Here’s the Press Release from the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming:

Carbon Offsets: Keeping Faith with Climate-conscious Consumers;
Select Committee to Examine Promise, Challenges of Offset Market

(Washington, DC) – Eager to be part of the solution to global warming, many consumers, businesses and government agencies have turned to carbon pollution offsets to help reduce or eliminate their “carbon footprint.” While these offsets represent a promising way to engage consumers in global warming solutions, there are many unanswered questions as to the efficacy and accounting of these unregulated commodities.

On Wednesday, the Select Committee … will hold a hearing examining carbon offsets. Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA) will combine his extensive experience in consumer protection to explore the issues of transparency, effectiveness and other necessary questions to ensure carbon offsets can be a responsible way to address global warming on a consumer-based level.

WHAT: Hearing: “Voluntary Carbon offsets–Getting What You Pay For”

WHERE: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building and on the web at globalwarming.house.gov

WHEN: Wednesday, July 18, 9:30 AM

WHO: Derik Broekhoff, Senior Associate, World Resources Institute

Joseph Romm, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Thomas Boucher, President and CEO, NativeEnergy LLC

Russ George, President and CEO, Planktos, Inc.

Eric Blatchford, CEO, TerraPass

AP reports breaking news:

A strong earthquake struck northwestern Japan on Monday, causing a fire and radioactive water leak at the world’s largest nuclear plant.

We see once again reasons why nuclear power is no climate cure-all.

Greenwire (subs. req’d) has a good piece on the the safety and security concerns raised by the accident:

Read more

This group of 43 conservative and moderate Democrats from around the country have a new energy plan. Here’s what they say about energy efficiency:

8. Energy Efficiency

• Energy efficient technologies and energy conservation are among the most important ways for the U.S. to reduce its energy consumption, benefiting both consumers and producers of energy.

• Blue Dogs support the furtherance of energy efficient technologies including green buildings, energy saving appliances, advanced lighting technology, and better fuel economy standards.

Blue Dogs support the promotion of energy efficient light bulbs, high-efficiency vehicles, advanced batteries, home appliances, and energy storage. The Coalition believes the federal government should lead the way by moving toward green buildings and energy efficient programs for all federal buildings as soon as possible. Private sector energy efficiency improvements to new and existing buildings–both residential and commercial–should also be encouraged. Fuel economy standards for automobiles and small engines should also result in energy savings.

We also support improving energy efficiency assistance to state and local governments and believe that state utility regulatory commissions should adopt federal standards to promote energy efficiency. The Department of Energy’s successful Energy Star program should also be expanded. Finally, Blue Dogs support tax incentives for consumers and businesses that are early adopters of energy efficient technologies.

Kudos to the blue dogs.

Florida to introduce tough greenhouse gas targets – Reuters. “The rules would establish targets for Florida to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2017, to 1990 levels by 2025 and by 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050.”

China Falls Short on Energy-Saving Goals - ABC News/AP. “China launched a five-year effort in 2006 to cut energy use per unit of economic output by 20 percent…. But last year’s reduction was only 1.33 percent, well below the 4 percent annual target.” This is a key reason Chinese and world carbon dioxide emissions are soaring.

Study Paints Dire Picture of Warmer Northeast – New York Times. “By the end of this century, 100-year floods could hit New York City every 10 years … there could be droughts every summer in the Catskill Mountains, which supply drinking water for 9 million New Yorkers. The study is available here.

The study notes, “The very character of the Northeast is at stake.” Sort of like what’s happening in the Northwest, where temperatures are shattering records set decades ago, threatening the region’s beloved summer weather – highs in the 80s with no humidity. Thursday,

Meteorologists with Seattle’s bureau of the National Weather Service said the temperature as of about 3:45 p.m. had broken the previous record for the date — 95 degrees, set in 1951. By 4 p.m., the heat unofficially reached 101 degrees around Husky Stadium and the athletic fields.