Energy Videos & Energy News: Environment Videos // Current

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1 day ago

Lawmakers, businesses jockey for 'green' jobs

With big money at stake, lots of folks bet on the clean-energy economy ELKHART, Ind.— In the empty factories and laid-off... more

jennyschu
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2 days ago

Regulators to Consider Limits on Oil Contracts

"Reacting to swings in oil prices in recent months, federal regulators announced on Tuesday that they were considering trading restrictions on hedge funds and other “speculative” traders in markets for oil, natural gas and other energy products.

In a big departure from the hands-off approach to market regulation of the last two decades, the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Gary Gensler, said his agency would consider limits on the volume of energy futures contracts that purely financial investors would be allowed to hold.

The announcement also highlights a broader shift toward tougher government oversight under President Obama. Since Mr. Obama took office, the Justice Department has stepped up its antitrust enforcement activities, reversing many of doctrines adopted by the Bush administration. The Securities and Exchange Commission is ramping up as well, having been sorely embarrassed by its failure to heed warnings about Ponzi scheme run by the money manager Bernard L. Madoff.

The Obama administration is also proposing a broad overhaul of financial regulation that would include tougher rules in the free-wheeling market for arcane financial instruments called derivatives.

When it comes to supervising oil and gas trading, regulators made it clear they were willing to move ahead on the basis of their existing authority, without waiting for Congress to act on Mr. Obama’s broader overhaul.

“My firm belief is that we must aggressively use all existing authorities to ensure market integrity,” Mr. Gensler said in a written statement.

Mr. Gensler announced that his agency would hold several hearings in July and August, the first of which will examine whether to impose federal “speculative limits” on futures contracts for energy products.

The agency also announced that it would pull back part of the veil on the oil and gas markets, publishing more detailed information about the aggregate activity of hedge funds and traders who arbitrage between domestic and foreign energy prices.""Reacting to swings in oil prices in recent months, federal regulators announced on Tuesday that they were considering... more

DeliaTheArtist
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1 year ago

Rebels in the Pipeline

Current's Mariana van Zeller travels to one of the most unstable regions in the world - Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta.... more

MarianaVanZeller
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6 days ago

Veterans are stepping out of camouflage into energy industry.

You might think that Dan Leary, now 32, had other things to worry about when he decided he'd start a solar company. In 2005, while on active duty in the Kuwaiti desert, Cpt. Leary drafted a business plan to make solar panels. With the cost of oil increasing, he figured public and government interest in solar and renewable energy was set to amp up. "When you're actually sitting downrange, and you're looking at where oil comes from up close, you can see that this stuff is not sustainable," says Leary, who figured the MBA he earned before the military combined with his experience overseeing construction projects for the Army would help him transition back into civilian life.

With his clear post-military mission, Leary is one of the lucky veterans. At nearly 12 percent, the unemployment rate for transitioning military members is higher than the national average of 10 percent. While an updated GI Bill passed in Congress last year paves some easier avenues for vets to find work by providing employment counseling and outreach, it can't account for everything. It doesn't help that, as a 2007 survey by Military.com found, 67 percent of vets have trouble explaining their training to would-be employers.

Sitting from his startup's corner office in Boston, Leary thinks that might not be such big deal in the sustainable energy sector. Field-tested veterans make ideal green-collar employees, he says. Why? The fledgling industry depends on highly skilled technicians and managers who can oversee projects with, well, military precision.
I've seen guys walk into manufacturing plants where they make [wind] turbines and they say 'wow, this is just like a Navy ship,'" says Dave Bakkeby, a senior manager with military staffing firm Orion International, which, along with other agencies, is having trouble meeting demand for new candidates. Over the past year, requests for vets has shot up to fill in the ranks of an industry that started relatively from scratch. At Suniva, a solar-panel maker in Georgia, 20 percent of the 100-person staff is vets, a number CEO John Baumstark says he'd love to get higher. "When we miss a call from military staffers, we think that we might have just missed someone who would have transformed our business," he says. "We don't feel like that when other [employment] agencies call."

Nonprofit groups like Boulder, Colo.–based Veterans Green Jobs, which last year launched "rapid training and deployment" workshops to hone vets' skills and funnel them into energy companies, deepen the talent and recruitment pool. Following suit, a Washington nonprofit called the Truman National Security Project launched a program this month to train vets to drive the message of an undeniable overlap between green energy and national security.You might think that Dan Leary, now 32, had other things to worry about when he decided he'd start a solar company. In 2005,... more

ClipsFC
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6 days ago

air

Make sure you take care of AIR!

usumacinta
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7 days ago

Where does electricity come from?

Electricity is a good thing. It powers your computer, drives economic growth, transmits images from Tehran streets, keeps preemies... more

plusaf
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7 days ago

U.S. Senate Committee Scraps Florida Drilling Protections

-- 2006 Compromise Betrayed as Oil Rigs Allowed as Close as 45 Miles --

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted today to remove Florida’s unique and critical protections against offshore oil and gas drilling. The amendment, offered by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), revokes long-term protections against Eastern Gulf drilling within 125 miles of Pensacola and 250 miles from Tampa Bay and replaces it with a buffer just 45 miles from Florida’s coastline, effective immediately.

