Companies Fight to Keep Global Warming Data Secret. By Dina Cappiello, AP, 10/28/10. “Some of the country's largest emitters of heat-trapping gases, including businesses that publicly support efforts to curb global warming, don't want the public knowing exactly how much they pollute. Oil producers and refiners, along with manufacturers of steel, aluminum and even home appliances, are fighting a proposal by EPA that would make the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that companies release -- and the underlying data businesses use to calculate the amounts -- available online.

“While gross estimates exist for such emissions from transportation and electricity production and manufacturing as a whole, the EPA is requiring companies for the first time to submit information for each individual facility. The companies say that disclosing details beyond a facility's total emissions to the public would reveal company secrets by letting competitors know what happens inside their factories. More importantly, they argue, when it comes to understanding global warming, the public doesn't need to know anything more than what goes into the air.”

Climate Skeptics Wanted for GOP Primary. By Darren Samuelsohn, Politico, 10/25/10. “It's going to be hard winning the Republican presidential nomination if you’re not a climate skeptic. Recent comments from top White House and congressional contenders suggest an awkward mix of outright hostility or, at best, ambivalence toward the widespread scientific consensus that humans are responsible for the warming planet. Fueled by tea party rage, anti-government sentiment and hostility to anything attached to President Barack Obama, the 2012 GOP primary field is expected to run to the right. If the midterm elections are any guide, any support for climate legislation -- no matter how tepid -- will be a black mark in the eyes of Republican primary voters.”

Rep. Joe Barton Vows Probe of White House Policies in Move for House Energy Gavel. By Ben Geman, TheHill, 100/27/10. “Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) is vowing to quickly probe White House environmental policies he calls economically harmful if he becomes chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee next year. Barton is the panel's senior Republican and a former chair, but Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) is considered the front-runner for the gavel if Republicans reclaim the House. Barton -- a climate skeptic and advocate of expanded drilling -- says he would undertake a wide-ranging investigation of Obama administration decisions on healthcare, global warming, communications and other matters… Barton was politically damaged by his now-infamous apology to BP in June, which he quickly retracted under pressure from GOP leadership.”

New Jersey Gov. Christie Again Kills Hudson Rail Tunnel Project. NJRecord, 10/27/10. “Governor Christie ended one proposed tunnel under the Hudson River but threw a lifeline to another planned commuter rail tunnel into New York -- one being spearheaded by Amtrak. Christie on Wednesday did what he promised weeks ago and stopped the long-planned commuter rail tunnel into Manhattan, despite pleas from the Obama administration and what his office said were ‘intense negotiations’ to keep New Jersey’s share of the project limited to $2.7 billion.

“Democrats, who control the Legislature, reiterated their charges that Christie is shortsighted saying his decision will cost jobs, hamper economic development and had more to do with politics than engineering. ‘He has stubbornly shot down each and every financing option the federal government offered, instead of displaying leadership and creative ingenuity by considering how all of these options might work together,’ Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, D-Essex said in a statement. U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez... accused Christie of using the tunnel to burnish his own image among conservatives… U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg reacted by saying ‘this is a tragic day in New Jersey’s history.’”

California Greens Worry About ‘Other’ Proposition that Would Undermine Climate Law. By Darren Goode, TheHill, 10/26/10. “With California’s controversial Proposition 23 heading for a likely defeat next week, some environmentalists worry another, less-noticed ballot initiative could undermine the state’s landmark climate-change law. Prop 26 has flown under the radar, attracting only modest attention, even within California. ‘It’s the most dangerous prop you’ve never heard of,’ said Heidi Pickman, spokeswoman for the No on Prop 26 campaign. Prop 26 would require certain state and local fees be approved by a two-thirds vote in the state legislature -- the same threshold needed to impose new taxes…

”Environmentalists view it as the evil stepchild of Prop 23… ‘Now, they’re trying to strangle it by not giving it the funding it needs,’ said Pickman... Prop 26 backers -- including Chevron -- say the ballot initiative will not affect the climate law. ‘As the Prop 23 effort winds down, I think its environmentalists looking for a fight elsewhere, and there’s no fight to be found here,’ said Beth Miller, a spokeswoman for the Yes on 26 campaign… Unlike with Prop 23, supporters of Prop 26 have greatly outraised critics… It is difficult to gauge support on Prop 26 given the lack of public polling.”

Navajos Hope to Shift From Coal Toward Wind and Sun. By Mireya Navarro, NYTimes, 10/26/10. ”For decades, coal has been an economic lifeline for the Navajos, even as mining and power plant emissions dulled the blue skies and sullied the waters of their sprawling reservation. But today there are stirrings of rebellion. But today there are stirrings of rebellion. Seeking to reverse years of environmental degradation and return to their traditional values, many Navajos are calling for a future built instead on solar farms, ecotourism and microbusinesses…

“Earl Tulley, a Navajo housing official… who is running for vice president of the Navajo Nation in the Nov. 2 election, represents a growing movement among Navajos that embraces environmental healing and greater reliance on the sun and wind, abundant resources on a 17 million-acre reservation spanning Arizona, New Mexico and Utah… [Tulley has been critical of his opponent’s support from the United Mine Workers] … With nearly 300,000 members, the Navajo Nation is the country’s largest tribe, according to Census Bureau estimates, and it has the biggest reservation. Coal mines and coal-fired power plants on the reservation and on lands shared with the Hopi provide about 1,500 jobs and more than a third of the tribe’s annual operating budget, the largest source of revenue after government grants and taxes.

“In Navajo culture, some spiritual guides say, digging up the earth to retrieve resources like coal and uranium (which the reservation also produced until health issues led to a ban in 2005) is tantamount to cutting skin and represents a betrayal of a duty to protect the land. ‘As medicine people, we don’t extract resources,’ said Anthony Lee Sr., president of the Diné Hataalii Association, a group of about 100 healers known as medicine men and women.”

