Alternative Energy and Fuel News - ENN

As ethanol shipments grow, safety remains a concern

Reuters — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:14:00 EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Surging U.S. ethanol production may force the industry to step up transport safety measures in the face of growing concern that communities are ill-prepared to deal with the volatile, flammable liquid.

EU’s ideas for energy looking tired

WWF — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:51:00 EST

Brussels, Belgium: A coherent plan to reduce energy consumption was conspicuous by its absence from the European Union’s latest attempt to deal with the energy and climate crisis. The European Commission today released an “Energy security and solidarity action plan”, which addresses some of the gaps in the present EU climate and energy policy.

Climate change: How your city thinks globally

http://www.desmoinesregister.com — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:49:00 EST

Steve Schainker sometimes makes his rounds as Ames city manager in a two-seater Zenn, an electric car. The tiny vehicle, plugged in to an electrical outlet behind City Hall, tops out at 25 mph and gets 35 miles to a charge. It is one of the more visible elements of an EcoSmart program designed to save fuel and to cut carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change.

Coal to remain world's top power source: IEA

Reuters — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:07:00 EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Coal, which produces more climate-warming carbon dioxide than oil or gas, will remain the world's main source of power until 2030 and nuclear will lose market share, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday. Expectations of slower economic growth have led the IEA to downgrade its 2030 world electricity demand forecast to 23,141 terawatt hours (TWh), but the share of coal generated power would rise to 44 percent by 2015 from 41 percent in 2006.

Nations move on how to put 'natural assets' at the top of agenda

The Fiji Times — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:33:00 EST

CLOSE to 100 nations have concluded a review of how science can better guide policy by examining the merits of a new scientific body able to put the loss of biodiversity, ecosystems and their multi-trillion dollar services at the top of the political agenda.

Japan's CO2 emissions hit record high: official

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:21:00 EST

Japan's carbon dioxide emissions hit a record high of 1.37 billion tons in the year to March 2008, well above the target set by the Kyoto Protocol, the environment ministry said Wednesday. The figure, which marked a 2.3 percent rise from the previous fiscal year, was mainly the result of more polluting energy production following the closure of the world's biggest nuclear power plant after it was damaged in an earthquake that struck northern Japan.

EU seeks to expand energy grids

BBC — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:30:00 EST

The European Commission has unveiled plans to diversify the EU's energy imports and reduce dependence on Russia, the main gas supplier. The EU will remain dependent on imported fossil fuels for many years to come, the Strategic Energy Review says.