“We’re deeply disappointed that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee broke its promise to Florida,” said Environment Florida Advocate Adam Rivera. “This is a cautionary tale not to compromise with oil companies and their allies in Congress, since such compromises will not be upheld for long.”

The 2006 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act put in place current protections for Florida’s federal waters, which last until 2022. The Dorgan Amendment, which was adopted by a margin of 13-10, also opens the “Destin Dome,” long sought after by oil and gas interests, a mere 25 miles from the coast of Pensacola.

Florida would bear huge risk from increased drilling, while receiving a negligible reward. Based on the experience of other Gulf drilling operations, small spills—like the 500 gallon spill off a Louisiana rig in June 2006 that killed hundreds of endangered pelicans in a National Wildlife Refuge—would be common if Florida’s coastal and marine waters were opened to drilling. A catastrophic spill, one that could spoil the ecology and economic value of Florida beaches for generations, would be a real possibility.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration found that the impact on gasoline prices in both the near and long terms from offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf is “insignificant”—a mere fraction of the savings America could achieve from a slight increase in automobile fuel economy standards or smart investments in urban planning and better public transit.

“Environment Florida thanks Senator Bill Nelson for fighting for our coastal environment and economy. We urge all U.S. Senators to join him in focusing on creating a clean energy economy and stopping global warming, rather than pursuing false solutions that jeopardize our natural heritage,” said Rivera.-- 2006 Compromise Betrayed as Oil Rigs Allowed as Close as 45 Miles -- WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural... more

julesrs007
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7 days ago

Tom Friedman Called Us Out

As a young person, you care about global warming. You know that a clean energy economy will create millions of jobs and pathways... more

DMarx
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8 days ago

The Weekly Carboholic: Cassava, sorghum yields drop, toxicity rises with more CO2

This week: cassava, sorghum yields drop, toxicity rises with higher CO2 concentrations; differences between aerosol effects in... more

angliss
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9 days ago

Senator Claire McCaskill tweets to weaken ACES

Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri wants to weaken the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill, but she calls it... more

angliss
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9 days ago

Oil or Trees?: Germany Takes Lead in Saving Ecuador's Rainforest

Oil companies are salivating over the supply of black gold beneath Ecuador's rainforest.

The South American country is pledging to keep the oil in the ground -- if the international community provides compensation. Now Germany has taken a leading role in raising the necessary cash.

There are many attributes which make the Yasuni National Park special: IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE PLACES ON THE PLANET, it is home to indigenous tribes which hunt and gather in its remote interior, and there's a unique breed of small bat. But the national park also has a geographic curse: It sits atop Ecuador's largest known oil reserve, thought to contain hundreds of millions of barrels.

And this potential fortune threatens its very future. In response, Ecuador has come up with an unusual plan to safeguard the UNESCO biosphere Reserve. The cash-strapped South American country has pledged to leave the oil in the ground forever -- something unheard of among oil nations -- if the international community compensates for some of the lost income.

The scheme, which was first mooted by Ecuadorian President Raphael Correa more than a year ago, got off to a slow start. By the end of the year the country extended its self-imposed deadline, in a last ditch bid to rally international support.

Meanwhile, international oil giants were queuing to exploit the supply of black gold.

But now, all of a sudden, the ball seems to be rolling. Following a two-day visit by the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Fander Falconí to Berlin, Germany had positioned itself at "the forefront of the initative," the Ministry for Economic Cooperation said.

He stressed that Ecuador's idea had caught Berlin's imagination: "It offers a new approach to rainforests and, from the perspective of development politics, it is very promising," Bethe said. "Combining climate protection and fighting poverty will play a growing role in the future."

Ecuador estimates that by leaving the oil untouched, some 410 MILLION TONS of CO2 will be averted. Oil is Ecuador's most important export, generating around a third of its income. With the value of the untapped supply under the Yasuni National Park estimated at some $6 billion, the country argues it has little option but to approach international donors, hat in hand.

Environmentalists welcomed the plan as a way to save Ecuador's rainforest from destruction. Preventing forests from disappearing is a vital element in the fight against climate change as they absorb huge quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Still, doubts lingered about the Ecuador model.

Tobias Riedl from Greenpeace Germany's Forest Campaign warned that the scheme was far from perfect. "It is a double-edged sword. While we welcome moves to save this unique environment, the fact is that ALL RAINFORESTS NEED TO BE SAVED, regardless of whether they lie on valuable natural resources or not.

Greenpeace estimates that €30 billion are needed to secure the future of the rainforests worldwide. And with 80 percent of all ancient forests (including rainforests) worldwide already gone, the clock is ticking. And Ecuador knows it.Oil companies are salivating over the supply of black gold beneath Ecuador's rainforest. The South American country is... more

julesrs007
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9 days ago

Is Drilling To Blame For Texas Quakes?

