By ANA CAMPOY And STEPHEN POWER
The Obama administration is planning to accelerate new greenhouse-gas regulations for power plants and oil refineries amid stiff opposition from industry and congressional Republicans.
The administration is also escalating a clash with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has refused to sign on to its climate agenda.
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce Thursday that it will propose standards for controlling greenhouse-gas emissions from U.S. power plants by July 2011 and for refineries by December 2011.
The proposed new power-plant regulations are likely to limit the amount of carbon dioxide a facility can emit for each megawatt hour of electricity produced, a person familiar with the agency's plans said.
That could compel utilities to switch from relatively cheap coal to cleaner sources of energy, including natural gas, wind or nuclear power. Utilities that rely heavily on coal have expressed concerns such a shift could cause electricity prices to rise.
The EPA is under pressure from environmental groups to start limiting emissions of carbon dioxide following Congress's failure to enact any controls on emissions linked to climate change.
EPA officials declined to comment late Wednesday.
The agency's moves to adopt new controls on greenhouse-gas emissions have drawn opposition from smokestack industries and some members of Congress, who say new regulations will chill the economy and cost jobs. Proponents of tougher action on climate change say rising global temperatures threaten disruptions to agriculture and coastal flooding, among other things.
Republican leaders in the House have said they will turn up the heat on EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to justify the new greenhouse-gas regulations when they take control in January.
Texas has become a flash point in the controversy over greenhouse gas regulation. The oil-rich, industry-heavy state is balking at a variety of federal mandates, from slashing emissions of factories and cars to increasing oversight of oil and gas production.
The EPA's effort to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions "paints a big target on the backs of Texas agriculture and energy producers and the hundreds of thousands of Texans they employ," said Katherine Cesinger, a spokeswoman for Gov. Perry.
The EPA, in a recent letter to state officials, said it had "no choice" but to take over certain clean-air permits in the state effective Jan. 2 because of state officials' "unwillingness" to work with the agency in implementing its plan to phase in controls on greenhouse-gas emissions.
Over the past year, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has filed eight legal actions against the EPA, including several challenges related to greenhouse gases.
The EPA has said it's efforts to curtail greenhouse-gas emissions using the Clean Air Act are justified by a Supreme Court decision and a subsequent 2009 finding that greenhouse gases are a public health threat.
Texas generates 11% of the nation's greenhouse-gas emissions, far more than any other state, according to the federal Energy Information Administration.
Write to Ana Campoy at ana.campoy@dowjones.com and Stephen Power at stephen.power@wsj.com
Thursday, 23 December 2010
US accuses China of illegally subsidising wind power manufacture
Announcement comes a month before Chinese president is due in Washington for talks with Obama
Reuters in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 22 December 2010 19.58 GMT
The US has accused China of illegally subsidising the production of wind power equipment and asked for talks at the World Trade Organisation, the first step in filing a trade case.
"These subsidies effectively operate as a barrier to US exports to China," US trade representative Ron Kirk said in a statement. The announcement is in response to a petition filed in September by the United Steelworkers (USW) accusing Beijing of a long list of trade-distorting policies. It comes about a month before a visit by China's president, Hu Jintao, to Washington for talks with Barack Obama for talks with Barack Obama.
The industrial union accused Beijing of a long list of subsidies and other trade-distorting policies to favour the manufacture of clean energy technologies in China, at the expense of the US and other producers.
The steelworkers's so-called "section 301" petition included a complaint about China's restrictions on rare earth minerals used in production of wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar cells and energy efficient lighting.
USTR announced no decision on that issue.
"We will continue to work closely with the USW and other stakeholders in the months ahead on the remaining allegations. If we are able to develop sufficient evidence to support those allegations and they can be effectively addressed through WTO litigation, we will pursue the enforcement of our rights at the WTO independently of section 301," Kirk said.
Reuters in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 22 December 2010 19.58 GMT
The US has accused China of illegally subsidising the production of wind power equipment and asked for talks at the World Trade Organisation, the first step in filing a trade case.
"These subsidies effectively operate as a barrier to US exports to China," US trade representative Ron Kirk said in a statement. The announcement is in response to a petition filed in September by the United Steelworkers (USW) accusing Beijing of a long list of trade-distorting policies. It comes about a month before a visit by China's president, Hu Jintao, to Washington for talks with Barack Obama for talks with Barack Obama.
The industrial union accused Beijing of a long list of subsidies and other trade-distorting policies to favour the manufacture of clean energy technologies in China, at the expense of the US and other producers.
The steelworkers's so-called "section 301" petition included a complaint about China's restrictions on rare earth minerals used in production of wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar cells and energy efficient lighting.
USTR announced no decision on that issue.
"We will continue to work closely with the USW and other stakeholders in the months ahead on the remaining allegations. If we are able to develop sufficient evidence to support those allegations and they can be effectively addressed through WTO litigation, we will pursue the enforcement of our rights at the WTO independently of section 301," Kirk said.
General Motors launches new electric hybrid car in US
Chevrolet Volt is first extended-range electric vehicle to be made for the mass market by one of the big US carmakers
Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent guardian.co.uk, Sunday 19 December 2010 17.23 GMT
The Opec oil crisis of the early 1970s, Jeffrey Kaffee, a former commercial pilot, remembers, led to huge frustration at long petrol queues. Lesson learnt, years later Kaffee became a Prius owner. Then, last week, he moved on to General Motors' new plug-in electric hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt.
