Today’s Climate: April 21, 2010

Sen. Kerry Hints at Changes in Climate Bill (Reuters)

Sen. John Kerry, leading the drive for compromise climate change legislation, said on Tuesday his proposal would not contain any sort of motor fuels tax and could scrap an oil sector "fee" that has been discussed.

White House: Climate Bill ‘Doable’ This Year (AP)

White House energy adviser Carol Browner said Tuesday she thinks Congress still has time to approve a climate and energy bill this year.

Rockefeller Sees Mine Safety Overhaul on Floor This Year (The Hill)

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said Tuesday that he expects the Senate to take up mine safety legislation in 2010 in response to the fatal April 5 explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia.

Senate Republicans Move to Bar NEPA Analysis of Climate Change Impacts (Greenwire)

Republican senators introduced legislation on Tuesday that would block White House efforts to require federal agencies to consider climate change in environmental analyses of proposed projects.

Bolivia’s Morales Slams Capitalist Debt to Global Warming (AFP)

Bolivian President Evo Morales opened a "people’s conference" on climate change on Tuesday with an attack on capitalism’s debt to global warming, before participants booed a UN envoy.

EU to Lend 2B Euros for Climate Work: Sources (Reuters)

The EU’s executive will recommend making an extra 2 billion euros ($2.7 billion) of loans available to help other countries combat climate change, EU sources said on Wednesday.

BASIC Countries to Discuss Kyoto Protocol Survival (The Hindu)

At their April 26 meeting, the four BASIC countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China – will discuss the Kyoto Protocol’s chances of survival, according to the agenda prepared by the South African hosts.

EU Carbon Extends Rally, Touches New 2010 High (Reuters)

European carbon emissions prices touched their highest level since December 8 on Tuesday, before the benchmark futures lost steam in the afternoon and players took profits, traders said.

UK University Ordered to Give Data to Climate Skeptic (New Scientist)

Queens University Belfast has been told it must release data on tree rings dating back more than 7000 years to an amateur climate analyst and climate skeptic.

U.S. East Coast Faces Double Hurricane Threat, WSI Predicts (Bloomberg)

The East Coast from North Carolina to Maine, including the New York area, will face almost twice the usual risk from hurricanes this season, WSI Corp. said in its latest Atlantic storm forecast.

Finnish Government Agrees to Fund Renewable Energy Growth (Reuters)

Finland’s government has agreed on "hundreds of millions of euros" to fund the growth of renewable energy, Finnish media reported late on Tuesday, as the Nordic country seeks to cut its carbon emissions.

BoA Merrill Lynch Says Bearish on U.S. Wind Demand (Reuters)

Demand for U.S. wind energy is likely to be sluggish in the coming years as power prices are low and a federal renewable energy mandate is unlikely, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research said on Tuesday.

German Trade Show to Highlight New EV Technology (Cleantech Group)

Two German companies, SFC and ESG, are expected to present a new concept for electric cars this week that combines battery and fuel cell technology in a hybrid system that can function independent from the power grid.

Japan Wants Hybrids, Electric Vehicles to Account for 50% of New Car Sales by 2020 (Autoblog Green)

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants hybrid and electric vehicles to account for 50% of all new car sales by 2020. Many industry experts don’t believe that even 20% is obtainable by that time.