Japan’s Cabinet Endorses Cap-and-Trade Climate Bill (via Bloomberg)

The Japanese cabinet has endorsed climate-protection legislation that would establish a national cap-and-trade system and possible carbon tax, in an attempt to reduce emissions 25 percent by 2020. Specific aspects of the system will be worked out within one year of passage.

Five Countries Fall Behind on European Renewable Energy Goals (via New York Times’ Green Inc.)

Five European countries have failed to meet goals for renewable energy, but could make up their quotas by buying clean energy from North Africa and the Balkans, said the European Commission.

Utilities Not Ready for Coming Customer Engagement from Smart Grid (via Earth2Tech)

Utilities may not be fully prepared for the increased amount of customer communication and real-time interaction an expanded smart grid will create, even though they are moving forward with smart meter pilot programs.

Gibbs predicts ‘clamoring’ for energy bill as gas prices rise (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

The annual summer rise in gasoline prices will create demand for energy legislation, but federal action on energy is not a top priority for President Obama, said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Dead Zones Fuel Global Warming (via Mother Jones’ Blue Marble)

Oxygen-deprived dead zones in the world’s oceans can elevate nitrous oxide in the atmosphere, which fuels global warming and increases atmospheric ozone holes, according to a new study.

A New Unit for (Saved) Energy (via New York Times’ Dot Earth)

Several scientists have proposed creating a new unit of measurement for avoided electricity use, to be named after the first proponent of energy efficiency.

Conservatives’ Doubts About Global Warming Grow (via Gallup)

Americans are less likely to believe the effects of global warming are occurring than they were two years ago, according to an annual Gallup poll. The shift is most pronounced among political conservatives.

eBay sells “green” used goods with rainforest reward (via BusinessGreen)

Online marketer eBay has launched a new “green” Web site that encourages consumer to purchase used products over new ones. The first 250,000 people who pledge to reuse goods will have an acre of rainforest preserved in their name.

Ontario’s Clean Water Tech Cluster (via New York Times’ Green Inc.)

Ontario’s provincial government will introduce a “Water Opportunities Act” this year that creates incentives to attract water technology companies.

Where do things stand on international efforts to address global warming? (via Grist)

Four international trends show that progress and developments on the Copenhagen Accord is moving forward.

Study sees efficiency as key to meeting energy needs (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy efficiency is the best available option to improve energy supply-demand balances while also keeping costs low and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study.

SMU researcher say injection well is ‘plausible cause’ of small earthquakes by DFW Airport (via Star-Telegram)

An injection well used to get rid of wastewater from natural gas drilling may be the cause of a series of small earthquakes near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, say researchers.

IEA Chief Predicts End of Internal Combustion Engine by 2050 (via Forbes’ Energy Source)

Higher oil prices and carbon regulations will shift driver and manufacturer preferences completely away from oil-fueled vehicles by 2050, says the International Energy Agency Executive Director.

Solar power could provide 10% of US energy: report (via YahooNews and AFP)

The United States could source 10 percent of its electricity from solar power by 2030, says a new research report.

Peak Oil in 4 Years? (via MotherJones)

A new model predicts peak oil – the point where global oil production reaches a maximum and then declines – may occur as early as 2014.

UK’s low carbon market defies recession to clear 100 billion mark (via BusinessGreen)

The British low-carbon energy market has defied the recession and exceeded expectations by growing 4.3 percent in 2009 to 112 billion pounds.

New ‘gang’ gathering on energy? (via The Politico)

The attendees of yesterday’s White House climate bill negotiation meeting may represent a new blog of moderate U.S. Senators who may move climate legislation forward in Congress.

GOP govs to Congress: Block EPA climate rules (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

A mostly Republican group of 20 state and territorial governors has asked Congress to block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Sun Activity Reaches Century Low, May Slow Warming ‘Slightly’ (via Bloomberg)

Solar activity is at its lowest level in almost 100 years, and if this trend continues, it may slightly slow the pace of global warming, according to a new scientific study.

