Today’s Climate: April 27, 2010

Australia’s Carbon Scheme Delayed to 2012 (Reuters)

Australia’s government will wait until the end of the Kyoto climate pact in 2012 before pushing ahead with a local carbon emissions trade scheme, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Tuesday.

Sen. Kerry: U.S. Climate Bill Not ‘Dead’ (AFP)

Sen. John Kerry said late Monday that efforts to craft sweeping, comprehensive U.S. legislation to combat climate change were still "very much alive."

Graham: Immigration Push This Year Means ‘Breaking Faith with Me’ (The Hill)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Monday that moving to immigration reform this year, even if it comes up after the energy and climate measure he’s co-authoring, would constitute a breach of faith.

Business Groups Say Climate Impasse Undermines Clean Energy (Wall Street Journal)

The Capitol Hill politics bogging down a climate bill in the Senate are also hobbling investments in low-carbon energy and prompting calls from some business groups for action.

Senate to Examine Mine Safety in Hearing Today (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

A Senate panel today will examine legislative solutions in the wake of the Upper Big Branch mine explosion. Notably absent from the witness list is anyone from Massey Energy, which owns the mine.

Oil Leak from Sunken Rig Off Louisiana Could Foul Coast (AP)

Crews raced to protect the Gulf of Mexico coastline as a remote sub tried to shut off an underwater oil well that’s gushing 42,000 gallons a day from the site of a wrecked drilling platform.

West Mediterranean Countries Unite on Climate Change (AFP)

The countries of the western Mediterranean on Monday called for a comprehensive plan for combating climate change in the region.

Campaigners Urge Transparency on Climate Aid (Reuters)

A lack of transparency over rich countries’ pledges to help poor nations deal with climate change means much of the cash promised is being diverted from development aid commitments, campaigners say.

Bolivia to Create Mother Earth Ministry (Times of India)

Bolivia will create the Mother Earth Ministry, in accordance with the Cochabamba Declaration, which was adopted by the World People’s Conference on Climate Change last week, the national media reported.

Cash from EU Green Plan ‘To Fund Dirty Coal Plants’ (Independent)

European countries will be able to use money from a key EU scheme for reducing carbon emissions to build new coal-fired power stations, documents leaked to The Independent suggest.

Australia Pursues Clean Energy as Climate Bill Doomed (Bloomberg)

Australia’s Labor government remains committed to putting a price on carbon and developing clean energy even as its emissions-trading legislation heads for failure, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said today.

California Utility Giant Under Fire for ‘Smart Meters’ (AP)

California’s largest utility came under fire from state lawmakers Monday for billing practices associated with its "smart-meter program," which has generated nearly 1,000 customer complaints.

Scientists Refute Carbon Capture Doubts (Reuters)

Geologists refuted a report which in January had cast doubt on CCS technology to bury greenhouse gases underground, and on which some policymakers have pinned hopes to fight climate change.

Cape Cod Project Is Crucial Step for U.S. Wind Industry (New York Times)

When the Obama administration announces a decision this week on the most prominent project — Cape Wind, off the coast of Massachusetts — it could have implications from Long Island to Lake Erie.

Canadian Company Sues Massachusetts Over ‘Green’ Energy Law (Boston Herald)

TransCanada Power, an energy supplier that owns a Maine wind farm, is challenging a state law that requires utilities to buy their future renewable energy from Massachusetts-based firms.

CLP to Set Up Thai Solar Farm, Wind Plants in India (Bloomberg)

CLP Holdings Ltd., Hong Kong’s biggest electricity producer, will build a solar farm in Thailand and set up three wind projects in India as the utility turns to clean energy sources to generate power.

TransAlta Eyes Moving U.S. Power Plant from Coal (Reuters)

TransAlta Corp, which runs coal- and gas-fired plants in Canada and the U.S., said on Monday it began talks with the state of Washington on moving the Centralia coal-fired plant to cleaner fuel to cut carbon emissions.