Cleaner coal project jumps one hurdle

Long-delayed efforts to build an experimental coal-fired plant in Illinois have passed a crucial milestone with the Obama administration signing off on the proposed site as environmentally fit.

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Carbon offsets a wild card as environmental markets converge. There are now more than 700 voluntary and compliance-based environmental markets in the United States -- including programs that provide payments for filtering water pollution or offsetting wildlife habitat destruction. [News Source]

California sets pace for solar power. California, the longtime national leader in solar energy, has a capacity of more than 500 megawatts of solar power at peak periods. As the Obama administration pushes for a national shift to more renewable energy sources, California’s example is being closely watched. [News Source]

A son of Portland, Oregon, tries to puncture the myth of ’smart growth’. Randal O'Toole thinks riding the train damages the climate more than driving an SUV. And he thinks his numbers prove it. [News Source]

Labour orders green energy revolution. The government seized control of the power grid and other key levers in the energy sector Wednesday in an attempt to kickstart a stalling "green energy" revolution and head off the threats of global warming and a rundown in North Sea oil. [News Source]

China emissions cap an open question. Top U.S. officials on Wednesday left open the possibility that China might not have to accept a hard cap on its greenhouse gas emissions under a new global climate change treaty. [News Source]

Asian nations could outpace U.S. in developing clean energy. Asian nations are pouring money into renewable energy industries, funding research and development and setting ambitious targets for renewable energy use. These plans could outpace the programs in Obama's economic stimulus package or in the House climate bill. [News Source]

Green jobs coming to U.S. from afar. A growing number of U.S. jobs in the wind and solar business are here thanks to companies outside the country. Sarah Gardner reports on why overseas companies are moving in. [News Source]

Energy Department signs off on Illinois FutureGen site. Long-delayed efforts to build an experimental coal-fired plant in Illinois have passed a crucial milestone with President Barack Obama's administration formally signing off on the proposed site as environmentally fit. [News Source]

Kansas responds to Sunflower lawsuit. Attorney General Steve Six's office is asking a federal court to dismiss Sunflower Electric Power Corp.'s lawsuit against the state for denying an air quality permit it needs to build two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas. [News Source]

G8 climate target questioned. The path to a meaningful deal at the Copenhagen climate summit in December seems more treacherous in the wake of last week's meeting of the G8 nations. [News Source]