Developers Lament Loss of Federal Wind Subsidies in Canada (via New York Times’ Green Inc.)

The Canadian government’s decision not to expand or extend a popular renewable energy subsidy program may hinder the Canadian wind energy industry’s ability to compete with developers in other countries.

Report: Time for next stage of sustainable business (via CNET’s Green Tech)

Corporate America needs to track its energy and resource consumption in order to keep pace with social concern about climate change and sustainability issues, according to a new report.

Turning smartphones into air quality monitors (via CNET’s nanotech: the circuits)

Intel Labs has developed a smart phone application that would allow users to monitor ambient air quality, analyze environmental data, and share it over the internet.

Chicago to Launch Nation’s Largest Smart Grid Energy Pilot Program (via The Energy Collective)

8,000 Chicago homes will be outfitted with advanced smart meters and 100 homes will receive distributed solar power systems that put the smart grid theory into practice. The project, financed through Recovery Act funding, will eventually cover 131,000 homes.

Think You Know What a ‘Green Job’ Is? Think Again (via Forbes’ The Energy Source)

Green jobs – careers in clean energy and environment – may go beyond construction into research, engineering, and design, according to an official at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

Review of U.N. panel’s report on climate change won’t reexamine errors (via Washington Post)

U.N. officials will convene an outside review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in light of errors in its 2007 climate change findings, but will only focus on improving procedures for the future instead of rechecking the report’s findings.

Drought Has Venezuela Looking at Alternatives to Hydropower (via New York Times’ Green Inc.)

A severe and prolonged drought in Venezuela has the country considering ways to diversify its energy portfolio through wind and nuclear power. Hydropower currently produces up to two-thirds of the total national energy total.

Kerry Says ‘Great Deal’ of Consensus Reached on Climate Policy (via Bloomberg)

Senator John Kerry (D-MA) says a bipartisan group of lawmakers reached consensus at a White House meeting on energy policy, and expects to introduce climate legislation into the U.S. Senate soon.

Xtreme Power: A Super-Battery For Hawaiian Wind Farms (via Earth2Tech)

A clean tech startup has announced a new battery energy storage project to back up a 30-megawatt wind farm on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

IMF Proposes Global Fund to Ease Climate Adaption (via The Atlantic)

The International Monetary Fund is proposing a global climate change adaption fund as insurance for countries facing the worst consequences of global warming’s effects.

EPA Piecing Together Regulatory Framework for Greenhouse Gas Rules (via New York Times)

The U.S. EPA has submitted the first portion of its rules to regulate greenhouse gas emissions to the White House, signaling that the Obama administration is on schedule to regulate emissions through regulation in the absence of federal legislation.

China, India give nod to Copenhagen climate change accord (via Washington Post and Associated Press)

China and India have given qualified approval to the Copenhagen climate accord calling for voluntary limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

Electrified roads could power vehicles, say researchers (via BusinessGreen)

South Korean researchers have developed a way to charge electric vehicles while they are traveling by embedding magnetic compounds in the road.

Businesses offer best path to money in smart grid (via CNET’s Green Tech)

Commercial and industrial business power customers who can save large amounts of money may be the best prospects for smart grid and smart metering funding, instead of consumers who may be unwilling to change their energy consumption.

On rooftops worldwide, a solar water heating revolution (via Grist)

Rooftop solar thermal water heaters are spreading fast across the globe as a way to convert sunlight into heat to warm water and homes.

EPA: U.S. saw record decline in greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 (via Los Angeles Times’ Greenspace)

High gasoline prices, a slow economy, and a cool summer caused U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to decrease nearly 3 percent in 2008 from 2007 levels, according to the U.S. EPA.

Green stimulus spending shifts forward. Probably. (via Financial Times’ Energy Source)

Financial analysts HSBC has revised downward its estimate of the money spent in 2009 by governments on green stimulus packages from $94 billion to $82 billion, citing difficulty in actually spending the money.

Australia’s Renewable Energy Future Report Released (via The Energy Collective)

The Australian Academy of Science has released an outlook report on the country’s renewable energy future, which urges adaption of low-carbon generation technology.

