Interdependency Of Energy & Water - The Energy-Water Nexus

Feb 15: The U.S. Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories has recently posted a December 2006 report entitled, Energy Demands on Water Resources: Report to Congress on the Interdependency of Energy and Water. The report was prepared in response to a letter from the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development Appropriations, dated December 9, 2004. The report was approved by DOE on January 12, 2007, and was sent to Congress on January 17, 2007. The DOE Office of Environmental Management approved public release of the Report on February 8, 2007. The report presents background information on the connections between energy and water, identifies concerns regarding water demands of energy production, and discusses science and technologies to address water use and management in the context of energy production and use.

Water is an integral element of energy resource development and utilization. It is used in energy-resource extraction, refining and processing, and transportation. Water is also an integral part of electric-power generation. It is used directly in hydroelectric
generation and is also used extensively for cooling and emissions scrubbing in thermoelectric generation.

The report points out that as the U.S. seeks to replace imported petroleum and natural gas with fuels from domestic sources, such as biofuels, synfuel from coal, hydrogen, and possibly oil shale, the demand for water to produce energy fuels could grow significantly.

Freshwater resources and overall freshwater availability become strained from limitations on supply and increasing domestic, agricultural, and environmental demands. Few new reservoirs have been built since 1980, and fresh surface-water withdrawals have leveled off at about 260 billion gallons per day. Many regions depend on groundwater to meet increasing water demands, but declining groundwater tables could severely limit future water availability. Some regions have seen groundwater levels drop as much as 300 to 900 feet over the past 50 years because of the pumping of water from aquifers faster than the natural rate of recharge.

If new power plants continue to be built with evaporative cooling, consumption of water for electrical energy production could more than double by 2030 from 3.3 billion gallons per day in 1995 to 7.3 billion gallons per day. Consumption by the electric sector alone could equal the entire country’s 1995 domestic water consumption. Consumption of water for extraction and production of transportation fuels from domestic sources also has the potential to grow substantially. Meanwhile, climate concerns and declines in groundwater levels suggest that less freshwater, not more, may be available in the future.

Access the complete 80-page report (click here). Access the Sandia National Laboratories, Energy-Water Nexus website for additional information (click here). [*Energy, *Water]

International Legislators Forum On Climate Change

Feb 15: The London-based GLOBE (Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment) and COM+: Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development (a partnership of international organizations) held the Legislators Forum on Climate Change on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, from February 14 – 15 . The event, part of the G-8 and Plus 5 Climate Change Dialogue attracted more than 80 legislators and government officials from the 20 largest energy consuming countries, along with leaders from the private sector.

The event is generally regarded as an informal forum by policy makers from G8 nations, and major developing nations like China and India, to develop ideas on a global-warming pact to follow the Kyoto treaty after 2012. At the meeting, European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas called for the international community to begin negotiations urgently on a comprehensive global climate change treaty that would succeed Kyoto when its targets expire in 2012. Dimas said, ”It is crucial that the United States and all other major emitters participate in these efforts. The very grave threat that climate change poses is global, and only a global solution can avert it. I am very encouraged that interest is rapidly increasing in the United States for using emissions trading as a key tool to limit greenhouse gas emissions, as we are doing in Europe."

The forum brings together delegates from the G8 (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United States, Canada and Japan) plus 5 countries (China, India, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa), which together produce 75 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. A release from the World Bank says, "The debate at the Legislators Forum on Climate Change isn’t about whether climate change is real -- the forum follows on the heels of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which concluded there was a 90 percent chance human actions have been a major contributor to global warming [See WIMS 2/2/07]. It’s about how best to reduce the world’s risk of severe impacts from a changing climate and get countries to work together to stop the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."

Among the featured speakers were U.S. Senators Biden, Bingaman, Boxer, Craig, Lieberman, McCain, and Snowe. Other keynote speakers participating in the Forum included: Angela Merkel, German Chancellor (by video); Sir Nicholas Stern, Head of Economic Service, UK Treasury; Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank; Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group; Stavros Dimas, European Environment Commissioner; Rt Hon David Miliband MP, UK Secretary of State for Environment; Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary For Democracy & Global Affairs US State Department; Jim Rogers, President and CEO of Duke Energy; Valli Moosa, President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN); Ms Yuriko Koike, National Security Advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister; and Congressman Mr. Ye Rutang, former Chinese Minister for Environment Protection and current Vice Chairman of the Chinese National People's Congress Committee on Environment & Resources Protection.

Access a media advisory and meeting agenda (click here). Access the COM+ website for additional information (click here). Access the GLOBE website for additional information (click here). Access a release from the World Bank (click here). Access a release from the European Commission (click here). Access various media report on the forum (click here). Access a release from Senator Boxer (click here). [*Climate]

NAM Unveils Energy Security For American Competitiveness Plan

Feb 14: The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) unveiled what they say is a comprehensive, forward-looking energy strategy, Energy Security for American Competitiveness, designed to diversify the nation's energy mix and lay a foundation for meeting the nation's energy needs in the future. NAM President John Engler said, "Our economy and way of life are dependent on reliable and affordable energy. We cannot rely on the future to take care of itself -- we must be proactive and we must be vigilant in creating an energy policy to keep America strong and working. Many dream of energy security, but the NAM's strategy lays a solid foundation to make that dream a reality. Nothing short of a robust, aggressive, and comprehensive energy strategy will adequately address our energy security needs."

The NAM energy strategy proposal provides "a blueprint of action items for the Congress" that: Set goals for U.S. energy efficiency; Raises energy intelligence of the American public; Strengthens research and development projects; Streamlines existing statutes and regulations; Increases our nation's electricity generation; and, Diversifies and increases domestic energy supply.

NAM said that according to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. energy production will increase by 27 percent over the next 25 years. However, they said energy consumption is forecast to grow by 34 percent during that time -- leaving the United States more dependent on energy imports and vulnerable to higher energy prices. Engler said, "Higher energy prices hurt manufacturing especially hard because manufacturing is heavily dependent on energy. But it also hurts those with the most to lose -- senior citizens, small businesses, and families. No one can escape the resounding effects of high energy costs -- from the cost of filling up the family vehicle, to rising prices at your local grocery store, to the loss of good paying American jobs, or the rising cost squeeze in family budgets."

Engler said a critical component of increasing energy security is raising the "energy intelligence" of Americans through education, internships, and research programs. The NAM strategy also calls for more research and development into new energy programs and efficiencies.

Some details of the plan call for: establishing a national voluntary goal of decreasing the "energy intensity" of the US economy by 2.5 percent per year – an increase of more than 30% over recent historical averages; expanded use of carbon sequestration technology; promoting the use of FutureGen power plant technology, which removes all pollutants from the burning of coal and captures CO2, allowing for its injection into the sea or ground; a national Energy Efficiency Improvement Loan program providing at least $1.5 billion per year for 4 years split between residential, commercial and industrial activities; promoting Combined Heat and Power (CHP), Distributed Generation (DG) technologies; and enhancing nuclear’s role in our energy future with several program including dealing with the impasses over a permanent nuclear waste repository by authorizing interim storage of spent fuel at existing DOE facilities and other sites.

