cooler choice

China and the U.S. are working together on cutting carbon emissions despite the deadlock over a broader global agreement on fighting climate change, the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration said Wednesday. "My hope is that we will see continued progress on the issues. They are vitally important," EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson , in Shanghai after attending U.N. climate talks in northern China's Tianjin last week. Modest progress at the Tianjin talks was eclipsed by the...Read Full Story

Coal ash, a byproduct of coal power generation, has become a pressing problem across the United States.  While recycling of coal ash into building materials has increased over the past several years, much of it is still disposed landfills and ash ponds,—with the risk of harmful results, especially local residents who could be exposed to contaminated water. Dangers from lax coal ash disposal reared its ugly head in 2008, when a Tennessee Valley Authority storage site leaked, then gushed, and...Read Full Story

The world's largest offshore wind farm was officially opened off the east Kent coast on Thursday, a forest of turbines that aims to reduce the UK 's carbon emissions. The site near Thanet has 100 turbines and Swedish energy company Vattenfall , which constructed the farm, says it has the potential to power 200,000 homes, or more than 25 percent of households in the county. The farm will increase the UK's capacity to generate wind power by more than 30 percent. The 380ft (115m) turbines are...Read Full Story

SALMON, Idaho ( Reuters ) - The Obama administration is evaluating a plan to allow a 200-mile corridor for wind energy development from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico that would allow for killing endangered whooping cranes. The government's environmental review will consider a permit sought by 19 energy developers that would permit turbines and transmission lines on non-federal lands in nine states from Montana to the Texas coast, overlapping with the migratory route of the cranes. The permit...Read Full Story

OSLO / COPENHAGEN ( Reuters ) - Spending cuts by cash-strapped European governments and cheap gas are denting the profits and prospects of renewable energy companies, quarterly reports from two major sector players showed on Wednesday. Vestas, the world's biggest wind turbine maker, and Norwegian solar industry group REC said they saw earnings hit by lower power scheme subsidies and heightened competition. Countries including Germany and Italy are reining in spending to pay for bailing out...Read Full Story