People in North Texas worry about tornadoes, not earthquakes. That's not the case in the small town of Cleburne, just south... more

atomiclegion
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10 days ago

Algae Farm Aims to Turn Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel

1) Use algae to produce oxygen and Ethanol. 2) Feed oxygen to coal plant - get CO2 in return. 3) Feed C02 to algae to get more... more

atomiclegion
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10 days ago

How Does Geothermal Drilling Trigger Earthquake

People living near a geothermal drilling project in fault-riddled northern California are worried about more earthquakes after a... more

northrunnnercano6
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10 days ago

White House Announces New Lighting Standards

WASHINGTON — Aiming to keep the focus on climate change legislation, President Barack Obama put a plug in for administration efforts to make lamps and lighting equipment use less energy.

"I know light bulbs may not seem sexy, but this simple action holds enormous promise because 7 percent of all the energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and businesses," the president said, standing alongside Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the White House.

Obama said the new efficiency standards he was announcing for lamps would result in substantial savings between 2012 and 2042, saving consumers up to $4 billion annually, conserving enough energy to power every U.S. home for 10 months, reducing emissions equal to the amount produced by 166 million cars a year, and eliminating the need for as many as 14 coal-fired power plants.

The president also said he was speeding the delivery of $346 million in economic stimulus money to help improve energy efficiency in new and existing commercial buildings.

Republicans took issue with Obama's pitch.

"Conservation is only half the equation. Even as we use less energy, we need to produce more of our own," said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. "We have to admit there's a gap between the clean, renewable fuel we want and the reliable energy we need."

The White House added the event to the president's schedule at the last minute, just three days after the House narrowly approved the first energy legislation designed to curb global warming following furious lobbying by White House advisers and personal pressure by the president himself.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday that in phone calls to reluctant Democrats in endangered districts, Obama "affirmed his commitment to support the policy position that they were taking in helping to explain to their constituents and to the American public the great benefit of this bill."

The measure's fate is less certain in the Senate, where Democrats lack the 60 votes needed to block a certain filibuster.

Still, in an interview with a small group of reporters, Obama energy adviser Carol Browner said: "I am confident that comprehensive energy legislation will pass the Senate." But she repeatedly refused to say exactly when the White House expected the Senate to pass the measure, and she wouldn't speculate on whether Obama would have legislation sent to his desk by year's end.

The White House is working to keep energy in the spotlight even as Congress takes a break this week for the July 4 holiday. Obama has spent the past few days pressuring the Senate to follow the House while also seeking to show that the administration is making quick, clear progress on energy reform without legislation.

In February, the president directed the Energy Department to update its energy conservation standards for everyday household appliances such as dishwashers, lamps and microwave ovens. Laws on the books already required new efficiency standards for household and commercial appliances. But they have been backlogged in a tangle of missed deadlines, bureaucratic disputes and litigation.

The administration already had released new standards on commercial refrigeration. Lamps were next.WASHINGTON — Aiming to keep the focus on climate change legislation, President Barack Obama put a plug in for administration... more

singrrr
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11 days ago

I have proof that cap and trade was built on lies, scams, fraud, USWGO Blog

I will bring out the proof and the proof is from NASA that global warming is a solar, or space event where the sun is warming up the galaxy, So here if the proof:

I have proof that cap and trade was built on lies, scams, fraud

http://www.dailytech.com/NASA+Study+Acknowledges+Solar+Cycle+Not+Man+Responsible+for+Past+Warming/article15310.htm

http://www.dakotavoice.com/2009/06/nasa-study-shows-sun-responsible-for-planet-warming/

and if you don't believe me then gather reports from NASA that the gun is heating things up and if the reports could have possibly been altered to make me look bad then you need to check out other NASA data regarding the heating of Mars, then the reports on other planets.

People need to stop criticizing me for being against cap and trade and do research before even voting me down on current, they need to open their eyes before deciding the fate of our economy in the hands of the world global carbon bank.

Please I beg you people to allow this onto the front page of current and please find out the truth about cap and trade, we have only 2 to 3 days left to stop cap and trade before it becomes law, and if it was all based on lies then we are doomed to some loss of jobs, higher energy costs, and the economy will further be in freefall. I always heard from my grandma a west Virginia person and fan told me that Obama is out to get West Virginia and out to get the coal industries.

If cap and trade is all based on lies, fear, and propaganda then we are in serious trouble and without any hope for this country ever, I suggest that if you have a sane mind you need to get out of America and move to another country and move out as soon as you can but other countries will implement this scam as well and so maybe you should move to a island and start your own country where there is no cap and trade and start clean energy from the ground up and start building lifestyles without corruption, and start building police that don't dress up like soldiers.

Maybe one day there will be a Breakaway and a revolt against America just like Britain and people will fight to the death to get away from America once and for all, then the stupidity and the fouride won't corrupt those who want to break away from America because of all lies and corruption like cap and trade.I will bring out the proof and the proof is from NASA that global warming is a solar, or space event where the sun is warming up... more