A federal district court in Rhode Island has dismissed all the claims filed by the Auto companies seeking to strike down Rhode Island’s greenhouse gas regulations for new cars. The decision did not reach the merits of regulating greenhouse gases from automobiles. The Federal Court ruled that the Auto companies were prevented from challenging the
Off-Shore Lake Erie Wind Farm Lease Proposal
Rep. Ross McGregor introduced H.B. 632 to require the Director of Natural Resources to establish a plan to make available for lease areas of the bed of Lake Erie for the purpose of wind energy development and to require Lake Erie wind farms to be certified by the Power Siting Board.
Legislation is necessary to create
Ohio Scorecard on Developing a Clean Tech Economy
The gloom and doom of today’s economy, especially in Cleveland, is covered almost daily. Job’s have been disappearing from the area at a rapid clip. The front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has almost been dedicated to breaking the bad news. See, Plain Dealer Article "Northeast Ohio Job Loses Spread."
The Article includes the
CAIR Update: Court Asks Utilities Whether To Throw Out the Program
As reported by Platts, on October 21st the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals asked whether the parties involved in the lawsuits that led to vacatur of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) want the entire rule to be thrown out or to be kept in place until U.S. EPA revises the rule.
The US
CO2 Decision Impacts Ohio Coal Plant Permits
It didn’t take long for the Deseret Power Decision to come back to Ohio. The debate is over whether a permit for the proposed coal to liquid fuel plant proposed by Baard Energy and AMP Ohio’s new coal power plant can move forward in light of the decision. Here is a sampling of the debate
Deseret Power Case: CO2 Regulation Issue Punted to Obama Administration
Talk about your pro-bowl quality punts…U.S. EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board made a major one this week on the issue of climate change. All eyes were fixated on the Board waiting for their decision on whether the Clean Air Act requires immediate regulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs-which include CO2). The Board’s answer? We would rather
Local Zoning Can Tie Up Small Solar and Wind Projects in Red Tape
When a former Secretary of State (George Shultz) and a Vice President (Al Gore) can’t seem to navigate local ordinances to install solar systems on their own homes, what are the chances for everyone else?
These are two high profile examples cited in a recent report that discusses streamlining the local approval process for solar and
Ohio Job Stimulus Package- Advanced Energy Grants and Loans Available
On Friday, November 7th, the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) held a bidders conference to launch the Advanced Energy/Job Stimulus Program. The Job Stimulus package set aside $150 million (over three years) to increase the development, production and use of advanced energy technologies in the state.
Those interested can begin filing applications for either
With the Energy Crisis Temporarily Over, So is the Green Job Push
I have discussed the ability of green jobs to help stimulate our economy. 
However, that was before our energy crisis ended….temporarily. The Wall Street Journal discussed President Elect Obama’s plan to add 5 million new jobs through spending on clean energy. As shown below, the Article questions the economic theory behind that plan. Stating
Obama’s Environmental Agenda Collides with the Economy
Have you ever heard of the irresistible force paradox? What would happen if an irresistible force met an in-movable object? I think this paradox may describe what will happen when the Obama Administration’s environmental agenda meets the reality of the economy.
Remember a few months back when oil peaked around $140 a barrel. Of course