Lesson’s From Spain’s Solar Bubble (via The New Republic’s The Vine)

The boom, bust, and recovery of Spain’s solar industry may hold lessons for America’s nascent solar industry.

Scientists Develop New Plastics That Can Be Recycled Continuously (via Yale Environment’s e360 digest)

Researchers at IBM and Stanford University have discovered a cheap organic catalyst that can build up and break down plastics over and over again. By comparison, the metal catalysts currently used contaminate and degrade polymers over time, eventually making them unrecyclable.

U.S. Sitting on Mother Lode of Rare Tech-Crucial Minerals (via TechNews Daily)

The U.S. holds largely untapped reserves of rare earth minerals found in green technologies, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Until now, China has supplied most of these materials, and concern about material availability threatened to limit new technological innovations.

South Africans seek U.N. climate post (via Washington Post’s Post Carbon)

South Africa has nominated Marthinus van Schalkwk as its candidate to replace Yvo de Boer, outgoing director of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Van Schalkwyk has served as South Africa’s minister for environmental affairs and tourism.

Super-grid gets super-serious, but does it rely too much on Norway? (via Financial Times’ Energy Source)

A proposed European supergrid project that would connect offshore power resources with nine EU countries and Norway has been announced in a two-phase plan that would cost hundreds of billions of Euros.

Concerns mount over vague Japanese climate bill (via BusinessGreen)

Japan has released a draft climate bill which proposes a carbon trading scheme, but does not offer any fresh details on how it will work and contains a loophole to abandon binding emission caps.

Colorado goes all-in on renewable energy (via Climate Progress)

Colorado’s state legislature has approved a bill that would increase the state’s renewable energy standard to 30 percent by 2020. The bill has been sent to Governor Bill Ritter for signature.

ECO:nomics: Creating Environmental Capital (via Wall Street Journal)

Executives and entrepreneurs from some of the leading companies involved with energy and sustainability expressed skepticism about the government or financial world’s ability to provide clarity on factors shaping the clean energy transition.

Sen. Kerry lobbies for climate change compromise; actual bill yet to come (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

Members of the U.S. Senate crafting compromise climate change legislation are working with business groups to create support for their effort, but have been hampered by the absence of an actual bill.

EPA chief warns of lost benefits with fragmented climate bill (via The Hill’s E2-Wire)

U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson warned federal legislators that moving away from a broad economy-wide climate bill could hinder private sector investments in clean energy technology.

“Green” Not Enough to Win Most Drivers Over to Green Cars: Report (via Earth2Tech)

Six out of ten consumers will only buy a hybrid or electric vehicle only if it is superior to gasoline-only models in every way, according to a survey of North American and European drivers.

UK offshore wind costs at least twice nuclear: study (via Reuters)

Britain plans to build up to 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power capacity by 2020 and wants to replace aging nuclear reactors with new models, but the projected wind generation will be at least twice as expensive as the nuclear projects.

Your home’s miles-per-gallon? New labels quantify efficiency (via USA Today’s Green House)

The U.S. government is working to develop a mpg-like label for home energy efficiency, and is slated to launch this fall after pilot testing in summer 2010.

New energy car buyers to get subsidy (via Shanghai Daily)

China is considering offering consumers nearly $9,000 dollars in subsidies for consumers who purchase a new energy vehicle.

Counting ‘Outsourced’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions (via New York Times’ Green Inc.)

Scientists have mapped the trade-related flow of carbon emissions based on 2004 data.

Tuning the energy innovation engine at MIT (via CNET’s Green Tech)

The recent MIT Energy Conference showcased clean-energy innovations from around the globe.

Enviro group deploys green tech against fracking (via Green Wombat)

A Texas environmental justice group is using a greenhouse gas analyzer to detect pollution from natural gas fracking operations near Dallas.

Top 50 VC-Funded Greentech Startups (via Greentech Media)

Venture capital firms have invested nearly $20 billion in greentech startups since 2005, and the top 50 have been compiled into one comprehensive list.

