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It's the Cap, Stupid
May 18, 2009 3 min. read

That’s how I’d paraphrase the old Bill Clinton internal campaign motto in the context of the present-day campaign to get an American law into place to combat GHGs.  I’ve written about cap-and-trade and the Carbon Markets dozens of times here, including on the cap-and-trade vs. carbon tax debate.  For an interesting look at the history […]

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IEA agrees: OPEC's discipline is fraying
May 15, 2009 1 min. read

The International Energy Agency is now wondering what we had discussed earlier in the week: OPEC’s discipline is fraying. The Agency believes that OPEC members are beginning to cheat because oil prices have risen from $32 earlier this year in part due to OPEC’s coordinated cuts. However, when prices are $60 a barrel, discipline is […]

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A Smattering of Media
May 15, 2009 5 min. read

I just wanted to flag what I thought were some pretty good items out and about in the media lately. China and Climate Change – One of the go-to guys for progressive economics, Paul Krugman, has a column today, Empire of Carbon, that is both pessimistic and optimistic.  (Boy, do I know that feeling when […]

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Chinese Solar Company Plans U.S. Manufacturing Plant
May 15, 2009 5 min. read

China-based solar producer Suntech Power announced plans this week to build a manufacturing facility in the United States to serve the growing U.S. market for large-scale utility projects and to take advantage of government incentives. “We believe in the outstanding long-term prospects of the solar energy market in the United States” Suntech Chairman and CEO […]

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Deal on "Waxman-Markey"
May 14, 2009 3 min. read

A deal has been done between the Democrats in the House driving for a strong, aggressive, meaningful climate change and energy bill and those who are fearful for and/or protective of the special interests of the big utilities, the oil & gas industry, the auto manufacturers and some other heavy industries.  The “discussion draft” of […]

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"Climate Change: Picturing the Science"
May 14, 2009 1 min. read

I had a chance to review a great new collection of essays on the science and policy of climate change. It’s illustrated with some stunning photographs. I’m very happy that this is appearing in “Nature Reports Climate Change,” a pretty important voice in the discussion.  Here’s the website for the book.

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As Prices Rise Some Frays on OPEC Edges
May 13, 2009 2 min. read

OPEC reported a rise in output despite a pledge from the organization’s member to reduce production to meet quotas agreed to in December. Five members (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Nigeria and Angola) increased production over the past month by a total of 180,000 bbls/day, although Saudi Arabia remains within its quota of roughly 8 mln […]

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Promises and Pitfalls
May 13, 2009 7 min. read

Forging a new partnership between the United States and China can help address climate change, but only if regulatory and market shortcomings can be overcome. A new alignment on energy and the environment between China and the United States sounds like a formula capable of delivering real solutions on climate-change issues. China’s abundant scientific research-and-development […]

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China Floats Carbon Tax Plan as a Means to Curb Emissions
May 12, 2009 5 min. read

The Chinese government is considering imposing a pro rata carbon tax on coal and fossil fuels such as gasoline, jet fuel, and natural gas, Finance Ministry official Su Ming has told the country’s state-run media. For the past year, 20 experts from seven different government agencies have been investigating the development and implementation of a […]

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WTO: Trade is not to blame
May 11, 2009 2 min. read

The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) chief countered the perception put forward by development experts that the international food trade was key to the recent global food crisis. Speaking at the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council conference in Austria, Pascal Lamy, the Director General of the World Trade Organization, rebuffed the idea put forward […]

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A CEO wants a tax for the use of his product?
May 10, 2009 3 min. read

Chevron CEO David O’Reilly spoke out last week against the Administration’s plan to use a cap and trade system to limit carbon emissions. His stance against US policy is nothing new. from a policy standpoint, America has been moving in the wrong direction for a very long time. He further outlines his list of grudges […]

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Bits and Bobs – (Almost) Mother's Day '09 Edition
May 9, 2009 3 min. read

First of all, sorry to have been absent for a week (plus), but I’ve been wrapping up the end of semester with my great students at NYU, been to a conference (more on that next week), had a house guest with whom I did some local culture, and a few other odds and ends.  I’ll […]

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