Emissions

November 2, 2009 -- Broomfield, Colo. – NOAA scientists took off Saturday on the second phase of a mission that, when complete, will provide a detailed view of how carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are distributed globally. Monitoring the increasing levels of greenhouse gases and black carbon aerosols in the atmosphere is crucial to understanding human-caused climate change.

“Missions such as this one are critical to understanding the impacts of greenhouse gases and particulates,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The data collected are also essential to help verify if policies to reduce these heat trapping pollutants are having their intended effect.”    » read more »

Carper Amendment in Interior Appropriations Bill Directs the EPA to Study Black Carbon Emissions to Improve Public Health & Reduce Global Warming

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – A plan to help reduce black carbon emissions, authored by Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), was included in the final Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2996), which passed the Senate this evening by a vote of 60-40.

The Carper provision directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the environmental impact of dangerous black carbon, and to determine the most cost-effective ways to reduce its emissions to improve public health and reduce global warming.    » read more »

DNREC Secretary approves plan for largest improvement in air quality in Delaware history by reducing emissions from Indian River power plant

October 14, 2009 -- DOVER – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara has issued a Secretary’s Order approving construction permits for air pollution control equipment at NRG’s Indian River power plant near Millsboro that will transform the facility from among the 50 dirtiest coal plants in the nation to the one of the cleanest while also providing substantial public health and environmental benefits to Delawareans.    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- “The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that greenhouse gas emissions pose a real threat to public health and safety, and has proposed a carefully targeted plan to regulate large industrial and commercial facilities under the Clean Air Act.

I fully support EPA’s actions to require that the nation’s largest stationary emitters, responsible for roughly 70 percent of America’s carbon footprint, take appropriate steps to contain these harmful emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Those who recognize that the Earth is in jeopardy, that global warming is real and that the climate is warming more quickly than anticipated, understand the urgent need to take action. We cannot lose time.    » read more »

September 24, 2009 -- Washington, DC – As part of its renewed efforts to ensure compliance with national energy efficiency appliance standards, the U.S. Department of Energy today issued a test notice requiring AeroSys, Inc. to provide sample air conditioners and heat pumps for laboratory testing by DOE. The test notice, issued under 10 CFR 430.70, requires AeroSys to make test samples of certain AeroSys-manufactured air conditioners and heat pumps available to DOE at its own expense.

The Department will then determine whether these products comply with applicable DOE energy standards, which are designed to strengthen efficiency levels for various appliances, save money for consumers, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.    » read more »

Investment of more than $62 million from Recovery Act reflects Administration’s aggressive approach for carbon capture

September 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $62 million in funding that will boost carbon capture and storage research and development in the years to come. Today’s investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act reflects the Obama Administration’s commitment to creating new jobs, having the U.S. be a leader on climate change, and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.    » read more »

Clean Car Standards Would Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Cut Oil Dependence and Save Americans Money at the Pump

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (September 15, 2009) – The U.S. EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced a joint proposal for national standards for greenhouse gas pollution from cars and trucks, along with strengthened fuel economy standards.

According to EPA and NHTSA, the new proposed standards will cut global warming pollution from vehicles by 30 percent, improve fuel economy to an average of about 35.5 miles per gallon, and save drivers thousand of dollars over the life of the vehicles – all while adopting a “size-based” standard favored by domestic automakers.    » read more »

Rules will reduce oil usage and global warming pollution

September 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced new fuel economy and greenhouse gas rules for vehicles, calling for a fleet average fuel economy of 35.5 miles per gallon and emissions of 250 grams per mile of CO2-equivalent-emissions by the 2016 model year.

Statement of Ann Mesnikoff, Sierra Club Green Transportation Campaign    » read more »

Statement of Lena Pons, Policy Analyst, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Division

Sept. 15, 2009 -- The Obama administration proposed a historic step forward today that would reduce our nation’s oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed standards it announced for fuel economy and emissions would save 1.3 million barrels of oil per day in 2020 and save drivers about $26 billion per year in 2020, based on the current price of gas.

Under the proposal, automakers would have to raise the average gas mileage across their fleets to 35.5 miles per gallon and reduce carbon dioxide to 250 grams per mile by 2016.    » read more »

Call for Reduction in Hydrofluorocarbons Signals U.S. Commitment to Global Climate Agreement

September 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Obama Administration’s proposal to eliminate dangerous emissions known as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as part of an international treaty to protect the ozone layer.

The treaty, known as the Montreal Protocol, currently excludes regulations for HFCs which Kerry has called “significantly more powerful greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide,” warning that the emissions’ damage “is only going to grow if we don't act in the short term.”    » read more »

September 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) issued the following statement praising the proposed federal rule released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish an historic national program to improve vehicle fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gases.

As chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, Sen. Carper said:    » read more »

State’s Vehicle Emissions Standards and Green Building Code Serve as Model for National and International Standards

09/15/2009 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger issued the following statement today after the President announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) will adopt a vehicle emissions standard modeled after California’s first-in-the-nation standard and the International Code Council announced the state’s newly adopted Green Building Standards Code will serve as a foundation for commercial buildings worldwide.    » read more »

No Gasoline or Tailpipe Pollution in Reaching Milestone

2009-09-11 -- DETROIT, September 11 - The Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell electric vehicles today passed 1 million miles of gasoline and tailpipe pollution-free driving by homemakers, accountants, computer game designers and others using the vehicles every day in real-world conditions.

More than 50,000 gallons of gasoline have been saved so far in the fuel cell Equinox, more than 100 of which are part of the largest consumer fuel cell demonstration fleet in the world. The fuel cell electric Equinox runs on electricity created by an on-board fuel cell stack. The only emissions are wisps of water vapor.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (June 30, 2009) — Today's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement granting California and 13 other states a waiver under the Clean Air Act to implement strong clean car standards demonstrates that "with regard to the waiver, science is back in the driver's seat", said Brendan Bell, Washington representative for the Union of Concerned Scientists' (UCS) Clean Vehicles Program.

"Along with last Friday's climate victory in the House, this is another sign that the federal government is finally taking action on global warming."    » read more »

June 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Automakers responded to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) granting of California's request to set their own greenhouse gas/fuel economy standards by reaffirming their support for the single, national program announced last month by President Obama.

"President Obama’s decision last month to create a single national program for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards moves us toward a policy that ensures that consumers in all 50 states have access to highly fuel-efficient vehicles at an affordable price," said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. "We are hopeful the granting of this waiver will not undermine the enormous efforts put forth to create the national program."    » read more »