In announcing the rankings, Corporate Responsibility publisher Jay Whitehead commented that “…making the list is worth millions or even billions in increased shareholder and brand value.” He also noted that, from 2009 to 2010, the average score of all 100 companies on the list climbed nearly 20 percent.

“The higher scores reveal a quantum leap in performance, which we attribute to the competitive dynamic of firms who understand the importance of stakeholder support from investors, customers, employees, regulators, and suppliers,” said Dirk Olin, the magazine’s editor. 

From my perspective, it’s also further proof that companies that can manage complex sustainability issues are generally well-managed companies.

Congrats to all those on the list, especially the Top 10:

1. HP
2. Intel
3. General Mills
4. IBM
5. Kimberly-Clark
6. Abbott Labs
7. Bristol-Myers Squibb
8. Coca-Cola
9. Gap, Inc.
10. Hess Corporation

All Fish Tested from U.S. Streams Found Contaminated with Mercury (via Environmental News Network)

Fish from 291 freshwater streams across the U.S. were found to be contaminated with mercury during a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The “Real” Take on Methane and Warming (via New York Times’ Dot Earth)

Arctic methane being released from melting permafrost may not pose a bigger threat than carbon, and may distract attention from carbon emissions.

Infographic: Top 20 countries with most endangered species (via Mother Nature Network)

A graphical breakdown of 20 countries with the greatest potential for losing and saving endangered species.

10 Things That Could Suddenly Make Americans Love Electric Vehicles (via TreeHugger)

Beyond government incentives, ten inter-related factors could make electric vehicles an integrated part of American culture.

And the Top Clean-Tech Companies Are… (via Wall Street Journal)

Three solar power firms came out on top of the Wall Street Journal’s first survey of top venture-backed clean energy technology companies.

Business leaders blast Congress for cap-and-trade indecision (via BusinessGreen)

Several top power company executives claimed that continued uncertainty over federal climate change legislation is forcing them to delay investing in green technologies.

When it comes to winning the clean energy race, is the US already “out of the running?” (via Climate Progress)

Germany, Spain, and China are seizing the economic and environmental opportunity presented by clean energy, and the U.S. is risking being left behind, according to a new report.

China May Start Its First City-Wide Carbon Cap-and-Trade System (via BusinessWeek)

China may start a city-wide carbon cap-and-trade system by June 2010 in the northeast port city of Tianjin.

A Deal to Save the Everglades Could Rescue U.S. Sugar Instead (via New York Times)

Two years after it was signed, a landmark Everglades preservation agreement by Florida has come under increased scrutiny for its results.

Sarkozy seeks funding, training for nuclear energy (via Reuters UK)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on international development banks to fund civilian nuclear projects in developing nations.

“Building Star” Proposed in Senate: $6B for Retrofits of Larger Buildings (via Earth2Tech)

A $6 billion bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to finance energy efficiency upgrades for large office and residential buildings.

Global climate battle plays out in World Bank (via Reuters)

The U.S. and Britain are threatening to withhold support for a $3.75 billion World Bank loan to build a South African coal plant.

Setting Wind Power Records in Texas (via New York Times’ Green Inc.)

Texas set a new record for wind generation when about 19 percent of the electricity on the state’s grid was supplied by turbines. The new 6,272 megawatt record exceeded the previous record set last week. 

Rainforest pact: Brazil and the U.S. agree to cooperate (via Los Angeles Times’ Greenspace)

The U.S. and Brazil have signed a memorandum of understanding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from tropical deforestation.

Community Solar Gardens (via The Energy Collective)

A new bill in the Colorado state legislature would create community-owned “Solar Gardens” that allow communities to jointly finance solar power installations in their community.

Several presentations managed to hush the room, including prominent scientist J. Craig Venter’s discussion of synthetic genomes and Bloom Energy CEO KR Shidhar detailing the Bloom Box. 

There was also considerable discussion about cap and trade…and considerable doubt that an agreement would be reached this year.  Other popular topics were China’s emergence as a renewable energy behemoth; innovation in the public and private sectors; and the future of disruptive technology.