The Plan also calls for expanding legally accessible production areas into the Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and offshore, especially onto the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); promotion of biofuels and other renewable energy sources including waste-to-energy products to increase domestic supplies and fuel diversity; and incorporating the Clear Skies Act of 2005 (S. 131) as introduced by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) on January 23, 2005 and include an opt-in for manufacturers in a market-oriented, cap-and-trade program.

Engler said, "A healthy economy and a healthy energy policy go hand in hand. When we talk energy, we talk about our economy. We have to be smarter about the choices we make, think beyond the near-term, and invest in our energy future. As Congress struggles with these issues, the NAM provides a clear checklist of what must be done to ensure affordable supplies, future development and greater efficiency. Our nation's energy security will be a deciding factor in the elections of 2008."

Access a release from NAM (click here). Access a 14-page white paper on the plan (click here). Access a fact sheet on the plan (click here). Access links to additional information on the plan (click here). [*Energy]

Senate Hearing On U.S. Climate Action Partnership

Feb 13: The Senate Environment and Pubic Works Committee, Chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) held a hearing on the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (US-CAP) Report. On January 22, the new alliance was launched [See WIMS 1/22/07] and includes the well-known corporations: Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, Duke Energy, DuPont, Florida Power & Light, General Electric, Lehman Brothers, Pacific Gas & Electric, and PNM Resources; and environmental organizations: Environmental Defense, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Natural Resources Defense Council and the World Resources Institute. The group is calling for a cap-and-trade system to combat climate change and says its "historic proposal" is "A Call to Action," that urges the Federal government to set limits for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create market-based incentives.

Witnesses testifying at the hearing included representatives from: Dupont; Competitive Enterprise Institute; World Resources Institute; Friedman Billings Ramsey & Company, Inc; PG&E Corporation; Continental Resources, Inc.; and BP America.

Senator Boxer said, “I want to thank these companies for agreeing to a roadmap to address the global warming challenge. This is one of those moments in history when all sides are coming together for the common good. Now the political will needs to coalesce as well. These leading corporations have said that dealing with climate change will create economic opportunities, new markets and new technologies. As business leaders that successfully compete in national and worldwide markets, they should know. I continue to believe we should approach this problem with hope and not fear. I am an optimist, and I believe we can solve this problem, and that in doing so, we will be better for it in every way.”

Ranking Member, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) issued a statement saying, "...the subject of the day is mandatory carbon cap and trade. More and more, companies that wish to profit on the backs of consumers are coming out of the woodwork to endorse climate proposals in the hope of forcing customers to buy their unnecessary products or to penalize their competitors. Some companies are coming together in an attempt to profit from government intervention where they have failed in the marketplace... These companies will gain market-share against their competitors while the economy flattens and jobs are sent to China... These proposals [cap and trade] will do little and cost much. Moreover, as White House spokesman Tony Snow stated last week, 'there is a carbon cap system in place in Europe, we are doing a better job of reducing emissions here.'"

Access the hearing website for links to the testimony and a webcast (click here). Access a release from Senator Boxer (click here). Access a release from Senator Inhofe (click here). [*Climate]

Report On Major Impacts Of Climate Induced Sea Level Rise

Feb 9: A new report from The World Bank entitled, The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Developing Countries: A Comparative Analysis, indicates that sea level rise (SLR) due to climate change is a serious global threat. The scientific evidence is now overwhelming. Continued growth of greenhouse gas emissions and associated global warming could well promote SLR of 1m-3m in this century, and unexpectedly rapid breakup of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets might produce a 5m SLR. In this paper, the authors have assessed the consequences of continued SLR for 84 developing countries. Geographic Information System (GIS) software has been used to overlay the best available, spatially-disaggregated global data on critical impact elements (land, population, agriculture, urban extent, wetlands, and GDP) with the inundation zones projected for 1-5m SLR. The results reveal that hundreds of millions of people in the developing world are likely to be displaced by SLR within this century, and accompanying economic and ecological damage will be severe for many.

At the country level, results are extremely skewed, with severe impacts limited to a relatively small number of countries. For these countries (such as Vietnam, A. R. of Egypt, and The Bahamas), however, the consequences of SLR are potentially catastrophic. For many others, including some of the largest (such as China), the absolute magnitudes of potential impacts are very large. At the other extreme, many developing countries experience limited impacts. Among regions, East Asia and the Middle East and North Africa exhibit the greatest relative impacts. To date, there is little evidence that the international community has seriously considered the implications of SLR for population location and infrastructure planning in developing countries. The authors hope that the information provided in this paper will encourage immediate planning for adaptation.

Access an abstract and links to the 51-page paper (click here). [*Climate]

EPA Signs Mobile Source Air Toxic Regs

Feb 9: U.S. EPA says that toxic fumes from gasoline, vehicles and fuel containers will decrease significantly, further reducing health risks under tough new standards signed by Administrator Stephen Johnson. By 2030, EPA's new Mobile Source Air Toxic (MSAT) regulations and fuel and vehicle standards already in place will reduce toxic emissions from cars to 80 percent below 1999 emissions. The MSAT rule toughens benzene standards for gasoline, sets hydrocarbon emissions standards for cars at cold temperatures and tightens fuel containers to prevent the evaporation of harmful fumes.

Once the new standards are fully implemented in 2030, they are expected to reduce emissions of mobile source air toxics annually by 330,000 tons, including 61,000 tons of benzene. EPA estimates annual health benefits from the particulate matter reductions of the vehicle standards to total $6 billion in 2030. The estimated annual cost for the entire rule is about $400 million in 2030. The new MSAT standards will take effect in 2011 for gasoline, 2010 for cars, and 2009 for fuel containers.

Under the fuel program, EPA is requiring that, beginning in 2011, refiners must meet an annual average gasoline benzene content standard of 0.62 percent by volume (vol%) on all their gasoline, both reformulated and conventional, nationwide. The national benzene content of gasoline today is about 1.0 vol%. Under the vehicle program EPA is adopting new standards to reduce non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) exhaust emissions from new gasoline-fueled passenger vehicles. Under the fuel container program EPA is establishing standards that will limit hydrocarbon emissions that evaporate from or permeate through portable fuel containers such as gas cans. Starting with containers manufactured in 2009, the standard limits evaporation and permeation emissions from these containers to 0.3 grams of hydrocarbons per gallon per day.

Environmental groups including Earthjustice, U.S. PIRG and Sierra Club reacted to the rule with concerns about a controversial credit trading provision. Emily Figdor of U.S. PIRG said, "The good news is that today's rule is expected to limit benzene levels nationwide, which should make the air safer in many places. The bad news is that EPA will allow benzene trading. That means some refineries won't reduce the benzene content of their gasoline, and may even increase it. Having benzene levels go down in Newark, New Jersey won't do much for the health of people in Portland, Oregon." Marti Sinclair of Sierra Club said, "We're happy that EPA has addressed this important public health issue at last. Even if it did take a federal court case to make the agency act. But it is disappointing that EPA would undermine its own program by adopting this dangerous trading scheme." Earthjustice attorney Jim Pew said, "Refineries have the know-how to reduce benzene emissions to RFG levels throughout the country. We know that the cancer risk from benzene is unacceptable in virtually every American city. Given that we can reduce the risk levels for all Americans, you have to wonder why EPA would choose not to do it."

