ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS

Energy and the Presidency – From Campaigning to Policy Making

Politico Conference Recap by Erin Carson, Senior Policy Advisor A well-attended energy conference held in Washington D.C. last week asked congressional members and industry leaders about the upcoming energy policy agenda. The topics included oil and gas, renewable energy, and the possibility of new energy legislation. Panelists spoke about the need to invest in energy technologies…...

Shape of the President’s Energy Agenda in the Second Term

With the election over, President Obama’s energy priorities will emerge as new rules and regulations are finalized under existing law. The balance of power in Washington is the same as it was prior to the elections– President Barack Obama will serve another four years and Congress will continue to be divided with a Democrat-controlled Senate…...

DOE Announces $10 Million Investment for New Solar Projects

On August 29, 2012 the Department of Energy (DOE) announced new investments for two university-led solar projects over a five-year period, under its SunShot Initiative.  The investments amounting to $10 million are aimed at enhancing innovative technologies in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems.  Such innovations can make solar power a practical energy option by increasing…...

MIT Study: Applying Carbon Tax Can Relieve US Budget Deficit

According to a report released by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on August 27, 2012, applying a carbon tax at the rate of $20 per ton in 2013 and increasing it by four percent per year can raise $1.5 trillion over a span of 10 years.  The report, which comes at a time when Congress…...

Expert Review Committee to Assess Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant

According to an announcement from the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Secretary Steven Chu convened a group of technical experts on August 2, 2012 to review the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) at Hanford Site, in order to assess its capability to detect and rectify equipment failure inside the plant’s black cells.  Due to high levels…...

Kerry-Lieberman Energy and Climate Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate

  On May 12, Senators John Kerry (D-Mass) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn) introduced the discussion draft of the American Power Act—their long-awaited energy and climate change legislation. The bill’s stated goal is to “secure the energy future of the United States, to provide incentives for the domestic production of clean energy technology, to achieve meaningful…...

New Congressional Bills Address Criticality of Rare Earth Materials

Congressional leaders are growing increasingly concerned over domestic supplies of rare earth elements that are critical to producing multiple clean-energy technologies. These elements, which share unique properties of magnetism, luminescence, and strength, are used in products such as energy-efficient phosphors in fluorescent lamp products, advanced wind turbines, hybrid locomotives, high-speed motors, high power density motors…...