In no particular order, here’s a sample of interesting comments by Thursday’s speakers:

• From T. Boone Pickens: “Why are we focused on buying oil from our enemies when we have plentiful natural gas in the U.S.?  We’re paying for both sides of the war.”
• From Shell’s CEO Peter Voser:  “Volatility won’t go away.  The global oil supply has its own demands.”
• From FPL CEO Lewis Hay III, regarding criticism of IPCC’s climate report and whether criticism of the science within the report invalidates its findings:  “If we’re wrong [about global warming], all we’ve done is make the world a better place.”
• From Patricia Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority:  “The world of water management is the world of diplomacy.”
• And again, from T. Boone Pickens:  “I’m running for president in 2012.”

Finally, The Wall Street Journal offered its pick of 10 clean-tech companies to watch:

• Solyndra
• Suniva
• eSolar
• Recycle Bank
• Fisker Automotive
• Boston Power
• eMeter
• Serious Materials
• Silver Springs Network
• Tesla Motors

France builds world’s biggest photovoltaic solar plant (via physorg.com)

France has announced it will build the world’s largest solar power plant at an abandoned NATO air base. The plant is estimated to produce 143 megawatts (MW) of energy when completed in 2012.

Investors increasingly concerned about climate change (via Financial Times’ Energy Source)

A record 95 resolutions involving climate change have been filed by investors in 82 U.S. and Canadian companies, according to sustainability coalition Ceres.

Methane seen as growing climate risk (via Yahoo! News and Associated Press)

Methane emissions are rapidly increasing as global temperatures rise, thawing Arctic permafrost and releasing the potent greenhouse gas. Methane can be up to 30 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Lawmakers move to restrain EPA on climate change (via Washington Post)

Several members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are working to restrain or postpone the U.S. EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from mobile and stationary sources.

IBM’s Chinese Smart Grid Ambitions (via Earth2Tech)

IBM has announced details about multiple alternative energy, smart grid, and energy efficiency pilot projects currently underway with China’s massive government-owned utility and other partners.  

How California’s Landmark Energy Storage Bill Works (via Earth2Tech)

Multiple factors including state incentive programs, regional transmission coordination, federal funding, state-level tax incentives and new sources of renewable power can make California’s proposed renewable energy storage standard a reality.

Should the World Bank fund coal plants? (via Washington Post’s Post Carbon)

The U.S. think tank Center for American Progress is preparing a report that quantifies World Bank funding for fossil fuel power and argues for greater consideration of renewable energy projects.

CSR bounces back up retail agenda (via BusinessGreen)

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have moved back up the list of priorities for the world’s largest retailers and consumer brands, according to a major bi-annual survey by the Consumer Goods Forum.

Katrina victim seek to sue greenhouse-gas emitters (via Grist)

Mississippi victims of Hurricane Katrina have filed a class-action law suit against several large multinational companies for helping accelerate global warming and increasing the storm’s power and damage.

Pacific Northwest forests act as massive carbon banks (via Los Angeles Times’ Greenspace)

Forests in the Pacific Northwest store more than 1.5 times as much carbon as the entire amount of carbon dioxide emitted annually in the U.S. according to a new study by the Wilderness Society.

Bill Clinton’s Green Jobs Plan (via Forbes’ Energy Source)

Former President Bill Clinton has outlined a green jobs plan that includes a federally funded energy efficiency loan guarantee program.

Utility vs. Utility: Grid Battle Threatens Wind Development (via Forbes’ Energy Source)

A new association of U.S. utilities has formed in opposition to federal proposals to build national power transmission systems. If successful, the coalition could limit the spread of renewable energy sources, particularly wind power.

Looking Beyond Greenhouse Gases (via The New Republic’s The Vine)

While carbon dioxide receives most attention around global warming, other pollutants including aerosols, sulfur dioxide, and particulates could drastically impact on climate change.

Iger discussed Disney’s interesting approach to being a responsible corporate citizen.  First, the company conducted an exhaustive environmental impact report to create baselines and better understand where it stood in terms of sustainability.  Then, the company set goals and publicly reported their progress toward reaching those goals. 