Access an EPA release (click here). Access links to a pre-publication copy of the final rule, a fact sheet, a Summary and Analysis of Comments and the entire Regulatory Impact Analysis (click here). Access the EPA Docket ID -- EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0036 -- using the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) (click here). To access the docket, which contains supporting and related information, or for viewing comments, click on "Advanced Search"; then "Docket Search" and paste in the Docket ID and click on Submit. Access a release from Earthjustice (click here). [*Air]

Hearing On Climate Change Research & Scientific Integrity

Feb 7: The Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, Chaired by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) held a hearing entitled, Climate Change Research and Scientific Integrity. Opening statements were made by Senators Inouye, John Kerry and Ranking Member Ted Stevens (R-AK).

Senator Stevens indicated, “I am concerned about the human impacts on our climate. This is why I introduced S. 183, the Improved Passenger Automobile Fuel Economy Act of 2007 (CAFE). Some think that’s a strange thing coming from me. But I believe that it’s essential to raise the question about how much of these effects are being caused by man and how much of it is really a natural phenomenon. This bill requires a fuel economy standard of 40 miles per gallon for passenger automobiles manufactured in the model year 2017. I believe we do have the technology base to do that."

Senator Inouye said, "...before we can even begin debate on climate change, we much investigate the numerous allegations that our federal scientists are being constrained from conveying their research findings and conclusions. Such allegations are serious. To deny federal scientists the right to speak, to change the findings of their work, or to deny the release of their work, basically creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, is a great disservice to the public."

Senator Kerry said, "It is crucial that the best available science on climate change be disseminated to the public. Under the Bush Administration, however, this science has been increasingly tailored to reflect political goals rather than scientific fact. The examples of interference are stunning -- from deleting key words including, global warming, warming climate, and climate change from press releases to changing agency mission statements to de-emphasize climate research and denying media access to prominent climate scientists. The abuse must stop."

Testimony was received by representatives of Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Acting Chairman, Climate Change Science Program; University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; Climate Dynamics and Prediction Group, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; an Environmental Consultant; Climate Science Watch, Government Accountability Project; and Chemistry and Earth System, School of Physical Sciences, University of California.

Access the hearing website with links to all testimony, the majority opening statements and a webcast of the hearing (click here). Access the statement of Senator Stevens posted separately (click here). [*Climate]

European Strategy On CO2 From New Vehicles & Car Industry

Feb 7: The European Commission proposed a comprehensive new strategy to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars and vans sold in the European Union (EU). The new strategy, together with a revision of EU fuel quality standards proposed last week, further underline the Commission's determination to ensure the EU meets its greenhouse gas emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol and beyond. The strategy will enable the EU to reach its long-established objective of limiting average CO2 emissions to 120 grams per km by 2012 - a reduction of around 25% from current levels. By improving fuel efficiency, the revised strategy will deliver substantial fuel savings for drivers. To encourage the car industry to compete on the basis of fuel efficiency instead of size and power, the Commission is also inviting manufacturers to sign an EU code of good practice on car marketing and advertising.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said, "This strategy is the most ambitious approach ever and the most ambitious approach worldwide towards the development of a low-carbon economy -- which is vital for averting climate change. It is the concrete proof of EU leadership in the field. This will require efforts from all sectors, but also open up enormous opportunities for the EU car industries. I call on the EU's car industries to preserve their long term competitiveness by taking the innovative lead, in the interest of consumers and workers alike."

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas commented saying, "Cleaner, more efficient and affordable cars will help reduce carbon dioxide in the EU, enable us to achieve our Kyoto targets, save energy and encourage innovation. All Member States will need to pull their weight in implementing the measures necessary and have a major responsibility to encourage the purchase of fuel-efficient cars as well as discourage fuel-inefficiency."

The Commission also agreed upon a comprehensive strategy for the European car industry, to keep the manufacturing of motorcars viable on a long term basis, at prices affordable to consumers. The strategy encompasses a variety of areas, such as reduction of administrative burdens, environmental sustainability, road safety, trade and overseas markets and research. The automotive industry is a major pillar of the European economy, representing 3% of the European GDP and 7% of employment in the manufacturing sector. The Commission said, “Today we have put forward our strategy to create favorable conditions for an innovative and thriving European car industry and to keep jobs in Europe. We have hit the right balance between the need for global competitiveness and progress in safety and environmental performance. We put the emphasis also on research and development to carry the industry well into the 21st century."

Access a European Commission release on the CO2 reduction strategy with links to details (click here). Access a Q&A document on the CO2 strategy (click here). Access a release on the Commission's car industry strategy (click here). [*Climate]

Senate Hearing On EPA "Rollbacks"

Feb 6: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) held a hearing entitled, Oversight of Recent EPA Decisions. In an opening statement Senator Boxer said, "Late in 2006, EPA rolled back several health protections and reduced public information about pollution. This was a series of unwelcome holiday gifts to the American people. These EPA rollbacks have common themes: they benefit polluters’ bottom line, and they hurt our communities by allowing more pollution and reducing the information about pollution available to the public. Today is the first in a series of hearings. EPA has gone too long without meaningful oversight. I want to send a clear signal to EPA and to this Administration. We are watching. The American public is watching. And no longer will EPA rollbacks quietly escape scrutiny.

Senator Boxer identified a number of items to be discussed including: Weakening the Community’s Right to Know (Toxic Release Inventory, TRI); Closing EPA Libraries; Eliminating Perchlorate Testing; Cutting Scientists Out of the Process of Setting Air Quality Standards; The Lead Air Quality Standard; and Increasing Toxic Air Pollution. She said, "The pattern of these year-end actions is striking-the public interest is sacrificed and environmental protection compromised. Who gains from these rollbacks? Just look at who asked for them, like Big Oil and the battery industry. EPA’s actions and proposed actions make it clear who EPA is protecting. The purpose of these oversight hearings is to remind EPA who they are truly accountable to-the American people."

Ranking Member, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) made a series of comments on each of the six items addressed at the hearing. In brief summary, Inhofe said he thought the NAAQS process reforms announced by EPA were "a major step in the right direction." He said the NAAQS staff paper on lead is an example of a document written by mid-level EPA staff, without input from high-ranking officials. On the subject of perchlorate, he said, "...it is critical that EPA fully understand how much exposure comes from drinking water and how much comes from natural and other sources before we set out creating an unfunded mandate on our local drinking water systems..." He applauded EPA on recent efforts to reduce the compliance burden associated with the Toxic Release Inventory. On the library issue he said, "...all information held at these closed libraries and the other remaining libraries remains available to EPA employees and the public online."

Witnesses testifying at the hearing included: Stephen Johnson, U.S. EPA Administrator; U.S. Government Accountability Office; Chief Counsel for Advocacy for the U.S. Small Business Association; Natural Resources Defense Council; Baltimore Glassware Decorators; American Library Association; Air Lawyer with Holland and Hart; and Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released testimony entitled, Environmental Information: EPA Actions Could Reduce the Availability of Environmental Information to the Public (GAO-07-464T, February 6, 2007). GAO testified on the TRI issue and said, "Although we have not yet completed our evaluation, our preliminary observations indicate that EPA did not adhere to its own rulemaking guidelines in all respects when developing the proposal to change TRI reporting requirements. We have identified several significant differences between the guidelines and the process EPA followed... We believe that the TRI reporting changes will likely have a significant impact on information available to the public about dozens of toxic chemicals from thousands of facilities in states and communities across the country."

