According to former Obama administration officials and some donors, the President plans to release his climate strategy next month — cutting carbon pollution from power plants and possibly investing in biofuels for the military. [Bloomberg]
With his administration under pressure from environmentalists to reject the Keystone XL pipeline project, President Barack Obama plans to unveil a package of separate actions next month focused on curbing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
At closed-door fundraisers held over the past few weeks, the president has been telling Democratic party donors that he will unveil new climate proposals in July….
Obama’s promise frequently comes in response to pleas from donors to reject TransCanada Corp. (TRP)’s proposed Keystone XL project, a $5.3 billion pipeline that would carry tar-sands oil from Canada to U.S. refineries. Opponents of the pipeline say it would increase greenhouse-gas emissions by encouraging use of the tar sands.
While Obama has not detailed the specifics of his plan to the donors, pipeline opponents anticipate the package will include a plan from the Environmental Protection Agency to issue final rules to limit greenhouse-gas emissions from new power plants….
The White House plan may also include a standard for limits on existing power plants, something EPA officials have said they expect to propose in the next 18 months.
38,000 people have fled their homes and two have died as Colorado battles a historic wildfire outside of Colorado Springs. [New York Times]
Wildfires are substantially worsened by climate change. [Mother Jones]
The Department of Energy is cutting its own leakage of sulfur hexafluoride, the most potent greenhouse gas in existence, in half after the department’s office of sustainability support took action following an executive order to cut emissions. [New York Times]
Senators from states hit by Hurricane Sandy are putting political pressure on the White House to impose carbon emissions standards on power plants, saying the storm makes the case for stronger steps to confront climate change. [The Hill]
A study says warming oceans are the biggest contributor to loss of Antarctic ice, driving melting from the bottom up. [Carbon Brief]
A new report from NOAA finds that extreme weather cost the U.S. $110 billion and 300 lives in 2012. [Climate Central]
The Department of Justice and state of Arkansas are suing Exxon Mobil over March’s tar sands pipeline oil spill. [The Hill]
More and more, developing nations are beginning to invest in renewable energy. [Bloomberg]
How lawsuits from environmental organizations can compel the executive branch to cut carbon pollution while also saving it money. [National Journal]
45 percent more of the U.S. could be at risk of flood by 2100, according to a FEMA report. [Mother Jones]
Spring in the United States was colder, wetter, and featured more extreme weather than what’s average. [Climate Central]
The Senate EPW Committee will consider a comprehensive climate bill offered by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in July. [The Hill]
NIVEA is touting its new magazine ad, which includes a printed sheet of solar panels for charging your cellphone on the beach. [Clean Technica]
The expected future price of lithium-ion batteries for electric cars is dropping fast. [Gas2Post]