Associated Press, January 2, 2008 NEW YORK — Crude oil prices soared to $100 a barrel Wednesday for the first time, reaching that milestone amid an unshakeable view that global demand for oil and petroleum products will outstrip supplies. Surging economies in China and India fed by oil and gasoline have sent prices soaring over the past year, while tensions in oil producing nations like Nigeria and Iran have increasingly made investors nervous and invited speculators to drive prices even higher. Violence in Nigeria helped give crude the final push over $100. Read more about "Oil Futures Rise to $100 a Barrel"...
By F. Noel Perry Article Launched: 12/26/2007 01:37:26 AM PST Despite the unanimous recommendation of legal and technical staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Administrator Stephen Johnson has denied California's request for a waiver to implement its "cleaner cars" law of 2002. This misguided decision not only fails to recognize how implementing this innovative policy would dramatically reduce greenhouse gases in California, it also fails to take into account how adopting this standard would stimulate technology innovation that would help create a zero-emission-vehicle industry in our state. According to the Congressional Research Service, "California has served... Read more about "Opinion: California will win battle over emissions, then become clean-energy laboratory"...
BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Commission will propose this week to set carbon dioxide targets for cars based on their weight as sought by German carmakers, although some key points still have to be ironed out, officials said. Under plans from the Commission, new passenger cars would be required to emit on average no more than 120 grammes per kilometre travelled as of 2012, which would represent a cut of about 25 percent from current levels. Automakers would be required to limit average emissions across their fleet to 130 grammes per kilometer by improving the technology they... Read more about "EU to propose car emissions targets based on weight "...
IF BALI failed to produce much besides cop-outs and compromises, at least the European Commission showed that it means business when it comes to tackling carbon emissions. Transport-related CO2 emissions in the European Union grew by one-third between 1990 and 2005 and now constitute 27% of the EU total. Of these, the commission reckons, cars and vans are responsible for about half. On Wednesday December 19th the commission published its final proposals for cleaning up Europe’s cars. Although it will be at least a year before they become law and there is still scope for some of the details... Read more about "The Economist: New European Union emission rules are bad news for Germany’s carmakers"...
FRANKFURT, Dec 12 (Reuters) - European carmakers could be fined billions of euros in penalties a year for failing to meet EU pollution limits, German newspapers reported, citing draft proposals by the European Commission. Brussels may charge 95 euros per gram and per car for excess carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) and Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) said in summaries of articles to be published on Thursday. The FAZ said the level was seen as very likely in Brussels where the European Union executive is due to adopt regulations on Dec. Read more about "Carmakers may face billions in CO2 penalties"...
By JOHN M. BRODER Published: November 28, 2007 WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 — Congressional negotiators are nearing agreement on a measure to set significantly higher fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, according to aides and lobbyists following the talks. A deal could come as early as Wednesday to require all passenger vehicles sold in the United States to reach a combined fleetwide average of 35 miles a gallon by 2020. If enacted into law, the measure would be the first major increase in vehicle fuel economy standards in two decades. Read more about "<i>NY Times</i>: Congress Near Compromise on Fuel Bill "...
BALI, Indonesia (CNN) -- In a dramatic reversal Saturday, the United States rejected and then accepted a compromise to set the stage for intense negotiations in the next two years aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. The White House, however, said in a statement that it still has "serious concerns" about the agreement. "The negotiations must proceed on the view that the problem of climate change cannot be adequately addressed through commitments for emissions cuts by developed countries alone. Major developing economies must likewise act," the White House said. Under the global warming pact, negotiating... Read more about "In U-turn, U.S. agrees to global warming deal"...
By JOHN M. BRODER and MICHELINE MAYNARD, The New York Times WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 — Congressional negotiators reached a deal late Friday on energy legislation that would force American automakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars and light trucks by 40 percent by 2020. The proposal, which would require automakers to achieve 35 miles per gallon on average, is similar to a measure that was passed in the summer by the Senate but was bitterly opposed by the auto companies, who argued they did not have the technology or the financial resources to reach that goal. Read more about "Lawmakers Set Deal on Raising Fuel Efficiency "...
The Scuderi Engine arrived home today to a warm welcome from a contingent of local elected officials and press. Read more about "The Scuderi Engine Arrives Home"...
Reaching a major milestone, The Scuderi Group has unveiled a cutaway model of the first proof-of-concept prototype for its Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine. Read more about "Podcast: Scuderi Engine Prototype Unveiled to Public "...