Energy

Dell Achieves July 2009 Climate Savers Requirements One Year Early and Ahead of Schedule to Meet Energy Star 5.0

Round Rock, Texas, June 25, 2008 -- Dell Inc. today became the first in its industry to achieve 80 PLUS Gold-certification for a server power supply, the latest sign that the company is meeting its goal of becoming the “greenest” technology company on the planet and strengthening its position as an energy-efficiency leader.

“When it comes to energy efficiency, our focus is clear and simple,” said Albert Esser, Dell’s Vice President of Power and Infrastructure Solutions. “We’re designing next-generation Energy Smart technology that reflects customers’ feedback, collectively avoids millions of tons of CO2 emissions and drives unprecedented cost savings.”    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- When John McCain is in California this week he will no doubt try to tie himself to Gov. Schwarzenegger and distance himself from President Bush. But when it comes to offshore drilling, an important issue to coastal states, like California, Senator McCain is on Bush's--not Schwarzenegger's--side.

When McCain announced last week he wanted to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling, President Bush and big oil were quick to side with him, even though the idea has been met with much criticism and would do nothing to solve our short-term energy crisis. Just as bad, Senator McCain himself campaigned against off-shore drilling in states like Oregon, Maine, and even California in the run-up to the 2000 election.    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- After years of saying he opposed drilling in our coastal waters, Senator McCain changed his position and has embraced President Bush's vision for offshore drilling. On CBS's Face the Nation, McCain advisor Carly Fiorina tried to defend John McCain's decision to cave in to Big Oil.

Offshore oil rig: Photo by arbyreed (CC)    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- This week John McCain reversed himself again, announcing that he now supports lifting the moratorium on off-shore drilling despite previously opposing such a plan to reverse decades of U.S. policy. McCain and President Bush stood behind the plan even though it does nothing to address current gas prices, it would take years to see a drop of oil from these leases, and oil industry execs already have thousands of untapped leases at their disposal.    » read more »

As President, Barack Obama will restore common-sense regulation to ease the impact of soaring gas prices

June 22, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama today announced his plan to crack down on excessive energy speculation and fully close the "Enron Loophole" to ease the impact skyrocketing gas prices.

California gas prices, June, 2008: Photo by .pie (CC)    » read more »

Speech to Follow, Expand on Failed Bush Energy Policies

June 17, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.— Senator John McCain is slated to give a major policy address on energy issues later today in front of an audience of oil industry executives in Houston.

Yesterday Senator McCain called for lifting a nearly three decade old federal moratorium on drilling off of our coasts. "There are areas off our coasts that should be open to exploration and exploitation , and I hope we can take the first step by lifting the moratoria," said Senator McCain.

Yesterday’s Sierra Club response to Senator McCain’s announcement can be found here .

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director    » read more »

New Radio Ad Calls for Support of Clean Energy Legislation

June 16, 2008 -- Washington, DC: In remarks today Senator McCain indicated that in his speech tomorrow in the heart of the fossil fuel industry he will focus not on clean energy and fighting global warming but instead on opening America’s coasts to drilling.

“Tomorrow, I'll call for lifting the federal moratorium for states that choose to permit exploration. I think that this -- and perhaps providing additional incentives for states to permit exploration off their coasts --- would be very helpful in the short term in resolving our energy crisis,” said McCain.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director:    » read more »

Addressing global concern on climate change and water to have greatest impact on Asia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 16 June 2008 – Climate change and water shortage have emerged as the top issue with the greatest impact on Asia, according to a survey of business leaders by the World Economic Forum. The survey showed that an overwhelming 81% of the 55 business leaders voted for “addressing growing global concern over environmental challenges such as climate change and water” as the top choice of issues with potential impact on Asia.

Other major concerns include “preventing political and economic instability linked to rising food and energy prices” and “managing the social, environmental and infrastructural implications of rapid urbanization”.    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.—With the official first day of summer around the corner, U.S. households are already feeling the strain of early summer heat waves and cooling costs, high gas prices, and consumer price increases due to inflation. This summer, households are expected to pay about 30% more for gasoline, 20–40% more for food staples like milk and eggs, and 5% more for electricity relative to last year. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), low-cost efficiency investments can help defray these costs for U.S. households.    » read more »

U.S. Senate Hearing Will Focus For First Time on Renewable Energy
and Transmission

June 17, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee will today hold its first-ever hearing focused exclusively on renewable energy and transmission, inviting renewable industry, utility, and government leaders to discuss ways to invest in new transmission that will tap the nation’s vast – but currently stranded –renewable energy resources.    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- During his campaign John McCain has tried to create distance from the Bush Administration by talking tough on the environment. But you just never know which John McCain you're going to get. Today, Senator McCain will cave to his friends in the oil and gas industries by declaring that he supports lifting the federal moratorium on drilling exploration, even though he supported the moratorium the last time he ran for president and has opposed drilling off the coast of places like Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, and Maine.    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- While John McCain likes to talk tough about energy independence and renewable energy, John McCain today will cave in to his friends in the oil and gas industry. Despite supporting a moratorium on off-shore drilling during his last presidential campaign and opposing offshore drilling in places like Florida, North Carolina and Oregon, Senator McCain will call for the elimination of the moratorium during his remarks in Houston today.

Oil spill cleanup crew: Photo by ex.libris (CC)    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) chaired a hearing today to investigate how excessive speculation in the oil market may be contributing to the historic run on oil and gas prices.

The hearing, held jointly before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, probed the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) role in regulating the market and what tools and resources the agency needs to ensure it is able to be a robust market watchdog.    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- “There are some who believe that the only solution to our skyrocketing energy crisis is to drill, drill, and drill. And one of their primary targets is the Outer Continental Shelf.

Congress chose to protect these federal waters from oil exploitation in 1981. And Congress has voted to renew that ban every year since then.

Offshore oil drilling rig: Photo by Beau Wade (CC)

But today, these federal protections are under attack.

Let me be clear: lifting the moratoria is a false promise and an unnecessary risk.    » read more »

State’s Lawsuit Alleged Air Emissions at Rothschild Wisconsin Plant Exceeded Permit Limits

June 17, 2008 -- MADISON - The State and the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC) have agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging multiple violations of state air pollution control laws at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation’s Weston electric generating station in Marathon County, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today.    » read more »