficiency did not make it into the bill. Drilling in the Arctic National Refuge was also dropped by the conference committee!! Specifically the bill: * Encourages more domestic production of oil with incentives such as a streamlined permit process; promote greater refining capacity to bring more oil to market; and includes measures to stop the proliferation of regional boutique fuels. To scale back demand for oil, the proposal encourages vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells and increases funding for Department of Transportation work to improve fuel-efficiency standards. […]
On the Road With BioWillie
Willie Nelson has been advocating for truckers and farmers for decades – now he sees BioDiesel as a solution for both groups and the environment. Willie Nelson Biodiesel Company, founded in December of 2004, is owned by Nelson and three partners. Customers are lining up for it at truck stops throughout Texas and it will soon be available along the eastern seaboard from Miami up to Rochester, New York. Biodiesel is actually available at over 450 retail pumps in the U.S. and is carried by 1400 U.S. petroleum distributors. But because of his down-home celebrity status, Willie Nelson is bringing it into the spotlight. He’s quickly expanding the bio part of the diesel from 20% (B20) to B40 and B95 blends. Carl Cornelius, owner of one of the most popular truck stops in Texas says, “I’m so doggone enthused about it, it makes my liver quiver.” He plans to build a biodiesel production facility a few hundred yards away. “We’ve got the resources in the U.S. – feedstock from animal fat, soybeans, sunflower seeds, the whole works. All we need is plants to process the biodiesel and get it going. If everybody’s got biodiesel, we don’t need awful wars. We […]
Baseball Stadium Hits Home Run for Recycling & Composting
by Christopher Williams & Steven ShermanSBC Park – home of the San Francisco Giants major league baseball team – seats 42,000 fans. Last season, more than 3 million people attended the games. One feature that sets SBC Park apart from most stadiums is its commitment to comprehensive recycling, water and energy conservation, and growing use of biodegradable, recycled content and lower toxicity products. Giants’ staff recover materials like paper, cardboard, grass clippings and food scraps. The organic residuals – about 12 cubic yards per game – are collected and composted by Norcal Waste Systems. Applied Composting Consulting, under contract with San Francisco’s Department of Environment, provides technical expertise and employee training. By the end of last season, the Giants reached a 56% diversion rate. The team’s goal is to limit purchases to only those items that are compostable or recyclable to further reduce solid waste.The current goal of the Giants organization is to reduce garbage compactor “pulls” (collection events) to one per game day. Before materials recycling began in February 2002, there were three compactor loads pulled per game. In 2003, one compactor was eliminated and the remaining one was pulled twice per game, completely full each time. With increased […]
