Coming up This Sunday on Clean Skies News - 05/02/10

After a 9 year dispute, the nation's first offshore wind farm gets the green light from the White House. Also, an oil spill in Louisiana raises new questions about ultra-deepwater drilling; and the climate bill faces another delay.

Upside-Down Politics of Ethanol

Democrats typically would not approve of tax breaks for Big Oil, but when it comes to supporting ethanol, Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) finds himself doing just that.  And Republicans like Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), despite his party's affinity for free trade, is backing a tariff.  Clean Skies' Dan Goldstein has more.

MMS Records Show BP Has Previous Deepwater Violations

BP Exploration & Production, which owns the deep water rig that exploded last week in the Gulf of Mexico, was cited in 2007 for inadequately training employees in well control, according to the US Minerals Management Service.

The conditions of the training are the same as those suspected in the possible blowout aboard the TransOcean Deepwater Horizon, which left 11 workers missing and...

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Susan McGinnis anchors this afternoon's Clean Skies News Energy Report from Washington, DC.
On the program:
-The Major Economies Forum is underway in Washington with delegates hoping to bridge gaps on climate change.
-Saying Copenhagen didn't do enough for emerging nations, Bolivia hosts talks on global warming and its impact on some of the worlds poorest people.
- Energy ministers from the countries that produce most of the world's natural gas meet to seek ways to boost and stabilize export prices.
-Matinee Energy is teaming up with Hyundai and LG to build 240 megawatts of solar power in the southwest.

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What's Happening Today on Clean Skies News - 4/9/10

The latest on the coal mine disaster at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia.  Energy Sec. Steven Chu promises to quickly approve loans for more fuel efficient vehicles.  Former World Bank lead economist talks to Clean Skies about the loan to South Africa for a large coal plant.  Elliott Gue of the Energy Strategist and Energy Letter gives his stock pick in the energy area.

Panel Recommends Against Life Cycle Fracking Study

An EPA panel says the agency should not take a look at the full life-cycle of hydraulic fracturing when it conducts a study of the controversial natural gas drilling method for Congress starting later this year.

Instead, the panel of the of the Science Advisory Board recommended Thursday that the agency assess and mitigate the highest risk factors of the practice, known in the industry...

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DOE Awards Smart Grid Training Funds

The Department of Energy has selected 54 smart grid workforce training programs to receive nearly $100 million in stimulus grants.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today which programs will receive the money, which will leverage more than $95 million in funding from community colleges, universities, utilities and...

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Audit Shows MMS Withheld Data on OCS Projects

A new audit of the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service says the agency withheld information from its own staff making decisions about offshore drilling projects in Alaska.
The Government Accountability Office also says MMS never came up with guidelines for determining whether proposed OCS drilling...

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Mine Rescue Efforts Slowed by Gas Buildup

Searchers in West Virginia are drilling holes to vent methane gas form a mine where at least four workers remain trapped following an explosion that killed 25 miners on Monday.

They completed the first of four holes early today, much earlier than expected, and as of early Wednesday afternoon were working on others at the Upper Big Branch mine. Rescuers hope the... 

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What's Happening Today on Clean Skies News - 4/7/10

Coming up today on Clean Skies News, we have an update on the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. Also, the latest on a new proposal to allow oil drilling off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif., and we have a discussion with the producer of "Carbon Nation."

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What's Happening Today on Clean Skies News - 4/06/10

Rescuers are now drilling bore holes to release toxic gases in Massey's Upper Big Branch mine where 4 people are still missing. 25 miners were killed in an explosion there Monday. Clean Skies is there. Energy Secretary Steven Chu speaks at EIA 2010 Conference. And EIA changing the way it calculates domestic production of natural gas after it may have inflated some production numbers.

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EPA Issues New Guidance on MTR Permits

The EPA has released its plans for regulations to reduce the impact of mountaintop removal mining in Appalachian states.

Administrator Lisa Jackson announced today that the agency is issuing comprehensive guidance to its regional offices, with benchmarks for preventing damage to streams and communities...

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Salazar Announces Gulf Lease Sale in August

The Interior Department has announced its next lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, on August 18.

Secretary Ken Salazar announced in New Orleans today that available blocks are located between 9 and 250 miles offshore in water depths ranging from 16 to more than 10,975 feet.  Interior’s Minerals Management Service says the proposed...

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What's Happening Today on Clean Skies News - 4/1/10

More on Obama Administration announcements: CAFE standards and first nationwide tailpipe emissions standards.Elliott Gue discusses whether offshore plan will affect markets.And Energy Independence panel includes Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers and American Wind Energy Association CEO Denise Bode.

EPA Strikes Down Texas Air Permit Rule

EPA is striking down an air-pollution program in Texas that let thousands of companies avoid Clean Air Act reviews.
The state's qualified facilities program let some industrial facilities use a streamlined process to qualify for exemptions.  But the EPA says the program did not contain proper safeguards...

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