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President’s likely new top aide was early advocate for fighting climate change
President Obama’s decision to devote time in his second inaugural address Monday to address climate change came as a surprise to many in the energy and environmental community, but maybe it shouldn’t have been such a shock. An early indication that the Obama White House was going to take a tough stance on global warming in the president’s second term may have come last week, when word began to circulate that the president intends to appoint Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough as his next chief of staff. While the White House has yet to officially confirm that McDonough is Obama’s choice to be his next top staffer, it’s been widely reported since last week that McDonough’s appointment is more a matter of when than if. [ read more … ]
Obama’s climate priorities include legislation, not just regulation
White House press secretary Jay Carney indicated yesterday that the president’s second-term efforts on climate change could feature energy legislation, challenging widespread perceptions that the administration would emphasize executive actions in the pursuit of carbon policies. [ read more … ]
Renewables surged in 2012, according to FERC report
Nearly half of all the new electrical generating capacity installed in the United States in 2012 came from renewable energy sources, according to the most recent Energy Infrastructure Update from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [ read more … ]
Mafia takes hold in Italy’s solar, wind sector
Sting operations have linked Italy’s Mafia to the country’s wind and solar energy industries. In the past decade, Sicily has become a key player for renewable energy. The island receives more sun and wind than other areas of Italy, and the government offered subsidies worth billions of euros in order to boost the industry. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.