Access the hearing website for links to testimony and webcast which should be available soon (click here). Access a opening statement from Senator Boxer (click here); and a separate release (click here). Access the opening statement from Senator Inhofe (click here). Access the 36-page GAO testimony document posted separately (click here). [*All]

EPA's $7.2 Billion FY 2008 Budget

Feb 5: U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson released the Agency's $7.2 billion fiscal year 2008 budget including 17,324 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff. Overall the funding proposal is down by approximately $116 million from fiscal year 2007. EPA said the new budget emphasizes using more citizen-partners as the Agency shifts into the next phase of environmental progress -- what it called "the green culture." Johnson said, "As our nation shifts to a green culture, Americans are realizing that environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility. Today, EPA has 300 million citizen-partners in our efforts to accelerate the pace of environmental protection. President Bush's budget request will fund EPA's role as our country enters this next phase of environmental progress."

The proposed 2008 spending plan includes $549.5 million for enforcement operations, the largest amount ever dedicated to that Agency responsibility. It is a $9.1 million increase over the fiscal year 2007 amount. This budget also features a major effort to restore, improve and protect four of the nation's most important water assets -- Chesapeake Bay ($28.8 million); Puget Sound ($1 million); Gulf of Mexico ($4.5 million); and the Great Lakes ($56.8 million).

The budget also requests an additional $687.5 million for clean water grants and $842.2 million for drinking water grants. The budget also includes: $117.9 million for EPA's climate change programs; $44 million for Energy Star programs; $5 million for the Asia Pacific Partnership; and $4.4 million for Methane to Markets to promote methane recovery and use at landfills, coal mines and natural gas facilities; $35 million for National Clean Diesel Campaign grants; $123.8 million for Clean Air and related research; and $10.2 million for Nanotechnology Research.

The budget requests a total of $1,245 million for Superfund and $162.2 million for the Brownfields program. Of the total funding requested for Superfund, $617 million and 1,080 workyears are for Superfund cleanups, including Federal facilities. In FY 2008, EPA and its partners anticipate completing 30 Superfund cleanups at NPL sites to achieve the overall goal of 1,060 total construction completions by the end of FY 2008. $72 million is requested for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) program.

Access a release (click here). Access the detailed 61-page budget overview (click here). Access overall EPA budget information and previous year's reports (click here). Access the overall Federal government FY 2008 proposed budget information including details for various agencies and departments (click here). [*All]

IPCC Releases Summary Of Climate Change Science Report

Feb 2: Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), at a meeting in Paris, France, adopted the 21-page Summary for Policymakers of the first volume of “Climate Change 2007”, also known as the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). The report, Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, assesses the current scientific knowledge of the natural and human drivers of climate change, observed changes in climate, the ability of science to attribute changes to different causes, and projections for future climate change.

The report was produced by some 600 authors from 40 countries. Over 620 expert reviewers and a large number of government reviewers also participated. Representatives from 113 governments reviewed and revised the Summary line-by-line during the course of this week before adopting it and accepting the underlying report. The report builds upon past IPCC assessments and incorporates new findings from the past six years of research. Scientific progress since the Third Assessment Report (TAR) is based upon large amounts of new and more comprehensive data, more sophisticated analyses of data, improvements in understanding of processes and their simulation in models, and more extensive exploration of uncertainty ranges. In summary, some of the major findings of the report indicate:

• Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values determined from ice cores spanning many thousands of years (see Figure SPM-1). The global increases in carbon dioxide concentration are due primarily to fossil fuel use and land-use change, while those of methane and nitrous oxide are primarily due to agriculture.
• The understanding of anthropogenic warming and cooling influences on climate has improved since the Third Assessment Report (TAR), leading to very high confidence that the globally averaged net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming, with a radiative forcing of +1.6 [+0.6 to +2.4] W m-2.
• Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level.
• At continental, regional, and ocean basin scales, numerous long-term changes in climate have been observed. These include changes in Arctic temperatures and ice, widespread changes in precipitation amounts, ocean salinity, wind patterns and aspects of extreme weather including droughts, heavy precipitation, heat waves and the intensity of tropical cyclones.
• For the next two decades a warming of about 0.2°C per decade is projected for a range of SRES emission scenarios. Even if the concentrations of all greenhouse gases and aerosols had been kept constant at year 2000 levels, a further warming of about 0.1°C per decade would be expected.
  

Two other reports, part of the overall 4th Assessment Report, will be forthcoming: The Working Group II report on "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" will be released in April 2007; and The Working Group III "Mitigation of Climate Change" will be released in May 2007.

White House Agrees Human Activities Caused Most Warming

The U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy of the Executive Office of the President issued a fact sheet and related information on the IPCC Working Group I report. According to the fact sheet, "The United States joined 112 other nations in finalizing and approving a landmark climate change science report today in Paris, France... The Working Group I portion of the Assessment Report released today represents a comprehensive assessment of the most recent state of knowledge of the physical science of climate change."

Dr. Sharon Hays, the leader of the U.S. delegation at the meeting and Associate Director/Deputy Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said, “This Summary for Policymakers captures and summarizes the current state of climate science research and will serve as a valuable source of information for policymakers. It reflects the sizeable and robust body of knowledge regarding the physical science of climate change, including the finding that the Earth is warming and that human activities have very likely caused most of the warming of the last 50 years.”

The U.S. delegation to the Working Group I meeting included climate science experts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Department of State. The delegation's participation in the meeting followed significant U.S. involvement in the generation of the report, as numerous U.S. climate scientists were involved in its drafting and expert review. In addition, a NOAA climate expert, Dr. Susan Solomon, a senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado served as co-chair of Working Group I.

Other key U.S. officials also reacted to the report. U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said, "The Administration welcomes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which was developed through thousands of hours of research by leading U.S. and international scientists and informed by significant U.S. investments in advancing climate science research. Climate change is a global challenge that requires global solutions. Through President Bush's leadership, the U.S. government is taking action to curb the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging the development and deployment of clean energy technologies here in the United States and across the globe."

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said, “I congratulate my colleagues at the IPCC for their years of research, and look forward to using their scientific findings as we continue America’s efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Through our commitment to sound science and innovation, the Bush Administration has built a solid foundation to address the environmental challenges of the 21st Century.”

Retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator said, “Without the diligent efforts by our scientists in the United States, these advances in knowledge of our planet’s climate would not have been possible. The U.S. Climate Change Science Program continues to set a high standard world-wide for the pertinent research it conducts. I would like to thank Dr. Susan Solomon and all of the scientists that contributed to the IPCC report.”

