Global warming

November 17, 2009 -- Today, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced a far-reaching package of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy. Attached are six fact sheets on the U.S-China clean energy announcements.    » read more »

Global ocean surface temperature fifth warmest

November 17, 2009 -- The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the sixth warmest October on record, according to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Based on records going back to 1880, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.

NCDC scientists reported that the average land surface temperature for October was also the sixth warmest on record. Additionally, the global ocean surface temperature was the fifth warmest on record for October.
Global Temperature Highlights    » read more »

Federally-funded project part of long-range lab modernization plan

ARGONNE, IL (November 17, 2009) – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is providing $8 million to Argonne National Laboratory for detailed design work for a new, world-class energy research facility. This is the first step in beginning work on what is expected to be a $95 million construction project.

The Energy Sciences Building (ESB) will provide an environment that will accelerate the pace of discovery by bringing together interdisciplinary teams of researchers in a space that can be adjusted to accommodate an evolving energy-related science agenda. Construction is scheduled to begin during fiscal year 2011.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today escorted executives from Statoil around the State as part of a visit of officials from the Norwegian company. Statoil is working with the University of Maine on potential offshore wind power development.

Company officials, including the head of Statoil’s wind power business development, came to Maine to see firsthand the existing capacity and infrastructure, interest and commitment of the State and private partners to develop wind power off Maine’s coast. The tour showcased the Cianbro Eastern Manufacturing Facility in Brewer, the Fox Islands Community Wind Project on Vinalhaven, Brunswick Naval Air Station and Bath Iron Works.    » read more »

Enticed by New Renewable Energy Tax Incentive

November 16, 2009 -- PHOENIX – Four months after Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed Arizona’s new Renewable Energy Tax Incentive into law, she today announced one of the world’s largest solar cell manufacturers will locate its United States headquarters in Arizona and create jobs for Arizonans. China-based Suntech Power Holdings is a multi-billion dollar corporation that makes photovoltaic solar cells and solar electric systems.    » read more »

North Haven resident Chellie Pingree says Maine project is “example” for the nation

November 17, 2009 -- Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joined Governor John Baldacci, House Speaker Hannah Pingree and others to cut the ribbon on the Fox Islands Wind Project in Vinalhaven today. Pingree, a resident of nearby North Haven Island, said the wind turbines will serve as an example for the rest of the country.

“This project is a perfect example of what we can do across this country,” Pingree said. “Instead of paying some of the highest electric rates in the country to buy power generated in part by oil we’ve had to import from overseas, our communities will produce their own electricity right here at home. It’s a home-grown solution to our energy needs.”    » read more »

VINALHAVEN, Maine--Tuesday, November 17, 2009-- Harnessing Maine’s strong ocean winds, three wind turbines supplied by GE (NYSE: GE) now are producing power for the residents of Vinalhaven and North Haven, two year-round communities that comprise the Fox Islands located in Penobscot Bay in mid-coast Maine.

The wind facility, which has three GE 1.5-megawatt machines on site, was dedicated today as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony held by the project developer, Fox Islands Wind, LLC. On average, the project is expected to generate approximately 11,600 megawatt hours of electricity per year, supplying the island’s communities with year-round cleaner, more affordable power.    » read more »

New EPA Web Site Provides Tools to Cut Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Homes

11/16/2009 -- WASHINGTON – Home owners, buyers and renters have a new resource for going green indoors and outdoors. EPA’s new Green Homes Web site will help people make their homes greener with tips on reducing energy consumption, carbon footprints, waste generation and water usage, as well as improving indoor air quality.

The latest federal survey of American housing (2007) reported 128 million housing units across the U.S., accounting for nearly 54 percent of national energy use and nearly 31 percent of all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, the most common greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- Beijing, China - Today, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced a far-reaching package of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy. Please see the attached fact sheets for additional details on each of the U.S-China clean energy announcements.    » read more »

Nov. 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- NASA will hold a second national strategies workshop to examine the impacts of climate change and extreme weather variability on native peoples and their homelands. The workshop, which will study the impacts from an indigenous cultural, spiritual and scientific perspective, will take place Nov. 18 - 21 at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minn.

"This workshop will bring native indigenous knowledge together with science, education, and technologies to address the challenges of climate and environmental change," said Nancy Maynard of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.    » read more »

Climate Treaty Plans to Slow Heat-Trapping Emissions from Tropical Deforestation Must Include Rules to Protect Biodiversity, Top Scientists Conclude

WASHINGTON (November 16, 2009) – In a paper published today in the scientific journal Current Biology, an international group of leading conservation scientists conclude that plans to reduce heat-trapping emissions from tropical forests must include provisions to protect plants and animals from extinction.    » read more »

John Rowe discusses how cap-and-trade legislation works to limit costs

CHICAGO (Nov. 16, 2009) – Exelon Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe said today that current legislative proposals on climate will minimize costs to consumers while addressing the imminent threat of global warming. In a keynote speech at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners annual convention, Rowe said a cap-and-trade system is cheaper than any of the alternatives and current proposals include protections to avoid sharp price increases for consumers.

“I believe the Senate can pass bipartisan climate legislation this Congress,” said Rowe. “The support of wavering senators will turn on whether they are reassured on the issue of costs, and I am confident they will be.”    » read more »

Midland, MI - November 16, 2009 -- The Dow Chemical Company's (NYSE:DOW) DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, a flexible photovoltaic solar cell packaged in the form of a roofing shingle that can be easily integrated with standard asphalt shingle materials, has been named one of "The 50 Best Inventions of 2009" by TIME magazine.    » read more »

U.S. EPA Recognizes ExxonMobil for Reducing Methane Emissions Through Technology Advances and Operational Excellence

Nov. 16, 2009 -- HOUSTON -- ExxonMobil Production Company received a 2009 Continuing Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under its Natural Gas STAR Program.

The Natural Gas Star Program recognizes companies that apply cost-effective technologies and management practices to improve operational efficiency and reduce methane emissions. The Continuing Excellence Award is presented to companies that annually self report to the EPA and continually demonstrate a high level of performance in reducing emissions, implementing a variety of technologies and practices, and supporting the program's activities, initiatives, and outreach.    » read more »

PHILADELPHIA (November 12, 2009) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today reaches a milestone for the Energy Star program by passing the one millionth Energy Star qualified home mark. Number 15 on the list of the top 20 markets for Energy Star built homes, the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area has 12,455 Energy Star qualified homes.

These Energy Star homes are saving the equivalent to eliminating emissions from 667 vehicles, saving 4,034,004 pounds of coal and planting 1,102 acres of trees, and saving the environment 7,911,493 pounds of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.    » read more »