Today's Climate: November 4, 2008

Kerry Says 'Great Deal' of Consensus Reached on Climate Policy (Bloomberg)

Senator John Kerry said a bipartisan group of 14 lawmakers achieved a "great deal of consensus" on energy policy at the White House yesterday, and he's moving "rapidly" to introduce legislation on the subject.

Obama Wants Climate Bill Passed This Year: Senator (Reuters)

Pres. Obama still wants Congress to pass a climate bill this year, Republican Sen. Susan Collins told reporters on Tuesday after meeting with the president.

Wind Industry Blitzes Hill on Schumer Bill, Renewable Mandate (Greenwire) 

The wind industry is hitting Congress this week in a lobbying blitz aimed at securing a national RES and stopping a Senate measure that would prohibit federal grants from going to companies that manufacture outside America.

NRG Wins Energy Department Grant (The Hill)

NRG Energy will get $154 million from the Energy Department for a carbon capture and sequestration project, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced Tuesday. NRG will match the amount of investment.

U.S. "Cap and Trade" Rebranded "Pollution Reduction" (Reuters) 

Senators pushing climate legislation have decided to scrap the name "cap and trade," which has become a dirty word on Capitol Hill, and rebrand the scheme as "pollution-reduction targets."

Green Stimulus Hit by Slow Spending (Financial Times)

The global green economic stimulus of 2009 has so far achieved little, with only a fraction of the money promised for environmental projects being spent, according to a study from HSBC bank. 

Hedegaard Sets Out Strategy for Global Climate Talks (European Voice)

Connie Hedegaard, the European commissioner for climate action, set out a strategy to restore momentum to international talks, even though she admitted the chances of getting a global climate deal by the end of this year were slim.

EU to Call for Urgent Aid on Climate Projects in Poorer Nations (Bloomberg)

EU finance ministers meeting next week will call on rich nations to "urgently mobilize" on the first round of climate aid for developing countries, according to a draft document obtained by Bloomberg.

EPA: U.S. Saw Record Decline in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2008 (Los Angeles Times)

High gasoline prices, a slow economy and a cool summer caused U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to fall nearly 3% in 2008 from 2007 levels, the EPA said, the largest year-over-year drop the agency has recorded since 1990.

First Solar Wins PG&E Contract for 300 Megawatts in California (Bloomberg)

First Solar, the world’s largest maker of thin-film solar modules, won a contract to supply 300 MW to PG&E Corp.'s utility from a project it's building in Southern California.

Chevron to Cut 2,000 Jobs (Financial Times) 

Chevron, the second biggest oil company in the U.S., said on Tuesday it will cut a further 2,000 positions in its refining and marketing division as it reduces its global downstream workforce by 3,900 employees or about 20% over two years.

Energy Dept. Still Sees $3-Plus Gasoline Coming (AP) 

The Energy Department still expects pump prices to climb past $3 per gallon as more motorists hit the road in the spring and summer driving seasons.

James Hansen Keen on Next-Gen Nuclear Power (The Australian)

According to NASA scientist James Hansen, because the threat of global warming is so serious and renewables are far from providing baseload power, nations must crank up support for so-called third and fourth generation nuclear systems.