Access the complete Summary for Policymakers (click here). Access a webcast audio of the press conference presentation (click here). Access the IPCC website for additional information (click here). Access the Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of the IPCC meeting including a summary that will be available on 2/4/07 (click here). Access a release from the United Nations (click here). Access the U.S. fact sheet on the IPCC report (click here). Access a second fact sheet on the U.S. role in studying climate change (click here). Access a third fact sheet outlining the Bush record on addressing climate change (click here). [*Climate]

Sierra Club & ASES Release Energy & Global Warming Strategy

Jan 31: At a Capitol Hill briefing, the Sierra Club joined with the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), key Congressional chairmen and representatives, and the nation’s preeminent climate scientist to unveil a new report authored by ASES which they say lays out a plan for dramatically reducing the nation’s global warming emissions. The roadmap -- now the official Sierra Club global warming strategy -- details how an aggressive, yet achievable increase in the use of energy efficiency and renewables alone can achieve a 60-80% reduction in U.S. global warming emissions by 2050. Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee; Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee; and Representative Christopher Shays (R-CT) attended the event.

Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director said, "This report moves the discussion from whether we can achieve the necessary reductions in global warming pollution with energy efficiency and renewable energy in this country to exactly how we should do it. Fully three-quarters of the reductions in global warming pollution called for by Dr. Hansen and other scientists can be realized using energy efficiency, wind, and solar -- all technologies we have today. The rest can be made with geothermal, biofuels, biomass, and other renewables. We already have the best, cheapest, and cleanest solutions at our disposal; now we just need the market and our political leaders to put them to work."

The peer-reviewed report, Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.- Potential U.S. Carbon Emissions Reductions from Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency by 2030, is authored by scientists from ASES, many of whom are employed by the nation’s national research laboratories. It identifies the renewable energy resources available across the U.S. that can be used to transition away from the dirty, fossil fuel-based energy economy of yesterday toward the clean energy technologies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow. The report brings together detailed analyses of various smart energy solutions, including energy efficiency solar (both photovoltaic and concentrating), wind, biofuels, biomass, and geothermal.

To develop the report, ASES recruited a volunteer team of top energy experts. These experts produced a series of nine papers that examined how energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies can reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions -- the main cause of global warming. ASES collected the nine papers together and added an overview of the studies to create the report. It covers energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry, as well as six renewable energy technologies: concentrating solar power, photovoltaics, wind power, biomass, biofuels, and geothermal power. The results indicate that these technologies can displace approximately 1.2 billion tons of carbon emissions annually by the year 2030 -- the magnitude of reduction that scientists believe is necessary to prevent the most dangerous consequences of climate change.

On January 24, 2007, Greenpeace USA and other climate and energy advocates and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), released a similar report showing that the United States could address global warming, without relying on nuclear power or so-called “clean coal” [See WIMS 1/25/07]. The Greenpeace report detailed an energy scenario in the United States where nearly 80% of electricity could be produced by renewable energy sources and carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced 50% globally and 72% in the U.S.

Access a Sierra Club release (click here). Access a release from ASES (click here). Access the ASES Climate Change website for additional information (click here). Access the complete 204-page report (click here). [*Climate, *Energy]

EPA Document Calls For Stricter Ozone Standards

Jan 31: U.S. EPA announced that a key document in its review of national air quality standards for ozone will recommend the administrator consider strengthening the current ozone standards to better protect public health. The document, known as the "final staff paper," contains staff recommendations for the administrator to consider in upcoming decisions about revising the Agency's ozone standards. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to periodically review its air quality standards to ensure they continue to protect health and the environment, and to update the standards if necessary. EPA last updated the standards for ozone in 1997. The final ozone staff paper addresses a primary standard, designed to protect public health; and a secondary standard, set to protect the public welfare, including crop health.

For the primary standard, staff recommends a range of levels for the administrator to consider in setting the ozone standard. That range extends from below 0.080 ppm down to 0.060 ppm. The previous draft of the staff paper identified options that included retaining the current standard of 0.084 ppm, along with a range of alternative levels down to 0.064 (the lowest level analyzed), with a focus on a level of 0.07 ppm.

For the secondary standard, staff recommends a standard that is a cumulative, weighted total of daily 12-hour exposures over a three-month period within the growing season. It would give greater weight to exposures at higher ozone concentrations. Staff recommended a range for this standard, from 21 parts per million-hours to 7 parts per million-hours.

EPA is making the final ozone staff paper available at this time and said it will release technical documents used in developing the staff paper sometime this week. The documents include a health risk assessment for meeting the current ozone standards along with potential alternative standards, and an assessment of the effects of ozone on vegetation. EPA notes that the assessments, conclusions and recommendations included in the staff paper are staff judgments. They do not represent Agency decisions on the ozone standards. EPA will propose action on the ozone standards by June 20, 2007 and take final action by March 12, 2008.

On October 25, 2006, U.S. EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Ozone Panel issued new recommendations for limiting ozone, or smog pollution. The 23-member scientific advisory panel unanimously presented their view that there was no scientific justification for retention of the current 8-hour ozone standard of 0.08 parts per million (ppm); and recommended instead that a substantially stronger standard in the range of 0.060 to 0.070 ppm be adopted. Under a court-ordered schedule, EPA must propose action on the ozone standard by May 30, 2007, and take final action by February 2008 [See WIMS 10/25/06].

Access a release (click here). Access links to a fact sheet and the final staff document (click here, posted 1/31/07). Access links to the ozone technical documents to be posted later this week (click here). [*Air]

Senators' Perspectives On Global Warming

Jan 30: The full Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Chaired by Barbara Boxer (D-CA) held a hearing entitled, Senators' Perspectives on Global Warming. The purpose of the hearing was to hear from each Senator about his or her views on global warming, and what the Senator believes the nation's response should be to the issue. The statements from the Chair and Ranking Member illustrate how far apart opinions are on this issue.

Senator Boxer opened the hearing with a presentation saying, "My colleagues, I believe we must act now to address global warming. I believe it is our responsibility. I believe it is our duty. And I believe it is our challenge. I believe that just as consensus has been built among scientists, it is rapidly building among the American people. A recent Time Magazine/ABC News Poll found that 88 percent say that global warming threatens future generations. We are at a historic moment – the tide is turning. A real consensus is coming together around this issue in a way that has never happened before. Scientists, the public, and even the Bush Administration agree: global warming is real, and humans are making a serious contribution...

"We know what is happening-- the science is clear: The planet is getting warmer because humans are releasing too much carbon pollution into the atmosphere. If we fail to take action on global warming now, we can expect future catastrophic impacts like rising sea levels, more extreme weather events of all kinds, damage to coral reefs and fisheries, and negative impacts on food production and water supplies. We need to act soon, before we reach a tipping point when irreversible changes to the world we know may occur..."

Ranking Member, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), outspoken critic of conventional climate change theory, released his opening remarks saying that he disagree with the format of today’s hearing. He said, "Just to hold a hearing for members to provide testimony is duplicative of the Senate floor... This event today breaks every hearing protocol of this Committee, from no agreed to witness list to testimony not being submitted under our rules... I will object in the future to any similar hearings.

"On the issue of climate change in the last four years, I have spoken on the Senate floor more than a dozen times, held four hearings, two stakeholder meetings and many briefings within the Committee. I have looked at the science, the economics, and expected benefits of differing initiatives and proposals. And I have examined how well the world’s only large-scale carbon rationing program that has been implemented so far – the Kyoto Protocol – has fared in achieving its objectives... The Kyoto Protocol would cost the average household $2,700 per year. And it would accomplish virtually nothing. Even if the alarmists were right, the Kyoto Protocol would only reduce temperatures by 0.07 Celsius by the year 2050. Bills introduced in the Senate are no different. The Bingaman proposal would only reduce temperatures by 0.008 Celsius...