Is Energy Efficiency Blue, Red or Both? By Leslie Kaufman, NYTimes, 10/25/10. “The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released its annual scorecard this month, comparing states’ policies and benchmarks. All of the Top 10 states in energy efficiency were blue, while those at the bottom of Energy Efficiency Scorecard were nearly all red.” See top 10 and bottom 10, listed in article.

EPA Unveils New Efficiency and Emission Standards for Trucks. By John M. Broder, NYTimes, 10/26/10. “The federal government unveiled the first national emissions and fuel economy standards for heavy vehicles on Monday [10/25/10], one of a series of regulatory steps that the Obama administration is taking in the absence of Congressional action on climate change…

“The mileage proposal, which is scheduled to become final next year after a period of public comment, will apply to tractor-trailers, buses, delivery vans, heavy pickup trucks, cement mixers and many other classes of vehicles. It will cover new vehicles manufactured between 2014 and 2018. The proposed policy would apply different standards to different vehicles, based on weight and intended use. For example, over-the-road tractor-trailers would be required to achieve a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 2018. Heavy-duty pickups and vans would be subject to different gasoline and diesel fuel standards, with reductions ranging from 10 to 15%. Other work trucks would have to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2018.”

$6 Billion California Solar Plant Gets Federal Approval. MSNBC, 10/25/10. “Calling it a major milestone, the Obama administration on Monday approved what investors say will be the world's largest concentrated solar power plant and one that more than doubles all of U.S. solar output and can power at least 300,000 homes. The project in the Mojave Desert near Blythe, Calif., is the sixth solar venture authorized on federal lands within the last month. All are in desert areas.

“‘The Blythe Solar Power Project is a major milestone in our nation’s renewable energy economy and shows that the United States intends to compete and lead in the technologies of the future,’ Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in announcing the approval. Construction on the $6 billion plant is expected to start by the end of 2010, with production starting in 2013. Developer Solar Millennium, a company based in Germany, says the plant will generate 1,066 construction jobs and 295 permanent jobs.”

South Africa Unveils $29 Billion Plans for 'World's Biggest' Solar Power Plant. By David Smith, Guardian (UK), 10/25/10. “South Africa is to unveil plans this week for what it claims will be the world's biggest solar power plant -- a radical step in a coal-dependent country where one in six people still lacks electricity. The project, expected to cost up to 200bn rand ($29.15), would aim by the end of its first decade to achieve an annual output of five gigawatts (GW) of electricity - currently one-tenth of South Africa's energy needs. Giant mirrors and solar panels would be spread across the Northern Cape province, which the government says is among the sunniest 3% of regions in the world with minimal cloud or rain.

“The government hopes the solar park will help reduce carbon emissions from Africa's biggest economy, which is still more than 90% dependent on coal-fired power stations. In April, the World Bank came in for sharp criticism from environmentalists for approving a $3.75bn loan to build one of the world's largest coal-fired power plants in the country. Energy is already a high priority in South Africa where, at the end of racial apartheid, less than 40% of households had electricity. Over 16 years the governing African National Congress has undertaken a huge national expansion, with a recent survey showing that 83% are now connected, but power outages are still not uncommon in both townships and middle-class suburbs.”

Alaska’s NPRA Reserves Estimate Lowered 90% by USGS. By Michael Graham Richard, treehugger, 10/27/10. “The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) is a piece of land owned by the United States federal government located west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). While it gets less press than ANWR, it is another target of the ‘drill baby drill!’ crowd. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has just released a revised estimate on the amount of ‘undiscovered’ oil and gas that is likely to be found in the area, and let's just say that it is a cold shower for fans of more drilling in Alaska.

“The U.S. Geological Survey estimates 896 million barrels of conventional, undiscovered oil and 53 trillion cubic feet of conventional, undiscovered non-associated gas within NPRA and adjacent state waters. The estimated volume of undiscovered oil is significantly lower than in 2002, when the USGS estimated there was 10.6 billion barrels of oil. The new estimate, roughly 10% of the 2002 estimate, is due primarily to the incorporation of new data from recent exploration drilling revealing gas occurrence rather than oil in much of NPRA.

“Considering that the world consumption of oil has been hovering around 85 million barrels per day, and the U.S. represents about a quarter of that, there's only enough oil in NPRA to fuel the world for about 10-12 days, or the US for about 45 days.”

Arctic Shipping Will Hasten Ice Melt, Study Says. By Randy Boswell, Postmedia, 10/26/10. “Global shipping firms are not only taking advantage of melting ice in the Arctic Ocean -- they're actually helping to drive the meltdown that continues to unlock sea routes across the top of the world. And as a rapidly warming Arctic encourages more ship traffic through Canada's Northwest Passage and along other polar routes, the sooty emissions from passing freighters will significantly accelerate climate change in the region, according to a new Canadian-American study [Arctic Shipping. PDF, 16 pp] that, for the first time, predicts the potential impact of engine exhaust particles on the Arctic environment.”

Serengeti-Mara Wildebeest Migration Disrupted by Climate Change. By Adam Ihucha, EastAfrican, 10/25/10. “A change in the spectacular wildebeest migration schedule in the great Serengeti-Mara ecosystem has caught ecologists off guard. Ecologists speculate that last year’s drought might have disrupted the natural wildebeest movement… The wildebeest migration attracts thousands of tourists every year… Traditionally, the wildebeest spend three months in Maasai Mara and nine months in Serengeti but for this year it appears it was two and 10 months in Maasai Mara and Serengeti respectively.”