Iger went on to say that Disney also began requiring every capital expense request to include an environmental impact assessment, which was then included in the decision-making process.  Finally, after determining the projected carbon impact of each business, Disney imposed a carbon tax on each business unit, which impacts each unit’s profit margin and helps drive home the importance of operating sustainably.  (Additionally, the “taxes” go to a carbon offset fund.)

The desired outcome for Disney, as it is for so many other businesses, is to reduce the business’s carbon footprint and lower costs…nothing speaks quite as loudly as the “bottom line.”

German cabinet agrees solar incentive cuts: source (via Reuters)

Germany’s administration has agreed to a proposal to reduce feed-in-tariff incentives for solar power projects. The proposal will head to parliament for consideration, and if passed, take effect in July. Critics say this will hamper Germany’s solar power industry, which added 3 gigawatts of installed capacity in 2009.

Questions and answers on climate change (via Chicago Tribune)

Staff from the Chicago Tribune has created an open forum for climate change questions and answers from readers on their publication’s Web site.

Green Tech, Green Jobs: The New Face of Cleveland (via Forbes’ Energy Source)

A recent green tech conference in Cleveland, Ohio brought together alternative energy companies and entrepreneurs to discuss advances in alternative energy projects and how to turn them into green jobs.

Darwin Foes Add Warming to Targets (via New York Times)

Critics of the teaching of evolution are gaining new ground in some states by linking the issue to global warming and arguing dissenting views on both scientific subjects should be equally taught in schools.

Wind industry slams Schumer’s ‘Buy American’ plan (via Washington Post)

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has criticized Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) proposal to require that stimulus-funded renewable power projects rely on domestically produced materials.

Upgrades color the Capitol green (via Politico)

Capitol Hill offices have begun an energy efficiency upgrade program which aims to reduce energy use by 23 percent and water use by 32 percent throughout all House office buildings.

California Proposes First Renewable Energy Storage Requirements (via Scientific American)

California has proposed adding renewable energy storage requirements for utilities in the state. The proposed rules would mandate storage equal to 2.25 percent of daytime peak power by 2014 and 5 percent of daytime peak power by 2020.

Ford to offer more electric vehicles in Europe (via Detroit Free Press)

Ford will introduce five new hybrid or electric vehicle models into the European market by 2013.

Building Green Homes breaks Into the Mainstream in Northern Cali (via Earth2Tech)

KB Homes, one of the top five U.S. homebuilders, has announced that all its new developments in Northern California will be built to green building rating system standards.

Google opens PowerMeter to energy monitors (via CNET’s Green Tech)

Google has released the Application Programming Interface (API) for its energy tool PowerMeter, which means that smart meter and demand response technologies can now freely integrate with PowerMeter.  Previously, Google had only worked with a small amount of select device manufacturers. 

Resource wars, ahoy (via Financial Times’ Energy Source)

A new report says that China has begun considering the economic, political and military implications of the Arctic being navigable in summer months. Increased access to previously unreachable reserves of fossil fuels in the Arctic may lead to international conflict over who has the rights to these areas.

Sweden to build 2,000 new wind turbines: minister (via Yahoo! News and Agence-France Presse)

Sweden will build 2,000 new wind turbines over the next decade as part of its goal to increase the percentage of renewable power in its national portfolio from 20 to 50 percent by 2020.

10 Companies Reinventing Our Energy Infrastructure (via Wired)

Ten companies who were featured at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent ARPA-E  energy conference may have a major effect on transforming the American energy system.

Can The Climate Bill Trio Appease Big Oil (via The National Review’s The Vine)

The revised climate bill being formulated in the U.S. Senate may be amenable to several major oil companies, which signals a shift in support and may expedite passage.

Wind industry influenced DOE report (via Washington Post’s Post Carbon)

Climate-change skeptics are critical of a report that AWEA and liberal policy organizations helped the U.S. DOE respond to a conservative Spanish study that questioned the wind industry’s economic contribution.