"Of course, while the U.S. was on an energy diet, the rest of the world would be free to continually increase their emissions. [for example] China does not plan to accept carbon caps, and will become the world’s largest CO2 emitter by 2009 – two years from now. It is building more than one new coal plant every three days. India and Brazil are not far behind. If they are not part of any effort, then efforts to curb emissions are doomed to failure...

"In regards to the 10 companies which announced their Climate Action Partnership last week, I would like to introduce into the record a commentary from the Wall Street Journal. This outlines the fact that each of the companies from Duke to GE, will individually profit from their plan. It is not an example of companies thinking of the quote “common good” as some of my colleagues have suggested, but more a case of climate profiteers..."

Access a webcast of the hearing (click here, hopefully available soon). Access Senator Boxer's opening presentation and links to charts and graphics used (click here). Access Senator Inhofe's statement and links to supporting information (click here). Access the hearing website for links to some additional statements (click here). Access a listing of Democrats and Republicans on the Committee (click here). [*Climate]

GAO Says Municipal Recycling Efforts Could Be Increased

Jan 29: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has just released a report entitled, Recycling: Additional Efforts Could Increase Municipal Recycling (GAO-07-37, December 29, 2006). The report was requested last year by former Senator James Jeffords (I-VT) and several other members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. In 2005, the United States generated about 246 million tons of municipal solid waste, or over 1,600 pounds per person, according to the most current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates. EPA reported that 79 million tons of this waste were recycled, while the remaining 166.7 million tons were combusted, went to landfills, or were otherwise disposed of. EPA currently has a goal of recycling 35 percent of national municipal solid waste by 2008.

According to the report, although recycling can generate environmental and economic benefits, the national recycling rate has increased only slightly since 2000 (i.e. from 29% to 32%), according to U.S. EPA [See WIMS 10/23/06]. While local governments have the primary role in operating recycling programs, EPA and the Department of Commerce have some legal responsibilities for encouraging recycling. GAO was asked to (1) identify key practices cities are using to increase recycling, (2) describe what EPA and Commerce are doing to encourage recycling, and (3) identify Federal policy options that could help increase recycling. GAO interviewed recycling coordinators in 11 large cities about key practices and 13 additional recycling stakeholders about policy options. GAO selected both groups based on geographic representation and recycling expertise, among other factors.

GAO indicates that recycling coordinators interviewed in selected cities across the country identified several key practices they are using to increase recycling in their cities. The three practices they cited most frequently were (1) making recycling convenient and easy for their residents, (2) offering financial incentives for recycling, and (3) conducting public education and outreach. In addition, both recycling coordinators and the recycling literature identified other ways to increase recycling, such as targeting a wide range of materials for recycling and extending recycling programs to the commercial sector.

GAO found that one of EPA’s principal national recycling programs, WasteWise, creates voluntary partnerships with groups, such as universities, states, and businesses, to help them increase their recycling. EPA also provides competitive grants to support projects designed to increase recycling. However, the impact of EPA’s programs is unknown because the programs lack performance measures and comprehensive data on program performance. GAO also found that although Commerce is required under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to stimulate the development of markets for recycled materials, the agency is not currently taking any actions to do so in the United States.

GAO reported that the recycling stakeholders they interviewed identified various Federal policy options that they believe could help municipalities increase their recycling rates. The three Federal policy options cited most frequently were to (1) establish a nationwide campaign to educate the public about recycling; (2) enact a national “bottle bill” in which beverage containers may be returned for money; and (3) require manufacturers to establish systems that consumers can use to recycle their products. Other identified policy options included: facilitating the sharing of recycling best practices among municipalities; expanding EPA research on the economic and environmental benefits of recycling; and providing additional grant money for recycling projects.

In its investigation, GAO interviewed recycling coordinators from Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Jacksonville, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; and Seattle, Washington.

Access the complete 51-page report (click here). [*Solid]

Riverkeeper, Inc. v. U.S. EPA

Jan 25: In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, Case No.04-6692. Petitioners challenge a final rule promulgated by U.S. EPA pursuant to section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1326(b), that is intended to protect aquatic organisms from being harmed or killed by cooling water intake structures at large, existing power-producing facilities. In summary, the Appeals Court said, "While we conclude that certain aspects of the rule are based on a reasonable interpretation of the Clean Water Act and supported by substantial evidence in the administrative record, several aspects of the rule are not consistent with the statute, are not supported by sufficient evidence, or were not properly subject to notice and comment. We therefore grant in part and deny in part the petitions for review and dismiss in part one aspect of the petitions for lack of jurisdiction because there is no final agency action to review."

In its opinion, the Appeals Court says that it presumes familiarity with its previous decision in Riverkeeper, Inc. v. EPA, 358 F.3d 174 (2d. Cir. 2004). It explains, these consolidated petitions for review concern a final rule promulgated by the EPA regarding the water that large, existing power plants withdraw from rivers, lakes, and other waterways of the United States to cool their facilities. See 40 C.F.R. § 125.91(a). This cooling process requires power plants to extract billions of gallons of water per day from the nation’s waters, thereby impinging and entraining a huge number of aquatic organisms. Indeed, a single power plant can kill or injure billions of aquatic organisms in a single year.

In its final conclusion to the 80-page decision, the Appeals Court said, "For the foregoing reasons, the state and environmental petitioners’ petitions are granted in part and denied in part, and the industry petitioners’ petitions granted in part, denied in part, and dismissed in part for lack of jurisdiction. We remand to the EPA the provision establishing BTA [best technology available] so that it may provide either a reasoned explanation of its decision or a new determination of BTA based on permissible considerations. We further remand the site-specific cost-cost variance and the TIOP provision because the cost-cost variance and subpart (d)(2) of the TIOP provision provided inadequate notice and both depend on the BTA determination, which we remand today.

"We remand as based on impermissible constructions of the statute those provisions that (1) set performance standards as ranges without requiring facilities to achieve the greatest reduction of adverse impacts they can; (2) allow compliance through restoration measures; and (3) authorize a site-specific cost-benefit variance as impermissible under the statute. We further remand for notice and comment the independent suppliers provision. We also direct the EPA on remand to adhere to the definition of 'new facility' set forth in the Phase I Rule or to amend that definition by rulemaking subject to notice and comment. Finally, we dismiss for lack of jurisdiction so much of the petitions as challenges the purported definition of “Great Lakes” and deny as moot the motions to strike certain material from the record and to supplement the record with other material."

Access the complete opinion (click here). Access EPA's Cooling Water Intake Structure website for additional information (click here). [*Water, *Wildlife]

Dealing With Global Warming Without Nuclear Power

Jan 24: Greenpeace USA joined with other climate and energy advocates and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), to release what they are calling "a landmark analysis" showing that the United States can address global warming, without relying on nuclear power or so-called “clean coal” as President Bush proposed in his State of the Union Address [See WIMS 1/24/07]. John Coequyt, energy policy analyst with the Greenpeace Global Warming Campaign said, “This blueprint not only shows us what needs to be done to address global warming, but how to do it using existing technologies. America can deal with global warming without nuclear power, which is inherently dangerous. We can do it without enshrining another century of dependence on coal -- which is only ‘clean’ if you ignore the tremendous environmental devastation caused by coal mining. The fact is we can have our cake and eat it, too.”