Kaffee was on holiday in Florida when the car came in to his local dealership, in Denville, New Jersey. The sellers flew him back for the day to take the silver-coloured five-door saloon for a spin.
"We drove it a lot," he said. "The car was on all day. It was after 2 o'clock when I was finished for the day and I looked down and it had half a battery to go. It was doing fine."
Impressed by the test run, Kaffee, who is now an estate agent, decided to make the car his main commuting vehicle.
The Volt is the first extended-range electric vehicle to be made for the mass market by one of the big US carmakers, and hits the streets at the same time as the Nissan Leaf, an entirely electric hatchback.
Both cars are being marketed as green alternatives, with Nissan running adverts showing a driver getting hugged by a polar bear. The two electric rivals began shipping out last week, in limited quantities to selected areas, including California, Texas, New York, New Jersey and Washington.
Unlike initial experiences with electric cars in the 1990s – when General Motors ended up recalling and crushing the entire fleet – the Volt, first unveiled at the Detroit auto show four years ago, is seen as an important part of GM's comeback.
Early indications are encouraging. The car has received gushing reviews from car magazines, and more than 200,000 people have signed up for more information about the Volt on the company website.
The Volt's additional small petrol engine is seen as a safeguard against the "range anxiety" - the distance it is possible to travel on a charged battery - that is associated with 100% electric vehicles.
Even Kaffee, who initially signed up for both vehicles, had reservations. "The Leaf is a great car around town but you can't really take it on an extended trip," he said. "You wouldn't want a day when you are out there and you are out of juice."
So far availability of the Volt has been limited; 160 cars were shipped last week, and only 10,000 more are planned for all of next year. So there are waiting lists.
There were reports last week that some showrooms were charging a premium of as much as $5,000 over the manufacturers' price.
The Volt manages between 35 and 40 miles on a single charge before the petrol engine takes over, extending the possible range to about 380 miles. It takes about eight hours to fully recharge the battery on the standard American 110-volt household outlet.
The price of the car starts at $41,000 (£26,000), which is relatively expensive in the US, but sellers say the price is dictated by the $15,000 cost of the battery pack. Customers in the US are, however, eligible for a $7,300 tax credit, bringing down the price to about $33,000.
The Leaf is reported to be able to travel about 100 miles on a single charge. The car sells for just under $33,000 and also qualifies for a $7,500 tax credit, bringing down the price to about $25,000.
Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent guardian.co.uk, Sunday 19 December 2010 17.23 GMT
The Opec oil crisis of the early 1970s, Jeffrey Kaffee, a former commercial pilot, remembers, led to huge frustration at long petrol queues. Lesson learnt, years later Kaffee became a Prius owner. Then, last week, he moved on to General Motors' new plug-in electric hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt.
Kaffee was on holiday in Florida when the car came in to his local dealership, in Denville, New Jersey. The sellers flew him back for the day to take the silver-coloured five-door saloon for a spin.
"We drove it a lot," he said. "The car was on all day. It was after 2 o'clock when I was finished for the day and I looked down and it had half a battery to go. It was doing fine."
Impressed by the test run, Kaffee, who is now an estate agent, decided to make the car his main commuting vehicle.
The Volt is the first extended-range electric vehicle to be made for the mass market by one of the big US carmakers, and hits the streets at the same time as the Nissan Leaf, an entirely electric hatchback.
Both cars are being marketed as green alternatives, with Nissan running adverts showing a driver getting hugged by a polar bear. The two electric rivals began shipping out last week, in limited quantities to selected areas, including California, Texas, New York, New Jersey and Washington.
Unlike initial experiences with electric cars in the 1990s – when General Motors ended up recalling and crushing the entire fleet – the Volt, first unveiled at the Detroit auto show four years ago, is seen as an important part of GM's comeback.
Early indications are encouraging. The car has received gushing reviews from car magazines, and more than 200,000 people have signed up for more information about the Volt on the company website.
The Volt's additional small petrol engine is seen as a safeguard against the "range anxiety" - the distance it is possible to travel on a charged battery - that is associated with 100% electric vehicles.
Even Kaffee, who initially signed up for both vehicles, had reservations. "The Leaf is a great car around town but you can't really take it on an extended trip," he said. "You wouldn't want a day when you are out there and you are out of juice."
So far availability of the Volt has been limited; 160 cars were shipped last week, and only 10,000 more are planned for all of next year. So there are waiting lists.
There were reports last week that some showrooms were charging a premium of as much as $5,000 over the manufacturers' price.
The Volt manages between 35 and 40 miles on a single charge before the petrol engine takes over, extending the possible range to about 380 miles. It takes about eight hours to fully recharge the battery on the standard American 110-volt household outlet.
The price of the car starts at $41,000 (£26,000), which is relatively expensive in the US, but sellers say the price is dictated by the $15,000 cost of the battery pack. Customers in the US are, however, eligible for a $7,300 tax credit, bringing down the price to about $33,000.
The Leaf is reported to be able to travel about 100 miles on a single charge. The car sells for just under $33,000 and also qualifies for a $7,500 tax credit, bringing down the price to about $25,000.