According to the report, which details a worldwide energy scenario -- in the United States, nearly 80% of electricity can be produced by renewable energy sources; carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced 50% globally and 72% in the U.S. without resorting to an increase in dangerous nuclear power or new coal technologies; and, America’s oil use can be cut over 50% by 2050 with much more efficient cars and trucks, potentially including new plug-in hybrids, increased use of biofuels, and greater reliance on electricity for transportation.

The study, Energy [R]evolution -- A Blueprint for Solving Global Warming, commissioned from the internationally-respected German Aerospace Centre, shows that significantly increasing renewable energy and efficiency improvements alone can solve the global warming problem. Greenpeace said it is the first study to fulfill the promise of Princeton Professors Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow’s “wedge” framework, by presenting an alternative scenario for reaching greenhouse gas stabilization.

Access a release and link to a webcast of the press conference (click here). Access the complete 92-page report (click here). [*Energy, *Climate]

State Of The Union Energy & Climate Initiatives

Jan 23: According to the White House there were eight major policy initiatives contained in the President's State of the Union message. The initiatives include: ENERGY: Twenty In Ten: Strengthening America's Energy Security; HEALTH CARE: Affordable, Accessible, And Flexible Health Coverage; EDUCATION: Building On Results: A Blueprint For Strengthening NCLB; IMMIGRATION: President Bush's Plan For Comprehensive Immigration Reform; HIV/AIDS: Leading The Worldwide Fight Against HIV/AIDS; MALARIA: The President's Malaria Initiative Is Saving Lives; DEFENSE: Strengthening Our Military; and SPENDING REFORMS: Reforms To Spend Tax Dollars Wisely.

On the energy issue, the President asked Congress and America's scientists, farmers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to join him in pursuing the goal of reducing U.S. gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next ten years – "Twenty in Ten." The plan calls for increasing the supply of renewable and alternative fuels and by reforming and modernizing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars and extending the current light truck rule. The President's energy plan also includes stepping up domestic oil production in environmentally sensitive ways and doubling the current capacity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Further details provided by the White House indicated the President's Twenty In Ten Goal would be reached by: Increasing The Supply Of Renewable And Alternative Fuels By Setting A Mandatory Fuels Standard To Require 35 Billion Gallons Of Renewable And Alternative Fuels In 2017 – Nearly Five Times The 2012 Target Now In Law. In 2017, the will displace 15 percent of projected annual gasoline use. Additionally, the plan calls for Reforming And Modernizing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards For Cars And Extending The Current Light Truck Rule. In 2017, which will reduce projected annual gasoline use by up to 8.5 billion gallons, a further 5 percent reduction that, in combination with increasing the supply of renewable and alternative fuels -- bring the total reduction in projected annual gasoline use to 20 percent.

On the subject of climate change, the President did acknowledge the issue and said, "America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil. And these technologies will help us be better stewards of the environment, and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change." Further White House details indicated that the President's Plan will help confront climate change by stopping the projected growth of carbon dioxide emissions from chars, light trucks and SUVs within 10 years. By 2017, the White House indicated that the renewable fuel and fuel efficiency components of the plan would cut annual emissions from cars and light trucks by as much as 10 percent, about 175 million metric tons – equal to zeroing out the annual emissions of 26 million automobiles. And, the plan could cumulatively prevent the buildup of more than 600 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

In a press briefing held before the actual State of the Union that included, Counselor to the President Dan Bartlett; National Security Advisor Steve Hadley; Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Joel Kaplan; and Press Secretary Tony Snow; Kaplan told reporters, "It's also important to note that under this President's climate change policy, we're making significantly more progress than any of our friends and allies who have adopted some kind of national carbon trading system. In between 2000 and 2004, while our economy was growing 10 percent, our carbon emissions grew by 1.7 percent, as compared to the European Union, which had economy growth of 7 percent and carbon emissions growth of 5 percent. So we've been making good progress under this President, and we'll continue to make progress with the types of energy policies the President is talking about tonight."

Access the complete State of the Union text (click here). Access further details on the Energy Initiatives (click here). Access an overview of other initiatives in the address (click here). Access the full text of the advance press briefing (click here). Access links to webcasts of the address (click here). [*Energy, *Climate]

Sustainable Farm Groups Outline Farm Bill Agenda

Jan 22: A broad alliance of family farm, rural, conservation, sustainable and organic agriculture, anti-hunger, nutrition, faith-based, public health and other groups say the next farm bill should advance a new generation of farm and food policies designed to address some of the nation’s most pressing social, economic, environmental and public health challenges. The group known as the Farm and Food Policy Project (FFPP) detailed their recommendations in a report entitled, Seeking Balance in U.S. Farm and Food Policy. The groups indicated, "The renewal of the Farm Bill in 2007 creates a rare opportunity to take significant steps towards reversing these trends. More than $300 billion in taxpayer dollars is at stake over the next five years. These resources must be managed more responsibly and used to create greater balance in our public policies and ultimately in our farm and food system."

The report outlines innovations which the groups says would make real progress toward creating opportunities for young and beginning farmers, expanding new agricultural markets and value-added enterprises, helping more farmers move to organic production to meet increasing demand, reducing hunger and soaring rates of obesity; encouraging local food production and access to healthy food choices, promoting entrepreneurship and economic development in rural communities; providing incentives for more environmentally friendly farming systems; fostering cooperative conservation partnerships; and providing increased support for socially disadvantaged farmers and farmworkers.

FFPP indicates the report has been endorsed by more than 350 organizations across the country. Some of the lead organizations involved in the effort include: American Farmland Trust; Community Food Security Coalition; Environmental Defense; Farm and Food Policy Diversity Initiative; Northeast Midwest Institute; Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Access links to various speaker presentations, press release, the report, endorsements, and related information (click here). [*Land, *Energy, *Agriculture]

Enviros & Businesses Call For Climate Change Action

Jan 22: Environmental Defense, a founding member of a group of high-level corporate and environmental leaders, issued a release announcing that the group would make a groundbreaking announcement in Washington, D.C. The group is calling for a cap-and-trade system to combat climate change. Saying the "historic proposal" is "A Call to Action," that urges the Federal government to set limits for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, to create market-based incentives and, most of all, to act swiftly and thoughtfully.

The new alliance known as the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (US-CAP), includes the well-known corporations: Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, Duke Energy, DuPont, Florida Power & Light, General Electric, Lehman Brothers, Pacific Gas & Electric, and PNM Resources; and environmental organizations: Environmental Defense, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Natural Resources Defense Council and the World Resources Institute.

The partners pledged to work together to support six recommendations for national action: (1) Account for the global dimensions of climate change – the U.S. government should become more involved in international arrangements for addressing global warming; (2) Recognize the importance of technology – the cost-effective deployment of existing energy efficient technologies should be a priority; (3) Be environmentally effective – mandatory requirements and incentives must be stringent enough to achieve necessary emissions reductions; (4) Create economic opportunity and advantage – a climate protection program must use the power of the market to establish clear targets and timeframes; (5) Be fair – global warming solutions must account for the disproportionate impact of both global warming and emissions reductions on some economic sectors, geographic regions, and income groups; and (6) Encourage early action – prior to the effective date of mandatory pollution limits, every reasonable effort should be made to reduce emissions.

In a joint statement released on January 19, 2007, the members of US-CAP said, they are "...committed to action and believe that properly constructed policy can be economically viable, environmentally responsible, and politically achievable. Swift legislative action on our proposal would encourage innovation and provide needed U.S. leadership on this global challenge. Our goal is to help our nation create public policy that would act aggressively and sustainably to slow, stop and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Toward this end, USCAP urges lawmakers to enact a policy framework for mandatory reductions of GHG emissions from major emitting sectors, including large stationary sources, transportation, and energy use in commercial and residential buildings. The cornerstone of this approach would be a cap-and-trade program..."

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, commended the coalition of business and environmental organizations for working together to save the planet. Boxer said, "There are just a few moments in history when all sides come together for the common good. Such a moment has arrived with the agreement by these companies and organizations to work together to call for action to avoid a global warming crisis."

Access a release from Environmental Defense (click here). Access an additional release from US-CAP (click here). Access the 9-page Consensus Principles and Recommendations from the U.S. Climate Action Partnership: A Business and NGO Partnership (click here). Access the joint statement (click here). Access the US-CAP website (click here). Access a release from Senator Boxer (click here). Access the WIMS-EcoBizPort Climate Change website for links to related information (click here). [*Climate]

House Approves CLEAN Energy Act 264 to 163

Jan 18: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a brief statement on the passage of H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act, which rolls back subsidies and tax breaks for "Big Oil" [See WIMS 1/18/07]. Following extensive debate, the bill passed at approximately 6:00 PM by a vote of 264 to 163. Some 32 Republicans voted for the bill and only three Democrats voted against the measure; and, eight members did not vote.

Pelosi said, “Today’s vote represents the first step toward a future of energy independence. By rolling back $14 billion in subsidies for Big Oil at time when they have recorded record profits, and investing that money in clean renewable energy, energy efficiency and alternative fuels, we will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. By investing in American ingenuity, Democrats will accelerate the implementation of existing clean, energy-efficient technologies. We will promote homegrown alternatives, creating good paying jobs while bolstering our national security, sending our energy dollars to the Midwest, not the Middle East.”

Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman issued a lengthy statement on the House passage of H.R. 6. Bodman said in part, "Energy is a bipartisan issue and together we can work to reduce our reliance on foreign sources of energy while expanding our nation's economy. We can accomplish this by increasing our investments in new energy technology and also in the further development of our nation’s natural energy resources... We support the bill’s effort to repeal some of the unnecessary oil and gas incentives from the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). In addition, we would ask that Members consider repealing other unneeded incentives contained in EPAct, such as federal funding for oil and gas research and development.

"While there are areas of agreement in this legislation, there are also areas of disagreement. Among them is a provision requiring companies that signed favorable oil development leases with the Department of the Interior in 1998 and 1999 to renegotiate those leases. While I agree that the leases are out of line with prior and current policy, the bigger issue is protecting the sanctity of contracts... I would ask Congress to closely review this provision as the bill moves forward.

“In addition, we can continue our work to invest more in clean energy technology today. So I am again asking that Congress fully and immediately support the President's $2.1 billion Advanced Energy Initiative. This 22 percent increase in funding for projects in vehicle technology, solar and wind research, nuclear energy, and clean coal projects would kick start the development and eventual deployment of these new clean energy technologies and allow us to more quickly wean our dependence from foreign sources of energy. Also, I encourage the Congress to fund the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative. This multi-billion investment is important to advance basic science research, which can lead to revolutionary discovery and ultimately greater energy independence.”

As previously reported, the bill has sharply divided business and environmental interests. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups strongly opposed the bill, while Sierra Club and other environmental organizations praised the bill [See WIMS 1/18/07].

Additional representative business comments were issued by National Manufacturers Association (NAM) and the American Petroleum Institute (API). NAM President, John Engler said, "The debate over energy policy should not focus on punishing oil and gas companies through new taxes or costs. Instead, Congress should focus on improving access to domestic energy supplies, energy efficiency technology and creating a more secure energy future for all consumers.” API said, "HR 6 is a repeat of failed energy legislation and is a disappointment for all Americans who want to insure a secure energy future. Punitive taxes on the U.S. oil and natural gas industry are ultimately anti-consumer and contrary to the goal of providing stable and cost-effective supplies."

Additional representative environmental group comments were issued by National Wildlife Federation (NWF). NWF called the House vote the "Opening Salvo in Fight Against Global Warming" NWF said, “Today’s vote is the opening salvo in the fight against global warming and in favor of creating of a new energy future for America. Ending the nation’s oil addiction and shifting to renewable energy sources will put us on a pathway that reduces global warming pollution and promotes energy independence. Forty percent of America’s carbon emissions that contribute to global warming are attributable to the use of oil, and 60 percent of our oil supplies come from foreign sources."

Access the Pelosi statement (click here). Access the details of the House vote (click here). Access the statement from Energy Secretary Bodman (click here). Access the statement from the U.S. Chamber (click here). Access a letter from the Chamber to House members (click here). Access a release from Sierra Club (click here). Access a statement from NAM (click here). Access a statement from API (click here). Access a statement from NWF (click here). Access legislative details for H.R. 6 (click here). Access the House Floor consideration of the bill (click here). [*Energy]

UN Climate Change Head Calls For Global Summit

Jan 16: The head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) proposed the convening of a global summit backed by the UN to plan a future course of action for tackling the cross-cutting problem. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo De Boer told a press briefing in New York, Since climate change “affects energy, energy security, economic issues [and] development issues, it really needs to be taken to the level of heads of State and heads of government." De Boer, who met with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said the UN leader would be an ideal advocate on the issue, saying, “I feel that the Secretary-General of the United Nations is in an excellent position to mobilize that kind of leadership and to help to move the process forward.”

A spokesman for the new Secretary-General said he is well aware of the urgent nature of reversing or stopping climate change and believes that it is “an important issue that has serious consequences for humanity, including social and economic impacts.” Ban himself has said, “We must do far better in the mission to halt climate change.” At a news conference earlier this month, he added, “This, too, will be one of my priorities.”

Despite some progress towards positive change made by some of the world’s major emitters, De Boer pointed out that the issue has reached a major turning point given that developing countries are already burdened by effects of climate change such as prolonged drought and loss of infrastructure. The current Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 UN treaty mandating targets for reducing greenhouse gases, expires in 2012. De Boer said that the interests of developing nations must be considered when creating a replacement mechanism after the treaty’s cessation. He said, “I feel it’s so important to bring the question of climate change back to the UN process, back to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change where basically all of the interests can be addressed and you can find a solution for after 2012 that really does represent the diversity of views.”

Access a UN release (click here). Access a 43 minute informative webcast of the press briefing (click here). Access the UNFCCC website for additional information (click here). [*Climate]